News-Travel agiency - Trekking agency |
- Panetta Praises Outgoing, Incoming Southcom Commanders
- Dempsey Praises Old, New Southern Command Commanders
- Today in the Department of Defense, 11/20/2012
- This Week in the National Guard
- Contracts for November 19, 2012
- DLA Readies Holiday Meals for Afghanistan-deployed Troops
- Jill Biden Sponsors New Attack Sub USS Delaware
- Services Announce Recruiting Numbers for Fiscal 2012
- NDU Honors Special Operations Community
- Defense and Industry Narrow Communication Gap
- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus Names the Next Virginia-Class Submarine USS Delaware with Dr. Jill Biden as the Sponsor
- DOD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for Fiscal 2012
- Chairman's Corner: Recent Allegations Not a Distraction
- Spouse Surveys Critical to Family Support, Official Says
- Nutrition...Diet...Healthy Food...Now?
- Top Ten Diabetes Risk Factors
- Face of Defense: Marine Donates Bone Marrow for Stranger
- Combined Force Arrests Taliban Operative
- Propwash
| Panetta Praises Outgoing, Incoming Southcom Commanders Posted: 19 Nov 2012 06:53 PM PST
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| Dempsey Praises Old, New Southern Command Commanders Posted: 19 Nov 2012 05:15 PM PST
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| Today in the Department of Defense, 11/20/2012 Posted: 19 Nov 2012 02:35 PM PST
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| This Week in the National Guard Posted: 19 Nov 2012 02:29 PM PST
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| Contracts for November 19, 2012 Posted: 19 Nov 2012 02:16 PM PST
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| DLA Readies Holiday Meals for Afghanistan-deployed Troops Posted: 19 Nov 2012 01:29 PM PST
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| Jill Biden Sponsors New Attack Sub USS Delaware Posted: 19 Nov 2012 01:29 PM PST
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| Services Announce Recruiting Numbers for Fiscal 2012 Posted: 19 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST
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| NDU Honors Special Operations Community Posted: 19 Nov 2012 12:35 PM PST
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| Defense and Industry Narrow Communication Gap Posted: 19 Nov 2012 12:34 PM PST
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| Posted: 19 Nov 2012 11:31 AM PST
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| DOD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for Fiscal 2012 Posted: 19 Nov 2012 10:20 AM PST
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| Chairman's Corner: Recent Allegations Not a Distraction Posted: 19 Nov 2012 09:12 AM PST
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| Spouse Surveys Critical to Family Support, Official Says Posted: 19 Nov 2012 07:11 AM PST
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| Nutrition...Diet...Healthy Food...Now? Posted: 19 Nov 2012 07:05 AM PST
Sent to smart_z64.1111@blogger.com on behalf of US Department of Veterans Affairs  | ||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 19 Nov 2012 06:53 AM PST
Sent to smart_z64.1111@blogger.com on behalf of US Department of Veterans Affairs  | ||||||||||||||||||
| Face of Defense: Marine Donates Bone Marrow for Stranger Posted: 19 Nov 2012 06:20 AM PST
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| Combined Force Arrests Taliban Operative Posted: 19 Nov 2012 06:19 AM PST
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| Posted: 19 Nov 2012 01:13 AM PST ----------------------------------------------------------------- Aero-News Network "Propwash" E-Mail Aero-News Summary A Free E-Mail Newsletter ISSN: 11.19.12 Issue 155/19 Aero-News.Net 'Propwash' Daily News Provided to registered subscribers, Daily: ISSN: 1530-9339 For Subscribe/Unsubscribe procedures: Manage Your Subscription here For Subscribe/Unsubscribe procedures and Privacy Statement, scroll to end. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to this day's ANN 'Propwash' Daily News Brief. We welcome and encourage your comments, criticism and suggestions... and hope that you'll become active members of the ANN community, though we'd like to ask you one big favor... PLEASE TELL EVERYONE ABOUT AERO-NEWS! NEWS SUMMARY: Remember... You Have to Go to www.aero-news.net to read the WHOLE story! There's much more! ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANN Daily Sponsor: 11.19.12 Edition: TX Jury 'Ignores' NTSB Findings -- Penalizes Eurocopter, Goodrich Jury Finds 'Defect' in Eurocopter AS350B3 Flight Control System Here we go again... despite specific NTSB findings to the contrary, a TX jury has decided that a 'defective flight control component caused the fatal crash of a U.S. Custom and Border Protection (CBP) Eurocopter AS350B3 helicopter (see file photo) on May 22, 2007.' According to a 'press release' sent ANN by a Dallas PR firm, Dallas area aviation attorney Jon Kettles and El Paso attorney Enrique Moreno represented the widow of the pilot killed in the accident and reportedly assert that, "The two-week trial centered on claims by the pilot's family and the injured crewmember that a manufacturing defect in a flight control servo made the aircraft uncontrollable and caused the crash during a routine border security mission." Defendants, Eurocopter and Goodrich, contended that the accident was caused by the pilot entering vortex ring state. They have good reason to believe so, since the NTSB concluded the same thing on December 28th of 2008. The NTSB found the Probable Cause for the accident to have been, "The pilot's encounter with a vortex ring state and his inability to maintain control of the helicopter." While the report does note damage to the flight control system as a result of the crash, the published report does not seem to indicate that anything but the vortex ring state encounter as causal to this sad accident, in which the pilot was killed and another crewmember was critically injured. The NTSB report states that, "A fully developed vortex ring state is characterized by an unstable condition where the helicopter experiences uncommanded pitch and roll oscillations, has little or no cyclic authority, and achieves a descent rate, which, if allowed to develop, may approach 6,000 feet per minute. It is accompanied by increased levels of vibration. A vortex ring state may be entered during any maneuver that places the main rotor in a condition of high upflow and low forward airspeed. This condition is sometimes seen during quick-stop type maneuvers or during recoveries from autorotations. The following combination of conditions are likely to cause settling in a vortex ring state: 1. A vertical or nearly vertical descent of at least 300 feet per minute. (Actual critical rate depends on the gross weight, rpm, density altitude, and other pertinent factors.) 2. The rotor system must be using some of the available engine power (from 20 to 100 percent). 3. The horizontal velocity must be slower than effective translational lift.” Of course, in this case, a TX Jury seemed to know better... despite the fact that the NTSB employs some of the best aircraft accident investigators in the world, and in our experience, has particularly talented folks among its rotorcraft investigations staff. FMI: http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20070530X00664&key=1 For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commbus.cfm?ContentBlockID=749e5854-1abd-4663-b0df-2a1822a66a47 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Airborne 11.16.12: Airship Company Deflates, FIFI Grounded, New Tecnam LSA Also: NTSB, Barnstorming, Personal Helo, EU-ETS on Hold, SpaceX Grasshopper, Skivvy Skydives Airship Ventures of Moffet Field, CA operators of the world's largest passenger airship, the Zeppelin Eureka, are closing their doors effective immediately! Founded in 2008, Airship Ventures made history by bringing passenger airship operations back to the U.S. for the first time since the 1930s and they enjoyed a stellar safety record, but it wasn't enough. The often heard battle cry "Keep 'Em Flying" has taken on a fresh new urgency with the news that the last flying B-29 Superfortress has been grounded and is in need of serious repair. During the last airshow flight of the season, the world's only flying B-29 Superfortress, FIFI, experienced an engine problem. Tecnam has launched the new P92 Echo Classic Light at a special introductory price through to the end of 2012. Tecnam says the airplane responds to market demand for a no frills, basic, aircraft that will still retain the great flight characteristics of the best selling P92 family of aircraft. All this... and MORE in today's episode of Airborne!!! Airborne 11.16.12 is chock full of info about the half-week period ending Friday, November 16th, 2012... Presented by Aero-TV veteran videographer and Airborne Host Ashley Hale, and supported by ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell, Chief Videographer Nathan Cremisino, and