Turkey Selects Sikorsky Aircraft For 109 Black Hawk Helicopter

April 28, 2011 - Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. announced that the Defense Industry Executive Committee (DIEC) has selected Sikorsky for a contract involving 109 derivative Black Hawk helicopters for multi-mission use by the Turkish Government. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. Sikorsky will  Read More

The U.S. Government?s Case Against Boeing

April 28, 2011 - ?I can?t not issue a complaint in the face of such evidence.? That was the reaction from National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Acting General Counsel Lafe Solomon, when asked about his decision to issue a complaint against the Boeing Company. Few NLRB complaints have generated as much publicity. Hundreds of media outlets reported on the announcement, ranging  Read More

Learjet 60 XR Aircraft On Tour Of Latin America And The Caribbean

April 27, 2011 - Bombardier Aerospace announced that its Learjet 60 XR aircraft will visit several cities in Latin America and the Caribbean during a demonstration tour from April 25 to May 21, 2011. The high-performance jet will visit Medell?n, Colombia, from now until April 27; Bogot?, Colombia, from April 28-30; Buenos Aires, Argentina, from May 1-9; S?o   Read More

KaiserAir, President Receives Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award

April 27, 2011 - KaiserAir, Inc. President, Ronald J. Guerra, was honored by the Federal Aviation Administration with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award on April 11, 2011. Guerra received the prestigious lifetime achievement award for his aviation expertise and more than 60 years of safe pilot operations. FAA official Guy   Read More

Atlas And Polar Air Cargo Pilots To Receive Groundbreaking Contract

April 26, 2011 - It?s been slightly over two years since the pilots and flight engineers of Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo, (AAWW) voted to leave another pilot union to join the Teamsters Airline Division. This week, they began briefings on what eluded them for years with their previous union and led to their joining the Airline Division  Read More

Boeing GPS Operational Control Segment Enters Service With US Air Force

April 26, 2011 - Boeing announced that its GPS Operational Control Segment (OCS) has gained full operational status with the U.S. Air Force 50th Space Wing, Schriever Air Force Base, Colo. OCS keeps the GPS system operational within specified accuracy to provide secure and precise navigation around the world for military, humanitarian  Read More

Flight Attendants Indict American Airlines Top Execs With ?Moral Contempt?

April 24, 2011 - American Airlines Flight Attendants declared the company?s top five executives are guilty in the court of public opinion of ?managerial incompetence? and acts of ?moral contempt,? stemming from a 14-count indictment brought by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA). The Flight Attendants? verdict  Read More

Bush Era Alert System To Be Phased Out This Month

April 25, 2011 - Lambert-St. Louis International Airport was shut down on Friday night after a EF-4 tornado hit the airport causing severe storm damage, ripped through the airport with terminal 1 and concourse C suffering the most of the damage. An EF-4 tornado can produce wind speeds between 166 to 200 miles per hour. High winds  Read More

NASA Honors Pioneer Astronaut Alan Shepard With Moon Rock

April 25, 2011 - NASA will posthumously honor Alan B. Shepard Jr., the first American astronaut in space who later walked on the moon, with an Ambassador of Exploration Award for his contributions to the U.S. space program. Shepard's family members will accept the award on his behalf during a ceremony at 5:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 28, at the U.S. Naval Academy Museum, located  Read More

WWII C-87 Liberator Express Airman Identified

April 25, 2011 - The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors. U.S. Army Air Forces PFC. Mervyn E. Sims, 23, of Petaluma, Calif., will be buried Friday in his hometown. On April 24, 1943, Sims and four crew members aboard a C-87 Liberator  Read More

St. Louis International Airport Reopens After Level EF-4 Tornado

April 25, 2011 - Lambert-St. Louis International Airport was shut down on Friday night after a EF-4 tornado hit the airport causing severe storm damage, ripped through the airport with terminal 1 and concourse C suffering the most of the damage. An EF-4 tornado can produce wind speeds between 166 to 200 miles per hour. High winds blew out up to 50 percent of windows and caused roof damage and considerable storm damage  Read More

A New C-130 The MC-130J Shadow II Completes First Flight

April 25, 2011 - The first Combat Shadow II for the United States Air Force Special Operations Command has completed its first flight at the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta. Less than one month after a rollout ceremony for the aircraft?s AFSOC customer the MC-130J has begun a series of flight tests prior to delivery to Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., in September.  The new aircraft is based on a KC-130J tanker baseline and will have the  Read More

FAA, ATC Supervisors To Handle Presidential And EXEC1F Flights

April 24, 2011 - The FAA now requires ATC supervisors to handle the president, vice president, and EXEC1F aircraft. Following the event that took place on Monday in which Executive One Foxtrot (EXEC1F), carrying First Lady Michelle Obama aborted a landing attempt at Andrews Air Force Base after an air traffic controller  Read More

