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Process Began Before 9/11… September 11 and the poor economy can only take part of the blame for Textron’s problems, according the company chairman. A year before the terrorist attacks, Lewis Campbell embarked on a reorganization of the company, which owns Cessna, Lycoming and a variety of other manufacturing interests. Layoffs and plant closures were […]

Globe Editorial On The GA Threat… After weathering a media storm for three weeks over his X-marks-the-spot destruction of Meigs Field, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has found a few words of support. Editorial writers at the Boston Globe gave Daley their Op/Ed attaboy on Friday, suggesting his actions, in a more restrained fashion, make a […]

Law Enforcement On The Lookout For Missiles… Ever since the attempted downing of an Israeli airliner in Africa, airports in the United States have secured their perimeters, sometimes using extreme measures. Still convinced that the possibility of a shoulder-fired missile attack is real, officials are adding extra security around their property lines. USA Today reported […]

TSA Says No To Michigan’s Pilot Law… The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is the latest to say Michigan’s pilot background check law is illegal. The agency recently told AOPA, which is fighting the Michigan law in court, that individual states have no authority to require pilot background security checks and that power lies solely with […]

Chelton System Gets First TSO… A company in Boise, Idaho, has registered the first milestone on the Highway In The Sky. Chelton Flight Systems was recently granted a technical standard order (TSO) for its synthetic vision Electronic Flight Information System. That means anyone can install this panel-of-the-future technology, which provides nearly every conceivable type of […]

Cause, Effect Dominates FAA Hearing… They were supposed to be talking about the FAA Reauthorization Bill, but last Wednesday one after another of aviation’s bigwigs reminded Congress’s aviation subcommittee about the destruction of Chicago’s Meigs field. Speakers reminded the committee that aviation services are a federal matter and the intrusion of local special interests could […]

Aid Yes, Subsidies No… The Department of Transportation’s Inspector General says federal aid for the airlines shouldn’t allow them to keep digging their own graves. Ken Mead testified before appropriations hearings last week just before Congress agreed to $3 billion in bailouts to the airlines to help cover war-related losses. Travel bookings have plummeted since […]

Daley Drops Security Story… Chicago Mayor Richard Daley Wednesday told The Chicago Sun-Times that Daley “dropped all pretenses” and admitted it was not security concerns that drove him destroy Meigs field but his intent to turn the airport into a waterfront park. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge confirmed Daley had not consulted his department. At […]

After All, Washington Has One… If Washington has one, New York should also have a GA no-fly zone, according to a New Jersey congressman. This proposal would have a much bigger impact on GA. Steven Rothman (D-N.J.) is proposing that GA be banned within 15 nm of New York City. “It is unacceptable that New […]

But The Battle Rages On… A poll done by Chicago media shows locals believe the destruction of Meigs will hurt the area economy, and some pilot groups intend to make sure of it. Since Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley doesn’t seem to play by the same book as everyone else, rushing (de)construction vehicles to Meigs […]