Aero-Journalists Tom Patton, and Glen Moyer, this episode covers: 1) Airship Operations Grounded 2) FIFI Grounded 3) Tecnam Launches P92 Light 4) EU-ETS on Hold 5) SpaceX Tests Grasshopper 6) Boeing Speeds Dreamliner Production 7) Personal Helo 8) NTSB Most Wanted 9) Barnstorming: ANN's job -- The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly 10) Boeing Sued in Polish Accident 11) Skydiving in Skivvies Get Comprehensive, Real-Time, 24/7 coverage of the latest aviation and aerospace stories anytime, at aero-news.net. And be sure to join us again next week for the next edition of "Airborne" here on Aero-TV. Thanks for watching. See you, again, in just a few days! © 2012, Aero-News Network, Inc., ALL Rights Reserved. FMI: www.aero-news.net, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews, The Full ANN/YouTube AIRBORNE Roster -- www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL42E90078D99B1053&feature=view_all For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/featurestories.cfm?ContentBlockID=3dea70d5-37e2-44e9-ba3e-aa47f68bfa4c ----------------------------------------------------------------- Klyde Morris (11.19.12) Klyde's Seeks Fame As A Published Author... FMI: www.klydemorris.com For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/featurestories.cfm?ContentBlockID=7abdf480-3bb6-41f7-a5b0-a08934389458 ----------------------------------------------------------------- US Navy, Northrop Grumman Demo Wireless Ground Handling Of X-47B UAS Maneuvers With Handheld Controller Build Confidence For Future Trials On Carrier Deck UAV carrier ops took another notch forward recently, as the U.S. Navy took the first critical step toward demonstrating that the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator can be maneuvered safely and wirelessly on the crowded deck of an aircraft carrier. In early November, the team successfully completed its first shore-based trials of a new wireless, handheld device called a Control Display Unit (CDU). Developed by Northrop Grumman, the device will allow deck operators to maneuver the X-47B by remote control on the carrier deck. The team demonstrated the CDU's ability to control the X-47B's engine thrust; to roll the aircraft forward, brake and stop; to use its nose wheel steering to execute tight, precision turns; and to maneuver the aircraft efficiently into a catapult or out of the landing area following a mock carrier landing. Northrop Grumman is the Navy's prime contractor for the UCAS Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program. "The CDU is fundamental to integrating the X-47B seamlessly into carrier deck operations," said Daryl Martis, Northrop Grumman's UCAS-D test director. "It will allow us to move the aircraft quickly and precisely into the catapult for launch, or out of the landing area following recovery. Both of these activities are essential to maintaining the rhythm of the flight deck." In practice, a deck operator will work in tandem with the flight deck director – aka a "yellow shirt" – to move the X-47B via the CDU to a designated flight deck location. Standing in front of the aircraft, the director will use traditional hand signals to indicate how, when and where the aircraft should move, the same way he would communicate with a pilot in a manned aircraft. The deck operator will stand behind the director and use the CDU to duplicate the director's instructions as digital commands to the aircraft. According to Martis, the CDU will help streamline and, in fact, enable many of the flight test operations required for UCAS-D shore-based carrier suitability testing. "Instead of towing the aircraft out to the flight line, we can now start the X-47B outside its hangar, then use the CDU to taxi it out to the runway, or into a catapult for launch," he said. "Use of the CDU is the most time-efficient way to move the X-47B into the catapult or disengage it from the arresting gear after landing." The UCAS-D program plans to conduct its first shore-based catapults of X-47B aircraft later this month. That testing will be followed by hoisting an X-47B aboard an aircraft carrier, and using it to validate the performance of the CDU in an actual carrier environment. (U.S. Navy images) FMI: www.navy.mil For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/military.cfm?ContentBlockID=59e33bde-a9ce-4948-80b2-db1d4dd6fcfa ----------------------------------------------------------------- CAP Pilots Volunteer For 'Target' Practice Allows NORAD F-16 Pilots To Train For Intercepts It’s a beautiful day to be flying your Cessna above Maryland’s scenic Eastern Shore, taking in the view of the Chesapeake Bay, when—out of nowhere—an F-16 fighter jet suddenly pulls up beside you because your plane has no business being there ... Charlie Martinez, Rick Mickerand Robert Bolling know the feeling. Recently the trio—MITRE colleagues and members of Civil Air Patrol’s Congressional Squadron—flew a CAP Cessna 182 (similar CAP aircraft pictured in file photo) to pose as intruders in restricted airspace. In effect, they were targets, giving U.S. Air Force Air Defense F-16 fighter pilots charged with defending Washington, D.C. a chance to practice their intercept procedures. Martinez and Micker, both of whom have previously participated in F-16 exercises with Civil Air Patrol, sometimes make the pilots work for it. On the most recent exercise, for example, when the F-16 pilot came on the simulated emergency frequency asking the Cessna crew to identify itself, Martinez responded in Spanish, “‘No hablo Ingles; mi piloto esta muerto” (“I don’t speak English; my pilot is dead”). “About five minutes later, they came on the radio again in Spanish to talk to us,” Martinez said. “And then Rick got back on and said, ‘How’s your French?’ They said, ‘Not so good,’ and we said, ‘OK, we won’t pull that one on you.’” Watching it all, Bolling—who was taking part in his first F-16 exercise but had flown the fighter jets himself —was impressed with how well the pilots responded. “It looks like they have access to people who can speak multiple languages that they can call upon in these kinds of situations, which is kind of neat,” he said. CAP is the congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the Air Force. Several CAP wings in the Washington, D.C., area take turns with the F-16 intercepts. Congressional Squadron members generally know a few weeks in advance when it’s their turn. They have a very detailed telephone briefing with the fighter group and the controlling groups in the Air Force and CAP to determine the date and time of the intercept as well as the general location. The volunteer pilots don’t reveal to the fighter pilots what scenarios they will use until the scenario is executed. For all the detailed discussions beforehand, the exercise itself can still be jarring, even for veterans like Martinez. "Although we knew that we were going to be intercepted, and we knew exactly when we were going to be intercepted, when that airplane pulls up right alongside you, it still gives your heart a thump,” he said. But more than thrill-seeking motivates Martinez, Micker and Bolling, though all three of them love to fly. They see the exercises—and their CAP work in general—as a patriotic imperative. “My feeling is that I am doing more to help with homeland security than in any other effort that I have done,” Micker said. “I just feel that this is helping the pointy end of the spear. “Those interceptors—those are the guys that are protecting the National Capital region. Those guys are sitting there in flight suits waiting to launch. And if we can help them improve their efficacy, we’re doing a phenomenal job,” he said. That spirit applies to the other volunteer opportunities CAP offers. The organization sometimes calls squadrons to help with search and rescue. Micker has taken part in such missions — both exercises and the real thing — in Virginia for overdue planes subsequently identified as having crashed in an area. Washington, D.C., squadrons have worked with the Maryland Highway Patrol monitoring traffic on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and advising officials of congestion. CAP also gets involved in disaster recovery — for example, flying more than 1,000 hours during the 2011 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile, the MITRE Civil Air Patrol volunteers are waiting for their next rendezvous with an F-16. Bolling hopes to be on board again. “If I’m available, I absolutely will go,” he said. And the F-16 pilots might be well-advised to practiquer leur français. FMI: www.gocivilairpatrol.com For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/genav.cfm?ContentBlockID=66c609ac-17f7-4731-b301-92cc8067acff ----------------------------------------------------------------- Jeppesen Mobile Flitedeck Version 2.0 Offers Enhanced Navigation Flexible U.S. Jeppview Data Subscription Pricing Now Available Jeppesen has introduced its Mobile FliteDeck version 2.0 for iPad, including the recently introduced iPad (4th generation) and iPad mini. In addition, flexible pricing options for four U.S.