SuperSonic Car On Track To Break The World Land Speed Record

April 24, 2011 - Bloodhound SuperSonic Car (SSC) team has employed the HyperWorks suite of computer-aided engineering tools in the development of its jet and rocket powered car. The futuristic speed machine is designed to reach mach 1.4 (approximately 1,050 mph) in its pursuit of the world land speed record. While its  Read More

US Airways Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Sabre

April 24, 2011 - US Airways filed a federal civil antitrust lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against Sabre Holdings Corp. to halt anticompetitive and anticonsumer practices, as well as recover monetary damages. According to the complaint, Sabre, which is a dominant distributor of airline fares and content to travel agents, has engaged in a pattern of exclusionary conduct to shut out competition, protect its monopoly  Read More

No Clear Winner, TSA Vote Leads To Runoff Election

April 24, 2011 - While the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) received a significant number of votes in the representation election at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), there has yet to be a clear winner because no option on the ballot achieved a majority of the votes cast. A runoff election between the top two vote-getters will be conducted. In the first round of voting, which ended earlier this week, NTEU received  Read More

European Commission Blacklist Airlines From Operating In The EU

April 22, 2011 - The European Commission has adopted the 17th update of the list of airlines banned in the European Union. Some airlines including four all-cargo air carriers from Indonesia and one air carrier from Ukraine have been removed from the list as safety concerns have been satisfactorily addressed. However, all air carriers certified in Mozambique have been  Read More

DOT Issues Vulnerability Report On The FAA?s ATC System

April 22, 2011 - Department of Transportation?s Office of the Secretary of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a quality control review report on the vulnerability assessment of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) operational air traffic control (ATC) system. The review was conducted at the request of the current Chairmen of the House Transportation and Infrastructure  Read More

Final Flight Of Space Shuttle Endeavour, Canada's Contribution

April 22, 2011 - The final flight of the Space Shuttle Endeavour is scheduled for April 29, 2011, at 3:47 p.m. EDT. This is the second-to-last mission before the Space Shuttle program retires later this year. This flight will mark Canadarm's 89th mission since it first flew on Shuttle Columbia for STS-2 in 1981. Canada's most famous robotic   Read More

Southwest Airlines To Close Deal With AirTran

April 22, 2011 - Southwest Airlines intends to close on its transaction to acquire AirTran Holdings, Inc. on May 2, 2011. Southwest also said it anticipates that Bob Jordan, Southwest's Executive Vice President Strategy and Planning, will be appointed as President of AirTran Airways to help guide AirTran through its integration with Southwest. "With the overwhelming approval of AirTran stockholders in March, we are  Read More

NLRB Issued Complaint Against Boeing For Unlawful Labor Practices

April 21, 2011 - NLRB Acting General Counsel Lafe Solomon on Wednesday issued a complaint against the Boeing Company for alleging that it violated federal labor law by deciding to transfer a second production line to a non-union facility in South Carolina for discriminatory reasons. Boeing announced in 2007 that it planned to assemble seven 787 Dreamliner airplanes  Read More

Kentucky, Sale Of Two State Aircraft ?Smart Government Initiative?

April 21, 2011 - Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear on Wednesday announced plans to sell two aircraft from the Commonwealth?s air fleet as a part of his ongoing Smart Government Initiative (SGI). Selling the aircraft is a cost-saving action the Governor will take as a result of SGI, a top-to-bottom yearlong examination of state government operations and  Read More

DOT Expands Airline Passenger Protections

April 21, 2011 - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced new airline passenger protections that will require airlines to reimburse passengers for bag fees if their bags are lost, provide consumers involuntarily bumped from flights with greater compensation, expand the current ban on lengthy tarmac delays, and disclose hidden fees. The rulemaking   Read More

Bell Helicopter Honors "Heroes of Aviation"

April 21, 2011 - Bell Helicopter announced the Bell Helicopter ?Heroes of Aviation" Series which pays tribute to the men and women who preserve freedom and save lives while using Bell Helicopters. The first painting of the Bell Helicopter Heroes of Aviation Series was unveiled at a ceremony at the 2011 Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) professional forum and exposition, held in Nashville  Read More

Rockwell Collins, Safety Benefits Of Head Up Flying Guidance System

April 20, 2011 - Rockwell Collins introduced its HGS 3500, the industry?s first Head-up Guidance System (HGS) available for light to mid-size business aircraft. The announcement was made at the 56th Annual Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar (CASS) in San Diego, Calif. The new HGS-3500 empowers flight crews to achieve greater  Read More

Aircraft Repair Stations Choose AAIRRG As Insurance Carrier

April 20, 2011 - Bill Perdue, president of the Aviation Alliance Insurance Risk Retention Group, Inc. (AAIRRG), proudly announced at the 2011 Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) Symposium that ?we have just enrolled our 50th member, which is a significant milestone in our progress as a new insurance  Read More

