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October 29, 2011

Classic AeroTV: The CAFE Foundation - Promoting the Future of Electric Flight

This is a previously unreleased video from the ANN archives.

This video provides an eye-opening view of the future of electric flight. Dr. Larry Ford talks about the 2011 CAFE Foundation Symposium and the advances in electric flight. Dr. Ford points out that the old jokes about the length of the extension cord for electric airplanes has been left in the dust. Practical electric flight is not just on the horizon, it’s already here.

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Classic Aero-TV: Listen (Quietly) To The Future – Pipistrel Takes On The Green Flight Challenge

This is a previously unreleased video from the ANN archives.

Jack Langelaan, Pipistrel Team Leader and engineering professor at Penn State University explains the Green Challenge. The NASA Green Challenge was to design, build, and fly an airplane that gets 200 passenger miles per gallon of fuel at 100 mph. To this into perspective, a Cessna 172 with four people aboard gets about 60 passenger miles per gallon of fuel.

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CAP Mission Severely Curtailed by Budget Woes

'Temporary Pause In Effect For Some Operations' -- Cuts To CAP Operations Could Be Sign Of Things To Come

While the folks of the Civil Air Patrol are trying to put as positive a face as possible on these trying times, ANN has confirmed that CAP operations are being severely restricted by the nation's budget issues. The CAP tells ANN that, 'To ensure Civil Air Patrol's continued support for critical U.S. Air Force-assigned missions, some aspects of the organization's operations are being temporarily paused during the continuing federal budget uncertainty.'

MTSU Diamond Fleet Operational Again After Hailstorm

Under the category of 'big surprises' ANN is pleased to learn that the formerly dour prognostications over the future viability of a number of aircraft hammered by a recent hailstorm ain't quite as bad as we feared. Following that sudden and severe hailstorm of October 17, 2011 that impacted all but three aircraft in Middle Tennessee State University's (MTSU's) fleet of 20 Diamonds and 5 Pipers, we're told that all but 4 Diamonds have been returned to service with the remaining 4 aircraft to follow within a few days.

Unidentified Airline Also Signs For Six Options

Bombardier Aerospace has announced that a Chinese airline, which has requested to remain unidentified, has signed a conditional purchase agreement for six CRJ900 NextGen aircraft. The transaction, which is the first for the CRJ900 in China, includes five additional options. Based on list prices, the contract would be worth about $264 million US. Should all five options also be converted to firm orders, the value would total $491 million US.

Industry-First Letter Endorses Database Quality

Jeppesen, a unit of Boeing Flight Services, recently received the aviation industry’s first Type 1 Letter of Acceptance endorsement from the FAA, supporting Jeppesen’s processing of navigation obstacle data. The FAA letter of acceptance ensures that Jeppesen’s obstacle database complies with documented data quality requirements.

AIA Analysis: One Million Jobs at Risk from Defense Cuts

Says Cuts Would Lower GDP Growth by 25 Percent

An economic impact analysis commissioned by the Aerospace Industries Association projects more than one million American jobs could be lost as a result of defense budget cuts if the deficit reduction select committee fails to reach agreement on alternative balanced budget solutions. The Aerospace Industries Association lobbies on behalf of aerospace and defense manufacturers.

Former USAF Test Pilot Gets The Slot Following Competition

After an intense selection process with more than 500 applicants including some of the best pilots in the world, Virgin Galactic has selected former USAF test pilot Keith Colmer as the first astronaut pilot to join the commercial spaceline's flight team.

How Does Your Garden Grow ... In Microgravity?

A unique science project designed to sow the excitement of scientific discovery in students is sprouting this week aboard the International Space Station. The Plants in Space project will allow students and teachers to examine root growth in microgravity and compare the results with those from plants used in their own ground-based experiments.

Commercial Jet Charter Airline To Support Wet Lease, Full Charter And Corporate Shuttle Programs

Commercial jet charter airline Dynamic Airways has been approved by the FAA to add a Boeing 767-200 aircraft to its Air Carrier Certificate. The new Dynamic Airways Boeing 767-200 is a mid-size, wide-body, fuel-efficient twin-engine airliner configured with 218 passenger seats, consisting of 18 first class and 200 economy class seats.

'To ensure Civil Air Patrol's continued support for critical U.S. Air Force-assigned missions, some aspects of the organization's operations are being temporarily paused during the continuing federal budget uncertainty.' Source: From a Civil Air patrol memorandum sent to 'Members of the National Board' explaining the severe restrictions CAP will suffer as a result of US/DoD budgetary woes.