Lockheed Martin Flies First Production F-35 Stealth Fighter

February 27, 2011 - The first production model of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II made its inaugural flight today in preparation for delivery to the U.S. Air Force this spring. The jet will head to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to support developmental testing shortly after the Air Force takes delivery. ?The aircraft was rock-solid from takeoff  Read More

Sen. Shelby Alarmed French Company Not Awarded KC-46 Contract

February 27, 2011 - Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) a tea party favorite admitted he had put a "blanket hold" on President Obama?s presidential nominations. This was an effort to force the federal government to push through the awarding of the U.S. Air Force KC-46 tanker contract worth $35 billions. On Thursday Air Force and Defense Department officials announced  Read More

FAA Approves Southwest Airlines Acquisition Of AirTran Airways

February 25, 2011 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) informed Southwest Airlines that it has accepted the carrier's transition plan to combine the operations of Dallas-based Southwest Airlines and Orlando-based AirTran Airways, following the financial close of its transaction to acquire AirTran. On Sept. 27, 2010, Southwest announced an agreement  Read More

Air Force Awards Boeing KC-46 Aerial Refueling Tanker Contract

February 25, 2011 - Air Force and Defense Department officials announced the award of an engineering and manufacturing development contract valued at more than $3.5 billion for the KC-46A aerial refueler to The Boeing Company on Thursday. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley said in the briefing that many factors were evaluated during the  Read More

Findings Reveal Healthcare Providers Properly Utilized Helicopter EMS

February 24, 2011 - A research study performed by the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria found that, out of 27,697 surveyed helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) transports, only 377 (1.4%) were found to be medically inappropriate flights. These findings contradict critics of HEMS, who have long claimed that a large but until  Read More

Laser Autoboresight Protect Rotary Aircraft Against Missile Attacks

February 24, 2011 - Northrop Grumman and SELEX Galileo announced the successful integration of a continuous laser autoboresight module into an advanced jam head to enhance the signal jamming capabilities of the company's U.S. Army Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) self-protection system offering. The CIRCM jam head is lightweight, small, inexpensive and highly reliable, designed specifically for   Read More

Business Aviation Data Prompts Cautious Optimism From Industry Leaders

February 24, 2011 - At a press conference held in Washington, DC, Pete Bunce, President and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) was joined by John Rosanvallon, GAMA Chairman, and president and CEO of Dassault Falcon, in discussing data and trends impacting the industry in the U.S. and worldwide. "We've been through two difficult years and fortunately, we are starting to see some positive  Read More

Fighting Stolen Aircraft Parts

February 23, 2011 - This week, aviation criminals gain a new enemy and law enforcement agencies can benefit from an aviation partnership. Why? Because the first publically available, stolen parts database has been launched by the leading not-for-profit/industry partnership of the Washington D.C., based Aviation Suppliers Association with support by Inventory Locator Service, a Boeing subsidiary. "The bottom line it was   Read More

Airline Passengers And Flight Crews Gain Ground In OSHA Protection

February 23, 2011 - Members of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) put key U.S. Senate offices on speed dial in a successful call-in campaign to press for long-overdue health and safety protections. On Thursday, the Senate defeated an attempt to strip OSHA protections for Flight Attendants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)  Read More

Gulfstream To Display Three Aircraft At Avalon 2011

February 23, 2011 ? Gulfstream Aerospace will display three of its business jets at Avalon 2011, the Australian international airshow and exhibition held biennially in Geelong, Victoria. Gulfstream will have both mid- and large-cabin jets on static display March 1-6 at Avalon Airport. These include the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150; the large-cabin, long-range Gulfstream G450; and the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550. Read More

TSA Administrator Applauds Adoption of Global Aviation Security Measures

February 23, 2011 - Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John S. Pistole this week joined the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Regional Conference in New Delhi, India, where the 14 member states in attendance adopted the Security Roadmap on Aviation. ?I applaud the adoption of the Security Roadmap on Aviation, which will strengthen global security measures to address  Read More

