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

Aero-News Alert: FAA Wants Skyrocketing Costs In Pilot, Airplane Registrations

Surprise, Surprise... Airline Charges Reduced, OR Eliminated, Under Plan

That 'thud' you hear is the other shoe dropping in the FAA's proposed funding reauthorization scheme.

ESA Pushes For Comprehensive European Space Policy

Proposal Come Up For Discussion In May

In a conference Thursday in Brussels, European policymakers stressed space is a strategic asset... which Europe must exploit more effectively.

NASA Decides To Bring Suni Home Sooner

Williams Will Return To Earth Onboard Atlantis In June

It probably means she won't earn the record for continuous time in space for a US astronaut... but from the sound of it, Sunita Williams doesn't mind a bit. On Thursday, NASA managers decided to bring Williams home earlier than planned, so she doesn't spend more than six months in orbit onboard the International Space Station.

Type-Certified! Dassault Falcon 7X

Bizjet Earns FAA And EASA Approval

It's been a busy week for business jets. On Friday, Aero-News learned the latest trijet from Dassault Aviation, the Falcon 7X, earned concurrent FAA and EASA certification. The Falcon 7X is expected to enter service before the end of June, just over two years after the first 7X took flight.

Report: Number Of Student Pilots Steadily Decreasing

Is the Magic Gone From General Aviation?

General aviation may be headed for crisis; some might say it is already there. A recent article in the New York Times cites FAA statistics that say the number of student pilots is down from 129,000 to 88,000 since 1990. The total number of private pilots is also down: from 299,000 to 236,000.

Aero-News Featured Aero-Casts For Friday 04.27.07

An LSA Flying Club?

ANN Daily Touch N Go: 04.27.07 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program) ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 04.27.07 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program) ANN Special Feature -- An LSA Flying Club: 04.27.07 (ANN Special Feature, with Skyraider Aviation president Chris Dillis.)

National Farmers Union Urges Lawmakers To Say No To User Fees

Group Adds Its Voice To Chorus Opposed To FAA Funding Plan

The National Farmers Union (NFU) voiced its strong opposition this week to the commercial airline-backed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposal to impose a new scheme of so-called "user fees" and taxes on farmers, small businesses and rural communities across America.

NBAA Relocates 2008 Conference From New Orleans To Orlando

Hurricane Damage To NEW Precludes Static Aircraft Display

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) told ANN Thursday the organization has made the difficult decision to move its 2008 Annual Meeting & Convention from New Orleans to Orlando.

EAA: Caveat Emptor When It Comes To MoGas Claims

Buyers Told To Verify STC Documents

The Experimental Aircraft Association tells ANN several recent instances have come to light where aircraft sellers have attempted to pass their aircraft off as having an autofuel supplementary type certificate (STC). Subsequent records checks with the two STC holders (EAA and Peterson Aviation) did not confirm this, and there were no placards on the aircraft.

Navy Veteran, Aircraft Artist Gives B-25B A 'Nose Job'

Artwork Pays Homage To Doolittle Raid Bomber

Hal Olsen, a former Aviation Mechanic 1st Class during World War II and professional aircraft nose artist, was greeted as a special guest April 18 at the Pacific Aviation Museum on Pearl Harbor’s historic Ford Island.

Boeing's Order Onslaught Continues

Planemaker Nets Deals for 737s, 777 Freighters

There's no denying this week has been a profitable one for The Boeing Company. On the heels of big 787 orders from Virgin Atlantic and Air Canada -- and a mix of 737 and 787 orders from Aviation Capital Group -- Boeing announced two 10-plane deals for its 737-800 airliner Thursday, as well as an order for six 777 Freighters.

Airpower Summary Lists Diverse Aircraft Operations Over Iraq, Afghanistan

A-10s, Other Aircraft Give Commanders Options For Dealing With Insurgents

Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan in the following operations April 25, officials with the Combined Air and Space Operations Center in southwest Asia tell ANN.

