Scary Photos Show That Someone Was Watching Out For These Folks... We reported (last Saturday) on the amazing crash that severely damaged two of the Trojan Phlyers AirShow and Race Team's T-28s when a Piper Apache lost an engine, grazed a hangar on the way down, and impacted among the aforementioned Trojans. Incredibly, the occupants of the Apache survived and when you look at the photos below, you'll have to admit that someone's rabbit's foot was working over time. Still unknown, though, is who is going to fix the innocent T-28s that were taken out... one of them virtually destroyed. We'll kee

As a direct result of pressure from AOPA, the FAA has lowered the altitude of a moored balloon experiment and raised the safety level for pilots operating in the Lancaster, Pa., area. AOPA sent a scathing letter to the FAA just before New Years over a Millersville University experiment that involved a moored balloon at 3,600' MSL, above the minimum obstacle clearance altitude (MOCA) for several Victor airways in that area. Notice of the experiment was published only 10 days before the experiment was set to begin, and the public comment period didn't end until after the experiment was scheduled to be complete. A new NOTAM issued Thursday lowers the balloon's permitted altitude to 2,600' MSL, and raises the MOCA and minimum en route altitudes (MEAs) for those airways to 3,700'

In preparation for the Reno National Championship Air Races, top Sport Class racers often use the R.A.C.E. Cross Country Air Racing event series to test their speed improvements, and that of their competitors. Based upon the speeds at the recent Mesquite, Nevada R.A.C.E. event, it looks like Reno 2004 will be an exciting year for the Sport Class! At this event, the fastest known normally aspirated Lancair Legacy (owned and piloted by Lee Behel) and the fastest known normally aspirated Glasair III (owned and piloted by Mike Jones) were on hand to battle it out for first place. Over this 120 mile course, Lee Behel posted an average speed of 306.02 mph in his Lancair Legacy, with Mike Jones right on his tail in his Glasair III, averaging 305.35 mph. Klaus Savier posted a speed of 249

Max-Viz, Inc., has achieved the first in a long series of planned FAA certifications of its EVS-1000 Enhanced Vision System (EVS) on helicopters. The Bell 212, Bell 412 and Bell 412EP helicopters have been awarded FAA STC approval for the installation of the Max-Viz EVS-1000. "This FAA certification opens the door to another significant market for us," said Jean Menard, director of sales for Max-Viz. "We're looking at potential installations in more than 200 registered U.S. civilian Bell 212 and 412 helicopters. Add to that civilian helicopters from other countries and U.S. military and government rotor aircraft -- and the window of opportunity for sales is even greater." Many aviation industry experts have concluded that every registered civilian aircraft and helicopter wil

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Careers in Aviation Inc. will revisit aviation's early days by sponsoring a national barnstorming tour with a difference. In 1926, not long after the Wright brothers' first flight, John Paul Riddle, one of the school's founders, was giving aerial joyrides in Jennys and Wacos to drum up business for his fledgling flying business in Cincinnati, Ohio. On Jan. 24, Jamail Larkins, a 19-year-old aviation business student at Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach, Fla., campus, will update that tradition when he begins a 20-city national tour piloting a new Cirrus SR20 aircraft. His mission: get youngsters in middle schools and high schools along the way thinking about careers in aviation. Embry-Riddle's partner in the tour is Careers in Aviation, an

Jackson Hole Adopting Stage 2 Ban ANN has learned from NBAA that The Jackson Hole (WY) Airport has announced that it intends to ban operations by all Stage 2 aircraft under 75,000 pounds. The proposed rule would provide exceptions for (1) operations in response to in-flight aircraft emergencies, or (2) with appropriate authorization, operations for emergency medical purposes or in furtherance of the public health, safety, and welfare (such as fire suppression and rescue). Willful violations of the ban would be punishable by a fine of up to $750 and imprisonment of up to one year for each violation. The Airport has asserted the authority to impose the ban under a provision of the 2003 FAA reauthorization act (shown below) to which the requirements of Part 161 do no

Environmental Tectonics Corporation has received FAA  approval of their GAT-II General Aviation Trainer by the FAA as a Level II Flight Training Device. Representatives of the Baltimore Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), Glen Burnie, Maryland, and from the FAA National Simulator Program Office, Atlanta, Georgia, completed an evaluation of the GAT-II, which was delivered to Frederick Flight Center, Frederick, Maryland. The GAT-II was evaluated to Level II Standards as outlined in Advisory Circular (AC) 120-45A, Airplane Flight Training Device Qualification, and is approved for use by Frederick Flight Center for training, testing or checking of maneuvers, procedures, or crewmember functions listed in the Practical Test Standards for a Level II Flight Training Device

VIP Restrictions Announced NOTAM: 4/0280 Issued: 01/12/2004 20:27 Effective: 01/13/2004 22:25 - 01/14/2004 03:30 State: OR Facility: ZSE - SEATTLE (ARTCC),AUBURN,WA. Type: VIP Description: PORTLAND, OREGON, JANUARY 13, 2004 LOCAL.

TFR Issued Due To Blasting Hazard NOTAM: 4/0288 Issued: 01/12/2004 21:33 Effective: 01/13/2004 17:30 - 01/13/2004 18:45 State: MN Facility: ZMP - MINNEAPOLIS (ARTCC),MN. Type: HAZARDS Description: ELY, MN.

VIP Restrictions Announced NOTAM: 4/0285 Issued: 01/12/2004 20:48 Effective: 01/13/2004 18:40 - 01/13/2004 19:30 State: WA Facility: ZSE - SEATTLE (ARTCC),AUBURN,WA. Type: Description: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, JANUARY 13, 2004 LOCAL.

