WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $5.4 million civil penalty against US Airways, Inc. for allegedly operating eight aircraft on a total of 1,647 flights from October 2008 to January 2009 while not in compliance with certain Airworthiness Directives (ADs) or the airline’s maintenance program. ADs are rules issued by the FAA when an unsafe condition exists on a type of aircraft, and additional maintenance is required to remedy the problem. (more…)

Gatineau, Quebec – The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) announced that flight crews must be better trained to work together and use all available information and tools to make the right decisions under pressure.

The TSB is calling on Transport Canada to make crew resource management (CRM) training mandatory for all operators in Canada. (more…)

WASHINGTON — Japan became the latest partner in the Asia and Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions (ASPIRE), which is designed to make aircraft operations in the region more efficient in order to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. (more…)

WASHINGTON — The FAA has released the audio recording of the air traffic controller’s telephone call with a friend in the moments before a small plane and a tour helicopter collided, killing nine people.

Transcripts of the conversation were previously released, but the FAA had refused to release the 29-minute audio recording until now. The recording was finally released after a Freedom of Information Act request from the media. (more…)

TORONTO, ONTARIO – Bombardier Commercial Aircraft has launched its Extended Service Program (ESP) to extend the economic life of the Dash 8-100 turboprop to 120,000 flight cycles from the original 80,000 flight cycles. Launch customer for the Dash 8-100 ESP is Wideroe’s Flyveselskap AS of Norway.

The Dash 8-100 aircraft entered service in December 1984, and today – as its 25th anniversary approaches – there are an estimated 240 in service throughout the world. Bombardier estimates the near-term market for the ESP would be the approximately 100 Dash 8-100 aircraft which have flown 50,000 or more cycles. (more…)

MONTREAL, QUEBEC – During the XXI Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, athletes won’t be the only ones taking home the gold. The Flexjet 25 (i) Jet Card program and Jet Set Sports-an official supporter of the 2010 Winter Games-are teaming up to offer a limited-edition package for an unforgettable journey through next year’s premier event. (more…)

A Germania Airlines Boeing 737 landed safetly Wednesday after a striking a flock of birds on take off. The Daily Mail says 200 starlings were ingested by the right engine of the aircraft as it took off from Dusseldorf enroute to Kosovo with 80 people on board. (more…)

TORONTO, ONTARIO – Bombardier Aerospace announced today that Air Niugini, the national airline of Papua New Guinea, has placed a firm order for two Q400 NextGen high-speed turboprop airliners. The airline has also taken an option for an additional Q400 NextGen airliner. (more…)

SpaceShipOne attached to White Knight, prior to separation and rocket powered flight into space.

PLAYA VISTA, CA-    On October 4, 2009, the X PRIZE Foundation will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the largest prize in history, the $10 Million Ansari X PRIZE — won by the Mojave Aerospace Ventures team for the historic flights of SpaceShipOne. Led by famed aerospace designer Burt Rutan and backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Mojave Aerospace Ventures was the first private team to build and launch a spacecraft capable of carrying three people to 100 kilometers above the earth’s surface twice within two weeks. The team made world history when it achieved this feat on the anniversary of the historic launch of Sputnik in 1957 — the first man made object that entered earth’s orbit and opened the space age. (more…)

LONGUEUIL, QUEBEC –  Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) will reduce its global workforce by approximately 250 employees by year’s end to align with a projected decline in customer demand and weakness in the global aerospace market with no signs of a recovery in 2010. P&WC is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company. (more…)