Gus McLeod took off from Ushuaia, Argentina Friday morning, determined to cross the South Pole. According to Dr. Barbara Ganson, from Florida Atlantic University, Gus' departure looked terrific from the tower. "From the tower we had direct communication with Gus for about a half hour until he reached his first check in point at the end of the Beagle Canal." However; ice did force him down enroute to the Pole. McLeod made an unplanned landing at Rothera Research Station on Adelaide Island after icing up. A spokesman, Josh Brooks, noted that it was "very uncertain" as to whether Gus was going to be able to continue his flight due to an expected blizzard. The Rothera landing came after McLeod made the decision to turn around, enroute, to affect the landing at the station.

Avidyne has done it again. One of the first GA manufacturers to come out of the gate with a certified EFIS application for a production GA airframe has added another aircraft to the list. Diamond's DA40-180 DiamondStar is now certified with Avidyne's FlightMax Entegra integrated flight deck, including Avidyne's new primary engine instrument (EMax) capability. The FlightMax Entegra system for the DiamondStar consists of two 10.4-inch diagonal, high-resolution, sunlight-readable displays; a FlightMax Entegra EXP5000 primary flight display (PFD) with an integrated solid-state air data and attitude/heading reference system (ADAHRS), and the EX5000 multi-function display (MFD).

Conklin & de Decker has released the 2004 State Tax Guide for General Aviation. The guide comes on a CD ROM covering taxes on general aviation in the fifty United States. The guide shows how sales and use taxes apply to aircraft sales, ownership, leases, parts and labor. Also, common exemptions from the state sales and/or use taxes are explored. Information on aircraft registration fees, personal property taxes, jet fuel and aviation gasoline taxes are included. In addition to tax information contact information for each state's Departments of Revenue and Aviation is provided.

VIP TFR For Springfield NOTAM: 4/0942 Issued: 02/06/2004 20:14 Effective: 02/09/2004 17:30 - 02/09/2004 19:55 State: MO Facility: ZKC - KANSAS CITY (ARTCC),MO. Type: VIP Description: SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, FEBRUARY 9, 2004 LOCAL.