-based JeppView data subscriptions are now available, based on two or four device installs. A JeppView data subscription is necessary to use Jeppesen Mobile FliteDeck on iPad. Jeppesen Mobile FliteDeck version 2.0 now offers general aviation pilots and business aviation operators enhanced navigation functionality to simplify complex procedures and make decisions based on enhanced situational awareness. The solution eliminates paper-based flight materials and streamlines the entire flight process. Jeppesen Mobile FliteDeck 2.0 provides pilots with text and graphical weather services, including display of Echo Tops for North America and global lightning, winds aloft, turbulence, icing, METARS and TAF data. The aviation industry’s first night theme display and the ability to highlight terminal charts with the slide of a finger are now included with Jeppesen Mobile FliteDeck. The software framework of the solution has been redesigned for selecting SID/STAR and approach charts more efficiently and optimizes the display of terminal procedures and enroute charts for both iPad and iPad mini. General aviation pilots are now also able to import flight plans created with Jeppesen’s new MyFlitePlan Online solution to Mobile FliteDeck 2.0, using the MyJeppesen.com portal. Overall, the new version of Jeppesen Mobile FliteDeck features an enhanced design, based on direct ongoing feedback from pilots and provides additional functionality based on actual workflow and processes in the cockpit. “Jeppesen Mobile FliteDeck version 2.0 now offers pilots an enhanced end-to-end flying experience with new features that increase situational awareness and build on our industry-leading, data-driven mobile solutions,” said Tim Huegel, director, Jeppesen Aviation Portfolio Management. “Combined with our new flexible JeppView pricing structure for four U.S.-based coverages, Jeppesen is now providing pilots with the top flight information available on iPad and offering a choice to meet pilot device needs and budget requirements.” Providing increased options and flexibility related to JeppView subscriptions allows for significant cost savings for customers requiring fewer device access points. The new pricing model now allows U.S. customers to choose between two or four “installs,” or device access points for Jeppesen data that come with a JeppView subscription, depending on operator need. By choosing two installs, rather than the standard four, customers will receive an approximate 35 percent savings for the same quality and chart coverage area purchased, applicable to the four U.S.-based chart coverage options. The new JeppView navigation data subscription pricing structure is available for mobile delivery through Jeppesen Mobile FliteDeck on iPad or through personal computer access. JeppView data subscriptions are available for general aviation pilots and business aviation operators and provide access to Jeppesen’s leading chart data spanning small regions to worldwide. The discounted two JeppView install pricing is available for Western U.S., Eastern U.S., Central U.S. and Full U.S. digital chart coverages. (Pictured: Jeppesen Mobile Flight Deck day (top) and night (bottom) views) FMI: www.JeppDirect.com For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commbus.cfm?ContentBlockID=e8b7f2d9-0d56-471a-b634-880d95ad9e3f ----------------------------------------------------------------- Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland Join In UAS Test Venture Coalition Formed To Assist In Search For Test Site The Governors of Virginia, New Jersey and Maryland have agreed to work together to pursue a test site designation from the FAA for the integration of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) into the national airspace. Through legislation passed earlier this year, the FAA was authorized by Congress to develop a comprehensive plan for UAS integration and designate test ranges where certification, flight standards and air traffic control requirements for civil UAS can be tested. “The National Defense Authorization Act and FAA Modernization and Reform Act signed early this year authorize the FAA to work with the Secretary of Defense, NASA and others to plan for the integration of unmanned aerial systems into the national airspace, and assess the results of test sites to increase the progress of integrating unmanned systems,” said Matt Scassero, Executive Director of the newly-formed Mid-Atlantic Unmanned Aerial Systems Coalition (MAUASC). “The agreement between Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey represents a comprehensive approach to an efficient and effective testing process and integration.” The MAUASC focuses the efforts of a breadth of capabilities resident in numerous installations and facilities across the three state region, including NASA Wallops and Langley, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, New Jersey Air National Guard Warren Grove Range, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren and the Army Aberdeen Test Center. Universities and other education and research facilities also play an important role, represented by the National Institute of Aerospace, the University of Maryland, Rutgers University and others. “A sector that will be a crucial part of our strategy now and going forward is our industry partners,” Scassero continued. “DoD and Homeland Security have led the development and fielding of unmanned aerial systems up to now, but the future market is dominated by the potential commercial users. Industry is poised to make that leap, and we want to include them in our progress.” The Mid-Atlantic Unmanned Aerial Systems Coalition is a coalition of Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey state governments which established a research site to use Mid-Atlantic facilities and resources to develop and test UAS capabilities to safely integrate those systems into the national airspace system. FMI: www.paxpartnership.org For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commbus.cfm?ContentBlockID=8de1b954-5ccf-431b-8cda-cc51dc4ea1b0 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Beijing's Public Security Bureau Takes Delivery Of An AW139 Helicopter Two Additional Aircraft Delivered For VIP Transport In Quinghai Province The Fire Fighting Department of Beijing’s Public Security Bureau has taken delivery of an AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopter. This aircraft will perform fire fighting and disaster relief mission in and around Beijing as well as law enforcement missions in cooperation with the Beijing Police. This latest delivery further expands AgustaWestland’s presence in the Chinese public utility market where the company’s comprehensive range of dedicated products perform several roles including fire fighting, rescue and disaster relief. Chinese operators using AgustaWestland helicopters for these tasks also include Guangxi Province and the Public Security Bureau of Nanning, Ordos, Zhejiang and Shenzhen. Meanwhile two AW139 intermediate twin helicopters in VIP transport configuration have been delivered to a customer in China’s Quinghai Province. The deliveries continue the growing presence of the multirole AW139 in China, where the type has been chosen by various operators to perform law enforcement, rescue, disaster relief, civil protection, fire fighting and passenger transport missions. One of the two helicopters is fitted with a unique mixed VIP-utility configuration including a FLIR camera and rescue hoist. This aircraft will be operated in Gulmud, Qinghai province, Western China, which is at an elevation of 9,200 ft. The second AW139 will be operated in Chengdu, Sichuan province, Southwest China. AgustaWestland’s has achieved growing success in China’s commercial helicopter market in recent years with orders now totalling over 40 units of various types for a number of applications including law enforcement, disaster relief, fire fighting, harbour pilot shuttle, water pollution monitoring, VIP, utility and passenger transport. (Image courtesy AgustaWestland) FMI: www.agustawestland.com For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commbus.cfm?ContentBlockID=53355e5d-ca3d-4be1-b976-f62d65d89efb ----------------------------------------------------------------- Student Teams To Build And Fly Rockets For NASA Rocketry Challenge Vehicles Will Carry Engineering Payloads To Altitudes Of Up To A Mile High Organizers of the NASA Student Launch Projects have announced the 57 student teams whose inventive creations will be launched in April during the space agency's 2012-13 rocketry challenge. Representing schools in 26 states around the country, participating teams each will design and build a large, high-powered rocket, complete with a working science or engineering payload and capable of flying to the target altitude of 1 mile. NASA created the rocketry challenge to encourage young people to pursue careers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. "Every year, the NASA Student Launch Projects build on our students' classroom