RA-4000/4500 Radar Altimeter Antennas Now Available For Tailboom Mounting On Bell 206L Helicopters

The FAA has granted STC approval to FreeFlight Systems for tailboom mounting of antennas for its RA-4000 and RA-4500 radar altimeters on Bell 206L, 206L-1, 206-L-3 and Bell206L-4 series helicopters.

Will Provide Comprehensive Health, Safety, Science And Engineering On Human Space Flight Missions

NASA has awarded a contract valued at nearly $1.76 billion over a 10-year span to aerospace engineering and information technology services company Wyle to provide comprehensive health, safety, science and engineering support to NASA human space flight missions supporting the International Space Station, Orion, commercial space initiatives and exploration human systems development.

Companies Finalize Deal At Heli-Expo

A contract has been finalized between Moog and Bell Helicopter for the design, qualification and manufacturing of the primary flight control actuation on the new Bell 525 Relentless helicopter.

Total Value Of The Agreement Estimated At $3.7 Billion

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Feb. 27 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia for up to 12 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft and 12 EA-18G Growler aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $3.7 billion.

Covers Helicopters Operated By Four Air Services Companies

Turbomeca and Avincis Group have signed a support agreement that covers engines operated by Inaer, Bond Air Services, Bond Offshore Helicopters and Australian Helicopters. This agreement recognizes the strengthening relationship between Avincis and Turbomeca and the desire by both parties to forge a greater partnership for the future.

L-3 To Demonstrate Its ProVision 2 Compact Advanced Passenger Screener At AVSEC

A new second-generation passenger scanner will be demonstrated by L-3 Communications at the AVSEC World trade show, March 5–7, in New York City. The ProVision 2 system, which offers Automatic Target Detection (ATD) capability with a smaller overall footprint, is being marketed for aviation applications and is currently under review for TSA certification.

Employees Rewarded With Bonuses For Their Efforts

After exceeding its 80 percent on-time arrival domestic and international performance goals for the month of February, and on the heels of a strong performance in January, United Airlines announced that it is rewarding its eligible employees with a $100 on-time bonus to recognize this performance. Despite challenging weather, including major snow events in several of the airline's hub markets, United ended the month with an 80.8 percent domestic on-time arrival rate, and an 80.5 percent international on-time rate.

Will Have Exclusive Distribution Rights From Hawaii To Utah

West Coast Aircraft Sales celebrates a new partnership with Mahindra Aerospace and welcomes the delivery of the new GippsAero GA8 Airvan to John Wayne Airport, SNA. Created in Australia as a general purpose utility aircraft well suited for unimproved field operations, the Airvan was designed as a multi-mission workhorse.

AD NUMBER: 2013-04-03]

PRODUCT: Certain Cessna Aircraft Company Model 750 airplanes.

AD NUMBER: 2013-04-13

PRODUCT: All BAE SYSTEMS (OPERATIONS) LIMITED Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ series airplanes.  

AD NUMBER: 2013-04-12

PRODUCT: Certain Airbus Model A310-204, -222, -304, -322, and -324 airplanes.

AD NUMBER: 2013-04-07

PRODUCT: Certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes.

Bizjets Cause Homeless Shelter Crowding? Really?

News/Analysis/Opinion By James R. Campbell, CEO/Editor-In-Chief Yes... we live in interesting times -- the point of a well-known Chinese curse, I'm told... But the amount of idiocy being displayed by people trying to destroy a uniquely American industry... once that needs hundreds of thousands of people world-wide, has just hit a new low... and we're scratching our heads trying to understand the rationale -- outside of the fact that the President and others in Washington have attacked the multi-billion dollar industry and its hundreds of thousands of affiliated jobs for cheap political points.  This time, New York Mayor and Helicopter pilot(!) Michael Bloomberg seems to be positing that h

...SNC/Embraer Protests The Protest

As previously noted, last week ended with the beginnings of what is sure to be another controversy as Beechcraft reported that it would protest an Air Force decision to award the LAS program to Sierra Nevada Corporation, and Embraer Defense. Beechcraft has, without much surprise, formally protested to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) the USAF award of the Light Air Support contract to its Brazilian competitor, Embraer. Beechcraft states that an estimated 1,400 jobs in Kansas and other states are in jeopardy as a result of the Air Force decision.

