Fear And Loathing In Chicago It was a slap in the face to all of general aviation -- the stealth destruction of the runway at Chicago's venerable Meigs Field. It happened in the early hours of March 31st. Chicago's rabidly anti-GA Mayor, Richard M Daley held a brief news conference Monday afternoon, to explain why he apparently sent heavy equipment to Meigs Field late Sunday night. The Chicago Tribune's Casey Bukro said in its morning edition, "Meigs Field, the city's lakefront airport, was closed early today after construction vehicles showed up overnight and dug up large portions of the runway. At dawn, the view from the top of the Adler Planetarium showed a series of large, X-shaped portions of concrete carved out of the runway's center. Large, illuminate

Yellow Tape In The Sky Who's airspace is it anyway? That was one of the biggest questions among pilots and aviation enthusiasts in 2003, as the government issued Temporary Flight Restrictions hand-over-fist. Flights were restricted or prohibited wherever the president traveled. The vice president was covered by an aerial blanket as well. In fact, a lot of VIP's traveled in protected bubbles of airspace in 2003.

A Troubled Aviation Industry Celebrates 100 Years Of Flight In a year marked by increased paranoia on the part of governments and air passengers, when the industry was in one of its worst slumps ever and terrorists threatened to again turn commercial flights into guided weapons, the world tried hard to put it all aside and celebrate the Centennial Of Flight. But, alas, even the weather turned against us. Of the December 16th ceremonies under rainy skies at Kill Devil Hills (NC), we wrote: Gray sky, chilly air and pouring rain did not dampen the sprit of an enthusiastic crowd Dec. 17 as they awaited the arrival of the event’s most anticipated guest speaker. President George W. Bush was scheduled to address the crowd at the Wright Brothers National Mem

Oil Spill Hazard NOTAM: 3/2261 Issued: 12/30/2003 16:02 Effective: Immediately - Until Further Notice State: WA Facility: ZSE - SEATTLE (ARTCC),AUBURN,WA. Type: HAZARDS Description: EDMONDS, WA. 

More False Security? NOTAM: 3/2274 Issued: 12/30/2003 22:50 Effective: Undetermined - Undetermined State: NY Facility: ZNY - NEW YORK (ARTCC),NY. Type: SECURITY Description: NEW YORK, NY.

So, Just Between Us Flyers... Do You Feel More Secure? NOTAM: 3/2275 Issued: 12/30/2003 22:52 Effective: Undetermined - Undetermined State: Facility: ZLA - LOS ANGELES (ARTCC)PALMDALE, CA. Type: SECURITY Description: LAS VEGAS, NV.