House Bill To Protect U.S. Jobs In International Airline Alliances

March 12, 2010 - Legislation introduced this week, bill H.R.4788, better know as the Aviation Jobs Outsourcing Prevention Act which directs the Department of Transportation to ensure that new revenue-sharing agreements between U.S. and foreign airlines are beneficial to U.S. airline workers as well as to their airlines is welcomed by the Air Line Pilots Association. “This legislation protects the Read More Of This Story

Developing Next-Gen Cooling Systems For Aircraft Avionics

March 12, 2010 - Fairchild Controls Corporation, an EADS North America company, has signed a teaming agreement with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to evaluate innovative cooling system technologies for avionics and mission systems aboard military aircraft. The Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) will result in the joint development and operation of a multiple-evaporator vapor cycle  Read More Of This Story

Air Program At Carolinas Medical Center Receives Eurocopter EC135's

March 12, 2010 - American Eurocopter announce that three new EC135s have entered service with the MedCenter Air Program at Carolinas Medical Center. The aircraft, which were purchased in late 2009, were completed by Metro Aviation and include state-of-the-art cockpit technology as well as the latest medical equipment. In addition to accommodating one or two litters, the  Read More Of This Story

NTSB Glass Cockpits Vs Conventional No Better Safety Record

March 11, 2010 - The National Transportation Safety Board adopted a study concluding that single engine airplanes equipped with glass cockpits had no better overall safety record than airplanes with conventional instrumentation. The safety study, which was adopted unanimously by the Safety Board, was initiated more than a year ago to determine if light airplanes equipped with digital primary flight displays, often referred to as "glass cockpits," were  Read More Of This Story

Marine F-18 Jet Goes Down Off The Coast Of Saint Helena Sound

March 11, 2010 - The Coast Guard rescued two Marine Corps pilots on Wednesday at 6:15 p.m., approximately 35-miles off the coast of Saint Helena Sound, South Carolina. Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina notified the Coast Guard at about 5:17 p.m., Wednesday. The report indicated two pilots aboard a Marine F/A-18D Hornet  Read More Of This Story

Women Airforce Service Pilots Receive Congressional Gold Medal

March 11, 2010 - On Wednesday aviators, friends and family members gathered for a Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony to honor the achievements of the first women to fly military aircraft during World War II, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), 1,102 pilots. The event was held at the United States Air Force Memorial located in Arlington, Virginia, on the grounds of Fort Myer near the   Read More Of This Story

Airbus A400M Military Airlifter Undertakes Additional Flight Test

March 11, 2010 - The first A400M is flying today from Seville, Spain to Toulouse, France following a test flight performed in the Seville area. This flight is the tenth performed by A400M MSN1 since its first flight on 11th December 2009. In total and until yesterday the aircraft has logged 39 hours of flight test. Very poor weather in Seville prevented the aircraft from performing more Read More Of This Story

Abu Dhabi To Open Red Bull Air Race 2010

March 11, 2010 - The 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship opens in Abu Dhabi on 26/27 March, returning to the United Arab Emirates capital for the sixth consecutive year. The world’s top 15 pilots will start their six-month long battle for championship points in the first of eight races on a total of five continents. Defending champion Paul Bonhomme of Britain and Austria’s Hannes Arch, the 2008 champion will resume their thrilling duel over the sparkling turquoise waters of the  Read More Of This Story

FAA Implements Safety Management System

March 11, 2010 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Organization is now operating under a Safety Management System. This enables the FAA to manage the risks associated with changes in the National Airspace System that include installing, modifying and removing equipment, as well as modifying and implementing procedures and airspace changes. "An effective safety management system lets us manage both the risks and the challenges of introducing new technology into the Read More Of This Story

Loveland Man Sentenced Four Years Involving Airline Tickets Fraud

March 11, 2010 - Christopher B. Watts, age 59, of Loveland, Colorado, was sentenced on Friday by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn to serve 51 months (over four years) in federal prison for wire fraud related to a scheme purportedly selling discount airline tickets that did not exist. Following his prison sentence, Watts was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay restitution totaling $495,397 to nearly 90 victims. The defendant, who is free on bond, was ordered to report to a facility designated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons within 15 days of designation.   Read More Of This Story

