WORLD NEWS/ FLU AT NEAR PANDEMIC LEVEL

Todays key developments on swine flu outbreaks, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and government officials:

1. Deaths: 168 in Mexico, 8 confirmed as swine flu and rest suspected. 1 confirmed in US, a 23-month-old boy from Mexico who died in Texas.
2. Sickened: 2955 suspected and 99 confirmed in Mexico. Confirmed elsewhere: 124 in US; 19 in Canada; 13 in Spain; 8 in Britain; 3 in Germany and in New Zealand; 2 in Israel; 1 each in Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands.
3. In the US, CDC confirms 109 cases and state officials confirm another 11. CDC confirms: 50 in New York; 26 in Texas; 14 in California; 10 in South Carolina; 2 each in Kansas and Massachusetts; and 1 each in Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Arizona, Michigan and Nevada. State officials confirm 5 in New Jersey; 4 in Delaware; 3 in Maine; 2 in Colorado; and 1 in Michigan. This afternoon, Illinois officials announced that there at least 17 suspected cases in the state.
4. Several hundred schools close nationwide, with at least 200 in Texas and 62 in Alabama, plus scattered closings in New York, California, South Carolina, Connecticut, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Arizona, Ohio, Utah, Washington state, Michigan and Maine.
5. The World Health Organization increases its tally of confirmed swine flu cases around the world to 257 from 148.
6. The World Health Organization says it will stop using the term "swine flu" to avoid confusion over the danger posed by pigs. It will instead refer to the virus by its scientific name, "H1N1 influenza. A." WHO has the outbreak at level 5, 1 step below a Pandemic.
7. The Obama administration comes out against closing the US-Mexico border. Vice President Joe Biden says it would be "a monumental undertaking" with limited benefit.
8. Public health emergency declared in the United States and roughly 12 million doses of Tamiflu from federal stockpile to be delivered to states.
9. Texas Gov. Rick Perry issues disaster declaration, and state suspends all high school sports competitions until May 11. Texas school closings affect 130,000 children.
10. 2 leading US makers of respiratory masks ramp up production to meet heavy demand from pharmacies.

AVIATION/ TATS CAUSE TROUBLE FOR BA PAX

Good Charlotte rocker Joel Madden was denied entry onto a BRITISH AIRWAYS flight this past weekend because of his tattoos. According to Madden he was told he had to cover up all his tattoos before he could board the fight. "I really am in shock they won't let me on the plane till I put long sleeves on," Madden wrote in a Twitter posting. The incident took place on Sunday April 26. As the incident took place, Madden began twittering about his unexpected "discrimination" while trying to board a plane in London. "Was just told by a British Air person I can't get on the plane till I cover my tatts. Should I fight the power?" he wrote. "Yes I covered up to board the BA flight. I didn't want to miss it. And honestly I was embarrassed all the people were staring and laughing!" he wrote. Madden said he is currently looking into the Airline's rules and hasn't found any that state one having to cover visible tattoos. "Its not in the rules that I can find. My tatts aren't offensive. Looking into it. I haven't felt this small since the first time I asked nic (Nicole Richie) out," he wrote. British Airways said the employee is being reprimanded. "We don't understand why the employee took it upon himself to enforce regulations that don't exist," the Airline said in a statement.

