"Let me give it to you straight," says Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), a former NASA astronaut. "When the president announced this last week, I was one of his biggest cheerleaders. Only one week later, lo and behold, it looks like they dropped it like a hot potato." Nelson was talking about the president's space iniative -- plans to establish a colony on the moon and send a manned mission to Mars. Nelson says, as of now, that plan has been shelved.

And the pictures are stunning. NASA's second rover to land on Mars this month made it safely to the surface, amid the distant cheers of ground crew members at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena (CA). It was, to coin a phrase, a "nominal" landing and a feather in the space agency's cap. "I am flabbergasted. I am astonished. I am blown away. Opportunity has touched down in an alien and bizarre landscape," Steven Squyres, the mission's main scientist, said early Sunday. "I still don't know what we're looking at."

Klyde Continues His New-Found Love Affair With CBS

In response to recommendations from EAA, AOPA and other organizations, the Transportation Security Administration and FAA have agreed to reinstate expedited ingress and egress procedures from several airports around the fringes of the Washington ADIZ on a long-term basis. The TSA and FAA were urged to move forward in implementing those procedures on a permanent basis when the national threat level was lowered from orange to yellow on January 9, rather than undertake another study. A 60-day test program, started on November 1, was nearly complete when the increase in the national terror threat level on December 21 prompted the government to discontinue the test procedures in the name of security around the national capital region. All indications at that time were that the test pro

The team of Federal Aviation Administration investigators being sent to the Chicago approach control facility in Elgin (IL) this week to review air traffic control issues in the wake of a rising volume of flights and corresponding increase of errors is doomed to fail, according to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. "While we're pleased the FAA is finally devoting attention to critical issues impacting the safety of our skies, we do not understand why they are not talking to the people who guide our nation's planes home day in and day out," said Ray Gibbons, NATCA facility representative for the Chicago TRACON. "It would seem to be in the best interest of ensuring safety that air traffic controllers be included in the review. Our exclusion is proof that the FAA doesn

In what may be the first of many marketing moves that will take place in the kit plane industry, as the Sport Pilot rule nears completion (perhaps by April), SkyStar Aircraft Corporation Friday announced a management reorganization that demonstrates just how serious they are about capitalizing on this new opportunity. SkyStar Aircraft has divided itself into two parts.  The part we are all familiar with, that is, makers of the famed line of Kitfox Aircraft, will now be known as SkyStar Aircraft Corporation, Experimental/Manufacturing Division.  This division will be headed by a new President and CEO, Frank Miller.  The newly created SkyStar Aircraft Corporation, Sport Plane Division will be under the direction of former SkyStar President, Ed Downs.  Mr. Downs w

Here's a story you should know About Eenie, Meenie, Minie and Moe. A pair of sisters sued on the basis Eenie, Meenie and Minie are racist. Southwest Airlines' Jennifer Cundiff Thought of herself as quite the pundit. As passengers boarded her flight that day, Jennifer was heard to say: "Eenie, Meenie, Minie Moe, "Pick a seat, we gotta go."

NASA was set over the weekend to conduct drop testing on the second of three unpiloted X-43A vehicles the Hyper-X program. The test is a dress rehearsal for its free flight currently scheduled for Feb. 21, 2004. Pending thorough evaluation of all flight data, the captive-carry test could lead to the February launch of the X-43A stack. The stack, consisting of the X-43A and its modified Pegasus booster will be air-launched by NASA's B-52 carrier aircraft at 40,000 feet altitude. The booster will accelerate the X-43A to Mach 7 at approximately 95,000 feet altitude. At booster burnout, the X-43 will separate and fly under its own power on a preprogrammed path.

Open Text(TM) Corporation, provider of Livelink�, a collaboration and content management program, says Britannia Airways has extended its Livelink deployment to provide PDA and laptop access during flight, giving pilots and cabin crew members real-time access to critical flight data on the aircraft. The PDA's have been rolled out to Britannia cabin crew and are used to record and transact in-flight retail purchases and present flight documentation which is downloaded using wireless technology at the bases prior to the flight. The solution builds on Britannia Airway's original Livelink application-a flight briefing system, which provides pre-flight data, such as passenger manifests, staff schedules and security information.

The "glass cockpit revolution" will be one of the main topics for the Great Lakes International Aviation Conference at the Lansing Center in Lansing (MI). The conference takes place February 6-8. "The Garmin G-1000 is coming out," says conference organizer Philip Tartalone, with the Michigan Department of Transportation. "It's going in the Diamond, it's going in the Cessnas, and that is the big deal in aviation."

The membership of Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) has elected its 2004 Board of Directors, naming Patrick Graham, Executive Director of the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (GA), as the aviation association's 2004 chairman. Graham has served as Savannah's Executive Director since 1992. Airport CEOs from Canada and the United States make up the Board. A representative from ACI-NA's corporate members and two representatives of airport commissioners also have seats on the Board.

