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

Aurora Flight Sciences Wins EA-6B Refurbishment Contract

On Friday, Aurora Flight Sciences announced it has received a new contract from the Navy Aviation Department in Jacksonville, FL to fabricate panels for the Navy's EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft.

USAF Awards Orbital Big Contract For Two Minotaur I Launch Vehicles

Deal Worth $23 Million, First Rocket To Launch In Six Months

Representatives with Orbital Sciences Corporation told Aero-News Friday that it was awarded a $23 million contract for two Minotaur I space launch vehicles by the United States Air Force (USAF) Rocket System Launch Program (RSLP).

WY TFR: 05.27.06

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8380 Issue Date: May 26, 2006 at 12:47 UTC Location: Casper, Wyoming Beginning Date and Time: May 27, 2006 at 18:05 UTC Ending Date and Time: May 27, 2006 at 23:20 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Temporary flight restrictions for VIP (Very Important Person) Movement Type: VIP Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A

Pension Agency Opposes Delta Agreement

Another Challenge For Pay Deal

The US Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. -- which insures defined-benefit plans when employers can no longer meet their financial obligations -- objected Thursday to the tentative pay agreement reached between the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and Delta Air Lines last month.

Unexpected Flyover Frightens Some New Yorkers

Roar Of Jets Prompts Calls To Emergency Hotline

The unexpected roar of jet engines over Manhattan was enough to send many New Yorkers to the phones Thursday.

NASA Puts 'Timed' Satellite On Overtime

Extends Mission To 2010

"You're doing such a good job... can you stick around a while longer?" No, that's not your boss asking you to work over Memorial Day -- it's NASA, which on Thursday granted a four-year mission extension to a satellite studying Earth's middle and upper atmosphere.

BAE Systems Leases Two BAE 146s To Serbia's Centavia

Joins Other Eastern European Regional Carriers Flying 146s

BAE Systems Regional Aircraft announced this week it has leased two BAe 146-200 regional jetliners to newly-established Serbian carrier Centavia (short for Central European Aviation). The Belgrade-based airline will take delivery of the first aircraft this month, while the second aircraft will follow in July.

Aero-News Featured Aero-Casts For Friday 05.26.06

EAA's John Hovan On Closing Florida's Opa-locka West Airport

ANN Daily Touch N Go: 05.26.06 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program) ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 05.26.06 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program) ANN Special Feature -- EAA's John Hovan: 05.26.06 (ANN Special Feature, with John Hovan of the EAA on the proposed closing of Opa-locka West airport.)

NM TFR: 05.24.06 - 05.27.06

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8338 Issue Date: May 25, 2006 at 18:37 UTC Location: Cannon AFB, Clovis, New Mexico near TEXICO VORTAC (TXO) Beginning Date and Time: May 24, 2006 at 18:30 UTC Ending Date and Time: May 27, 2006 at 23:59 UTC Reason for NOTAM: The Cannon Air Force base Air Expo 2006 Type: Airshow Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: Cannon (CVS) Air Traffic Control Tower, 505-784-4739

NM TFR: UFN

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8347 Issue Date: May 25, 2006 at 19:57 UTC Location: 22 NM West of Taos, New Mexico near TAOS VORTAC (TAS) Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: Until further notice Reason for NOTAM: To provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft operations Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) System Operations Support Center, 202-267-3333

WY TFR: 05.26.06 - 05.27.06

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8320 Issue Date: May 25, 2006 at 16:52 UTC Location: Jackson, Wyoming Beginning Date and Time: May 26, 2006 at 22:50 UTC Ending Date and Time: May 27, 2006 at 18:20 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Temporary flight restrictions for VIP (Very Important Person) Movement Type: VIP Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A

UT TFR: UFN

NOTAM Number: FDC 6/8368 Issue Date: May 26, 2006 at 0:17 UTC Location: Hurricane, Utah near ST GEORGE VOR/DME (OZN) Beginning Date and Time: Effective Immediately Ending Date and Time: Until further notice Reason for NOTAM: To provide a safe environment for fire fighting Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: Los Angeles (ZLA) Center, 661-265-8205

AD: Boeing

AD NUMBER: 2006-11-06 MANUFACTURER: Boeing SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2006-11-06 SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767-200 and -300 series airplanes.

AD: Raytheon

AD NUMBER: 2006-11-07 MANUFACTURER: Raytheon SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2006-11-07 SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Raytheon Model Hawker 800XP airplanes.

AD: BAE Systems

AD NUMBER: 2006-11-08 MANUFACTURER: BAE Systems SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2006-11-08 SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ airplanes.

AD: Gulfstream

AD NUMBER: 2006-11-03 MANUFACTURER: Gulfstream SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2006-11-03 SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Gulfstream Model GV and certain Model GV-SP series airplanes.

Hungry For Cash, Miami Aviation Board Considers Turning X46 Into Limerock Mine

Mining Funds Would Pay For MIA Renovations, Airport Improvements

This one sounds like something of an ill-considered joke... but it's for real, and no one is laughing.

Engine Failure Blamed In Lancair-IV Accident

Two Lost As Airplane Goes Down After Takeoff

NTSB investigators working near Pittsburgh, PA believe engine failure led to the fatal crash of a Lancair-IV earlier this month.

FL Aviation Trades Association Enjoying 'Golden Years'

Another organization still soaring is the Florida Aviation Trades Association (FATA). The group turns 60 on June 12, 2006. A special anniversary celebration is planned at the association’s annual convention scheduled for June 12-14 at the Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa in Fort Myers.

AAL's Arpey Calls Current ATC Funding System Unfair

Suggests BizAv Users Fly American Instead

At a luncheon speech before the Executives' Club of Chicago Wednesday, American Airlines CEO Gerald Arpey joined the chorus of voices from domestic airlines advocating user fees for business aviation traffic as a means to pay for an upgraded air traffic control network.

Gone West: Heli-Hero James Phelan

Involved In First-Ever Heli-Rescue

The Helicopter Association International tells ANN that James “Jim” Phelan has gone west. Phelan was involved in the first helicopter combat rescue. He was also the husband of the late Jean Ross Howard Phelan, the founder of the Whirly-Girls.

Klyde Morris 05.26.06

Klyde Preaches Some A&P Philosophy

WI State Aviation Facility Named After WWII Hero, GA Trailblazer

Aero-News has learned that Wisconsin governor Jim Doyle has signed legislation naming the state aviation facilities at Madison's Dane County Regional Airport "The Fritz E. Wolf Aviation Center".

Upgraded: Boeing's Pat McKenna

Former 717 Chief Named GM Of Boeing Fabrication

Following the delivery of the last two Boeing 717s earlier this week, the head of the company's Long Beach, CA commercial production facility was, technically, out of a job... but not for very long.

ANN's Daily Aero-Tips (05.26.06): Clearance Void Time

Aero-Tips!

Review the implications of, and procedures for, accepting a clearance void time.

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.26.06)

Aero-Linx!

NASA has kindly put satellite tracking into one little Java applet. There are also programs to track the International Space Station, and the Shuttle when it’s in orbit.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.26.06): Fire-Resistant

Aero-Terms!

With respect to sheet or structural members means the capacity to withstand the heat associated with fire at least as well as aluminum alloy in dimensions appropriate for the purpose for which they are used.

Aero-News Quote Of The Day (5.26.06)

"It's good to have more runways than less, yes, but our airport is financially stressed."

Source: Miami-Dade County aviation director Jose Abreu, on a proposal to close the Opa-locka West (X46) airport, and convert the land into a limestone mine. Funds from the sale of the land to the Florida Department of Transportation would then be used to fund renovations at Miami International and other area airports.