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The fourth AW609 tiltrotor, in final production configuration, successfully performed its first flight at Leonardo’s Philadelphia plant on Dec. 23, entering final program development and ground/flight testing stages. With this flight, the world’s first multirole commercial tiltrotor achieved a major milestone on its path to FAA certification. The AW609 will be certified under the FAA’s new Powered Lift category, the first new category of aircraft certified by the FAA in decades.&nbs

Control Sector An airspace area of defined horizontal and vertical dimensions for which a controller or group of controllers has air traffic control responsibility, normally within an air route traffic control center or an approach control facility. Sectors are established based on predominant traffic flows, altitude strata, and controller workload. Pilot communications during operations within a sector are normally maintained on discrete frequencies assigned to the sector.

Aero Linx: Aviation Suppliers Association (ASA) Established February 25, 1993, the Aviation Suppliers Association (ASA), based in Washington, D.C., is a not-for-profit association, representing more than 640 global member companies. Collectively, they lead critical logistics programs, purchasing efforts, and distribution of aircraft parts world-wide. Member companies include: distributors, suppliers, surplus sales organizations, repair stations, manufacturers, airlines, operators, and other companies that provide services to the aviation parts supply industry. ASA's Board of Directors and Corporate Officer

“Our current operations cross over multiple time zones, resulting in circadian rhythm issues, sleep deprivation or insufficient sleep. As partner nations, we all deal with similar challenges like increased mission tempo, long-range missions and pilot shortages. We are working together to optimize our pilots and bring back the importance of sleep.” Source: Lt. Col. Dara Regn, U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine internal medicine branch chief, commenting as the Air Force is studying sleep habits among Airmen to find ways to improve performance and ensure their readiness to support the mission. Researchers with the Air Force Research Laboratory 711th Human Performance Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, are l