Boeing and Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise (SALE) announced Tuesday an order by the lessor for 10 Boeing 737-800s, plus 10 options and 10 additional purchase rights.

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/6237 Issue Date: April 25, 2006 at 18:59 UTC Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Beginning Date and Time: April 27, 2006 at 15:50 UTC Ending Date and Time: April 27, 2006 at 19:00 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Temporary flight restrictions for VIP (Very Important Person) Movement Type: VIP Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A

Plane Was Carrying US Drug Enforcement Officials

A transport plane chartered by the US is down after overshooting the runway in Lashka Gar, Afghanistan Monday. Two Ukranian crew members onboard the Antonov AN-32 are dead, as are three on the ground, after the plane apparently veered sharply to avoid hitting a vehicle that wandered on the runway.

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/6212 Issue Date: April 25, 2006 at 16:55 UTC Location: Nogales, Arizona near NOGALES VOR/DME (OLS) Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: Until further notice Reason for NOTAM: To provide a safe environment for accident investigation Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) System Operations Support Center, 202-267-3333

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/6218 Issue Date: April 25, 2006 at 17:19 UTC Location: Gulfport/Biloxi, Mississippi Beginning Date and Time: April 27, 2006 at 18:30 UTC Ending Date and Time: April 27, 2006 at 21:20 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Temporary flight restrictions for VIP (Very Important Person) Movement Type: VIP Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A

Smackdown!

Last week, Aero-News reported on National Air Traffic Controllers Association president John Carr's attempt to convince the FAA to return to the bargaining table. That request was met with silence from FAA Administrator Marion Blakey... until Tuesday, when Blakey (below, right) responded. Here's the letter.

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/6203 Issue Date: April 25, 2006 at 12:56 UTC Location: Vieques Island, Puerto Rico near ST THOMAS VOR/DME (STT) Beginning Date and Time: April 28, 2006 at 11:00 UTC Ending Date and Time: April 28, 2006 at 20:00 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Ordinance disposal Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: San Juan (ZSU) Center, 787-253-8664

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/6202 Issue Date: April 25, 2006 at 12:55 UTC Location: Vieques Island, Puerto Rico near ST THOMAS VOR/DME (STT) Beginning Date and Time: April 28, 2006 at 11:00 UTC Ending Date and Time: April 28, 2006 at 20:00 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Ordinance disposal Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: San Juan (ZSU) Center, 787-253-8664

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/6201 Issue Date: April 25, 2006 at 12:54 UTC Location: Vieques Island, Puerto Rico near ST THOMAS VOR/DME (STT) Beginning Date and Time: April 27, 2006 at 11:00 UTC Ending Date and Time: April 27, 2006 at 20:00 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Ordinance disposal Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: San Juan (ZSU) Center, 787-253-8664

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/6200 Issue Date: April 25, 2006 at 12:40 UTC Location: Vieques Island, Puerto Rico near ST THOMAS VOR/DME (STT) Beginning Date and Time: April 27, 2006 at 11:00 UTC Ending Date and Time: April 27, 2006 at 20:00 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Ordinance disposal Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: San Juan (ZSU) Center, 787-253-8664

Entrepreneur, Rotorcraft Designer

Aero-News has learned of some sad news from California. United Helicopters and Hiller Aviation founder Stanley Hiller, Jr., passed away last week from complications caused by Alzheimers. The noted designer was 81.

Tom Turner's Aero-Craft 101: Hazardous Weather Decisions

ANN Daily Touch N Go: 04.25.06 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program) ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 04.25.06 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program) ANN Special Feature -- Tom Turner's Aero Craft 101: 04.25.06 (ANN Special Feature, with CFI Tom Turner on hazardous-weather-related decision making.)

This Woulda Been A GREAT April 1st Story

The following is the kind of story that makes you immediately check the byline date to make sure it's not April Fools Day -- yup, that was almost four weeks ago. But nope, this one seems for real.

Is He Deluded, Insane, Or Pure Evil?

After hearing -- and seeing -- closing arguments Monday from both sides in the death penalty trial of confessed al-Qaeda conspirator Zacharias Moussaoui, jurors deliberated for three hours on whether to sentence the 37-year-old Frenchman to death, before retiring for the evening.

Will Include Enhanced Training For Icing Conditions

Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Cessna Aircraft Company and the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA) announced Monday they have formed a coalition to increase awareness on Cessna Caravan 208 operational safety.

Will Blast Off For ISS In 2007

Columbus is about to discover America... well, in a manner of speaking. Construction on the International Space Station's Columbus module -- the European Space Agency's major contribution to the ISS -- is finished.

Tuesday, Maybe?

Their kingdom for a refueling aircraft! That may have been what scientists at Vandenberg AFB in California were saying this weekend, lamenting the delay in the launch of the CloudSat and CALIPSO satellites due to a matter not of technology or weather, but of logistics.

NATCA Says Membership May Opt For Early Retirement

It wasn't all that long ago that a hiring binge began at the FAA, to replace striking air traffic controllers fired by President Ronald Reagan after they refused to return to work... and now, those controllers are looking at their own retirement, for several reasons -- not the least of those reasons is, again, a labor contract dispute.

Aviation-Related Awards Range From $1,000 To $2,000

The International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) Foundation has a suggestion for those out there with an aviation bent, but perhaps can't afford to complete their training. The organization is currently accepting scholarship applications from qualified men and women seeking to enhance or expand their flight training... and even their aerobatic skills.

First European GA Manufacturer To Offer System

AmSafe Aviation, the world's leading provider of seatbelts and inflatable restraints, announced Monday that Diamond Aircraft will join the growing list of manufacturers that install AmSafe Aviation Inflatable Restraints (AAIR) by making the belts standard equipment for the pilot and copilot on board its new DA40 Diamond Star and DA42 Twin Star aircraft.

Trans States Airlines Had Planned To Leave In May

Deep in the heart of Missouri, there lies a quiet little city named Columbia. The city is home to Columbia Regional Airport... which is served somewhat begrudgingly by Trans States Airlines, the only scheduled airline that flies there.

Options For Five More

India's Kingfisher Airlines has signed a contract for five Airbus A340-500 and an option for five more, Airbus reported Monday. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2008, and are the latest "high gross weight" versions of the A340.

Aero-Tips!

A question that often comes up when training pilots about circling approaches is, "when is it required to miss the approach during the circling portion of the maneuver?"

Aero-Linx!

Lockheed Skunk Works -- the name brings to mind stealth and secrecy. The Skunk Works is the birthplace of numerous top secret aircraft.

Aero-Terms!

Depart from Hover -- A guidance mode providing lateral guidance, longitudinal guidance and vertical guidance for a set heading or bank angle, a set speed, and a set climb rate, altitude or pitch.

"...a veritable caricature of an al-Qaida terrorist"

"...the operative who couldn't shoot straight"

"...the only al-Qaida operative inept enough to be captured before 9/11."

Source: Three of defense attorney Gerald Zerkin's Keystone Kops-like characterizations of confessed al-Qaeda operative Zacharias Moussaoui, in closing arguments Monday in the man's death penalty case.

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/6172 Issue Date: April 24, 2006 at 21:40 UTC Location: 28 MILES SOUTH OF WINSLOW , Arizona Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: Until further notice Reason for NOTAM: TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR FIRE FIGHTING AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: ALBUQUERQUE (ZAB) Automated Flight Service Station, 505-856-4580