Sees No Problem Using FAA Airport Money To Ruin Airport

In a case of chutzpah unchained, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's administration has sent a 43-page legal brief to the FAA, saying it was indeed within its rights to demolish Meigs Field -- and use FAA airport money to pay for it.

"Beech Three Niner Whiskey, Pick Up The Pieces, Taxi To Parking"

Flight student Graham Lawson did what a lot of us did as student pilots. He landed his Beech 23 a little hard. Then, out of necessity, Graham did what a lot of us never wanted to do. He landed his aircraft with major damage to the landing gear.

Is This The End Of The Centennial Challenge?

If NASA leaders have their way, the Centennial Challenge Award will be used to spur space travel by rewarding companies for their achievements, not their promises. That way, the space agency expects it will actually get a return on its investment, rather than risking taxpayer dollars on untested technology.

Dawn To Dusk Record Flight Of 1,358 Miles Set Saturday

Launching into the morning twilight and landing just after sunset, pilots Terry Delore (NZL) and Steve Fossett (USA) broke one of the most important records in the sport of gliding this past weekend, flying their ASH 25M high performance sailplane between the Argentine cities El Calafate in Patagonia and San Juan - a new Free Distance (straight-line) world record of 2,187 kilometers (1,358 miles). The flight took 15 hours 42 minutes and covered almost 2/3 the length of Argentina.

The NTSB has issued Aviation Accident Report AAR-04/04 and posted it to their web site for public dissemination. The report discusses the "In-Flight Separation of Vertical Stabilizer, American Airlines Flight 587 Airbus Industrie A300-605R, N14053 Belle Harbor, New York, November 12, 2001."

Most Design Work Completed On Boeing 7E7

A year after giving the 7E7 a green light, Boeing says the project is way ahead of the production schedule. But customers haven't been as plentiful as the Chicago-based aerospace giant might hope.

One Person Survived

It was a grim task for Mark Duffy of Central Helicopters, as he ferried three bodies from the site of a Cirrus SR-22 (file photo of type, below) crash about a mile from the top of Montana's Sacajawea Peak near Bozeman on Sunday. The aircraft impacted the side of the mountain the day before while on what friends described as a recreational sightseeing trip. One person survived the accident.

NBAA Responds to General Media Goofs

NBAA tells ANN that "three recent high profile aviation accidents have resulted in dramatically increased media attention on the safety of business aviation. NBAA has responded aggressively to the media regarding business aviation safety and these efforts have prevented a number of misleading and/or inaccurate stories.

Co-Pilot Barely Survived Crash Site Blast

"They had a passion for God that was expressed by their passion for people." Those words said Pastor John Grys, who serves as director of the Advent House at the University of Tennessee, was the first of what will be many eulogies in the wake of a deadly aviation accident near Collegedale Thursday. Four of the dead were leaders of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Georgia. The fifth was their pilot.

Group Holds First Online Auction

The bidding on many unique, attractive items is underway in response to EAA’s first venture into the world of on-line commerce in the eBay marketplace. Relics and collectibles from aviation’s past, flight experiences, VIP tours through aviation history, stunning aviation art—these and other novel, hard-to-find items are available at reasonable bidding levels.

Company Setting Up Shop At Former United Maintenance Center In Indy

A Wood Dale, IL company that bought bankrupt United Airlines' maintenance facility in Indianapolis, IN, has been certified as an FAA Repair Station. That's good news to about 200 mechanics who work there -- and for hundreds more who might work there if business picks up.

Important Step Toward Op Eval Next Year

The V-22 Integrated Test Team conducted Shipboard Suitability Phase IVc for ten days beginning on November 12. This was the fourth and final underway period for the ITT since the program’s return to flight in May of 2002. Phase IVc’s successful completion was an important step on the path toward the Osprey’s operational evaluation early next year.

Drops NASCAR Drivers Off In Paris For 2004 Race of Champions

NASCAR drivers Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears Monday arrived at the Stade de France in record time, refreshed and ready to represent the United States and NASCAR at the 17th annual Race of Champions (ROC). Bombardier, a major supporter of motorsport racing, sponsored the flight.

Will Be Used For Transport, SAR

After the full evaluation program the Irish Department of Defence has selected the AB139 helicopter for their utility helicopter requirement including troop transport duties, air ambulance, inland search and rescue and VIP transport. Four Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company AB139 helicopters will be delivered to the Air Corps. It is expected that negotiations will be completed later this month and a firm order for the delivery of the AB139's agreed.

New Satellite Program

Raytheon Company will lead an industry team in pursuit of the Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT) Mission Operations System (TMOS), a program to provide the warfighter a secure, interoperable, high-capacity global communications network.  The contract will be awarded in fiscal year 2005.

For AviNet Type B Network Service

The newest Singapore-based low-fare airline—Jetstar Asia—will use ARINC’s AviNet Type B business messaging when it launches new regional passenger services from Singapore later this month. The Asia Pacific division of ARINC Incorporated made the announcement today.

Atlantic Southeast Airlines Will Fly Jackson, MS To Reagan National

The DOT Monday awarded two daily slot exemptions to Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) to provide one new daily round-trip flight between Jackson, MS and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

"We make the point that these costs are related to the removal of airport infrastructure and environmental remediation. It's not in the public interest for a municipality to leave behind an abandoned airport.... We used the revenue carefully. It was not used for redevelopment or urban renewal." Source: Chicago Law Department spokeswoman Jenny Hoyle, as quoted by the Chicago Sun-Times, after her bosses filed a 43-page brief with the FAA admitting Chicago used FAA airport funds to destroy Meigs Field. Chicago faces a $33,000 fine for not giving the FAA 30-days notice before the midnight destruction of the airport on Northerly Island. But, if found to have misappropriated FAA funds, the city could be liable for up to $4.5 million in fines.

NOTAM:  4/3235  Issued:  12/06/2004 20:20  Effective:  12/07/2004 16:10 - 12/07/2004 17:35  State:  CA  Facility:  ZLA - LOS ANGELES (ARTCC)PALMDALE, CA.  Type:  VIP  Description:  SAN DIEGO AND CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, DECEMBER 7 2004 LOCAL. 

AD NUMBER: 2004-24-10 MANUFACTURER: Bombardier SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-24-10 SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-3 airplanes modified with A.M. Luton's Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) number SA3777NM.