AVIATION/ ATSB REPORTS ON EMIRATES FL407

The Australian Transportation Safety Board have released their preliminary report into the near crash of an EMIRATES AIRLINES A340 at Melbourne, Australia, on March 20, 2009. Emirates Flight 407, with 257 passengers and 18 crew members onboard, was on Scheduled International Service from Melbourne to Dubai, UAE, when it suffered a tail strike on takeoff from Melbourne. The A340 went off the runway by 115 meters, before suffering the tail strike on soft ground and becoming airborne. On its liftoff, the aircraft struck a series of approach lights. The aircraft made an emergency return to Melbourne, where it landed without incident. The A340 suffered substantial damages in the accident. The ATSB reports states the aircraft came close to crashing because a member of the flight crew punched the wrong numbers into an aircraft computer. The ATSB's director of Aviation Safety Investigation, Julian Walsh, said somebody in the cockpit fed into the computer a weight for the aircraft that was 100 tons lighter than its actual weight of 362 tons. That meant that the aircraft computer applied vastly less thrust than was needed for the aircraft to climb safely off the runway. Walsh rejected as "absolutely untrue" claims that the Pilot used inadequate fuel in response to an Emirates instruction to save money or that the Pilots were fatigued from long hours and lack of sleep. Walsh released a preliminary report in Canberra today and said the investigation into the human factors of why the wrong numbers were fed into the computer would be a lengthy one. He declined to say just how near the flight came to disaster. "Speculating on how close it came to crashing is not really that useful," he said. "We all recognise this was definitely a very serious event." There was no suggestion of any problem with the aircraft, Walsh said. It was caused because a crew member entered an incorrect figure into the electronic flight bag, a laptop computer which provides data to the aircraft's electronic flight control system. "We know why the aircraft had the problem. It is because this weight was incorrect," he said. The correct aircraft weight had been supplied to the crew by ground despatchers and the investigation was focusing on how the wrong number came to be punched into the computer. Walsh said passengers would have noticed something was amiss. "I would expect that they probably would have heard a bang ... heard scraping noises." People sitting in seats towards the rear of the plane would have seen some bright flashes. "There would have been a lot of sparks." He said Emirates had immediately installed a back-up laptop in the cockpits of its aircraft to prevent a repeat of the incident. Emirates Airlines says the safety of passengers crew and aircraft is its top priority and the incident is being treated very seriously at the highest levels of the company. An internal investigation would review how the data input error occurred. "Emirates existing procedures approved by the manufacturer and regulatory authority, if correctly followed, are indeed very safe," the Airline said in a statement. The 2 Pilots involved in the March 20 incident were forced to resign 48 hours after they were flown back to Dubai.

AVIATION/ BAKO AIR 737 CRASHES IN THE DRC

A BAKO AIR Boeing 737 on Scheduled International Cargo Service crashed and burned early this morning SE of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, near the village of Massamba. According to DRC Government officials, all 7 crew members onboard the aircraft were killed in the crash, which took place at 6:00am, local time. The aircraft departed Bangui, Central African Republic, bound for Harare, Zimbabwe, with a scheduled stop in Brazzaville, Congo. The accident took place on the Brazzaville to Harare segment. The scene of the accident is about 140 miles from the Brazzaville Airport. According to local media, the 737 had been in storage and had not flown for about a year, prior to this flight. There is no word on what might have caused the accident, and it is not known what type of investigation the DRC will conduct. The Democratic Republic of Congo has one of the worst safety records in the world, and many countries ban all Airlines from the DRC from landing.

AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

ONEWORLD DECISION COMING SOON: AMERICAN AIRLINES and its Oneworld partners moved one step closer to a decision on their request for antitrust immunity this week, when the US DOT set a timetable to wrap up public debate on the application. Transportation officials declared the application record to be "substantially complete" and ordered interested parties to submit their comments by May 18. The applicants will have 7 business days, to May 28, to respond. American, BRITISH AIRWAYS, IBERIA, FINNAIR, and ROYAL JORDANIAN AIRLINES asked permission last August to jointly set schedules and fares, share in revenues across the Atlantic and otherwise cooperate with each other. VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS, British Airways' biggest trans-Atlantic competitor, has vigorously opposed the application, saying the alliance already controls too much of London's crowded Heathrow Airport and major routes between the United Kingdom and the United States. Also opposing the proposal is the Allied Pilots Association, the union that represents American's Pilots. The APA said international alliances hurt consumers by reducing competition and probably will result in the loss of jobs. Last week, the EU announced its own investigation of Oneworld and the rival Star Alliance to determine if they improperly restrain competition.

