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

LADEE Heads For The Moon!

Flawless Launch Seen By Much Of Eastern US

Its on its way... NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) observatory launched aboard a Minotaur V rocket from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Virginia. NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) is a robotic mission that will orbit the moon to gather detailed information about the lunar atmosphere, conditions near the surface and environmental influences on lunar dust. A thorough understanding of these characteristics will address long-standing unknowns, and help scientists understand other planetary bodies as well.

S-76D Cabins To Be Produced In China

Sikorsky, Changhe Sign Agreement During China Helicopter Exposition

An agreement reached between Sikorsky Aircraft and Changhe Aircraft Industries Corp. for the production of S-76D commercial helicopter cabins for Sikorsky was signed Thursday during the China Helicopter Exposition, with Chairman Yu Feng, Changhe Aircraft Industry Group Co., Ltd., and Senior Vice President, Operations, Shane Eddy representing Sikorsky Aircraft.

Citizen Astronauts Complete Suborbital Scientist Course

Training, Evaluating New Medical Technology At NASTAR Center

Citizens in Space announced that four astronaut candidates have completed Suborbital Scientist training at the National AeroSpace Training and Research (NASTAR) Center, a premier aviation and space training, research, and education facility aimed at optimizing human performance in extreme environments. Maureen Adams, Lt. Col. Steve Heck (USAF-ret.), Michael Johnson, and Edward Wright have been selected by Citizens in Space to fly as payload operators on the XCOR Lynx spacecraft.

NASA Invites Children, Families To Learn About SDO Mission

Part Of Sunday Experiment Series At Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Visitor Center in Greenbelt, MD will host this month's Sunday Experiment on Sunday, Sept. 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. EDT. The Sunday Experiment will explore NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) mission. SDO was launched in 2010, and is currently studying solar activity and how it causes space weather.

B-2 Undergoes Comm Upgrade

New Communications System To Be Installed After 20-Year Delay

After a 20-year wait, the B-2 Spirit will receive a significant new communications upgrade. The first increment of the Common Very Low Frequency Receiver, or CVR, program was designed to be a successor to the very low frequency communication system originally slated to be included with the B-2's communication package. The original system was deferred in 1992 because of budget constraints.

GE Aviation, Stakeholders Collaborate On Airspace Efficiency In Brazil

Green Skies Of Brazil Encompasses 10 Different Airports

GE Aviation, working cooperatively with aviation stakeholders, is implementing a multi-year program to improve airspace efficiencies in Brazil. Green Skies of Brazil encompasses 10 airports and is the result of a two-year national research initiative with air navigation service provider DECEA, Brazilian regulator ANAC, trade organizations and the airlines to identify operational efficiencies using data analytics.

UTC Aerospace Systems Signs Major Contract With HeliDax SAS

To Provide Aftermarket Services For EC120 Fleet

UTC Aerospace Systems has signed a major contract with French company HeliDax SAS to provide aftermarket service for its fleet of helicopters – the largest EC120 worldwide fleet in operation today. UTC Aerospace Systems is a unit of United Technologies Corporation.

New Report Calls For Customer-Centric Response To Irregular Airline Operations

Makes A Number Of Recommendations Including Providing More Transparent Communication

An independent global study released Wednesday appeals to the airline industry to take a fresh look at the age-old frustration of delayed or cancelled flights, in order to drive loyalty and reduce the impact of irregular operations on its customers, both now and in the future.

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (09.08.13)

Aero Linx: Aerospace Components Manufacturers ACM comprises one of the largest, most experienced concentrations of world-class aerospace companies, the world's AEROSPACE ALLEY! Our firms grew up where aerospace was born. Today, our precision components take to the skies every day, in every corner of the globe, as they have since the inception of powered flight. ACM member companies are united by a single goal; be the world leader in providing customers with aerospace components of unsurpassed quality, at competitive prices and always, on-time delivery.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (09.08.13): Radar Contact Lost

Radar Contact Lost Used by ATC to inform a pilot that radar data used to determine the aircraft's position is no longer being received, or is no longer reliable and radar service is no longer being provided. The loss may be attributed to several factors including the aircraft merging with weather or ground clutter, the aircraft operating below radar line of sight coverage, the aircraft entering an area of poor radar return, failure of the aircraft transponder, or failure of the ground radar equipment.

Aero-News: Quote Of The Day (09.08.13)

“The initial checkout flight procedure is progressing. The reaction wheel issue noted soon after launched was resolved a few hours later. The LADEE spacecraft is healthy and communicating with mission operators.” Source: S. Pete Worden, NASA Ames center director, describing the health of LADEE, as it heads to the Moon over the next 30 days. NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) is a robotic mission that will orbit the moon to gather detailed information about the lunar atmosphere, conditions near the surface and environmental influences on lunar dust. FMI: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pa