Our friends at AEA have started alerting the aviation industry (primarily, repair stations) to comment on problems they see with the latest DRAFT Part 145 Training AC. We're happy to pass it along to you and urge you to suppport AEA's effots with your study of the Draft AC and your comments. SUBJECT: FAA Publishes DRAFT Part 145 Training AC for Comment SUMMARY: The long awaited Advisory Circular defining the scope and description of the Repair Station Training manual has now been published for public review and comment.

Alert To Pilots:  Wing Upper Surface Ice Accumulation

As a result of a recent takeoff accident that has generated much discussion about the effects of wing upper surface ice accumulations, the National Transportation Safety Board is issuing the following alert letter to pilots: Wing Upper Surface Ice Accumulation Alert The National Transportation Safety Board has long been concerned about the insidious nature of the effects of small amounts of ice accumulated on an airplane's upper wing surface. 

Orders 10 Boeing 7E7s, Accelerates Leases for Next-Generation 737s, Adds 757s to Fleet 

Boeing and Continental Airlines have just announced major steps in support of the airline's growth, including its plans to purchase ten 7E7 Dreamliner airplanes. The companies signed an agreement calling for delivery of the 7E7-8s beginning in 2009. The 7E7 order is valued at approximately US$1.3 billion at list prices. Boeing and Continental expect to formally complete the agreement early in 2005.

By ANN Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell On a recent jaunt to DC, I worked the halls of Congress as well as the offices of many of the alphabet associations and government agencies that support the aviation world. It was a fascinating week... with some interesting intel and rumors coming to light.

Klyde Finishes Up His Christmas Tale...

To many in the aviation and aerospace community, their interest in such lofty pursuits was sparked by the work a singular talent that wrote long and well about the things to be seen and done beyond this Earth. We're pleased to say that this man, Sir Arthur Clarke, who has made his home in Sri Lanka for many years, has survived the recent devastation experienced in that part of the world.

Among the most avidly read special issues of our year are ANN's Year-End Wrap-Up and New Year's Expectations and Prognostications. Each year we wrap up the 'year that was' on December 31st... in terms of the top stories, people and issues that made the year so memorable and rearkable. But... we still need YOUR input this time around!

Crew Chief's Small Discovery Uncovers Large Safety Problem

Sergeant Shawn A. Howard is a defensive weapon of the rarest kind. He is one of only a handful of Marines who ensure the safety of combat aircraft at the depot level. He has a personal stake in such duties.

An AP story making the rounds suggests that the FBI is investigating a possible laster attack on a commercial airliner. Details are scant, but the report asserts that an airliner traveling some 15 miles away from the Cleveland-Hopkins Airport was struck by a high-intensity laser at 8500 feet.

This direct final rule removes the requirement for a pyrotechnic signaling device required for aircraft operated for hire over water and beyond power-off gliding distance from shore for air carriers operating under part 121 unless it is part of a required life raft.

The B-17, Liberty Belle, took to the air for the first time in almost four decades on 8 December 2004 putting the flying back into Flying Fortress again. Don Brooks, founder of the Liberty Foundation, was on hand to see the maiden flight as she circled over the former Flying Tigers Warbird Museum (having been clobbered into temporary closure by a number of consecutive hurricanes) at the Kissimmee Gateway airport in Florida where she had spent the last 14 years under restoration.

A fire caused an MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to crash while supporting operations near Balad Air Base, Iraq, on Aug. 17, according to an Air Force report released Dec. 29.

Double Flame-Out Downs F-15

A loss of fuel to both engines resulted in a dual-engine flameout causing an F-15 Eagle to crash June 18 about 60 miles north of Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., according to an Air Force report released Dec. 29.

By John Alan Cohan, Esq. Clearly, the aviation industry industry is important to the economy of the United States. There are many issues that have come into sharp focus for the aviation industry since the September 11 terrorist attacks, including effects of the free market, increased insurance costs, terrorism, change in customer habits, expenses led by new security measures, rising fuel costs, and emerging markets such as ownership of fractional interests in private aircraft.

Airmen from Yokota Air Base, Japan, are among those bringing the first wave of relief for people on the coastlines of Southeast Asia and Eastern Africa. The area was devastated by a massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake and equally powerful tsunamis.

"This is NOT the GA and BizAv industry of old, where it took phenomenal pressure to provoke a reaction... this is a  proactive as well as aggressively reactive industry that knows that it must protect itself at all costs... even from foes who should be on their side to begin with. We lost a lot as a result of 9/11, we're not going to give anything else up without one hell of a fight." Source: ANN Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, commenting on rumors that the airline industry may seek to place some of the blame for their misfortunes on the BizAv and GA world's "not paying their fair share" for their use of America's aviation infrastructure... even though studies suggest that such an argument is bot

NOTAM: 4/3872 Issued: 12/29/2004 22:50 Effective: 12/30/2004 17:30 - 12/30/2004 21:30 State: UT Facility: ZLC - SALT LAKE CITY (ARTCC),UT. Type: HAZARDS Description: PROVO CANYON UT.

NOTAM: 4/3870 Issued: 12/29/2004 22:00 Effective: 01/01/2005 01:00 - 01/01/2005 07:00 State: NY Facility: ZNY - NEW YORK (ARTCC),NY. Type: SECURITY Description: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORKBRIEF.

AD NUMBER: 2004-26-03 MANUFACTURER: Rolls Royce SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-26-03 SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Rolls-Royce plc (RR) models RB211- 535E4-37, RB211-535E4-B-37, RB211-535C-37, RB211-535E4-B-75, and RB211-22B-02 turbofan engines.