BAE Systems Enhances UK Royal Air Force Training Capabilities

April 20, 2011 - UK Royal Air Force (RAF) fast jet pilot training is now more representative of flying front line aircraft than ever before thanks to engineers at BAE Systems. A software upgrade, referred to as Operational Capability 2 (OC2), is a significant and sophisticated enhancement to the existing software on the RAF?s  Read More

Eglin Air Force Base Receives First F-35 Full Mission Flight Simulator

April 20, 2011 - Lockheed Martin marked the delivery of the first F-35 Lightning II Full Mission Simulator (FMS) system to Eglin Air Force Base's 33rd Fighter Wing. Preparation and assembly is underway at the base's F-35 Integrated Training Center (ITC) for training to commence this fall. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single  Read More

Boeing Delivering 787 Pilot Training On Global Scale

April 19, 2011 - Boeing has achieved multiple qualifications for its worldwide network of 787 training campuses. The qualifications mean Boeing Flight Services has training devices that are ready to be used with an approved training course in locations around the globe. "Boeing is changing the game through continued innovation  Read More

Moller International Schedules Test Flight Of The M400 Skycar

April 19, 2011 - Moller International announce that they have scheduled a demonstration flight of its ethanol-fueled M400 Skycar Volantor. This invitation-only media event is scheduled to take place on October 11, 2011 in Vacaville, CA. Over 250 members of the domestic and international press have already indicated an interest in attending this flight  Read More

Civil Aviation Authority Sets Out Policy On Performance Based Navigation

April 19, 2011 - The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has published proposed policy guidance on Performance-based Navigation (PBN) in UK and Irish Airspace. The document is a key component of the CAA?s Future Airspace Strategy, designed to help UK airspace evolve to meet future demands. Over the years, the UK?s airspace system has become complex and  Read More

Discovery Air Announces Debt Repayment

April 19, 2011 - Discovery Air Inc. ("Discovery Air" or the "Corporation") announced that it has entered into an agreement (the "Agreement") to repay approximately $13.5 million in aggregate debt owed by the Corporation to a senior officer of Discovery Air and a senior officer of Great Slave Helicopters Ltd. ("Great Slave", a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) (the "Related Parties"). Discovery Air Incorporated ("DA"), founded and Incorporated  Read More

EADS To Conduct Flight Demonstrations Of Its Armed AAS-72X Helicopter

April 19, 2011 - EADS North America this week is conducting flight demonstrations of its company-funded Armed Aerial Scout 72X (AAS-72X) helicopter at the Nashville International Airport to coincide with a nearby military aviation exposition. The company and its industry team of American Eurocopter and Lockheed Martin have made a significant investment in  Read More

U.S. Air Force And Northrop Honor 50 Year History Of The T-38 Talon Jet

April 19, 2011 - Northrop Grumman Corporation joined representatives of the U.S. Air Force in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first delivery of the T-38 Talon trainer aircraft. At an event held at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas, the Northrop Grumman-built aircraft was lauded for its longevity, performance and reliability as the primary training aircraft for generations of Air Force pilots. Read More

Report Shows UK Airline Pilots Suffer Significant Fatigue

April 18, 2011 - The University College London (UCL), a public research university located in London, United Kingdom has recently conducted a study, led by Professor Andrew Steptoe has found that Britain's airline pilots are suffering significant fatigue. Their report, published last week, shows that of a sample of 492 pilots (two thirds of them Captains) 45 per cent were  Read More

ICAO Standards Weak On Shipping Lithium Batteries By Aircraft

April 18, 2011 - In a statement submitted to a Congressional subcommittee, the Air Line Pilots Association, Int?l (ALPA), underscored the serious threat that mishandled or improperly packaged lithium battery shipments can pose to aviation safety and made clear that the solution rests in fully regulating them as hazardous materials. ?While  Read More

FAA Administrator Changing ATC Scheduling Practices

April 18, 2011 - Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Randy Babbitt on Sunday announced changes to air traffic controller scheduling practices that will allow controllers more time for rest between shifts. ?We expect controllers to come to work rested and ready to work and take personal responsibility for safety in the control towers. We have zero tolerance for sleeping  Read More

New Touch Screen Attendant Control Panel For Airplane Cabin Upgrades

April 18, 2011 - BAE Systems is now offering its new Attendant Control Panel touch-screen display system for cabin upgrades as an aftermarket retrofit solution for all commercial aircraft models. The modernized Attendant Control Panel, or ACP, makes work easier for flight attendants thanks to its intuitive, reconfigurable, touch-screen display that enables flexible, user-friendly control of a number of cabin systems functions on the airplane  Read More

FAA Spoke On Biometric Pilots Licenses Before U.S. House Committee

April 18, 2011 - On Thursday Margaret Gilligan, Associate Administrator for aviation safety at the Federal Aviation Administration spoke before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on the inclusion of biometric identifiers on pilots licenses. Her statement is as follows. Chairman Mica, Congressman Rahall, Members of the Committee:  Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you  Read More

