More Safety Concerns Over Foreign Aircraft Mechanics Arise
from WFAA-TV
Fixing an aircraft is not like fixing a Chevy. Aircraft mechanics don't do their job with guesses, but instead do them with a repair manual open in front of them, mapping every step. Manuals are written in English, the worldwide language of aviation. More

Six Blue-Collar Jobs for Career Switchers
from U.S. News & World Report
It's hard to believe, but nearly 20 percent of U.S. employers say they're having a tough time filling job openings, according to Manpower's 2009 talent shortage survey. The list of positions that are the hardest to fill can help serve as a guide for some of the best job opportunities in the future. Although engineers and nurses lead Manpower's list of the 10 most in-demand jobs in the United States, a large portion of the hard-to-fill positions are blue-collar jobs. Aircraft mechanic: At $52,000 a year, these workers are among the best paid in the blue-collar professions. More

Delta, Other Carriers Move to Replace Airbus Sensors
from The Salt Lake Tribune
As airlines tried to distance themselves from instruments tied to those aboard doomed Air France flight, Delta Air Lines said it has put new airspeed sensors on its Airbus A319 and A320 jets and will install the devices on its Airbus A330 fleet as soon as it gets them. More

Cathay's Cargo, Passenger Traffic Drops in May
from Associated Press via Forbes
Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., Asia's third-largest carrier, said it had a sharp decline in its passenger and cargo traffic in May amid low demand for travel and the impact of swine flu. The number of passengers traveling with Hong Kong's flagship airline and its subsidiary Dragonair dropped 7.5 percent to about 1.95 million compared to the same month last year, Cathay Pacific said in a statement. More

AirElite Continues Charter Fleet Expansion, Adds Five Aircraft
from Charter X
Delta AirElite Business Jets recently announced that it has added five aircraft to its growing fleet of modern business jets. The airplanes, ranging from light jets to ultra-long-range aircraft, are strategically located throughout the United States and are part of the company's ongoing expansion. More

TSA to Require Gender, Birth Date for Fliers
from The Baltimore Sun
Don't be surprised if you're asked to provide your date of birth and gender when booking plane tickets later this summer. The Transportation Security Administration has launched a new program called "Secure Flight" to improve security and reduce misidentification of passengers who have names similar to individuals on government watch lists. More

TSA Blocks Delta Flights to Two African Cities on Security
from The Wall Street Journal
Delta Air Lines has been denied permission for direct flights to Nairobi, Kenya and Monrovia, Liberia until the airports meet security standards or until U.S. regulators change their assessment of security threats in the region. The Transportation Security Administration called the current threat to civil aviation in east Africa too significant to allow the flights, but said it will continue to monitor the situation. The routes were slated to begin soon. More