Confederate Air Force Voted Favorite Don?t Mess With Texas Ad

February 22, 2011 - After nearly 600,000 total votes cast in the Face-Off, Texans have declared the Confederate Air Force, now the Commemorative Air Force, the favorite Don?t Mess with Texas TV ad of the past 25 years.  The Texas Department of Transportation celebrated the start of its Don?t Mess with Texas campaign?s silver anniversary with a Celebrity Read More

Eurocopter To Focus On Its Helicopter Capabilities At IDEX 2011

February 22, 2011 - Eurocopter?s commitment to meeting the operational requirements of governments and armed forces and civil operators in the Arab world with its broad helicopter product line will be highlighted at next week?s International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi. More than 650 Eurocopter helicopters currently are flying in  Read More

Boeing Donates 'Legends of Flight' Proceeds To Washington State LASER

February 21, 2011 - Boeing on Wednesday made a surprise donation of $26,000 to Washington State Leadership & Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER). Boeing's donation comes from proceeds from its sponsorship of the IMAX film "Legends of Flight." The presentation took place during the monthly executive board meeting at the Pacific Science Read More

Bombardier Boosts Training Capacity With A New Simulator In Dallas

February 21, 2011 - Bombardier Aerospace announced that it has increased the capacity of its training network with the addition of a CAE-built Level D Full-Flight Simulator (FFS) in Dallas, Texas to serve the growing number of Challenger 605 business jet operators in the United States and worldwide. The new Challenger 605 aircraft simulator, located at Bombardier?s company-owned training facility at the  Read More  

EasyJet Tests Nano Technology For Fuel Efficiency

February 21, 2011 - EasyJet, the UK's largest airline, announced that it is the first commercial airline to trial a revolutionary nano-technology coating on its aircraft aimed at reducing drag and increasing fuel efficiency. The ultra thin coating, already used on US military aircraft, is a polymer that cross links and bonds to the paint surface and only adds an estimated 4oz to the weight of the aircraft. Read More

Global Aircraft, Engines and Parts Market To Reach $122 Billion By 2015

February 20, 2011 - Global Industry Analysts, (GIA) announces the release of a comprehensive global report on Aircraft, Engines, Parts and Equipment markets. World Aircraft, Engines, Parts and Equipment market is forecast to reach US$122 billion by the year 2015. In the post-recession period, large percentage of short haul, low-cost airplanes deliveries are expected  Read More

Airline Passenger Convicted of Assault Onboard Continental Flight 59

February 20, 2011 - A disruptive passenger aboard a Continental flight from Amsterdam bound for Houston has been convicted of assault and interfering with the flight crew and sentenced, United States Attorney Jos? Angel Moreno and Supervisory Air Marshal-in-Charge Joanne Oxford. Robert Wade Prince, 49, of Mobile, Alabama, pleaded guilty to Read More

St. Vincent And The Grenadines? To Open International Airport Early 2013

February 20, 2011 - St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), a collection of 32 islands and cays in the Southern Caribbean, plans to commence operations of its new Argyle International Airport in early 2013, clearing the path for direct international jet service and expanding its passenger-handling capacity fivefold, said Glen Beache, Chief Executive Officer of the St. Vincent and Read More

Jean Boulet Former Record Breaker And Test Pilot Dies At Age 90

February 18, 2011 - First hired in 1947 by the SNCASE, which would later become Sud Aviation and then the Helicopter division of the Aerospatiale Group, Jean Boulet was one of the greatest pioneers in the history of rotorcraft flight testing, he died on February 15, 2011. Just a few highlights from his illustrious career include the first flights of the SE3000, the  Read More

Delta Assessed Largest Fine In History For A Non Safety Related Case

February 18, 2011 - The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on Thursday assessed a civil penalty of $2 million against Delta Air Lines for violating rules protecting air travelers with disabilities. This civil penalty is the largest penalty ever assessed against an airline by the Department of Transportation in a non-safety-related case. ?Ensuring that Read More