studies in an energizing, exciting way," said Tammy Rowan, manager of the Academic Affairs Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL, which organizes the event. "It's great fun, but it also reflects the real-world complexity of planning missions, building flight hardware and completing tough pre-flight checks and reviews. It tests their problem-solving skills and gives them practical, hands-on experience. We hope the experience is so unforgettable it leads many of them to become the nation's next generation of scientists, engineers and space explorers." Twenty-one middle school and high school teams will take part in the Student Launch Initiative, which is non-competitive. Thirty-six college and university teams will compete in the University Student Launch Initiative with a $5,000 first-place award provided by ATK Aerospace Group of Salt Lake City going to the winner. "We are proud to be sponsoring NASA's Student Launch Competition for the sixth year," said Kent Rominger, a former astronaut who is vice president of business development for ATK's Space Launch Division. "Each year we are impressed with the level of skill and knowledge these students exhibit. We are very optimistic and excited about the caliber of individuals that could become our future work force." Building the powerful rockets and designing and integrating the onboard engineering or science payloads are only two parts of the challenge. Teams also must maintain detailed preliminary and post-launch reports, and build and regularly update a public website to document their rocket-building experience. Each team also will develop an educational engagement program to inspire and educate younger students in their local school system and community. In 2013, the teams will travel to Marshall, where their rockets will undergo a series of intensive reviews and safety inspections -- a smaller-scale version of the rigorous processes applied to the nation's space vehicles. The culmination of their work is set for April 21, when the students launch their creations one by one into the skies over northern Alabama. Each will be seeking the elusive 1-mile altitude goal, as well as a variety of annual awards for vehicle design, engineering excellence and team spirit. The 26 states represented are Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. FMI: http://education.msfc.nasa.gov/sli For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/aerospace.cfm?ContentBlockID=2a5c26d2-8df9-4afd-97de-c526495642bb ----------------------------------------------------------------- NASA's Kepler Completes Prime Mission But Far From Retiring, The Telescope Will Continue Searching The Skies NASA is marking two milestones in the search for planets like Earth; the successful completion of the Kepler Space Telescope's 3 1/2- year prime mission and the beginning of an extended mission that could last as long as four years. Scientists have used Kepler data to identify more than 2,300 planet candidates and confirm more than 100 planets. Kepler is teaching us the galaxy is teeming with planetary systems and planets are prolific, and giving us hints that nature makes small planets efficiently. So far, hundreds of Earth-size planet candidates have been found as well as candidates that orbit in the habitable zone, the region in a planetary system where liquid water might exist on the surface of a planet. None of the candidates is exactly like Earth. With the completion of the prime mission, Kepler now has collected enough data to begin finding true sun-Earth analogs -- Earth-size planets with a one-year orbit around stars similar to the sun. "The initial discoveries of the Kepler mission indicate at least a third of the stars have planets and the number of planets in our galaxy must number in the billions," said William Borucki, Kepler principal investigator at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, CA. "The planets of greatest interest are other Earths and these could already be in the data awaiting analysis. Kepler's most exciting results are yet to come." NASA's Kepler Space Telescope searches for planet candidates orbiting distant suns, or exoplanets, by continuously measuring the brightness of more than 150,000 stars. When a planet candidate passes, or transits, in front of the star from the spacecraft's vantage point, light from the star is blocked. Different sized planets block different amounts of starlight. The amount of starlight blocked by a planet reveals its size relative to its star. Kepler was launched March 6, 2009. Its mission was to survey a portion of the galaxy to determine what fraction of stars might harbor potentially habitable, Earth-sized planets. Planets orbiting in or near habitable zones are of particular interest. The instrument began the search for small worlds like our own on May 12, 2009, after two months of commissioning. Within months, five exoplanets, known as hot Jupiters because of their enormous size and orbits close to their stars, were confirmed. Results from Kepler data continue to expand our understanding of planets and planetary systems. Highlights from the prime mission include: 1) In August 2010, scientists confirmed the discovery of the first planetary system with more than one planet transiting the same star. The Kepler-9 system opened the door to measurement of gravitational interactions between planets as observed by the variations in their transit timing. This powerful new technique enables astronomers, in many cases, to calculate the mass of planets directly from Kepler data, without the need for follow-up observations from the ground. 2) In January 2011, the Kepler team announced the discovery of the first unquestionably rocky planet outside the solar system. Kepler-10b, measuring 1.4 times the size of Earth, is the smallest confirmed planet with both a radius and mass measurement. Kepler has continued to uncover smaller and smaller planets, some almost as small as Mars, which tells us small rocky worlds may be common in the galaxy. 3) In February 2011, scientists announced Kepler had found a very crowded and compact planetary system – a star with multiple transiting planets. Kepler-11 has six planets larger than Earth, all orbiting closer to their star than Venus orbits our sun. This and other subsequently identified compact multi-planet systems have orbital spacing relative to their host sun and neighboring planets unlike anything envisioned prior to the mission. 4) In September 2011, Kepler data confirmed the existence of a world with a double sunset like the one famously portrayed in the film "Star Wars" more than 35 years ago. The discovery of Kepler-16b turned science fiction into science fact. Since then, the discoveries of six additional worlds orbiting double stars further demonstrated planets can form and persist in the environs of a double-star system. 5) In December 2011, NASA announced Kepler's discovery of the mission's first planet in a habitable zone. Kepler-22b, about 2.4 times the size of Earth, is the smallest-radius planet yet found to orbit a sun-like star in the habitable zone. This discovery confirmed that we are getting continually closer to finding planets like our own. 6) In February 2012, the Kepler team announced more than 1,000 new transiting planet candidates for a cumulative total of 2,321. The data continues the trend toward identifying smaller planets at longer orbital periods, similar to Earth. The results include hundreds of planetary systems. 7) Recently, citizen scientists participating in Planet Hunters, a program led by Yale University that enlists the public to comb through Kepler data for signs of transiting planets, made their first planet discovery. The joint effort of amateur astronomers and scientists led to the first reported case of a planet orbiting a double star. The three bodies in turn are being orbited by a second distant pair of stars. "Kepler's bounty of new planet discoveries, many quite different from anything found previously, will continue to astound," said Jack Lissauer, planetary scientist at Ames. "But to me, the most wonderful discovery of the mission has not been individual planets, but the systems of two, three, even six planets crowded close to their stars, and, like the planets orbiting about our sun, moving in nearly the same plane. Like people, planets interact with their neighbors and can be greatly affected by them. What are the neighborhoods of Earth-size exoplanets like? This is the question I most hope Kepler will answer in the years to come." In April 2012, NASA awarded Kepler an extended mission through as late as 2016. More time will enable the continued the search for worlds like our own -- worlds that are not too far and too close to their sun. "The Earth isn't unique, nor the center of the universe," said Geoff Marcy, professor of astronomy at the University of California at Berkeley. "The diversity of other worlds is greater than depicted in all the science fiction novels and movies. Aristotle would be proud of us for answering some of the most profound philosophical questions