Current Articles | Categories | Search | Syndication

Monday, April 30, 2007 C-17 unit brings 'bombs, beans, bullets' to the fight By FlyingNews @ 10:21 AM :: 424 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation "Bringing the bombs, beans and bullets to the warfighter" is how Capt. Aaron Oelrich described the mission of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron while on his way to fly an airlift mission into Iraq. And "bring it" they do, to the tune of about one million pounds of cargo daily. Read More..

Friday, April 27, 2007 NASA Completes First Checkout Flight of Airborne Observatory By FlyingNews @ 7:50 AM :: 500 Views :: 0 Comments :: NASA NASA today successfully completed the first of several planned checkout test flights of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) aircraft. The flight took place in Waco, Texas, to observe the low-speed and low-altitude handling performance of the aircraft. NASA research pilot and astronaut Gordon Fullerton led the crew making the historic first flight. Read More..

Friday, April 27, 2007 Dassault Falcon 7X Earns EASA and FAA Certification By FlyingNews @ 7:46 AM :: 453 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers At a ceremony today in Bordeaux-Mérignac, France, Dassault Aviation received type certification for the Falcon 7X from both the EASA and FAA. Patrick Goudou, Executive Director of the EASA, and John Hickey, Director Aircraft Certification Service for the FAA, were on hand to sign the type certificate. The Falcon 7X is expected to enter service before the end of June, 2007. Read More..

Thursday, April 26, 2007 Eclipse Aviation Receives Production Certificate By FlyingNews @ 4:30 PM :: 427 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Eclipse Aviation, manufacturer of the world’s first very light jet (VLJ), today announced that it has received its production certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Representatives from the FAA presented the production certificate to Peg Billson, chief operating officer (COO) of Eclipse Aviation earlier today at a ceremony held at Eclipse’s Albuquerque headquarters. A production certificate allows a company to manufacture aircraft with an FAA-approved type design, and is only granted when the FAA has determined that the organization’s manufacturing processes and inspection systems comply with all federal regulations. Eclipse Aviation is now authorized to issue standard airworthiness certificates for its production aircraft. As is common in the production start-up phase of a new aircraft manufacturer, Eclipse was previously required to submit every aircraft to the FAA for approval before delivery. Read More..

Thursday, April 26, 2007 Setting the Record Straight on FAA’s Recent Claims By FlyingNews @ 4:19 PM :: 422 Views :: 0 Comments :: FAA, Government This week, the FAA released a “fact sheet” aimed at curbing some of the backlash that the agency and the airlines have received since introducing their proposal for FAA reauthorization. However, this is just the latest round of rhetoric that has been put out by the FAA and the commercial airlines since the introduction of their proposal, which would purposefully transfer billions of dollars of the airlines’ tax burden onto businesses and communities that rely on small planes. Read More..

Thursday, April 26, 2007 Boeing Next-Generation 737-900ER Receives FAA Certification By FlyingNews @ 4:17 PM :: 419 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers The newest member of the Boeing Next-Generation 737 family, the 737-900ER (Extended Range), earned type certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on April 20. The 737 derivative incorporates an extra pair of exit doors to increase the maximum passenger capacity, a flat aft-pressure bulkhead to increase interior volume, a two-position tailskid for improved takeoff and landing capability, wing strengthening changes to accommodate the 13,500 pound maximum takeoff weight increase, enhancements to the leading and trailing edge flap systems for improved takeoff and landing capability, and optional Blended Winglets and auxiliary fuel tanks that increase the range of the 737-900ER to 3,200 nautical miles (5,925 km). Read More..

Thursday, April 26, 2007 General provides clarification on UAV use By FlyingNews @ 9:49 AM :: 443 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation Recent discussion in hearings on Capital Hill, and elsewhere on an executive agency proposal to achieve greater efficiency in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) procurement is being confused with joint operational employment of those UAVs. "These are two related, but distinctly separate issues," said Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance. The discussion has also illuminated a fundamental misunderstanding of Service roles and missions. Read More..

Wednesday, April 25, 2007 Ban expected to be lifted on privately-owned low-flying aircraft By FlyingNews @ 5:17 PM :: 440 Views :: 0 Comments :: Government [Editor]This is an amazing story about China's aviation! Not many private planes in China I guess The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) announced on April 23 that it was doing an ADS-B technology application test to provide technical support for low-flying aircraft in preparation for the lifting of a ban on privately-owned low-flying aircraft. According to "Beijing Business Today", in some economically developed areas of China there is a demand for air-based activities by both individuals and companies. Yu Zhenfa, CAAC's chief pilot, said that CAAC has developed a basic plan for this in accordance with international practice; it will regulate, monitor and assist three types of low-flying aircraft. Yu said that this will give CAAC, aircraft owners and China's pilot association (AOPA-CHINA) more advantages. At present, there are around 70 private planes in China. The world average ratio of airplanes overall to privately-owned aircraft is 1:9, but in China, it is just 20:1. The cost of a private aircraft is reportedly between 1 and 10 million yuan. Statistics show that there are more than 300,000 people in China whose minimum net worth is one million yuan.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007 First Major Assembly for Boeing 787 Dreamliner Delivered to Everett By FlyingNews @ 5:02 PM :: 431 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines Final assembly for the all-new Boeing [NYSE: BA] 787 Dreamliner is one step closer with the April 24 arrival in Everett of the horizontal stabilizer. Manufactured by Alenia Aeronautica at its facility in Foggia, Italy, the horizontal stabilizer is transported in five pieces - the left and right stabilizer, two elevators and a center. The shipment configuration measures nine feet wide, 13 feet high and is 42 feet long. It was delivered to Boeing late yesterday via the Dreamlifter, a specially modified 747-400 used to transport 787 major assemblies. The horizontal stabilizer was loaded into position in the 787 final assembly bay earlier today. The completed assembly has a wing span of approximately 62 feet and measures 32 feet fore/aft. Read More..

Wednesday, April 25, 2007 WWII veteran's artwork lives on at museum By FlyingNews @ 4:56 PM :: 425 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation American servicemembers have always carried little reminders of home. From cards, to pictures, letters and journals, holding onto the little things helped them pass the time away from family and friends while serving their country. In 1944, 23-year-old machinist mate second class Hal Olsen packed a set of paints in with his gear when he boarded a Liberty Ship bound for the Pacific. His goal was to paint the splendor of the Pacific Islands, but his friends laughed, telling him it was a waste of money. One fateful day would change not only their opinion, but Olsen's life as well. Read More..

Wednesday, April 25, 2007 Court Confirms Delta Air Lines Plan of Reorganization By FlyingNews @ 4:52 PM :: 449 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York today issued a ruling confirming Delta’s Plan of Reorganization, clearing the way for the airline’s emergence from Chapter 11. Delta expects its plan to become effective on April 30, once all closing conditions of the plan have been met and the company’s $2.5 billion in exit financing has closed. Read More..

