Aero-News Network: The aviation and aerospace world's daily/real-time news and information service

Airborne 05.31.13: Breitling Boosts Reno, Chinese Spy On DoD, Pipistrel Academy

Also: EBACE Closes Strong, A4A Says Fees Too High... REALLY?, Near-MIss at KDCA, AOPA Smoke and Mirrors, ICAO Stays Put...

The National Championship Air Races has confirmed that longtime sponsor, Breitling, has significantly increased its sponsorship over the next three years and will also be bringing the world famous Jetman to Reno this fall for a rare North American performance. A confidential Pentagon report shows that Chinese cyberspies have collected data on more than two dozen U.S. weapons systems, including the F-35, the V-22 Osprey, and the Black Hawk helicopter. Online university degree programs have been all the rage for several years now, so

Boeing, TUI Travel Announce Commitment For 60 737 MAX Airplanes

Deal Would Be Worth Over $6 Billion At List Prices

A commitment for 60 737 MAX airplanes valued at $6.09 billion at list prices was announced Thursday by Boeing and TIU Travel PLc. The commitment by one of the world’s leading leisure travel groups includes 737 MAX 8s and 9s. Boeing looks forward to working with TUI Travel to finalize the details, at which time the order will be posted as a firm order to the Boeing Orders and Deliveries website.

Deep Space Exploration Would Expose Astronauts To High Levels Of Radiation

Measurements Taken By Curiosity On Voyage To Mars Have Implications For Future Human Missions

Measurements taken by NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission as it delivered the Curiosity rover to Mars in 2012 are providing NASA the information it needs to design systems to protect human explorers from radiation exposure on deep-space expeditions in the future. MSL's Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) is the first instrument to measure the radiation environment during a Mars cruise mission from inside a spacecraft that is similar to potential human exploration spacecraft.

Advanced Aircraft Identification Systems Headed To U.S., Allied Forces

BAE Systems To Upgrade Older AIFF Technology

The nation’s fighting forces need secure and reliable line-of-sight identification to distinguish friend from foe during missions, and BAE Systems is answering the call. The company has been awarded a $34 million contract to provide the U.S. Air Force with its Mode 5 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) system, used to identify and track military aircraft.

AAC Receives Maintenance And Refurbishment Contract For Boeing 757

Airplane To Be Flown As VIP Transportation For A Latin American Head of State

Associated Air Center (AAC), StandardAero’s Large Transport Category, VIP Completions Center in Dallas, Texas, has taken delivery of a Boeing 757-200ER for an undisclosed Latin American Head of State. The scope of work includes scheduled maintenance, cabin/cabin systems enhancements and communication upgrades, along with incorporating Service Bulletin (SB), Airworthiness Directives (AD) requirements.

Airbus Military Launches C295W Aircraft With Enhanced Performance

New Series Available In 2014 Features Winglets And Upgraded Engines As Standard

Airbus Military has launched a new series of its best-selling C295 medium transport and surveillance aircraft – the C295W. Featuring winglets and upgraded engines as standard, the new model will provide operators with enhanced performance in all flight phases but is particularly aimed at those operating at “hot and high“ airfields where payload increases in excess of 2,200 pounds are promised.

Predator Passes 20,000-Hour Mark In Afghanistan

Equivalent To Flying 15 Hours Each Day For 2,667 Days

An MQ-1 Predator assigned to Kandahar Airfield recently became the first Predator to pass 20,000 flying hours over Afghanistan, a feat equivalent to flying 15 hours every other day, for 2,667 days. While the Predator remotely piloted aircraft program surpassed one million hours of total development, test, training and combat in August 2011, this is the first airframe to accumulate 20,000 flying hours individually.

NASS Introduces Enhanced Cargo Door For Cessna C-208

Sliding Door Allows Easier Parachute And Bundle-Drop Operations

North American Surveillance Systems USA has introduced an enhanced cargo door for the Cessna Caravan 208 Series aircraft. “This door is the latest addition to the NASS FAST EAGLE family of rapid conversion solutions,” said Richard McCourt, President of North American Surveillance Systems.

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (06.02.13)

Aero Linx: AHS International – The Vertical Flight Technical Society AHS International, The Vertical Flight Technical Society, is the world's only international technical society for engineers, scientists and others working on vertical flight technology. AHS has brought together industry, academia and governments to tackle the toughest challenges in vertical flight. Since 1943, AHS has led technology, safety, advocacy and other initiatives, and have been the primary forum for interchange of information on vertical flight technology. AHS claims to be the global resource for information on vertical flight technology.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (06.02.13): Ground Communication Outlet

Ground Communication Outlet (GCO) - An unstaffed, remotely controlled, ground/ground communications facility. Pilots at uncontrolled airports may contact ATC and FSS via VHF to a telephone connection to obtain an instrument clearance or close a VFR or IFR flight plan. They may also get an updated weather briefing prior to takeoff. Pilots will use four "key clicks" on the VHF radio to contact the appropriate ATC facility or six "key clicks" to contact the FSS. The GCO system is intended to be used only on the ground.

Aero-News: Quote Of The Day (06.02.13)

"Reaching this milestone is significant, but what's more special are the missions we enable every day..." Source: Lt. Col. Russ Garner, 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron commander, after an MQ-1 Predator assigned to Kandahar Airfield recently became the first Predator to pass 20,000 flying hours over Afghanistan, a feat equivalent to flying 15 hours every other day, for 2,667 days. While the Predator remotely piloted aircraft program surpassed one million hours of total development, test, training and combat in August 2011, this is the first airframe to accumulate 20,000 flying hours individually.