Company To Extend Global Reach

Eclipse Aviation has reached yet another milestone. The company announced on tuesday that it will exhibit for the first time at the Asian Aerospace 2004 trade show in Singapore from February 24-29. Asian Aerospace is Asia's premier aerospace and defense technology exhibition. In addition to sharing the latest information on the Eclipse 500 jet with potential customers, Eclipse will work to expand its global network to include distribution and product support partners for the Eclipse 500 jet in Asia.

Information Links To German-based Terrorist Cell

More than two years before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on American soil, U.S. intelligence officials reportedly had the first name and phone number of one of the hijackers who succeeded in destroying the World Trade Center. CIA Director George Tenet and FBI Director Robert Mueller were asked about the information when they testified Tuesday morning before the Senate Intelligence Committee. The federal commission reviewing the events of Sept. 11 is also examining whether the United States failed to aggressively track this hijacker. The tip, received in March 1999, appears to be one of the earliest signs that U.S. officials had about one of the 2001 hijackers.

Hawker Service Center Restores B-17

One of the world’s few remaining airworthy B-17 World War II aircraft recently got a facelift at Raytheon Aircraft’s Hawker Service Center in Little Rock. Thunderbird, a B-17G owned and operated by the Lone Star Flight Museum of Galveston (TX) was stripped of all paint and most interior appointments and repainted by Raytheon Aircraft employees. While it was the work was a far cry from the Hawker business jets they normally paint, it was true a labor of love. The Hawker Division team became familiar with the Lone Star Flight Museum through a Hawker customer. That introduction led to the museum bringing three vintage warbirds to display at the Little Rock Hawker Jet Operators Conference in June 2003. And that led to talks abou

Organization Hosts Simulator Weekend; Tuskegee Tribute

EAA is reminding us that a couple of exciting events are taking place this week. During EAA AirVenture Museum's annual Flight Simulator Weekend on February 28-29, visitors can experience virtual flight through many different simulation platforms. In, addition to the virtual flying, EAA offers a historic reminder of some real-world aviators. EAA's AirVenture Museum’s commemorative program and exhibit launch, “Salute to Tuskegee Airmen,” takes place on Wednesday, February 25, including a special exclusive webcast for EAA members. Along with special display of a North American T-6 used to train Tuskegee pilots, the organization welcomes two original Tuskegee Airmen, Richard Macon and Robert Martin, for a spe

Global Wings of Japan Orders First Learjet 45 XR

Bombardier Aerospace announced Tuesday that Global Wings, Inc., of Tokyo, Japan, has placed a firm order for one new Bombardier Learjet(i) 45 XR super light business jet, and placed an option for a second aircraft. It is the first Bombardier Learjet 45 XR to be ordered by a Japanese operator, and paves the way for Global Wings, provider of world-class business jet services throughout Asia, to provide non-stop Japan-China executive charter service. The Learjet 45 XR will be registered and based in Beijing, China.

Czech Aircraft Maker to Lay Off 400   

Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody will lay off 400 people from its work force of 2,000 by May due to lack of contracts, officials said Monday. Vaclav Srba, the Czech deputy minister of industry and trade, said the layoff plans was due to low sales of the company's subsonic L-159 trainer jets. State-controlled Aero has been in trouble since the fall of the communist regime in the region and the loss of lucrative markets in the former East Bloc. Attempting to save the company, the government sold a 35.9 percent minority to The Boeing Co. in 1998 in hopes of tapping new markets.

Proposal Could Affect FTD Use

AOPA trells ANN that questions they have raised about a proposed rule to regulate flight training devices (FTDs) have prompted the FAA to reopen the comment period on the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). Flight schools actively use what are known as Level 1, 2, or 3 FTDs to provide a well-rounded general aviation flight-training curriculum. Those schools would not be able to meet the onerous quality assurance, maintenance, and record-keeping requirements of the proposed rule.

Lawyers Go for The Jugular

A US law firm said Saturday it was representing the families of 10 victims of a plane crash last month in Egypt in a suit against the maker of the plane, Boeing. On January 3, 2004, Flash Airlines Flight 604 crashed into the Red Sea shortly after leaving Sharm el-Sheikh. The suit will be filed against the aviation giant Boeing and the US company International Lease and Finance Corporation, which owned and was leasing the Boeing 737-300 to Flash Airlines when it crashed off the Red Sea resort of Sharm-el-Sheikh on January 3, killing all 148 people - mostly French tourists - aboard.

