Aero-News Network: The aviation and aerospace world's daily/real-time news and information service

Tropical System Threatens Atlantis Launch

Forecasters Say Tropical Wave May Be Coming In Over Next Few Days

Mission managers say that disorganized tropical weather may threaten the planned Friday launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on the final scheduled mission of the shuttle program.

FAA Undertaking Study Of General Aviation Airports

Goal Is To Better Define Role Of Non-Primary Airports In Their Communities

The FAA is in the midst of a top-down look at the current general aviation airport system in the U.S. to better describe and explain the many roles and functions these airports serve in their respective communities.

Aero-News Featured Aero-Casts For Wednesday 07.06.11

ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 07.06.11 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program)

DFC90 Soon To Be An Option For Entegra-Equipped Piper Matrix, Mirage

Avidyne Says Autopilot Enhances Safety With "Straight & Level" Button, Flight Envelope Protection

For a time the exclusive domain of Cirrus owners, Avidyne said Tuesday that they are expanding the available market for the DFC90 Digital Flight Control System to include Entegra-equipped Piper PA-46 Matrix and Mirage aircraft.

NORAD Fighter Intercepts Aircraft In Camp David Airspace

Civilian Aircraft Led To Hagarstown, MD

An F-15E fighter under the direction of North American Aerospace Defense Command intercepted a two seat general aviation aircraft in the vicinity of Camp David, MD, July 2 at approximately 1320 EDT, according to an official statement from NORAD.

Cutter Flight Management Receives A061 Approval For ForeFlight Mobile

iPads With ForeFlight App Approved For All Part 135 Operations

ForeFlight has announced that Cutter Flight Management (CFMI) of Phoenix, AZ, has received authorization from the FAA to use iPads running ForeFlight Mobile during all phases of flight while conducting air carrier operations.

Mid-Air Collision In Britain Results In Fatal Injury

Accident Occurred Over West Sussex Airport

An airplane reported to be an unspecified Vans model collided with a Diamond DA20 near Shoreham Airport in West Sussex, UK on Monday, resulting in the fatal injury to the pilot of the Vans.

Pipistrel Takes Top Spots In Paris-Madrid Green Air Challenge

"Double Podium" For Sinus 912 And Virus SW 100

In the recently-completed Paris-Madrid Green Air Challenge, Pipistrel aircraft finished first and third in a contest which places a premium on efficiency.

NASA Research Offers New Prospect Of Water On Mars

Evidence Suggests Conditions Are Similar To The Mojave Desert

NASA scientists are seeing new evidence that suggests traces of water on Mars are under a thin varnish of iron oxide, or rust, similar to conditions found on desert rocks in California's Mojave Desert.

Performance-Based Nav Comes To 11 Philippine Airports

Airbus Subsidiary Quovadis To Participate In Development Program

Airbus has announced that Quovadis, its Flight Operations Services company, will participate in the development of a full Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) network at a total of 11 Philippine airports.

Tuskegee 'Museum' Under Fire

$5 Million Facility Being Called A Federal Stimulus Boondoggle

Last summer, the Fulton County Commission in Georgia approved borrowing five million dollars from the federal government to build an "aviation cultural center" to honor the Tuskegee Airmen.

No Smiles For This Photographer

iPhone Photo Gets Professional Photographer Escorted Off A US Airways Flight

A professional photographer was escorted off a US Airways flight last week after she snapped a picture of a gate agent's name badge with her iPhone. The agent subsequently convinced the captain of the aircraft the photog was a "security risk."

Vintage German Airplane Down In UK

Pilot Walks Away From Accident In Bucker Juhgmann

A pilot preparing for a flying display in a Military Pageant Air Show in Bedfordshire village in the UK was able to walk away from an accident which damaged the Bucker Jungmann airplane he was flying.

Somebody Listened To Us! Senator Inhofe To Introduce A 'Pilot's Bill Of Rights'

Bill Would Codify Procedures For Pilots To Respond To Allegations

Tuesday afternoon on the Senate Floor, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), a member of the Senate General Aviation Caucus and certified flight instructor with more than 10,000 flight hours, previewed his new Pilots Bill of Rights.

Aero-TV: PRA Breakfast Flight -- Food, Friends, and Flying

Is There A Better Way To Start Your Day (Aeronautically-Speaking???)

The Popular Rotorcraft Association (PRA), started in 1962 as a type club for owners of the original Bensen Gyrocopter, has achieved a distinction most larger aviation organizations have not - it owns its own airport. The Mentone, Indiana Airport (C92) is home to PRA's annual convention, typically scheduled the week after EAA AirVenture, and provides opportunities to fly homebuilt gyroplanes and helicopters without the distractions, tight time restrictions and crowded airspace of Oshkosh.

US Airlines To Sue European Union

Will Argue Emissions Trading Plan Violates International Law

The Air Transport Association (ATA), along with United/Continental holding, have filed a lawsuit in the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg saying that forcing non-member nation airlines to participate in the European Union's Carbon Emissions trading system violates international law.

Final Shuttle Countdown Is Underway

STS-135 Set For Friday Launch, Weather Iffy

The countdown for the final space shuttle launch began today at 1300 EDT, beginning at the T-43 hour mark. However, the launch-day weather forecast looks less than favorable for Friday's 1126 EDT liftoff.

Foley: Europe's 'Carbon Tax' Won't Help Business Flying

Analyst Says Emissions Trading Program May Have Unintended Consequences

While perhaps environmentally well-intentioned, the European Union's Emissions Trading System (ETS) may have the unwanted consequence of adding yet another obstacle to business aviation's anemic recovery. That's the assessment from Aviation Analyst Brian Foley.

Final Shuttle TFR Announced

Pilots Warned To Avoid KSC Area, Check NOTAMS

The FAA Friday issued a Notice to Airmen defining the TFR which will be in effect around NASA's Kennedy Space Center for the launch of the final Space Shuttle Mission, STS-135.

Accident Fatally Injures Santa Paula Air Show Pilot

Cessna Went Down In Riverbed Near The Airport

An air show pilot based at the Santa Paula, CA airport (KSZP) was one of two people fatally injured when the Cessna 180 they were flying went down in a riverbed near the airport Sunday night.

Experience And Cool Save Airshow Performer

John Klatt Lands Safely After Shedding Aileron During Snap Rolls

Spectators at the Battle Creek Balloon Festival Airshow in Michigan got a disconcerting look Sunday into the risks faced by aerobatic performers.

Aero-News: Quote Of The Day (07.06.11)

"From proposals of a private airplane passenger "ticket tax" in the UK to user fees for European airspace, these costs and uncertainties can only act as a disincentive to own or purchase a business aircraft." Source: GA and Biz-Av Analyst Brian Foley.