A Pilot With A Sordid Past, Authorities Arrest Missing Drug Pilot Barrington Slack

On Monday at about 4 PM, Waller County Sheriff?s Office Deputies and Department of Homeland Security Agents arrested Barrington Carl Slack as he was leaving from Carinos Italian Restaurant, East Humble, Texas. Slack, 33, was identified as the pilot of the twin engine aircraft that crashed landed at the Houston Executive Airport Read More

Air Transat Lays Off Its Pilots And Outsources To Foreign Pilots

November 29, 2011 ? The Air Transat pilots?, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int?l (ALPA), reacted to the announcement of the layoff of 17 pilots and denounced the airline?s subcontracting strategy which utilizes seasonal foreign workers. Air Transat sent layoff notices to 17 of its pilots. Based in Toronto, and hailing from Quebec Read More

University Professor Caught Viewing Child Pornography On A Delta Flight

November 29, 2011 ? Grant Smith a professor at the University of Utah on Monday pleaded not guilty in East Boston District Court to charges filed against him that he was viewing child pornography on his laptop during a flight from Salt Lake City to Boston Logan Airport on Saturday. Bail was set at $75,000. The Massachusetts State Police said the 47-year-old Grant Smith  Read More

American Airlines Files Bankruptcy Protection Under Chapter 11

November 29, 2011 - American Airlines, Inc. announced that its parent company, AMR Corporation, and certain United States-based subsidiaries today voluntarily filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. American took this action in order to achieve a cost and debt structure that is competitive in the airline industry so that it can continue its operations. American  Read More

Bail Denied For Man Plotting Attack On Gov Buildings With Remote Controlled Aircraft

November 28, 2011 - Rezwan Ferdaus, a 26-year-old U.S. citizen from Massachusetts accused of plotting to attack U.S. government buildings using explosives-laden remote-control model aircraft was ordered today held without bail on Monday by Federal Judge Timothy Hillman, who ruled he was an "intelligent and troubled young  Read More

Qantas Airways Drops Red Q Idea, Opportunity To Build Employee Relations

November 28, 2011 - The collapse of plans to set up a new premium airline in Southeast Asia presents an opportunity to Qantas management to refocus on Qantas operations in Australia. Qantas management?s plans to establish a ?Red Q? airline in Singapore or Malaysia have been put on indefinite hold, confirming the predictions of Australian and  Read More

Four Killed In Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend Plane Crash At Crystal Lake

November 27, 2011 - On Saturday morning a single engine Cirrus SR20 airplane departed Marion Municipal Airport, Marion, Indiana with four people onboard. At about 10:25 AM, all four people were killed when the Cirrus SR20 aircraft crashed in a farm field near U.S. Route 14 and North Ridgefield Road near Crystal Lake Airport, McHenry County, Indiana. Crystal Lake is a  Read More

One Of Japan?s Largest Airlines All Nippon Airways To Merge With Air Nippon

November 27, 2011 - All Nippon Airways and Air Nippon announce that, in a decision made at the meetings of their respective Boards of Directors held on November 25, 2011, the companies will merge. Air Nippon (ANK) is a regional airline based in the Shiodome City Center complex in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. A wholly owned subsidiary of All Nippon Airways (ANA)  Read More

A Mother's Worse Nightmare, Children Killed In Plane Crash At Superstition Mountains

November 26, 2011 - On Wednesday a twin-engine Rockwell 690A twin turboprop aircraft, tail number N690SM, had its fuel tanks topped off at its home base Safford Regional Airport (SAD), Safford Arizona. The aircraft departed with its pilot Shawn Perry, 39, copilot Russell Hardy, 31, who is the owner of the aircraft and Ponderosa  Read More

Airbus Begins Final Assembly Of The First A400M For France

November 26, 2011 - Following the launch of A400M series production last February, Airbus Military has begun final assembly of the first A400M that will be delivered to a customer ?the French Air Force. The fuselage for this aircraft, known as MSN7, arrived at the final assembly line in Seville (Spain) on board an Airbus Beluga. The wings and nose a  Read More

Union Leaders Fight Boeing From Moving KC-767 Tanker Program From Wichita

November 24, 2011 - The union representing engineers at The Boeing Company is calling on the company to honor its commitment to use the Wichita site for the U.S. Air Force KC-767 tanker program in the wake of the recent announcement that the future of the site is under evaluation including the option of closing  Read More

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) To Be Stripped Of Financial Authority

November 24, 2011 - Passengers' needs are to be put first under new airports legislation published on Wednesday by UK?s Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening. The Civil Aviation Bill will replace the current economic regulation duties of the aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), with a single primary duty to promote the Read More

Drug Plane Skids Off Runway Pilots Whereabouts Unknown

November 22, 2011 - On Monday around 7:15 PM a twin engine 1968 Beechcraft 60 aircraft, N523AA, made a hard landing, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft skidded off the runway into the grass at Houston Executive Airport. Airport employees ran over to the accident site to see if anyone was injured but the occupants and the pilot  Read More

Airbus Begins Manufacturing The Wings For The First A350 XWB

November 22, 2011 - Assembly of the 32 meter long carbon fiber wings for the first A350 XWB (MSN1) has started at Airbus? recently opened ?North Factory? in Broughton, UK. Most of the A350 XWB wing is made of light-weight carbon composites, including the upper and lower wing covers, stringers, front and rear spars. The advanced structural designs  Read More

Gulfstream G650 Receives Provisional Type Certificate

November 21, 2011 - Gulfstream G650 received its provisional type certificate (PTC) from the Federal Aviation Administration. This clears the way for the company to begin interior completions of the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range business jet in preparation for customer deliveries in the second quarter of 2012, as originally planned. The Gulfstream G650 is a twin-engine  Read More

Boeing Aircraft Makes Record Sales With A Week To Remember

November 21, 2011 - Boeing's history-making week has resulted in orders and commitments for 359 airplanes. Boeing has now set a new record for the B-777 orders in a single year with 192 to date. That surpasses the previous record of 154 set in 2005. The company also announced two record-setting deals with Emirates and Lion Air, as well as other deals during and after the Dubai Airshow  Read More

Expressjet Merger Creates World?s Largest Regional Airline

November 20, 2011 - SkyWest announces its wholly owned subsidiary, Atlantic Southeast Airlines (?Atlantic Southeast?), and ExpressJet Airlines (?ExpressJet?) a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlantic Southeast, received approval Thursday from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a single operating certificate. This was the Read More

Southwest Airlines Announces New TV Series To Air On TLC

November 20, 2011 - Southwest Airlines announce production will begin this week on a new series giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at modern air travel, sharing the large-scale operations and personal Customer and Employee stories at Southwest Airlines. The series will air on TLC, and the network has ordered 13 half-hour Read More

OSU Coach Kurt Budke, Assistant Coach Miranda Serna Killed In Plane Crash

November 19, 2011 - Oklahoma State University women?s basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant women?s basketball coach Miranda Serna were killed along with two others Thursday night in a plane crash. Also killed in the crash were OSU alumni and supporters Olin and Paula Branstetter of Ponca City. Branstetter, age 82, Read More

Delta Connection Pilot Locked In Bathroom Another Reminder Of 911

November 17, 2011 - On Wednesday an Indianapolis based Chautauqua Airlines operating as a Delta flight departed Asheville, North Carolina for La Guardia International Airport, New York with 14 passengers. Upon approaching New York, ATC instructed the pilots flying the Embraer 145 commuter jet, Flight 6132 that they could expect a holding pattern  Read More

Coast Guard Orchestrates Plane Ditching In Pacific Ocean, Pilot Rescued

November 17, 2011 - The Big Island of Hawaii lies in the center of the vast Pacific Ocean more than 2,500 miles from the nearest point of land. Yet despite its remoteness, dozens of aircraft of all sizes make the long flight each day without issue. For one pilot flying from California in a small twin engine Cessna 310, this was a routine  Read More

