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August 31, 2006

ANN Daily Touch-And-Go: 09.01.06

Fire strikes a US Airways 737 as it lands in Miami...

Orion has a builder...

And a leading member of Congress says the FAA needs to do a better job of keeping air passengers safe.

ANN Special Feature: Lockheed-Martin Wins the NASA Contract To Build "Orion" 09.01.06

It was a classic competition for a government contract. Arch-rivals Lockheed-Martin and Boeing squared off face-to-face... bidding for the right to design... build... and test the Orion series of s

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ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 09.01.06

Fire strikes a US Airways 737 as it lands in Miami...

Orion has a builder...

And a leading member of Congress says the FAA needs to do a better job of keeping air passengers safe...

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NASA Selects Lockheed-Martin To Build Orion

Beats Out Boeing-Northrop Grumman Joint Venture

ANN REALTIME REPORTING: 08.31.06 1515 EDT: Lessons from the past are guiding NASA's next step into the future, as the space agency prepares to replace the space shuttle with an Apollo-style vehicle for human explorers -- and moments ago, NASA named Lockheed Martin as the company to build its next-generation spacecraft.

All Onboard Safe After Landing-Gear Fire

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 08.31.06 1400 EDT: The landing gear of a US Airways 737 evidently caught fire during landing at Miami International Airport earlier today, causing the evacuation of all passengers and crew onboard the plane and a messy situation on one of the airport's main runways.

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8376 Issue Date: August 30, 2006 at 18:03 UTC Location: Pocatello, Idaho near POCATELLO VORTAC (PIH) Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: Until further notice Reason for NOTAM: To provide a safe environment for fire fighting Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: Salt Lake (ZLC) Center, 801-320-2560

MT TFR: UFN

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8387 Issue Date: August 30, 2006 at 18:30 UTC Location: 15 South, Big Timber, Montana Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: Until further notice Reason for NOTAM: To provide a safe environment for fire fighting aircraft operations Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: Salt Lake (ZLC) Center, 801-320-2560 Frequency(ies): 123.575

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8437 Issue Date: August 30, 2006 at 22:35 UTC Location: Crestview, Florida near CRESTVIEW VORTAC (CEW) Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: August 31, 2006 at 18:00 UTC Reason for NOTAM: For ordinance discharge Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: Jacksonville (ZJX) Center, 904-549-1537

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8440 Issue Date: August 30, 2006 at 23:59 UTC Location: 5 Southeast, Levan, Utah near DELTA VORTAC (DTA) Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: Until further notice Reason for NOTAM: To provide a safe environment for fire fighting Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: Salt Lake (ZLC) Center, 801-320-2560

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8444 Issue Date: August 31, 2006 at 0:15 UTC Location: Waitsburg, Washington near WALLA WALLA VOR/DME (ALW) Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: Until further notice Reason for NOTAM: To provide a safe environment for fire fighting Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: Seattle (ZSE) Center, 253-351-3520

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8516 Issue Date: August 31, 2006 at 15:16 UTC Type: Hazards

"Headlines We Never Thought We'd Write For $500, Alex..."

There are some things a pilot can never live down... and a new line was added to that list last week, after an Air Canada Jazz captain locked himself out of the cockpit of his CRJ-100 after leaving to use the washroom.

NASA Schedules Atlantis Launch For September 6

No Damage Reported To Shuttle, Facilities ANN REALTIME UPDATE 08.31.06 1330 EDT: After confirming the shuttle Atlantis successfully rode out the worst of Tropical Storm Ernesto on launch pad 39-B, NASA has given the go-ahead for another launch attempt next Wednesday, September 6.

Called Most Dynamic Sector In Aerospace

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) will continue to be the most dynamic growth sector of the world aerospace industry. That's the word from a forthcoming Teal Group market study, previewed Thursday at this week's AUVSI Unmanned Systems North America 2006 in Orlando, FL.

Deliveries Will Start Earlier Than Planned

They're making hay while the sun shines over at US Airways. Bolstered by stronger-than-expected earnings so far this year, on Wednesday the airline formed by the merger of American West and US Airways added seven new Airbus A321s to its standing order for 30 Airbus A320-family aircraft.

Discovering The Mission Of The Personal Spaceflight Federation

ANN Daily Touch N Go: 08.31.06 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program) ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 08.31.06 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program) ANN Special Feature -- The Personal Spaceflight Federation: 08.31.06 (ANN Special Feature, with PSF Chairman Alex Tai.)

ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 08.31.06

There he goes again... as adventurer Steve Fossett sets his third aviation record this year...

The latest from Lexington, Kentucky, as the NTSB wraps up its on-scene investigation of Comair

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Group Says KLEX Runway Extension Could Have Saved Lives

Residents Have Fought Runway 26 Lengthening Since 1997

One group calling for Runway 26 at Blue Grass Airport to be extended from its current 3,500-foot length to 5,000 feet told ANN Wednesday that had the move not been met by objections from local residents... then maybe we wouldn't be talking about a fatal accident right now.

FAA Nixes Field Approval For OEM Repair Data

More regulatory news to share... as the FAA ruled this week that repair data for small general-aviation aircraft seldom requires field approval.

AD NUMBER: 2006-18-02 MANUFACTURER: McDonnell Douglas SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2006-18-02 SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-10, -20, -30, -40, and -50 series airplanes.

AD NUMBER: 2006-17-07 MANUFACTURER: Pratt & Whitney SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2006-17-07 SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT8D-209, -217, -217A, -217C, and -219 turbofan engines.

AD NUMBER: 2006-18-03 MANUFACTURER: Empresa SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2006-18-03 SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer Model EMB-145XR airplanes.

ANN Special Feature: ANN's Jim Campbell Talks with Alex Tai, Chairman of the Personal Spaceflight Federation 08.31.06

ANN's Jim Campbell interviews Alex Tai of Virgin Galactic about his new role as chairman of the Personal Spaceflight Federation.

ANN Daily Touch-And-Go: 08.31.06

There he goes again... as adventurer Steve Fossett sets his third aviation record this year...

The latest from Lexington, Kentucky, as the NTSB wraps up its on-scene investigation of Comair

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NTSB Says Cessna Owners Need To Check Yokes, Elevators

Issues Three Recommendations, Primarily For Older Planes

Some very important notices for pilots of Cessna single-engine aircraft... as on Wednesday the NTSB issued three safety-related recommendations for owners of 1960-1985 Cessna aircraft.

Was Vectoring Previous Traffic As Flight 5191 Took Off

The National Transportation Safety Board is wrapping up its on-the-scene investigation into Sunday's loss of a CRJ-100 in Lexington, KY... and at the final public briefing Wednesday night, board member Debbie Hersman shed new light into the work schedule of the sole controller in the tower at the time of the accident.

May Allow Nighttime Launch If Schedule Depends On It

It now appears the space agency has a fighting chance of launching the orbiter before its target date of September 7. But if for some reason that doesn't happen, NASA managers are discussing a backup option -- launching Atlantis at night.

But Don't Expected Fuel-Cell Powered 747s Just Yet...

The largest unmanned aircraft yet flying only on hydrogen fuel has passed it first test.

Airline Gives Victims' Families $25,000

No one knows for certain yet why a Comair CRJ-100 took the wrong runway at Blue Grass Airport early Sunday morning... and then attempted takeoff. But one thing does seem inevitable -- the lawyers will have their say in the case.

Says NTSB Judge's Ruling Confused Issue

The FAA has spoken: Service bulletins (SBs) are not —- we'll repeat that, not -- mandatory for most Part 91 aircraft operators. That's good news for private pilots -- and is exactly the decision the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association had encouraged and expected.

Russia Ponders New Space Station

Says ISS Will Be Dismantled In 2015

An official with the Russian Space Agency told RIA Novosti this week the International Space Station will be dismantled a mere five years after construction efforts are due to wrap up in 2010... and replaced with a new orbital station.

Plane Had Been In Storage Since January Accident

A jet that had been stored in Sitka, AK since its companion aircraft crashed in January is now back on the ground in Washington state.

It wasn't a big deal -- except that it involved the biggest commercial plane flying.

Aero-Tips!

Like many others, for years I've taught techniques that will minimize the chances you might attempt to take off on the wrong runway.

Aero-Linx!

What’s it like to be the "Head Goose?"

Aero-Terms!

Navigation by visual reference to landmarks. Eyes outside the cockpit, please.

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (08.31.06)

"We understand that no monetary relief can overcome the grief of losing a loved one. But we also recognize there likely will be additional financial demands at this difficult time and we hope this form of assistance can help alleviate some of the immediate financial pressures."

Source: Comair spokeswoman Kate Marx, on the airline's announcement it will give the families of the victims of Flight 5191 $25,000 per passenger in cash assistance, to help with expenses related to the tragedy.