Consortium Includes Boeing’s Major Airframe Partners, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Boeing and its three major Japanese airframe partners – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Fuji Heavy Industries – announced Friday that they have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), the University of Tokyo. Under the MOU, the parties will commence joint research and work to create a consortium to develop industrial-scale manufacturing technology and processes, in a new model of academic-industry cooperation.

Deal Ends Work Stoppage Which Began In April

A new labor agreement with Lockheed Martin has been ratified by District Lodge 776 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the largest union at its Fort Worth, TX, aircraft manufacturing facility. Union members voted to accept the proposal in a meeting Thursday, ending a work stoppage that began April 23.

Challenges Passengers To Get Off, “If You Have The Balls.”

Already frustrated over a 5 hour weather and refueling delay, passengers on an American Eagle flight were first shocked and then refused to fly after their flight attendant berated them over the plane’s intercom by announcing,  "If anyone has the balls to want to get off, I’ll let you get off. Get off!"

Missing Plane Took Off Without Permission

A missing AN-2 biplane is still missing after wreckage found by a search party proved to be that of a different AN-2. A massive search, involving nearly 1500 people, 300 vehicles and 11 aircraft has been underway for almost 3 weeks but to no avail. The Moscow Times reports the still missing aircraft took off from the Urals city of Serov with 13 people on board, including the local traffic police chief. The aircraft departed June 11 on an unauthorized flight and then mysteriously disappeared.

Company About To Occupy A New, Half-Million Square Foot Warehouse For The Operation

A J Walter Aviation’s new campus will see the development of a significant global HQ and logistics center close to Gatwick Airport in the UK. The site encompasses over 60 acres, and will provide a purpose-built HQ office and storage facilities for AJW’s extensive range of Airbus and Boeing components, engines and consumables.

North Star Group Receives Four-Year Package Which Includes Engineering, Technical Training

The FAA ATO Office of Technical Training (AJL) has awarded a prime contract to North Star Group, LLC  for technical training and professional support services. The contract is for four years consisting of one 12 month base period with three 12 month options.

Launch Scheduled For July 5th

The EchoStar XVII telecommunications platform has joined its MSG-3 co-passenger on Arianespace’s third Ariane 5 for launch in 2012, marking a key preparation milestone for this July 5 heavy-lift mission from the Spaceport in French Guiana. Encapsulated in its payload fairing, EchoStar XVII was lowered into place yesterday over the MSG-3 meteorological satellite – which was installed atop Ariane 5’s cryogenic core stage earlier in the week.

Actor Embarrassed By Unintended Exposure

Actor William Shatner was recently left as red faced as, well, Captain James T. Kirk after a party with too much Romulan Ale. The Toronto Sun reports that Shatner was boarding a flight from LAX to South Africa when he was singled out for a security search and found himself with his trousers down around his ankles, revealing his underwear. Shatner was wearing loose clothing with no belt because he wanted to be comfortable on the long flight and his pants simply fell to the floor.

Early Fielding Results Demonstrate Aircraft's Capability

The first full company of Gray Eagle UAS, F/227, has been deployed into active service, according to manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. Following training and internal Army evaluation exercises, F/227 is now deployed with 12 aircraft.

Anutin Charnvirakul Gets The Keys To His New Airplane

Noted Thai businessman, politician and private pilot Anutin Charnvirakul has taken delivery of a Model Year 2012 TBM 850 Elite, Dahar-Socata announced Friday. As a passionate and active private pilot, the 46-year-old Charnvirakul owned several aircraft prior to his decision acquire the TBM 850 very fast turboprop.

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Industry's 'Consensus Standards' Still Subject To Heavy-Handedness From FAA

Aero-News Analysis by Jim Campbell, ANN CEO/E-I-C ANN has noted the hub-bub that has been started by the recent publication of an FAA 'Notice Of Policy' LONG after we raised concerns about the potential of such actions like those now being taken... While being accused of over-reacting in our stories about the FAA's actions against a few LSA manufacturers during "Audits" they conducted here in the States; we now find ourselves, again, in "I told you so" mode. We're not happy to be in that mode at all, but what we feared then, now appears to be taking place as the FAA, who has ignored far greater dangers and problems facing other aspects of aviation, now seems to be interested

Another Tough Airshow Weekend Takes Place...

