News-Travel agiency - Trekking agency |
- DOD Identifies Army Casualty
- Dempsey Discusses North Korea, U.S. Strategic Rebalance
- Dempsey: USO Tour Salutes Troops' Service, Sacrifices
- DOD Identifies Marine Casualty
- DOD Identifies Army Casualty
- Manas Transit Center Facilitates Success in Afghanistan
- Propwash
| Posted: 15 Dec 2012 09:46 AM PST
  | ||||||||||||
| Dempsey Discusses North Korea, U.S. Strategic Rebalance Posted: 15 Dec 2012 07:12 AM PST
  | ||||||||||||
| Dempsey: USO Tour Salutes Troops' Service, Sacrifices Posted: 15 Dec 2012 07:12 AM PST
  | ||||||||||||
| DOD Identifies Marine Casualty Posted: 15 Dec 2012 06:42 AM PST
  | ||||||||||||
| Posted: 15 Dec 2012 06:41 AM PST
  | ||||||||||||
| Manas Transit Center Facilitates Success in Afghanistan Posted: 15 Dec 2012 06:04 AM PST
  | ||||||||||||
| Posted: 15 Dec 2012 01:08 AM PST ----------------------------------------------------------------- Aero-News Network "Propwash" E-Mail Aero-News Summary A Free E-Mail Newsletter ISSN: 12.15.12 Issue 156/15 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: 12.15.12 Edition: Airborne 12.14.12: Riggs Stays Grounded, AIG Sells Out, X-37B Orbits Also: USAFA Soars, Falcon 2000S Exceeds, Remembering Vicki, NASA Awards As this edition of Airborne went into production, David Riggs' hearing before the NTSB had was well into its second day with Riggs' attorney trying to mount a defense against the Emergency Revocation Order issued by the FAA ordering Riggs to surrender his pilot certificate. We have now learned that the NTSB has upheld the FAA Emergency Revocation order and barring a successful last minute appeal, Riggs is grounded for at least a year. American International Group and an investor group led by Mr. Weng Xianding, the Chairman of New China Trust Co. Ltd., announced Sunday that they have entered into an agreement under which AIG will sell up to a 90 percent stake in International Lease Finance Corporation. All this... and MORE in today's episode of Airborne!!! Airborne 12.14.12 is chock full of info about the half-week period ending Friday, December 14th, 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) Riggs Scandal/Court Hearing/Witness Tampering 2) AIG To Sell Up To 90 Percent Of ILFC 3) X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Successfully Launched 4) NavWorx ADS-B Is 'Fully Operational,' TSO Anticipated 5) Delta To Acquire 49 Percent Of Virgin Atlantic 6) Dassault's Falcon 2000S Beats Performance Targets 7) USAF Cadets Soar To 8th Straight National Sailplane Racing Championship 8) Barnstorming: Remembering A Special Flyer's 45th Birthday 9) NASA Awards Commercial Crew Contracts 10) Quadcopter Follows Kid 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=e5bd29b7-3a55-4777-8c1a-6985b0a00903 ----------------------------------------------------------------- NATCA: 2,000 Air Traffic Controllers Could Go Over The Fiscal Cliff Union Predicts That Many Layoffs Possible If No Deal Is Reach On Sequestration The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has released a report outlining the major impact sequestration will have on the aviation industry and the U.S. economy if Congress does not act to avert the across-the-board cuts. “As the front line safety professionals in the aviation community, it is our role to warn the rest of the country that these cuts will be detrimental to our National Airspace System and the economy,” said NATCA President Paul Rinaldi. “We urge Congress to act to prevent the sequester before it’s too late.” The report states that all users and operators of the National Airspace System (NAS) including travelers, general aviation pilots, airlines, businesses and the military will feel the impact of the cuts in the form of a reduction in airport and air traffic control services, a diminishing of the NAS’s flight capacity, increased delays and costs to airlines and lags in air traffic modernization. It further warns that cutting the FAA operations budget by the mandated 8.2 percent could result in furloughing between 2,000 and 2,200 air traffic controllers, about 12 percent of the workforce. This would inevitably lead to a reduction in services, reduced capacity, and fewer flights. The resulting ripple effect would negatively impact airlines, pilots, flight attendants, private aviation, airport employees, passengers and the many businesses that depend on a vibrant aviation sector, which drives nearly 10 million jobs and contributes $1.3 trillion to the nation’s GDP. The report describes how the effects could be felt by airports that rely on passenger and landing fees and other passenger-generated revenue – a reduction in airspace capacity would increase airline delays and costs, resulting in decreased passenger demand as prices become unfeasible for average Americans. The report notes that the sequester would put at risk the several NextGen modernization projects being pursued jointly by the FAA, NATCA and the aviation industry that are currently seeing great progress. Advancements in programs such as ERAM and Optimization of Airspaces and Procedures in the Metroplex would be unnecessarily and irreparably delayed if sequestration is implemented. Reduced spending for NextGen research, planning and construction would not only delay essential modernization, but would also reduce valuable research investments critical to the U.S. economy. “The U.S. has the safest and most efficient airspace in the world and the FAA needs appropriate funding to continue directing it,” said NATCA Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert. “If Congress allows sequestration to become a reality, the aviation community and the economy will take a major hit. We cannot afford to let that happen.” FMI: Read the Report For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/genav.cfm?ContentBlockID=7673350a-b386-4206-a812-c1972be30390 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FAA Issues SAIB For Aspen MFDs Unintentional Reset Occurs When High Volume Of TFRs Displayed The FAA has issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) for Aspen Avionics EFD1000 and EFD500 Multifunction Displays (MFD), resulting from an unintentional reset occurring in certain display modes when there are a large number of Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs). According to the FAA, in certain situations the MFDs may unintentionally reset. The reset occurs when the avionics software receives a high number of TFRs and the MFDs are set to display information about the TFRs, such as when displaying moving maps. The primary flight displays (PFD) are not affected. More specifically the following conditions must be met: 1) An EFD1000 and/or EFD500 must be installed as a multifunction display. 2) The MFDs must be connected to a source to receive TFRs, such XM Satellite receivers. 3) There must be more than 100 TFRs received by the system. 4) The MFDs must have either the moving map or the TFR page selected. Depending on the particular hardware installed, the following may occur when the software reset occurs: 1) One or more of the MFDs will reset and temporarily go blank. 2) The autopilot may disconnect. 3) There may be a warning indicator stating “A/P AHRS Fail.” NOTE: The primary display AHRS is unaffected. 