Tuesday, April 24, 2007 Restored aircraft unveiled at Duxford By FlyingNews @ 1:47 PM :: 460 Views :: 0 Comments :: Warbirds A "REMARKABLE" aircraft restored over the past two years has been unveiled at the Duxford Imperial War Museum. The DH-9 aircraft was discovered in a Maharaja's elephant stable in India and has painstakingly been restored to its original glory. It is seen as a landmark acquisition for the museum and one that will become an important part of the national collection.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007 Blue Angel Pilot Killed in Air Show Crash Identified By FlyingNews @ 1:39 PM :: 433 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Flying Accidents, Flying Events PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- The identity of an F/A-18A Hornet pilot who crashed during an April 21 Navy flight demonstration at Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, S.C. has been released. Blue Angel No. 6 was flown by Lt. Cmdr. Kevin J. Davis, 32, of Pittsfield, Mass. He served as the opposing solo pilot. This was Davis’ second year on the team and his first year as a demonstration pilot. Read More..

Tuesday, April 24, 2007 The revised agreement includes options for 23 Boeing 787 aircraft for a By FlyingNews @ 1:22 PM :: 473 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Flying, Business Aircraft Manufacturers Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, yesterday delivered the first retail Citation Mustang business jet to Dave and Dawn Goode of GOODE Ski Technologies. This is the third production Mustang delivered from Independence. The first two are being used by Cessna as marketing demonstration aircraft. "We are proud to be the owners of the first retail Mustang and excited about putting it into service," said David Goode, president and founder of GOODE Ski Technologies. "We have a great deal of confidence in this aircraft because it represents the best of what Cessna has to offer, including an extensive support network to stand behind it. Read More..

Tuesday, April 24, 2007 Air Canada increases Boeing 787 order to 37 aircraft; becomes North America's largest dreamliner customer By FlyingNews @ 1:18 PM :: 443 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Air Canada today announced it has exercised existing options and purchase rights for 23 Boeing 787 aircraft, bringing its total firm orders for the aircraft to 37 from the 14 originally announced, with deliveries starting in 2010. Air Canada thus becomes the largest North American customer for the Dreamliner, the world's most advanced aircraft. "As we take delivery of new, fuel efficient aircraft, we are removing older aircraft from the fleet to create one of the youngest, most efficient, customer-friendly fleets in the world," said Montie Brewer, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The Boeing 787 aircraft features better operational performance in terms of speed and flight range, providing us with the ability to serve new markets that could not be previously served in an efficient manner. With new Boeing and Embraer aircraft entering the fleet, we will continue with our overall strategy of matching capacity with demand, which has produced more than three consecutive years of record breaking load factors." Read More..

Monday, April 23, 2007 Blue Angel Jet Crashes at Beaufort Air Show By FlyingNews @ 7:28 AM :: 403 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Flying Accidents An F/A-18A Hornet assigned to the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels) crashed during the final minutes of an air show at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., at approximately 4 p.m. EDT, April 21. The pilot did not survive. The pilot of the jet was joining the Delta formation for the final maneuver of the aerial demonstration when the mishap occurred. It was his second year on the team, and first year as a demonstration pilot. Read More..

Saturday, April 21, 2007 TBM 850 return from “Down Under Demo Tour” By FlyingNews @ 4:12 PM :: 244 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Socata’s TBM 850 demo aircraft is now back in Europe and on display at Aero Air Show in Friedrichshafen, Germany, after a 20,000 Nm trip which started from its home airport of Tarbes on 26 February. The aircraft performed uneventfully for more than 100 hours and this includes numerous flights including the “TBM 850 Down Under Demo Tour” trip with stops in Key cities like Mt. Isa, Cloncurry, Cairns, Brisbane, Southport, Gold Coast, Sydney, Canberra, Albury, Avalon and Melbourne, with a week at the Australian International Airshow at the Avalon Airport. Read More..

Friday, April 20, 2007 spn to participate in flying display at AERO Friedrichshafen By FlyingNews @ 10:44 AM :: 286 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Flying, Business Aircraft Manufacturers Grob Aerospace will demonstrate the spn (D-CSPN) at Europe’s premier general aviation exhibition, AERO Friedrichshafen. The new business jet can be seen on static display (SD-00) between flights. Daily with an exception of Saturday the aircraft will be performing flight demonstration. The manufacturer’s debut at the Lake Constance event marks its first public debut since resuming flying on Friday 23rd February, putting the flight test program of the industry’s first all-composite light jet back on track. Read More..

Friday, April 20, 2007 The Eclipse 500 Lands in Europe By FlyingNews @ 10:42 AM :: 269 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Flying, Business Aircraft Manufacturers Eclipse Aviation, manufacturer of the world’s first very light jet (VLJ), today announced its European debut for the Eclipse 500. This is the first time Eclipse Aviation has taken its twinengine jet outside of North America. The aircraft left its headquarters in Albuquerque, NM on April 14, 2007, flew the North Atlantic route through Canada, Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom, and landed in Friedrichshafen, Germany for the AERO 2007 show. “Europe is such a great market for the Eclipse 500 because of its superior performance and efficiency to anything else offered today,” said Andrew Broom, director of public relations at Eclipse Aviation. “The Eclipse 500 offers a quicker and more convenient way to travel. We already have more than 100 orders throughout this market, and we believe that once people in Europe and the UK see it and fly it, we can change the way they travel.” Read More..

Friday, April 20, 2007 Gordon and Udall Urge President to Help with NASA Funding By FlyingNews @ 10:36 AM :: 258 Views :: 0 Comments :: Government, NASA Today, the Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology Bart Gordon (D-TN) and the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Mark Udall (D-CO) urged the President to work with Members of Congress to ensure that NASA has the resources necessary to carry out its important work. Gordon and Udall are joining forces with other Members of Congress who are calling for the President to meet with them to address the NASA funding challenge. Read More..

Thursday, April 19, 2007 Space Station Crew Landing Moved to Saturday By FlyingNews @ 10:21 AM :: 289 Views :: 0 Comments :: Aerospace, NASA WASHINGTON - The 14th crew of the International Space Station, Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin, along with Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi, will land at 8:30 a.m. EDT Saturday, April 21 in Kazakhstan. The return of the Soyuz spacecraft was delayed a day, and the landing site was moved farther south. The Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, made the decisions to avoid wet conditions at the original landing site that could have interfered with recovery helicopter operations. NASA Television will air highlights of the crew's return Saturday. - 1:30 a.m. - coverage begins with hatch closure and a replay of farewells - 4:45 a.m. - coverage resumes for the Soyuz undocking, planned for 5:11 a.m. - 7:15 a.m. - coverage resumes for the deorbit burn and landing - 7:42 a.m. - the Soyuz will fire its engines to begin its descent to Earth

Thursday, April 19, 2007 China Eastern Airlines Takes Delivery of First A300-600 Converted Freighter Aircraft By FlyingNews @ 10:18 AM :: 250 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers, Air Cargo China Eastern Airlines today took delivery of the first of its three Airbus A300-600Fs at EADS EFW´s facility in Dresden, Germany. The airframe bearing the MSN 521 was formerly operated by the Chinese airline itself as a passenger aircraft. The conversion into freighter configuration started in late December 2006. China Eastern Airlines´ second A300-600 aircraft bearing the MSN 532 is currently under conversion, the third airframe MSN 525 is scheduled to be converted as of September 2007. Read More..

