GE To Open Second Aviation Manufacturing Plant In Mississippi

July 28, 2011 - GE Aviation, a global leader in jet engine and aircraft systems production, announced it will open a new manufacturing facility in Ellisville, Mississippi, to meet accelerating global demand. GE will invest $56 million in the new facility. The company is targeting for production to begin in 2013 and will create 250 new  Read More

Airport Authority To Offer Local Businesses Concessions Opportunities

July 28, 2011 - Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA), operator of Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) and Willow Run Airport (YIP), will be back in the community next week to engage the talent and resources of more local businesses in upcoming concessions solicitations at DTW through two general information forums. The   Read More

More Critical Aviation Projects Come To Halt Due To GOP Inaction

July 28, 2011 - The Federal Aviation Administration issued additional ?stop work orders? to construction and technology contractors for critical modernization projects around the country after the Republican House failed to pass an FAA bill. The FAA halted dozens of major projects ranging from long-term runway safety initiatives to  Read More

Are Airline Carriers Enjoying Calm Before The Storm?

July 28, 2011 - The airline industry experienced an eerily quiet first half of the year, with losses of just US$400 million, the lowest total in six years, according to the latest report from the Aerospace division of Willis Group Holdings, a global insurance broker. The company?s monthly Airline Insurance Insight report indicates that the   Read More

Flight Design's C4 Aircraft To Include BRS Parachutes As Standard Equipment

July 26, 2011 - Flight Design will introduce a full-scale mock-up of their new four seat C4 at this year's EAA Air Venture in Oshkosh. As in all previous Flight Design models, a BRS parachute system has been designed for the C4 and will be included as standard equipment on all C4's sold. "It is no coincidence that Flight Design's  Read More

Delta And US Airways Receives Approval To Transfer Flying Rights In NY And DC

July 26, 2011 - Delta Air Lines and US Airways welcome the decision by the Department of Transportation to tentatively approve the proposed slot transaction at New York-LaGuardia and Washington Reagan National airports. Upon final approval we intend to move forward with the plan, as conditioned by the department  Read More

AMR Corporation To Move Forward With The Divestiture Of American Eagle

July 25, 2011 - AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines, announced its intent to move forward with the divestiture of AMR Eagle Holding Corporation ("Eagle"). AMR currently expects the divestiture to take the form of a spin-off of Eagle stock to the shareholders of AMR. "We believe that a divestiture of Eagle  Read More

American Airlines? Flight Attendants React To Company Purchase Of Aircraft

July 25, 2011 - On Wednesday, American Airlines management announced that the company has ordered 460 new narrow-body planes, with options to purchase an additional 465. The company plans to acquire 260 planes from the Airbus A320 family and 200 Boeing 737s. The company will be taking advantage of approximately $13  Read More

Garmin To Present Product Seminars At AirVenture

July 24, 2011 - Garmin announced a full schedule of daily seminars for Oshkosh attendees. The highlight for this years? seminar schedule is a special ?Innovators in Aviation? speaker series, featuring an impressive list of presenters including famous airplane designer and engineer, Burt Rutan. Seminars will take place daily in  Read More

TSA Takes Next Steps To Further Enhance Passenger Privacy

July 24, 2011 - As part of its ongoing commitment to take smart steps to maintain high level security standards while also improving the passenger experience at checkpoints. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John S. Pistole announced that TSA will begin installing new software on TSA?s millimeter wave  Read More

Euro Hawk The First Unmanned Aircraft Touches Down In Germany

July 22, 2011 - Euro Hawk, the first high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE), signals intelligence (SIGINT) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) based on the RQ-4 Global Hawk produced by Northrop Grumman for the German Bundeswehr, successfully touched down in Manching, Germany, on Thursday. The Euro Hawk took off on July 20 at 2:50 PDT (11:50 Central  Read More

Garmin G1000 Integrated Flight Deck Retrofitted For The TBM 700

July 22, 2011 - Garmin announced the delivery of the first Daher-Socata TBM 700 upgraded with the G1000 integrated flight deck. The first delivery went to the French Ministry of Defense and is part of a contract to upgrade 27 TBM 700 aircraft in service with the French military. ?We are proud to expand our line-up of G1000 retrofit platforms to include  Read More