NRL Researchers Study Ways To Reduce Jet Aircraft Noise

February 18, 2011 - Advanced military jet aircraft have engines that provide the needed speed and maneuverability. However, with this greater power there is significant noise during takeoff and landing. The noise can impact the public and affect the health and safety of flight line workers. To confront the challenges of the noise problem, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) collaborated with the University of Cincinnati (UC) Read More

Superior Helicopters Awarded Forest Fire And Emergency Services Contract

February 18, 2011 ? Superior Helicopters Canada Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Discovery Air Inc.?s Great Slave Helicopters Ltd., has been awarded a new two-year contract with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR). The contract with the OMNR is for three Bell medium helicopters for aviation, forest fire and emergency services in Northern Ontario, with the three contracted machines based in Wawa,  Read More

Largest Pilots? Union Violated Its Own Employees Says NLRB

February 17, 2011 - National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Administrative Law Judge Bruce Rosenstein issued his decision February 15 in the unfair labor practice case filed against the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) by Unit 1. Unit 1 is the labor union that represents the professional employees that work for the Air Line Pilots Association, International  Read More

TSA Certifies High Speed Checked Bag Explosives Detection Solution

February 17, 2011 - CTX 9800 DSi, a explosives detection system (EDS), by Morpho Detection has been certified by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in a high-speed configuration that processes in excess of 40 percent more bags than its fastest previously-certified system while continuing to provide high-resolution 3D imaging with the innovative data acquisition system, Clarity. The new high speed CTX 9800  Read More

Continental Airlines Agent Pleads Guilty In Fake Ticket Voucher Scheme

February 17, 2011 - Victoria Scardigno, a former sales agent for Continental Airlines at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, pled guilty on Wednesday to one count of wire fraud stemming from a $1 million Ponzi scheme involving the sale of hundreds of fake airline ticket vouchers. "Victoria Scardigno's low-rent Ponzi scheme took advantage of unsuspecting air travelers who thought they were  Read More

GE Expands Avianca TACA Relationship With 16 Airbus Aircraft Leases

February 17, 2011 - GE Capital Aviation Services Limited (GECAS), the commercial aircraft leasing and financing unit of GE, announced two new transactions with AVIANCA TACA involving 16 Airbus aircraft. GECAS signed a purchase and leaseback transaction for two new Airbus A330-200s and four new Airbus A320s. The aircraft are part of AVIANCA TACA?s existing order   Read More

Florida Governor Snubs Floridian?s Rejects Fed Funding On High Speed Rail

February 16, 2011 - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Wednesday made the following statement regarding Florida Governor Rick Scott?s decision to decline high-speed rail dollars. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood: ?We are extremely disappointed by Governor Rick Scott?s decision to walk away from the job creating and economic development benefits Read More

FAA Forecast Predicts Air Travel To Double In Two Decades

February 16, 2011 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released its annual forecast on Tuesday predicting that air travel will more than double in the next 20 years. This report underscores the need to keep the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) on track to accommodate future growth. ?We need to invest in aviation  Read More

UPS Expands Boeing Airplane Health Management To D-11

February 16, 2011 - Boeing on Tuesday announced that UPS will expand its Boeing's Airplane Health Management (AHM) coverage to include its MD-11 Freighter fleet, in addition to the 747-400 Freighter fleet, which already utilizes AHM. AHM is an information-driven system that helps airlines better prepare and manage unscheduled maintenance events. The expanded   Read More

Survey Ranks Malta International Airport Among Top UK Performing Airports

February 16, 2011 - Malta International Airport welcomes the announcement on Tuesday that it is one of the top performing airports in the annual ACI Airport Service Quality (ASQ) passenger survey, by placing first airport in Europe across all categories. Commenting about this achievement, Malta Airport Chief Executive Officer Julian Jaeger said that once again, the airport?s continuous investment in enhancing service levels has  Read More

