Cessna Aircraft Company's Citation Mustang received Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) from the FAA Thursday, a significant step toward certification and first customer delivery in late 2006. TIA signals the FAA's approval for the Mustang prototype to begin accumulating flight hours that will apply toward official certification.

Accident Claimed 20 Lives

The following is the unedited text of the National Transportation Safety Board's latest release concerning the December 19 accident involving a Chalk's Ocean Airways Grumman seaplane.

Mayday Received From Pilot Wednesday Night

ANN REALTIME UPDATE 12.22.05 1415 EST: Search teams have found the charred remnants of a missing aircraft that went down Wednesday night near Gilroy, CA. None of the four passengers onboard the vintage 1956 Cessna 172 are believed to have survived the accident.

First TC Issued By Newly Integrated Agency

Airlines -- and corporate buyers -- interested in the Airbus A318 now have two choices for the aircraft's powerplant. Aero-News has learned the Pratt & Whitney PW6000-powered A318 has been granted its type certificate by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This follows an extensive year-long test period, comprised of approximately 540 flight test hours in around 240 flights.

Collective Bargaining Pays Off For USA 3000 Pilots

Last Friday, Teamsters Local 747 certified vote results of the first Collective Bargaining Agreement for the crewmembers of USA 3000 Airlines -- and the pilots approved the agreement by a 91 percent margin. Teamsters representatives tell Aero-News the new contract provides USA 3000 crewmembers with much improved working conditions, better wages and an overall higher quality of life.

And Watch For Falling Fish, Too

You may feel you're bombarded by junk mail whenever you open your mailbox -- or turn on your computer (except for Propwash, of course) -- but citizens in the Marshall Islands were literally bombarded with air mail Wednesday, when a cargo door popped open on an Asia Pacific Airlines plane as it was taking off from Majuro airport.

Raytheon Aircraft Company has received FAA type certification for the new Beechcraft King Air C90GT, the latest evolution of the popular twin-turbine Beechcraft King Air 90 series aircraft.

Supplier Delays Postpone Eclipse 500 Certification

Eclipse Aviation tells ANN that FAA certification of the Eclipse 500, which was originally scheduled for March 2006, will move to late Q2 2006. The schedule change was driven by supplier delays, including a slip in one major supplier's delivery program.

ANN Daily Touch-And-Go: 12.22.05 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program)

ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 12.22.05 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program)

ANN Special Feature -- Phil Boyer Looks Back at 2005 and Forward to 2006 (Part 1 of 3): 12.22.05 (ANN's Feature News Program, with the AOPA's Phil Boyer, Part One Of Three)

Rudder Trim Cable Installation Diagram Reversed

Eight months after the FAA demanded a thorough review of maintenance manuals for Beechcraft 1900 regional turboprops, comes word Raytheon has issued a correction due to a reversed illustration.

Evidence May Show Errant Lander Nearly Succeeded

The scientist behind Britain's Beagle II mission to Mars said earlier this week images beamed back by NASA's Mars Global Surveyor show the craft may have managed to land on the Red Planet after all.

Cites Security Issues

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) Wednesday expressed support for a bill (HR 4582) introduced by New Jersey Congressman Rob Andrews that would require anyone who works on a US aircraft at an outsourced repair station -- either domestically or overseas -- to undergo an FBI background security check.

We Knew It Was Going To Happen...

Even as NTSB investigators say they still have no definitive idea what caused a Southwest Airlines 737 to skid off the runway at Chicago's Midway airport two weeks ago today, now comes word two passengers, Mariko L.A. Bennett and Stanley L. Penn, are suing the airline for negligence.

AOPA Cites High Operating Costs, May Conflict With Existing GA Traffic

The cost of operating unmanned aerial vehicles along the border may not be a good idea for a few reasons, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) -- and one of those reasons has little to do with the UAVs' impact on general aviation.

Government Wants SU-30s, Military Chief Prefers F-18s

One bird for another? That seems to be at the core of a reported deal between Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Russia involving the possible purchase of 12 Sukhoi SU-30s for that nation's military.

New Digs Planned For A380s, Dreamliners

China Southern Airlines has announced its plan to spend more than $134 million to upgrade its operations at Beijing's Capital Airport. The plan includes a brand new International terminal, with accommodations to handle the airline's five upcoming Airbus A380 and 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, both scheduled for deliveries beginning in 2007.

May Have No Choice But To Introduce Fourth Variant

Even as components for the first Boeing 787 prototype are only now beginning to come together, Boeing is already talking with airlines about a stretch version of its new, fuel-efficient, and surprisingly popular 787 jetliner.

Also: NASA Makes List, Checks Twice, Clears Santa Claus For KSC Landing

Aero-News has learned that after several months of negotiations -- with plenty of paperwork flying back and forth between Washington and the North Pole, along with a few "naughty" accusations against unnamed FAA personnel -- Santa Claus has been given unrestricted access to the nation's airspace.

"Santa can now focus on making his list and checking it twice, without the hassle of government paperwork. Thanks to this agreement, the only time he needs to worry about Red Tape is if he wants to use it to wrap presents." Source: US Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, on the "official" decision to open up national airspace for a certain jolly visitor on December 25. The move signifies new hope for pilots struggling to gain improved access in the face of ever-tightening security restrictions -- because let's face it, if some clown in a red suit pulled along by flying reindeer can fly through the Washington DC ADIZ, anything's possible. (If you believe we're serious... get help, now.)