Strike Looming? The pilot union leadership for Mesaba Airlines voted unanimously to decline arbitration to settle the pilot contract between Mesaba and ALPA. The Mesaba ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC) -- made up of 12 pilot- representatives -- made the following statement in the resolution declining the NMB offer: " ... the Mesaba MEC does not view binding arbitration as an acceptable option to settle the contract, in accordance with the mandate of the Mesaba pilot group ... "

Forty-two percent of all fatal airline accidents since 1994 -- aside from the September 11th attacks -- can be attributed to maintenance problems. The Charlotte Observer reports that's up 16 percent from the decade before. "To fix a problem, you've got to admit you have a problem and identify it. We haven't gotten to admitting the problem yet," said NTSB member John Goglia. "Unless we start dealing with these issues sooner rather than later, we're going to pay the price and that could mean more deaths."

Qatar Airways has purchased two Bombardier Global Express ultra long-range business jets aircraft and signed an option for two additional Global Express for regional and intercontinental VIP on-demand travel. The aircraft will join Qatar Airways’ large and growing VIP fleet, which currently includes high-end Airbus A340-200, A310-300, A320 and A319CJ aircraft. Three additional VIP aircraft, two A330-200 and an A340-500 will also shortly join the fleet. The first Qatar Airways Global Express is scheduled for delivery in mid-2004, the second in late 2004. The aircraft will feature a 13-passenger, three-compartment configuration with a crew rest area. The Flight division of Qatar Airways will operate the aircraft from its base at Doha International Airport.

AD NUMBER: 2003-24-14 MANUFACTURER: McDonnell Douglas SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2003-24-14 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-81 (MD-81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and MD-88 airplanes. This action requires one-time inspections to detect discrepancies of electrical wiring installations in various areas of the airplane, and corrective action if necessary.