about our place in the universe." FMI: www.nasa.gov/kepler For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/aerospace.cfm?ContentBlockID=a3da028a-1976-4aa2-ab17-f61d9eeb72a0 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Rockwell Collins Wins 737 MAX Contract For Large-Format Flight Displays Will Also Provide Displays For KC-46 Tanker Rockwell Collins has been selected by Boeing to provide its large-format flight displays as standard equipment on the 737 MAX flight deck. The multi-year agreement leverages Rockwell Collins’ flight display technology from the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Currently there are more than 900 orders for the 737 MAX. The new flight deck includes four configurable 15.1-inch landscape LCD displays that will increase situational awareness and efficiency. The displays are also featured on the Boeing KC-46 Tanker and as a retrofit offering for existing 757 and 767 aircraft. “It’s a great honor to add the 737 MAX to the growing family of Boeing aircraft equipped with our state-of-the-art flight displays,” said Kent Statler, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Commercial Systems at Rockwell Collins. “Airlines will benefit from the increased real estate and dramatically enhanced visuals of these displays which will serve as the foundation for NextGen airspace technologies entering the marketplace.” First delivery of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with Rockwell Collins’ flight displays is expected in 2017. FMI: www.boeing.com, www.rockwellcollins.com For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commair.cfm?ContentBlockID=1e0d6e13-166f-456b-8649-dde95d70ae39 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Chinese Customer Orders Airbus ACJ319 Reinforces Company's Corporate Jet Presence In China An Airbus ACJ319 with the Sharklet option has been ordered by a Chinese customer, in the first deal for this version from the country. The order builds on the strong Airbus corporate jet presence in greater China, where there are around 25 orders to date. Airbus corporate jets such as the ACJ318 and ACJ319 are already in widespread service in China, with operators such as BAA Jet Management, Beijing Airlines, China Eastern Executive Aviation, Comlux Asia, Deer Jet, Hong Kong Jet and TAG Aviation. "China is a relatively new market for corporate jets, as well as having one of the highest economic growth rates, making it a bright spot in today’s business jet market, especially at the top end where Airbus corporate jets serve with distinction,” points out Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers, John Leahy. “The Chinese business jet market also favours the ability to carry larger groups, for which Airbus corporate jets are especially well suited.” Airbus’ ACJ318, ACJ319, ACJ320 and ACJ321 share a similar length and wingspan with competing large business jets, but have the widest and tallest cabin, delivering unequalled comfort, space and freedom of movement. The wider cabin of Airbus corporate jets allows unique features such as a large circular table that converts to a square one, which is popular in cultures such as China’s because it allows the ideal arrangements for both socialising and playing games such as Mah Jong. Among the selling points of Airbus Corporate Jets are pilot and mechanic friendly common cockpits, fly by wire controls and centralised maintenance. Other features include a richer baseline specification, extensive use of weight-saving materials such as carbon fiber, and new range-extending engine options. FMI: www.airbuscorporatejets.com For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commbus.cfm?ContentBlockID=7e66fa87-0197-44ef-967f-54dc1817bcc2 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Airbus Extends RFID Part-Marking Across All Its Aircraft Families Efficient And Error-Proof Identification Of Aircraft Components Airbus has become the first commercial aircraft manufacturer to deploy Radio-Frequency-Identification (RFID) part-marking to aircraft components on all its aircraft families. This innovation, which will bring value-chain visibility, error-proof identification and efficiency savings in component lifecycle management, will be progressively rolled-out in 2013 to all seats and life vests for the A320, A330 and A380 aircraft families. The annual volume of this RFID part marking extension is estimated to reach 160,000 RFID tags, roughly split across 120,000 life vests and 40,000 seats for these aircraft families. This complements the existing RFID part marking initiative on the A350 XWB which is already underway. Tom Williams, Airbus’ Executive Vice President, programs says: “Permanent RFID part marking is an answer to the growing need for efficient and error-proof identification of aircraft components throughout their life.” He adds: “The use of RFID part marking will enable the automation of multiple operational processes and is a benefit for all involved in managing the component during its lifecycle: vendor, integrator, airline and MRO.” The scope of efficiency savings with permanent RFID part marking is substantial. For example, in the past, each one of several hundred life-jackets and seats in the cabin would need to be manually checked and noted, necessitating lengthy manual data entry. But as each Airbus aircraft will soon come pre-equipped with RFID tags on these parts, just one person can read the RFID tags within a few minutes using a lightweight hand-held RFID reader. The process automatically confirms the presence of each required item, verifies its location and looks-up the associated data about the part (e.g. maintenance history, expiration date etc.). This information can then be used to determine the aircraft configuration and prioritise maintenance planning for items due for inspection, overhaul or replacement. FMI: www.eads.com For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commair.cfm?ContentBlockID=fe1d5cdb-596c-47a4-87d5-a51e4c2fc1b7 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Virgin America, Air China Launch Interline Agreement Partnership Allows Connecting Flight On A Single Ticket An interline agreement has been announced between Virgin America and Air China Limited, the national flag carrier of China, which offers seamless travel on the networks of both carriers across their respective routes in North America and Asia. Passengers may buy a single ticket on Air China that will allow them to connect from a Virgin America city to Beijing and beyond via San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Both airlines will transfer baggage between connecting flights to passengers’ final destinations. Interline electronic tickets for Virgin America and Air China connecting flights can now be booked through all the major Global Distribution Systems (GDS) and via Air China’s North America Call Center. “We are pleased to launch an interline agreement with Air China that will provide guests of both our airlines connectivity across our two networks and extensive new choices as they plan travel between mainland China and North America,” said Adam Green, Virgin America’s Director of Network Planning. “Virgin America’s 2,600 teammates look forward to welcoming our new Air China guests onboard.” “Our partnership with Virgin America creates convenient connecting opportunities at Air China’s strategically important gateways in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York," said Dr. Zhihang Chi, Air China’s Vice President for North America. "This expands and strengthens both our networks and benefits travelers from the United States and China.” Air China offers daily nonstop service from Beijing to San Francisco and New York, plus double daily flights to Los Angeles with the new generation B777-300ER. It is the only carrier with nonstop service between Los Angeles and Beijing. Its ‘triple seven’ features eight Forbidden Pavilion First Class luxury suites, 41 Capital Pavilion Business Class flat-seat beds and 259 economy seats with individual monitors and audio-video-on-demand (AVOD) entertainment system. Air China’s New York and San Francisco aircraft are scheduled to be upgraded to the B777-300ER in 2013. In addition to the new Air China agreement, Virgin America has interline agreements with Virgin Australia, Virgin Atlantic, Air New Zealand, Emirates, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, South African Airways, El Al, Qantas, China Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Air Pacific, Japan Airlines, SATA and Thai Airways. FMI: www.virginamerica.com/travel/virgin-partners.html For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commair.cfm?ContentBlockID=661d28d9-85ac-41fb-91e2-cca5c4feaa0a ----------------------------------------------------------------- American Airlines Employee Placed On No-Fly List Reason For The Move Was Not Known, Airline Has Suspended Him Without Pay He doesn't know quite how, but in August, American Airlines employee Luis Montano found himself on TSA's No-Fly list, and his employer summarily suspended him