The Chairman of BAR UK, Robert Atkinson of Air Canada, has reluctantly taken the decision to resign that role. This is due to an increased role within his company. The Board has, just as reluctantly, accepted his resignation but is delighted that he is able to remain as a director. In his place, it is a great pleasure to announce that Sandra Bloodworth, Area Manager UK and Continental Europe for Royal Brunei Airlines, was unanimously elected by the Board to succeed him.

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Austin, Texas (May 6, 2008) - ABX Air, a leading cargo airline based in Wilmington, Ohio, has been granted a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to allow the installation of the DAC International GEN-X Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) on B767 aircraft. The STC paves the way for B767 operators to efficiently install the GEN-X EFB as a Class 2 device on their aircraft. GEN-X answers the airlines need for an affordable avionics grade EFB that meets both Class 2 and Class 3 requirements. Until GEN-X, operators had to choose between expensive Class 3 EFB’s or less capable Class 2 EFB’s. GEN-X bridges the gap by offering an affordable Class 3 EFB solution that can be installed as either Class 2 or Class 3.

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Manchester, May 2008 - The Route Development Group is now gearing up for the world’s largest gathering of the route development industry. In just five months time thousands of airline and airport decision makers will set out for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to take part in the 14th World Route Development Forum (Routes), 12-14th October, hosted by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. A record attendance is forecast including more than 300 of the world’s top airlines, covering every market sector – network carriers, regional operators, low-cost carriers, charter airlines and the cargo airline community. While Cathay Pacific attends the World Route Development Forum for the first time, Malaysia Airlines and Emirates send enlarged delegations and even host their own meeting chalets. EasyJet, the European low-cost carrier, has requested four tables at the event. New Market Development Manager, David Bell, says: “Routes offers easyJet a great way of meeting numerous airports in one location. It is therefore important to us to be at the world event each year and we are looking forward to travelling to Kuala Lumpur.”

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Dübendorf 6 May 2008 – Virtual Flight 08 will be conducted by the Solar Impulse team from 12 to 16 May, in the construction hangar of the prototype HB-SIA, at the aerodrome of Dübendorf near Zurich in Switzerland. For the first time, the two Solar Impulse pilots, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, will each make a 25-hour flight, one after the other, at the controls of the new flight simulator. Their purpose will be to test a life-size model of the cockpit, surrounded by 5 panoramic screens, to validate the ergonomics and to verify the functioning of the man-machine interface in conditions as near to real as possible. The HB-SIA’s flight routines, the decisions, breakdowns, incidents will also serve as training under the control of the Mission Team.

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Dublin, 30 April 2008 – Rob Cowan has been appointed as Managing Director of Aviareto, the Dublin-based operator of the International Registry of Mobile Assets for the air transport industry. Cowan, previously Head of Operations, succeeds Niall Greene, who has stepped down as the Managing Director of Aviareto but remains on the Board of Directors. Cowan will be responsible for all aspects of the management and operation of the International Registry, the first and largest global database of its kind, which defines the priority of interests on airframes, aircraft engines and helicopters. The Registry is nearing its third year of operation and has over 250,000 objects from 40 manufacturers registered on the system.

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Paris, 30 April 2008. – Once again the Clarins group shows its fundamental openness to innovation by joining the Solar Impulse Project launched by Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg as an Official Supporter. Monsieur Christian Courtin-Clarins, chairman of the board of the Clarins group, announced that he was totally in support of this Swiss vision of technology and innovation and the respect for the environment represented by the solar-powered aircraft project. The Clarins distribution network, which covers 150 pays, will provide Solar Impulse with numerous opportunities to give the project and its messages worldwide international visibility. The project aims to encourage economy in the use of energy, technological progress towards more efficient use of energy, and in particular the use of renewable energies.

