Also: Comet Water Differences, Garmin Datalink, Bogert Battery Boxes, WSI/iOs, Mistletoe Copter Fail

Airbus hasn't seen a single airline order for its double-decker A380 superjumbo airliner this year, and that has the planemaker considering whether to continue to build the airplane. It’s reported that Airbus expects that it will break even on the A380 through 2017, but then the company will have to decide whether to re-engine the airplane or discontinue it entirely. Some things just leave you scratching your head. Such is the case with the recognition of USA Today by the National Press Foundation for their sensationalist articles on general aviat

Overseas Locations For Heavy Maintenance Named

The Department of Defense has assigned F-35 Regional Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade (MRO&U) capability for airframes and engines for the European Region. The assignments were based on data compiled and analyzed by the F-35 Joint Program Office that was collected from European Partners and their industries. These initial MRO&U assignments will support near-term engine and airframe F-35 overseas operations and maintenance and will be reviewed and updated in approximately five years.

E-Jet Agreement Adds Nine 69-Seat Aircraft Starting Q3 2015; Partnership Totals 39 Aircraft

Republic Airways Holdings has reached an amendment to its Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA) with Delta Air Lines to operate nine additional 69-seat E170 aircraft. The aircraft are scheduled to be placed into service between the 3rd quarter of 2015 and the 2nd quarter of 2016 and will operate for a term of six years per aircraft.

New Helo Provides High-Altitude Rescue Operations

The world’s newest light-weight twin-engine rotorcraft is now in service with the operational start-up of Airbus Helicopters’ upgraded EC135 T3/P3 of Aiut Alpin Dolomites – a northern Italy-based Alpine mountain rescue service.

E190 Is Also The 200th E-Jet To Enter Service In Latin America

Embraer delivered the 1,100th E-Jet production aircraft Tuesday during a ceremony held in the Aeromexico hangar, at the Benito Juárez International Airport, in Mexico City. The aircraft, an E190 model, is also the 200th aircraft from the E-Jet family flying in Latin America.

Combines Respective Activities Into One Group-Wide Entity

Airbus Group has created a new group-wide Foundation by extending the membership of the Airbus Corporate Foundation. In addition to Airbus, it now also includes Airbus Helicopters, Airbus Defence and Space and Airbus Group. It integrates the respective activities of all these three Divisions as well as the Group’s and will continue to focus on supporting the humanitarian community as well as educating and inspiring young people through the world of aerospace.

To Assemble Up To 400 Ka-226T Helos Per Year In India

As many as 400 Russian-design Ka-226T helicopters will be built in India under an agreement signed recently between the two countries.

Will Be Used To Make Sustainable Aviation Biofuel, Supports South Africa's Rural Economy

South African farmers will soon harvest their first crop of energy-rich tobacco plants, an important step towards using the plants to make sustainable aviation biofuel, according to Boeing and South African Airways (SAA). Experienced tobacco farmers will grow the plant, called Solaris, as a replacement for traditional tobacco.

Adds Additional Capabilities In 'Navalized' Aircraft

The French Army’s Tiger combat helicopter fleet expanded Wednesday with Airbus Helicopters’ delivery of the first two attack helicopters in the HAD Block 2 version, following its qualification by the French General Directorate for Armament on November 21. These two Tigers will join those already in service.

The Contract Marks The Entrance Of The Type Into The Italian Passenger Transport Market With Delivery In Mid-2015

HoverFly of Italy has signed a contract for an AW169 light intermediate twin engine helicopter to perform passenger transport missions plus a comprehensive package of support and training services. This aircraft will replace an aging AS365 helicopter providing the operator with greater mission capability and the latest safety features.

Tasked With Oversight Of Daily Operations At The Wisconsin Facility

Mark Knall has been tapped as vice president and general manager of the company’s facility in Appleton, Wisconsin. He reports to Dennis Stuligross, senior vice president, Operations, and Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Product Support.

Data Link Allows In-Flight Targeting Adjustments

The U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force successfully collaborated with Raytheon Company for the first flight demonstration of a Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammer (MALD-J) equipped with a radio data link. Adding the data link expands the weapon's situational awareness and allows for in-flight targeting adjustments.

Sim Company Will Provide Complete Pilot Training

Eastern Air Lines has signed a letter of intent with flight simulator manufacturer CAE under which CAE will provide Eastern with flight training solutions as it grows its fleet of Boeing 737-NG and MAX aircraft and eventually the Mitsubishi Regional Jet.

