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Senate Forms UAS Caucus

Bipartisan Group To Help Shape Policy Concerning Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK), a senior member on Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), also a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced the formation of the Senate Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Caucus on Thursday. The mission of the bipartisan caucus will be to educate Senators and staff on the capabilities and concerns of UAS and to work closely together to best shape the UAS policymaking process.

Illinois Submits Plan For Suburban Airport To FAA

Governor Pat Quinn Says New Airport Will Be An 'Important Economic Engine'

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn said Thursday that the state has reached another major milestone toward approval of the South Suburban Airport by submitting a draft Airport Layout Plan to the FAA for review. The Airport Layout Plan is the sixth of the nine key elements that make up the project’s Master Plan.

Honda Aircraft Company Breaks Ground On New MRO Facility

Another Milestone Reached As Aircraft Nears Production Honda Aircraft Company broke ground Thursday on a new Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul facility (MRO) located at the company’s world headquarters at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, NC. The approximately 90,000 square foot building will be completed next year, with occupancy slated by the second half of 2013, prior to the HondaJet aircraft’s entry into service.

Nineteen Fatally Injured In Accident In Nepal

Group Was Flying To Mt. Everest, Pilot Reported Bird Strike

A Sita Air aircraft carrying a group of tourists and others towards Mount Everest went down Friday resulting in the fatal injury of all on board. The pilot reported hitting an eagle before the Dornier-built aircraft caught fire and went down just two minutes after takeoff from Kathmandu International Airport, according to China's state-run Xinhau news service.

US Airways/AFA Tentative Agreement Narrowly Defeated

Failed To Carry By A Two-Point Margin

Flight attendants at US Airways, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) have voted 51 percent to 49 percent to not ratify a proposed five-year collective bargaining agreement between the carrier and AFA.

Flight Attendants Union Coalition Endorses President Obama For Re-Election

Calls For Political Activism Supporting The Obama-Biden Ticket

The Flight Attendants Union Coalition (FAUC), representing 100,000 Flight Attendants at carriers nationwide, have collectively endorsed the re-election of President Barack Obama. In an unprecedented step, the coalition is calling on its 100,000 members, to the degree possible, to set their flying schedules between now and the election in order to maximize their time volunteering for the Obama-Biden ticket.

Guilty Plea From Man Accused Of Shooting At Antique Airplane

Had Been Charged With Interfering With The Plane's Flight

A Hayden, AL, man pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to interfering with the June flight of a restored biplane landing at a private airfield beside his Blount County home by firing several shotgun blasts, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Haley III. Jason Allen McCay, 36, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins to one count of attempting to interfere with the authorized operation of an aircraft flying in the United States.

Nearly 100 BASE Jumpers Plunge From Kuala Lumpur Tower

Gathering In Malaysia Is An Annual Event

In what has become an annual four-day event, 95 professional BASE jumpers gathered in Malaysia recently to plunge from the top of the 1,380 foot tall Kuala Lumpur Tower. The oldest of the jumpers was said to be 72.