AD: Reims Aviation

AD NUMBER: 2007-09-02 MANUFACTURER: Reims Aviation SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2007-09-02 SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above.

AD: Learjet

AD NUMBER: 2007-09-03 MANUFACTURER: Learjet SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2007-09-03 SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Learjet Model 45 airplanes.

Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking Goes Zero-G!

Specially Outfitted Aircraft Flies Eight Parabolic Cycles

Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking has looked to space in order to explore the origins of the universe, and expanded the boundaries of human understanding... but on Thursday, he fulfilled a personal dream to experience weightlessness, a little closer to home.

Report: Northwest, Flight Attendants Reach Tentative Labor Agreement

Deal Includes $182 Million Claim Payout

Could the third time -- finally -- be the charm? Negotiators with the Association of Flight Attendants, which represents flight attendants at Northwest Airlines, and officials with the bankrupt carrier say the two sides reached a tentative agreement Thursday on a new contract.

NATCA Questions FAA's Wisdom Of Advertising For Controllers On MySpace

Says "Off-The-Street" Hiring Undercuts Students Working On Degrees

Why should a prospective air traffic controller spend many thousands of dollars at college pursuing a degree that leads to a job with the Federal Aviation Administration... when they could simply respond to the FAA's many current "help wanted" ads on MySpace, Craigslist or Facebook -- without needing that college degree -- and land the same controller job?

Certified: Boeing's 737-900ER

Latest 737 Can Carry 220 Passengers Up To 3,200 NM

Given the number of 737s flying through the world's skies at any given moment, the following news was never really in doubt. Aero-News learned Thursday the newest member of Boeing Next-Generation 737 family, the 737-900ER (Extended Range), earned type certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration on April 20.

Klyde Morris (04.27.07)

Klyde Downplays His "Respect" For Heights...

FAA Investigator In Right Place At Right Time

Gives First Aid To Auto Accident Victim

FAA inspector Thomas Kozura thought Tuesday would be just another routine day, but he was quickly proven wrong.

BAA Announces Airport Decongestion Plan

Includes New Runways, Terminal Replacements

British airport operator BAA has announced an ambitious and pricey plan to cut aerial congestion in the UK.

Two Lost In Arkansas Landing Accident

Couple Returning Home From Lakeland Fly-In

A pilot and his wife, on their way home from the recently concluded Fly-In in Lakeland, FL, were lost Sunday when their homebuilt aircraft impacted power lines while on approach to a private airfield in Arkansas.

Border Patrol Agent Lost In Texas C-182 Accident

Plane Goes Down While On Patrol For Illegal Immigrants

While on routine patrol for undocumented immigrants, a Border Patrol agent apparently lost control of his aircraft and crashed near San Miguel, TX Wednesday afternoon.

Embraer's 190 Wraps Up Globe-Trotting Tour

Aircraft Displayed In 43 countries, On Six Continents

Brazilian planemaker Embraer tells ANN it recently wrapped up a 21-week record-breaking demonstration tour of the Embraer 190, the longest of any tour for one of the company's commercial jets.

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.27.07)

Aero-Linx!

Features well-illustrated articles on all major post-war combat aircraft, a directory of the world's air forces, air show reports and calendar and special military aviation reports.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.27.07): ADIZ

Aero-Terms!

Air Defense Identification Zone -- The area of airspace over land or water, extending upward from the surface, within which the ready identification, the location, and the control of aircraft are required in the interest of national security.

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.27.07)

"The FAA's massive recruiting effort, despite its cheerful talking points and rosy public statements, has angered students who were told to go through the CTI program to get hired at a cost of thousands of dollars."

Source: National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Patrick Forrey, commenting on FAA efforts to recruit new controller hires through such online channels as MySpace, Craigslist and Facebook... a move NATCA maintains undermines students and graduates of degree programs in the Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI).