August 14 
The RNA Show is on again attracting people from the outback and the bush to visit the "big smoke"

While it's nowhere near as busy at Archerfield compared to the '60's and 70's, there is still some inbound flying activity that appears to be just a little ahead of last year

 August 10 
A British Airways B747 jumbo departing Sydney for the UK with 249 passengers on-board was forced to declare a May-Day and return to Mascot after a fire in the cargo bay

"At about 10 minutes past 4, having literally gone about 5 nautical miles north of Sydney, the captain declared a mayday and sought to return immediately to Sydney"

The may-day triggered a full scale emergency response at the airport; the heavy landed safely without incident

 August 9 
The new OZ regional airline - Regional Express - had it's first drama only one day after starting business

A Saab 340 aircraft with 13 passengers on board was inbound "just 20 nautical miles from Sydney Airport" when it developed an engine problem necessitating the shutting down of one of the two engines; the aircraft was able to land safely at Mascot airport

The new REX airline had commenced business the previous day after taking over the Hazelton/Kendell operations

 August 13 
Air Traffic Controllers in the USA have made public their actions and feelings on September 11 - 2001

   "On that morning the first US forces to engage the enemy were our air traffic control workforce; before the first military aircraft was launched; before the first police vehicle was despatched our controllers were already at war"

In an unprecedented move air controllers succeeded in emptying the skies of all 4,546 airborne aircraft without mishap