NO COMMENT FROM SAS ON TAILSTRIKE: An SAS MD82 apparently suffered a tail strike earlier this month, yet the Airline has refused to comment. The incident only came to light after a photo of the incident was published. On April 15, SAS Flight 1758 was on Scheduled International MD82 Service from Gdansk, Poland, to Copenhagen, Denmark, struck its tail onto the runway at Gdansk during takeoff. The crew did not notice the tail strike and continued to Copenhagen, where the aircraft landed without incident. It appears that the aircraft suffered no damage, as it was never withdrawn from service. When contacted by media, SAS promised a statement on the incident twice during the last week. As of today, SAS has not furnished a statement.

ENGINE FAILS ON ASIANA 777: ASIANA AIRLINES Flight 271 was on Scheduled International Boeing 777 Service from Seattle, Washington, to Seoul, South Korea, when it had to make an emergency return to Seattle, yesterday, April 29. Flight 271, with 179 passengers and crew onboard, declared an emergency moments after takeoff due to an engine failure at 1500 feet. The 777 settled at 3000 feet, while it circled to dump fuel in Puget Sound. The aircraft landed without incident back at Seattle, about 25 minutes after its initial departure. Witnesses on the ground reported hearing multiple loud bangs as the airplane climbed out and bursts of flames shooting out of the left engine. The 777 has been removed from service for inspection and repairs.

AIR TRANSAT A310 IN EMERGENCY LANDING: AIR TRANSAT Flight 152 was on Scheduled International A310 Service from Montreal, Canada, to Brussels, Belgium, when it had to make an emergency landing at Brussels, yesterday, April 29. Flight 152 declared an emergency on approach to Brussels due to hydraulics problems and an unsafe gear indication. The crew aborted the approach. The crew performed a low approach to have the tower inspect the landing gear, which confirmed the gear was down. The aircraft landed without incident at Brussels, however it had to be towed off the runway. Post flight inspection revealed that the left main gear was found damaged and hydraulics fluid dripping off the nose gear. The A310 has been removed from service for repairs.

BOMB HOAX ONBOARD INDIAN A321: INDIAN AIRLINES/AIR INDIA Flight 611 was on Scheduled International A321 Service from Mumbai to Jaipur, India, with continuing service to Delhi, India, and Dubai, UAE, when it was the victim of a bomb hoax, yesterday, April 29. Flight 611 was enroute from Mumbai to Jaipur, when the Airline received a phone call stating that there was a bomb onboard the aircraft. The A321 made an emergency landing in Jaipur, and taxied to a remote stand. All passengers and crew were offloaded. No bomb was found on the aircraft, or among the passengers and their personal effects. According to local media, 1 person has already been arrested in the incident.

SNAPSHOTS

A LONE TREE ON A HILLSIDE IS CAPTURED LAST EVENING NEAR RAMONA, CALIFORNIA.

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MUSIC/ TOP 20 SINGLES 4-29-09

1. LOVE IS THE LOOK (remix)--KRISTINE W
2. TINY DANCER--IRONIK w/ CHIPMUNK & ELTON JOHN
3. FLOWERS & FOOTBALL TOPS--GLASVEGAS
4. BEAUTIFUL U R (remix)--DEBORAH COX
5. DON'T UPSET THE RHYTHM--THE NOISETTES
6. LOVE, ETC (remix)--PET SHOP BOYS
7. IN FOR THE KILL--LA ROUX
8. THE PLANETS BEND BETWEEN US--SNOW PATROL
9. TAKIN BACK MY LOVE--ENRIQUE IGLESIAS w/ CIARA
10. THE GIRL AND THE ROBOT--ROYKSOPP w/ ROBYN
11. KINGDOM OF RUST--DOVES
12. NOT FAIR--LILY ALLEN
13. L'AMOUR TOUJOURS 2009 (remix)--GIGI D'AGOSTINO
14. IF THERE'S A ROCKET, TIE ME TO IT--SNOW PATROL
15. TURNIN ME ON--KERI HILSON
16. PLEASE DONT STOP THE RAIN--JAMES MORRISON
17. THE WORLD WE LIVE IN--THE KILLERS
18. THE MAN WHO CAN'T BE MOVED--THE SCRIPT
19. IL REGALO PIU GRANDE--TIZIANO FERRO
20. GIVING MYSELF--JENNIFER HUDSON

