Multiple Reports: Fuller Will Not Renew Contract

Updated Report, 1008, 02.28.13: AOPA has confirmed the reports of Fuller's imminent departure from the leadership at AOPA, issuing the following press release, confirming the story that ANN broke nearly an hour ago.  AOPA Statement: FULLER TO STEP DOWN AS AOPA PRESIDENT AND CEO Board of Trustees to Conduct National Search for Successor Craig L. Fuller, president and chief executive officer of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the world's largest aviation association, has notified AOPA's Board of Trustees of his intent to step down from his position and from the Board. He plans to remain in his current role until a successor is ready to

Fuller Sends Message to AOPA Staff Announcing Imminent Departure

AOPA President and CEO Craig Fuller sent the following message out to AOPA staff this morning as the ANN story was breaking and AOPA, itself, was preparing to announce that he was leaving the organization at the end of his contract.

Airplanes To Be Built In Jacksonville, FL

The U.S. Air Force has selected the Embraer Super Tucano for its Light Air Support (LAS) aircraft. Embraer partnered with Nevada-based Sierra Nevada Corporation for its bid. Eren Ozmen, president of Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), said the initial $427.5 million delivery order is to supply the USAF with 20 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft.

Revenues Increase 15 Percent, Net Income Rises 19 Percent

EADS reports that it achieved strong revenue and underlying profit growth for the full year 2012. Despite a difficult macro-economic environment, EADS saw continued momentum in its commercial activities while defence revenues were broadly stable.

Other Airframes Continue In Development

The first A350 XWB – MSN001 – now showing its completed wings, has moved to its next phase of ground testing, from Roger Béteille A350 XWB FAL “Station 30” to the Clément Ader area “Station 18” in Toulouse. The aircraft is structurally complete and shows the installed winglets, belly fairing panels, main landing gear doors.

Honeywell Avionics And Other Components Figure Into Company's Plan

China Eastern Airlines has extended a strategic partnership with Honeywell Aerospace by signing several agreements to increase the safety, efficiency and performance of its growing fleet of aircraft. Through these agreements, Honeywell will provide a range of avionics products for 58 new Boeing 737NG aircraft, scheduled to be delivered over the next five years. Honeywell will also provide wheels and brakes for 15 new Airbus A330 aircraft. This would bring the total number of Airbus A330 aircraft in China Eastern Airlines' fleet equipped with Honeywell wheels and brakes to 51 by 2015.

Twenty-Four Small Satellites Chosen To Fly On Future Missions

NASA has selected 24 small satellites to fly as auxiliary payloads aboard rockets planned to launch in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The proposed CubeSats come from universities across the country, a Florida high school, several non-profit organizations and NASA field centers. CubeSats belong to a class of research spacecraft called nanosatellites. The cube-shaped satellites measure about 4 inches on each side, have a volume of about 1 quart, and weigh less than 3 pounds.

Ground-Based Flight Simulators Prepare Student Pilots

Four operational flight trainers built by Boeing are up and running at Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL, allowing the U.S. Navy to shift some training for its T-45 aircraft to the ground and thereby improve safety and save money.

Served As Executive Director Of the AMT Society Since Its Inception

The aircraft maintenance profession has lost a true friend and leader with the sudden passing of Tom Hendershot, after a brief illness. Hendershot was 72. Hendershot served as the Executive Director of the AMT Society since its inception and his service to the aviation industry spanned more than five decades.

Must Also Forfeit His Helicopter After Falsifying N-Number On The Aircraft

The third time was not a charm for a helicopter owner and pilot who must surrender his aircraft and stop flying for two years in a plea agreement reached with federal prosecutors.

Contract To include Aircraft, Flight, Maintenance Training And Spares

Viking Air of Victoria, BC, Canada and Malaysia Airlines, of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, have signed an agreement for six DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft for operation by Malaysia Airlines’ subsidiary, MASwings. MASwings will become the first Malaysian-based operator of the new Viking Twin Otter Series 400, making it the nineteenth country to be added to the expanding global customer list.

NASA Goddard Einstein Educator Fellow Paulo Oemig Selected For Active Promotion Of Space And Science Education

Paulo Oemig of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, was chosen as one of 20 outstanding educators by the Space Foundation for its 2013 Teacher Liaisons. Oemig is an Albert Einstein distinguished educator fellow with NASA's STEM Education program in Goddard's Office of Education. The Einstein Educator Fellowship Program, signed into law by Congress in November 1994, provides a unique professional development opportunity for accomplished K-12 educators in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to serve at the national education level.

