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

Turbomeca, Russian Helicopters Sign MoU On A New Maintenance Center

Supporting The Entry Into Service Of The Ka-226T And Ka-62 Helicopters

Turbomeca (Safran) and Russian Helicopters (a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the opening of a new Maintenance Center.

Sun's Oldest Solar Twin Identified

ESO's VLT Provides New Clues To Help Solve Lithium Mystery

An international team led by astronomers in Brazil has used ESO’s Very Large Telescope to identify and study the oldest solar twin known to date. Located 250 light-years from Earth, the star HIP 102152 is more like the Sun than any other solar twin — except that it is nearly four billion years older.

Challenger LSA Down In Kansas

Pilot Sustained Minor Injuries In The Accident

A Challenger LSA went down last Wednesday near Emporia, KS, but the pilot walked away with only minor injuries.

Philadelphia Police Department Takes Bids For Third Helicopter

Bell, AgustaWestland Reportedly In The Running

The Philadelphia Police Department last week collected bids in anticipation of adding a third helicopter to its law enforcement fleet, and two companies appear to be in the running for the contract.

Bell Helicopter Wins Two Defense Contracts Totaling $83 Million

To Produce Rotor Blades, Kiowa Warrior Cabins For The DoD

Bell Helicopter has won two Department of Defense (DoD) contracts totaling some $83 million as the end of the government's fiscal year approaches.

United Airlines Applies For Authority To Operate 787 Service To Chengdu, China

Proposed Route From San Francisco Hub Would Be First Service By A U.S. Carrier To Mainland China Beyond Beijing, Shanghai

United Airlines has applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation for authority to begin nonstop service linking the airline's San Francisco hub with Chengdu, China, the fourth-largest Chinese city, effective June 9, 2014.

U.S. Announces Indonesian Military Helicopter Deal

Will Sell Eight Apache Helicopters Equipped With Longbow Radars

U.S. Defense Sectary Chuck Hegel has announced an agreement with the government of Indonesia for the sale of eight Apache AH-64E attack helicopters equipped with Longbow radars during a news conference last week with Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro. The value of the contract is about $500 million.

Special Aerospace Services Announces Teaming Agreement

Will Partner With the University Of Colorado's Department Of Aerospace Engineering Sciences

Aerospace engineering firm Special Aerospace Services (SAS) has signed a teaming agreement with the Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research at the University of Colorado Boulder. The agreement will leverage talent and technical expertise between the two organizations.

Lockheed Martin WindTracer System Installed At Major Airports In Germany

Part Of Low Level Wind Shear Alert System

The German Weather Service (DWD) has installed Lockheed Martin WindTracer Doppler lidar systems at the Frankfurt and Munich airports as part of the Low Level Wind Shear Alert System (LLWAS). Selex Systems Integration provided the LLWAS, which includes WindTracer lidar and weather radar.

Gogo Marks 5th Anniversary Of Commercial Aviation Connectivity Service

Surpasses 40 Million Connectivity Sessions Since Launch

Gogo celebrated the fifth anniversary of its first Internet enabled commercial flight last month. Five years ago, Gogo introduced an Air-To-Ground, cellular based network that enabled passengers to connect to the Internet above 30,000 feet and traveling at speeds in excess of 500 miles-per-hour.

AD: Airbus Airplanes

AD NUMBER: 2013-16-26

PRODUCT: All Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes; Model A330-200 and -300 series airplanes, and Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes.

AD: Airbus Airplanes

AD NUMBER: 2013-17-03

PRODUCT: Certain Airbus Model A330-200 and -300 series airplanes; Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes; and Model A340-541 and -642 airplanes.

Judge Sets Nov 25 Trial Date In DOJ Challenge To American, US Airways Merger

Justice Department Had Wanted The Proceedings Pushed To Next Year

Federal district judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly has filed documents setting a November 25 trial date to hear the Department of Justice's case against the proposed merger of American Airlines and US Airways.

Marshall Aerospace And Defense Group Acquires Hawker Beechcraft Ltd

Company Had Been Beechcraft’s European MRO Business

Marshall Aerospace and Defense Group (Marshall ADG) has acquired Beechcraft’s flagship European MRO business, Hawker Beechcraft Limited. At its Broughton location in the UK, the site, also known as Hawker Beechcraft Services Chester, has provided a full range of maintenance, modification, paint and upgrade services to owners of Hawker and Beechcraft aircraft for over 50 years.

Special Olympics Recipient Of $25,000 Discover Flying Challenge Donation

Will Support 2014 USA Games

Cessna Aircraft Company is presenting a $25,000 donation to Special Olympics’ 2014 USA Games as an award for the organization’s partnership and support of the 2013 Discover Flying Challenge.

Brian E. Chappel Tapped To Lead F-35 Lightning II Program

Named Vice President And Program Manager By Northrop Grumman Corporation

Brian E. Chappel has been appointed vice president and program manager for the Northrop Grumman Corporation F-35 Lightning II program. Northrop Grumman is principal partner to Lockheed Martin on the F-35. Chappel will be responsible for directing and overseeing cost, schedule, technical matters, quality and customer satisfaction for the production of the aircraft's center fuselage.

NASA Selects Innovative Advanced Technology Concepts For Continued Study

Six Proposals Selected For Phase 2 Of The NIAC Program

NASA has selected six technology proposals for continued study under the agency's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program. The proposals selected for Phase 2 of the 2013 NIAC Program address a range of visionary concepts including photonic laser thrusters, extreme sample return, and innovative spherical robots designed for planetary exploration.

Public Viewing Sites Established For LADEE Moon Mission Launch From Wallops

Two Sites Will Have Countdown Clocks And Be Staffed By NASA Personnel

Residents and visitors for the launch of NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE), scheduled to lift-off at 11:27 p.m. EDT, Sept. 6, from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's Pad-0B at the Wallops Flight Facility, will have two prime viewing locations.

AgustaWestland, Russian Helicopters Agree To Develop A New 2.5t Helicopter

Companies Sign 'Heads Of Agreement' At MAKS 2013

Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec, and AgustaWestland have signed a Heads of Agreement at the MAKS 2013 air show defining the joint design and development program for a new 2.5-metric-tonne class single-engine helicopter. The agreement was signed by Daniele Romiti, CEO of AgustaWestland, and Russian Helicopters CEO Dmitry Petrov.

Kamov And Sagem Team Up On Ka-52 Alligator Attack Helicopter

Laser Gyro Optics Will Be Integrated On Aircraft Next Year

Sagem (Safran) and Kamov (Russian Helicopters) have combined their complementary areas of technological and industrial expertise to develop an enhanced version of the Kamov-52 Alligator attack helicopter, which will address a requirement expressed by several countries.