One of two BAE 127 Hawk aircraft on a low-level training exercise apparently contacted power-lines around 25 nautical miles east of Armidale that necessitated an emergency landing at Coffs Harbour - damage had been sustained to the leading-edge of the port wing

The BAE Hawk 127 is used as the lead-in training aircraft to prepare aircrew for operational conversion onto the F/A-18 Hornet fighter or F-111 strike aircraft

A report from the USA's Air Wise Aviation News has airlines challenging the FAA in the courts over their decision to auction-off prime-time landing slots at busy airports in a bid to ease delays for the travelling public

The major trade carriers organization - the Air Transport Association - argued with the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that the federal regulators had no authority to sell rights to operate fights

The OZ Government has finally released - after almost 2 years research - the Strategic Industry Leaders Group Report that identified four major themes as recurring issues within the General Aviation Industry

(a) Secondary airport privatisation in the early 1990's (b) shortage of pilots and aircraft engineers (c) aviation regulations and (d) the ageing of the Australian fleet - the average GA aircraft is now around 30 years old

Recommendation 2: - The Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia - in association with Recreational Aviation Australia - oversee a targeted marketing campaign to alert recreational aviators to the possibilities of aviation careers through further pilot and instructor training

Noted in the report is the fact that the less regulated recreational part of the industry is growing strongly - a positive development in its own right but also presenting effective competition for private flying which finds itself in a more traditional regulated (and therefore more expensive) environment