Jet Ready To Enter Worldwide Service

Amidst its sagging ales and internal controversy, Boeing does have a bit of positive news to celebrate this week. The Boeing 777-300ER, the newest member of the 777 commercial airplane family, has received U.S. and European certification and cleared its last hurdle toward commercial operations. The FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have formally recognized that the 777-300ER passed all testing and safety requirements during an eleven-month flight-test program. The FAA and EASA certifications grant an amended type certificate for the 777, as well as a production certificate, which authorizes Boeing to build the 777-300ER.

CAPPS II Continues To Draw Fire 

Congress, the Bush administration and major airlines all say they want the same thing: a computerized passenger screening program that will keep dangerous people off airliners. But not all are pleased with the way the two-year-old project is taking shape. The Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System, or CAPPS II, would rank all air passengers according to the likelihood of their being terrorists. But some say the project would violate privacy rights, while others are concerned it would cost the private sector too much money. The House aviation subcommittee scheduled a hearing on the status of CAPPS II on Wednesday. Congress last year ordered its investigative arm to report on whether CAPPS II safeguards passenger privacy. The audito

Aircraft Maintenance Excellence Earns Agency's Highest Honor

Delta Connection Academy has received the FAA's Diamond Award for Excellence. The award, the FAA's most prestigious Maintenance honor was awarded to recognize the Academy's aircraft maintenance training and safety work. FAA officials recently presented the Diamond Award Certificate of Excellence to Delta Connection Academy's Maintenance team at the flight training school's headquarters at Orlando International Airport in Florida. In winning the honor, Delta Connection Academy exceeded FAA Diamond Award requirements by having 75 percent of its eligible maintenance technicians pass specialized, ongoing training in a 12-month period.