DOT Secretary Ray Lahood Urges Congress To Pass Clean FAA Authorization Bill

July 21, 2011 - Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Randy Babbitt called on Congress to pass a clean extension of the FAA's authorization in order to avoid airport project construction delays and employee furloughs. The current FAA reauthorization expires at midnight  Read More

American Airlines To Make Largest Aircraft Order In Aviation History

July 21, 2011 - American Airlines to spend close to $40 billion in aircraft orders between Boeing and its European rival Airbus. Airbus and American Airlines, have signed a firm contract for American to acquire 260 modern, fuel-efficient Airbus A320 Family aircraft. Boeing has also confirmed that American Airlines has selected Boeing to provide 200 narrow  Read More

Some Legacy Airlines Success Formulas

July 20, 2011 - The airline industry as a whole has made a cumulative loss during its 100-year history. It is considered as one of the riskiest industry in the economy. Despite that gloomy picture some airlines managed to post profits during most of their existence. What combinations of factors did they use to navigate industry storms and maintain these amazing longevities? State support  Read More

The Gulfstream G250 Aircraft Is Renamed

July 20, 2011 - Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced that it has renamed the super midsized Gulfstream G250 aircraft; the business jet is now called the Gulfstream G280. As demand for Gulfstream business jets grows around the world, the move was prompted by the company?s sensitivity to the varied cultures of its international customer base. ?Since introducing the Gulfstream G250   Read More

TSA Must Fully Embrace Threat Based Aviation Security

July 18, 2011 - Captain Lee Moak, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int?l (ALPA), sent a letter to the U.S. House Subcommittee on Transportation Security reinforcing pilots? call for a threat-based approach to security screening that focuses on intent rather than on objects, and for a Transportation Security Administration Read More

FAA Proposes Civil Penalties Against Eight Companies

July 18, 2011 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing civil penalties ranging from $66,000 to $133,950 against eight companies for alleged violations of FAA regulations. They include the following: Apollo Aviation of Fruitland Park, Fla.:  $77,300 for allegedly operating a Cessna 172 on nine flights between July 21 and 24, 2010, when it was not in compliance with FAA regulations  Read More

Employment Non-Discrimination Act (Enda) Receives Endorsement From American Airlines

July 17, 2011 - American Airlines, one of the world?s largest global airlines and a founding member of the oneworld Alliance, has again advocated the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). As the first airline to endorse ENDA, American Airlines communicated its support of  Read More

TSA To Begin "Trusted Traveler" Pilot Program

July 17, 2011 - Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John S. Pistole this week spoke with the aviation community to provide an update on TSA?s ongoing efforts to implement risk-based, intelligence-driven security measures. As part of the discussion, Pistole provided details on the agency?s plan to conduct a pilot program in the coming months to enhance TSA?s identity-based  Read More

Refurbished Boeing Hanger Opens To Meet 737 Production

July 15, 2011 - Boeing has opened a new paint hangar near its Renton, Washington, facility that will help increase its Next-Generation 737 production capacity. The 737 program currently produces 31.5 airplanes per month and expects to go to 35 per month in early 2012, 38 per month in second quarter 2013 and then to 42 per  Read More

Sikorsky X2 Demonstrator Takes Final Flight Making Way For The S-97 Raider Helicopter

July 15, 2011 - Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.?s X2 Technology demonstrator has flown for the last time, the company announced on Thursday. In an early morning demonstration flight conducted from the company?s new Sikorsky Innovations Center within its Development Flight Center, the X2 Technology demonstrator gave invited guests one  Read More

A New View Of U.S. Legacy Airlines Chronic Struggles

July 14, 2011 - Here we will to analyze the chronic struggles of U.S. legacy carriers. We will see how playing on many fields led to the U.S legacy carriers to run contradictory and antagonist strategies and to eventually an unstable financial situation. The U.S Majors On The Domestic Market   Read More

