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

Lancair Propjet Down In Oregon; Three Lost

Aircraft Impacts Yard In Southwest Portland

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 06.15.07 1600 EDT: Two persons were killed Friday morning when a homebuilt Lancair impacted a wooded backyard in southwest Portland, OR.

NOTAM Number: FDC 7/4621 Issue Date: June 15, 2007 at 1628 UTC Type: Hazards

NOTAM Number: FDC 7/4539 Issue Date: June 15, 2007 at 0013 UTC Type: Security

AD: Airbus

AD NUMBER: 2007-12-19 MANUFACTURER: Airbus SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2007-12-19 SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above.

AD: Aerospatiale

AD NUMBER: 2007-12-20 MANUFACTURER: Aerospatiale SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2007-12-20 SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above.

AD NUMBER: 2007-12-22 MANUFACTURER: Eurocopter France SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2007-12-22 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (ECF) model helicopters that requires replacing the hydraulic fluid at a specified time interval when operating in cold weather.

AD: MD Helicopters

AD NUMBER: 2007-12-23 MANUFACTURER: MDHI SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2007-12-23 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model 369A, 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HS, 369HM, 500N, and OH-6A helicopters that requires inspecting each landing gear fairing support assembly (support assembly), replacing or reworking certain forward and aft landing gear assemblies, and creating an access hole to facilitate inspections and a recurring inspection.

AD: Diamond

AD NUMBER: 2007-12-24 MANUFACTURER: Diamond SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2007-12-24 SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above.

Midwest Shareholders Vote For Increased AirTran Board Presence

Midwest CEO Says "Our Shareholders Have Spoken"

Imagine, if you will, a cheesy soap opera-style drama... airing on CNBC. Midwest Air Group, Inc., parent company of Midwest Airlines, has been fending off the advances of rival suitor AirTran for months -- locked in competition for the affections of highly desirable Midwest shareholders. In Thursday's episode, we find AirTran has managed to catch the eye of the shareholders, much to Midwest's chagrin.

Rolls-Royce Selected By Dassault Aviation To Power Future Falcon

Powerplant To Provide 10,000-Lb Thrust Range For Super-Midsize Jet

Rolls-Royce and Dassault Aviation announced Friday a new partnership, wherein the enginemaker was selected as the engine partner for Dassault's future super mid-sized Falcon jet. The decision was made following a thorough analysis and study involving five engine manufacturers.

C-27J Spartan Selected For Army, USAF Joint Cargo Aircraft Contract

Team Led By L-3 Communications Wins $2 Billion Bid

Aero-News learned this week the US Army and the US Air Force have made their decision on what aircraft will fulfill its Joint Cargo Aircraft role. And the winner is... the C-27J Spartan, put forth by a team led by L-3 Communications, Alenia North America, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and Global Military Aircraft Systems (GMAS).

Kentucky Lawmaker Introduces Bill To Improve Aviation Safety

"We Simply Cannot Afford To Wait... For the FAA To Act"

Kentucky Congressman Ben Chandler introduced a bill Wednesday that calls for an independent review of the Federal Aviation Administration's aviation safety-related research programs -- in particular, those programs related to air traffic control and runway safety.

Engineers Keeping Close Eye On ISS Computer Systems

Russia May Move Up Cargo Flight To Bring New Parts

The combined Expedition 15 and STS-117 crews spent a second day Friday attempting to reboot problematic computer systems onboard the International Space Station, as controllers on the ground mulled over possible options -- including moving up a planned resupply flight to bring up needed parts, or abandoning the station.

Aero-News Featured Aero-Casts For Friday 06.15.07

A New Throttleable Rocket

ANN Daily Touch N Go: 06.15.07 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program) ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 06.15.07 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program) ANN Special Feature -- A New, Throttleable Rocket: 06.15.07 (ANN Special Feature, with Earl Renaud of TGV Rockets, Inc.)

Bombardier Wins New Orders From Libyan Airlines, Air Independence

CRJ900s, Challenger 605s Heading For New Homes

Bombardier Aerospace announced two new orders Thursday. Libyan Airlines recently signed a firm order for three Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets, with options for two more, while Germany's Air Independence placed a firm order for three widebody Challenger 605 business jets. The orders are worth a combined $190 million at list prices, excluding the options.

COPA M5 Attendees Will Be Greeted By Special Jeppesen Charts

Will Be Displayed On CMAX; Hard Copies Also Available

Pilots flying in for the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association's fifth annual gathering -- dubbed "M5" -- at the end of this month will be greeted by a uniquely personalized touch: specialized Jeppesen charts to be shown on the Multi-Function Displays of Avidyne Entegra-equipped Cirrus planes arriving and departing the four-day event.