The International Airshow community suffered extensive losses this weekend as an L-39 Albatros went down in South Africa, and a deHavilland Hummingbird, DH53, also went down in the UK. Our friends at African Pilot Magazine, told ANN that at a Saturday morning airshow in Klerksdorp, in the North West province of South Africa, L-39 pilot Gianfranco Cicogna (pictured, left), went down about 1030 local time. Athol Franz, the Editor of African Pilot, reported that, "It appears that nearing the completion of the final loop in his privately owned L-39 ZU HIT following another L-39 in formation he got into the wake turbulence of the lead aircraft and encountered a compressor stall, quickly followed by a high speed wing stall before im

Also: NTSB, Gamera II, SkyCatchers Across The USA, Solar Impulse, X3 Tours, and ANN Prepares For Oshkosh!!!

Another Aero-Week means MORE Aero-News! There may be hope for the future of available AvGas... The FAA has published the final report and recommendations from the Unleaded Avgas Transition Aviation Rulemaking Committee (UAT ARC), a collaborative industry-government task force of key stakeholders representing aircraft and engine manufacturers, fuel producers and distributors, operator groups, aviation associations, the FAA and the EPA. There was supposed to be a big surprise announcement at Oshkosh 2012... whereby Former Eclipse Boss Vern Raburn a

'No Final Decision' About Building A Plant On The Gulf Coast

Airbus CEO Tom Enders says that media reports that the European planemaker will build a manufacturing plant in Alabama are premature, and that "no final decision" has been made about whether to establish a final assembly facility on the U.S. Gulf Coast has been made.

Five More Phases Of Flight Tests Are Planned

The Terrafugia Transition production prototype has completed the first phase of its flight test program.  Phase 1 flight testing, conducted at Plattsburgh International Airport in Plattsburgh, NY, allowed Terrafugia to check off many critical early testing objectives for the Transition program.  The company said in a news release that the prototype performed exceptionally well.

Organizers Hopeful Of A 2013 Event

A $42,000 public safety fee has proven to be the death knell for the 2012 PNC Airshow. Originally scheduled for June 8-9, 2012, and then postponed to later in the summer, the organizers announced their decision last week. At issue was a $42,000 fee required by the cities of Peoria, East Peoria and the Peoria Park District. The proposed fee was to cover the cost of police security and cleanup services after the show. The $42,000 would have been split with $20,000 going to Peoria, $17,000 to East Peoria and at least $5,000 to the Park district.

City Had Proposed Paying Flight Schools To Conduct Training Elsewhere

The NIMBY's who live near the Santa Monica (CA) airport (KSMO) are still looking for a way to restrict the number of operations at the airport. The most recent was a move by the city government to offer flight schools $150 for each qualifying flight they conducted at another airport. The goal is to cut back on air traffic using KSMO by as many as 4,800 operations, mostly on weekends and holidays.

New Infrared Space Telescope To Be Placed In Solar Orbit Up To 170 Million Miles From Earth

A non-profit organization founded by a former NASA astronaut announced it is planning to build, launch, and operate the first privately funded deep space mission ... a space telescope to be placed in orbit around the Sun. Described as being akin to a combination of the Spitzer and Kepler space telescopes, the spacecraft, dubbed 'Sentinel', would be placed in a solar orbit ranging up to 170 million miles from Earth, for a mission of discovery and mapping.

Will Also Highlight Advanced Intelligence, Surveillance And Reconnaissance Technologies

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner will participate in flying displays at the Farnborough International Airshow for the first time this year. The company will also present its Enduring Awareness Pavilion, a comprehensive display of advanced command, control, communication, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities.

Aero Linx: Colorado Pilots Association The Colorado Pilots Association is an organization of pilots and aviation supporters dedicated to the furtherance and enhancement of general aviation interests in the state of Colorado. Specific objectives and activities in support of this goal for the fiscal year include: OBJECTIVE #1: Encourage Safety in General Aviation Flying. OBJECTIVE #2: Promote the Growth of General Aviation in Colorado. OBJECTIVE #3: Assist Federal, State and Local Governments on General Aviation Matters. OBJECTIVE #4: Guard and Protect the Rights of Pilots.

No Gyro Approach A radar approach/vector provided in case of a malfunctioning gyro-compass or directional gyro. Instead of providing the pilot with headings to be flown, the controller observes the radar track and issues control instructions "turn right/left" or "stop turn" as appropriate.

"The aviation community has 30 days to comment (28 as of today--see link below) and the topic is expected to be a hot one at Airventure... where the inadequate and conflicted guidance and support given to the LSA movement by EAA, AOPA, LAMA and other entities is likely to create more than a little finger-pointing and a VERY LIVELY discussion at the Annual "Meet The Boss" gathering during the Fly-In." Source: ANN Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, in an article outlining a recent FAA document threatening the potential of heavy restrictions on LSA Certification.