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Airstream International Group has arranged the lease of two Boeing 737-800 aircraft on behalf of Hapag-Lloyd, a subsidiary of Tui AG. The aircraft are being leased by Travel Service of the Czech Republic and will operate on charter flights from central Europe to destinations in Europe and North Africa.

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Regional Air Express, based at the Airport Münster-Osnabrück cooperates with the company MT-Propeller, domiciled in Straubingen. The company, specialised in innovative technologies regarding the construction of propellers, has developed a new five blade prop for the Honeywell TPE Turboprop, formerly known as Garett. In order to certify this new Propeller for the aircraft type Swearingen Metroliner, tests are still to begin in 2008. Regional Air Express will provide an aircraft of this type for the tests and the certification programme. After granted admission, Regional Air Express, as the first airline worldwide, will outfit all four of their Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner with the new five-blade prop.

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The Treasury’s proposed Aviation Duty is so ill-conceived that the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK) has called upon the Treasury to rescind it. Aviation Duty, for which the consultation period ended today, is scheduled to replace Air Passenger Duty (APD) in November 2009. Whereas APD is structured on a per passenger basis, aviation duty would be levied per departing flight in the UK, structured around Maximum Take Off Weight (MTOW) and the distance flown. BAR UK has provided eleven reasons why this duty should not be introduced. AR UK’s Chief Executive, Mike Carrivick, said ‘the proposal to introduce aviation duty is a very clumsy attempt to disguise a declared money-taking opportunity as an environmental initiative; nothing could be further from reality.

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PRIBRAM, CZECH REPUBLIC – The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on Friday April 25th will for the first time publicly reveal their new plans for initial airworthiness of light aircraft weighing less than 2,000 kg (4,410 lbs). This is part of a complete overhaul of the regulatory system for certifying light aircraft, pilot licensing and operations for all 27 countries within the European Union. The presentation will be made at a day-long workshop held during the Aero Expo show held at the Pribram Airport April 25-27. The proposed changes were released April 17th by EASA in a Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA). NPA No. 2008-07 describes EASA’s intention to “create a lighter regulatory regime based around a new process for the European Light Aircraft (ELA) and to introduce a concept of standard changes and repairs.” EASA states that “ELA is not a new category of aircraft defined by criteria such as stalling speed or certification code, but is a substantially simpler new process for the regulation of aircraft and related products, parts and appliances. The intention is to issue type certificates for the type and certificates of airworthiness for the individual aircraft.”

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Concord, MA (April 28, 2008) —Wingspeed Corporation and Novo Ivc have introduced a joint solution that enables airlines to obtain credit card authorization for sales transactions conducted during flight. The solution, which leverages the Wingspeed XFIA™ communications & computing platform and the Novo Ivc Point-of-Sale system, for the first time allows airlines to conduct real-time, in-flight credit and debit card transactions and also use airline loyalty program cards, opening an array of new revenue opportunities. Previously, airlines have had to store in-flight transaction data until the aircraft reached the ground.

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DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas — The 2008 Dyess Big Country Airfest is now less than two weeks away. The airshow is scheduled for May 3. The public entrance for all non-military visitors will be Tye Gate on Military Drive, which is near the Dyess Memorial Center on Arnold Boulevard. The main gate will be reserved for all military, civilians and dependents that normally have access to Dyess. Gates open to the public at 8 a.m., and flying begins at approximately 10 a.m. Admission and parking are free. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. This year’s highlight act is the civilian aerial demonstration team, Tora! Tora! Tora!, who re-enacts the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Other performers include the F-15, B-1, C-130, the U.S. Air Force Academy Wings of Blue Jump Team, and an array of civilian aerial demonstration teams.

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EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. - (April 22, 2008) - EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is supplying one of most-requested items for campers at its event with an expansion of wireless Internet access this summer. EAA AirVenture, “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” will be held July 28-August 3 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. Wi-Fi access will be available in many areas of the North 40 aircraft camping area, the drive-in Camp Scholler campground, and in the vintage aircraft and ultralight camping areas. This access is provided free of charge to EAA members and their guests in those campgrounds. Signal strength may vary because of computer type and setup, weather conditions and other factors.

