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July 15, 2008

CA TFR: 07.16.08

NOTAM Number: FDC 8/7584 Issue Date: July 15, 2008 at 1312 UTC Location: Beale AFB, California near MARYSVILLE VOR/DME (MYV) Beginning Date and Time: July 16, 2008 at 1425 UTC Ending Date and Time: July 16, 2008 at 2225 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Temporary flight restrictions for Special Security Reasons Type: Security Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A

NOTAM Number: FDC 8/7745 Issue Date: July 15, 2008 at 1948 UTC Location: JUNEAU , Alaska near SISTERS ISLAND VORTAC (SSR) Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: July 20, 2008 at 0100 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Temporary flight restrictions Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A

NOTAM Number: FDC 8/7740 Issue Date: July 15, 2008 at 1938 UTC Location: JUNEAU , Alaska near SISTERS ISLAND VORTAC (SSR) Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: July 17, 2008 at 1300 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Temporary flight restrictions Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A

NOTAM Number: FDC 8/7765 Issue Date: July 15, 2008 at 2101 UTC Location: 12 SW SAN JOSE , California near WOODSIDE VORTAC (OSI) Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: Until further notice Reason for NOTAM: TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR FIRE FIGHTING AIR Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: OAKLAND (ZOA) Center, 510-745-3331

NOTAM Number: FDC 8/7520 Issue Date: July 15, 2008 at 0416 UTC Location: 15 NW REDDING , California Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: Until further notice Reason for NOTAM: TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR FIRE FIGHTING AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: OAKLAND (ZOA) Center, 510-745-3331

Says Training Program Penalizes Pilots For Adding Fuel Reserve

US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA) President Stephen Bradford released a memorandum this week to US Airways pilots, advising them of the airline's decision to initiate what the union considers discipline in the form of unapproved "training."

ICON Aircraft Successfully Flies Prototype A5 Sport Plane

Amphibious Plane Completes First Flight

Upstart light sport aircraft manufacturer ICON Aircraft announced Tuesday the company successfully flew a prototype version of its ICON A5 amphibious sport plane on July 9. ICON's team of engineers completed the full-scale prototype flight at an undisclosed lake location in California.

NextGen Jumbo Jet Program Earns Boost

Boeing and Nigeria's Arik Air announced orders Tuesday for an additional seven Next-Generation 737s at the Farnborough International Airshow. More importantly, the carrier also said it plans to order four 747-8 Intercontinentals... giving that program a needed boost.

Russia's Aeroflot Adds Five A321s To Its Fleet

It's the first really big order to come out of the Farnborough International Airshow... but will it be the last? Aircraft lessor DAE Capital signed a firm contract Tuesday for 30 Airbus A350-900 and 70 Airbus A320 aircraft. The contract follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the Dubai air show in November 2007.

Some 1,200 Workers To Lose Jobs By September

Midwest Airlines said this week it will be the latest carrier to drastically slash its workforce, announcing plans to reduce employee ranks at Midwest Airlines and its Skyway subsidiary by about 1,200 jobs, or 40 percent of current staffing levels.

A South Carolina Airport Marathon, With Pilot Ron Schreck

ANN Daily Touch N Go: 07.15.08 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program) ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 07.15.08 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program) ANN Special Feature -- A South Carolina Airport Marathon! 07.15.08 (ANN Special Report, with retired airline captain and part-time Part 135 pilot Ron Schreck.)

ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 07.15.08

Engine-makers at Farnborough announce new fuel-saving designs.
Pratt & Whitney pushes ahead with research into biofuels.
And Boeing and Airbus use Farnborough to announce major or

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ANN Daily Touch-And-Go: 07.15.08

Engine-makers at Farnborough announce new fuel-saving designs.
Pratt & Whitney pushes ahead with research into biofuels.
And Boeing and Airbus use Farnborough to announce major or

More AERO-Casts

ANN Special Feature: Ron Schreck, Small Airport Marathon - 07.15.08

ANN's Paul Plack talks with Ron Schreck, a retired airline captain and part-time Part 135 contract pilot who celebrated July 4th by flying his Van's RV8 to all 68 public use airports in South Carol

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Boeing's First 777 Freighter Takes Flight

Test Equipment Snag Hinders Planned Circuit

The first Boeing 777 Freighter successfully took to the sky Monday morning for the first time, and completed an initial series of tests during a flight lasting more than three-and-a-half hours. Boeing says airplane performed well; the testing equipment... not so much.

Notes It Will Complete Four Tanker Airframes In 2009; Two Ready For Mods Now

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Tanker team announced Monday in Farnborough all four KC-45A initial tanker System Design and Development (SDD) airframes are scheduled for final assembly and initial flight testing by the end of 2009. The first two SDD airframes have been built and flown, and are awaiting modification to the tanker configuration... marked progress, compared to Boeing's KC-767 also vying for the oft-contested US Air Force KC-X tanker contract.

Will Be Offered To 400 Ramp Workers, Customer Service Agents

United Airlines and the International Association of Machinists (IAM) announced last week they have come to an agreement on an opportunity for eligible customer service and ramp employees to voluntarily separate from the company. The program will be available for up to 400 customer service and ramp employees.