Flight Design Unveils New C4 Four Seat Model

July 14, 2011 - When the full-size mockup of Flight Design's first-ever four seat aircraft was unveiled at Aero in Friedrichshafen, Germany in mid-April this year, the striking aircraft was an instant hit with customers. The C4 logged 30 orders in the four-day event. "We are offering a very well-equipped C4, complete with a modern glass  Read More

Huron County Airport Receives Major Donation From Angela Phillips

July 13, 2011 - Despite the efforts and attempts of local politicians to close the Huron County OH Airport, a business comes to the aid of the airport support organization. Angela Phillips, President-CEO, of Phillips Manufacturing recently donated $10,000.00 to a local Ohio airport support group, Friends of the Huron County Airport.  Read More

IAM Challenges United Airlines Flight Attendants Vote

July 13, 2011 - On Monday the International Association of Machinists (IAM) filed charges against the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA) alleging violations of the National Mediation Board (NMB) rules, policies and procedures by AFA and United Airlines. The allegations were filed following a more than 2000 vote margin  Read More

The FAA Revokes Bimini Island Air Operating Certificate

July 12, 2011 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has revoked the operating certificate of Bimini Island Air (BIA) of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, an on-demand operator. The FAA issued the emergency order of revocation on June 27 and it took effect immediately. The FAA alleged BIA advertised and operated 15 scheduled flights  Read More

FAA Authorizes Iridium To Provide Oceanic ATC Communications

July 12, 2011 - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will authorize aircraft operating in oceanic airspace to use its satellite data service for critical air traffic control communications. This marks completion of the FAA process evaluating aircraft flying in airspace under its jurisdiction to use Future Air Navigation System (FANS) 1/A over Read More

Congo?s Hewa Bora Airways, Flight 952 Crashes Killing 82 Onboard

June 11, 2011 - On Friday a Boeing 727 operated by Hewa Bora Airways, Flight 952, crashed on landing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Latest reports indicate that of the 127 onboard 82 did not survive the crash. Many of the surviving passengers received severe burns. The  Read More

Air Transport Association Calls EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Illegal

June 11, 2011 - The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, on Tuesday in the European Court of Justice (ECJ), called for the European Union application of an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to be dismissed and declared illegal.  Read More

New Chief Appointed To The FAA?s Air Traffic Organization

July 10, 2011 - Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Randy Babbitt announced that David Grizzle will be the chief operating officer of the FAA?s Air Traffic Organization. ?David is the right person to take on this critical challenge. He has a unique ability to manage complex situations and the leadership skills to bring people  Read More

Lynx World Speed Record Helicopter Restored After 25 Years

July 10, 2011 - After a four year restoration by a team of AgustaWestland apprentices, the record breaking Westland Lynx helicopter, which is still the official holder of the helicopter World Speed Record, was unveiled on Thursday by AgustaWestland?s CEO Bruno Spagnolini and the apprentices at AgustaWestland?s factory in Yeovil, England. ?To  Read More

Sikorsky Delivers 300th UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopter to U.S. Army

July 10, 2011 - Sikorsky Aircraft announced the delivery of the 300th UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter to the U.S. Army. "The war-fighter has provided outstanding reviews of the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter?s performance in theater,? said Lt. Col. Heyward Wright, Product Manager, representing Col. Thomas Todd of the U.S. Army's Utility Helicopters Project Office. "In my Read More

US Needs More A Luxury Long Haul Airline Than A Budget All Premium Class Airline

July 10, 2011 - Many of us remember the enthusiasm of airline entrepreneur for the budget long haul all premium class airlines in the second half of the last decade. L?Avion, Eos, Max Jet and Silverjet were all based on the same concept: carrying business travelers and high net worth tourists at a cost far less than what is offered by traditional transatlantic airlines. Only one (L?Avion bought by British  Read More

Boeing Prepares Space Shuttle Atlantis For Final Mission

July 9, 2011 - Boeing engineers and technicians prepared Space Shuttle Atlantis and its payload for the program's final mission, which is underway after Friday?s launch from Kennedy Space Center. Weather condition had been poor but Friday?s weather held out for a late morning liftoff. Atlantis' may extended it mission from 12 day to 13 days. "Our teams are  Read More