NEW ENTRIES IN BOLD BLUE TYPE

CHARTBOUND
* BONKERS--DIZZEE RASCAL w/ ARMAND VAN HELDEN
* FIRE--KASABIAN
* IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT--STAR PILOTS
* KNOW YOUR ENEMY--GREEN DAY
* LOVE SEX MAGIC--CIARA w/ JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
* RELEASE ME--AGNES
* RETURN THE FAVOR--KERI HILSON w/ TIMBALAND
* RUBBER LOVE--MARMADUKE DUKE
* STRANGE--REBA MCENTIRE
* WE MADE YOU--EMINEM

MUSIC/ TOP 20 ALBUMS 4-29-09

1. YES--PET SHOP BOYS
2. GLASVEGAS--GLASVEGAS
3. IN A PERFECT WORLD--KERI HILSON
4. NO POINT IN WASTING TEARS--IRONIK
5. THE SOUNDSTAGE SESSIONS--STEVIE NICKS
6. A HUNDRED MILLION SUNS--SNOW PATROL
7. KINGDOM OF RUST--DOVES
8. DE NOCHE--ALEJANDRO FERNANDEZ
9. LA EVOLUCION ROMANTIC STYLE--FLEX
10. ONLY BY THE NIGHT--KINGS OF LEON
11. SONGS FOR YOU, TRUTHS FOR ME--JAMES MORRISON
12. THE STEADY RHYTHM--IVRI LIDER
13. THE SCRIPT--THE SCRIPT
14. ITS NOT ME, ITS YOU--LILY ALLEN
15. A MI EDAD--TIZIANO FERRO
16. ALL I EVER WANTED--KELLY CLARKSON
17. EVERYTHING IS BORROWED--THE STREETS
18. E2--EROS RAMAZZOTTI
19. YEARS OF REFUSAL--MORRISSEY
20. TONIGHT--FRANZ FERDINAND

NEW ENTRIES IN BOLD BLUE TYPE

BOOKS/ TOP 20 BOOKS 4-29-09

1. COLUMBINE--DAVE CULLEN
NonFiction/A definitive account of the 1999 school shooting in Columbine.
2. VANISHED SMILE--R. A. SCOTTI
NonFiction/The true story of the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa.
3. JADE:FOREVER IN MY HEART--JADE GOODY
NonFiction/The late UK television star and her struggle with cancer.
4. THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE--STIEG LARSSON
Fiction/Salander & Blomkvist reunite in Book 2 of the mystery trilogy.
5. THE BONESMAN'S DAUGHTER--TED DEKKER
Fiction/On the trail fo a serial killer in Texas
6. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO--STIEG LARSSON
Fiction/The International Bestseller about murder, love, & family.
7. DEWEY--VICKY MYRON
NonFiction/The small town library cat that touched the world.
8. A LION CALLED CHRISTIAN--BOURKE & RENDELL
NonFiction/The story behind a net vid sensation of a bond between man and beast.
9. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES--AUSTEN & GRAHAME-SMITH
Fiction/Zombies invade the world Jane Austen's classic novel.
10. THE KILL CALL--STEPHEN BOOTH
Fiction/Fry & Cooper investigate murder in Derbyshire.
11. THE TOURIST--OLEN STEINHAUER
Fiction/Betrayal and risk in the world of espionage.
12. WESLEY THE OWL--STACEY O'BRIEN
NonFiction/The story of a barn owl and the woman who raised him.
13. FIRST FAMILY--DAVID BALDACCI
Fiction/A new thriller about a kidnapping from Camp David.
14. A LITTLE BIT WICKED--KRISTIN CHENOWETH
NonFiction/Autobiography of the star of stage and TV.
15. ANIMALS MAKE US HUMAN--TEMPLE GRANDIN
NonFiction/The autistic author on creating the best life for animals.
16. GROWING UP AGAIN--MARY TYLER MOORE
NonFiction/Talesof life, love, and diabetes by the sitcom star.
17. ENDAL--ALLEN & SANDRA PARTON
NonFiction/A family saved from the brink by an extraordinary dog.
18. THE SECRET SCRIPTURE--SEBASTIAN BARRY
Fiction/A Doctor uncovers the secrets of a long instutionalized woman.
19. LIFE SENTENCES--LAURA LIPPMAN
Fiction/An unsolved childs murder and its implications.
20. A COOL HEAD--IAN RANKIN
Fiction/A short story mystery, by the Inspector Rebus author.