NTSB Report Details How Close United Airlines Flight 889 Came To A Midair

April 18, 2011 - United Airlines Flight 889 (N216UA) had just departed San Francisco Airport, California for Beijing, China with 268 onboard on March 27, 2010, when an operational error occurred at the San Francisco Airport Traffic Control Tower (SFO ATCT). Flight 889 (UAL889), a Boeing 777 and a Cessna 182 (N9870E) transiting the SFO class B surface area southbound toward Palo Alto, California, passed within approximately 480 feet laterally and  Read More

Hawaiian Airlines Pilots Raise Money For Victims Of Japan?s Tsunami

April 17, 2011 - Hawaiian Airlines members of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int?l. (ALPA) have donated $14,500 to assist victims of earthquake and tsunami disasters in Japan, the latest outpouring of charity from a pilot group with special ties to Asia. Individual pilots donated $9,500, with ALPA?s Hawaiian Airlines Master  Read More

2011 Bahamas & Caribbean Pilot's Guide Now On The iPad

April 17, 2011 - The 2011 Bahamas & Caribbean Pilot's Guide is unbelievably beautiful and a great tool on the iPad. (If you like the book . . . you're gonna love the iPad app.) The photos are stunning. The search feature lets you easily find what you're looking for. The searchable index lets you run down through the island chains to find the island or airport you want. The bookmark feature lets you keep  Read More

Sikorsky And Other Pioneering Aviation Families Support Lindbergh?s LEAP Program

April 17, 2011 - Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. and Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prize (LEAP) organization representatives announce details of a joint initiative that continues the historic relationship between the Sikorsky and Lindbergh namesakes, during a press conference on Thursday at the AERO Friedrichshafen air show in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Sergei Sikorsky, son of company founder Igor Sikorsky, was among the  Read More

Airline Traffic Up 2.2 Percent From January 2010

April 17, 2011 - The U.S. Department of Transportation?s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported that U.S. airlines carried 53.7 million scheduled domestic and international passengers in January 2011. This is a 2.2 percent increase from January 2010. The January 2011 passenger total was 3.7 percent above that of two years ago in January 2009 but still remained 6.9 percent below the early recession level of 57.7 million in  Read More

L-3 To Begin Upgrading The Navy?s EP-3E Aircraft Avionics Suite

April 16, 2011 - L-3 Communications announced that its Platform Integration division has been approved to begin low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the U.S. Navy?s EP-3E Spiral 3-configured aircraft, featuring an upgraded intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) mission avionics suite. Under the LRIP   Read More

B/E Awarded Cabin Seat Contract On Lufthansa?s A330 And A340 Aircraft

April 16, 2011 - B/E Aerospace, a leading manufacturer of aircraft cabin interior products and distributor of aerospace fasteners and consumables, announced the Company has been selected by Deutsche Lufthansa AG (?Lufthansa?) to outfit its new-buy A330 aircraft and to retrofit its current fleet of A330 and A340 aircraft with   Read More

BA Cabin Crew Strike On Hold Both Sides Believe Issues Can Be Solved

April 15, 2011 - It appears that the British Airways cabin crew maybe on a track of mutual understanding and respect with the new British Airways CEO, Keith Williams after a turbulent relationship with the former CEO Willie Walsh who was responsible for generating great deal of turmoil for the struggling air carrier. BA cabin  Read More

FAA's Head Of ATO Resigns Amid Reports Of Controllers Falling Asleep

April 15, 2011 - The head of the Federal Aviation Administration?s (FAA) Air Traffic Organization (ATO), Hank Krakowski, under pressure resigned on Thursday due to the number of reports that have surfaced on air traffic controllers falling asleep in the control towers. ATO is the America?s air navigational arm of the FAA that employs more than Read More

E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Program Completes Successful DAB Review

April 15, 2011 - Following a successful Defense Acquisition Board review, funding for an additional 10 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft has been authorized. The authorization comes just a short time after the Northrop Grumman Corporation built E-2D made its first carrier landing, aboard the USS Harry S. Truman. An Acquisition Decision Memorandum, signed by Dr. Ashton Carter, undersecretary of defense   Read More

GE Aviation Breaks Ground For New Research & Development Center

April 15, 2011 - GE Aviation broke ground today on its new Electrical Power Integrated Systems Research and Development Center (EPISCENTER) on the University of Dayton campus in Dayton, Ohio. The $51 million center will be built on about eight acres on the University of Dayton?s campus on River Park Drive. ?GE?s new R & D center will be the southern anchor to the Ohio Aerospace Hub of Innovation and Opportunity,? said Lorraine Bolsinger  Read More

Finnair Publishes More Extensive Corporate Responsibility Report

April 14, 2011 - Finnair has published its Corporate Responsibility Report 2010 based on the international Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Guidelines. Finnair was one of the first airlines in the world to start reporting according to the GRI Guidelines and the just-published report is Finnair's third report covering corporate  Read More