CHC Helicopter Announces Management Changes

February 16, 2011 - CHC Helicopter of Vancouver, British Columbia has announced a number of Executive management changes, including two appointments and two retirements. After 29 years with CHC Helicopter, Christine Baird, CHC's president of Global Operations, has announced her retirement from the organization. In 1997, when Baird became president of what was then Canadian Helicopters International, the  Read More

Bell Helicopter Engineering Boot Camps Challenge Students

February 15, 20111 - For the fourth consecutive year Bell Helicopter, hosted college students from universities around the United States at its company sponsored Engineering boot camps. This year, a total of 20 engineering students representing 11 different universities from across the country attended the boot camps.  "Bell Helicopter has received an  Read More

Qantas Airlines Rejects Claims From Pilots' Union

February 15, 2011 - In a statement released by Qantas Airlines they reported that claims being made by the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) about Qantas pilots' job security being under threat are completely unfounded. Tragedy looms for Qantas as hard line management trashes its brand, seeks to smash its pilots. Qantas is on the brink  Read More

800 Million More Travelers By 2014, China Biggest Contributor

February 15, 2011 - The industry consensus forecast released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) indicates that by 2014 there will be 3.3 billion air travelers, up by 800 million from the 2.5 billion in 2009. By 2014 international aviation will handle 38 million tons of air cargo, up 12.5 million tons from the 26 million tons carried in 2009. Read More

Boeing Celebrates Its New 747-8 Intercontinental Aircraft

February 15, 2011 - Boeing on Sunday unveiled its new 747-8 Intercontinental, the new high-capacity passenger airplane that offers airlines the lowest operating costs and best economics of any large passenger airplane while providing enhanced environmental performance. Approximately 10,000 guests, including customers, Boeing employees, government officials, partners  Read More

FAA Policy Statement On Expungement Of Certain Enforcement Actions

February 14, 2011 - In 1991, the FAA adopted a policy of expunging records of certain closed legal enforcement actions against individuals. This includes both airman certificate holders and non-holders, such as passengers. Among other things, the policy provides that, in general, records of legal enforcement actions involving suspension of an airman  Read More

Senate Republican Seeks To Kill Pilot And Flight Attendant Protections

February 14, 2011 - The implementation of basic safety and health protections for flight attendants is being threatened by a discriminatory move in the U.S. Senate that would block safety and health provisions for aircraft cabins and in turn jeopardize the safety of the traveling public. A newly introduced amendment by Senator Rand Paul (KY) would eliminate  Read More

Look Around, Flights Becoming Hotspot For Romantic Connections

February 13, 2011 - The aviation industry has long used the frisson of flirtation to sell flights, beginning with strict ?glamour? criteria for cabin crew on the first commercial flights and continuing through to recent sexy advertising campaigns from airlines such as Virgin.  Now a survey from flights comparison site Skyscanner has  Read More

A Court Win For UPS, Damaged Aircraft Engine Transported By Qantas Airways

February 13, 2011 - Air New Zealand Engineering, contracted with Menlo Worldwide Forwarding, Inc. (?Menlo?) to ship a turbine aircraft engine from New Zealand to the United States on November 14, 2004. Menlo, in turn, contracted with Qantas Airways, to perform the actual carriage of the engine to its destination. When the  Read More

Executive Jet Receives FAA Authorization To Use Jepp Charts On IPad

February 12, 2011 - Jeppesen announced on Friday that Executive Jet Management has received authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration to use the Jeppesen Mobile TC App for iPad as an alternative to paper aeronautical charts. The authorization allows Executive Jet Management to use iPad and the Jeppesen Mobile TC App as the sole  Read More

San Diego Naval Aviation Centennial Kick-Off Celebration

February 12, 2011 - The 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation Foundation has announced its Official Centennial of Naval Aviation Kick-Off Gala in honor of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard?s 100th anniversary of flight. This momentous occasion will be celebrated today, (February 12, 2011) onboard the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, CA -the  Read More