Action Needed To Save Canadian Aviation Maintenance Industry

March 11, 2010 - The recent announcement by Air Canada to layoff more than one thousand aircraft maintenance mechanics is the latest indication that Canada is in danger of losing its place in this growing global industry. “Over one thousand highly skilled aircraft mechanics at Air Canada will be laid off this April and the company doesn’t give a damn,” says a disgusted Fred Hospes, International Association of Machinists  Read More Of This Story

Cockpit Voice Recorder Legislation Opposed By CAPA

March 10, 2010. The Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) which represents over 28,000 pilots, strongly opposes legislation introduced by Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) (S.3048) to allow the use of Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVR’s) as a means of punishing airline pilots found to be violating sterile cockpit and other established procedures while flying. Sen. DeMints’ language would turn back the clock on every safety improvement the industry has attained in the last fifteen years of Read More Of This Story

GE And US Navy To Recycle Old Aircraft Engines

March 10, 2010 - The U.S. Navy and GE Aviation are collaborating on an environmentally beneficial program to recover rhenium-bearing aircraft engine components from out-of-service F404 and F414 engines, and then incorporate this precious metal back into the manufacture of new engine parts. Dubbed the GE/Navy Reclamation Program, this effort is aimed at reducing raw-material requirements, lowering dependency  Read More Of This Story

Ireland’s Ryanair Government Inaction Costs 500 Engineering Jobs

March 10, 2010 - Ryanair, Ireland’s favorite airline, on Tuesday condemned the Irish Government for its failure to win 500 well paid engineering jobs for Ireland as it confirmed that all 500 jobs, which it had originally promised to create in Hangar 6 at Dublin Airport, will now be lost to Glasgow Prestwick and one other European airport. Last year over 800 employees lost their jobs when SR Technics closed its facility at Dublin Airport. The owner of Ryanair, Michael O'Leary, states he could restore 300 of those Read More Of This Story

Northrop Will Not Submit Bid On Air Force KC-X Tanker Program

March 10, 2010 - Northrop Grumman will not bid for the US Air Force Tanker replacement program. In 2008, Northrop Grumman was selected and awarded the US Air Force KC-135 modernization program contract. However, Northrop Grumman has decided not to submit a bid to the Department of Defense (DoD) for the KC-X program. Northrop had expressed serious concerns to the DoD  Read More Of This Story

Air India All Women Flight Crew Set Flight Record

March 10, 2010, National carrier Air India created history when at a little past midnight on Monday when the first all-women crew ultra long-haul B777-200LR NonStop flight from Mumbai to New York. Flight AI 141 was the first of the 22 all-women crew flights operated by Air India across its domestic and international network, to mark International Women’s Day. Captain Rashmi Miranda and Captain Sunita Narula were the Commanders on AI 141,  Read More Of This Story

Hydrogen Powered Aircraft Boeing 'Phantom Eye' Takes Shape

March 10, 2010 -- The Boeing Company has begun to build Phantom Eye its first unmanned, liquid hydrogen powered, high altitude long endurance (HALE) demonstrator aircraft. “The essence of Phantom Eye is its propulsion system,” said Darryl Davis, Boeing Phantom Works president. “After five years of technology development, we are now deploying rapid prototyping to bring together an unmanned aerial vehicle [UAV]  Read More Of This Story

FAA NextGen Implementation Plan Released

March 10, 2010 - The NextGen Implementation Plan provides an overview of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ongoing transition to NextGen. The Plan lays out the agency’s vision for the Next Generation Air Transportation System, now and into the mid-term, which is defined here as 2012-2018. The Plan further identifies the goals the FAA has set for technology and program deployment and the commitments the FAA has made in support of that vision. Through annual updates, the FAA will document their work plan for meeting  Read More Of This Story

Forecast Links Aviation Activity and National Economic Growth

March 10, 2010 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is forecasting that key airspace safety and efficiency modernization efforts will play a vital role in spurring long-term sustained growth in air travel and the nation’s overall economic health. This forecast, which comes after a short-term period of slow growth in aviation activity, underscores the need for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) and  Read More Of This Story