Also: Sikorsky Sales, Pipistrel Chooses Dynon, New RR M250 Engine, New TBO For PW206/207, Turbine Bell 47s, Heli-Expo 2013

The National Transportation Safety Board released an interim factual report and 499 pages of related documents in its ongoing investigation of the Japan Airlines 787 battery fire in Boston. Additionally, NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman announced today that the NTSB will be holding both a forum and a hearing in April to provide additional information to advance the investigation. On Tuesday we reported the story of retired American captain Bill Harrelson and his plans for a circum-polar flight in his homebuilt Lancair IV. To test

YOU Can Be A Part Of The Aero-Insanity! Get Your Wacky Ideas In NOW!

Time is fast ticking down to a date the entire ANN staff looks forward to every year. See, each April 1st, we have a problem getting our stories straight... we make things up, we get silly, we exaggerate and lampoon. In other words, we act weirder than the loons who run Sun 'n Fun... and in this group, that's really saying something. (At least we get group rates on appropriate professional care... which comes in handy more often than we care to admit -- Ed.) Once a year it's fun to let it all hang out, and this year is no exception. Rest assured we already have some "doozys" in the can for April 1... but we wanted to give our readers THEIR CHANCE to submit their i

Klyde Gets Snowed In....

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

Extra Capacity Seating Option Will Be Available In-Production And As A Retrofit

Bombardier Aerospace says that the CSeries aircraft is making "excellent" progress as the program readies to transition to the flight test phase in order to achieve first flight by the end of June 2013. "We are very pleased with the progress being made on the CSeries aircraft program and we are excited to open our facility and publicly show the world the advances and key milestones we have achieved as we get ready for first flight," said Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

HTS900 Engine Was Chosen By Eagle Copters For Its Re-Engine Program For The Bell 407

The re-engined Bell 407, which has been designated the Eagle 407HP, has successfully completed ground testing and is now in the final steps toward Transport Canada and Federal Aviation Administration certification. The Eagle Copters aircraft is powered by Honeywell's HTS900 turboshaft engine. The concept of this engine conversion program originated in 2009.

Said Military Readiness Could Trump Development And Acquisition Of New Aircraft

Two senior Air Force leaders in Washington, D.C. warned a House committee last week of the impacts sequestration and a continuing resolution will have on the service's acquisitions and programs. Lt. Gens. Michael Moeller, the deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs, and Charles Davis, the military deputy, office of assistant secretary of the Air Force acquisitions, testified to the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee Feb. 28 on Capitol Hill.

Some Of The TSO's New Duds Will Be Made In Mexico

In what appears to be a classic example of Washington's "spend it before it's gone" mentality, TSA signed a deal for the manufacture of new uniforms for TSOs ... some of them to be made in Mexico ... just days before the sequester kicked in. The new uniforms reportedly will cost U.S. taxpayers about $50 million.

Was Traveling To See His Dying Mother In Texas

A passenger on a United flight found that sometimes, airlines really do make an effort to help. Kerry Drake got a call on January 24 than his critically ill mother was dying. He immediately booked a flight from San Francisco to Lubbock, TX, in an effort to see her one final time. But the way the schedules worked, there was only a 40 minute window available for Drake to make his connection in Houston, and his connecting flight was the last one of the day.

Association Calls On President, Congress To Reverse Budget Cuts ASAP

The Aerospace Industries Association is likening the implementation of sequestration to a hostage crisis, and in a statement released late last week, the association said "they've shot the hostage and the American people will take the hit. As March begins, sequestration budget cuts that former Defense Secretary Panetta has likened to "shooting ourselves in the head" are going forward, accelerating the real – though hopefully not fatal – damage to our economy and national security," the statement said.

Hook Echo A radar reflectivity pattern characterized by a hook-shaped extension of a thunderstorm echo, usually in the right-rear part of the storm (relative to its direction of motion). A hook often is associated with a mesocyclone, and indicates favorable conditions for tornado development.

Aero Linx: The Maryland Hang Gliding Association The MHGA is chapter #44 of the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA. We are dedicated to promoting the sport of hang gliding, site preservation and supporting the local flying community. The MHGA includes active pilots, students, and those who do not fly but enjoy the beauty of the sport and the camaraderie of the club. Generally, members reside in the Baltimore metropolitan/central Maryland area.

"...this Bloomberg quote not only sets a new low, but makes one wonder when we might have to institute some manner of 'sanity/stupidity' protection system against politicians and public officials who resort to bizarre and indefensible nonsense to deflect criticism or examination of the real issues that this country needs to address. But then again, and to quote the late and great Will Rogers... 'Thank God we're not getting all the government we're paying for...'" Source: ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, commenting on some truly questionable remarks that seemed to suggest that bizjet owners may be responsible for homeless shelter overcrowding in the city of New York.