Thursday, April 19, 2007 Cessna Announces Skyhawk Order from Gestair Group By FlyingNews @ 10:16 AM :: 408 Views :: 0 Comments :: Training, Small Aircraft Manufacturers Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today at the AERO Friedrichshafen trade show an order for 11 172 Skyhawks from the Gestair Group, one of the largest flight training schools on the Iberian Peninsula. The Skyhawks, all equipped with the Garmin G1000 avionics suite, will be delivered over the next eight months. “This will allow Gestair to replace some of its older Skyhawks with the new Garmin-equipped Skyhawks that will be instrumental in its mission of initial training of future airline pilots,” said Bob Gibbs, Cessna director of International Single-Engine Sales. “With the G1000, new pilots are better prepared to move forward in Gestair’s top-rated airline training program.” Read More..

Thursday, April 19, 2007 Cessna to Deliver 46 Skyhawks to ERAU and 31 Skylanes to CAP This Year By FlyingNews @ 10:12 AM :: 320 Views :: 0 Comments :: Small Aircraft Manufacturers Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, this year will deliver 46 Skyhawks to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) and 31 Skylanes to Civil Air Patrol (CAP). To keep up with the latest in cockpit technology, ERAU is replacing their entire training fleet at the Prescott, Ariz. campus with 17 Garmin G1000 equipped Skyhawks. Another 29 G1000 equipped Skyhawks will be delivered to their campus in Daytona Beach, Fla. “We accelerated the delivery schedule for these Skyhawks to meet the needs of Embry-Riddle after the destruction that resulted from the tornado in December 2006,” said John Doman, vice president of propeller aircraft sales. Read More..

Wednesday, April 18, 2007 2007 TBM 850 first US public appearance at Sun’n fun Air Show By FlyingNews @ 11:28 AM :: 295 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Flying, Business Aircraft Manufacturers EADS Socata introduces its latest model to the US public at Sun’n fun 2007, in Lakeland, Florida. Built on the success of the TBM 700, the Very Fast Turboprop TBM 850 offers its pilots and operators what they expected: a maximum cruising speed of 320 KTAS at flight level 260 combining the cruising speed and trip times of a light jet with the economic direct operating costs, range and useful load of an already well proven world-class single-engine turboprop. Base price for the TBM 850 is $2,626,910 featuring the last generation Garmin GMX 200 Multi-function display (MFD) as standard equipment. Read More..

Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Pilatus celebrates 700th Delivery of PC-12 By FlyingNews @ 11:25 AM :: 271 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Flying, Business Aircraft Manufacturers Pilatus Aircraft is pleased to announce the delivery of the 700th PC-12. In a celebration marked at V. Kelner Pilatus Center in Thunder Bay, Ontario (Canada), PC-12 owner David Fountain accepted the keys to his new aircraft from Robert Arnone, President and CEO, and Steve Davey, Vice President of V. Kelner Pilatus Center. Fountain knows the PC-12 very well, having been the proud owner of one since April 2001. A private investor by trade, he plans to fly his new PC-12 himself out of Halifax, Nova Scotia, as he has done with his previous aircraft for the past six years. Fountain explained, “The Pilatus PC-12 is an exceptional personal aircraft. With its speed, range, comfort and reliability it has no rivals in its class. I have had a great deal of pleasure flying my first one throughout North America and I look forward to many exciting trips in my second PC-12.” Read More..

Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Interactive Website Brings Shuttle Mission Closer to Home By FlyingNews @ 11:23 AM :: 238 Views :: 0 Comments :: NASA Wouldn't it be great to be in 10 places at once? That's what NASA's Educator Astronaut Joe Acaba will be doing later this week - virtually, at least. NASA's Digital Learning Network and NASA's Explorer School program are teaming up to host the STS-118 Relay Rally, a virtual tour of NASA's 10 field centers. Each day, several NASA centers, along with an Explorer School from each of their regions, will interact with Acaba at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Students across the country will be able to watch a webcast as participants question Acaba about astronaut training and shuttle missions. Read More..

Wednesday, April 18, 2007 First A400M VTP Arrives At EADS CASA Facilities In Madrid To Start Static Structural Test By FlyingNews @ 11:19 AM :: 304 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation Today marks another key milestone in the A400M military transport aircraft programme, with Airbus delivering the first A400M VTP (Vertical Tail Plane) from Stade, Germany, to Getafe, Spain, where the static test aircraft final assembly is taking place. As the VTP left Airbus’s Stade site today by truck, Thilo Liebig, Head of the A400M Team for Fuselage and VTP said: “This is a major milestone for the A400M programme. The team has done an excellent job to produce this component to such a high standard and on time.” Read More..

Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Cessna Caravan Accumulates 10 Million Flight Hours By FlyingNews @ 11:17 AM :: 262 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Flying, Business Aircraft Manufacturers Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced here at the Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In that the Cessna Caravan has accumulated more than 10 million flight hours. The single engine turboprop Caravan is used in operations such as passenger and freight transport, aerial mapping and medical evacuation. It can be configured for up to 12 passengers in the cabin. An aftermarket kit is available to configure the Caravan for amphibious operations, making it a versatile tool in wilderness areas. Another option available for Caravan customers is a business-class Oasis interior featuring fully articulating and reclining leather seats, color coordinated leathers, fabrics, carpets and cabinetry, along with several entertainment and refreshment choices. Read More..

Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Lufthansa Board Approves Purchase Of 15 Bombardier CRJ900 Aircraft By FlyingNews @ 11:14 AM :: 276 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers In a release issued today, Deutsche Lufthansa AG confirmed that its Supervisory Board has approved the placement of orders for 15 aircraft in the Bombardier CRJ900 family. Lufthansa also announced that the new aircraft will become part of the modern and efficient regional fleet that it deploys on its European routes and for feeder flights. Read More..