Airlines Take Legal Action To Stop $3.4 Billion In Loan Guarantees To Air India

November 17, 2011 - The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, filed suit against the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) to halt a pending deal for $3.4 billion in loan guarantees for aircraft financing to Air India, saying that it fails to meet statutory requirements, including  Read More

Southwest Passenger Sues Airline For Failing To Honor 45 Free Drinks

November 17, 2011 - Adam Levitt from Illinois, a frequent flyer of Southwest Airlines filed a class action lawsuit (Adam J. Levitt V. Southwest Airlines Case: 1:11-cv-08176 U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois) on Wednesday against the carrier for failing to honor his free alcoholic drink coupons which was an incentive for Read More

ICE Deports Man Who Killed 2 During JFK Airport Hostage Standoff

November 17, 2011 - A former lawful permanent resident, Luis Robinson who was once an enlisted member of the U.S. Navy, was deported Wednesday to Panama. He had killed two people during a 1977 hostage standoff at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The Robinson was escorted from Buffalo, New York, to Panama  Read More

Mesa Sells Off Mokulele Flight Services To Transpac Aviation

November 17, 2011 - Mesa Air Group announced the sale of Mokulele Flight Services, Inc., its inter-island turboprop service operating four, nine seat, Cessna Caravan aircraft to Scottsdale, Arizona based Transpac Aviation, Inc. Mesa will continue to operate its jet inter-island service  Read More

Delta Air Lines Blocks Important Health Ad On In-flight Programming

November 16, 2011 - The non-profit National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) is calling public pressure placed on Delta Air Lines by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to censor an NVIC video about flu prevention an ?act of intimidation? to block public access to full and accurate health  Read More

GE Aviation Signed Deals Valued At $12 Billion In Engines And Services

November 16, 2011 - GE Aviation has signed new engine orders and service agreements valued at $11.9 billion at the Dubai Air Show. The company also announced that it would design and build a $120 million engine overhaul facility for Emirates airline in Dubai. The orders include a $6 billion engine and service contract to  Read More

EU Adopts Tough Rules On The Use Of Security Scanners At Airports

November 16, 2011 - The European Commission has adopted on Monday a proposal for an European Union legal framework on security scanners. This legislation allows airports and Member States that wish to use security scanners for the screening of passengers to do so under strict operational and technical conditions. Member States have been  Read More

Boeing Projects $350 Billion Market For Airplanes In The Middle East

November 15, 2011 - Boeing forecasts that airlines in the Middle East will need an estimated 2,520 airplanes worth $450 billion by 2030. The forecast comes as the region's carriers continue to surpass global air traffic and capacity growth rates. Boeing estimates that the Middle East's fleet of passenger airplanes will grow from a current  Read More

Auction Opened For Slots At New York And Washington Airports

November 15, 2011 - Bidding by airlines for the authority to take off and land at New York LaGuardia and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport begins yesterday, under the terms of a decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that will allow Delta Air Lines, Inc. and US Airways, Inc. to exchange some of their operating  Read More

UK Civil Aviation Authority Publishes Standards On ATOL Reform

November 15, 2011 - The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Monday published an Information Paper for the tour operator industry regarding proposed reforms to the Air Travel Organizers' Licensing (ATOL) scheme, which provides financial protection for holidaymakers. Air Travel Organizers' Licensing   Read More

Travel Association Commends The Obama Admin For Signing APEC Legislation

November 15, 2011 - The U.S. Travel Association expressed its strong support for the robust travel facilitation agenda pursued by the Obama Administration as part of its hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders? summit in Honolulu. The U.S. Travel Association expressed its strong support for the robust travel Read More

DOT Sends Out Clear Message To Airlines Regarding Tarmac Delay Rule

November 14, 2011 - November In April 2010, Department of Transportation (DOT) put a three-hour tarmac delay rule in place to protect airline passengers.  And more than a year later, as we head into the holiday travel season, DOT reports the rule is working to keep extended Read More

