ANN Correspondent Kevin "Hognose" O'Brien was kind enough to research and translate the full text of the press release published by Swiss officials in their prohibition against Flash Airlines.... the operator of a Boeing 737 which went down last week off the coast of Egypt and into the Red Sea. We present it here for your edification... FOCA Prohibited Flash Airlines From Landing The Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA) issued a landing prohibition against the Egyptian aviation firm Flash Airlines in October, 2002. The grounds for that were, deficient condition of its airplanes. In the following, the measures taken by FOCA in connection with Flash Airlines are laid out. Last Saturday, a machine from the Egyptian aviation business Flash A

Boeing's airliner deliveries for 2003 total some 281 birds... some 100 less than last year. Finishing up the year with 71 airframe deliveries in the Fourth Quarter (down from 86 in 4Q/02), this year's total is down from 381 in 2002 and a whopping 527 in 2001. How the mighty have fallen... Boeing's Fourth Quarter stats included 47 single-aisle 737s; 12 777s; three 767s; five 747s; one 757; and three 717s. Unofficial estimates put Boeing's annual delivery totals below Airbus for the first time, as Airbus had already delivered 263 airframes through just the 3rd Quarter of 2003. 

Anti-Missile Devices Will Supposedly Protect Commercial Aircraft

The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology division has announced that teams led by BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman and United Airlines have been selected for agreement negotiations. The team will be expected to develop a plan and test prototypes to help determine whether a viable technology exists that could be deployed to address the potential threat that MAN-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) pose to commercial aircraft. “The President and the Secretary are taking a very aggressive approach on measures to counter the potential threat of shoulder-fired missiles,” said Dr. Charles McQueary, Under Secretary, Science and Technology. “These efforts are par

A NorthWest Airlines Boeing 757 was landed by a "solo" pilot Tuesday morning after the Captain of the flight lost consciousness approaching Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. Descending through 12,000 feet on a short flight from Milwaukee, WI; NWA Flt 1949's Captain Roy Schooler passed out in the cockpit somewhere over Eau Claire, Wisconsin. In accordance with proper procedure, the First officer took command, stabilized the aircraft and sought medical attention for his Captain.

Boeing's board of directors has elected James A. Bell as chief financial officer for the $54 billion global aerospace company. A 31-year veteran of the company, Bell has been Boeing’s acting CFO since Nov. 24, 2003. Bell, 55, served as senior vice president of finance and corporate controller since October 2000. “James Bell is a superior financial leader,” said Boeing President and CEO Harry Stonecipher. “He is a proven, highly skilled manager who has intimate knowledge of our strategy and champions fiscal transparency. James will be a key member of our leadership team.” As the corporate controller for Boeing, Bell has been responsible for managing the company’s financial and cost accounting, external reporting, cost policy, com