Airplanes Purchased By Malaysian Airline System Berhad (MAS) From Company's Joint Venture Portfolio

AAR and its joint venture partner have completed the sale of 10 Boeing 737-400 aircraft to Malaysian Airline System Berhad (MAS), which the Company announced in November 2012. The sale is consistent with the Company's stated goal to reduce its investment in aircraft leasing. AAR's portfolio now includes four aircraft held in joint ventures and two aircraft that are wholly-owned. At its peak in 2007, the Company held a total of 42 aircraft in its joint venture and wholly-owned portfolios.

Represents The 'Pioneering Spirit' Of The Group

The Social helicopter pilot group "Twirly Birds" has announced the 2013 Les Morris Award recipient as Mr. Jake Hart. Hart's aviation career has spanned 55 years and more than 15,000 hours in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. After entering the U.S. Air Force in 1955, Jake Hart received his wings in 1957, and then spent ten years on active duty with a combat tour in Vietnam.

Now More Than 140 Pilots Participating

The highly-successful University Gateway Program, a four-way collaboration with JetBlue Airways, Cape Air, the University of North Dakota (UND) and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), has added another airline. Atlanta-based ExpressJet Airlines, the largest regional airline in the world, will partner with Cape Air to provide a parallel path for aspiring pilots to join JetBlue.

A More Detailed Look At The Biggest News Story Of Heli-Expo 2012

Bell helicopter did more than just put on a good show for the attendees of Heli-Expo 2012... they signalled to one and all that they are intent on recapturing past glories. Once the world's pre-eminent helicopter builder, Bell's glory days have been eclipsed by aggressive product development at Eurocopter -- which now proudly carries top billing in the world's heli-builder sweepstakes. It wasn't always that way... and if Bell proves to be good to its word and new direction, it may just topple Eurocopter and go on to lead the heli-world once again.

Letter Sent To DOT Chair Ray LaHood Reiterating Their Call For Detailed Supporting Data

House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Ranking Member John Thune (R-SD) have again called on the Administration to provide any details about its plans to meet the spending reductions for the FAA under the sequester.

Preparations Being Made For Automatic Budget Cuts Set To Hit Friday

In a message to NASA employees, administrator Charles Bolden said that the agency is preparing for automatic budget cuts that are set to go into effect Friday under a process known as "sequestration."

Icarus Cup 2013 To Be The First Such Event So Recognized

The FAI has announced that the Human Powered Aircraft (HPA) Icarus Cup 2013 has been sanctioned by the body as an FAI 2nd Category Event. This is the very first time that this sport has featured in the FAI Events Calendar.

Participates In Roundtable Discussion With Chairman Of The House Aviation Subcommittee

Inspector training and user fees were among the many topics discussed Tuesday at a roundtable discussion held Tuesday by Congressman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), newly appointed chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, in Washington, D.C. Many of the aviation industry's major trade associations were invited to participate in the discussion, including AEA.

Hartford ASME Recognizes Engineers for PurePower, F135 & AETD Engine Programs

Pratt & Whitney and the Hartford chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) honored five Distinguished Engineers of the Year at the annual awards dinner in Manchester, CT. during National Engineers Week from Feb. 17 through to Feb. 23. These awards are an opportunity to recognize and promote excellence in the field of Engineering.  These recipients are testimony to the value and dedication our innovative engineering delivers to our customers.

Organizers Say Move Is A Direct Result Of Sequestration Threat

The 2013 Indianapolis Air Show, scheduled for June 15-16 at Indianapolis Regional Airport near Mt. Comfort, has been cancelled due to the wide-ranging impact of sequestration. The decision to cancel was made by the show’s executive committee this week following thorough deliberation of numerous factors affected by sequestration.

High-Altitude, Long-Endurance Demonstrator Climbs Above 8,000 Feet

Boeing's liquid hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye unmanned airborne system completed its second flight Feb. 25, demonstrating capabilities that will allow it to perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions for up to four days without refueling.

"We have safely and efficiently phased out the Space Shuttle Program and managed existing programs to conservative spending levels. This has postured us so that we do not plan to resort to furloughs at this time for NASA employees to meet our spending reductions under sequestration." Source: Message from NASA administrator Charles Bolden on the effects of sequestration on the agency.

A localized, persistent, often abrupt lowering from a rain-free base. Wall clouds can range from a fraction of a mile up to nearly five miles in diameter, and normally are found on the south or southwest (inflow) side of the thunderstorm.

The Society Of Air Racing Historians

The Society was formed in late 1984 by a small group of dedicated air racing enthusiasts who wanted to pool their efforts and knowledge with others having the same love of this great aviation era.