4) Certain optional indicators on the PFD might be lost due to loss of autopilot. During the reset, all required information displayed on the PFD and needed to safely fly the aircraft is available and unaffected. The MFD reset takes 20 to 30 seconds to complete. During this time the MFD may go blank. After reset is initiated it typically takes 15 to 20 minutes to restore XM satellite information. Subsequent resets will only occur if the above listed criteria are met, and only after the TFR list has been updated in the software. At this time, this airworthiness concern has not been determined to be an unsafe condition that would warrant airworthiness directive (AD) action. The FAA recommends that all owners and operators update the avionics software of the EFD1000 and EFD500 to version 2.6 or later FAA approved version. The software update can be obtained from Aspen Avionics and installed per Aspen Service Bulletin SB2012-05. The FAA also recommends that all owners and operators ensure they are using revision N, or later FAA approved version, of the approved flight manual supplement (AFMS), and are familiar with operating requirements. Section 3.15 of the AFMS contains troubleshooting procedures applicable to this situation. The latest AFMS can be obtained from Aspen Avionics’ website. FMI: SAIB, www.aspenavionics.com For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/genav.cfm?ContentBlockID=19fd9fa0-29e4-472b-b1e5-fc17145f2160 ----------------------------------------------------------------- AIA Study Warns Of Sequestration Impacts To NASA, NOAA Programs Budget Cuts Would Put More Than 22,500Jobs At Risk, Harm Regions With Innovative Aerospace Clusters As negotiations to avert the fiscal cliff heat up, little attention has been paid to the impact that mandatory budget cuts would have on the nation's civil space program and our ability to accurately forecast dangerous storms. A new economic impact analysis concludes that over 20,000 NASA contractor jobs and over 2,500 NOAA jobs related to weather satellites could be lost in 2013 if the Budget Control Act's sequestration mandate takes effect on January 2, 2013. "This report demonstrates that the biggest single threat to our space programs' continued success are arbitrary and capricious budget cuts," said AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey (pictured). "NASA and NOAA are responsible for cutting edge activities that expand the boundaries of knowledge and discovery, lead to economic innovation and save lives. We can't afford not to invest in these sources of American scientific and technological greatness." Dr. Stephen S. Fuller, Dwight Schar Faculty Chair and University Professor and Director for Regional Analysis at George Mason University, conducted the study on behalf of the Aerospace Industries Association. Dr. Fuller's analysis found that in addition to threatening the jobs of many of the scientists, engineers and technicians that design, manufacture and operate our nation's spacecraft, sequestration would also deal major damage to those regions of the country with high concentrations of aerospace activity, better known as industry clusters. "The importance of maintaining these clusters cannot be overstated," notes Frank Slazer, AIA's Vice President of Space Systems. "Clusters have been shown to promote economic efficiencies and specialization, encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, and drive prosperity for entire regions." Impacted "clusters" in the study include those in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Texas, Utah and Virginia. Also released Thursday, AIA's new report, Space in our World highlights the irreplaceable ways space systems save lives and increase prosperity for everyone. AIA says the report makes it abundantly clear that we cannot afford to live in a world without capable, robust space systems. FMI: www.aia-aerospace.org/economics/reports_white_papers/ For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/aerospace.cfm?ContentBlockID=9ca1cb94-cdc9-41ef-aa79-d880ce667f2b ----------------------------------------------------------------- Embraer Regional Jets Receive Type Approval for Operation in Russia and the CIS Russian Airlines Now Able To Buy E190, E195 The Embraer 190 and the Embraer 195 jets have received the Type Certificates from the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC), also known by its Russian acronym MAK, paving the way for Russian airlines to acquire the 112 to 124-seat aircraft. “This is a significant milestone in the program that now allows prospective customers in Russia to add E-Jets to their fleets,” said Paulo Cesar Silva, President & CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation. “We see tremendous potential in the Russian market, which has such a rich aviation history. I’m confident that these two E-Jets can bring new operating efficiencies to Russian airlines and help them succeed in a fast-growing domestic market.” Embraer estimates that domestic airline passenger volume in Russia will grow an average of 5.6% per year over the next 20 years and that its airlines will need some 445 new aircraft with 30 to 120 seats. This represents 7% of the world demand in that capacity segment. In the 91 to 120-seat category where the E190 and the E195 are positioned, the Russian market will need about 300 new aircraft. The E-Jets are already well established in several countries in Russia’s vicinity – Poland, Finland, Bulgaria, Estonia and the Republic of Moldova – and in CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries where Embraer has E-Jets customers in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Ukraine. (Embraer E195 image from file) FMI: www.embraer.com For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commair.cfm?ContentBlockID=275881ad-c607-48fa-ba16-57d1c96d4618 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Twin NASA Probes Prepare For Dec. 17 Mission-Ending Moon Impact 'Ebb' And 'Flow' Flying Low And Nearly Out Of Fuel, Their Mission Is Complete Twin lunar-orbiting NASA spacecraft that have allowed scientists to learn more about the internal structure and composition of the moon are being prepared for their controlled descent and impact on a mountain near the moon's north pole at about 1728 EST Monday, Dec. 17. Ebb and Flow, the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission probes, are being sent purposely into the lunar surface because their low orbit and low fuel levels preclude further scientific operations. The duo's successful prime and extended science missions generated the highest resolution gravity field map of any celestial body. The map will provide a better understanding of how Earth and other rocky planets in the solar system formed and evolved. "It is going to be difficult to say goodbye," said GRAIL principal investigator Maria Zuber of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. "Our little robotic twins have been exemplary members of the GRAIL family, and planetary science has advanced in a major way because of their contributions." The mountain where the two spacecraft will make contact is located near a crater named Goldschmidt. Both spacecraft have been flying in formation around the moon since Jan. 1, 2012. They were named by elementary school students in Bozeman, MT, who won a contest. The first probe to reach the moon, Ebb, also will be the first to go down, at 1728:40 (EST). Flow will follow Ebb about 20 seconds later. Both spacecraft will hit the surface at 3,760 mph, or 1.7 kilometers per second. No imagery of the impact is expected because the region will be in shadow at the time. Ebb and Flow will conduct one final experiment before their mission ends. They will fire their main engines until their propellant tanks are empty to determine precisely the amount of fuel remaining in their tanks. This will help NASA engineers validate fuel consumption computer models to improve predictions of fuel needs for future missions. "Our lunar twins may be in the twilight of their operational lives, but one thing is for sure, they are going down swinging," said GRAIL project manager David Lehman of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA. "Even during the last half of their last orbit, we are going to do an engineering experiment that could help future missions operate more efficiently." Because the exact amount of fuel remaining aboard each spacecraft is unknown, mission navigators and engineers designed the depletion burn to allow the probes to descend gradually for