On The Fly…

FDR found from crash 10 years ago that killed two African presidents… A Bangladesh airline pilot was attacked by a stray cat in the cockpit…China may build its own airliners to meet demand of 2,400 jets…FAA grounded Air East, operator of a Learjet that crashed in August…Northwest CEO said airlines subsidize private pilots, AOPA to respond…Lancair said its new equipment will double production capacity…NATA’s 2004 Convention set for May 18-20 in Las Vegas…SafireJet to debut cockpit/cabin mock-up at NBAA convention in October…Air Care Alliance annual meeting set for April 30 – May 1 in Palm Springs.

A flight data recorder found in a locked cabinet in a United Nations office in New York appears to be the missing FDR from a Falcon 50 crash 10 years ago in Africa that killed the presidents of Rwanda and Burundi and sparked a violent conflict that killed a half-million people...

A pilot flying for the national airline of Bangladesh needed first aid after a stray cat got into the cockpit and attacked him. The cat evaded capture and escaped when the plane landed, but was caught two hours later...

China is reportedly examining getting into the large-aircraft business, rather than depending on Airbus and Boeing to meet its anticipated demand of 2,400 jets in the next 20 years...

The FAA on Thursday grounded a Long Island charter operator, Air East, because of an accident last August that killed two pilots flying a Learjet in Connecticut. The FAA said questions have arisen about whether the aircraft was airworthy...

Northwest Airlines CEO complained that airlines subsidize private pilots; AOPA says Prez Phil Boyer has requested a meeting to straighten him out...

Lancair said last week it expects to bring a new composites oven online at the end of this month that will double production capacity of composite aircraft components...

The 2004 National Air Transportation Association Convention will take place May 18-20 in Las Vegas in conjunction with the Aviation Industry Week trade show...

Safire Aircraft says it will debut a full cockpit and cabin mock-up of its microjet at NBAA's annual convention in October...

Air Care Alliance will hold its annual meeting April 30 - May 1 in Palm Springs, Calif.