With one aircraft in International Falls (MN)undergoing cold weather evaluation flights (and it doesn't get much colder than in International Falls) and the other two conducting test flights at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station (MD), the AH-1Z test fleet exceeded 1,000 flight hours last week. The AH-1Z Super Cobra is the attack helicopter component of the Marine Corps' H-1 Upgrade program to remanufacture the existing AH-1W SuperCobra and UH-1N twin-engine Huey into the 84 percent identical AH-1Z and UH-1Y configurations.

EAA AirVenture Museum will mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of a true aviation legend, S.J. "Steve" Wittman on April 3-5. A champion air racer, noted airplane designer and builder, airport manager and flight instructor, Steve provided inspiration to thousands of people throughout the EAA family and the entire aviation world. The Wittman Hangar at Pioneer Airport was built and dedicated in his memory, and will be specially opened each day for guided tours on April 3-5. Also on Monday April 5 - the 100th anniversary of Steve's birth-a special evening program, "Memories of Steve," will be presented. A number of Wittman's closest friends will be on hand to share their memories, including his biographer Aaron King, and EAA Founder and Chairman Paul H. Poberezny.

Are You Ready For Some Football? NOTAM: 4/0530 Issued: 01/23/2004 13:33 Effective: 02/01/2004 18:30 - 02/02/2004 04:30 State: TX Facility: ZHU - HOUSTON (ARTCC),TX. Type: SECURITY Description: HOUSTON, TX.

Delta AirElite Business Jets has added a new Citation X business jet to its operating certificate. The aircraft, which is based at the San Jose (Calif.) International Airport, joins Delta AirElite's fleet through a charter management agreement. With access to more than 400 business jets strategically positioned throughout the United States, Delta AirElite continues to expand its charter capability.

"As for the lawyer, Scott A. Wissel, And the little lawsuit he hoped would sizzle; Let this be a lesson, sport, Harmless rhymes are no cause for tort." Source: The concluding portion of ANN Associate Editor Pete Combs' humorous rhyme describing the conclusion of a lawsuit field against SouthWest Airlines by two sisters who found offense in a simple rhyme recited by a flight attendant over the cabin loudspeaker.  "Eenie, Meenie, Minie Moe, Pick a seat, we gotta go," was what was said... but the sisters recall a racist version, NOT recited by SWA, that they were offended by... and since SWA recited something distantly related, they felt they need to sue them... go figure. The jury found for Southwest.<

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and United Airlines announced last week that they have signed a permit enabling United to begin construction of facility improvements at Washington Dulles International Airport that are expected to provide all United and United Express customers with better access, more convenient connections and an improved travel experience overall. Construction is expected to begin within a week. The cost of the project is expected to be no more than $22 million.

CenturyAVX™ solid vinyl floor tile is the latest product from Flooring Adventures. Designed specifically for use in commercial, general and civil aviation applications and facilities, it contains a hidden Tuff-Seal® interlock system and is backed by a five-year warranty. For most applications, no adhesive, special tools or installation expertise are needed. CenturyAVX flooring can be used in virtually any aviation facility or application, including kit aircraft builders, hangers and terminals, basements and below-grade areas, workshops, safety and security areas, baggage claim, concourses, passenger bridges, emergency, ground support and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) areas.

The Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame's Board of Directors elected Rose Dorcey, Middleton (WI) as the organization's 2004 President at its January board meeting. As President, Dorcey will lead the historical organization in its goals of endowing its scholarship program, establishing corporate sponsorship and youth educational programs, retaining and recruiting members, and continuing to recognize those individuals who have made significant contributions to aviation in Wisconsin. Dorcey (pictured above with husband, John) has served on the organization's Board of Directors since 2001 in various positions, including newsletter editor, fundraising chairperson, and membership director. Involved in aviation for over 13 years, Dorcey is an instrument rated private pilot and a freelance wr

Keystone Helicopter, a venerable provider of helicopter services for 50 years, has promoted Peter Wright Jr. to the position of Vice Chairman. Wright began his career at Keystone Helicopter Corporation in 1968, shortly after graduating from Hobart College. He was appointed secretary/treasurer in 1970, vice president in 1973 and president in 1985.

AD NUMBER:  2004-02-01 MANUFACTURER: Gulfstream SUBJECT:  Airworthiness Directive 2004-02-01 SUMMARY:  This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Gulfstream Model G-V series airplanes. This action requires a one-time inspection of the landinggear selector dump valve (LGSDV) to determine the serial number (S/N). For any part with anaffected S/N, or for any part for which the S/N cannot be determined, this action requiresreplacing the LGSDV with a cleaned part having an S/N within the affected range; or replacingthe LGSDV with a new or serviceable part that has an S/N outside the affected range. This actionis necessary to prev