Can you identify this month’s aircraft? The winner will receive an honorable mention in next month’s issue. Contest Rules: Limit your entry to 100 words. Send your entry by emailing airprtpres@aol.com (preferred) or fax to 718-995-3432. Include your name, title and employer.

The winner of this month’s Name that Plane is Jon Hjelm of the FAA with this entry;
The December mystery airplane is the deHavilland DH 98 Mosquito. This early 1940s airplane was originally intended to be a high-speed bomber, but proved to be adaptable to almost any task as a bomber/attack/fighter/recon airplane. It was unique in its construction as most of its structure was molded plywood, with metal only for various attachment fittings, for landing gear, engines, and propellers. Twin Rolls-Royce engines provided 1600 hp each for the approx. 20,000 lb. airplane, giving performance equal to almost any of it's contemporary fighters, even while carrying bombs. It was also long range enough to reach distant targets in Germany or Norway, and return home without refueling. Manufactured in England throughout the war and until 1950, and in Canada and Australia during the war with approximately 7500 were built during the war. I sincerely hope that some are still flying, but I have yet to see one "in person".
Other correct entries were received from Joel LoSecco of Continental Airlines, John Clarke of the Port Authority, Dave Podesta of the Port Authority Police, Mike Valente, Maintenance Group Supervisor, The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and Erik Yates, a teacher in Chatham, NJ.
John Clarke wrote that the Mosquito was used to bomb Gestapo HQ in Oslo, Norway and Mike Valente chipped in that the Germans also built a copy of the Mosquito and called it the Moskito; not very creative. The 2008 version of Name that Plane will be a little bit more challenging than 2007. We have prop driven commercial planes the first 4 months, then USMC aircraft the next three and cargo aircraft after that. Good luck and keep the entries coming in.

Philadelphia sports fans don’t have a great reputation for friendliness but Philadelphia Airport seems to be the place to meet your soul mate. The airport was selected as the best spot to make an airport “connection” Another interesting fact is that the major New York area Port Authority Airports made the top 5. Using a formula based on amenities per traveler, on-time performance and inclement weather, a recent survey of more than 860 people ranked the best airports for forming a relationship with a fellow traveler. Commissioned by AXE, a men's grooming brand, and Sperling's BestPlaces, the survey looked at the 37 airports serving the 30 largest metro areas in the USA. Philadelphia International Airport took top nod in the survey, with Newark International, John F. Kennedy International, Washington-Dulles International and La Guardia International also snagging a spot in the top five. Oakland International lost the amenities arms race, ranking dead-last. Two other West Coast airports – Los Angeles International and San Jose International – also scored spots in the worst five airports to, well, score. Being on top "feels great," said Phyllis VanIstendal, government affairs manager at PHL. "We try to live up to the City of Brotherly Love name by making the airport a warm and welcoming place for people who pass through it." Thanks to some of the nation's longest and most frequent delays – which the survey deemed as a positive factor — getting stuck at PHL might be the perfect place to fine-tune your flirting skills. With more than 50 places to grab a drink or a bite, and live music entertainment every Thursday and Friday evening in the Food Court, it's a prime place to meet a mate. VanIstendal suggested Cibo Bistro and Wine bar in Terminal B as a hot spot to meet others, especially with its stellar views of the airfield at night.

Alexandria, VA, December 19, 2007 – The Aviation Safety Foundation of Australasia (ASFA) and the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) commended the release this week of an Australian Transportation Safety Board (ATSB) report that examined several recent controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents in Australia in the context of international efforts to reduce CFIT. The organizations noted that it is an important contribution to the ongoing research into CFIT. "We are pleased to see a significant study released on such an important topic in Australia," noted Trevor Jensen, ASFA Chairman. "ASFA has recently been redeveloping its relationship with the Flight Safety Foundation and one of our first projects will be to hold a jointly sponsored seminar on CFIT and approach and landing accident reduction (ALAR) in Australia in 2008. The ATSB report highlights the work of the Foundation on CFIT over the past decade and we are thrilled to be a part of the FSF team." The ATSB report, titled CFIT: Australia in Context, 1996–2005, will be an important tool for the Australian aviation industry not only to better understand the problem of CFIT, but to become more familiar with the work that has been done internationally in the past decade and the available resources. The report can be accessed at http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/ 2007/pdf/B20060352.pdf. "This report was released at the same time representatives from ASFA and the Foundation were meeting in the US to discuss the nature of the relationship between the two organizations and how the groups can work together to spread safety information in Australia and throughout the region," commented William R. Voss, President and CEO of FSF. "I'm very proud to see FSF's efforts recognized in this study and am eager to work with ASFA to seize this opportunity to bring our safety tools to a wider audience."