NEW ENTRIES IN BOLD BLUE TYPE

TV/ TOP 10 PROGRAMS 4-29-09

1. LOST (ABC)
2. CSI (CBS)
3. SURIVOR TOCANTINS (CBS)
4. THE AMAZING RACE (CBS)
5. DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
6. THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY (Bravo)
7. GHOST WHISPERER CBS)
8. DANCING WITH THE STARS (ABC)
9. HEROES (NBS) *
10. MAKE ME A SUPERMODEL (Bravo)

*--Season Finale

MEDIA/ DNA RELEASES SPORTS ISSUE

DNA Issue #112, "The Sports Issue," is out today in Australia. Matt Stone takes the cover, and is profiled in a multi-page spread inside. Also in this issue: A look at the new film "Wolverine," probing Scientology, catching up with Olympian Matthew Mitcham, and profiling Australia's delegate to the Mr Gay International competition. Also, Sandro and Maykson explore the dynamic appeal of sport and athletes, from the sexual tension of the locker room to the fantasies inspired by sports gear both on and off the field. As always, the best in Fashion, music, film, books, and more. Issue #112 will be available stateside in about 3 weeks.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

MUSIC/VERN GOSDIN DIES AT 74: Vern Gosdin, whose country hits included the chart-topping "Set 'em Up Joe," "I Can Tell By the Way You Dance (You're Gonna Love Me Tonight)" and "I'm Still Crazy," died at a Nashville hospital early today. He was 74. According to a Nashville newspaper, the singer suffered "a pretty bad stroke" about 3 weeks ago. He died peacefully in his sleep. Born in Woodland, Alabama, on August 5, 1934, Gosdin was one of country music's most hardcore traditional singers, although his musical career encompassed a variety of genres. A one-time bandmate of The Byrds' Chris Hillman, he also performed with his brother Rex in the California-based band The Golden State Boys, and later as The Gosdin Brothers. Gosdin charted consistently throughout the 1980s, with hits such as "If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right)," "That Just About Does It" and "This Ain't My First Rodeo". In 1989, his Top 10 hit "Chiseled in Stone," co-written with Max D. Barnes, earned CMA Song of the Year honors. An obvious influence on a new generation of country acts, Gosdin's 1982 hit, "Today My World Slipped Away," became a chart-topper for George Strait in 1997, and Brad Paisley's 2003 album, 'Mud on the Tires,' included his version of Gosdin's 1990 hit, "Is It Raining at Your House". Funeral arrangements for Gosdin are incomplete.

TV/"LOST" MARKS 100TH EPISODE: "Lost" marks its 100th episode tonight, an achievement its producers consider as surreal as the TV drama's mind-bending plots. Executive producer Damon Lindelof, one of the series' creators, recalled meeting with ABC executives 4 years ago to pitch the idea of plane crash survivors stranded on an island of mystery and danger. "I said, `We're probably not going to get past episode 13. Let's all be honest about that upfront," Lindelof recalled, adding, "If I traveled back in time to tell myself after that meeting that we were going to make it to 100 and still have a season beyond that, I would have laughed in my face." "Lost" is set to wrap after one more season, a decision the producers made to allow for a carefully plotted finale. According to Lindelof, it will be a "very cool ending, and enormously satisfying."