Airlines Participate In ICAO Volcanic Ash Crisis Exercise

April 14, 2011 - One year from the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano the EC, EUROCONTROL, and EASA are participating in a major ICAO crisis exercise to validate changes and improvements to the volcanic ash contingency plan and procedures. The 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallaj?kull are a timeline of volcanic events at Eyjafj?ll in Iceland which, although relatively small for volcanic eruptions  Read More

FAA To Add Additional Staffing On The Grave Yard Shift At 27 Control Towers

April 14, 2011 - Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Randy Babbitt announced late yesterday that effective immediately the FAA will place an additional air traffic controller on the midnight shift at 27 control towers around the country that are currently staffed with only one controller during that time. The FAA is taking this action after an incident this morning at Reno-Tahoe International Airport when a  Read More

Grassroots Campaign To Improve Airport Passenger Security Screening

April 14, 2011 - On Wednesday the U.S. Travel Association is launching a national grassroots campaign to urge Congress to implement a trusted traveler program. Eighty percent of travelers surveyed say there should be a nationwide trusted traveler program that provides alternative screening measures at airports for American citizens who submit to background checks and meet other criteria. "Travelers encounter too much hassle at our nation's airports, and it's time for Read More

Delta TechOps Expands Partnership With Evergreen Aviation Technologies

April 14, 2011 ? Delta Air Lines? maintenance division, Delta TechOps, has signed a five year component maintenance and exchange agreement with Skymark Airlines to provide advance exchange power-by-the-hour (PBTH) services to Skymark?s fleet of 25 CFM56-7B powered Boeing 737NG aircraft.  The agreement expands Delta TechOps? current five-year agreement with  Read More

Northrop?s Lake Charles Aircraft Maintenance Center Selected MRO Of The Year

April 14, 2011 - Northrop Grumman Corporation's Lake Charles Maintenance and Modification Center has been selected as the 2011 Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Facility of the Year in the military MRO category by Aviation Week and Overhaul & Maintenance magazines. The Aviation Week MRO of the Year Awards honor the best MRO and aftermarket entities around the  Read More

UAE Air Force Receives First Airbus Military A330 MRTT

April 13, 2011 - The first Airbus Military A330 MRTT for the United Arab Emirates Air Force has successfully completed its maiden flight following conversion of the aircraft in Madrid. The crew reported that the aircraft, its systems and two Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines performed entirely satisfactorily during the 2hr 55min flight on 9th April. The Airbus A330 Multi Role  Read More

FAA Announces Barbados Does Not Comply With ICAO Safety Standards

April 13, 2011 - The U.S. Department of Transportation?s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday announced that Barbados does not comply with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), based on an assessment of Barbados? civil aviation authority. Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is 21 miles  Read More

Eurocopter Attends LAAD 2011 Defense Show To Expand Presence In Latin America

April 13, 2011 - The high-profile presence of Eurocopter at this week?s LAAD Defense & Security 2011 exhibition in Rio de Janeiro is focused on the growing importance of its Helibras affiliate in the manufacture, assembly, modernization and mission-outfitting of the company?s rotary-wing aircraft for Brazil and the Latin American marketplace. Among the helicopters spotlighted on Helibras? exhibit is the twin-engine EC725 Cougar helicopter  Read More

Honolulu Coast Guard Receives New MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter

April 13, 2011 - Coast Guard aircrews at Air Station Barbers Point, Honolulu received the second of four new multi-mission helicopters Saturday. The MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, closely resembling an HH-65 Dolphin, includes a multitude of new equipment to further enhance mission capabilities. The new aircraft are replacing the four Dolphins currently in service at the air station. The MH-65 adds new communications systems to an already capable  Read More

So You Think You Can Fly? Virgin Galactic Is Hiring Pilot Astronauts

April 12, 2011 - Virgin Galactic, the world?s first commercial spaceline, is accepting qualified applications for pilot-astronauts. Pilot-astronaut responsibilities include the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo spaceflight system test program in accordance with government regulations and company policies in Mojave  Read More

Grading The Guardians, NORAD Evaluations A Vital Requirement

April 12, 2011 - They?re heard before they?re ever seen. Even over the engines of an Airbus A310, a distinct roar causes a vibration a person can feel in their chest, prompting them to look out the window and find that the airplane they?re sitting in is now sharing airspace with an F-16 fighter jet. Close enough to see that, even as they?ve  Read More

Union Negotiates With US Airways To Bring Jobs Back To The U.S

April 11, 2011 - US Airways announced that up to 200 full-time jobs could be coming to its Winston-Salem, N.C. reservations center this year when the airline returns to the United States work currently handled outside of the U.S. That work will be moved to reservations centers in Winston-Salem, Phoenix and Reno, Nev. As part of the  Read More

Beechcraft Sees Aircraft Financing Becoming Increasingly Available

April 11, 2011 - During a recent corporate jet finance conference, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) announced that it has seen the overall cost of aircraft financing decrease throughout the past 24 months compared to prices seen during the economic downturn, with buyers seeing greater access to aviation financing. The company   Read More

