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

NOTAM Number: FDC 8/0006 Issue Date: June 03, 2008 at 1418 UTC Location: Houston, Texas Beginning Date and Time: June 06, 2008 at 1530 UTC Ending Date and Time: June 06, 2008 at 1850 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Temporary flight restrictions for VIP (Very Important Person) Movement Type: VIP Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A

NOTAM Number: FDC 8/9996 Issue Date: June 03, 2008 at 1338 UTC Location: VIEQUES ISLAND , Puerto Rico near ST CROIX VOR/DME (COY) Beginning Date and Time: June 06, 2008 at 1200 UTC Ending Date and Time: June 06, 2008 at 2000 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Temporary flight restrictions Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: SAN JUAN (ZSU) CERAP, 787-253-8664

NOTAM Number: FDC 8/0120 Issue Date: June 03, 2008 at 1921 UTC Location: ELY , Minnesota Beginning Date and Time: June 04, 2008 at 1500 UTC Ending Date and Time: June 04, 2006 at 1615 UTC Reason for NOTAM: DUE TO BLASTING ACTIVITY AT BABBITT IRON MINES Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A

Will Supersized Passengers Equal Supersized Airfares?

Airlines Look At Disturbing Ways To Increase Revenue

As airlines look to increase their profits any way they can, no idea may be too far-fetched... or, potentially demeaning. Among the ideas being bandied about by airline CEOs include elimination of cold drink service onboard flights, and charging passengers based on their weight.

Piasecki Details Speedhawk X-49A Flight Testing

First Phase Completed Earlier This Year

Earlier this year, Piasecki Aircraft Corporation (PiAC) completed the initial Phase 1 flight test of the SpeedHawk X-49A Vectored Thrust Ducted Propeller (VTDP) compound helicopter at New Castle County Airport near Wilmington, DE.

Aging Aircraft Make Headlines Once Again

Concern Isn't On Safety, But On Fuel And MX Costs

Aging aircraft fleets are once again in the news, though not necessarily due to safety concerns. Older planes drink more fuel, and eat up higher percentages of airline maintenance budgets... both significant concerns as domestic airlines continue to hemorrhage cash.

NASA's Deep Impact Probe Aims Telescope At Alien Planets

Begins Extended Epoxi Mission En Route to Hartley 2

NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft is aiming its largest telescope at five stars in a search for alien (exosolar) planets as it enters its extended mission, called Epoxi.

FAA Dedicates New Huntsville Control Tower

Larger Complex Includes Expanded TRACON

On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration dedicated the new airport traffic control tower at the Huntsville International Airport (HSV). The facility became operational at 0600 Sunday, May 4.

Aero-News Featured Aero-Casts For Tuesday 06.03.08

The Return Of Virginia's Regional Festival Of Flight

ANN Daily Touch N Go: 06.03.08 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program) ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 06.03.08 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program) ANN Special Feature -- The Return Of Virginia's Regional Festival Of Flight: 06.03.08 (ANN Special Report, with Dee Whittington.)

AD: Stemme

AD NUMBER: 2008-11-20 MANUFACTURER: Stemme SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2008-11-20 SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above that will supersede an existing AD.

AD: Air Tractor

AD NUMBER: 2008-11-17 MANUFACTURER: Air Tractor SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2008-11-17 SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede AD 2002-25-09, which applies to certain Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) AT-250, AT-300, AT-400, and AT-500 series airplanes.

AD: Cirrus

AD NUMBER: 2008-11-18 MANUFACTURER: Cirrus SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2008-11-18 SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cirrus Design Corporation (CDC) Model SR20 airplanes.

Aero-TV At WAI 2008: How About That Pilot Shortage?

Attendees and Friends of Women In Aviation Discuss the Pending Pilot Shortage

As the 19th Annual International Women in Aviation (WAI) Conference drew to a close, all the statistics pointed to the organization's biggest Conference ever. Great news, indeed... but all may not be well on the pilot front... especially with alarming studies suggesting that there is a serious pilot shortage on the horizon... one with the potential to impact the aviation and air travel world in dramatic ways.