from his job without pay. Television station WTVJ in south Florida reports that Montano had worked for the airline 13 years as a gate agent and in cargo operations, as well as at its headquarters in south Florida. He is a U.S. citizen. One day, he was called into his supervisors' office, told he was on the list, and told to go home. He has reportedly not received a paycheck for two months. Montano had been a frequent international traveler. "In July, I traveled, and in August, I'm on the list," he told the station. In trying to discover why he had been placed on the list, Montano says he was frustrated because the Department of Homeland Security would provide little information about who it is preventing from flying. Meanwhile, American had told Montano that he was in danger of permanently losing his job. It may have been a case of mistaken identity (we've heard about those before, ed.), but after being contacted by the station, a letter appeared from Homeland Security saying Montano was no longer on the No-Fly list ... but no explanation was given. Montano said he is still waiting to hear from the airline whether its security department will let him go back to work. FMI: www.tsa.gov For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commair.cfm?ContentBlockID=a974c508-9ce2-4c1c-b85d-4b920b31b1be ----------------------------------------------------------------- Lost in Space: Rogue Planet Spotted? Orphaned World May Help To Explain How Planets And Stars Form Astronomers using ESO’s Very Large Telescope and the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope have identified a body that is very probably a planet wandering through space without a parent star. This is the most exciting free-floating planet candidate so far and the closest such object to the Solar System at a distance of about 100 light-years. Its comparative proximity, and the absence of a bright star very close to it, has allowed the team to study its atmosphere in great detail. This object also gives astronomers a preview of the exoplanets that future instruments aim to image around stars other than the Sun. Free-floating planets are planetary-mass objects that roam through space without any ties to a star. Possible examples of such objects have been found before, but without knowing their ages, it was not possible for astronomers to know whether they were really planets or brown dwarfs — “failed” stars that lack the bulk to trigger the reactions that make stars shine. But astronomers have now discovered an object, labelled CFBDSIR2149, that seems to be part of a nearby stream of young stars known as the AB Doradus Moving Group. The researchers found the object in observations from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and harnessed the power of ESO’s Very Large Telescope to examine its properties. The AB Doradus Moving Group is the closest such group to the Solar System. Its stars drift through space together and are thought to have formed at the same time. If the object is associated with this moving group — and hence it is a young object — it is possible to deduce much more about it, including its temperature, mass, and what its atmosphere is made of. There remains a small probability that the association with the moving group is by chance. The link between the new object and the moving group is the vital clue that allows astronomers to find the age of the newly discovered object. This is the first isolated planetary mass object ever identified in a moving group, and the association with this group makes it the most interesting free-floating planet candidate identified so far. “Looking for planets around their stars is akin to studying a firefly sitting one centimetre away from a distant, powerful car headlight,” says Philippe Delorme (Institut de planétologie et d’astrophysique de Grenoble, CNRS/Université Joseph Fourier, France), lead author of the new study. “This nearby free-floating object offered the opportunity to study the firefly in detail without the dazzling lights of the car messing everything up.” Free-floating objects like CFBDSIR2149 are thought to form either as normal planets that have been booted out of their home systems, or as lone objects like the smallest stars or brown dwarfs. In either case these objects are intriguing — either as planets without stars, or as the tiniest possible objects in a range spanning from the most massive stars to the smallest brown dwarfs. “These objects are important, as they can either help us understand more about how planets may be ejected from planetary systems, or how very light objects can arise from the star formation process,” says Philippe Delorme. “If this little object is a planet that has been ejected from its native system, it conjures up the striking image of orphaned worlds, drifting in the emptiness of space.” These worlds could be common — perhaps as numerous as normal stars. If CFBDSIR2149 is not associated with the AB Doradus Moving Group it is trickier to be sure of its nature and properties, and it may instead be characterised as a small brown dwarf. Both scenarios represent important questions about how planets and stars form and behave. “Further work should confirm CFBDSIR2149 as a free-floating planet,” concludes Philippe Delorme. “This object could be used as a benchmark for understanding the physics of any similar exoplanets that are discovered by future special high-contrast imaging systems, including the SPHERE instrument that will be installed on the VLT.” (Pictured: Artist's impression of orphaned planted discovered by ESO) FMI: www.eso.org For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/aerospace.cfm?ContentBlockID=4b8e6ded-6cba-4a02-a22e-bd27afafc58e ----------------------------------------------------------------- US Navy, Raytheon Receive Pentagon Engineering Award Recognized For GPS-Guided Precision Landing Program A U.S. Navy program that uses technology developed by Raytheon to land aircraft in harsh weather has been recognized with a Department of Defense engineering award. The Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) Increment 1A ship system received the Systems Engineering Top 5 Programs Award for "successful implementation of systems engineering best practices resulting in program success," according to the Department's announcement. JPALS uses the Global Positioning System and two-way data links for precise area navigation and landing approaches for Navy carrier-based aircraft and helicopters. The U.S. Navy-Raytheon team "utilized solid systems engineering practices to manage requirements, identify and mitigate risk, and manage the technical baseline, while keeping the program within cost and schedule targets," according to the evaluation team. An award ceremony was held Oct. 24, 2012, in San Diego, CA., sponsored by the National Defense Industrial Association. Raytheon is currently installing JPALS on the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush, CVN-77 (pictured above). Government integration of the system with other ship systems was completed in the Navy's test facility, and flight testing commenced in May 2012. Shipboard testing on the carrier is planned to start as early as December. FMI: www.raytheon.com For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/military.cfm?ContentBlockID=be156b55-51f7-4210-b9bb-ba8433502f3c ----------------------------------------------------------------- Former Marine In A Wheelchair Sues United Airlines, Air Serv Says He Was Mistreated By Airline And Airport Workers, Left Soaked In His Own Urine A former Marine Sergeant who was wounded and paralyzed in combat in Afghanistan has filed a lawsuit against United Airlines and Air Serv Corporation at O'Hare International Airport, claiming he was "dumped" out of his wheelchair by an Air Serve employee and later left soaked by the contents of his catheter bag. Chicago radio station WBBM reports that Sgt. Joseph Smith was traveling on United as part of the Paralympic shooting team, and trying to make a connection at O'Hare. He says that the Air Serv employee carelessly tipped him out of his chair when it became stuck while boarding the United flight, causing a concussion. He also says he was denied an aisle seat on the plane, and had to drag himself unassisted to his assigned seat. The contents of his catheter bag spilled in that process, leaving the former Marine soaked in his own urine. Smith's attorney Alex Hattimer said that the suit is more about dignity than money. "I want to make sure this never happens to someone else," he told the station. Neither Air Serve or United commented on the allegations. FMI: www.marines.mil For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commair.cfm?ContentBlockID=8d05ad8b-a470-4e8a-8a3a-a130a90ed774 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANN FAQ: Aero-Casting 101 -- Your Message Heard Here How To Advertise With Audio As you know, ANN's addition of DAILY Aero-Casts (often known as "podcasts") to our news line-up has become a wildly popular feature of our news programming. Adding DAILY audio products is