several hours and skim the surface of the moon until the elevated terrain of the target mountain gets in their way. The burn that will change the spacecrafts' orbit and ensure the impact is scheduled to take place Friday morning. "Such a unique end-of-mission scenario requires extensive and detailed mission planning and navigation," said Lehman. "We've had our share of challenges during this mission and always come through in flying colors, but nobody I know around here has ever flown into a moon mountain before. It'll be a first for us, that's for sure." During their prime mission, from March through May, Ebb and Flow collected data while orbiting at an average altitude of 34 miles. Their altitude was lowered to 14 miles for their extended mission, which began Aug. 30 and sometimes placed them within a few miles of the moon's tallest surface features. (Images provided by NASA) FMI: www.nasa.gov/grail For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/aerospace.cfm?ContentBlockID=a53e0b91-217f-46ee-8f4c-7bdfb81955e9 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FAA Proposes AD For Some GE CF34-8C And CF34-8E Engines Two Instances Of Engine Fires Prompted The Move The FAA posted a proposed AD in the Federal Register Thursday for all General Electric Company (GE) CF34-8C and CF34-8E turbofan engines with certain part numbers (P/N) of operability bleed valves (OBV) installed. This proposed AD was prompted by three failure events of ring lock fuel fittings on the OBV. Two of those events led to an engine fire. This proposed AD would require the affected OBVs be removed from service and replaced with OBVs eligible for installation. The FAA is proposing this AD to prevent failure of OBV ring lock fuel fittings, engine fuel leakage, uncontrolled fire, and damage to the airplane. The agency received reports of three failure events of OBV ring lock fuel fittings on GE CF34-8C turbofan engines. Two of those events led to an engine fire. Investigation revealed that the ring lock fittings failed due to fatigue caused by improper broaching of the OBV housing during manufacture, and, improper installation of the ring lock fittings during OBV assembly. GE CF34-8E turbofan engines also use the affected OBVs and would be affected by this proposed AD. The FAA says that this condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of OBV ring lock fuel fittings, engine fuel leakage, uncontrolled fire, and damage to the airplane. The repairs are expected to affect some 300 engines installed on Embraer and Bombardier airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates that it would take about two hours per engine to perform the actions required by this proposed AD, and that the average labor rate is $85 per hour. Required parts would cost about $25,000 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the proposed AD to U.S. operators to be $7,551,000. Comments on the proposed AD are due to the FAA by February 11, 2013. FMI: Proposed AD For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commair.cfm?ContentBlockID=5f264d08-35ad-4667-adfb-51883171e445 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Six NJ Gas Stations Get 100LL By Mistake Some Was Sold To Motorists Before Error Discovered The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs confirmed Wednesday that approximately eight tankers of aviation fuel were mistakenly delivered to six gas stations last week in four New Jersey counties. This fuel was sold to motorists last week before the stations were shut down. The aviation fuel, which is rated at 104.7 octane compared to 93 octane for super unleaded gasoline, was delivered to, and then dispensed as super unleaded by, the following New Jersey gas stations from Wednesday, December 5 to Friday, December 7: 1) Delta, 88 Route 36 South, Keyport 2) Getty, 1292 Route 22 East, North Plainfield 3) Express Fuel, 2482 South Broad Street, Trenton 4) Lukoil, 218 Parker Avenue, Manasquan 5) Lukoil, 2239 North Avenue, Scotch Plains 6) Pasmel, 2515 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville In a news release, the DCA said all six stations are owned by Freehold-based Pasmel Property. Officials with the State Division of Consumer Affairs and its Office of Weights and Measures today met with Pasmel representatives to gather information about this situation. The aviation fuel was only sold as super unleaded and the other grades sold by these stations have not been affected. In addition to having a higher octane level, aviation fuel, which is used in propeller-driven aircraft and not jets, contains a small amount of lead as opposed to the unleaded gasoline dispensed to motorists. Automotive professionals consulted by Consumer Affairs believe that the aviation fuel should not cause damage to vehicle engines. However, any consumer who has concerns about their vehicle after purchasing super unleaded from any of these stations during this time frame should file a complaint with the Division. The Division to date has received about 30 complaints from motorists who purchased fuel at the six gas stations, some who said that it caused their cars to stall or not run at all. “As we continue to investigate how these mistaken deliveries occurred, we want customers of these six stations to be aware of this situation and to monitor their vehicles. If customers who filled their vehicles with super unleaded gas during this time have concerns about how their vehicles are operating, they should file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Affairs,” said Eric T. Kanefsky, Acting Director of the State Division of Consumer Affairs. As a result of this situation, Pasmel is in the process of removing all gasoline from its tanks at these locations. In total, more than 80,000 gallons is being removed. The fuel must be removed and the dispensing systems cleaned, before Weight and Measures inspectors will allow the six stations to re-open. The state Department of Environmental Protection is closely monitoring the removal and disposal of the aviation fuel. And we'll bet they didn't pay $7.00 per gallon for the 100LL, either. FMI: www.njconsumeraffairs.gov For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/genav.cfm?ContentBlockID=eeaab760-835c-43ec-87bf-29131fefb17f ----------------------------------------------------------------- AirAsia Orders 100 More A320s Another Major Order For Ongoing Growth At Asia's Largest Low Cost Carrier AirAsia has placed a new order with Airbus for 100 more A320 Family aircraft. The contract covers an additional 64 A320neo and 36 A320ceo aircraft for operation across the carrier’s network. The order by the largest low cost airline in Asia was announced during a visit by British Prime Minister David Cameron to the Airbus wing manufacturing facility at Broughton in the UK, where Mr Cameron witnessed the signing of documents by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia and Fabrice Brégier, President & CEO, Airbus. The contract reaffirms AirAsia’s position as the largest A320 Family airline customer in the world. Altogether, the carrier has now ordered 475 single aisle aircraft from Airbus, comprising 264 A320neo and 211 A320ceo. Over 100 aircraft have already been delivered to the airline and are flying out of its bases in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Manila and Tokyo. Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia said during the signing: “We have three gold mines in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. On the other hand, Philippines and Japan have enormous potential growth. With these added aircraft, it goes in-line with our strategy to further build our already extensive network through new routes and added frequencies and allow AirAsia to maintain its market leadership." “AirAsia is one of the great success stories of recent years in the airline business,” said Fabrice Brégier, President & CEO, Airbus. “The repeated confidence the airline places in the A320 is a clear endorsement of the reliability, efficiency and unbeatable operating economics offered by the world’s most modern single aisle product line.” (Artist's concept image provided by Airbus) FMI: www.airbus.com For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commair.cfm?ContentBlockID=e5c6c70c-eddc-433c-b8fe-81db74d2c01a ----------------------------------------------------------------- Garmin Expands Global Aviation Charting Capabilities Releases European VFR, IFR Charts For aera Portable Devices Garmin has released European VFR and IFR charts for the aera 795/796 aviation portable GPS, with VFR data sourced directly from Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS). These charts are the most recent addition to the growing list of worldwide aviation charting products available from Garmin. “Pilots have flown behind DFS paper charts for years, but the ability to display the charts electronically is something our European customers have been asking for. We’ve listened to that feedback and have made significant investments over the last year to expand our electronic chart offerings for customers worldwide,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin’s vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “Having information available electronically in the cockpit offers pilots more immediate access to the information they need to make good decisions.” Earlier this year, Garmin also introduced European VFR terminal charts, or Bottlang charts, from Jeppesen for the aera 795/796, containing colored visual approach, landing and area charts, as well as general-and country-related text sections such as Regulations, Communications, Meteorology, Aerodrome Directory and more for the planning and execution of flights within Europe under Visual Flight Rules. Additionally, Garmin recently expanded its SafeTaxi database, which now includes geo-referenced airport diagrams for over 1,000 U.S. airports, nearly 500 European airports and over 250 Canadian airports. This database is complemented by an electronic AC-U-KWIK global airport directory that includes information about nearly 8,000 airports worldwide. The new European VFR and IFR charts for the aera 795/796 are available as a combination subscription for $410. Customers may purchase only the IFR charts for $155 for an annual subscription. VFR charts are available as a one-time purchase of a single country ranging from $32 to $90, or as a one-time purchase for all of Europe for $205. FMI: www.flyGarmin.com For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/genav.cfm?ContentBlockID=b3f0bbb2-14ac-431a-ac4a-21ce85f7d5e2 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Company That Owned Jenni Rivera Airplane Has A Checkered Past Starwood Management Executive Was Accused Of Falsifying Documents In 1990s, 2000s The company that owned the airplane which went down early this week resulting in the fatal injury of Latin-American celebrity Jenni Rivera and six others had been accused of falsifying records about airplanes they had bought and sold in the past, according to a report appearing in the Los Angeles Times. The Lear 25 reportedly entered a steep dive at 28,000 feet and did not recover before impacting terrain on the side of a mountain near the Mexican town of Iturbide. Secretary of Communications and Transportation Gerardo Ruiz Esparza said in an interview with Radio Formula that the Lear impacted terrain only about 1.2 miles from the point that it entered the dive, meaning it was nearly vertical. The speed of the airplane may have topped 500 knots during the descent, which reportedly lasted about 30 seconds. According to the report, Christian E. Esquino Nunez, an executive of Las Vegas-based Starwood Management LLC which is the registered owner of the Lear, had been accused of a conspiracy to falsify maintenance documents about aircraft under their management in the 1990s and 2000s. He pleaded guilty to the charges in 2005, and served two years in a federal prison. After his release, he was deported back to Mexico. In a telephone interview with the paper, Esquino said that Rivera was planning to buy the jet, which was manufactured in 1969, for $250,000. He said the flight was a free "demo" for the singer before they concluded the deal, not a charter flight. Esquino said that he understands why authorities and others are questioning his past, but that the airplane was "perfectly maintained." He said in his mind, the "only conceivable explanation" is that the 78-year-old pilot became incapacitated in some way, perhaps a heart attack, and the younger copilot was unable to regain control of the aircraft. While the pilot, Miguel Parez Soto, was licenced to operate the airplane in Mexico, U.S. authorities said he was not instrument rated by the FAA, and was not authorized to carry passengers for hire in the U.S. According to an article appearing in the Huffington Post, the DEA is also looking at the company that owned the airplane. The agency seized two of its aircraft as part of an ongoing investigation. DEA spokeswoman Lisa Webb Johnson said that the airplanes had been seized in Texas and Arizona, but did not offer any further details about the matter. According to the report, one airplane, a Gulfstream G-1159A the government valued at $500,000, was seized in February by the U.S. Marshals Service on behalf of the DEA after it arrived in Tucson on a flight that began in Mexico. In September, the government took a 1977 Hawker 700 belonging to the company with an insured value of $1 million – after it landed in McAllen, Texas, again following a flight from Mexico. The agency has also issued a subpoenaed all of the company's records, including any communication it may have had with a former mayor of Tijuana believed to have connections with organized crime. In a related development, two of the police officers working the accident scene have been arrested and accused of stealing "unspecified items" they were supposed to protect. Investigators found personal items in the homes of the two officers who were supposed to be guarding the site. They were reportedly attached to a new unit designed to be less corrupt, according to Fox News Latino. The investigation began when a Blackberry device belonging to one of the guards was discovered to contain images of wreckage, personal items, and body parts. The NTSB is assisting in the Mexican government in the investigation. FMI: www.ntsb.gov For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commbus.cfm?ContentBlockID=bb44f050-0e5d-44cb-a4ae-5997348f8e94 ----------------------------------------------------------------- New Hampshire Pilot Pleads Guilty In Fatal Accident Was Flying Without An Instructor In An Airplane For Which He Was Not Rated A guilty plea has been offered by 58-year-old Steven Fay of Hillsboro, NH, who had been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of his 35-year-old daughter. Fay was at the controls of a Cessna 310F when it went down on approach to Orange Municipal Airport (KORE) in Massachusetts on January 1, 2011. His daughter was with him in the airplane. Fay, a licensed pilot, was reportedly not certified to fly the twin without an instructor on board, according to the Associated Press. The NTSB probable cause report indicates that "at the last moment the pilot decided to conduct a touch-and-go landing and takeoff at a nearby airport. During a short final leg of the landing approach, the pilot recalled seeing white and red lights on the left side of the runway and believed these were visual approach slope indicator lights. He was uncertain of what light color arrangement indicated a proper glide path to the runway. "As the airplane approached the runway, the lights started to flicker, at which time the pilot applied full engine power, but the airplane immediately collided with trees and