Flight 7100, Manx2, A Commuter Airline Cashes Killing 6 Onboard

February 11, 2011 - On Thursday, Manx2, a commuter airliner, Flight 7100, of the UK had departed at 8:12 AM local time, from George Best Belfast City Airport, Ireland to Cork Airport, Ireland with 10 passengers and 2 crew members. Just after 9:30 AM local time, the Metroliner SW4 aircraft cashed under heavy fog killing 6 onboard.  Eyewitnesses at the airport stated  Read More

Boeing Submits Final NewGen Tanker Proposal To US Air Force

February 11, 2011 - The Boeing Company on Thursday submitted its final proposal for the U.S. Air Force?s KC-X tanker competition. The proposal offers a fleet of Boeing NewGen Tankers 767-based, multi-mission aircraft that will deliver superior capabilities to U.S. warfighters and burn 24 percent less fuel than the competing European Aeronautic Defense and Space  Read More

Garmin, TV Show ?Extreme Makeover? Refurbish A 1970 Skymaster

February 10, 2011 - Garmin International Inc. has teamed with ABC?s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to help a Florida family get the airplane makeover they need and deserve. For over 25 years, Joe, a pilot and the tireless founder of Air Mobile Ministries and his wife Cindy, a former nurse, have been on a quest to provide clean water to a thirsty world. Joe has  Read More

New Century Aerosport Rolls Out Its New Radial Rocket Rg Aircraft

February 10, 2011 - With a fighter look and feel, radial power and easy to handle gear configuration, New Century Aerosport, Inc., located in Olathe, Kansas, has introduced the Radial Rocket RG. Featuring a tricycle landing gear configuration. First flight of the new RG model took place at Johnson County Executive Airport in Olathe, Kansas in December, 2010. Read More

Accenture Implements New Cargo Booking System At LAN CARGO

February 10, 2011 - LAN CARGO, the cargo subsidiary of LAN Airlines, has deployed a new cargo reservation management system with Accenture providing its cargo booking software designed for freight and logistics and acting as system integrator. The new cargo reservation system is intended to further provide competitive air cargo service to the thousands of   Read More

The Right To Vote Is Welcomed News For TSA Employees

February 10, 2011 - The dates of March 9 through April 19 for the union representation election in the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have been finalized with the signing of an election agreement. This will be the largest such election in federal sector history, and an election the president of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) expressed confidence about  Read More

The German Made Flight Design CTLS Floatplane Is Now Available In The U.S.

February 9, 2011 - ASTM certification for the amphibious CTLS Floatplane was accepted by FAA last month and then made its public debut at the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Florida. The company announced that it is now ready to accept orders for the CTLS Floatplane. German aircraft producer Flight Design, known for its speedy development cycle, now  Read More

Gulfstream G250 Program Forges Ahead As Icing Tests Commence

February 9, 2011 - The Gulfstream G250 flight-test aircraft have completed several ice-test certification points in anticipation of the aircraft?s certification later this year. Serial Number (S/N) 2001, the first aircraft to join the flight-test program on Dec. 11, 2009, has flown with simulated ice shapes applied to the non-heated areas of the aircraft, including the Read More

FAA Cautions Pilots After The Crash Of A Beechcraft Duke Aircraft (BE-60)

February 8, 2011 - The FAA is cautioning pilots and operators to properly check flap operation prior to takeoff on the Beechcraft Duke (BE-60) by performing a flap prefight check. This comes after the crash of a Beechcraft Duke (BE-60) model airplane, N105PP that crashed just after takeoff killing the pilot. The initial impact point was in a grassy area, left of runway  Read More

UPS Foundation Donates $7 Million To Diversity Programs

February 8, 2011 - UPS on Monday announced grants totaling $7 million to more than 80 non-profit organizations whose mission is to support diverse populations. These grants will fund programs that develop leadership skills, promote education and encourage inclusion of all individuals. The UPS Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm, has a half-century history of  Read More