FILM/"WALL STREET 2" PLANNED: After weeks of rumors, 20th Century Fox has set Oliver Stone to return as Director of the sequel to his 1987 hit "Wall Street." Shia LaBeouf is also in the mix for "Wall Street 2." LaBeouf is negotiating to join Michael Douglas, who won an Oscar for his portrayal of Gordon Gekko in the original film. The sequel will once again involve a young Wall Street trader, and the recent economic meltdown spurred by rampant greed and corruption will fit prominently into the plot. Allan Loeb will write the script. No start date has been set for filming.

FILM/BIG RETURNING IN SATC: In a 7-figure deal, Chris Noth has committed to "Sex and the City 2," the sequel to be directed by Michael Patrick King for New Line Cinema. The film shoots in early September, and Warner Bros. has set a May 28, 2010, release date. The original grossed $412.6 million worldwide. There has been no official word on the script, however online rumours suggest that Carrie and Big may be expecting a bundle of joy. Noth will next be seen onscreen in "My One and Only" and will reprise his Off Broadway role in the play "Farragut North," which opens at L.A.'s Geffen Playhouse in June and also stars Chris Pine.

THEATRE/"NIGHT MUSIC" REVIVAL SET: Tony Award winner Trevor Nunn will direct a Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Tony Award-winning "A Little Night Music". Rehearsals are scheduled to begin in October with an opening some time in December. The production will also feature musical supervision by Carolyn Humphris, musical direction by Tom Murray and choreography by Lynne Page, the same team behind Nunn's London production of Night Music, which officially opened December 3, 2008, at the Garrick Theatre. The casting notice states that all roles are open for the Broadway staging. "A Little Night Music," featuring a score by Sondheim and a book by Wheeler, originally opened at Broadway's Shubert Theatre on February 25, 1973, with a cast that included Glynis Johns as Desiree, Len Cariou as Fredrik and Hermione Gingold as Madame Armfeldt. The show, directed by Harold Prince, garnered 5 1973 Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical. The Sondheim score features the composer's best-known tune, "Send in the Clowns," as well as "Every Day a Little Death," "The Miller's Son" and "A Weekend in the Country."

WORLD NEWS/ FLU CONTINUES TO SPREAD

Today's key developments on the swine flu outbreaks, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and government officials:
1. Deaths: 159 in Mexico, 7 confirmed as swine flu and rest suspected. 1 confirmed in US, a 23-month-old boy from Mexico who died in Texas.
2. Sickened: 2498 suspected and 19 confirmed in Mexico. Confirmed elsewhere: 91 in US; 13 in Canada; 14 in New Zealand; 5 in Britain; 3 in Germany; 4 in Spain; 1 in Israel; and 1 in Austria.
3. Confirmed US cases by state: 51 in New York, 14 in California, 16 in Texas, 2 in Kansas, 2 in Massachusetts, 2 in Michigan, and 1 each in Indiana, Ohio, Arizona and Nevada, according to CDC and states. New cases suspected in Illinois and Minnesota, yet to be confirmed.
4. The FDA issues emergency guidance allowing certain antiviral drugs to be used in broader range of population if needed. Public health emergency declared and roughly 12 million doses of Tamiflu from federal stockpile to be delivered to states.
5. Cuba bans flights from Mexico; Argentina suspends flights from Mexico; US, European Union, other countries discourage nonessential travel there. Arriving travelers questioned at Mexico's US border and world airports. Cruise lines avoid Mexico ports.
6. Mexico suspends all schools until May 6. In US, some schools closed in Illinois, New York City, Texas, California, South Carolina, Connecticut, Minnesota and Ohio; President Barack Obama says more closings may be necessary.
7. Mexico City hands out surgical masks, closes public venues and cancels public events. President assumed new powers to isolate infected people. World Bank loaning Mexico more than $200 million.
8. Egypt begins slaughtering nation's roughly 300,000 pigs as precaution.
9. World Health Organization alert at Phase 4 of 6, meaning disease spreads easily but isn't pandemic.

