On The Fly…

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has unveiled a plan to reduce aviation ground-related accidents by 50% over the next five years. The first step is to help FBOs, airports and airlines worldwide with software to benchmark accidents and incidents. NATA says a still-to-be-formed Stakeholder Advisory Board will ensure that every aspect of improving ground operations is addressed…

Boeing Co. says a 100-page contract that offers a 3-percent general wage increase in year one with a $3,000 signing bonus, a $2,000 payment in the second year and another 3-percent increase in year three is its final offer to machinists in St. Louis. The two sides met in marathon negotiations after Boeing’s original offer, which the union called “a slap in the face.” No word whether the final offer has gotten final approval…

A snockered stripper got past security in Scotland and climbed aboard a private jet to doze. The 22-year-old clambered over a barbed-wire fence and wandered along the runway in Aberdeen until finding the cozy cockpit and passing out for eight hours. The just-barely-clad missy told police upon her arrest that if they couldn’t prevent her from boarding, they’re not going to have much luck with terrorists…

A bus and a plane collided at Russia’s Sheremetyevo-1 airport, injuring nine. The Russian Tu-154 aircraft with 69 passengers on board hit a platform bus carrying 43 passengers on a runway. Both the plane and the bus will be out of service for a while. No word on why a bus was on the runway…

Women in Aviation International chose the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Dallas, March 10-12, 2005, for their next convention. The international conference, which will feature the theme “Alliances,” is expected to draw more than 2500.