Plans To Post Net Gain Of $22M, Thanks To Stock Selloff

More discouraging news to report from a US carrier, as Continental Airlines announced recently it plans to post a pretax charge of $58 million for the second quarter of 2008, due largely to planned capacity reductions.

Farnborough '08: Sikorsky Lauds 100,000 Flight Hours For S-92 Fleet

67 Helos Now In Service; 11 S-92s Fly 130-170 Hours Per Month

Sikorsky's S-92 helicopter fleet continues to perform at an impressive operational tempo with the fleet recently passing 100,000 total flight hours, the company announced this week at the Farnborough International Air Show.

Shoe-In For "Oddest Use Of A Globemaster III" Award?

A 326th Airlift Squadron aircrew landed at Dover Air Force Base, DE July 11 carrying a highly unusual payload -- two giant squids -- in its cargo compartment.

The Second Of Our "Three-Question" Event Surveys From The 2008 AOPA Fly-In

ANN's ever-mobile Aero-TV crews had a BALL at the recently concluded 2008 AOPA Fly-In.... especially since the torrential rains of years past failed to make an appearance and we got stay dry for a while. We mingled with hundreds of AOPA members, gauging their concerns and reactions to a number of questions and topics we raised... giving rise to the second question in our infamous "Three-Question" survey of AOPA members... namely, 'how are the sky-rocketing fuel prices aviation is experiencing affecting YOUR flying?'

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Aero-TV Surveys AOPA Members: 'How Are Sky-Rocketing Fuel Costs Affecting You?

The Second Of Our "Three-Question" Event Surveys From The 2008 AOPA Fly-In

ANN's ever-mobile Aero-TV crews had a BALL at the recently concluded 2008 AOPA Fly-In.... especially since the torrential rains of years past failed to make an appearance and we managed to stay dry for a while.We mingled with hundreds of AOPA members, gauging their concerns and reactions to a number of questions and topics we raised... giving rise to the second question in our infamous "Three-Question" survey of AOPA members... namely, 'how are the sky-rocketing fuel prices aviation is experiencing affecting YOUR flying?'

180-HP Motor Can Run On 91/96UL Unleaded Aviation Fuels; Mogas Approval In Works

Lycoming Engines launched the latest addition to its Thunderbolt engine line Monday. The new Signature Series TIO-360-EXP is a non-certified turbo-normalized intercooled fuel injected gasoline engine, that is nominally rated at 180HP from sea level to greater than 20,000 feet altitude.

Will Post Loss To Deliberately Devalue Company

There's a lack of "goodwill" lately at United Airlines... and we're not talking about the contentious relationship between management and employees. Parent company UAL announced Monday it might record a $2.7 billion hit for the second quarter of 2008, slashing any "goodwill" it's had for the past two years.

JFK Incidents Highlight Efforts To Attract Controllers

NY Post Decries "FAA Kids In Control"

When it comes to hiring more controllers, it seems the FAA has a classic case of "damned if you do, damned if you don't" on its hands.

System To Be Installed At 20 Airports Nationwide

Acting Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Robert Sturgell announced Monday new initiatives designed to improve runway safety at busy US airports, including the installation of Runway Status Lights at major airports across the country. The agency expects to award a contract this fall to install the system at 20 additional airports over the next three years.

Benihana Founder Was Member Of 'Double Eagle V' Crew

To most of the world, Hiroaki "Rocky" Aoki will be known best as the founder of the Benihana chain of Japanese steakhouses... described as "equal parts restaurant, magic show and performance art" by restaurant architect David Rockwell. But Aoki also left his mark on the aviation world, before passing away last week at the age of 69.

Cause Of GlaStar Downing Hasn't Been Determined

All three people onboard a Stoddard Hamilton SH-4 GlaStar floatplane were killed when their plane crashed in Alaska on Saturday.

Notes FAA Has Approved AMOC To Replace Valves

Hoping to dispel any misconceptions regarding a recent Airworthiness Directive involving fuel valves -- specifically, who is authorized to replace them -- the American Navion Society tells ANN the club has received an AMOC (Alternate Means of Compliance) for AD 2008-05-14 for the replacement of fuel valves in all Navions, models A, B, D, E, F, G, H, and all versions of the military L-17 Navions.

Larger Regional Jets Still Attractive For Airlines

Brazilian planemaker Embraer ended the first official day at the Farnborough International Airshow with new orders from Aeroméxico, NAS Aviation and NIKI Airlines... all for the planemaker's E-190 airliner.

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.15.08)

Aero-Linx!

This site includes dozens and dozens of astronomy and space-related links, as well as recently released images and news releases. It ain't pretty, but it has tons of information.

Aero-Terms!

A fixed vertical surface on an airplane that extends below the aft end of the fuselage. Ventral fins are used to increase the directional stability of an airplane.

"Bringing in over 30 people isn't a quick-fix solution. There's no guarantee anybody will check out and be certified. Giving new people $100,000 bonuses while the people doing the work day in and day out, year after year are getting their brains kicked in is just a slap in the face."

Source: Barrett Barnes, an official with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association who works the tower at JFK. A New York Post article Monday called attention to a recent FAA incentive package, offering $100,000 bonuses to lure new controllers to New York, to staff five area radar centers that monitor some of the busiest airspace in the country... and, are severely understaffed. That offer reportedly lured 30 new hires to the New York area... but according