ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 07.18.11 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program) ANN Special Feature: Fly an Appropriate Pattern - 07.18.11 (ANN Special Report, with CFI Bob Miller)

Milestone Moves Toward First Flight In The Second Half Of 2011

Embraer has accomplished another milestone in the development of its new Legacy 500 midsize executive jet with the joining of the aircraft's three fuselage sections: cockpit, center fuselage and aft fuselage.

Speech Comes Shortly After Senator McCain Questions The Program's Cost Overruns

The Air Force Association said Wednesday that Major General C.D. Moore II, Deputy Director for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program Office, will be the guest speaker for the July session of the AFA Air Force Breakfast Program, to be held on Wednesday, July 27.

Dawn Began Vesta Encounter Friday

NASA's Dawn spacecraft has begun a prolonged encounter with the asteroid Vesta, making the mission the first to enter orbit around a main-belt asteroid.

Heli-Center Caters To Members, Employees And Guests

Yet another industry association is creating a larger presence at EAA AirVenture this year. Helicopter Association International (HAI) has announced its first-ever Heli-Center at Oshkosh.

High School Educators Will Work With Agency's Technical Staff

An innovative summer internship program will give 42 U.S. middle and high school teachers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience with NASA's latest aerospace engineering technologies while working closely with agency technical mentors.

Examines What Factors Affect Astronauts During Long Duration Space Flights

NASA's History Program Office is releasing a new book that examines the different psychological factors that affect astronauts during space travel, especially long-duration missions.

We Were There to Cheer on STS-1... And To Bid STS-135 A Fond Farewell

Is it really all about to be over and done with? It was just over 30 years ago that saw a much younger, leaner and far less grey Jim Campbell in attendance for the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle. Now, three decades later, its hard to believe that our final sight of the lift-off of Atlantis is the last we will ever envision of such a magnificent rocket powered flying machine.

Pilots' Seniority Lists Of The Two Airlines To Be Merged

Southwest Airlines is pleased to announce an agreement in principle between the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association (SWAPA), the union representing Southwest Airlines Pilots and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the union representing the pilots of AirTran Airways.

Program Paved The Way For The Upcoming S-97 Raider Helicopter

Sikorsky's X2 Technology demonstrator has flown for the last time, the company announced Thursday.

Airline Retires Saab Fleet, Will Apply For Increased Essential Air Service Subsidy In Nine Cities

Delta Air Lines notified the U.S. DOT of its plans to adjust flying in 24 small markets last Friday. In concert with the retirement of Delta's Saab fleet and to halt $14 million in annual losses, the changes will affect Essential Air Service (EAS) markets.

Klyde Is On The Internet... Klyde Must Be Real

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

Lufthansa, Airbus Say It Is A Significant Step Forward Towards Sustainable Aviation

Lufthansa says it has launched the world’s first ever daily commercial passenger flights using biofuel.

Official EAA AirVenture App Available For iPad, iPhone, Android

You would think that it wouldn't make sense to devote a bunch of work into developing a smartphone app for a single event, and you'd probably be right - if the event wasn't on the scale of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

Civil Servants And Contractors Recognized For Their Contributions To Flight Safety

NASA's Space Flight Awareness Program recognized 143 civil servants and contractors for their outstanding support of human spaceflight. The awardees work at NASA facilities across the country and represent 15 states.

Budding Test Pilots Learn In Two-Place Gripen Trainer

Empire Test Pilots' School (ETPS) has extended its co-operation agreement with Sweden and Saab, using the Gripen fighter aircraft to train its pilots.

Company Calls The Modifications 'Game Changing'

The FAA issued an STC on June 24, 2011, authorizing Blackhawk Modifications to offer the XP42A upgrade for the Cessna Caravan 208B. Jim Allmon, President and CEO, says the company will celebrate the certification at AirVenture.

Runway Visual Range (RVR) It is the maximum distance at which the runway, or the specified lights or markers delineating it, can be seen from a position above a specified point on its center line. This value is normally determined by visibility sensors located alongside and higher than the center line of the runway. RVR is calculated from visibility, ambient light level, and runway light intensity.

Aero-Linx: Sport Class Air Racing Sport Class Racing Qualifications: Pilots must have a minimum of 500 hours of pilot in command time in fixed wing aircraft. Pilots must have 10 hours in the type of aircraft to be raced with 10 take offs and landings and 3 hours and 3 full stop landings in the actual aircraft to be raced. (In addition, the pilot must have 3 full stop landings in the specific aircraft they are racing within the proceeding 90 days before entering the course.) In addition, prospective Racers in the Sport Class must have previous and recent, (in past two years) race experience at Reno. Prospective racers without previous experience may qualify to race in the Spo

"This flight is the culmination of a five-year, internally funded program to expand the operational envelope of helicopters. The results of this program speak to the success of a rapid prototyping environment, where a small empowered team was able to meet a specific number of very challenging goals. We met these within a small budget and a compressed schedule." Source: Sikorsky President Jeffrey Pino, following the final test flight of their X2 Technology demonstrator.