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March 05, 2013

Enders: We Need To Close The Innovation Gap Between Aerospace And IT

EADS’s CEO Delivers Opening Speech At CeBIT

A high-tech Mars Rover vehicle is operated by processors from the last century. In this respect, games consoles are head and shoulders above them. It was with this metaphor that EADS’s CEO, Tom Enders, confronted the participants at the opening ceremony of this year’s CeBIT trade show. Enders presented ‘Bridget’, the futuristic Mars Rover on which EADS’s subsidiary Astrium is working, together with the European Space Agency (ESA), to the guests on the stage.

Air Force Cuts Aviation Support At Public Events

At Least One Air Show Cancelled Following The Announcement

USAF leadership has cancelled all aviation support to public events for at least the remainder of the fiscal year and is standing down the Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team to save flying hours to support readiness needs.

Senator: White House 'Political Gimmicks' Put Thousands Of Jobs At Risk

Remarks From The Senate Floor Shed Light On So-Called 'Loophole'

As rhetoric from Washington, DC mischaracterizing business aviation continues to heat up, a Kansas lawmaker has lent his voice to the growing chorus of support for the industry. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) responded last week from the Senate floor to what he termed "a relentless focus on political gimmicks" from the White House when it comes to the administration's rhetoric about business aircraft taxes when discussing deficit reduction, and specifically President Obama's repeated calls to adjust the tax "depreciation" schedule for general aviation aircraft.

NASA Begins Flight Research Campaign Using Alternate Jet Fuel

DC-8, Falcon Jet Conducting The Experiments On Contrail Formation

NASA researchers have begun a series of flights using the agency's DC-8 flying laboratory to study the effects of alternate biofuel on engine performance, emissions and aircraft-generated contrails at altitude. The Alternative Fuel Effects on Contrails and Cruise Emissions (ACCESS) research involves flying the DC-8 as high as 40,000 feet while an instrumented NASA Falcon HU-25 aircraft trails behind at distances ranging from 300 feet to more than 10 miles.

Pilot In NY RV-10 Accident Said Lake Placid Airport Lights Were Inoperative

Plane Clipped Treetops While Executing Missed Approach

The pilot of the Vans RV-10 which went down near Lake Placid, NY, late last month said he tried to activate the airport's runway lights from the plane, but they did not come on, forcing him to execute what he characterized as a "missed approach."

New TBO Program Announced For PW206, PW207 Engines

Time-Between-Overhaul Interval Increases To 4,000 Hours

The time between overhaul (TBO) for all new PW206 and PW207 engines has been extended to 4,000 hours. The announcement was made during the Helicopter Association International (HAI) Heli-Expo in Las Vegas, NV.

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Universal Avionics’ Airborne Datalink System Approved for Helicopters

Company's Radio Control Unit Also Greenlighted For Installation

Universal Avionics recently completed helicopter vibration testing and approval for its airborne datalink system, UniLink UL-800/801 Communications Management Unit (CMU). UniLink UL-800/801 CMU adds to Universal’s expanding line of products designed for the unique requirements of the helicopter market.

Bristow Academy Announces Agreement With Aero Dynamix

Bristow Academy To Train With NVIS Lighting Systems; Offer NVG Pilot Training

Bristow Academy has announced an agreement with Aero Dynamix to use Aero Dynamix night vision systems to enhance its night vision training program, as well as offer the installation of Aero Dynamix night vision systems to its customers worldwide. Both companies are industry leaders in night vision applications – Bristow Academy in rotary pilot training for NVG operations and Aero Dynamix as a provider of NVIS lighting systems for aircraft.

Heli-Mart President Steps Down After 40 Years At The Helm

Company Founder Don Nichols Retiring, Succeeded By Ed Brown

Don Nichols, founder of the 40-year-old company, Heli-Mart, Inc., a helicopter parts distribution supplier and MD Helicopter Authorized Service Center, has retired in advance of this year’s Heli-Expo convention in Las Vegas. Nichols had operated the company with Ed Brown, who assumed full ownership and presidency of the service company on January 1 of this year.

NASA Switches Curiosity To Backup Computer

Memory Issue Cropped Up In Primary System

The ground team for NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has switched the rover to a redundant onboard computer in response to a memory issue on the computer that had been active. The intentional swap at about 0230 PST February 28 put the rover, as anticipated, into a minimal-activity precautionary status called "safe mode." The team is shifting the rover from safe mode to operational status over the next few days and is troubleshooting the condition that affected operations.

Gone West: Former Army Colonel Robert McDaniel

Led A Campaign Against The Army's Comanche Helicopter Project

The Army helicopter pilot-turned-consultant who was recognized as one of the most vocal opponents of the Army's Comanche helicopter project in the 1980s passed away last month in a hospital in Alexandria, VA. Col. Robert L. McDaniel (Ret.) was 88. The listed cause of death was cardiac arrest.

PAC International Featuring AMS EC135 At Heli-Expo

One Of Three Aircraft Recently Configured By The Company

Paradigm Aerospace Corporation, International (PAC) is showcasing a recently reconfigured EC135P2+ on exhibit during the HAI Heli-Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada beginning on Tuesday. The featured aircraft is one of three EC135s recently reconfigured by PAC and was previously operated as an offshore support helicopter.