U.S. Travel Commends Reestablished Aviation Security Advisory Committee

July 9, 2011 - Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and the Transportation Security Administration have announced the reestablishment of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC), a committee to provide advice and recommendations for improving aviation security measures to the administrator of TSA. The reestablishment of the ASAC was a key  Read More

FAA Celebrates 75th Anniversary Of Air Traffic Control

July 8, 2011 - The U.S. Department of Transportation?s Federal Aviation Administration marked the 75th anniversary of federal air traffic control as American aviation experiences its safest period ever. Since its inception with 15 workers operating in just three control centers in 1936, the agency has become a world  Read More

Airbus And DLR Perform Research Tests For Fuel Cell Powered Autonomous Taxiing

July 8, 2011 - Airbus is strongly engaged in developing greener aircraft and increasing the eco-efficiency of its modern product line. One of the most promising contributors for emission free ground operation is fuel cell technology. Together with its research partner German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Airbus is examining the potential of this technology, its  Read More

Software Allows The X-47B Aircraft To Be Operate From Deck Of Aircraft Carrier

July 6, 2011 - The U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman Corporation have successfully completed a demonstration of the ship-based software and systems that will allow the X-47B unmanned air vehicle to operate from the deck of an aircraft carrier. The test, conducted July 2 in the western Atlantic with the Navy carrier USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN-69), culminated  Read More

FAvS Reached A Settlement Agreement With Piedmont Aviation Component Services

July 6, 2011 - First Aviation Services Inc. ("FAvS") announced that it reached a Settlement Agreement and Release ("Settlement") signed June 30, 2011 with Piedmont Aviation Component Services, LLC ("Piedmont"). The former owner of FAvS' subsidiary Piedmont Propulsion Systems, LLC ("PPS"), concluding all disputes between the Company  Read More

Air Line Pilots Association Calls On New Airline Pilot Rest Rules

July 5, 2011 - The Air Line Pilots Association, Int?l (ALPA), submitted supplemental comments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urging the regulator to dismiss groundless stall tactics by some in industry and issue the flight and duty time regulations and minimum rest requirements for airline pilots that are urgently needed  Read More

FAA And NATCA Reach Agreement On Fatigue Recommendations

July 5, 2011 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) announced agreement (PDF) on important fatigue recommendations that were developed by a joint FAA-NATCA working group which was established under the 2009 collective bargaining agreement. "The American public  Read More

Helping The Disabled To Achieve Their Dream Of Obtaining Their Pilots License

July 3, 2011 - Helping disabled pilots learn to fly has become a mission for German LSA producer, Flight Design. In conjunction with Able Flight and Purdue University's Department of Aviation Technology. Flight Design and its Colorado dealer Peak Aviation supplied a CTLS with an installed Flight Design hand control system to allow students to   Read More

Cirrus Aircraft And China Based CAIGA Complete Merger

July 3, 2011 - Cirrus Aircraft and China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Company (CAIGA) has announced that the two companies have completed their merger. With the previously announced merger now finalized, Cirrus Aircraft, a global leader in general aviation, joins China's leading general aviation product and services company to  Read More

UPS To Retrofit Air Fleet With Full Facemasks For Pilots

July 1, 2011 - UPS announced it would retrofit the cockpits of its air fleet with quick-donning, full-face oxygen masks with integrated smoke goggles. Installation of the enhanced pilot safety equipment comes at the recommendation of the Joint UPS-Independent Pilots Association (IPA) Safety Task Force. This comes after a UPS Airlines  Read More

National Weather Services' Satellite Broadcast Network Bandwidth Tripled

July 1, 2011 - Enhancing forecasters' access to data and imagery from an array of sensors and satellites, Raytheon?s Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System team has successfully tripled the bandwidth on the Satellite Broadcast Network (SBN) NOAAPort, the primary vehicle through which hydrometeorological forecasting products  Read More