The Aviation and Aerospace World Has Too Few Friends and Too Many Enemies

Aviation News/Analysis/Commentary By ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell I’ve been having a running conversation, the last few weeks, with a person many of you used to know – a person who is given much to the world of aviation -- and after a series of setbacks and disappointments… well, he’s given up on us. I don’t want to single him out. I understand his disappointment. But I know many like him, and the fact of the matter is that one of my fondest desires, personally, is that something that I might do some day will convince him that not all is lost -- and that aviation not only can be saved, but should be saved.

Really Smart Ideas Can Help Eliminate Some Of Aviation's Most Persistent Safety Issues

While attending the NBAA 2014 Convention, ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, had already seen a number of freshly introduced products, and now he was looking for one of those quiet little projects that sneaks up on you. He stopped to talk with Mark Lange, the CEO of AML Incorporated, and found exactly what he was looking for. In this video, Lange introduces Jim, and a large portion of the aviation community, to a product being developed that is truly unique. AML has come up with a system for monitoring pilot fatigue and performance while in flight. Developed

Says That 737s Can Handle Majority Of The Former Airplanes' Routes

When it comes to aviation, particularly in the airline sector, one of the most-asked questions of manufacturers is 'what's next?". In the case of Boeing, it's been asked particularly in reference to a possible replacement for the 757.

As A Recreational Flyer It’s Easy To Enjoy The Flying And Forget Some Of The Finer Points Of FAA Paperwork Requirements

In accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations, FAA certificate holders are required to update their mailing address within 30 days of obtaining a new address. The thing that’s easy to forget is that both the pilot and the aircraft hold a certificate. If the addresses for the pilot and the registered owner of the aircraft, as listed on the registration certificate, are out of date more than 30 days neither are legal to fly.

National Press Foundation Calls Work An 'Extraordinary Investigation'

Some things just leave you scratching your head. Such is the case with the recognition of USA Today's sensationalist series on general aviation accidents written by Thomas Frank by the National Press Foundation.

Also: More Airborne Unlimited Details, CAF Update, Jabiru Twin, Fastest Man On Earth?, NG Helo Recovery

Forty-six founding Civil Air Patrol members were present Wednesday to see the organization honored with the Congressional Gold Medal for the service they and more than 200,000 other CAP volunteers provided during World War II, when they helped protect U.S. shipping against German U-boat attacks, and carried out other vital wartime domestic missions. The European Aviation Safety Agency has certified the Piaggio Aerospace Avanti EVO after an extensive development and test program carried out under the supervisi

Fuels Debate About Origins Of Earth's Oceans

The European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft has found the water vapor from comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko to be significantly different from that found on Earth. The discovery fuels the debate on the origin of our planet’s oceans.

Allows Company To Commercially Collect Data Using UAS

Among the exemptions to the FAA's UAS policy granted this week was permission for Woolpert, Inc., a national geospatial, infrastructure management and design firm specializing in high-tech mapping and imagery collection services, to fly its unmanned aerial system commercially in Ohio and Ship Island, MS.

Aircraft Being Flown In The Restaurant Hits Photog In The Nose

Well ... it seemed like a good idea. The restaurant chain TGI Friday's decided that it would use a small hexacopter to fly mistletoe around some of its restaurants and hope to encourage kissing in the booths and at the tables. But in at least one case, the UAV went astray and hit a photographer capturing the stunt.

Aero Linx: Schweizer 1-26 Association The Association is formed for the purpose of stimulating interest in, and promoting the sport of soaring in the Schweizer 1-26 sailplane; to establish standards for competition in the 1-26; to establish categories for record flights made in the 1-26; to disseminate information relating to the 1-26 and flights made in the 1-26, and to give recognition to its membership for accomplishments related to soaring in the 1-26. The Association's goal is to foster the helpfulness, the camaraderie, and the opportunity for head-to-head competition that is found in One Design groups in sailing. It is an organization of people who share the common ideal that soaring should be fun, not frantic - peop

Roll A mechanism to provide lateral control of the aircraft through flexible wing tips; wires enabled the wing tips to arch so that the ends of the wings were four inches lower than the center (the concept was devised by the Wrights after observing the wing tips of a hawk in flight).

"Under normal circumstances, the aviation world doesn’t need to do much to look bad – we are an over-regulated, overtly misunderstood, somewhat complex undertaking – prone to bad press and errant reporting from those who cannot or will not check their facts… And let’s face it, there are far too many people out there, ready to capitalize on every misstep our industry makes, especially where the legal system is involved. But regardless of the prevalent aviation-bashing; the Aero-Verse deserves to be treated accurately, fairly, and with the appropriate expertise. Virtually none of this was rendered by Thomas Frank or by his wholly unimpressive editors at USA Today." Source

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