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ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 03.05.13

The F-35 is Flying Again…

Garmin’s GTN Series GPS/Nav/Com Is Now Optimized for Helos…

Pipistrel Will Feature Dynon D-3 Avionics&

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Airborne 03.05.13: Dragon Docking, Boeing Layers Up, Gamera Hovers

Also: Diamond Reassures, Thunderbirds Cut, The Amazing N6ZQ, Moon Buggies, LA Heli-Noise Nonsense, NH Bans Aerial Pix???

After a perfect launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket Friday morning, the SpaceX Dragon supply capsule carrying stores and experiment to the ISS hit a glitch. The spacecraft reached orbit on time at 1010 EST Friday, but a problem with the capsule's thruster pods delayed the deployment of the spacecraft's solar arrays. Boeing officials say the battery solution they’ve put in place for the 787 Dreamliner offers “three levels of protection.” The Gamera II team from the University of Maryland's Clark School of Engineering made several attempts this week to meet the requirements of the Sikorsky Prize, but were unable to reach more than six feet of altit

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Airborne 03.05.13: Dragon Docking, Boeing Layers Up, Gamera Hovers

Also: Diamond Reassures, Thunderbirds Cut, The Amazing N6ZQ, Moon Buggies, LA Heli-Noise Nonsense, NH Bans Aerial Pix???

After a perfect launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket Friday morning, the SpaceX Dragon supply capsule carrying stores and experiments to the ISS hit a glitch. The spacecraft reached orbit on time at 1010 EST Friday, but a problem with the capsule's thruster pods delayed the deployment of the spacecraft's solar arrays. Boeing officials say the battery solution they’ve put in place for the 787 Dreamliner offers “three levels of protection.” The Gamera II team from the University of Maryland's Clark School of Engineering ma

Airports Affected By Sequester Serve 150,000 Or Fewer Flights Per Year

Airport Executives Association President Says Nearly Half Of The Nation's Control Towers May Close

Airports with 150,000 or fewer operations per year are in danger of losing their control towers due to sequestration, affecting as many as 168 airports across the country. The president of the American Association of Airport Executives said in an interview with Bloomberg News that the FAA plans to close 168 towers operated by contractors beginning April 1, with another 21 to close on September 30 if the budget situation is not resolved.

Pentagon Lifts F-35 Grounding

Cracked Turbine Blade Determined To Be An Isolated Incident

The Defense Department lifted its grounding of the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter after analysis concluded that a cracked turbine blade in an engine on a single plane resulted from overuse in test operations, according to an official with the F-35 Joint Program Office.

Pipistrel Makes Dynon Avionics OEM For 2013 Lineup

Full Line Will Feature D-Series Instruments As Standard Equipment

Pipistrel and Dynon are joining forces to provide pilots with easy-to-fly, fuel-efficient and high-performing aircraft that have advanced pilot-friendly avionics. For the 2013 season, the Sinus, Virus and Virus SW lineup now feature Dynon Avionics D-series instruments as standard equipment.

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Bell Helicopter To Introduce Product Upgrades This Week

Showcasing A Number Of Aircraft At Heli-Expo 2013

Bell Helicopter plans to introduce new product upgrades designed using continued customer input and engagement at an event being held Tuesday morning at Heli-Expo in Las Vegas. The company will also be hosting "Mission Theater" – a series of thought-leadership presentations. Each thirty-minute briefing will highlight how Bell Helicopter plans to continue to lead the industry in adding value for customers and industry partners alike.

Eurocopter’s EC175 On Display At Heli-Expo

One Stop On A National Awareness Tour

The next-generation Eurocopter EC175 is on a two-week U.S. visit which includes a stop at Heli-Expo in Las Vegas this week. The tour is designed to underscore Eurocopter’s development of the EC175 through extensive consultation with operators and end-users, ensuring their needs and requirements were incorporated into the design at an early stage – resulting in an optimized rotary-wing aircraft with the latest state-of-the-art technology.

Garmin Optimizes GTN Series For Helicopter Operations

New Features And Capabilities Introduced On Touch-Screen Interface

Garmin is introducing new features and capabilities of the GTN series touchscreen GPS/NAV/COM that address the specific needs of helicopter operations. Enhancements include environmental qualification meeting stringent helicopter vibration and temperature testing standards, optional Night Vision Goggle (NVG) compatibility, optional built-in Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS) and more.

Sequestration Not Expected To Affect Heli-Expo

HAI Working With Other Associations To Ensure Safety

In a briefing in advance of HAI's Heli-Expo from FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and Deputy Transportation Secretary John Porcari, the two said their clear mandate is to minimize effects on the "traveling public" — meaning airline passengers. This was good news for anyone traveling to Las Vegas to the association's 2013 trade show. In addition, the mandatory notification period required before laying off or furloughing federal workers means there will be some lag time before lack of staffing affects domestic aviation.

Aero-News: Quote Of The Day (03.05.13)

"This decision concludes a cautionary flight suspension that began on Feb. 21. Prolonged exposure to high levels of heat and other operational stressors on this specific engine were determined to be the cause of the crack." Source: Statement from F-35 program office official Kyra Hawn.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (03.05.13): Ceiling

The heights above the earth's surface of the lowest layer of clouds or obscuring phenomena that is reported as “broken,” “overcast,” or “obscuration,” and not classified as “thin” or “partial.”

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ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (03.05.13)

AMT Society

The stated mission of the AMT society is to honor the legacy of the aviation community while advancing opportunities for aircraft maintenance technicians to further their profession and ensure the future of aviation.

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