One of the most promising aircraft in the two seat GA market is having some teething pains in getting it's North American production nailed down. OMF has confirmed that they have undertaken a series of temporary layoffs designed to bridge a gap in capital availability. OMF has been quick to respond to ANN inquiries, and unusually upfront (for this industry) about what can only be considered some disappointing issues. Statements from OMF explain the situation, "OMF GmbH (the German parent company) is experiencing financial challenges. The new North American company, OMF Aircraft, is also experiencing challenges as it starts up its operations."

Ken Hyde (right) and the hard-aviating gang at the Wright Experience have resumed proof-of-concept tests with its reproduction 1903 Wright Flyer at The Wright Brothers National Memorial in advance of the breathlessly awaited Dec. 17 re-enactment of the world's first powered flight. The reproduction 1903 flyer is as close to the original flyer as can be engineered and was assembled by The Wright Experience with painstaking detail over the past four years. On Nov. 25, the aircraft was damaged during tests here, but repair work by The Wright Experience crew during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend returned the airplane to operational status in less than four days.

Amazing Technology Now Being Fielded Worldwide (Part II) The point of the centrifuge is to increase the realism of flight simulation. Or, as ETC puts it, to "continuous motion cueing and sustained G cueing in real time flight." There has been a great deal of to-controversy in the training and human factors worlds over the last few years on the value of motion cueing. Some studies indicate that it has little value. The difference may be one of degree: traditional simulators can provide motion cueing that hints at what the airplane can do, but they can't sustain acceleration (G), they can't do negative G, they can't reverse from positive to negative - all things an actual airplane can do. Even the momentary, transient accelerations felt in an ordinary full-motion simulator are stric

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has issued a revised Regulation regarding the application of the use tax to noncommercial aircraft in Rhode Island. Due in large part to the efforts of NBAA and interested Rhode Island aviation groups, the new Regulation clarifies many of the uncertainties created by the issuance of the previous Emergency Regulation. The new Regulation makes it clear that the Rhode Island use tax applies only to noncommercial aircraft exceeding specified operating limits within the State of Rhode Island. The revised Regulation also makes it clear that it applies only to "residents" of Rhode Island.

December 16 And 17 Sold Out -- Tickets Still Available For December 13-15 If the hype is as good as the reality, the coming Wright Anniversary celebration is going to be a heck of an aero-event. And... if you haven't already done so, please be advised that advance ticket sales end Sunday, December 7 at 10 p.m. Eastern Time. Worse; event planners for the First Flight Centennial Celebration have announced that general admission tickets for December 16 have sold out.

Skyhawk Gets Blown Away By CRJ When operating in close proximity to jet aircraft, exercise EXTREME caution... the amount of thrust put out by even the lowest power settings is more than enough to turn any GA bird right on it's butt if caught at just the right angle. Beware the "business end" of jet engines!

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) F/A-18 program commemorated the first flight of the Hornet aircraft flown 25 years ago Nov. 20. Alumni members of the "Hornets Nest" gathered at NAVAIR Patuxent River for a day of memories and celebration. “The last 25 years of flight by F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets have established an unmatched record of performance, survivability, reliability, maintainability and affordability for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and our foreign partners,” said NAVAIR F/A-18 Program Manager Capt. B.D. Gaddis.

It sure is nice to see GA companies grow and expand their services and influence... Following a strategic plan to expand their territory, Premier Aircraft Sales has been awarded the Diamond Aircraft distributorship for the state of Texas. Premier will soon promote and sell Diamond products and aircraft there in an effort to better serve the Lone Star state.

NOTAM: 3/1444 Issued: 12/02/2003 20:51 Effective: 12/03/2003 22:35 - 12/03/2003 23:25 State: AR Facility: ZME - MEMPHIS (ARTCC),TN. Type: VIP Description: STUTTGART, ARKANSAS, DECEMBER 3-4 2003 LOCAL.

Operators are encouraged to check NOTAMs to see if Special Traffic Management Programs (STMPs) are in effect during ski season at eight airports in Colorado, Idaho and Wyoming. When anticipated weather conditions or traffic volumes dictate, the FAA will activate STMPs at the following Colorado airports: Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field Airport (ASE), Rifle/Garfield County Field Airport (RIL), Telluride Regional Airport (TEX), Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ) and Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE).

Members of the Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO, voted to join forces with the Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO, in a historic vote that was counted Monday. Fifty-seven percent of those who cast valid ballots voted for the merger. Forty-seven percent of AFA's membership voted.

By a razor-thin margin, the pilots at America West Airlines (AWA) have rejected a tentative agreement for a new labor contract. The vote was 725-720 against the offer, with 97.2 percent of the 1,487 eligible pilots voting.

Agusta Aerospace Corporation, an AgustaWestland company, has just delivered an A109 Power helicopter to the New Mexico State Police. The A109 Power for the NMSP is fitted with special police equipment for extensive night surveillance operations and also with special police avionics. The completion was accomplished by Agusta Aerospace Corporation in Philadelphia, and is the first A109 Power placed in service with a U.S. Police Department.

Safety Recommendations A-03-51 through -54 The National Transportation Safety Board makes the following recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration: Conduct en route inspections and observe ground training, flight training, and proficiency checks at all 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand charter operations as is done at Part 121 operations and Part 135 commuter operations to ensure the adequacy, quality, and standardization of pilot training and flight operations. (A-03-51)...

** Report created 12/1/2003 Record 1 ** IDENTIFICATION  Regis#: 103AE Make/Model: B206 Description: BELL 206B HELICOPTER  Date: 11/28/2003 Time: 0408  Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Minor Mid Air: N DESCRIPTION AIRCRAFT WAS STARTED WHILE ONE OF THE ROTORS WAS TETHERED, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN, PARIS, AR

While being spun in a chair and parasailing hardly sound like intense pilot training exercises, they are several techniques aerospace physiology experts use to train Air Force pilots. Within the first eight and a half days of pilot training, students become familiar with air and ground survival training through an array of hands-on and classroom exercises. “Pilots start their training with us -- this is their first stop,” said Tech. Sgt. Dora Caniglia, the noncommissioned officer in charge of administration for the 47th Aeromedical Squadron.

Aero-News: Quote of the Day "The America West pilots were faced with the difficult decision on whether or not to accept a tentative agreement that was recommended for ratification by the Master Executive Council. By the narrowest of margins, the pilots have chosen not to accept the agreement. Since the case is still under the auspices of the National Mediation Board (NMB), it will be up to the Board to decide the prospects of continued negotiations in light of the nearly 50-50 split of the pilot group. Our main priority continues to be serving the needs of our pilots."

FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey, has named Ventris Cassandra Gibson as the agency’s assistant administrator for human resource management. Gibson will head the office responsible for personnel, workforce planning, recruitment and placement, professional development and performance-based compensation systems. Gibson comes to the FAA from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), where she served as deputy assistant secretary for human resources management, overseeing a $59 million program with 226,000 employees in the United States and abroad.

MANUFACTURER: Dassault SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2003-24-06 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to all DassaultModel Mystere-Falcon 200 series airplanes. This action requires a one-time inspection of the fire extinguishing pipe for each engine to determine whether holes for dispersal of fire-extinguishing agent are present, and corrective action if necessary.