Also: NTSB, Kyle Franklin, Aspen, SpaceX, OSH2012, Akoya, Cessna, Raptors, and WATCH OUT Over Chicago!!! Yep... another busy week... so let's get on with Airborne! Pipistrel is proving itself to be an amazing company... again and again. Just a couple of weeks after introducing its new four-place hybrid “Panthera” airplane, Pipistrel has taken the wraps off of its brand new Alpha Trainer ... which as the name suggests, is designed as a primary training airplane. Hawker Beechcraft has announced that it has reached an agreement with a significant number of its senior secured lenders and senior bondholders on the terms of a financial restructur

By ANN Guest Columnist Kristy Graham

ANN E-I-C Note: Ms. Graham has submitted the following editorial in support of a story we did last week (Stupid Fed Trix? Anonymous Unsubstantiated FAA Hotline Call Gets Pilot Suspended) discussing the issues involved in yet another FAA action against an admittedly innocent pilot victimized by anonymous and unsubstantiated complaints, at least one of which was submitted by Convicted Felon and Criminal Pilot, David G Riggs... whom we fear may be one of the most dangerous men in all of General Aviation -- despite the FAA's inexplicable unwillingness to confront a number of well-documented issues ass

Klyde Offers Up Some 'Arresting' Commentary

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

Local Airport Advisory (LAA) - A service provided by facilities, which are located on the landing airport, have a discrete ground-to-air communication frequency or the tower frequency when the tower is closed, automated weather reporting with voice broadcasting, and a continuous ASOS/AWSS/AWOS data display, other continuous direct reading instruments, or manual observations available to the specialist.

Aero Linx: Aerostar Owners Association The Association offers the Aerostar Owner a unique opportunity to tap an invaluable source of information concerning the care and feeding of this fine airplane. The networking aspect alone is worth the cost of the membership dues... You can make unlimited telephone calls to the AOA office and speak with a person completely knowledgeable in the operation of the various models and if the information is not readily available, every effort will be made to get the answer to the member as soon as possible. In addition, the Association keeps in touch with all it's members through its magazine The Aerostar Log.

“The AW169 is the only new generation helicopter in its category to be launched in decades, so this is an important milestone for the continued enhancement of AgustaWestland’s product range and for the development of our family of new generation helicopters... With both the AW169 and AW189 now flying and the AW139 established as the market leader in it class, we are able to offer the market the most advanced range of helicopters across the 4 to 8 tonne weight classes in the shortest possible timescales. Operator will for the first time ever, in the helicopter market, be able to benefit from the advantages of a family concept of three new generation helicopters.”  Source: Bruno Spagnolini, Chief Executive Officer