MAF Donor Matches Gift To Fund Two New KODIAK Aircraft

April 11, 2011 - Through the generosity of two donors, MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship), a faith-based, nonprofit ministry that brings aid and assistance to needy people in remote places around the world, will soon take delivery of a pair of new KODIAK airplanes. The Quest Kodiak is a high-wing, un-pressurized, turboprop-powered fixed-tricycle-gear aircraft built by Quest Aircraft‎  Read More

DOT?s OIG To Audit The FAA?s Contract Tower Program

April 11, 2011 - The Office of Inspector General plans to review the Federal Aviation Administration?s (FAA) Contract Tower Program. Beginning with a pilot program in 1982 that has since expanded, the FAA has been engaged in converting FAA-operated low-activity air traffic control towers to contract operations and instituting a cost-sharing program with local communities. In 1982  Read More

DOT Fines Flythere4less For Violation Of Code Share Disclosure Rules

April 10, 2011 - The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), in its continuing effort to protect airline consumers, has fined the on-line ticket agent Flythere4less $40,000 for failing to disclose to consumers when flights were being operated under a code-sharing arrangement. ?When passengers buy an airline ticket  Read More

FAA's Aviation Safety Inspector And Analyst Staffing Under Review

April 10 2, 2011 - As directed by Congress in the Airline Safety and FAA Extension Act of 2010, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) plans to review the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASI) and Operations Research Analyst (ORA) staffing at commercial air carriers. The National Transportation   Read More

U.S. Visa System Can Discourage Visitors From Coming To The U.S

April 10, 2011 - U.S. Travel Association Calls on Congress, Obama Administration to Create Jobs by Reducing Barriers to International Travelers, Create Smarter Visa System. The single greatest roadblock to increasing international travel to the United States is an inefficient visa system that can discourage visitors from coming to the U.S., the head of the U.S. Travel Association  Read More

Airshow Extends Scholarship Program Application Deadline

April 10, 2011 - The California Capital Airshow (CCA), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the importance of aviation for continued economic growth, inspiration and educational opportunities for today?s youth, and enhancing awareness for the service and sacrifice of our military men and women, announced that it is has extended the deadline of its scholarship program and is  Read More

SOFIA Completes First Flight Of German Science Instrument

April 9, 2011 - The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, completed its first science flight Wednesday, April 6, using the German Receiver for Astronomy at Terahertz Frequencies (GREAT) scientific instrument. GREAT is a high-resolution far-infrared spectrometer that finely divides and sorts light into  Read More

NTSB Initial Assessment OF United Airlines Flight 497, Smoke In The Cockpit

April 9, 2011 - The National Transportation Safety Board continues to make progress in its investigation of United Airlines flight 497, which returned to the airport on April 4, 2011, in New Orleans, shortly after take-off due to automated warnings of smoke in the equipment bay. The airplane's nose wheel exited the side of runway 19 upon completing the Read More

Southwest Airlines Has History Of Not Inspecting Aircraft For Cracks

April 8, 2011 - The GOP has proposed to cut $4 billion from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) budget. House Republicans have stated government can spend less on aviation oversight and still maintain air travel safety. Rep. John Mica (R) Florida, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said Read More

UPS To Install Emergency Vision Assurance System On Its Aircraft

April 8, 2011 - UPS announced it would equip its air fleet with the Emergency Vision Assurance System (EVAS), becoming the first international air carrier to take such a step. You may recall On September 3, 2010 a UPS 747-400 cargo plane, Flight 6, had departed Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) about 6:53 PM local time, with a filed fight   Read More

Heroin Smugglers Arrested At Dulles International Airport

April 8, 2011 - In less than one week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, arrested two Nigerian men allegedly attempting to smuggle heroin inside their persons. Both were arrested at Washington Dulles International Airport. "ICE HSI agents and  Read More

Bombardier Prepares For Final Assembly Of Flight Test CSeries Aircraft

April 8, 2011 - Bombardier has started work at its aircraft production facility in Mirabel, Qu?bec, to accommodate final assembly of the first flight test CSeries aircraft. This is another step in the five-phased development of the Mirabel plant, which will ultimately double in size to some 860,000 square feet (79,897 square meters). Space optimization and re-tooling at the Mirabel facility Read More

US Airways Pilots Outrage Over Data Theft By US Airways Management

April 7, 2011 - The pilots of US Airways, represented by the US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), on Wednesday expressed their outrage at the airline's acknowledgement that its management personnel aided in unauthorized distribution of the highly confidential personal data of thousands of pilots. USAPA is currently  Read More

Lean, Green Flying Machines Closer To Reality

April 7, 2011 - Designs that may make airplanes greener and quieter for future generations are one step closer to reality with recent NASA contract awards. Four industry and academic teams will split $16.5 million for additional research into ideas for aircraft that could enter service between 2030 and 2035. NASA refers to this time  Read More