AVIATION/ BOEING ANNOUCES NG 737-800

Boeing announced yesterday, that 7 Airlines will be the 1st to incorporate the new, spacious 737 Boeing Sky Interior starting in late 2010. The interior features soft, blue-sky-like lighting overhead. The Airlines are: CONTINENTAL, FLY DUBAI, GOL, LION AIR, MALAYSIA, NORWEGIAN AIR SHUTTLE, and TUI TRAVEL. The update 737 is drawn from research used to design the interior of the new 787 Dreamliner. The 737 Boeing Sky Interior features new, 787-style modern sculpted sidewalls and window reveals that draw passengers' eyes to the airplane's windows, giving passengers a greater connection to the flying experience. The sidewall design integrates the air vent so that before-flight security checks go more quickly for maintenance staff. The new design offers larger, pivoting overhead stowage bins that add to the openness of the cabin. The bins give more passengers room to store a carry-on roll-aboard near their own seat, adding both extra convenience and extra legroom. Boeing redesigned reading-light switches so passengers can find them more easily and avoid accidentally pressing the flight-attendant call button. Speakers are integrated into each row's passenger-service unit to improve sound and clarity of public address operations, while the new integrated air vent and improved noise-dampening materials reduce overall cabin noise.Changes to the Next-Generation 737 are more than cosmetic: Boeing is targeting a 2% reduction in fuel consumption by 2011 through a combination of airframe and engine improvements. Continental will make a Next-Generation 737-800 available to Boeing to flight test the performance improvements.

AVIATION/ SOUTHWEST SUED OVER "BAD AIR"

Twin sisters have filed a lawsuit against SOUTHWEST AIRLINES for "bad air". Victoria Vaughn Holsted and Valerie Vaughn have filed a Petition for Preservation of Evidence in Los Angeles Superior Court against Southwest Airlines. They claim that exposure to contaminated air while passengers onboard Southwest Airlines Flight 1705 from Los Angeles, California to Nashville, Tennessee on January 27, 2009 has caused them to suffer serious and debilitating health problems, among them motor skill deficiencies, loss of balance, vision impairment and uncontrollable tremors. The plane in question was a Boeing 737-300 jet aircraft and the itinerary for Flight 1705 also included stops in Birmingham, Alabama and Baltimore, Maryland, after the Nashville stop. Their claim states: "On January 27, 2009, Victoria and Valerie boarded Southwest Airlines Flight 1705, which departed at approximately 10:00am from Los Angeles International Airport with stops scheduled for Nashville International Airport in Nashville, TN, then Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, AL and finally Baltimore/Washington International Airport in Baltimore, MD. About 1 hour into the flight they, along with the other passengers, began to experience hypoxia (oxygen deprivation), among other problems. Once alerted to the air quality problem in the cabin, the Pilot then engaged the engines at full thrust and entered a steep ascent. As this occurred, super heated air began to surge out of the ventilation system and onto the passengers. Also present was the appearance of a mist. The Pilot announced to the passengers that there had been a malfunction, and Flight 1705 made an emergency landing in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A Fire Marshall boarded the plane and advised the passengers to exit the aircraft. The sisters and other passengers then took another flight that went on to Nashville, and then to Birmingham. The sisters claim that after the flight, they both experienced symptoms of extreme pressure in their heads, nasal passages and ears. These symptoms were followed by other serious physical and mental ailments, including tremors, memory loss, motor skill deficiencies, blurred vision, numbness and tingling in their extremities, among others. Their claim goes on to say that they have been forced to take extended leave from work due to their various symptoms". Their claim mentioned that both sisters had repeatedly contacted Southwest and the FAA to inquire about what was sprayed during the event, but received no response. Neither Southwest, or the FAA, had comment on the lawsuit.

AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

SWISS BFU REPORTS ON FARNAIR FL6932: The Swiss Bureau for Accident Investigation (BFU) have released their final report into an incident onboard a FARNAIR SWITZERLAND ATR42 on March 29, 2006, at Geneva, Switzerland. Farnair Flight 6932 was on Scheduled International Cargo Service from Cologne, Germany, to Geneva, with 2 crew members onboard, when the incident took place. The ATR was on final approach to runway 23 about 2 miles from the Airport, when the crew transmitted "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, FAT-6932, we have fire in the cockpit, please send the trucks." ATC confirmed the landing clearance, assured the trucks were rolling and queried, whether the crew wanted to stop on the runway, which the crew replied to in the negative. The aircraft touched down and slowed down normally, and then stopped. The First Office reported that they had lost all on board systems and were no longer able to taxi. The fire lasted only a few seconds, emergency services was not required to put out the fire. The Pilots reported that they heard a muffled explosion followed by an intense shower of sparks from the circuit breaker panel behind the Co-Pilot. The Captain saw a bright orange glow through the gaps of the circuit breaker panels on the rear right wall of the cockpit. Investigators found, that 48 wires of a strand of more than 100 wires showed damage caused by arcing over a length of 10 cm, the insulation had broken down and the metal partially melted. A tubular support in touch with the wires was damaged. At that point the strand touched an "earth cable", which exhibited damage of a fire. The wall showed traces of fire. A number of circuit breakers tripped as result of the fire, limiting the fire to only a few seconds. The BFU final report states that the strand was badly clamped and bulkier than designed and mounted on a deformed tubular support. The strand therefore came in direct contact with the lower terminal of an earth cable, producing friction and wear, which broke down the insulation. The BFU concluded that serious incident was due to an incipient fire caused by a short-circuit following several assembly defects. A copy of the full report can be found on the BFU website.

ALERT FORCES EMIRATES 777 RETURN: EMIRATES AIRLINES Flight 87 was on Scheduled International Boeing 777 Service from Dubai, UAE, to Zurich, Switzerland, when it had to make an emergency return to Dubai, yesterday, April 28. Flight 87 declared an emergency after the forward cargo hold smoke detector triggered shortly after takeoff. The 777 landed back at Dubai without incident. Emergency Services could find no trace of smoke or fire. After a post flight inspection, the aircraft was allowed to return to service about 6 hours after the incident.

ENGINE FORCES BRIT AIR FOKKER RETURN: BRIT AIR Flight 7526 was on Scheduled Domestic Fokker 100 Service from Perpignan to Paris, France, on behalf of AIR FRANCE, when it had to make an emergency return to Perpignan, on Monday, April 27. Shortly after takeoff, Flight 7526 declared an emergency after an engine failed and had to be shut down. The Fokker landed back at Perpignan without incident, about 20 minutes after its initial departure. The engine was repaired, and the Fokker was able to resume service about 3 hours after the incident.

GALLEY FIRE ON SAUDI 747: SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES Flight 1061 was on Scheduled Domestic Boeing 747 Service from Riyadh to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, when it had to make an emergency landing in Jeddah, on Monday, April 27. Flight 1061 was enroute, when the crew declared an emergency due to a fire that had broken out in the in the internal wiring of the upper galley, causing smoke. The Cabin Crew isolated the galley from electrical supply and were able to stop the fire. The 747 continued on to land at Jeddah without incident or injury. Emergency Services inspected the fire area, but did not need to intervene. The aircraft was removed from service for inspection and repair.

SNAPSHOTS

A HORSE IS CLEANED AT DAWN THIS MORNING AT CHURCHILL DOWNS, AS WORKOUTS CONTINUE FOR THE 135TH KENTUCKY DERBY. THE DERBY WILL BE RUN THIS SATURDAY AT THE TRACK IN LOUISVILLE.

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