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February 24, 2009

Aero-News Alert: It's OVER! Eclipse Heads Into Chapter 7 Liquidation

Is This REALLY The End?

ANN has received copies of court filings that suggest that an "Ad Hoc Committee" consisting of Kings Road Investments, Ltd., HBK Services LLC and Citadel Investment Group, L.L.C., is in the process of forcing long ailing Eclipse Aviation into a Chapter 7 Liquidation proceeding.

New Presidential Helo Faces Scrutiny -- More Expensive Than AF1!

The VH-71 helicopter being developed as the next-generation presidential helicopter could get the ax before it ever takes flight. President Obama has directed Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to conduct "a thorough review" of the program, which has experienced big cost overruns.

The LASP Threat, With Max Trescott

ANN Daily Touch N Go: 02.24.09 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program) ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 02.24.09 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program) ANN Special Feature -- The LASP Threat: 02.24.09 (ANN Special Report, with Max Trescott, 2008 National CFI of the Year.)

Fairing Did Not Separate As Intended

NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory satellite failed to reach orbit after its 1:55 am PST liftoff Tuesday morning from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Most Feel The Tax Plan Will Help, But Will It Be Enough?

President Obama's recent signing of the economic stimulus bill incorporating a tax incentive for purchases of new aircraft during 2009 has received a somewhat mixed bag of reactions from congressmen, pundits, and the aviation industry itself.

Rockwell Collins Adds New Components To Existing System

Rockwell Collins announced this week the completion of the first Pro Line 4 to Pro Line 21 upgrade on a Falcon 50EX by Duncan Aviation. This major retrofit program first announced in November 2007, uses existing Pro Line 4 equipment along with key Pro Line 21 equipment to provide the upgraded functionality.

ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 02.24.09

Piper announces further production cuts.
L-3 wins a nine-million-dollar military contract.
And Sully and his crew testify before Congress.

ANN Daily Touch-And-Go: 02.24.09

Piper announces further production cuts.
L-3 wins a nine-million-dollar military contract.
And Sully and his crew testify before Congress.

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ANN Special Feature: CFI Max Trescott, LASP Threat - 02.24.09

Max Trescott, 2008 National CFI of the Year, tells ANN's Paul Plack why he feels the TSA's Large Aircraft Security Program represents a greater threat to general aviation than user fees do, and wha

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HAI2009: Rolls-Royce And Bell Agree On Major Model 250 Engine Buy

Agreement Could Be Worth Up To $400 Million

The economy may be tough, but the helicopter industry rotors on... Rolls-Royce and Bell Helicopter have signed a ten-year agreement, valued at up to $400 million for the supply of Model 250 engines for Bell 206 and 407 helicopters. As part of this agreement, Model 250 engines will be delivered to Bell Helicopter through 2017.

How Do You Train A UAV Crew? Here's The Answer

We don't have to tell you all the ways that the government doesn't work or the many many ways in which our treasured tax bucks go astray -- but here's one story that seems to be a far more positive one... and it involves the US military.

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Was PHI Sikorsky Downed by Birdstrike?

Recent Update Of NTSB Investigation Seems To Suggest That Possibilty

In its continuing investigation of the January 4, 2009, fatal accident involving a Sikorsky S-76C++ helicopter, operated by PHI, Inc., that crashed in a marsh near Morgan City, Louisiana (NTSB Accident Number CEN09MA117), the National Transportation Safety Board is releasing the following factual information...

HAI2009: Rolls-Royce Has Great Expectations For Rotorcraft Market

Don't even think of looking at the latest market downturn... but despite that, you might want to know that Rolls-Royce is forecasting a market 'characterized by near-term softness followed by a resumption of growth.'

Nolan Outlines Reasons For Argument

"Colgan Air Dash 8-Q400 airplanes like the one that crashed from in-flight icing need to be barred from operating on routes where icing is possible." That's the opening line of the latest missive from representatives with the Nolan Law Firm, calling for the grounding of Bombardier Q400 turboprop regional aircraft similar to the type that crashed February 12 near Buffalo, NY.

How Do You Train A UAV Crew? Here's The Answer

Medevac Helicopter Crashed After Impacting Radio Antenna Tower

Air Angels, Inc., a private air and ground ambulance services provider based in Bolingbrook, IL announced last week it will cease operations effective immediately.

It's The 15th Consecutive Year That Bell Has Taken Top Honors

Bell Helicopter is taking a bow for accolades given them in once again having been voted number one in customer service by the readers of Professional Pilot magazine. This makes the 15th consecutive year Bell has won this top honor in the helicopter industry.

Company Becomes Only The Second Commercial Source For The Record Holding NASA-Developed Material

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) has overcome a significant technical milestone in the development of its Dragon spacecraft with the successful arc jet testing of PICA-X high performance heat shield material.

K-State, AirLock, Hawker Beechcraft Develop New King Air Security System

Electronic Security Access Helps Keep Turboprops Secure

Kansas State University's Advanced Manufacturing Institute teamed with AirLock Aviation Security Systems and Hawker Beechcraft to develop a new electronic security access system for King Air 200 and 300 series turboprop aircraft.

FARE Will Award Two Scholarships This Year

Children who have lost a parent in an air medical accident may now be eligible for financial assistance through a scholarship fund developed by the Foundation for Air-Medical Research & Education (FARE), the charitable arm of the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS).

New Locations In Belgium, Austria and Malaysia

Cessna Aircraft Company has appointed FlyingGroup in Belgium, Taiko Jet SDN BHD in Malaysia and JetAlliance Technical Services GmbH in Austria as new Citation authorized service facilities.

Aero-Linx!

The National Aeronautic Association is the oldest national aviation organization in the United States. A non-profit association, NAA is "dedicated to the advancement of the art, sport and science of aviation in the United States," according to its Mission Statement.

Aero-Terms!

A set of criteria used by test pilots and flight test engineers to evaluate the handling qualities of aircraft during flight test. The scale ranges from 1 to 10, with 1 indicating the best handling characteristics and 10 the worst. The criteria are evaluative and thus the scale is considered subjective.

"The FAA cannot tell us that this aircraft is safe. The crash of Continental Connection flight 3407 (operated by Colgan Air) is yet another where the air carrier, the industry, and the FAA resort to comforting blandishments about safety and subsequent revelations reveal deep concerns."

Source: Don Nolan, of the Nolan Law Firm, calling for the grounding of Bombardier Q400 turboprop regional aircraft similar to the type that crashed February 12 near Buffalo, NY.

AD: General Electric

AD NUMBER: 2009-04-10 MANUFACTURER: General Electric SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2009-04-10 SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80A, CF6-80C2, and CF6-80E1 series turbofan engines.