GAO Criticizes "Weak Oversight" Of 13,000 Contractors

The FAA isn't keeping a close enough eye on the 13,000 contractors it uses to inspect and certify repairs to aircraft in the US civil fleet, according to a new report from the General Accountability Office.

35 Year Old Mystery Solved

For 35 years, Edwin Sisam has wanted to know just one thing: The name of the men who saved his life in October, 1969.

Did She Also Taint Launch Contract?

The saga of Darleen Druyun, the USAF official who took a job with Boeing while negotiating with the company on a $23 billion tanker deal, isn't over yet. Now, Lockheed Martin wants to talk to her about whether she might have steered Air Force launch contracts toward Boeing in 1998. The contracts were worth $1.88 billion.

Hey Klyde... Quit Picking On NASA!

A Weapon Isn't A Weapon Until It Can Be Delivered

"I have seen some information that would suggest that they [Iran] have been actively working on delivery systems ... You don't have a weapon until you put it in something that can deliver a weapon."

Swift Launch Delayed Again

Launch of NASA's Swift spacecraft aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket has been delayed again due to continued concerns with Range Command-Receiver Decoder equipment on the launch vehicle.

Whooping Cranes, Led By Ultralights, Continue Long Journey

What could well be a species' last hope of survival in the air is, to the uninitiate, a pageant on the ground. But it's one few will see. A flight of 14 whooping cranes, led by an ultralight, passed through Indiana this week and they stopped near Bob Burton's house.

Upgrade Team Delivers Improved Jump Jet

Harrier pilots in the fleet have begun to see an even meaner aircraft with the delivery of the first of a newly upgraded version of the TAV-8B by depot artisans recently.

Trade Magazine Says FedEx Express Leads List Of Top 50 Cargo Airlines

FedEx Express has been named the best air cargo operation in the world, according to the magazine Air Cargo World. The trade publication has just released its "World's Top 50 Cargo Airlines" list.

17 Lost When Two UH-60s Collided

Six Army troops who died in the crash of their UH-60 in Iraq last year were honored at Fort Campbell (KY) Monday. There, family, friends and fellow soldiers unveiled a monument called, "Wings of the Eagle."

Receives FAA Certification

The FAA has certified AAR Corporation as the new operators of a state-of-the-art maintenance facility United Airlines abandoned last year in Indianapolis (IN). The new operation could breathe life into Indy's ailing aviation industry in the wake of the United plant closure and the ATA Airlines bankruptcy.

Philadelphia International Gets An Earful About Noise If you ask a lot of people around West Deptford Township (NJ), they don't want Philadelphia International's Runway 17-35 to be extended 400 feet in their direction -- they don't want the runway at all.

Young Israeli Cancer Patient: "I Want This Oshkosh" 

EAA received a special visit from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin on Wednesday to mark the state's first international wish that was granted this past summer at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Raviv Yalosky, an 18-year-old cancer patient, and his family received red carpet treatment here last summer after they traveled from Tel Aviv, Israel, to Oshkosh. His original wish-to learn how to fly-was not possible because of his illness, so after hearing from a nurse about EAA AirVenture, Raviv said, "I want this Oshkosh."

High-Speed Internet To Be Available On US Flights

China Airlines (CAL) and Connexion by Boeing Wednesday announced they've reached a definitive agreement to install high-speed internet connections on China Airlines' North America flights during the initial service introduction phase. According to the agreement, the initial installation of the Connexion by Boeing SM real-time, high-speed Internet system aboard the CAL long-haul fleet of Boeing 747-400 aircraft will begin in the second quarter of next year.

Niborex Puts Flight Data On Handhelds

General aviation just became safer for our nations pilots. Niborex, Inc. today officially released its Portable Electronic CoPilot product for the Pocket PC platform. This product allows a pilot to create, organize, and view on their Pocket PC device all the information necessary for a safe and successful flight. It is meant to assist the pilot from pre-flight to shutdown. Operation is based upon a fully user-customizable "talking" organizer. It incorporates any item a pilot may wish to bring with them on a flight: custom checklists, text (for NOTAMS, TFRs, etc.), graphics (for weather images, runway diagrams, etc.), video (for educational information, videos, etc.), customized HTML applets (allowing the user or others to create custom fun

Pilot Was Buzzed On Short Final

This probably won't help the process of getting a runway and hangar on private property in Maesybont, Carmarthenshire, Wales. Tony Ware was landing his Bolkow BO-207 when he got a bee in his bonnet -- or more appropriately, a wasp down his shirt.

Maritime Forces Deputy Gets Bird's Eye View Of War In Iraq

The deputy commander of coalition maritime forces operating in US Central Command’s area of responsibility catapulted from the flight deck of USS John F. Kennedy Monday to participate in an S-3B Viking sortie in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Had Fake Uniform And ID

Remember the Steven Spielberg movie, "Catch Me If You Can?" In it, Leonardo DiCaprio plays a con artist pretending to be a pilot as he runs from the law. Perhaps that was the inspiration for a 39-year old man arrested while carrying a Lufthansa pilot's uniform and ID.

Building On Technologies Developed For The Comanche

Lockheed Martin was awarded a $30 million contract by the Program Executive Office (PEO) Aviation for the US Army Technology Integration Center program (ATIC).

"The aircraft was on short final approach to the runway when the pilot was reportedly stung on the right side of his abdomen by a wasp which had made its way under the loosely fitting T-shirt that he was wearing. He touched down late as a result of struggling to dislodge the insect. He then attempted a go-around, but failed to clear the hedge at the far end of the runway." Source: British Department of Transport report on the crash of a GA aircraft in Wales last week. The pilot walked away unhurt -- except for that little sting on his torso.