IATA Reverses Its Profit Projection For 2008, Now Forecasts BIG Losses

Airlines Stand To Lose As Much As $6.1 Billion On Fuel This Year

It's the absolute worst-case scenario... they hope. The International Air Transport Association, whose members account for 93 percent of international traffic, projects airlines may report losses totaling $6.1 billion for 2008, as they face soaring jet fuel prices.

NTSB Unable To Determine Cause Of Fatal Lancair IV Accident

Portland Crash Claimed Three, Including 12-Year-Old Boy

Almost one year after the fatal downing of a Lancair IV Propjet in a southwest Portland, OR neighborhood, the National Transportation Safety Board admitted last week investigators may never know what caused the aircraft to crash in IFR conditions.

Discovery Docks At International Space Station

First Spacewalk To Occur Tuesday Morning

Space Shuttle Discovery arrived at the International Space Station at 1403 EDT Monday, delivering the second component of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory and a new Expedition 17 crew member.

Flying Cloud Airport Cleared For Longer Runways

Hopes To Attract More Bizjet Traffic

A Minnesota airport has received approval from the FAA to expand its runways, in hopes of attracting more corporate traffic.

Phoenix Lander Collects First Mars Samples

Practice Scraping Shows Possible Evidence Of Ice, Salt

One week after landing on far-northern Mars, on Sunday NASA Phoenix spacecraft lifted its first scoop of Martian soil as a test of the lander's Robotic Arm.

Bisignani Calls Heathrow A 'National Embarrassment'

Says Higher Charges At Declining Facility Are Laughable

One of the big problems at airlines right now is difficulty getting passengers to pay higher ticket prices to offset rising fuel costs. At Monday's IATA meeting, Director General Giovanni Bisignani seemed to vent some of that frustration in comments about Heathrow Airport in London, where he says has the UK's Civil Aviation Authority increased charges by 50 percent over the last five years, and plans another 86 percent increase for the next five.

Private Security Firm Purchases Brazilian Turboprop Fighter

US May Purchase Eight Planes For Use In Iraq

The Associated Press cites a Brazilian newspaper in reporting that EP Aviation, a subsidiary of controversial US military security contractor Blackwater Worldwide, has purchased a fighter plane from Embraer.

CAP Officers Promote Service At Andrews Open House

Auxiliary Takes A More Prominent Stance At Event

Civil Air Patrol members from the Congressional Squadron, along with the Maryland and National Capital Wings worked hard to promote CAP at the recent Joint Service Open House at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Diamond Offers Pilots Chance To 'Fly Your First Year Free'

New DA40 XLS Owners May Take Advantage Of Over $13K In Savings

While Diamond Aircraft has made more headlines lately over its battle with the bankruptcy administrator for Thielert Aircraft Engines, than for its planes, the London, Ontario-based planemaker would like everyone to remember its DA40 XLS is one of the most appealing choices available for discriminating pilots. And that choice just got even more so.

Sporty’s Launches LearnToFlyHere.com

Also Offers Free Learn To Fly Kit

One of the preeminent providers of tools and instruction for all pilots, has introduced a resource aimed at attracting new flyers to the ranks. Sporty's new LearnToFlyHere.com is a one-stop resource for those interested in flying.

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (06.03.08)

Aero-Linx!

A blog dedicated to the continuous improvement of aerospace safety.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (06.03.08): Heliosphere

Aero-Terms!

The space within the broundary of the heliopause containing the Sun and solar system.

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (06.03.08)

"Skyrocketing oil prices are changing everything. The situation is desperate and potentially more destructive than our recent battles with all the horsemen of the apocalypse combined."

Source: Giovanni Bisignani, CEO of the International Air Transport Association. In a worst-case scenario, IATA forecasts airline losses as great as $6.1 billion for 2008, as they face soaring jet fuel prices.