Orbitz Renews Contract Through 2015 With ITA Software

February 8, 2011 - Orbitz Worldwide, on Monday announced the signing of a long-term renewal agreement with ITA Software, Inc., a leading provider of innovative solutions to the travel industry. The agreement includes terms for Orbitz Worldwide?s use of ITA?s QPX software for the Orbitz.com and CheapTickets.com websites through December 31, 2015. An ITA customer since the launch of Orbitz.com in 2001  Read More

Europe's First RWSL To Be Installed At Charles de Gaulle Airport

February 8, 2011 - Northrop Grumman Corporation 's Europe-based air traffic management subsidiary, Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems, has been awarded a contract to provide a Runway Status Light (RWSL) Control System for Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, the first European airport to implement this safety feature. The RWSL Control System is an automated system that warns aircraft and vehicles if it is safe to enter  Read More

TWU And Teamsters Applaud PBS Frontline Report On Airline Maintenance

February 8, 2011 ? Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters issued a statement commending PBS ?Frontline? for its recent investigative report on airline maintenance. Yet according to both unions, much remains to be addressed in order to ensure the safety of the traveling public. The report brought to light the increasing use by U.S. airlines of maintenance, repair and overhaul  Read More

Commercial Aircraft Drug Smuggler Sentenced 20 Years

February 8, 2011- A man who conspired to import cocaine and marijuana into the United States by concealing the drugs in commercial airlines was sentenced to 20 years in prison, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). David Christie, 44, of Montego Bay, Jamaica, was convicted by a federal jury in February 2010, following a 7-day  Read More

American Airlines Workers Protest At Super Bowl XLV

February 7, 2011 - Passengers flying into Dallas Fort-Worth (DFW) Airport for the Super Bowl, got the message, that not everything is so super at American Airlines when hundreds of TWU members and supporters picketed and leafleted during the Super Bowl Weekend. The public learned about the long-running contract dispute and corporate greed at American Airlines when they  Read More

Uncertainties, Severe Weather Dents 2011 Airline Recovery

February 7, 2011 - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported full-year 2010 demand statistics for international scheduled air traffic that showed an 8.2% increase in the passenger business and a 20.6% increase in freight. Demand growth outstripped capacity increases of 4.4% for passenger and 8.9% for cargo. Average passenger load factor  Read More

TSA Administrator, Safety Of The Traveling Public Is Our Top Priority

February 6, 2011 - After Senate Republican, Roger Wicker (R-Miss) put forth an amendment that would exclude Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees from collective bargaining rights, on Friday, TSA Administrator John Pistole said 'We Will Not Negotiate on Security' U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John Pistole  Read More

US Airways Becomes One Of The First To Implement Safety Program

February 6, 2011 - US Airways' commitment to safety was reaffirmed this week with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) validation of its fully functioning Safety Management System (SMS). It is one of the first U.S. airlines to receive the FAA's validation of its company-wide implementation of this voluntary safety enhancement program. Dr. Don Arendt, Read More

Navy X-47B Unmanned Combat Aircraft Completes Historic First Flight

February 6, 2011 - On Friday, the Northrop Grumman built U.S. Navy X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) aircraft successfully completed its historic first flight at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), California. Conducted by a U.S. Navy/Northrop Grumman test team, the flight took off at 2:09 p.m. PST and lasted 29 minutes. This event marks a critical step in the program,  Read More

Senate Republican Seeks To Block TSA Collective Bargaining Rights

February 4, 2011 - The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) on Thursday sent a letter to every member of the Senate calling for defeat of an unwise amendment that would exclude Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees from collective bargaining rights. The amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration authorization bill was to be offered by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). ?The amendment  Read More

FAA, JetBlue To Bring NextGen Precision To East Coast, Caribbean Routes

February 4, 2011 - The U.S. Department of Transportation?s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Thursday that the FAA and JetBlue have signed a NextGen agreement that will allow the airline to fly more precise, satellite-based flights from Boston and New York to Florida and the Caribbean beginning in 2012. NextGen is the transformation of  Read More