Raytheon To Modernize Largest FAA Terminal Air Traffic Control Facilities

April 7, 2011 - Raytheon Company was awarded a $177 million contract modification by the Federal Aviation Administration to continue deployment of the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System, or STARS, under the FAA's terminal automation modernization and replacement program. STARS is a joint procurement for the FAA and Department of Defense. It is a highly reliable air traffic automation system  Read More

First Polish Pilot Achieves BLACK HAWK Helicopter Rating

April 7, 2011 - Flight test operations at Sikorsky Aircraft?s company in Poland, PZL Mielec, are fully operational and the company is preparing to deliver the first S-70i BLACK HAWK helicopters, Sikorsky Aircraft announced. Test Pilot Leszek Pawula, a well known Polish test pilot, was hired in late 2010 to support flight testing of the S-70i BLACK HAWK helicopter line. Among the professional qualifications Pawula holds are a Helicopter  Read More

U.S. Marine Corps Challenges With The CH-53K Helicopter Program

April 6, 2011 - The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report that has addressed the early difficulties and adopted strategies to address future risks of the CH-53K Helicopter Program. The United States Marine Corps is facing a critical shortage of heavy-lift aircraft. In addition, current weapon systems  Read More

UAE Releases Preliminary Report On A U.S Registered G-21 Plane Crash

April 6, 2011 - United Arab Emirates (UAE) department of General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has released it preliminary report on a U.S registered Grumman G-21 that cashed and killed four onboard. On February 27, 2011, at approximately 1556 UTC, a Grumman G-21, registration N221AG Aircraft, with   Read More

Cessna Aircraft Picks Up 30 Aircraft Orders At 2011 Sun ?n Fun

April 6, 2011 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. company, reported that it secured orders for 30 aircraft at the Sun ?n Fun International Fly-In & Expo that concluded Sunday in Lakeland, Florida. Sun 'n Fun is a "Fly-in" and airshow held annually at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida, usually during the second or third week of April. Participants in the fly-in  Read More

Smoke In The Cockpit United Flight 497 Makes A Challenging Landing

April 6, 2011 - On Tuesday a United Airlines Flight 497 was cleared to depart Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) with 106 passengers and crew onboard an Airbus 320-232 (N409UA) at about 7:07 AM for San Francisco International Airport. about 10 minutes into the flight, while climbing through 4,000 feet the pilot of Flight 497 had initially indicated to ATC  Read More

Lufthansa Selects PurePower PW1100G Engines For Airbus A320

April 5, 2011 ? Lufthansa has selected Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1100G engines for its order of 30 aircraft in the A320neo family. The order approved by Lufthansa?s supervisory board on March 16 still requires contract closure with Airbus. The agreement between Lufthansa and Pratt & Whitney represents 60 PW1100G  Read More

FAA Mandates Inspections On Early Models Of The Boeing 737 Aircraft

April 5, 2011 - The FAA will issue an emergency directive today that will require operators of specific early Boeing 737 models to conduct initial and repetitive electromagnetic inspections for fatigue damage. This action will initially apply to a total of approximately 175 aircraft worldwide, 80 of which are U.S.-registered aircraft. Most  Read More

Aurora To Design And Fabricate The S-97 RAIDERTM Prototype Airframe

April 5, 2011 - Aurora Flight Sciences announced that it has been selected by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation to design and build prototype airframes as part of the S-97 RAIDER program. Aurora's design and manufacturing role will take place over the next several years. Applying Sikorsky structural design methodologies, Aurora  Read More

French Authorities Release Photos Of Air France Flight 447 Crash Site

April 5, 2011 - On Sunday French authorities reported during phase 4 of a search and recovery operation, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution robotic submarines had located the wreckage of what was believed to be Air France Flight 447, at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and that corpses of the flight had been seen in the  Read More

April 5, 2011 - Sabre Holdings, the world?s leading travel technology company, has appointed Hugh Jones, current president and chief executive officer of Travelocity, to president of Sabre Airline Solutions. He will be replaced by Carl Sparks, current president of Gilt Groupe and a former online travel executive, who will assume the role of Travelocity president and CEO  Read More

Puppy's Birth Signals Milestone For Explosives Detection Canine Program

April 5, 2011 - The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Puppy Program Monday announced the birth of Dolan, its 500th puppy. As part of TSA's Explosives Detection Canine Team efforts, the Puppy Program names each of the puppies after a 9/11 victim to honor their memory and this puppy was named after Capt. Robert Edward Dolan Jr., who lost his life  Read More

NTSB Investigating Southwest Airlines Rupture And Depressurization Event

April 4, 2011 - The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating an in-flight fuselage rupture that occurred on Friday evening on a Southwest Airline, Flight 812, Boeing 737 aircraft (N632SW). The damaged airplane diverted and landed safely in Yuma, Arizona. Southwest Airlines is working with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to determine Read More