Features Fully Automatic Worldwide Hazard Detection Rockwell Collins has introduced the industry’s first weather radar with a fully automatic worldwide hazard detection system. Collins’ new  MultiScan Global weather radar is the next-generation in the WXR-2100 MultiScan weather radar series that enhances passenger and crew safety by significantly reducing pilot work load and enhancing weather-detection capability. The MultiScan Global weather radar automatically adjusts weather detection parameters for variations caused by time of day, time of year and geographic position and then uses advanced radar threshold technologies to adjust the radar returns to more accurately display actual thunderstorm threats. Currently, Collins MultiScan Global weat

Company Awaiting FAA STC

AVCON Industries announced it has completed flight testing and is awaiting FAA group approval of the RVSM STC for Learjet 20 series aircraft. AVCON, which began certification flight testing in March of 2003, has modified and flight tested a total of six different Learjet 20 series aircraft equipped with the AVCON RVSM solution. The six aircraft represented a wide range of Lear 24/25 serial numbers and approved wing designs, including the Century III, Mark II, XR, SoftFlite and original Standard wing. The AVCON RVSM solution is the result of a cooperative effort between AVCON and BIZJET of Tulsa (OK) The two companies joined forces over one year ago to provide a cost-effective RVSM solution for Lear 20 series aircraft. Customer RVSM installations will b

Suppliers React To Lost Biz

As the news of the RAH-66 Comanche attack helicopter cancellation swept the industry, so did the reaction from key suppliers affiliated with the program. On Monday afternoon, Boeing stock was down about 2 percent on the news, with United Technologies off 3 percent. United's Sikorsky division is believed to be impacted harder than Boeing, since the latter currently manufactures the Apache helicopter and as such would gain some of the sales lost due to the cancellation of the Comanche.

Legislators Join Fight to Save Retiree Health Benefits

Nineteen U.S. Senators signed on to a letter authored by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) asking United Airlines CEO Glenn Tilton to adhere to the agreement with retirees and reconsider the airline's planned changes to retiree health benefits because of the hardship it will bring to them and their families. A letter from members of the House was sent to United on Feb. 13. United management signed a letter of agreement in May 2003 to ensure that flight attendants retiring before July 1, 2003 would have access to health care benefits that were less costly and more comprehensive than those that would be in place for those who retire after that date.

Airlines Begin To Report First Profit Since 9-11

An international airline organization claims the world airline industry is expected to bounce back into profit this year for the first time since it was plunged into crisis by the September 11 attacks in 2001. Giovanni Bisignani, director-general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said on Monday he expected his 271 members to make profits of between $2bn and $4bn on international scheduled services due to a combination of cost cutting and passenger growth. This compares with a loss of about $5bn last year. Overall, including domestic operations not included in IATA estimates, the industry has racked up losses of more than $30bn since 2001.

So, Who's Watching The Place?

The two-man crew of the international space station will venture outside the craft at the same time this week, despite earlier concerns that the exercise was "a risk not worth taking," The Washington Post reported on Monday. The Post cited NASA documents obtained by the newspaper. Ground controllers are to fly the empty space station, while British-born NASA astronaut Michael Foale and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Kaleri conduct the spacewalk, leaving no one inside to monitor systems directly or assist in a crisis, the newspaper said. According to the Post, the Russians have made about 50 such spacewalks, but this would mark the first for the U.S.-led space station.

On Crash Anniversary, Airline Resumes Own Maintenance

Air Midwest, the commuter airline whose plane crashed on takeoff in Charlotte 13 months ago, killing all 21 aboard, will stop outsourcing routine maintenance on its aircraft. NTSB investigators believe mechanics in Huntington (WV), working under contract for Air Midwest made mistakes that contributed to the deadly crash. Under federal regulations, Air Midwest was responsible for the outsourced maintenance on US Airways Express Flight 5481, which crashed on Jan. 8, 2003. The NTSB will present its conclusions on Thursday in Washington about what caused the crash. The board will likely focus on maintenance and the plane's weight and balance.

Mars Rover Discoveries Point to Planet's Origins  

NASA scientists are excitedly speculating that discoveries made by a Mars rover over the weekend will help them finally unravel whether water played a role in the Red Planet's geologic history, a science team member said on Monday. Scientists were pouring over data and microscopic images returned to Earth by the rover Opportunity, which spent the weekend examining a multilayered rock nicknamed El Capitan embedded in the side of the small crater where Opportunity landed on Jan. 24.

TFR Issued Due to Grain Elevator Explosion NOTAM: 4/1426 Issued: 02/24/2004 18:37 Effective: Immediately - Until Further Notice State: IA Facility: ZMP - MINNEAPOLIS (ARTCC),MN. Type: HAZARDS Description: CLAIRION, IA.

For Sale: Cessna 172 Skyhawk, Fixed Gear Total time Airframe 2500 hrs. Engine Cont. 0-300D 650 SMOH, New mags, harness and spark plugs: Narco MK12D Radio, wheel pants, new pilot and co-pilot shoulder harness. New battery. Nice time builder Exterior Quality: 8, Interior Quality: 8 Used, will sell for $35,000.00

Group Of Screeners X-Ray Themselves

"If I only had a brain," was the verse sung by the Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz. Perhaps it should also be the motto for some TSA airport screeners. Believe it or not, a security screener at Denver International Airport has been reprimanded and several others at airports across the country put on administrative leave for sending their bodies through checkpoint x-ray machines to see what their brains look like. No kidding, folks.

Aero-News: Quote of the Day

"We are seeing an increase in customer interest globally, and our goal is to give customers in Asia access to the world's most advanced very light jet with a world class distribution and product support network in place to meet their market needs." Source: Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation, commenting on the company's first exhibit at Asian Aerospace 2004. The event -- Asia's premier aerospace and defense technology exhibition -- is seeing by Raburn as an opportunity to expand the company's global network to include distribution and product support partners for the Eclipse 500 jet in Asia.