Northrop's E-2D Hawkeye Completes First Carrier Landing

February 4, 2011 - The Northrop Grumman Corporation built E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, the U.S. Navy's newest airborne early warning and command and control aircraft, has landed on the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and begun carrier suitability testing. With 99 percent of radar testing complete, the purpose of this phase of testing is to assess the aircraft's effectiveness  Read More

Brendan Airways Pilots Withdraw From Voluntary ASAP

February 3, 2011 - On Wednesday, Brendan Airways, LLC, doing business as USA3000 Airlines, a U.S. airline, headquartered in Newtown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, pilots, announced their decision to withdraw from the voluntary Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). USA3000 Airlines, operates both scheduled  Read More

Average Domestic Air Fares Up 10% Highest Newark Lowest Atlantic City

February 3, 2011 - Average domestic air fares rose to $340 in the third quarter of 2010, up 10.7 percent from the average fare of $307 in the third quarter of 2009, the U.S. Department of Transportation?s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported on Wednesday.  Newark-Liberty, NJ, had the highest average fare,  Read More

Aviation Pioneer Founder Of Kaman Aircraft Passed Away At 91

February 2, 2011 - Charles Huron Kaman, founder of Kaman Aircraft, was one of the leading aviation pioneers of the 20th century died on Tuesday, Bloomfield, CT. He was 91. Mr. Kaman was a 26-year-old engineer in 1945 when he founded Kaman Aircraft Company in the garage of his mother?s West Hartford, Connecticut  Read More

TSA Testing Airport Imaging Software To Enhance Passenger Privacy

February 2, 2011 - The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin testing new software on its advanced imaging technology (AIT) machines that enhances privacy by eliminating passenger-specific images and instead auto-detects potential threat items and indicates their location on a generic outline of a person, TSA  Read More

FAA Certifies Alakai?s Flight Data System (FDM) On AS350 Helicopters

February 2, 2011 - Alakai Technologies announced today that the Federal Aviation Administration issued a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for installation of Alakai?s digital Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) systems and wireless internet units on Eurocopter AS350 and EC130 helicopters. The AS350 and its derivatives, with over 4,000 helicopters sold are used by police, forest service, oil exploration, flight-seeing and emergency medical service (EMS) operators  Read More

OIG To Review FAA?s Air Traffic Facility Realignment And Consolidation

February 2, 2011 - Many of the Federal Aviation Administration?s (FAA) air traffic control facilities were built over 40 years ago and are approaching the end of their useful life. This aging infrastructure, along with FAA?s efforts to develop the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), has prompted the Agency to consider facility realignment and consolidation. On September 1, 2010, the FAA established a Special Program Management Office to  Read More

TSA Halts Private Security Applications At Our Nation?s Airports

February 1, 2011 - The decision to stop accepting new applications from private contractors to perform passenger and baggage screening work at the nation?s airports is an important and positive step for airline security, the leader of the union representing thousands of frontline federal employees charged with this key national security activity said  Read More

Pilot?s Roles And Responsibilities During Visual Approaches

February 1, 2011 - Recently, there have been several instances of pilots accepting and flying Visual Approaches in marginal Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC), raising questions as to their compliance with regulations. Operators and pilots should review and become familiar with the ?pilot?s responsibilities? sections of the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)  Read More

Air New Zealand?s All Black A320 Touches Down At LAX Airport

February 1, 2011 - Air New Zealand?s new A320 in the new All Black Livery touched down at LAX on Sunday during its delivery flight on the way from France to New Zealand. This distinctive new plane will operate on domestic New Zealand routes from February. The aircraft with it?s newly painted all black livery, recently flew from Airbus' manufacturing facility in   Read More

Boeing Rejects The WTO?s Final Findings

February 1, 2011 - The World Trade Organization which oversees the drafting and implementation of rules for global trade in goods and services, on Monday, ruled that Boeing received improper subsidies from the U.S. government for its 787 "Dreamliner" and other jet models, giving it an unfair advantage against its European rival, Airbus. The finding affirmed WTO?s interim report that was released back in  Read More