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Continental's Mattituck Services To Close

Troubled by decreasing volume in a flat aviation economy, Mattituck Services, one of the northeast's longest-established engine shops, will close at the end of May, according to Continental Motors. Some of the 23 affected employees will move to Continental's Fairhope, Alabama facility, which offers similar services on overhauls and factory service.

Question of the Week: Virgin Atlantic's New Cell Phone Policy

Virgin Atlantic will allow six cell phone calls at a time on its London-New York flights. Is that a plus or minus for you?Plus: Last week, we asked AVweb readers what kinds of cars they drive; click through to see the breakdown of answers we received.

Airline Follies

Sometimes, the airlines are nothing if not entertaining.

Cell Phone Calls OK'd By Airline

There are a number of "catches," but Virgin Atlantic passengers will soon be able to make cell phone calls on the airline's flights from London to New York, the airline announced this week. No passengers will be allowed to have their phones powered up for takeoff or landing, and only six people will be allowed to talk at once. Each one will pay international roaming rates for the call and must have access to either Europe's Vodafone or O2 carriers, or the U.S.'s T-Mobile. By year-end, the service should be available on as many as 20 of the carrier's aircraft flying 10 routes. Virgin Atlantic isn't the first to offer the service, but don't expect U.S. carriers to follow suit soon.

Limits Set For F-22 Flights

Concerns over the system that delivers oxygen to pilots of the F-22 Tuesday led Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to set flight limits for the fighter jet and add safety measures. The jets must now be flown "within proximity of potential landing locations." The specific restrictions will be drawn by individual pilots and commanders, Pentagon spokesman and Navy Captain John Kirby told the Washington Post. Panetta added other specific instructions in a letter to Air Force Secretary Michael Donley. Meanwhile, two pilots who appeared on CBS News' 60 Minutes saying they did not want to fly the jet have reportedly had a change of heart.

Saturday Is Learn To Fly Day

If you or somebody you know would like to give flying a try, this Saturday might be a good time. During the third annual International Learn To Fly Day, airports around the world are hosting events and pilots are offering to take neighbors and friends up for a free introductory flight. EAA spearheads the community-wide effort, and provides information and a list of events online. Informal efforts to just take a friend or neighbor for an introductory flight or even for a visit to the airport also are encouraged. "As we inspire the next generation of aviators, International Learn to Fly Day is one day where we can make a special effort to invite and welcome those who have always dreamed of flying," said Rod Hightower, EAA president.

Kickstarter Relents, OK's Synergy Project

Kickstarter, a crowd-funding site, has reconsidered its rejection of a proposal from Synergy Aircraft, and this week said it would allow the project to go forward. John McGinnis, the aircraft designer, said on Sunday that he had "received an email from a human being" saying that Kickstarter had reconsidered his "incredibly ambitious and creative project" and would be excited to host it. "It's quite the ride out here at the end of the whip," McGinnis said. As of Wednesday, Synergy's project had attracted 51 backers and $13,924. At least $65,000 must be pledged by June 4; otherwise, the donors will get their money back.

Horne Promoted at Cirrus

Graham HorneGraham Horne has been named Cirrus's regional director for Southeast Asia and Australia. Horne was previously the company's U.K. sales director.

New 'BARR' Rules Open For Comment

The FAA will accept comments until June 8, 2012, on revised rules (PDF) for what used to be called the Block Aircraft Registration Request program, which allows aircraft owners to prevent public access to information tied to their aircraft N-number. The FAA wanted to all but scrap that ability last year but was blocked by Congress by an amendment in an appropriations bill. At the time, the FAA said it would present new rules for participation in the program; the Notice of Proposed Process appeared in the Federal Register May 9. Aircraft already on the list will be automatically included under the new rules but the rulemaking sets out some specific criteria for new applicants.

Eclipse, Sikorsky Sign Airframe Deal

Eclipse Aerospace and Sikorsky subsidiary PZL Mielec have signed a deal that will see the major airframe components of the new Eclipse 550 built at the PZL plant in Poland. PZL, which now builds the international version of the Blackhawk helicopter and the M-28 fixed-wing aircraft, will build the fuselage, empennage and wings for the 550, which is the same airframe as the original Eclipse 500 with updated and enhanced electronics. The parts will be shipped from Poland to Eclipse's plant in Albuquerque for final assembly.