On The Fly…

70 TBMs converged on Coeur d’Alene…Northwest pilots say shortage prompted cancellations…Air Canada pilots tried to block shareholder payout…Kirby Chambliss took top honors at Red Bull’s air race in San Fran., Saturday.

More than 70 TBM aircraft and 200 people attended the annual TBM Owners and Pilots Association convention in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, last week. Attendees included a French Army Aviation transport crew who made a 24-hour flight from France...

The union representing Northwest pilots claims flights have been cancelled because the airline has furloughed too many pilots. The company won't comment on the claim, which is said to affect the DC-9 fleet...

Air Canada pilots are trying to block a payout to shareholders in the airline they say will jeopardize their pensions. The airline wants to issue about $1.8 billion in capital payouts to shareholders, a move the pilots say will restrict its ability to pay its creditors. The pilots say the airline owes their pension fund $1 billion...

"Some 400,000 spectators lined the shores of the scenic San Francisco Bay under clear blue skies to watch Chambliss' win the race, which took place between the city's most famous landmarks, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island." Read the full release, here.