Medrar Financial Acquires Diamond Aircraft

November 14, 2011 - Medrar Financial Group and Diamond Aircraft Holdings have announced on Monday that an agreement has been signed for the acquisition of a majority interest of Diamond Aircraft Holdings, Canada.In addition to a range of Diamond Aircraft's gasoline powered piston aircrafts, the agreement also includes the revolutionary D-JET Read More

Couple Bound For Houston Sues AirTran Airways For Cockroach Infestation

November 14, 2011 - Charlotte based attorney Harry Marsh, and his fianc?e, Kaitlin Rush a couple from North Carolina are suing AirTran Airways, in their suite they are claiming that the September 15th, Houston bound fight that they were on was infested with cockroaches. Marsh and Rush claimed that cockroaches could be seen  Read More

Airtran Airways Will Cease Operations At Several Airports Next Year

November 14, 2011 - AirTran Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines told its Employees on Friday that its operations will cease in June 2012 at the following airports: Knoxville?s McGhee Tyson Airport, Miami International, Central Illinois Regional Airport Bloomington Normal, Ill., Charleston?s Yeager Airport in West Virginia (CRW), and Read More

Aerospace Designer Burt Rutan Hailed For Lifetime Of Achievement

November 13, 2011 - Burt Rutan, legendary aerospace designer and founder of Scaled Composites, was presented Flightglobal's Lifetime Achievement Award for bringing to life some of the world's most unique and innovative aircraft leading to long-range flight breakthroughs and the beginning of commercial space Read More

NTSB Orders Pinnacle Airlines Turn Over Emails On Pilots In The Colgan Air Crash

November 13, 2011 - In 2009, a Colgan Air Bombardier operating as Continental Connection crashed on an instrument approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Buffalo, New York all 47 people onboard were killed. The NTSB investigated the crash and had issued its report. The investigation was a lengthy process which included testimony  Read More

Mexico?s Secretary Of The Interior And Drug Czar Killed In Helicopter Crash

November 12, 2011 - Mexico?s Secretary of the Interior Jose Francisco Blake Mora died on Friday in a helicopter crash along with eight other people just outside Mexico City when his helicopter an Aerospatiale Super Puma crashed under heavy fog conditions in a mountainous area of Chalco. Mora was Mexico's top cabinet  Read More

Coalition Warns If LightSquared Moves Forward There Will Be GPS Disruption

November 12, 2011 - Representatives of the Coalition to Save Our GPS on told the Space Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) National Advisory Board that if LightSquared is allowed to proceed with the its plans to establish a high powered terrestrial broadband network in spectrum long reserved for satellite transmissions the costs and   Read More

ORBIS International Brings World?s Only Flying Eye Hospital To Memphis

November 11, 2011 - ORBIS International, a leading global organization dedicated to saving sight worldwide, makes its final U.S. stop in Memphis as part of the North American Goodwill Tour. The tour kicked off earlier this year in Los Angeles with the announcement by FedEx of a new 5-year, $5.375 million commitment to ORBIS in the  Read More

Airbus Discontinues A340 And A350 Sees Further Delays

November 11, 2011 - Airbus has reported that it will push back plans for market entry of the A350 XWB for as much as six months due to difficulties in getting aircraft parts. This is the second delay for the aircraft manufacturer, attempting to avoid the same mistakes it made with the A380 double-decker program. The A350 will be the first Airbus with both fuselage and wing structures made primarily of Read More

FAA Launches "Report Wildlife Strikes" A General Aviation Wildlife Outreach

November 10, 2011 - The FAA recently launched a wildlife poster outreach campaign for the general aviation (GA) community; pilots, airport sponsors, mechanics, engine manufacturers, students at aviation schools, and aviation organizations to increase wildlife strike reporting among this important segment of aviation  Read More

Ipad Update Leads To Missing Charts For Pilots

November 10, 2011 - A recent operating system update for Apple's immensely popular iPad tablet computer left many pilots dismayed to learn they were missing some very important files and applications, and that doesn?t include "Angry Birds." Within days after Apple released its iOS 5 update on October 12, several pilots with aeronautical charts and other flight information downloaded onto their Read More