an unprecedented move by the Aviation World's Most Comprehensive DAILY News Service. Our audio staff has been in the radio business for more than 30 years now -- they've written, produced and, of course, heard their share of commercials over three decades. But Aero-Casting is a new technology, especially to aviation businesses that generally don't advertise in the mainstream media. So here's a quick Q&A on some of the particulars you might want to know if you want to use this exciting new medium to get your message across to our listeners. Who Can Advertise On Aero-Casts? Well, just about anyone, come to think of it. But you might consider who you're trying to reach. Our audience is made up of aviation professionals, hobbyists and enthusiasts -- so if you're trying to reach a crowd of peers, this might just be the place for your message. But consider the demographics generally associated with aviation fans. They have above-average educations, above-average incomes and are very technology-minded. They're both men and women -- slightly more men -- between 25 and 74. If you're trying to reach an audience like that, then it really doesn't matter whether your product is aviation-oriented -- you've got one of the most sought-after demographics in the business right here at Aero-News. How Much Time Do I Have To Get My Message Across? We offer "spots" (yeah, it's an insider term for "commercials") of either 30- or 60-seconds in length. That's an industry standard and, while it doesn't sound like a lot of time, it really is more than enough to get most messages across. A 30-second spot is about two paragraphs of typewritten copy. A 60-second spot is, as you might expect, about twice that. What Do I Say? Here's where we can help you. I suggest the following process: 1) Boil your message down to a single sentence of no more than 30 words. Then expand on it until you've written a few paragraphs. Keep your idea simple and center it on that one sentence. Make sure you include your organization's name and contact information as well as your message. 2) Remember that the purpose of advertising is to motivate. You want the listener to do something, go somewhere or come around to your way of thinking on a particular issue. 3) Keep it simple. I can't stress that enough. Write short, declarative sentences and make it VERY conversational. Remember, you're talking to friends here. 4) When you've written your spot, grab a stopwatch and time it. Remember, if you want to use music or sound effects (use the effects sparingly), they take extra time. 5) Your message can take the form of a direct, one-on-one appeal to the listener. It can also be something like a skit, where the listener is a fly on the wall. You can use one voices or several. Get A Second Opinion When you've written your commercial, run it by a friend. If your friend "gets it," then you've probably written an effective spot. But to be sure, find a sympathetic ear that's not attached to someone in your organization. Aero-News has a full staff of media professionals who are able to hone your message until it's razor-sharp. Even if you've only sketched out the bare essentials of your spot, our staff can work and rework it until you've got a world-class commercial that perfectly suits your intent. Repetition is the key to radio (or Aero-Cast) advertising. When you consider how to schedule your spots, remember that repeating yourself is a good thing. Industry wisdom says, "Tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them." In other words, a listener needs to hear your commercial at least three times before it begins to sink in. The beauty of Aero-Casting is that you can afford to do that much more so than you can with general media. Mix It Up Consider a mixture of audio and print advertising with Aero-News. That way, you're reaching our entire audience. Aero-Casting allows listeners to pick and choose exactly what they want to hear. That means they're already inclined to receive your message. Now, all you have to do is get it to them. Have More Questions? Drop me a line. I'll be happy to help. You can reach me at editor@aero-news.net. FMI: www.aero-news.net For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/featurestories.cfm?ContentBlockID=df8d0c51-d9cd-4ba1-ae91-4da1c9548bac ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANN FAQ: ANN's 'Aero-Casting' Features Thousands Of Episodes And Counting!! For the very many of you who wrote so favorably about our podcasting efforts and made suggestions, we'd like you to know that we heard you -- as you heard us... loud and clear. Beginning with a trial run in 2005 at Oshkosh, ANN has now produced thousands of professional audio news and feature programs which fill a unique need for busy people. In addition to the appeal of the audio format itself, the convenience and practicality of being able to listen on a portable MP3 player, in the car, or even at your desk while scanning the morning's e-mail makes our Aero-Casts a unique fit in the lives of aviation enthusiasts who multi-task to make the most of their day. In the years since we launched Aero-Casting, a few things have changed. Fast internet access and far more capable mobile devices have made internet-distributed video available in your pocket. ANN's Aero TV arm is increasingly the medium of choice for seeing new products up close and in the air. And yet, the audio format does things no video can do, especially in situations requiring you to do more than one thing at a time. To adapt, ANN has adjusted its Aero-Cast schedule to let video be the primary medium for feature reporting, while preserving our news-focused audio service. Our Aero-Casts now include two unique products. Our Aero-Briefing is produced five days a week, and features news, commentary, and occasional brief interviews from all segments of aviation and aerospace in a roughly 12-minute package. The Aero News Special Feature is a vehicle through which we can provide greater detail on important individual stories, including expanded coverage of major aviation events. We also use this Aero-Cast to raise crucial aviation safety issues each Monday. Both Aero-Casts are available as free downloads from www.aero-news.net, or on an automatic, daily basis using a "podcast" platform, which employs XML technology to allow your mobile MP3 player or computer to quickly find and download new audio programs automatically, even while you sleep. In all cases, Aero-Casts are free to you, supported by ads in the audio. In 2005, this was a fairly new medium. It's now a mature medium, but not stagnant -- Your insight and suggestions on what you want to hear, and how you want it presented, are still important to us. We urge you to be an active part of the process by keeping us updated as to how you think we might serve you better. FMI: www.aero-news.net/podcasts For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/featurestories.cfm?ContentBlockID=bdbf2127-63c1-4770-8331-eaee03748435 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (11.19.12) Aero-Linx! Scouring the information super airways can sometimes be a tough, if educational, task for the Aero-News staff... but it also allows us to check out some truly neat and exciting sites, so it's not that bad a gig. On any given day, we may check dozens (and often hundreds) of different sources for story ideas, and facts confirmation. And, as is the nature of our business, much of this is done on the Internet. The ANN gang decided we probably shouldn't keep some of the neat sites, info resources, and organizations we've discovered to ourselves... so we decided to bring you Aero-Linx. These are the sites that WE check out -- when we need added perspective, a new spin on a day's topic... or just want to escape into cyber-aero-space for awhile. Look for some of our favorite sites, coming each day to ANN via Aero-Linx. Suggestions for future Aero-Linx segments are always welcome, as well. Aero Linx: USMC/Combat Helicopter Association The USMC/Combat Helicopter Association was begun by a few former helicopter pilots who wondered what had become of the people they used to fly with during the Vietnam War. Like so many, we had lost contact over the years with some close friends that we had made during our combat tours in Vietnam. Therefore, with a couple of phone calls, we began locating people. One thing led to another, and the next thing we knew we were having a reunion in Las Vegas in 1988. Approximately 200 people, representing all of the helicopter types that we flew, attended for a long weekend of fun. It was such a success that we began publishing a directory and a newsletter. FMI: www.popasmoke.com For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/featurestories.cfm?ContentBlockID=edd7dd00-e05c-45f6-99b2-d267642df502 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (11.18.12) Aero-Linx! Scouring the information super airways can sometimes be a tough, if educational, task for the Aero-News staff... but it also allows us to check out some truly neat and exciting sites, so it's not that bad a gig. On any