A light plane
on the NSW north coast is the latest aircraft to
be targeted in a laser attack. The Cessna
152 was flying over Port Macquarie about 7.25pm
when the pilot noticed a bright green beam
coming through the wing tip of the aircraft,
police said. Police believe the laser beam was
shone from a suburb south-west of Port
Macquarie, near the intersection of the Oxley
Highway and Major Innes Road. They are yet to
find any offenders. The attack last night
follows a series of similar incidents in NSW in
recent weeks. Two weeks ago, a co-ordinated
15-minute attack using four green lasers forced
six aircraft to change their flight paths as
they approached Sydney Airport. A few days
later, a laser was pointed at a Virgin Blue
plane traveling from Cairns to Sydney Airport.
Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus has said the
government was considering increasing penalties
for the crime, which now attracts a maximum two
years in jail and fines of up to $30,000. NSW
Police Minister David Campbell has said he was
considering a ban on the laser pointers. Apr 11,
2008
Alcoa, China
Aviation Industry Corporation
Alcoa announced
today that several Alcoa-developed
high-performance alloys and products produced
from Alcoa operations worldwide are used on
China's first regional jet, the ARJ21-700. The
first ARJ21 rolled off the production line in
Shanghai last December and is expected to be
ready for delivery to its first customers in
2009. The ARJ21, developed by major aircraft
manufacturer China Aviation Industry Corporation
I (AVIC I), marks the first step in
Chinaís ambitious plan for its civil
aircraft manufacturing industry. The
medium-range, 90-passenger aircraft is designed
for decades of service. Apr 8, 2008
Blue Wing
Airlines, Antonov
Blue Wing
Airlines Antonov An-28 crashed Friday after
aborting a landing at an airstrip near Benzdorp
in northern Suriname. All 17 passengers and two
crew were killed, according to press reports and
Flight Safety Foundation's Aviation Safety
Network. Flight departed from Paramaribo,
approximately 160 mi. away. The aircraft first
flew in 1990 and reportedly crashed into a
hillside while circling back to land. Blue Wing
did not confirm the accident on its website. As
of last fall it was flying five An-28s, three
Cessna 206s, one Caravan 208 and one Twin Otter.
Apr 7, 2008
Apr 14,
2008