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Mumbai, April 21, 2008: Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL) today announced that the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) had recorded a passenger traffic of 25.8 million (17.88 million domestic and 7.98 million international) for the period April 2007 – March 2008 representing a 16.25% climb over the corresponding period last year. Commenting on the passenger growth at CSIA, G. V. Sanjay Reddy, Managing Director, MIAL said, “The consistent and healthy year-on-year growth in passenger traffic at CSIA, attributed to the strong demand in air travel reinforces our position as the busiest airport in India and one of the busiest in South Asia as well. Even as we handle these ever increasing numbers, our priority remains to deliver an exceptional and memorable experience to passengers at CSIA. While building CSIA into a world-class airport that Mumbai will be proud of, we at MIAL acknowledge the need to be prepared with not just with an expanded capacity, but effective utilization of our existing facilities as well to meet this ever increasing rise.

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Duluth, Georgia - (April 17, 2008) Jackson Group Consultants announced today that it has entered into a joint venture with Bangkok Airways, Thailand’s second biggest airline. The joint venture will produce a new flight school based on the Commercial Airline Pilot Training (CAPT) Program model and will be called Bangkok Flight Academy. Bangkok Flight Academy will be located at the Sukhothai Airport in Sukhothai province, Thailand. Scheduled to open November 1, 2008, the 88,000 sq ft, state-of-the-art facility will hold up to 400 students. The first class is expected to have an enrollment of 20 students. The 12 – 14 month program will be based on the CAPT Program approach which includes an emphasis on crew concepts, journaling, pre and post flight briefings, the use of cockpit cameras, and scenario-based training. The program will use an advanced fleet of 25 single engine aircraft and 2 jet engine aircraft. Included in the program is an intense Aviation English course, preparing the future pilots to excel in an English-only flight environment.

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Naples, FL—Charter Logic, a leader in providing travelers with safe, reliable and elegant air service, has introduced a new dimension to private air travel with Options On Demand™, an approach which considers the charter clients’ specific requirements and provides three distinct aircraft choices to meet them. The selections provide a range of cabin size and amenities, aircraft performance, and pricing. “In the highly competitive world of aircraft charter, no other provider offers such flexibility and responsiveness, “noted Jordan Brown, Chief Operating Officer of Charter Logic, a worldwide air charter provider. “We take great pride in offering our customers the opportunity to choose the airplane that best suits their needs and that allows them the flexibility to change the number of passengers, add legs to the itinerary, or save money on the cost of their travel by taking advantage of real-time pricing information. We can do this because we have exceptional access to wholesale fleets from across the country and some of the industry’s most experienced and responsive client relations personnel,” he added.

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The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), co producers of the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) today called for nominations for the 2008 European Business Aviation Award. The award, which was created to honor individuals who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of business aviation in Europe, is presented each year to one or more individuals during EBACE, the only European exhibition focusing exclusively on business aviation. Nominations for the 2008 award are due to EBACE’s European Office by April 20, 2008 (address and other contact information for the office is included below).

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AOPA Hellas and the ICARUS 2008 Organizing Committee cordially invite you to participate in ICARUS 2008, the 1st International Aero Expo Athens to be hosted at Tatoi Airfield (LGTT), Athens, during the 24th IAOPA World Assembly 2008. Icarus Aero Expo Athens 2008 is the 1st International Business and General Aviation Exhibition in Southern Europe. The European South is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets because of excellent weather conditions, the recent EU enlargement and dynamically growing economies. The world of aviation now has an opportunity to introduce itself and explore the untapped potential of the region while paying a visit to Athens, at the crossroads between East and West, a bridge to the Middle East and the most important economic hub in Southeastern Mediterranean. As Phil Boyer, president of IAOPA, put it “come and visit the land of Icarus, where aviation was born”.