First Pre-Production Sky Warrior UAV Takes Flight

Predator Variant Provides Upgraded ISR Capabilities, Weaponry

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems told ANN Thursday the first Sky Warrior unmanned aerial vehicle flew successfully from the company’s El Mirage Flight Operations Facility in Adelanto, CA on June 6. The company-owned Block 0 aircraft completed all stated objectives for its maiden flight.

Ad Causes Controversy In Skies Over Gatwick Airport

Ya Gotta Admit... This WOULD Get Your Attention...

If the purpose of advertising is to capture the viewer's attention, then you can't argue that marketing agency Sports Media Gaming did its job. It recently painted a 100,000 square-foot advertisement in a field in Surrey, England, along the flight path for airliners arriving at departing from nearby Gatwick.

Execaire Appoints Tony Caruso Regional Sales Manager, Aircraft Sales Division

Will Handle Marketing For Cessna Jets In Eastern Canada

Execaire tells ANN it recently appointed Tony Caruso as regional sales manager of the company's aircraft sales division. Caruso will be responsible for marketing and sales of Cessna's line of business jets in Eastern Canada. He will be based in Montreal, reporting to Ray Kuliavas, vice-president, aircraft sales. The appointment takes effect July 1.

FAA To Implement 'New' Runway Display Software At MEM

80s-Era Software Will Provide Additional Separation Control

The Federal Aviation Administration will be monitoring the use of a new -- well, sort of -- runway display software package now being implemented at Memphis International Airport.

Mayor Says FAA Failed To Communicate Change In Plans For T.F. Green

Claims He Learned About Restricted Plan From Newspaper

Scott Avedisian, mayor of Warwick, RI has accused the Federal Aviation Administration of failing to notify the city about its reduced plan for runway expansion at T.F. Green Airport.

Eclipse Announces Fix For Pitot/AOA Probe Icing Issue

Coming AD Limits Operations To Day VFR Conditions

In a Customer Technical Communication notice released this week, Eclipse Aviation announced it has developed a fix for the pitot/AOA probe system on the Eclipse 500 to address icing issues, as ANN first reported in April.

State Deems NC Airport Efforts Inadequate In Sludge Cleanup

MEB Cited For Emissions From Illegal Dumping

State water quality regulators determined Monday work to remove a fertilizer-like sludge dumped at Laurinburg-Maxton Airport's wastewater plant last year is inadequate, and ordered additional work done.

Klyde Morris (06.15.07)

Yup, It's A Different Ballgame On The Smaller Side Of Aviation...

United Space Alliance Workers Strike At NASA

Union Rejects Contract By 93 Percent Margin

Representatives with the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers tell ANN members of Local Lodge 2061 and District 166, who perform Space Shuttle support duties for the United Space Alliance (USA), walked off their jobs Thursday after USA management proposed what the union considered to be a substandard contract offer.

Gone West: Cole Kugel, Oldest Living Licensed Pilot In US

Recipient Of FAA Golden Wings, Guinness Book Of World Records

Aero-News learned this week Cole Kugel, who held the record as the oldest licensed pilot in the United States, passed away Monday at his home in Longmont, CO. He was 105.

NASA Glenn Research Building Sustains Fire Damage

Building 11 Foam Insulation Burns During Renovation

Fire broke out at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Glenn Research Center in Brooke Park, OH, Wednesday.

EasyJet Unveils Its Concept For A More Eco-Friendly Airliners

Hopes "ecoJet" Will Be In Service By 2015

If you design it... maybe someone will build it. That's the thinking behind the unveiling Thursday of a new, environmentally-friendlier short-range airliner concept by European low-cost-carrier easyJet.

ASB Avionics Earns FAA OK For Five-Panel Avionics Displays On L382G Hercules

Adds Engine Information To Honeywell Avionics

ASB Avionics LLC (ASB) told ANN this week it has earned FAA approval for adding digital Engine Instrument Display (EID) capability to the previously approved Honeywell CDS/R Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) for the L382G Hercules, civilian version of the C-130H cargo aircraft.

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (06.15.07)

Aero-Linx!

Dedicated to the history of the Grumman company and its subsidiaries. Covering the company's history from 1929 until the present.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (06.15.07): Winglet

Aero-Terms!

Upward-swept wing-tip extensions which reduce lift-induced drag, and provide extra lift. The surface may or may not have control surfaces.

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (06.15.07)

"It is a smart solution that is important both to the health of the airport and the airlines that operate there, and we look forward to its successful implementation."

Source: FedEx spokesman Maury Lane, on the FAA's planned implementation of 1980s-tech Converging Runway Display Aid software at Memphis International Airport, to sort out airspace separation issues at the airport.