Over the next 10 years, the FAA expects to hire and train air traffic controllers more efficiently and will staff each air traffic facility with the appropriate number of controllers to offset an expected wave of air traffic controller retirements...

AOPA Pushes To Keep Charts Public

After hearing from AOPA and other users, the Department of Defense (DOD) is going to accept comments on its proposal to stop public distribution of Department of Defense flight information publications (FLIP) and the digital aeronautical flight information file (DAFIF) in October 2005.

Extends Range, Saves Fuel

Aviation Partners has received FAA Supplemental Type Certification for Hawker 800XP Blended Winglets. Friday's approval follows earlier FAA certification of Blended Winglets for the Hawker 800.

European Space Agency's Vehicle Set To Be Dropped On Titan

The highlights of the first year of the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn can be broken into two chapters: first, the arrival of the Cassini orbiter at Saturn in June, and second, the release of the Huygens probe on Dec. 24, 2004, on a path toward Titan.

But Not As Far As Planned

To hear Boeing tell it, Tuesday's launch of the massive Delta 4 heavy-lift rocket was a success. But the dummy payload it carried is in the wrong orbit, the result of a shortened first-stage burn. Success appears to be relative.

Orders 30, Options 20

The Boeing Company today announced that Japan Airlines Corporation has selected the Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner as its next generation mid-sized twin aisle aircraft. JAL's requirement for 30 firm deliveries and 20 options will be fulfilled with a combination of 7E7-3s and 7E7-8s.

Male Astronauts More Likely To Develop Heart Disease In Zero G

Steady, fellas. A new study from the Medical College of Ohio says the astronauts most capable of reaching Mars and coming back safely, healthy and whole -- are women.

What Was Old Could Be New Again

NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer has spotted what appear to be massive "baby" galaxies in our corner of the universe. Previously, astronomers thought the universe's birth rate had dramatically declined and only small galaxies were forming.

Deliveries Start In 2007

Air Deccan, India’s first low-cost carrier, is to grow its fleet by acquiring a further 30 Airbus A320s, following the signature of a contract with Airbus. Deliveries of the aircraft are due to begin in 2007.

Air Europa Orders Three

Air Europa of Spain Tuesday became the first airline to commit to the A350-800, Airbus’ new 245-seater aircraft only on offer since 10th December, after signing a Memorandum of Understanding for 10 aircraft and 2 further options. The airline said its decision came after a rigorous evaluation of the aircraft’s performance and efficiency with the aircraft due to be delivered between 2010 and 2012.

FAA Certification to Follow Early Next Year

The Bell 210 helicopter made it's first flight Saturday, at the Bell subsidiary Edwards & Associates, located in Bristol, TN. This successful flight marks the first in a series of qualification flights as the Bell 210 goes thru FAA certification testing. Bell expects to attain FAA certification during the first quarter of 2005, with deliveries following soon after.

Eyewitnesses refute government's statement that lack of training caused crash

ANN has received information that raises serious questions about the accuracy the government's statements following the crash of a Peruvian Air Force SU-22UM while practicing for an air show flyby.

Reaping Seeds Sown In 1981, 1993

By PATCO President Ron Taylor The FAA has just released its 97-page report entitled "A Plan For The Future, The FAA Ten Year Strategy For The Air Traffic Controller Workforce." These guys are still operating in a time warp and this brainstorm idea has all the characteristics of what they said they were going to do, back during the PATCO strike of 1981 and the promise to rebuild the ATC system even better than ever, so let’s try this again.

Upgrades On Minute Man III ICBMs

The Air Force wants Northrop Grumman to continue full-rate production of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Guidance Replacement Program (GRP). For that, the Pentagon is willing to pay $153 million. Northrop says the program is a key modernization effort that will upgrade the guidance-system electronics in the Minuteman III ICBM to extend the missile's service life through 2020.

Strength In Middle East, Asian Markets

By any measure, it's an impressive rebound: The ICAO reports global air traffic up 14-percent in 2004 when compared to the year before.

Says Its Costs Are Going Up While Other Countries Get More Competitive

While Canada continues to force the cost of flying and landing aircraft ever higher, Germany will drive down those costs and make that country more competitive, the Air Transport Association said today. The German Transport Ministry announced yesterday that airport landing fees will drop 28% on January 1, 2005 and air navigation overflight fees will fall about 20%.

If You Think Broadband On Commercial Flights Is Cool, Check This

The Air Force and Northrop Grumman say they've successfully demonstrated an airborne capability to collaborate real time via Internet 'chat rooms', e-mail, and the Web, all within a secure, classified environment.

SWFI PAX Traffic Exceeds 6 Million

With one month to go, this year already has already proven to be the busiest in the history of Southwest Florida International Airport. With a record-breaking November of nearly 586,000 passengers, passenger traffic year-to-date has exceeded 6 million passengers, making 2004 the first year the airport has reached this milestone. Passenger traffic for November increased by 16 percent, and the year-to-date total reflects a 14 percent jump.

 

"We've had discussions with the military and a meeting with the FAA last week, and the ramifications of this decision were dramatically underestimated. While we're still analyzing all of the impacts, we will be asking the Department of Defense to revise its decision, and we'll offer some realistic alternatives." Source: Melissa Rudinger, AOPA vice president of regulatory policy, on DOD's decision to stop distribution FLIP charts. AOPA says the most immediate impact of the decision on AOPA members will be the loss of Department of Defense-National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) oceanic navigation charts (ONC), enroute charts for the Caribbean and South America, the supplement of Caribbean airport information, and instrument approach charts fo

AD NUMBER: 2004-26-01 MANUFACTURER: Eagle Aircraft SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-26-01 SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Eagle Aircraft (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.Model Eagle 150B airplanes. This AD requires you to inspect the port and starboard under carriage attach bracket for unwelded areas and replace the attach bracket if unwelded areas are found.

AD NUMBER: 2004-25-21 MANUFACTURER: Empresa SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-25-21 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes. This AD requires modification of the pitch trim system, which includes replacing certain components of the system with new or serviceable components, and upgrading certain software to a newer version.

AD NUMBER: 2004-26-02 MANUFACTURER: General Electric SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-26-02 SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GE CF34-3A, CF34-3A2, CF34-1A,CF34-3A1, CF34-3B, and CF34-3B1 series turbofan engines.