Tuesday, April 17, 2007 PIPER OFFERS GARMIN G1000 ON ITS PA-32 AIRCRAFT By FlyingNews @ 10:25 AM :: 332 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers, Small Aircraft Manufacturers As part of its commitment to providing customers with an ever-increasing array of features and options, Piper Aircraft, Inc. today announced that Garmin’s G1000® all-glass, fully integrated avionics suite is now available as optional equipment on the Saratoga II TC and Piper 6X. “We are fully focused on providing our customers with the best possible options technology has to offer our industry,” said Piper President & CEO James K. Bass. “We have a long and valued relationship with Garmin and have been working behind the scenes to debut the G1000 in our aircraft. Now, with deployment of the G1000 in the Piper Saratoga II TC and Piper 6X, Piper is moving forward in providing our customers with more options.” “We are very pleased to be working with Piper and look forward to providing their customers with the G1000,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s Vice President of Marketing. “The G1000 is a proven, fully integrated flightdeck with the best support network in the world. In addition, it will bring Piper customers unprecedented situational awareness and safety of flight.” Read More..

Tuesday, April 17, 2007 Israir Buys Three A320s And Becomes Israel’s First Airbus Customer By FlyingNews @ 10:22 AM :: 259 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Israel based carrier Israir Airlines signed a firm order for three Airbus A320 aircraft on 17th April, 2007, making the airline the first Airbus customer in the country. The deal marks Airbus’ breakthrough in the Israeli market. The aircraft will be configured in all economy class with 174 seats. Israir Airlines will place the aircraft on routes from Israel to all its European destinations. The engines have yet to be chosen. “We pride ourselves in offering our passengers a personal and more enjoyable flying experience. Israir Airlines is doing its best to offer the highest possible level of quality and the newest planes, and the Airbus A320 fits in well with our philosophy”, said Zohar Endelman, Israir President & CEO. Read More..

Tuesday, April 17, 2007 Cessna Delivers Second Citation Mustang; Displays Two Mustangs at Sun 'n Fun By FlyingNews @ 10:17 AM :: 274 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Flying, Business Aircraft Manufacturers Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that the second Citation Mustang was delivered into demo service last week. The aircraft is on display here at the Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In along with another Citation Mustang. “The production facility is ramping up and further deliveries are planned for later this month. We are on track to deliver 40 Citation Mustangs this year,” said Roger Whyte, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing. The Garmin G1000 equipped Citation Mustang is the first aircraft with an integrated flight deck that is certified to take advantage of WAAS navigation features, including approaches that provide both lateral and vertical guidance. The Garmin G1000 avionics suite also includes a new feature called SafeTaxi which gives a graphical representation of the aircraft on the ground in the airport environment. Read More..

Tuesday, April 17, 2007 Sina Swearingen Aircraft Corporation Announces FAA Approval By FlyingNews @ 9:28 AM :: 262 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Flying, Business Aircraft Manufacturers Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corporation ("SSAC") is proud to announce that the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") has granted APIS approval to the company today during a brief ceremony at the company's headquarters in San Antonio, Texas. APIS, which stands for "Approved Production Inspection System," allows Sino Swearingen to inspect its own products under a system approved by the FAA. "We have been working towards APIS approval since receiving our type certificate with both of our plants in Martinsburg, WV (manufacturing) and San Antonio, TX (assembly/final completion)" said Bob Homan, Vice-President of Quality Assurance. He added, "I am very proud of the work that everyone at SSAC has performed to develop the processes and procedures for APIS approval. With their efforts, we are well on our way towar5d obtaining a production certificate (PC) in the near future. Dr. Kuo, Chairman and CEO stated, "This approval enhances our ability to mass produce SJ30s. With over 300 aircraft on order, we are hoping to accelerate our production rate to reduce our backlog and to put SJ30s into the hands of a very excited group of customers." Read More..

Monday, April 16, 2007 World Record-Setting Pilot Counts on Lycoming Engines By FlyingNews @ 10:26 PM :: 251 Views :: 0 Comments :: Aircraft Engines With over 16,000 hours of flight experience, Hans Georg Schmid is taking flight to another dimension with the support of a Lycoming IO-580-B1A, 315 hp engine. Schmid already has over 16,000 flight hours of experience and over 162 aviation world records under his belt and will now attempt yet another World Record by flying around the world, twice, over both of the Earth’s Poles and the four corners of the world with his custom-built Express experimental aircraft. The pole-to-pole adventure will take Schmid across some of the most desolate landscape on earth, making reliability and safety the number one priority. “A Lycoming engine was the only choice for me,” Schmid said. “I want the confidence of knowing I have a Lycoming up front, as I am flying over thousands of miles of snow, ice and water,” he added. Read More..

Monday, April 16, 2007 FAA Lowers Safety Rating for Indonesia By FlyingNews @ 10:23 PM :: 245 Views :: 0 Comments :: FAA The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that Indonesia does not comply with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), following a consultation with the Indonesian civil aviation authority on March 6, 2007. The FAA had previously assessed Indonesia's civil aviation authority in September, 1997, and found it in compliance with ICAO standards. However, after the latest consultation, the agency determined that Indonesia was no longer overseeing the safety of its airlines in accordance with international standards. Read More..

Monday, April 16, 2007 Diamond Aircraft injects new life into flight training: launches Diamond Flight Center Program By FlyingNews @ 10:17 PM :: 560 Views :: 0 Comments :: General Aviation, Training, Small Aircraft Manufacturers Diamond Aircraft will launch its long-awaited Diamond Flight Center (DFC) program, showcasing the program highlights, at the Sun N Fun fly-in at Lakeland, Florida. "We have heard for some time that flight schools wanted a fresh alternative to the status quo," said Diamond Aircraft Industries President Peter Maurer. "There were several key elements we wanted to have in place before launching the program, and we are delighted that today is the day that we can confidently say we have a very comprehensive and competitive program. As good as the DFC program is today, we see it as the foundation on which we are building the industry's leading flight training and airplane rental network. Read More..

Monday, April 16, 2007 Aviation Companies Team to Provide First-Ever Complete Flight Data Monitoring System By FlyingNews @ 9:41 PM :: 482 Views :: 0 Comments :: Aircraft Avionics Systems developer Alakai Technologies, data management and analysis software provider OpenAero, and system integrator and safety analyst, CAPACG, announced today a teaming agreement to provide an all-in-one Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) solution for piston engine aircraft, such as the Cirrus SR 20 and SR 22, marking the first combined effort to provide general aviators with a “plug-and-play” engine and flight data monitoring, recording, and analysis system. The new package—based on standardized, FAAapproved Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) programs for commercial aircraft— enables non-commercial aviators to monitor and share engine trend and flight operations data. While the system leverages the best features of the FOQA model, there are no FAA requirements associated with it. Under the FOQA model, data is de-identified and voluntarily shared in aggregate, allowing contributors to remain anonymous while learning and improving operations from data shared by other owners and operators. Those not interested in this option, however, can use the FDM as an informational program to simply enhance individual operations and performance. Read More..

