Gloria Winters Trivia

The Gloria Winters Trivia question has been answered and the "winner" will be announced in UCAP#60.

Thanks.

-- Jack

F-16s in the pattern at Lake Parker?

From SnF's Donna Gabriel (and a guest on our SnF episode):

SUN ’N FUN CAMPUS, LAKELAND, Fl. – (December 11, 2007) – The United States Air Force (USAF) Thunderbirds military jet team announced today that the Sun ’n Fun Fly-In has been included on this year’s Thunderbirds schedule. The announcement was made today at the International Council of Airshows (ICAS) Convention currently underway in Las Vegas, NV. The 2008 Sun ’n Fun Fly-In will be held April 8 – 13 at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Fla.

“Sun ’n Fun is honored and excited to hear that the world’s most recognized military jet team – the Thunderbirds – has included our event on their 2008 schedule,” said Sun ’n Fun President and Convention Chairman John Burton. “Their participation will add to the aircraft and activities already being planned for this year’s Fly-In. We look forward to having the Thunderbirds here in Lakeland and know they will find the people and businesses throughout Lakeland, Polk County and central Florida to be avid enthusiasts and most hospitable hosts.”

The Thunderbirds plan to arrive at Sun ’n Fun during the early portion of the Fly-In and remain through the remainder of the week. They may engage in individual media flights and possibly a team orientation flight prior to their scheduled performances on Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13.

According to the U.S. Air Force, the Thunderbirds (officially named the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron) perform precision aerial maneuvers demonstrating the capabilities of Air Force high-performance aircraft to people throughout the world. The Thunderbirds squadron is an Air Combat Command unit composed of eight pilots (including six demonstration pilots), four support officers, three civilians and more than 130 enlisted personnel performing in 25 career fields. The air demonstration is a combination of formation flying and solo routines.

I'm looking forward...

Jeb

Student Pilot Crashes Sim

Too funny. Be sure to check the byline and read all the way to the end...

Reducing delays?

The Air Transport Association, which represents major U.S. airlines, asked readers of its daily electronic news summary to participate in an online poll gauging their recommendations on the best way(s) to reduce delays. Since the readership is mainly comprised of airline industry insiders, the results -- which basically echo the ATA's wish list -- are predictable.

Nevertheless, the statistical and virtual "tie" between ideas like peak pricing, building more runways and peak-hour bizjet restrictions is rather interesting.

A screenshot of the then-ongoing poll taken Monday, December 3, 2007, is below.

High risk of runway collision plagues US

From AP coverage of a GAO study on runway incursions released yesterday:

This year has seen dramatic near-misses:

_On Aug. 16, two commercial jets carrying 296 people came within 37 feet of colliding at Los Angeles International.

_A Delta Boeing 757 touched down in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on July 11 and had to take off immediately to avoid hitting a United Airbus A320 mistakenly on its runway.

_A Delta Boeing 737 landing at New York's LaGuardia Airport on July 5 narrowly missed a commuter jet mistakenly cleared to cross its runway.

Read the whole thing here

Jeb