Aero-News Network: The aviation and aerospace world's daily/real-time news and information service

Trial Underway For Amwest Pilots Accused Of Trying To Fly Drunk

Prosecutors Say They Drank "Copious Amounts"

It could be one of the most ballyhooed trials in commercial aviation history -- the case of two America West pilots accused of trying to fly drunk almost two years ago.

Wichita On Subsidy Fight: Paying Delta Like Feeding A Wolf

City Sets Stage For Showdown With FAA

The City of Wichita has paid AirTran $7.5 million since 2002 to fly Kansans to its Atlanta hub. Delta wants a piece of the pie and has complained to the FAA -- sparking a letter from government officials to city leaders calling the payments discriminatory and threatening FAA grants to Mid-Continent Airport. Now, in their reply to the FAA, Wichita's lawyers say paying Delta the same subsidies "is like telling the shepherd that he must feed the wolf so that the wolf can get bigger and stronger and slaughter more sheep."

Aussie's Altitude Violation Blamed On Fatigue

Faulty Air Conditioning System Cited As Contributing Factor

A Qantas 737 flew far below minimum altitude on a flight from Perth to Canberra last year in part because of co-pilot fatigue, according to the ATSB -- and the aircraft's air conditioning system was also a factor.

Come To America. See Maine.

Another Flight Diverted Because Of Suspected No-Fly Passenger

For the second time in less than a week, a commercial flight from Europe was diverted to Bangor, ME, Tuesday because one of the passengers' names popped up on a no-fly list. But this time, officials say the man in question was indeed banned from commercial flights to the US.