Two U.S. Commercial Airlines Make History By Flying Fights On Biofuel Blends

November 9, 2011 - Aviation fans are fond of recalling great milestones in the industry. December 17, 1903: the Wright brothers took off from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. May 21, 1927: Charles Lindbergh landed in Paris, completing the first transatlantic flight. October 14, 1947: Chuck Yeager officially broke the sound  Read More

RAF Aerobatic Team Pilot Killed When Ejected From Aircraft While On The Ground

November 9, 2011 - Capt Blake of the Royal Air Force has confirmed that on Tuesday there was a ground incident involving one of the RAF Aerobatic Team BAE Hawk T1 aircraft that resulted in the death of a pilot, Lieutenant Sean Cunningham. The pilot was accidentally ejected from the aircraft while the aircraft was on the ground. The accident  Read More

Secret Spy Satellite Work Declassified

November 9, 2011 - In September 2011, the world at large learned that some 250 GE engineers and manufacturing workers were honored by a U.S. president. That president was Ronald Regan and his presidential commendation took place 17 years ago, in August 1984. The reason for the delay was the workers?s top-secret mission, which was only just declassified: they were building  Read More

CBP Finds Incendiary Device At Chicago's O'Hare Airport Bound For Japan

November 9, 2011 - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Chicago's O'Hare Airport on Monday made an interesting discovery in outbound mail of a live Vietnam-era military incendiary device that was being shipped on a flight to Japan. CBP officers found the device while examining outbound mail packages. The item was manifested  Read More

Southwest Airlines Pilots Approve Seniority Integration Agreement

November 9, 2011 - Plots from Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways voted to approve an agreement that will merge the two carriers? pilot seniority lists into one. Southwest pilots approved this deal by 83.56 percent with 95.1 percent of their pilots voting. AirTran?s pilots approved the new agreement by 83.58 percent with 93.99 percent voting. Southwest Airlines? purchase Read More

Jack The Cat Has Been Euthanized After Being Lost Two Months At JFK Airport

November 7, 2011 - American Airlines reported that on Sunday Jack the cat had to be euthanized by a veterinarian. ?We are deeply saddened that Jack the Cat has passed away, and we offer profound sympathy to Jack?s owner, Karen Pascoe, for her loss. Our heart also goes out to the Friends of Jack and those in the cat-loving community who have grown fond of Jack since he went missing  Read More

GE Study Identifies Potential Navigation Improvements At Sun Valley Airport

November 7, 2011 - A GE study of airspace around Sun Valley Airport has identified significant improvements in airport access that could be achieved during periods of inclement weather with the deployment of new, advanced instrument approach procedures. The study found that new procedures, using Required  Read More

Wind Tunnel Validates Design And Fuel Efficiency On Cseries Aircraft

November 7, 2011 - Bombardier Aerospace confirmed that final results of a three-phase wind tunnel test program provided further validation of the CSeries aircraft?s aerodynamic design. They also support design predictions that the CSeries aircraft, optimized specifically for the growing 100- to 149-seat market, will deliver a step-change in fuel efficiency Read More

EL AL Israel Airlines To Equip Aircraft With WheelTug Aircraft Drive System

November 7, 2011 - EL AL Israel Airlines Ltd. and WheelTug executed a Letter of Intent to enter an agreement under which EL AL will obtain a substantial part of the initial production of WheelTug Aircraft Drive Systems for Boeing 737NG Aircraft for installation on their own aircraft subject to financial and operational feasibility checks  Read More

Garmin Bids Farewell To The GNS 430/530 And Introduces GTN Series Transceiver

November 7, 2011 - Since their introduction in 1998, the Garmin GNS series GPS/NAV/COM products have been widely accepted, with over 100,000 of them flying the skies today. But 13 years later, the time has come to bid farewell. Due to decreased demand and limited parts availability, Garmin announced that the company will soon stop accepting  Read More

The 2012 Bahamas & Caribbean Pilot's Guide Still The Best After 34 Years!