Gulfstream G650 Undergoing Flight Takeoff Performance Test Crashes

April 4, 2011 - On Saturday morning a Gulfstream G650 was undergoing flight takeoff-performance tests in Roswell, New Mexico, crashed killing all four Gulfstream employees. Two pilots and two flight-test engineers. The Gulfstream G650 is a twin-engine business jet aircraft under development by Gulfstream Aerospace. Gulfstream  Read More

CAA Welcomes Guilty Verdict For Passenger Carrying Chainsaw

April 4, 2011 - The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) welcomed the conviction of an airline passenger for attempting to carry a petrol powered chainsaw in hold baggage on a flight out of London Gatwick airport.  Alan Hanson pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates Court on 25 March 2011 to a breach of the Air Navigation Order (Dangerous Goods) Regulations. He was given a  Read More

Labor Unrest At Lufthansa And Subsidiary Airlines

April 4, 2011 - The Swiss pilots union AEROPERS announced that negotiations with SWISS Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lufthansa, had broken down. In late March, Switzerland television reported on pilot fatigue as an issue in the ongoing labor dispute. The SWISS pilot?s contract had expired April 1 and an eventual strike is a possibility. Christoph Franz, the new Lufthansa Group  Read More

United Continental Flight Attendants To Vote On Union Representation

April 4, 2011 - The National Mediation Board (NMB) granted the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA?s (AFA) request to declare that the United/Continental merger has created a single transportation system for the purposes of Flight Attendant representation. ?Today is a watershed moment in Read More

Crewmember Identity Verification Program To Begin Testing

April 4, 2011 - The Air Line Pilots Association, Int?l (ALPA), and the Air Transport Association (ATA) met recently with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John S. Pistole and received approval from TSA for testing of a new crewmember screening system. This Read More

FAA Must Improve Controller Training Metrics To Identify Program Needs

April 3, 2011 - Department of Transportation?s Office of Inspector General (OIG) reports the FAA must improve its controller training metrics to help identify program needs. The  Federal  Aviation  Administration  (FAA)  plans  to  hire  and  train  nearly 11,000 new air traffic controllers through fiscal year (FY) 2019 to replace the large numbers of those now retiring.  Read More

Boeing Releases Study On Jatropha Sustainable For Aviation Fuel

April 3, 2011 - Boeing released research conducted by Yale University's School of Environmental Studies showing significant potential for sustainable aviation fuel based on jatropha-curcas, an oil-producing, non-edible plant. The study shows that, if cultivated properly, jatropha can deliver strong environmental and socioeconomic benefits in  Read More

As China Opens Its Low Altitude Airspace Eurocopter Showcase Its Product Line

April 3, 2011 - As China looks to open up its low altitude airspace in the coming years, Eurocopter is well-positioned to cater to an expected growth in demand for helicopters, which will become a vital complement to business jets for corporate and VIP air transport. Not only does Eurocopter offer the widest range of products available in business aviation and VIP configuration, it also has ?designer helicopters? specially produced  Read More

AirTran Airways And Georgia Aquarium Unveil Dolphin 1

April 3, 2011 - AirTran Airways and Georgia Aquarium unveiled a custom designed aircraft celebrating their long partnership. The Boeing 737-700 aircraft, named Dolphin 1, is uniquely adorned with dolphins and an aquatic theme to celebrate the airline's partnership with the world's largest aquarium while highlighting the facility's newest attraction, the AT&T Dolphin Tales gallery and theater. The one-of-a-kind aircraft  Read More

WTO Ruling Exposes Airbus Subsidies Gave Company Unfair Advantage

April 1, 2011 - The World Trade Organization (WTO) final case ruling published on Thursday confirms the massive market advantage Airbus has enjoyed from billions in illegal government subsidies provided to fund the company's commercial airplane product line since its inception more than 40 years ago. "This WTO ruling shatters the  Read More

Orbitz Loses World's Largest Car Rental Operator As A Customer

April 1, 2011 - Enterprise Holdings, which owns and operates the largest fleet of rental cars in the world under the Alamo Rent A Car, National Car Rental, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car brands, announced it will end its relationship with Orbitz and its sister site CheapTickets after months of difficult discussions. "We are ending our negotiations  Read More

?Hearts of Courage? Survival Of A Plane Crash In The Alaska Wilderness

April 1, 2011 - ?Suddenly, the left engine lost power, sputtered and quit! With the ice and only one engine, we started losing altitude quite fast, 3,000 or 4,000 feet in just a couple of minutes. The pilot, Harold Gillam, picked up the microphone and called Ketchikan.  ?One engine has conked out, expect trouble!? Glimpsing mountains through the window, he dropped the mike.  So begins an incredible true story of adventure, faith, and  Read More

Traveler Arrested For Improper Currency Declaration At Dulles Airport

April 1, 2011 - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers turned over an Ohio man they arrested to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for allegedly lying about the amount of money he was carrying when questioned by federal authorities. CBP officers arrested Libious Asefa, 42, of Columbus, Ohio, at Washington Dulles International Read More