came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that there was less ambient light than he had anticipated and that there was haze in the air. He was not aware of the trees at the approach end of the runway. The airport was not tower controlled and none of the 4 runways were equipped with visual approach slope indicator lights. The intended landing runway has a published displaced threshold that is 850 feet from the runway’s original threshold. "Published information cautions about trees at the approach end of that runway. The pilot did not review any publication for the intended airport before the flight. Additionally, the pilot did not hold a multi-engine rating or a multi-engine solo endorsement. The last entry in his flight logbooks for night flight was in 2000. The pilot reported no mechanical issues with the airplane before the accident." The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause(s) of this accident to be the pilot's failure to maintain separation from trees during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and lack of recent night flight experience. The FAA has pulled Fay's pilot certificate while he serves out one year's probation through December 31, 2013. He may not seek reinstatement of his certificate until after that date. The probation was part of the plea agreement worked out with prosecutors. He faced up to 20 years in prison on the charge. FMI: www.courts.state.nh.us/courtlocations/merrdistdir.htm For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/genav.cfm?ContentBlockID=d220c6ca-2c86-4f5f-aeb5-d60378d40d56 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Navy Awards E-6B Aircraft Upgrade Contract Rockwell Collins Awarded $295 Million Full Rate Production Contract for Block I Modernization The U.S. Navy has awarded $54 million full rate production contract, with unexercised options valued at an additional $241 million, to Rockwell Collins for the upgrade of eleven aircraft as part of the E-6B Block I Modification program. The Navy E-6B aircraft is used to conduct the “Take Charge and Move Out” (TACAMO) and the United States Strategic Command Airborne Command Post missions. The open system solution provided by the Block I modification addresses immediate modernization requirements and enables system expansion in the future. The initial $54 million award covers the procurement of the material, installation and associated activities for the next three aircraft. The total program includes production engineering support, field service support, operator and maintenance crew training classes and maintenance trainer updates. “This upgrade brings many new capabilities to the Navy, including better communication and mission capabilities, and plays a key role in providing reliable and survivable communications between our nation’s leadership and U.S. strategic forces,” said Dave Nieuwsma, vice president and general manager of Airborne Solutions for Rockwell Collins. “This award is especially meaningful to Rockwell Collins as it signifies the continuation of a 40-year relationship supporting the Navy TACAMO mission.” The Block I Modification being completed by Rockwell Collins features an open system approach for mission avionics, a Voice over Internet Protocol Intercommunications System and an on-aircraft, multi-level secure network for message processing, radio control/monitoring and other mission applications. The program also improves the reliability and availability of the Ultra High Frequency Command, Control and Communication system and enhances the electrical power and cooling systems. The Block I Modification solution modernizes the aircraft’s communication infrastructure to support moving data onto, off of and throughout the aircraft. This infrastructure will support the ever increasing bandwidth demands in this emerging age of the digital battlespace. (E-6 image provided by the U.S. Navy) FMI: www.rockwellcollins.com For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/military.cfm?ContentBlockID=34c4fba7-9648-4643-b708-74bdd4acde5d ----------------------------------------------------------------- Scan Eagle UAV Conducts First Flight On LPD Class Ship First Operational Deployment Aboard The USS San Antonio Is Planned For Next Summer A Scan Eagle Unmanned Air Vehicle was launch-tested aboard the amphibious transport dock class ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) on Nov. 28 off the coast of North Carolina. The flight on the San Antonio LPD class ship was part of a post-installation and functional flight-check exercise. Scan Eagle’s first deployment aboard USS San Antonio is planned for summer 2013. Since 2005, Scan Eagle has flown nearly 250,000 hours under the Naval Air Systems Command's Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) services contract. Defense contractor Insitu owns and operates the Scan Eagle UAV. The 44-pound UAV is predominately flown off Navy DDG-51 destroyers. Recent and upcoming ISR services on amphibious warfare ships are a precursor for the Navy and Marine Corps' plans to field and operate the expeditionary RQ-21A Small Tactical Unmanned Air System from the sea. The RQ-21A Integrator just completed land-based testing and is scheduled to begin shipboard testing early next year. According to the Navy, the Scan Eagle unmanned air vehicle was designed for long endurance capability. Scan Eagle features a high aspect ratio swept wing, shoulder-mounted on a cylindrical fuselage using blended fairings. The air vehicle is tailless, with a rear-mounted engine driving a pusher propeller. The structure is carbon fiber composite with fiberglass winglets. Two sets of elevons on the wings provide pitch and roll control, with rudders on the winglets at the wingtips for directional control. The Super Wedge catapult provides the initial velocity and rate of climb. The catapult requires approximately 45-75 PSI compressed air (depending on weight and wind) to charge the system. The pneumatic catapult is charged from a remotely operated air compressor attached to the launcher. FMI: www.navy.mil For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/military.cfm?ContentBlockID=7f2e21b9-164e-448a-9db3-700081ea5169 ----------------------------------------------------------------- L-29 Down In Texas, Two Fatally Injured Possibly An Airplane Owned By The Cold War Air Museum An L-29 Delfin went down Thursday near Scurry in Kaufman County, TX, resulting in the fatal injury of both people on board the airplane. It is possible that the aircraft belonged to the Cold War Air Museum at Lancaster Regional Airport (KLNC) southeast of Dallas. Television Station KTVT reports that the airplane went down between Ennis and Kaufaman, TX. Those on board have not been officially identified. The weather at the time of the accident was said to be clear, and no flight plan had been filed. The L-29 was manufactured in what was then Czechoslovakia during the cold war as a training airplane. Dallas County Constable R. l. Skinner told the station that there had been about 3,600 of the aircraft manufactured for the then-Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s. He said that it is a "forgiving airplane" to fly, and that Lancaster Field is home to as many as eight L-29s. "It has a very good safety record," Skinner said. Skinner has both imported and flown the L-29. He said that it was possible that the two people on board the accident airplane were friends of his connected with the museum. (L-29 Image from file. Not accident airplane) FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.cwam.org For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/military.cfm?ContentBlockID=8fda8050-b075-4a5a-be8e-bf5bcecfbedb ----------------------------------------------------------------- NASA Outlines Accomplishments In The Post-Shuttle Era New Rover On Mars, Commercial Crew Developments Touted As Year's Highlights NASA says it has