Monday, April 16, 2007 AgustaWestland Continues to Grow in Japan By FlyingNews @ 9:27 PM :: 240 Views :: 0 Comments :: Helicopters AgustaWestland has been awarded a further contract by the Japan National Police Agency to supply five AW109 Power law enforcement helicopters as part of an on-going program to modernise the Police helicopter fleet. This contract follows on from ones for three helicopters in both 2003 and 2005 for operation by local Police agencies, while four additional AW109 Powers were ordered in 2006 by the Japan National Police Agency. Four AW109 Powers have been delivered to Japanese Police agencies so far this year. Read More..

Friday, April 13, 2007 Report Reveals Likely Causes of Mars Spacecraft Loss By FlyingNews @ 10:45 AM :: 263 Views :: 0 Comments :: NASA After studying Mars four times as long as originally planned, NASA's Mars Global Surveyor orbiter appears to have succumbed to battery failure caused by a complex sequence of events involving the onboard computer memory and ground commands. The causes were released today in a preliminary report by an internal review board. The board was formed to look more in-depth into why NASA's Mars Global Surveyor went silent in November 2006 and recommend any processes or procedures that could increase safety for other spacecraft. Read More..

Friday, April 13, 2007 Boeing Begins Mission System Flight Testing of Upgraded AWACS Aircraft By FlyingNews @ 10:42 AM :: 254 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has conducted a successful first mission system test flight of an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft upgraded under the Block 40/45 program, the largest enhancement in the history of the U.S. Air Force E-3 AWACS fleet. During the seven-hour flight on April 5 from Boeing Field in Seattle, the crew -- composed of Boeing, U.S. Air Force and subcontractor personnel -- conducted functional tests of the aircraft's enhanced navigation, communications, radar and mission computing subsystems. "The flight was a significant milestone because it confirms that development of the mission system suite is on track to support our flight testing plans," said Stu Oliason, Boeing U.S. AWACS Integration and Checkout manager. In future flights, Boeing will further calibrate the upgrades and measure their performance. The mission system flight test program is scheduled for 62 flights over the next several months. Read More..

Thursday, April 12, 2007 UPS and Shanghai Announce First-Ever U.S. Air Hub in China By FlyingNews @ 9:21 AM :: 263 Views :: 0 Comments :: Air Cargo UPS (NYSE: UPS) and the Shanghai Airport Authority today conducted a formal signing ceremony in another step toward construction of the UPS International Air Hub at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai. Presiding over the ceremony were U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and Vice Mayor of Shanghai Yang Xiong. The UPS International Air Hub, scheduled to open next year, will be the first constructed by a U.S. carrier and will link all of China via Shanghai to UPS's international network with direct service to the Americas, Europe and Asia. It also will connect points served in China by UPS through a dedicated service provided by Yangtze River Express, a Chinese all-cargo airline. Read More..

Thursday, April 12, 2007 Pinnacle Airlines Flight 4712 By FlyingNews @ 9:19 AM :: 293 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Flying Accidents MEMPHIS, TN, Apr 12, 2007 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Pinnacle Airlines (NASDAQ: PNCL) flight 4712 operating between Minneapolis - St. Paul and Traverse City, Michigan has been involved in an incident at Traverse City. Flight 4712 departed Minneapolis at 9:44 p.m. and landed in Traverse City at 12:43 a.m. The aircraft, a Canadair Regional Jet, was carrying a crew of 3 and 46 customers. Upon landing, the aircraft received no braking action and came to a stop off the end of the runway. There are no injuries reported to passengers or crew.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007 Rolls-Royce Trent wins first order for A330 freighter By FlyingNews @ 11:39 AM :: 249 Views :: 0 Comments :: Aircraft Engines The Rolls-Royce Trent 700 has won its first order for the recently-launched Airbus A330-200 freighter through Guggenheim Aviation Partners (GAP), a subsidiary of Guggenheim Partners. GAP has selected the engine for up to six aircraft in a deal worth around $200 million to Rolls-Royce at list prices. Deliveries to the US-based cargo leasing specialist will start in 2010. GAP customers will also be offered a Rolls-Royce TotalCare® service package, under which Rolls-Royce takes full responsibility for engine maintenance. Read More..

Wednesday, April 11, 2007 NASA Targets June Launch for Space Shuttle Atlantis By FlyingNews @ 11:35 AM :: 279 Views :: 0 Comments :: Aerospace, NASA NASA is targeting June 8 as the next possible launch opportunity for space shuttle Atlantis’ STS-117 mission to the International Space Station. Tuesday’s decision by agency management followed a meeting that reviewed the progress in repairing insulating foam on the shuttle’s external fuel tank, which was damaged during a sudden hail storm Feb. 26 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla. That damage required engineers to repair approximately 2,660 sites on the tank. Read More..

Wednesday, April 11, 2007 First A400M Wings Delivered To Final Assembly Line By FlyingNews @ 11:24 AM :: 235 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Today marks another key milestone in the A400M military transport aircraft programme, with Airbus delivering the first pair of A400M wings from the UK to Seville, Spain, where aircraft final assembly is taking place. As the wings left Airbus’s Filton, Bristol site today on an Airbus A300-600ST super transporter aircraft - known as the ‘Beluga’ - Charles Paterson, Head of the A400M Wing Team said: “This is a major milestone for the A400M programme and marks the combined efforts of the trans-national A400M wing team over the last four years. The team has done an excellent job to produce this component to such a high standard and on time. Read More..

Wednesday, April 11, 2007 Boeing Flies Second C-130 AMP Aircraft for First Time By FlyingNews @ 11:21 AM :: 222 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] flew the second C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) aircraft for the first time March 25, logging another milestone in the most comprehensive C-130 avionics modification ever conducted. The C-130 AMP aircraft, H2.5, successfully completed its maiden flight from Lackland Air Force Base (AFB) in San Antonio, Texas. Boeing test pilot Mike Leone and U.S. Air Force pilot Maj. Adam Faulkner conducted the 1.3-hour flight. Read More..

Tuesday, April 10, 2007 S-76C++ Achieves FAA Certification for Operation in Snow By FlyingNews @ 3:43 PM :: 253 Views :: 0 Comments :: Helicopters The U.S. Federal Aviation Authority has certified the Sikorsky S-76C++™ helicopter for operation in falling and blowing snow. Sikorsky Aircraft, based in Stratford, Conn., is a business unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX). The FAA test requires that the aircraft spend 20 minutes on the ground with the rotor turning during blustery snowfall, five minutes in low altitude hover in a recirculating snow cloud and one hour of level flight. A flight test team from Sikorsky's West Palm Beach, Fla. and Stratford, Conn. facilities conducted tests in January in Marquette, Mich. to collect data supporting the certification. Read More..

Tuesday, April 10, 2007 Dawn Arrives in Florida - A Little After Dawn By FlyingNews @ 3:40 PM :: 271 Views :: 0 Comments :: Aerospace, NASA The Dawn spacecraft arrived at Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., at 9 a.m. EDT today. Dawn, NASA's mission into the heart of the asteroid belt, is at the facility for final processing and launch operations. Dawn's launch period opens June 30. "Dawn only has two more trips to make," said Dawn project manager Keyur Patel of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "One will be in mid-June when it makes the 15-mile journey from the processing facility to the launch pad. The second will be when Dawn rises to begin its eight-year, 3.2-billion-mile odyssey into the heart of the asteroid belt." Read More..

Tuesday, April 10, 2007 GE CF34 Engine to Power Bombardier CRJ1000 Regional Aircraft By FlyingNews @ 3:38 PM :: 280 Views :: 0 Comments :: Aircraft Engines The new Bombardier* CRJ1000* regional jet launched by Bombardier Aerospace is offering the new CF34-8C5A2 derivative engine as one of GE's CF34-8C5 engines available for the CRJ1000 aircraft. The GE CF34-8C5 family of engines also power the current fleets of Bombardier CRJ700*, CRJ705* and CRJ900* aircraft. Read More..

Tuesday, April 10, 2007 Texas Sport Aircraft Company Introduces the Texas Sport Amateur-Built Airplane By FlyingNews @ 3:34 PM :: 264 Views :: 0 Comments :: General Aviation, Small Aircraft Manufacturers Texas Sport Aircraft Company announced today the introduction of the Texas Sport amateur-built aircraft. The Texas Sport is a factory-new aircraft kit intended for amateur builders. The design of the Texas Sport is in the spirit of the American Legend Cub and historic Piper J-3 Cub. Read More..

Monday, April 09, 2007 Flight canceled after pilot's foul language By FlyingNews @ 4:17 PM :: 321 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Weird Flying News Northwest Airlines canceled a flight set to leave from Las Vegas to Detroit after the captain cursed on a cell phone in a bathroom, then swore at one of the 180 passengers on the plane, officials said on Saturday. "He used what was described to me as rude language," Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said about Friday's incident on Northwest Flight 1190. "At some point during the boarding process, he left the cockpit, went into the front lavatory, locked the door and continued his conversation.

Monday, April 09, 2007 NASA Extends Contract With Russia’s Federal Space Agency By FlyingNews @ 4:09 PM :: 256 Views :: 0 Comments :: Aerospace, NASA NASA has signed a $719 million modification to the current International Space Station contract with Russia’s Federal Space Agency in Moscow for crew and cargo services through 2011. The firm-fixed price extension covers crew rotations for 15 crew members, six in 2009, six in 2010 and three in 2011, delivery and the removal of 5.6 metric tons of cargo. U.S. Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) are still planned to provide the bulk of cargo transportation needs from 2010 and beyond to the space station Read More..

Monday, April 09, 2007 LOCKHEED MARTIN A-10 PRIME TEAM DELIVERS SITUATIONAL AWARENESS CAPABILITY TO U.S. AIR FORCE FOR FLIGHT TESTING By FlyingNews @ 4:07 PM :: 243 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation The A-10 Prime Team, led by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], has successfully delivered the full-function Situational Awareness Data Link (SADL) capability to the U.S. Air Force for developmental flight testing. SADL, part of the A-10C Precision Engagement program, improves pilot situational awareness by providing critical information about friendly and enemy air and ground assets. “SADL will help Air Force A-10 pilots further reduce fratricide in the combat environment,” said Roger Il Grande, A-10 program director at Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY. “Enhanced situational awareness is a key element of the Precision Engagement program, helping to transform the legacy A/0A-10 aircraft from an analog aircraft to the enhanced digital A-10C configuration.” The U.S. Air Force is expected to conduct developmental flight test of the SADL capability through May 2007 at Eglin Air Force Base, FL. SADL is expected to be fielded to operational A-10 units by September 2007. Read More..

Monday, April 09, 2007 Boeing Awarded Contract for 18 U.S. Army AH-64D Apache Longbow Helicopters By FlyingNews @ 4:03 PM :: 245 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Helicopters Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Army have signed a $276.4 million contact for 18 new AH-64D Apache Longbow multi-role combat helicopters. The contract raises to 45 the number of new-build Apache Longbows on order with the U.S. Army. The U.S. Army also recently contracted for the remanufacture of 96 AH-64A Apaches into AH-64Ds. Boeing will begin delivery of these new-build helicopters in mid-2009 at its manufacturing facility in Mesa, Ariz., where Apaches have been built since the program's inception. "The combat-proven Apache Longbow continues to support our warfighters and the battlefield commander's requirements across the full spectrum of operations," said David Almond, Boeing Block II Apache program manager. "We remain committed to producing the most superior attack helicopter in the world -- a helicopter that our soldiers can count on each and every time." Read More..

Monday, April 09, 2007 RECORD-BREAKING HELICOPTER PILOTS DUE TO REACH NORTH POLE WITHIN NEXT 24 HOURS By FlyingNews @ 4:01 PM :: 400 Views :: 0 Comments :: Helicopters Record-breaking helicopter pilots Jennifer Murray and Colin Bodill are due to reach the North Pole in the next 24 hours, nearly a week ahead of schedule. This marks the final stage in their attempt to set a new world record for flying around the world via the South and North Poles. This is the pilots' second attempt to set this record, their first attempt in 2003 ending in near disaster when on December 20th, 58 days into their journey and two days after reaching the South Pole, they crashed in whiteout conditions on the Ronne Ice Shelf in Antarctica. Both pilots sustained serious injuries and their crash was reported by media around the globe. Many might have called it a day after such an experience but Jennifer, 66 years old, and Colin, 55 years old, were determined to re-attempt the challenge. Read More..

Friday, April 06, 2007 INTRODUCING THE WORLD'S FIRST EVER HOVERING BIPLANE By FlyingNews @ 4:14 PM :: 299 Views :: 0 Comments :: General Aviation, Small Aircraft Manufacturers Infinity Entertainment completes the two-year project of designing and building the world's first-ever hovering biplane. Weighing in at just over 1,650 pounds, powered by a 750 horsepower turbo prop delivering almost 3,000 lbs of thrust, the Turbine Toucan is the highest performance biplane ever built. This is history in the making, with four world record attempts in 2007. The airspeed record for a biplane was set in 1941 at 323 miles per hour. In the fall of 2007, the Turbine Toucan will challenge this 66 year old record, as well as two time-to-climb records. In addition to breaking several current world records, the Turbine Toucan will also secure a first… the only biplane ever to hover. Read More..

Friday, April 06, 2007 GULFSTREAM BREAKS GROUND FOR NEW MANUFACTURING BUILDING IN SAVANNAH By FlyingNews @ 7:57 AM :: 227 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Gulfstream Aerospace recently broke ground for a new business-jet manufacturing building at its headquarters in Savannah – 40 years after the company began operations at the site. “This is the first real addition to our manufacturing facility since bringing GII production here in 1967,” said Bryan Moss, president, Gulfstream. “Forty years and more than a thousand planes later, we’ve maximized every inch of this plant and it’s now time to expand.” Read More..

Friday, April 06, 2007 Cessna Celebrates 80th Anniversary with Historic Display at Sun ‘n Fun By FlyingNews @ 7:55 AM :: 271 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers, Small Aircraft Manufacturers Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, is featuring a special display at the Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla. April 17 – 23, 2007 in honor of the company’s 80th Anniversary. The display inside the 2,400 sq ft Cessna Center building will include a current aircraft model display, a photographic display of current and historical aircraft, and several trophies, including the 1996 Collier Trophy, awarded to the Citation X Team for creating the fastest commercial aircraft built in the United States; the 1936 Detroit News Trophy awarded to former Cessna President Dwane Wallace for winning the Efficiency Contest in the All American Air Races in Miami in the Cessna Airmaster; and the 1936 Amelia Earhart Trophy awarded to Betty Browning for winning the Closed Course Race For Women Pilots at the National Air Races in Los Angeles, also in a Cessna Airmaster. Read More..

Friday, April 06, 2007 FedEx Express to Acquire Flying-Cargo in Hungary By FlyingNews @ 7:52 AM :: 440 Views :: 0 Comments :: Air Cargo FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) announced today that its FedEx Express unit signed an agreement to acquire its Hungarian global service participant, Flying-Cargo Hungary Kft. The transaction, which is the latest step in the company’s Eastern Europe expansion strategy, will give FedEx a wholly-owned operation in one of the region’s dynamic markets. Flying-Cargo, a privately-held company, has been the FedEx global service participant in Hungary since 2003 and has a proven track record of providing high-quality service. All of Flying-Cargo’s day-to-day operations are expected to remain unchanged for the foreseeable future, and the company will function as a wholly-owned business of FedEx Express. Read More..

Thursday, April 05, 2007 Diamond Super Star makes first flight! By FlyingNews @ 8:45 PM :: 262 Views :: 0 Comments :: General Aviation, Small Aircraft Manufacturers On April 4th, 2007, less than one year after the first flight of the D-JET, Diamond's latest design, the single-engine DA50 Super Star took flight at Diamond's factory in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. The maiden flight was flown by Diamond's Soeren Pederson and Diamond's CEO and owner Christian Dries, pilot in command. Read More..

Thursday, April 05, 2007 Cessna Chief Calls Next Generation Air Traffic Management System Too Important for Funding Experimentation By FlyingNews @ 8:42 PM :: 232 Views :: 0 Comments :: FAA, Government Cessna Aircraft Company Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Jack J. Pelton said Wednesday during an aviation summit at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that the general aviation (GA) industry in the United States is too fragile and too important to the nation to allow experimentation on air traffic management funding options such as the one proposed by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Read More..

Thursday, April 05, 2007 Saab welcomes Estonian Airlines as new Saab 340 customer By FlyingNews @ 8:24 AM :: 257 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Estonian Airlines, the national carrier of the Republic of Estonia and part of the SAS Group, has signed a contract with Saab Aircraft Leasing for the lease of two Saab 340s. The aircraft will join its fleet in May and September to commence scheduled flights from the airline´s Tallinn Airport base. The Saab 340s will replace Estonian Airlines larger 50-seat Fokker 50s and become the mainstay complement to the airline´s six-strong Boeing 737-500 fleet. Read More..

Thursday, April 05, 2007 RESEARCHERS FIND GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM IS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY POWERFUL SOLAR RADIO BURST By FlyingNews @ 8:21 AM :: 233 Views :: 0 Comments :: NASA During an unprecedented solar eruption last December, researchers at Cornell University confirmed solar radio bursts can have a serious impact on the Global Positioning System (GPS) and other communication technologies using radio waves. The findings were announced today in Washington, D.C., at the first Space Weather Enterprise Forum—an assembly of academic, government and private sector scientists focused on examining the Earth's ever-increasing vulnerability to space weather impacts. Solar radio bursts begin with a solar flare that injects high-energy electrons into the solar upper atmosphere. Radio waves are produced which then propagate to the Earth and cover a broad frequency range. The radio waves act as noise over these frequencies, including those used by GPS and other navigational systems which can degrade a signal. Read More..

Thursday, April 05, 2007 Diamond motorglider to fly with fuel cell powerplant By FlyingNews @ 8:18 AM :: 269 Views :: 0 Comments :: General Aviation Boeing researchers and industry partners, including Diamond Aircraft, plan to conduct experimental flight tests this year of a manned airplane powered only by a fuel cell and lightweight batteries, in an effort to develop environmentally progressive technologies for aerospace applications. Technical innovation comes from research and development. Diamond Aircraft has always been a leader in general aviation innovation, producing certified all composite aircraft since 1981, launching the Garmin G1000 glass cockpit, flying the first true modern certified personal light jet, and introducing modern powerplant technology to GA. Read More..

Wednesday, April 04, 2007 50 Years and Counting for the GE T58 Engine By FlyingNews @ 4:11 PM :: 265 Views :: 0 Comments :: Aircraft Engines During a rousing ceremony held on March 27, hundreds of employees, retirees, customers and military dignitaries commemorated the 50th year of flight for one of GE Aviation's and the U.S. Marine Corps' most successful and durable helicopter engines, the T58. Originally conceptualized in the early 1950s, the T58 was designed under sponsorship of the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics as a lightweight, compact helicopter powerplant. The T58 was GE's first small turbine engine and, by the early 1960s, it had evolved into one of the bread-and-butter production engine programs for the Lynn plant. Read More..

Wednesday, April 04, 2007 Cessna Presents Diamond Award to Channel Islands Aviation By FlyingNews @ 4:07 PM :: 424 Views :: 0 Comments :: General Aviation Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, recognized Channel Islands Aviation, Inc. (CIA), with a Diamond Award for their excellence as a Cessna Pilot Center. “The Channel Islands Aviation Flight School provides the very highest level of training for our customers. They participate in every Cessna program designed to develop safe, quality pilots. CIA sets a high standard”, said Jim Hackman, regional manager of Cessna Pilot Centers. Read More..

Wednesday, April 04, 2007 LINEAR AIR LAUNCHES REVOLUTIONARY AIR-TAXI SERVICE IN By FlyingNews @ 10:55 AM :: 261 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines Linear Air, the leading very light jet (VLJ) air-taxi operator, today announced the launch of service in the Washington DC-Baltimore area. The air-taxi service is the first of its kind in the Washington D.C.-Baltimore area. Linear Air operates the nation’s largest fleet of executive Cessna Grand Caravan propjets, which offer the flexibility and convenience of private air travel at prices rivaling full coach airline fares. There are no other propjets of this type based in the Washington D.C.-Baltimore area. Since 2004, Linear Air has operated the Caravan as a proxy for the Eclipse 500 VLJ. Linear Air has ordered 30 Eclipse 500 VLJ’s from leading VLJ manufacturer Eclipse Aviation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and expects to begin taking delivery of Eclipse 500 VLJs this summer. Read More..

Tuesday, April 03, 2007 Mooney and Jeppesen Will Offer NavData Bundle on New Aircraft By FlyingNews @ 4:18 PM :: 260 Views :: 0 Comments :: General Aviation Mooney Airplane Company and Jeppesen have announced a program which will allow customers of new Mooney Ovation2 GX, Ovation3 and Acclaim airplanes to take delivery of their new aircraft with Jeppesen’s NavData services and electronic charts preloaded onto their Garmin G1000 avionics systems. Read More..

Tuesday, April 03, 2007 Liberty Aerospace Appoints Keith Markley as President and CEO By FlyingNews @ 4:13 PM :: 239 Views :: 0 Comments :: General Aviation Liberty Aerospace, Inc., a general aviation aircraft manufacturer based in Melbourne, FL, has announced the appointment of Keith Markley as President and CEO. Formerly serving as VP of Sales and Marketing and most recently as the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Markley was promoted to the position of President and CEO effective April 2, 2007. “Liberty Aerospace has grown significantly over the last two years, moving to a full production Part 23 aircraft manufacturer. During this time, Keith has demonstrated his ability to lead and grow the company to meet increasing worldwide demand” commented former President and CEO Anthony Tiarks. Read More..

Tuesday, April 03, 2007 Cessna Citation Mustang Simulator Achieves FAA and EASA Qualifications: Training Begins at FlightSafety By FlyingNews @ 3:47 PM :: 283 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, this week inaugurated the Citation Mustang training program at FlightSafety International’s Wichita, Kansas Learning Center. The training program started on schedule following FAA and EASA qualification of the Mustang simulator in March. The FAA qualified the simulator to Level D, the highest certification available for simulators. EASA qualification is currently established at an interim Level C, being upgraded to Level D upon EASA type certification of the Citation Mustang which is expected later this year. Read More..

Tuesday, April 03, 2007 PC-12 Top Seller for fourth consecutive Year By FlyingNews @ 8:23 AM :: 258 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced that shipments of every type of general aviation airplane increased in 2006. These strong numbers have led to another record high in industry billings, and the Pilatus PC-12 remains the top selling single model of turbine-powered business aircraft for the fourth consecutive year. The PC-12 is in its 14th year of production and it is now being produced at the highest rate to date. 90 PC-12s were delivered worldwide in 2006 Read More..

Tuesday, April 03, 2007 Cessna Flies New Williams Engine Pegged for CJ4 By FlyingNews @ 8:19 AM :: 254 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today flew for the first time the new Williams FJ44-4A engine aboard a Citation test bed aircraft. The Williams FJ44-4A will power the new Citation CJ4 being developed by Cessna as the newest member of the popular CJ line of Citation business jets. First flight of the CJ4 is scheduled for the first half of 2008 and entry into service is set for the first half of 2010. Read More..

Tuesday, April 03, 2007 Gordon, Miller, Senator Nelson Call for Removal of NASA Inspector General By FlyingNews @ 8:15 AM :: 411 Views :: 0 Comments :: Aerospace, NASA Science & Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) today released a letter to the President calling for the removal of Robert Cobb as inspector general of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) and Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Space, Aeronautics and Related Matters both signed the letter. The action resulted from a report from the Integrity Committee of the President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE) that found Mr. Cobb had abused his authority by creating a hostile work environment and had created the appearance of a lack of independence in his relationships with top NASA officials and in his review of his staff’s work. Read More..

Monday, April 02, 2007 Ashes of astronaut, actor ready for liftoff By FlyingNews @ 10:32 AM :: 302 Views :: 0 Comments :: Aerospace, Weird Flying News The ashes of Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper and actor James Doohan, who gained fame as chief engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott on the original "Star Trek" series, have been loaded into a rocket that's set to launch from the site of New Mexico's planned spaceport. Cooper and Doohan are joining 200 others whose families paid to have a few grams of their ashes go for a ride on UP Aerospace's SpaceLoft SL-2 rocket

Monday, April 02, 2007 Maiden flight Ventus-2cxa By FlyingNews @ 10:27 AM :: 671 Views :: 0 Comments :: Small Aircraft Manufacturers, Gliders On 28 March 2007 Tilo Holighaus started with the Ventus-2cxa on the airfield Hahnweide to the first flight. This Ventus-2cx variant differs by the smaller "a-fuselage" adapted to the 18m span. Numerous spectators admired that elegant silhouette, which circles over the Hahnweide near Kirchheim. Tilo Holighaus could intensively test the flight characteristics in the spring thermals and he was just as enthused by the flight characteristics as the spectators at the ground of the appearance od this wonderful glider. The variant with the "a-fuselage" has tradition as an option by our airplanes and is first of all the choice for engaged competition pilots of the 18m class, if this pilot bring along the suitable body size in addition. The Ventus-2cxa has a fundamentally new, longer "a-fuselage" with larger tail unit optimized for a 18m sailplane. Apart from this clear improvements concerning security, comfort and visibilities will have also slightly taller pilots more place in this cockpit. Read More..

Monday, April 02, 2007 Eclipse Aviation Delivers Three Eclipse 500 VLJs to DayJet By FlyingNews @ 10:23 AM :: 252 Views :: 0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers Eclipse Aviation, manufacturer of the world’s first very light jet (VLJ), today announced the delivery of three Eclipse 500 aircraft to DayJet at the Eclipse headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico. DayJet is Eclipse Aviation’s largest customer with firm orders for 239 Eclipse 500s and options for an additional 70 aircraft over the next two years. The company, which is the first commercial jet service to take delivery of a VLJ, will offer point-to-point “Per-Seat, On-Demand” services to regional communities. “As our population and business centers become more and more dispersed, air travel is more critical than ever to the health and growth of our regional communities and businesses,” said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. “We are proud to be playing a role in expanding the future of air transportation by delivering the Eclipse 500, the first of a new generation of VLJs that can quickly move people from point to point across our nation. It is exciting to be a partner with DayJet as they take the next step in this journey.” Read More..

Monday, April 02, 2007 AirTran Increases Tender Offer to Midwest Shareholders By FlyingNews @ 10:18 AM :: 244 Views :: 0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), the parent company of AirTran Airways, today announced that it has substantially increased its offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Midwest Air Group (Amex: MEH), to $15.00 per Midwest share, based on the closing price of AirTran common stock on March 30, 2007. The offer consists of $9.00 in cash and 0.5842 of a share of AirTran common stock for each Midwest share. The total equity value of the exchange offer is $389 million. Read More..