Business news with words aircraft+department+technical. 2 news.

For Sarah Scott and Susan Bane, balance has been a long time coming. When the two met in the technical publications department at Cessna Aircraft 16 years ago, they struck up a friendship thanks to their mutual love of fine art. That love would take them far from each other, only to bring them back together in Wichita. The pair, both Wichita natives, recently combined their businesses to open VidichiArt in Clifton Square. "We didn't plan this," Bane said. "It just happened." Bane, who holds bachelor's degrees in both studio art and graphic design from Wichita State University, had come to Cessna after living and working in New York for nine years.

A controversial scheme for American aid to help its southern neighbour fight drugs looks useful but underwhelming THE idea was first mooted at a meeting near Merida last March between Mexico's president, Felipe Calderon, and George Bush. Months of negotiations culminated in weeks of leaks, mainly from American officials. But for such a well-rehearsed exercise, the announcement when it finally came was oddly low-key. On October 22nd both governments said that in an early-morning telephone call the two presidents had agreed on a plan under which the United States will provide Mexico with $1.4 billion in aid over the next three years to fight drug traffickers. Patricia Espinosa, Mexico's foreign minister, said the largest single chunk of an initial $500m would be spent on aircraft--mostly transport planes, she said, although in Washington, the State Department talked of surveillance aircraft and helicopters. There will also be scanning equipment at the border, and new communications systems, training and technical advice for Mexican police, including help on a witness-protection programme. And the United States will also give $50m in anti-drug aid to the Central American countries.