continued to implement America's ambitious space exploration program even as its shuttles were transferred to museums in 2012 ... landing the most sophisticated rover on the surface of Mars, carrying out the first-ever commercial mission to the International Space Station and advancing the systems needed to send humans deeper into space. "NASA achieved historic milestones this year landing the most sophisticated rover on the surface of Mars, carrying out the first ever commercial mission to the space station and continuing to advance the systems needed to send humans deeper into space -- beyond the moon, to an asteroid and on to Mars," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden (pictured) said. "We are able to keep the United States the world leader in space exploration -- and continue to implement America's bipartisan space plan -- because of our talented and dedicated work force." It what has been described as the most complex landing ever attempted in planetary exploration, NASA successfully placed the most advanced robotic rover on Mars. The Mars Science Laboratory mission carrying the one-ton rover named Curiosity, touched down in August. Almost immediately, Curiosity sent back pictures of its landing site at Gale Crater with the eventual destination of Mount Sharp in the background. Since then, Curiosity has checked out its 10 science instruments, sent back detailed photos and weather observations and "tasted" Martian soil. Key mission findings during the first three months after the landing include conglomerate rocks bearing rounded pebbles as evidence of vigorous ancient stream flow right in the area where Curiosity landed; mineral composition of Martian soil similar to soils in Hawaii that contain volcanic glass; and the first assessment of the natural radiation environment that future astronauts will encounter on the surface of Mars. On Dec. 4, NASA announced plans for a robust multi-year Mars program, including a new robotic science rover based on the Curiosity design set to launch in 2020. The planned portfolio includes the Curiosity and Opportunity rovers; two NASA spacecraft and contributions to one European spacecraft currently orbiting Mars; the 2013 launch of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) orbiter to study the Martian upper atmosphere; the Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) mission, which will take the first look into the deep interior of Mars; and participation in ESA's 2016 and 2018 ExoMars missions, including providing "Electra" telecommunication radios to ESA's 2016 mission and a critical element of the premier astrobiology instrument on the 2018 ExoMars rover. With InSight, there will be a total of seven NASA missions operating or being planned to study and explore our Earth-like neighbor. The 2020 mission will constitute another step toward being responsive to high-priority science goals and the president's challenge of sending humans to Mars orbit in the 2030s. On the commercial space side of the ledger, a Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) Dragon spacecraft successfully resupplied the International Space Station and returned cargo back to Earth in October, completing NASA's first contracted cargo delivery flight. Under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract, SpaceX will fly at least 12 cargo missions to the space station through 2016. The Dragon launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 882 pounds of cargo, including crew supplies, scientific research and hardware. Dragon returned almost twice that amount of cargo, including a freezer packed with research samples collected in the orbiting laboratory's unique microgravity environment. These samples will help advance multiple scientific disciplines on Earth and provide critical data on the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body. The ability to return frozen samples is a first for this flight and will be tremendously beneficial to the station's research community. Not since the space shuttle have NASA and its international partners been able to return considerable amounts of research and samples for analysis. SpaceX is one of two companies that built and tested new cargo spacecraft under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. SpaceX completed its final demonstration test flight in May, becoming the first commercial company ever to launch, rendezvous and be docked to the International Space Station. Orbital Sciences is the other company participating in COTS. Orbital's Antares launch vehicle is on the launch pad at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia in advance of a hot fire test of the Antares first-stage engines. A flight test of the Antares with a simulated Cygnus spacecraft and a demonstration flight of Cygnus to the space station are planned for 2013. With commercial cargo flights to the space station under way in 2012, NASA took the next steps in the effort to launch Americans from U.S. soil again. The agency announced in August new agreements with three American commercial companies to design and develop the next generation of U.S. human spaceflight capabilities, enabling a launch of astronauts from the United States in the next five years. Advances made by these companies under Space Act Agreements through the agency's Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) initiative are intended to ultimately lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. The CCiCap partners are the Sierra Nevada Corporation, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), and The Boeing Company. CCiCap is an initiative of NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP) and an administration priority. The objective of the CCP is to facilitate the development of a U.S. commercial crew space transportation capability with the goal of achieving safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from the International Space Station and low-Earth orbit. Between now and May 31, 2014, NASA's partners will perform tests and mature integrated designs. This would then set the stage for a future activity that will launch crewed orbital demonstration missions to low-Earth orbit by the middle of the decade. NASA and its international partners celebrated 12 years of permanent human habitation on the International Space Station on Nov. 2. More than 1,500 research and technology development experiments have been conducted aboard the orbiting lab -- more than 200 of them this year alone -- many of which are producing advances in medicine, environmental systems and our understanding of the universe. Several new facilities delivered to the space station this year allow for an array of new research projects. The Japanese Experiment Module Small Satellite Orbital Deployer changes the way mini satellites now can be deployed to their optimal orbit, allowing for greater flexibility, operational control and significant monetary savings. The Aquatic Habitat received its first inhabitants, translucent Medaka fish, allowing for easy observation of their skeletal systems, which gives more insight into bone and muscle atrophy, which are medical issues for astronauts and the aging population, and radiation effects. A Gravitational Biology Lab also was delivered to station. The centrifuge allows for biological experimentation in artificial gravity -- from zero gravity to twice Earth's normal gravity -- for prolonged periods of time. This facility provides environmental control, lighting, data transfer, commanding and observation of experiments in Mars and moon gravity conditions, as well as mimicking Earth's gravity. The centrifuge is useful for biological organism research and could lead to advances in medications and vaccines, agricultural controls and discoveries in genetics -- all beneficial to people on Earth. In July, NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida welcomed the arrival of the agency's first space-bound Orion capsule, marking a major milestone in the construction of the spacecraft that will carry astronauts farther into space than ever before. Orion will be the most advanced spacecraft ever designed, sustaining astronauts during space travel, providing safe re-entry from deep space and emergency abort capability. The Orion at Kennedy will launch on Exploration Flight Test-1, an uncrewed mission planned for 2014. The spacecraft will travel 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface, 15 times farther than the International Space Station's orbital position. The primary flight objective is to understand Orion's heat shield performance at speeds generated during a return from deep space. NASA and its industry partners around the country also made swift progress on the Space Launch System (SLS) this year, testing and developing new components and improving on existing hardware. New construction on the largest rocket ever built is enabled by existing, proven technology, like the space shuttle main engines that will power the first stage of the rocket. The new J-2X engine, which is targeted to power the upper stage of the rocket, underwent a battery of tests that broke duration records and pushed the engine design to its limits. The Orion, SLS, and Ground Systems Development and Operations programs also reached their critical milestones this year each with an approved system requirement review and system definition review. Those pivotal steps allowed these programs to move from concept into its preliminary design phase and all remain on target for its first flight test in 2017. Other significant stories included NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, which has allowed scientists to see further back in time than ever before, and uncover a previously unseen population of seven primitive galaxies that formed more than 13 billion years ago, when the universe was less than 3 percent of its present age. The deepest images to date from Hubble yield the first statistically robust sample of galaxies that tells how abundant they were close to the era when galaxies first formed. NASA is continuing to learn more about how sound waves created by supersonic aircraft move through the atmosphere, all with an eye towards designing aircraft that generate sonic booms you can barely hear -- or can't hear at all -- on the ground below. This work could open a whole new segment of the economy for commercial aviation by making supersonic flight over land acceptable. But against the backdrop of progress, NASA's shuttles, which some say potentially had a lot of flight time left, were delivered in 2012 to their new homes, where they will begin a new chapter in their careers: inspiring museum-goers of all ages to reach for the stars. Discovery arrived at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Dulles, Virginia, in April; Enterprise was unveiled at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York in July; Endeavour was moved to the California Science Center in Los Angeles in October; and Atlantis was relocated to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida in November. You'll see more of the year's top stories in aerospace and all facets of aviation when ANN looks at it's top stories of the year in January. FMI: www.nasa.gov For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/aerospace.cfm?ContentBlockID=8dd6fbe6-0761-4b8a-824a-1c7cb4f23896 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Advanced Unmanned Completes First Stage Of UAV Development Aerial Imagery Company Approves Custom Aircraft Specs Aerial imagery company Advanced Unmanned has approved the specifications for its customized unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fleet, completing the design phase of the aerospace project. Advanced Unmanned contracted with Airboss Aviation Group to design the prototype UAV. The High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAV incorporates technology features including: 1) Ability to complete missions longer than 15 hours, and above 45,000ft. 2) Multiple sensor payloads: Electro-Optical (EO), Infrared (IR), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI), and other sensors. 3) Near real-time delivery of imagery and associated products. “The current aerial and satellite imagery market offers out-of-date technology and often lacks rapid response times,” said Advanced Unmanned chief executive officer David Record. “Our custom UAV fleet will enable us to provide fast, accurate and high-quality images at a fraction of the cost of satellite and manned aerial image providers.” The first flight of the prototype UAV is scheduled for Q3 of 2014. The airplanes are projected to fly on manned missions by mid-year 2015, and once Federal legislation passes, fly unmanned missions in late 2015 or early 2016. Advanced Unmanned will provide global commercial organizations and government agencies near real-time delivery of affordable, accurate and ultra-high-resolution images using a proprietary, intuitive Web interface. (Image provided by Advanced Unmanned) FMI: www.advancedunmanned.com For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commbus.cfm?ContentBlockID=b427c6eb-5589-4a1b-85e6-fbb0540ab019 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Alabama Airport Fatality Lawsuit Settled Before Trial Five-Year-Old Child Was Fatally Injured During A Weather Event The lawsuit stemming from the death of a five-year-old boy at an airshow at Huntsville International Airport in June, 2008, has been settled, according to court documents. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed. The suit stemmed from the death of five-year-old Josiah Miller, who was fatally injured when an air conditioning unit which was set up as part of a series of hospitality tents at the show fell on him after being picked up by a microburst which hit the airport. The show had officially been suspended a few minutes before the severe weather moved in. The suit had charged the tent provider and installer All Needz Rental, as well as the air conditioner provider Aggreko LLC and two airport employees with responsibility for the child's death. The family had previously settled with Aggreko, according to a report appearing on the online Alabama news site AL.com. A trial has been scheduled for February. A court order handed down last week by Circuit Judge Karen Hall indicated that the parties had settled the suit during mediation, and that they would be providing the court with settlement documents. The judge said they are required to produce the documents not later than 60 days after December 3. FMI: http://23judicialcircuit.org/ For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/genav.cfm?ContentBlockID=f1a9432a-9fe9-4275-9516-3a7cc7a82b59 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANN FAQ: Share Aero-News With Your Friends Send Them A Story -- We Don't Mind! Do you need another set of eyes to see that story you can't believe Jim just wrote? Want to share the latest Klyde Morris with another member of the flying community? (Or perhaps to someone who just really, really likes ants?) All of us at Aero-News firmly believe in the concept of "share-the-wealth" -- at least figuratively, when actual money is in no way involved or even remotely expected in our wildest dreams. Anyway, with that in mind we have made it amazingly easy for our readers to send our stories to their friends, coworkers, family -- anyone who you think may find a particular feature on Aero-News interesting, fun, and/or informative. It's easy. All you have to do is click on the link at the bottom of the article, just below the FMI: "Email This Article To A Friend." This link will take you to the appropriate page, where you can add put in your friend's email address, your email address, and a short message about the article... or anything (we won't ask.) Click on "Email This Article," and the story is on its way to the person YOU wanted to see it! Note that the article will be displayed as an HTML in the actual email; a link to the story will not be provided. Please make sure that whomever you're sending the story to can see HTML messages in their email browsers. Try it out today, and spread the word -- If it's not on Aero-News, it's history! FMI: www.aero-news.net For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/featurestories.cfm?ContentBlockID=f433b327-3c59-4449-8005-e449d1f79c5f ----------------------------------------------------------------- Aero-News: Quote Of The Day (12.15.12) 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 U.S. has the safest and most efficient airspace in the world and the FAA needs appropriate funding to continue directing it. If Congress allows sequestration to become a reality, the aviation community and the economy will take a major hit. We cannot afford to let that happen.” Source: NATCA Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert. The union warns that more than 2,000 controllers may lose their jobs if automatic budget cuts occur January 2, 2013. FMI: www.natca.org For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/featurestories.cfm?ContentBlockID=4c4a757b-0b34-480c-ba7f-b34b0bada63c ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANN's Daily Aero-Term (12.15.12): Cardinal Altitudes 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. Cardinal Altitudes “Odd” or “Even” thousand-foot altitudes or flight levels; e.g., 5,000, 6,000, 7,000, FL 250, FL 260, FL 270. FMI: http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/pcg/C.HT For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/featurestories.cfm?ContentBlockID=26c5916f-f25e-4ff9-8c81-c8cd57e8881c ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (12.15.12) 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: Aviation Weather There are probably hundreds of flight planning tools on the web, but occasionally we come across one that seems particularly useful, or at least has a nice "gee whiz" factor. Aviation Weather is one of those. As the name implies, it focuses on the weather, with a detailed interactive map that lists current weather, advisories and temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) based on information obtained in real time from NOAA, Aviation Weather Center, FAA, and other resources. Mouse-over functionality also gives you airport information from most airports. But as the sight clearly says, don't trust your life to ANY website. Get a proper briefing before you go flying. FMI: http://maps.avnwx.com/ For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/featurestories.cfm?ContentBlockID=fee77159-a5d3-4fbf-8f7d-45bbc012aeb6 ----------------------------------------------------------------- AD: The Boeing Company Airplanes (757) AD NUMBER: 2012-25-03 PRODUCT: Certain Boeing Model 757 airplanes. SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2012-25-03 ACTION: Final Rule SUMMARY: This AD was prompted by a report of in-flight fracture of the right windshield (window 1) on the flight deck and multiple reports of electrical arcs at the terminal blocks of the flight deck windshields resulting in smoke and fire. This AD requires repetitive inspections of electrical heat terminals on the left and right windshields for damage, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD allows replacing an affected windshield with a windshield equipped with different electrical connections, which would terminate the repetitive inspections for that windshield. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent smoke and fire in the flight deck, which can lead to loss of visibility, and injuries to or incapacitation of the flightcrew. DATES: This AD is effective January 16, 2013. FMI: AD For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commair.cfm?ContentBlockID=be2f1e01-19b0-4675-9e72-abe44a23f573 ----------------------------------------------------------------- AD: Agusta S.p.A. Helicopters AD NUMBER: 2012-23-02 PRODUCT: Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Model A109E and Model A109S helicopters with certain lower semichannel assemblies installed. SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2012-23-02 ACTION: Final Rule SUMMARY: This AD requires a one-time inspection of the lower semichannel assemblies to determine if metallic spacers are installed. If the metallic spacers are installed, this AD requires an inspection for the correct installation of the metallic spacers on the semichannels and for the correct seating of the gaskets. If the metallic spacers are not installed with rivets, the lower semichannel assemblies must be modified, and the main drive shaft must be inspected for damage. This AD was prompted by reports of damage to the main drive shaft caused by improperly secured metallic spacers on some A109 model helicopters. The actions of this AD are intended to detect missing spacer rivets, which could allow the metallic spacers to rotate and lead to damage and failure of the main drive shaft, and subsequent loss of helicopter control. DATES: This AD is effective January 16, 2013. FMI: AD For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commbus.cfm?ContentBlockID=a7b561f0-2f80-4734-bcaa-dad6c69c1356 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ISSN: 1530-9339 For Subscribe/Unsubscribe procedures: Click here to manage your subscription To ensure future delivery of Aero-News Network's "Propwash" E-Mail newsletters to your inbox (and NOT to your junk or delete folders), please add our "From" address (either propwashtext@aero-news.net , propwashhtml@aero-news.net , or propwashpdf@aero-news.net -- depending on the type of newsletter you subscribe to) to your address book or e-mail whitelist. editor@aero-news.net For General Mail, Story Ideas, Questions or Concerns mktg@aero-news.net For Advertising and Marketing Topics news-spy@aero-news.net For Hot News Tips and Story Leads news@aero-news.net For Calendar Items, Press Releases or Questions about ANN News Coverage publisher@aero-news.net For All Web and Html Related Topics- Corrections Welcome! jim@aero-news.net Want to Get Right to the Boss? This Is His Address Get ANN's Free News Ticker We have designed a small "portable" News Ticker that will offer current ANN headlines about what is happening in the aviation world. It can be copied to virtually any Web site (including YOURS!) on the Internet by simply requesting the code and permissions from us. In addition to staying abreast of the latest headlines, you can click on any one of these News Tickers, no matter who's site it is on, and then go directly to ANN to read the news, in-depth, anytime you choose. You may request the code using our request form by logging on to www.aero-news.net/ANNTicker.cfm For those of you with web sites, be sure to drop us an e-mail at editor@aero-news.net and we'll be sure to check out your site for inclusion in our link sites, shortly. AND... don't forget to send your news and press releases to us via news@aero-news.net ! We want our coverage to include EVERY facet of aviation... so we need ALL the feedback we can get! Please Forward This Issue If you haven't already done so, please forward this issue to one or two of your friends or business associates. Thanks so much! Copyright (c) 1998-2012: Please do NOT reprint, publish, or host on your Web site without our explicit permission. However, if you found this newsletter helpful, we grant you permission, and strongly encourage you, to e-mail it (unmodified) to a business associate or a friend. Thank you. "Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time." Marion Wright Edelman   | ||||||||||||
| You are subscribed to email updates from News-Travel agiency - Trekking agency To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment