It's taken eight months, but the Dreamliner appears to have finally found a home: Everett (WA). The Seattle Times quotes an anonymous source close to the team who says the recommendation will be finalized at the December 15th meeting of Boeing's board of directors. Officially, the Boeing line is, "No decision has been made and no decision will be made until the results of our site evaluation are fully vetted with our board of directors." That word from Thomas Downey, Boeing Commercial Aircraft VP of communications.

The leaders of the Atlantic Coast Airlines pilot group have informed the Mesa Airlines Board of Directors that its 1,600 ACA pilots oppose any takeover of their airline. In a letter to the Mesa board, Captain Stephen Hunt, chairman of the ACA unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, International, said his members strongly support ACA's plan to create a new low-cost carrier called Independence Air rather than be swallowed up by Mesa and remain a feeder carrier for United Airlines. "Let me be crystal clear: the pilots of Atlantic Coast Airlines have absolutely no interest in being acquired by Mesa or deviating in any other way from our management's independent vision," Capt. Hunt said.

Concorde frenzy seems to know no end. A London auction of Concorde memorabilia pulled in some heavy dollars... well ahead of the most flighty expectations. The crown jewel of the show, though, was the very nose of the Concorde, itself.  Retired in October, the nose cone was auctioned off to a Hungarian-born bidder by the name of Ferenc Gaspar, who claims he got the bargain of the event... for only $551,600!

Adm. David Stone (USN, Ret.) To Lead TSA Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge Friday announced the swearing-in of Admiral James Loy as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Ridge also announced Loy's replacement as acting TSA Administrator -- a retired Navy admiral with plenty of experience at the helm of large military operations.

Three days of mediated talks between the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) and Mesaba Airlines yielded little progress this week, prompting mediators to offer binding arbitration to settle the protracted contract dispute. The parties received a letter from the National Mediation Board early Friday morning citing an impasse in the bargaining process. The letter urges an agreement as soon as possible and offers binding arbitration to resolve the outstanding issues. If both parties accept the offer, a neutral arbitrator will decide the outcome of roughly two dozen issues that remain open. These remaining issues include job security, compensation, retirement and work rules.

Air Force investigators have determined trapped external fuel because of an aircraft malfunction and the pilot’s failure to properly monitor his fuel status were the causes of an F-16 Fighting Falcon crash in Iraq on June 12. The aircraft was assigned to the 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and deployed from the 421st Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Toxic Gas Release Results In Hazard TFR NOTAM: 3/1544 Issued: 12/06/2003 00:48 Effective: 12/06/2003 14:00 - 12/06/2003 19:00 State: AZ Facility: ZAB - ALBUQUERQUE (ARTCC),NM. Type: HAZARDS Description: WINDOW ROCK, AZ.

Concerns about the needs of elder aircraft are being addressed by the FAA and leading aviation interests. Better yet; there is a solid expectation for positive changes in the coming year. Work on an FAA Advisory Circular for documenting approved substitute standard parts and materials was conducted at a meeting of the FAA Aging Aircraft Ad Hoc Committee held this week in Kansas City, Missouri. Representing EAA were Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs Earl Lawrence and Director of Aircraft Maintenance Daryl Lenz. The committee works with the FAA Small Airplane Directorate to develop materials that help small aircraft owner maintain and restore their aircraft.

"No decision has been made and no decision will be made until the results of our site evaluation are fully vetted with our board of directors." Source: Thomas Downey, Boeing Commercial Aircraft VP of communications