November 6, 2011 - It's amazing, pilots still like to have the beautifully printed Pilot's Guide in the cockpit when travelling to the islands. Sure, having the iPad app is great too, but there's nothing like flipping through colorful pages as you fly over island after island. This 34th edition of The 2012 Bahamas & Caribbean Pilot's Guide makes it  Read More

ATA Projects Full Flights, Despite 2 Percent Decline In Thanksgiving Air Travel

November 4, 2011 - The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, advised passengers to expect full flights during the upcoming Thanksgiving travel season, even though about 37,000 fewer people per day are expected to fly during the holiday period compared with last year, as U.S  Read More

U.S. Travel Industry Urges Improved Efficiency At Nation?s Airports

November 4, 2011 - In testimony before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow addressed the economic damage inflicted by the current inefficiencies in the passenger screening process. ?For the travel community  Read More

Business Aviation Essential To Local Economies And National Interest

November 4, 2011 - The only airport serving Nashua, NH has kicked off construction of a new, 6,000-foot runway to increase the safety and range capabilities of business airplanes. The occasion has prompted local officials to point up the economic benefits the airport provides, and the role of the new runway in attracting more business investment and  Read More

Clay Lacy To Be Honored By Kansas Aviation Hall Of Fame

November 3, 20111 - Legendary pilot and aviation executive returns home to celebrate lifelong contributions to aviation. From the time he was a young boy growing up in the farmland of Wichita, Kansas during the Great Depression, veteran pilot and business aviation pioneer Clay Lacy experienced a natural fascination with  Read More

OSHA Announces Final Rules Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower Procedures

November 3, 2011 - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has publish interim final rules in today?s Federal Register that revise the regulations governing whistleblower complaints filed under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The act protects employees of publicly traded companies and their subsidiaries, and  Read More

IATA Calls On Innovation In Airline-Airport Cooperation

November 2, 2011 - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for innovation and a renewed agenda of cooperation in the relationship between airports and airlines. Tony Tyler, IATA?s Director General and CEO said ?We need a common and forward-looking agenda that builds on past successes and puts innovation at the Read More

The Worst Aviation Disasters In Russian Sports History Reveals Pilot Error

November 2, 2011 - On September 7, 2011, Yak Service Airlines operating a Yakovlev Yak-42 jet aircraft departed Tunoshna airport, Russia for Minsk International Airport in Russia at 4:05 PM Moscow Time with 45 onboard which included Russian?s professional ice hockey team, Hockey Club Lokomotiv. Just after takeoff, the Yakovlev Yak-42 a 100  Read More

Calls For UK Government To Deliver Strong Aviation Policy

November 1, 2011 - Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) on Monday welcomes the British Chamber of Commerce?s (BCC) call for the Government to scrap its proposed increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD) and devise a bold and long-term aviation policy, as outlined in the BCC Aviation Report. The report, prepared with the  Read More

US Airways Brings Back Jobs It Had Previously Shipped Overseas, Hires 400

November 1, 2011 - US Airways has returned work previously handled outside of the United States to its call centers in Winston-Salem, N.C., Phoenix, and Reno, Nevada. The airline's onshore project is part of its agreement with the Airline Customer Service Employee Association CWA and IBT, which represents more than 6,000 reservations and  Read More

Jeppesen Study Highlights Inadequacy Of Strict FTL Rules To Limit Crew Fatigue

November 1, 2011 - Jeppesen, recently released the results of a study conducted to determine the level of effectiveness of flight and duty time regulations related to crew fatigue management. In the study, Jeppesen quantified the performance of seven flight time limitation regulatory approaches (FTLs) that were measured against 300 of  Read More

DTW Airport Director Fired Threatens Lawsuit

October 31, 2011 - At 3 PM on Monday, Detroit Metropolitan Airport CEO, Turkia Mullin was fired for an undetermined reason. The board of directors voted 5-2 to end her employment over what appears to be related to Mullin?s contract supposed parachute contract with Wayne County. Mullin had a job with Wayne County, when Mullin was hired as Detroit Metropolitan Airport CEO she was  Read More