given day, we may check dozens (and often hundreds) of different sources for story ideas, and facts confirmation. And, as is the nature of our business, much of this is done on the Internet. The ANN gang decided we probably shouldn't keep some of the neat sites, info resources, and organizations we've discovered to ourselves... so we decided to bring you Aero-Linx. These are the sites that WE check out -- when we need added perspective, a new spin on a day's topic... or just want to escape into cyber-aero-space for awhile. Look for some of our favorite sites, coming each day to ANN via Aero-Linx. Suggestions for future Aero-Linx segments are always welcome, as well. Aero Linx: Naval Helicopter Association NHA was founded in 1976 and is incorporated in California as a 501(C)(7) nonprofit professional organization to promote the development and use of naval vertical lift aircraft in the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard; provide a forum whereby persons in these organizations involved with vertical lift aircraft can interact with each other at meetings and conventions; to provide recognition to those persons who have made significant contributions to those purposes. In pursuing these objectives NHA keeps members informed of new developments and accomplishments in vertical lift aircraft. FMI: www.navalhelicopterassn.org For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/featurestories.cfm?ContentBlockID=353942b5-1105-4de4-a670-c7b6790c2030 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANN's Daily Aero-Term (11.19.12): Equinox Aero-Terms! Aero-Terms are designed to be a daily reminder of the terms, names, acronyms and explanations of the unique language that populates the aviation world. Aerospace, sport aviation, fixed wing, helo, you name it... it's all fair game. Aero-Terms should serve as a quick but intriguing reminder of the terms you may use every day, or an introduction to an aspects of the Aero-World you may not yet be familiar with. ANN also encourages readers to go beyond the FMI link, and further research any intriguing terms. Suggestions for future Aero-Terms are ALWAYS welcome, as are additions or discussion of the explanations given for each Aero-Term. Equinox The equinoxes are times at which the center of the Sun is directly above the Earth's equator. The day and night would be of equal length at that time, if the Sun were a point and not a disc, and if there were no atmospheric refraction. Given the apparent disc of the Sun, and the Earth's atmospheric refraction, day and night actually become equal at a point within a few days of each equinox. The vernal equinox marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere, and the autumnal equinox marks the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere. FMI: www.nasa.gov For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/featurestories.cfm?ContentBlockID=61f8eb41-5530-47cb-b333-fdc55970c993 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANN's Daily Aero-Term (11.18.12): Chandler Wobble Aero-Terms! Aero-Terms are designed to be a daily reminder of the terms, names, acronyms and explanations of the unique language that populates the aviation world. Aerospace, sport aviation, fixed wing, helo, you name it... it's all fair game. Aero-Terms should serve as a quick but intriguing reminder of the terms you may use every day, or an introduction to an aspects of the Aero-World you may not yet be familiar with. ANN also encourages readers to go beyond the FMI link, and further research any intriguing terms. Suggestions for future Aero-Terms are ALWAYS welcome, as are additions or discussion of the explanations given for each Aero-Term. Chandler Wobble A small motion in the Earth's rotation axis relative to the surface, discovered by American astronomer Seth Carlo Chandler in 1891. Its amplitude is about 0.7 arcseconds (about 15 meters on the surface) with a period of 433 days. It combines with another wobble with a period of one year, so the total polar motion varies with a period of about 7 years. The Chandler wobble is an example of free nutation for a spinning non-spherical object. FMI: www.nasa.gov For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/featurestories.cfm?ContentBlockID=b75584ee-311b-46eb-a953-4858d5115e01 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Aero-News: Quote Of The Day (11.19.12) Aero-News: Quote of the Day ANN's Quote of the Day usually derives from current news, though we reserve the right to pick quotes out of history that have a bearing on the day's events and issues. Sometimes, you'll find them timely and in keeping with the content of the day's news... and sometimes, they'll just be thought-provoking. Reader suggestions and comments are welcome... and if particularly intriguing, timely, or poignant, may themselves become future Quotes of the Day. Let us hear from you, folks! Aero-News Quote of the Day "We are proud to be sponsoring NASA's Student Launch Competition for the sixth year. Each year we are impressed with the level of skill and knowledge these students exhibit. We are very optimistic and excited about the caliber of individuals that could become our future work force." Source: Kent Rominger, VP of Business Development for ATK's Space Launch Division, following the anouncement of the 57 student teams whose inventive creations will be launched in April during the NASA Student Launch Projects' 2012-13 rocketry challenge. A $5,000 first-place award is provided by ATK. FMI: http://education.msfc.nasa.gov/sli For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/featurestories.cfm?ContentBlockID=8f6aa842-346f-4c08-948d-805e50c96524 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Aero-News: Quote Of The Day (11.18.12) Aero-News: Quote of the Day ANN's Quote of the Day usually derives from current news, though we reserve the right to pick quotes out of history that have a bearing on the day's events and issues. Sometimes, you'll find them timely and in keeping with the content of the day's news... and sometimes, they'll just be thought-provoking. Reader suggestions and comments are welcome... and if particularly intriguing, timely, or poignant, may themselves become future Quotes of the Day. Let us hear from you, folks! Aero-News Quote of the Day "The initial discoveries of the Kepler mission indicate at least a third of the stars have planets and the number of planets in our galaxy must number in the billions... The planets of greatest interest are other Earths and these could already be in the data awaiting analysis. Kepler's most exciting results are yet to come." Source: William Borucki, Kepler principal investigator at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, CA. NASA is marking two milestones in the search for planets like Earth; the successful completion of the Kepler Space Telescope's 3 1/2- year prime mission and the beginning of an extended mission that could last as long as four years. FMI: www.nasa.gov/kepler For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/featurestories.cfm?ContentBlockID=24321c5d-d4f8-4cb7-bb05-9acedd4aff56 ----------------------------------------------------------------- AD: Fokker Services B.V. Airplanes AD NUMBER: 2012-22-05 PRODUCT: Certain Fokker Services B.V. Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2012-22-05 ACTION: Final Rule SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the product listed above. That AD currently requires performing a detailed visual inspection for cracks of the pistons on the main landing gear (MLG), and replacing the affected pistons if necessary. This new AD also requires modifying the MLG by installing a piston containing a certain part number, and revising the airplane maintenance program. This AD was prompted by a new modification developed to safeguard the integrity of the MLG assembly and improve surface protection of the affected area of the MLG piston. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent MLG failure, possibly resulting in loss of control of the airplane during the landing roll-out. DATES: This AD becomes effective December 20, 2012. FMI: AD For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commair.cfm?ContentBlockID=88f87161-a90b-4be7-b08e-8851e57cf7c1 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANN Senior Staff Roster J.R. 'Zoom' Campbell CEO/Editor-In-Chief jim@aero-news.net Glen Moyer Aero-Cast Producer gmoyer@aero-news.net Tom Patton News Editor editor@aero-news.net Nathan Cremisino Ashley Hale Aero-TV Video Production Team Aero-TV HQ MKTG Inquiries Marketing Director mktg@aero-news.net Note: This newsletter is supported solely by sponsors like the one(s) listed herein. We stand 100% behind every ad that we run. If you ever have a problem with a company that advertises here please contact us and we will try to get it resolved. -- Aero-News Network Aero-News Network POB 305, Green Cove Springs, FL, 32043. 863-299-8680, www.aero-news.net ANN Aero-Casts /podcasts Provided to registered subscribers, Daily. 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