EAA says it's time for pilots to flex their collective muscle. The organization wants pilots to contact their congressional representatives and express concern about a proposed amendment to the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (HR 3798). The amendment would place additional restrictions on general aviation beyond what has been deemed prudent and effective by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.

Twin Cessna owners will soon have an opportunity to tell the FAA what they think about two very expensive airworthiness directives the agency has proposed. The agency will hold two days of meetings next week on ADs that could cost owners more than the aircraft is worth and take years to comply with. AOPA and the Cessna Pilots Association had pressed the FAA to give owners a chance to be heard.

It's the kind of thing that shakes up an industry -- more so if it comes from an industry icon. US Airways CEO David Siegel, fresh from bankruptcy court, predicts a future where just three major airlines rule the skies, along with a "swarm of low-cost carriers" as consumers demand more miles to the wallet.

The International Space Station has a lot of the same problems which led to the Columbia shuttle disaster. That word comes in a 172-page NASA internal review. Chief among the problems, according to the report: Engineers have failed to maintain a single, integrated set of blueprints that cover every aspect of the station's design and modifications. Databases stored in computers have become outdated. Some critical information hasn't even been digitized.

With many of its employees finding it increasingly difficult to get to work at the Port-au-Prince airport because of disturbances in the area, American Airlines has suspended all service to and from Haiti until Wednesday, March 3. Look for other airlines to quickly follow suit.

Klyde Has Just A LITTLE More Fun With His Ol' Buddy, Mayor Daley!

UAL Corporation, the holding company whose primary subsidiary is United Airlines, today filed its January Monthly Operating Report (MOR) with the United States Bankruptcy Court. The company reported a loss from operations of $191 million, which represents an improvement of approximately $140 million over January 2003. Mainline passenger unit revenue improved 8% year-over-year, well ahead of the industry average. Mainline unit costs for January, excluding special charges and fuel, improved 14% year-over-year. The company reported a net loss of $252 million, including $26 million in reorganization expenses. The majority of reorganization expenses were non- cash items resulting from the rejection of aircraft as the company aligns its fleet with the market. UAL met the requirements of its d

Vought Aircraft Industries says it's in line to receive a $35 million grant from the Texas Enterprise Fund, which is administered by Texas Gov. Rick Perry's office. In addition to the grant, Vought will work with the governor's office, the General Land Office and several other Texas state agencies to facilitate the creation of 3,000 new jobs in Texas by the end of 2009.

Israel's security cabinet Sunday approved the $1.2 billion dollar sale of three Phalcon AWACS aircraft to India, after the US dropped the same kind of objections which blocked a similar deal with China.

Blame human error. Blame technical problems. Blame the weather. But don't blame terrorists for the crash of a Raytheon Beechcraft Super King Air last week. The crash killed Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski and eight others Thursday. Investigators said all died instantly when the aircraft impacted the ground.

Less than three months after announcing its start up, Singapore's low cost airline, Tiger Airways, has appointed a Chief Executive Officer and named its Chairman. With the appointment of a dedicated chief executive, the carrier will push full steam ahead with its plans to take off this year as scheduled.

Cirrus Designs has already made remarkable inroads into the manufacture of single-engine, piston-driven aircraft. With confidence borne of experience, the brash upstart now plans nothing less than a full-drive to overtake Cessna as the leader of the pack.

Members of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, last week briefed the National Transportation Safety Board last week, hoping to convince board members to continue their recommendation advocating child safety seats be required for children under two onboard aircraft.

Smiths Detection has received an order from the German Ministry of the Interior for automatic explosives detection systems, valued at more than EUR 20 million, to be installed at Frankfurt Airport. The systems include the detection tomography system, HI-SCAN 10080 EDtS, along with comprehensive network-integration for x-ray image evaluation of hold baggage.

"When the inevitable forces of consolidation kick in, it is equally important that we have a competitive cost structure. Otherwise, we will be the awkward teenager at the school dance, hoping someone will come talk to us, but going home disappointed and lonely." Source: US Airways CEO David Siegel, speaking to a meeting of the Potomac Officer's Club in Washington (DC) last week. Siegel, whose own airline recently emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, predicts a wave of airline mergers to come -- one that will leave only three or four major carriers standing. He predicts a horde of low-cost carriers will compete for no-frills travel along short-haul and shuttle routes and hints that he's positioning his company to be in the best possible position when the takeovers b

AirCell has just announced that Duncan Aviation in Lincoln (NE)is their 2003 Sales Dealer of the Year. "It is simply a question of value for our customers," said Ron Hall, Avionics Sales Representative at Duncan. AirCell is a known quantity within the aviation industry, and as such, provides the product, the service support and peace of mind our customers demand - and all at a reasonable price. This is exactly what our customers expect from us!" Previous winners of the award were Raytheon Aircraft Services in San Antonio (TX), and Elliott Aviation of Moline (IL). 

Alteon Training a Boeing subsidiary, officially opened its brand new $75 million aviation-training center last week on land owned by the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

CHC Helicopter Corporation last week reported its operating division, CHC Australia, has been successful in renewing its contract with the Commonwealth Government of Australia to provide Search and Rescue helicopters and crews for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) for a period of 10 years, plus two option periods of two years each.

Bombardier Aerospace has appointed Gary R. Scott as President, New Commercial Aircraft Program, effective March 8, 2004. Scott will be responsible to form and lead a multi-disciplinary team to evaluate the possibility of proceeding with the creation of a new generation commercial aircraft.

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