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Port Saint Lucie, FL, April 10, 2008: The HAERU (Handheld Emergency Responder Unit) consists of a handheld hardware/software package that will assist emergency responders in the event of an airport accident/incident to help ensure compliance with ICAO Doc 9137-AN/898 Airport Services Manual Part 7 Emergency Planning. Equally useful in both training scenarios and “real-world” incidents/accidents response, Handheld devices will contain step-by-step video guides, emergency checklists, and other information to assure that any responder can perform appropriately during an emergency, regardless of training level. In addition, the units will provide real-time, interactive data vital to proper response actions.

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Brussels, 9 April 2008 – Solar Impulse, the Swiss solar-powered aeroplane project, was presented today to the European Parliament in Brussels within the framework of the « Towards a more sustainable aviation » seminar organised by Mrs Christine de Veyrac, a Member of the European Parliament. The Vice-President of the European Commission with responsibility for Transport, Mr Jacques Barrot, publicly announced the European Commission’s patronage of the Solar Impulse project, in the presence of Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, President and CEO of Solar Impulse respectively. In a world dependent on fossil fuels, the Solar Impulse project is a wake-up call to industry to take up the challenge of clean mobility. The aim is to harness the power of the sun to propel an aeroplane, day and night by solar power around the world without fuel or polluting emissions. A goal that is inaccessible unless we push back the boundaries of today’s technologies in all relevant fields.

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April 7, 2008 – Reston, Virginia – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce an important new book, Terminal Chaos: Why U.S. Air Travel Is Broken and How to Fix It, scheduled for release in May. The authors, expert analysts George L. Donohue and Russell D. Shaver III, tackle U.S. air transportation system problems head-on, and propose practical solutions. In 2006 alone, flight delays and cancellations cost U.S. travelers an estimated $3.2 billion. In 2004 and 2005, the U.S. tourism industry is estimated to have lost $98 billion in revenue due to air transportation problems. More importantly, the authors assert that there is a complete absence of advocacy for the customer—the passengers. Written with the airline passenger in mind, the authors arm the flying public with the truth about flight delays. Their provocative analysis not only identifies the causes and extent of the problems, but also provides solutions that will put air transportation on the path to recovery.

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EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. - (April 7, 2008) - NASA Administrator Michael Griffin has confirmed that he will participate at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008, which will be held July 28-August 3 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. Griffin’s participation will be part of the activities commemorating NASA’s 50th anniversary during the 56th annual edition of EAA AirVenture, “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.” Griffin has served as NASA Administrator since 2005 and will be making his first visit to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in that role. Griffin, who holds a flight instructor certificate with instrument and multiengine ratings, also has a long career in space sciences and education.

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“World War II Families for the Recovery of the Missing (WWRM) wholeheartedly welcomes the March 19 announcement by Rear Admiral Donna L. Crisp, the Commander of the US Defense Department’s Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), that JPAC will conduct on-site surveys of World War II crash sites in India beginning this year .

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Friedrichshafen, Germany – AERO Friedrichshafen is exhibiting at the ICARUS Expo 2008, which takes place from 13 to 15 June 2008 in conjunction with the 24th IAOPA World Assembly 2008 in Athens. The international aviation exhibition AERO is stepping up its activities to offer an even more comprehensive and international meeting place for the general aviation industry. This has prompted AERO – as previously reported – to opt for an annual format starting in 2009.

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Ft. Pierce, Fl, April 2, 2008: Spranza Incorporated has teamed up with the Treasure Coast Public Safety Training Center, located at Indian River College, Ft. Pierce, Florida, to provide aviation professionals throughout the globe, with a series of continuing education workshops for aviation security and airport fire/rescue personnel, law enforcement, airport administrators as well as Civil Aviation Authority officials. The following, is the first in a series of workshops, podcasts, video training and distance learning events to be made available over the upcoming months.

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