AOPA has weighed in on a story we reported here several days ago... Danbury, Conn., mayor Mark Boughton says he wants to protect the community's vibrant general aviation airport, Danbury Municipal (DXR). In a meeting with AOPA Northeast Regional Representative Craig Dotlo, Boughton said he not only wants to maintain the airport, he wants to increase its profitability. Recent reports that the city refused to fund its portion of a project to cut down trees that could pose a safety hazard concerned AOPA. The FAA had threatened to displace the landing threshold on the airport's longest runway by nearly 1,000' unless the tre

An Ultralight Pilot Ground School is scheduled for Frederick Community College's Adult Education program. The primary goal is to prepare students for an FAA recognized ultralight pilot written examination. The curriculum includes references and current updates on the proposed Sport Pilot and Glider Trike pilot certification programs. NOTAMs, FAA Flight Service Briefings, Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) and other security issues are included. The program is open to all, but may particularly be of interest to newcomers to ultralight aircraft flight, ultralight pilots who have not yet passed the written tests for registration, those who want a head-start preview of the upcoming Sport Pilot written examinations, airplane pilots in transition to ultralight-type aircraft, existing p

On Monday, Ibis Aerospace named Deep Blue Technology AG as a distributor for its Ae270 Propjet. The Swiss company will be responsible for sales and service to Ae270 operators throughout Europe including Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Yugoslavia-Macedonia. In addition to the distribution agreement, Deep Blue made news with its order of nine Ae270 aircraft, with options for five more. No stranger to the aviation business, Deep Blue became a Bell Helicopter Textron representative in 1996, just one year after opening its doors for business. Heinz Ruchti, President of Deep Blue and Chairman of Compass Holding, expressed his excitement with the new addition of aircraft, "We are proud to be representing Ibis Aerospace. The addition of t

Tomorrow’s fighter pilots got a taste of tomorrow’s combat airpower Jan. 8 and 9 at the Air Force Academy when F/A-22 Raptor manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corporation let cadets take the controls in their updated F/A-22 cockpit flight simulator. The F/A-22 Raptor is the next generation of multi-role fighter aircraft, and Lockheed staffers and test pilots provided cadets a personal introduction to the Raptor’s capabilities. “The F/A-22 Raptor is a new breed of super-fighter for the 21st century,” said Lockheed spokesman Greg Caires. “With its stealth, supersonic cruise, agility and advanced integrated avionics, it will dominate the skies over any future battlefield and bring unequaled capability into the hands of Air Force fighter pilots.&rd

The folks at AIR, Inc., tell ANN that  while this is traditionally a slow recruiting month, the number of pilots hired in December decreased only slightly. A total of 351 pilots were hired and, once again, the Nationals led the chart with 166. The Non-jet Operator division hired 80 pilots, a strong enough showing to replace the Jet Operators, who came in 3rd with 68. Once again, Non-jet Operators maintained their low furlough numbers, reporting just 42 pilots still on furlough at the end of 2003. AIR, Inc.'s predicts up to 6.500 new pilot jobs for 2004, with 500 furlough recalls. When comparing 2002 to 2003, the 33% decrease in the hiring levels does not indicate the current trend for 2004. We must take into account that 2003 brought with it continued affects from 9/11,

Unpublished Plan Already Drawing Fire President Bush's plan to establish a manned science base on the moon and to send humans to Mars is likely to fail before ever getting off the ground, according to a space advocacy group. The Lunar Republic Society, which offers lunar land claims for sale over the Internet to raise funds for space exploration, hopes to help finance permanent communities on the moon by 2015. The organization has sold 400,000 acres of such claims since its inception in 1999 and has reportedly received overtures from India and Russia, which both seek financial assistance for future space missions. "Because of the huge budget deficit the United States has accumulated over the last three years, the United States doe

Are You Ready For Some Football (and Restrictions?) The FAA has issued a Special Traffic Management Program (STMP) in conjunction with the Super Bowl that will affect 10 airports in the Houston, TX area from January 28 to February 3. The FAA strongly recommends that operators contact the fixed base operator they plan on using for information on parking and reservations for ramp space. The acquisition of an arrival reservation does not guarantee that parking will be available at the airports controlled by the reservation program. Operators should plan alternates in the event parking becomes unavailable at their airport of intended landing. Additionally; NBAA tells us that there is a solid chance that a number of TFRs may come into being

"The hiring forecast for 2004 already has a halo glowing around it. Airlines reporting monthly to AIR, Inc. are forecasting to hire approximately 4,300 pilots in the next 12 months, with the majority of hiring to be done within the National Airlines' sector. The large network of Majors may not be adding new hires to the mainline, but may be able to put furloughed pilots back in the cockpit." Source: AIR Inc., talking about the results of their December 2003 airline hiring report and their insight into what 2004 might offer for the future. 

AD NUMBER: 2003-09-09R1 MANUFACTURER: Cessna,Reims Aviation SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2003-09-09 R1 SUMMARY: This amendment revises Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2003-09-09, which applies to certain Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 441 and F406 airplanes. AD 2003-09-09 currently requires repetitively inspecting the fuel boost pump wiring inside and outside the boost pump reservoir and repair or replacement of the wiring as necessary. AD 2003-09-09 also requires eventual installation of an improved design wire harness and fuel boost pump as terminating action for the repetitive inspections. The way the compliance time is currently written puts certain airplane owners/operators in non-compli