US Airways Violates Price Advertising Rules

March 9, 2010 - The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on Monday assessed a $40,000 civil penalty against US Airways for violating rules that require airline price advertisements to disclose the full price consumers must pay for air transportation. “When consumers shop for air travel, they have a right to know how much they will have to pay,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  “We will continue to ensure that airlines comply with our price advertising rules.” The Department’s Aviation Enforcement Office found  Read More Of This Story

ICAO To Visit Haiti To Assess Aviation Infrastructure

March 9, 2010 - A multi-disciplinary team from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is conducting a three-day mission to Haiti to assess the status of the aviation infrastructure in the country following the January 12th earthquake and to recommend a course of action for reconstruction and assistance. From March 9 to 11, ICAO officials will assess airport and  Read More Of This Story

Atlas Air Awarded Boeing Contract to Operate Dreamlifter Fleet

March 09, 2010 – Beginning toward the latter part of 2010, Atlas Air will operate Boeing’s Dreamlifter fleet of four 747-400 aircraft that have been modified to transport major assemblies for the 787 Dreamliner from suppliers around the world to Boeing production facilities in the United States. The parties have structured the nine-year agreement in a manner consistent with the outsourcing business model under which Atlas Air typically  Read More Of This Story

Boeing’s 747-8 And Vought Aircraft Marshall Street Facility

March 9, 2010 – Weighing as much as a small elephant and spanning more than 57 feet, the largest of the 747-8 fuselage panels that Marshall Street assembles could barely fit inside a tennis court. Imagine loading it into a rail car. A similarly large shipment is Section 48 which consists of the upper and lower lobe, the pressure dome or bulkhead, and the aft body. From a manufacturing standpoint, one of the biggest changes on the 747-8 versus the 747-400 is the  Read More Of This Story

Environmental Satellite To Improve Weather Forecasting

March 9, 2010 - On Thursday marked a significant milestone in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) efforts overseeing the safety of the nation’s commercial space transportation industry with the 201st FAA licensed commercial rocket launch.  The vehicle carried into orbit an environmental satellite to improve weather forecasting and help monitor environmental events.  FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation safety inspectors were present to monitor operations of the Delta IV booster. “With, the retirement this year of NASA's Space Shuttle, the  Read More Of This Story

NTSB Chairman Warns Of The Dangers Of Fatigue In Transportation

March 9, 2010 - Washington, DC - National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman on Friday encouraged the sleep research and healthcare community to continue their efforts to educate transportation policy makers of the dangers of fatigue in all modes of transportation. Speaking before the annual conference of the National Sleep Foundation in Washington, D.C.,   Read More Of This Story

Eurocopter AS355 Receives Canadian Approval Emergency Float System

March 7, 2010 - DART Helicopter Services announced that their subsidiary partner Apical Industries Inc., received Transport Canada approval of their Cylindrical Emergency Float Systems with & without Liferafts for the Eurocopter AS355E, F, F1, F2, N & NP models. Apical’s Eurocopter AS355 Cylindrical Emergency Float Systems are the only float systems certified for take-off after a water landing for the   Read More Of This Story

Boeing Selects Pratt And Whitney to Power Boeing's NewGen Tanker

March 7, 2010 - Boeing said it is offering the Pratt & Whitney-powered NewGen Tanker as its platform for the U.S. Air Force’s KC-X recapitalization program. Boeing’s proposal calls for the NewGen Tanker to be powered by Pratt & Whitney’s PW4062 engine.  Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. company. “Pratt & Whitney is honored to partner with Boeing on the NewGen platform to be offered as America’s next generation of tankers for the U.S. Air Force’s KC-X program,” said Bill Begert,  Read More Of This Story

Northrop To Highlight ICNSATMS At ATC Global 2010

March 7, 2010 - ATC Global 2010 is the world's leading air navigation services exhibition and conference and takes place from 9-11 March at the RAI exhibition centre, Amsterdam. Northrop Grumman's Europe-based air traffic management subsidiary, Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems will be exhibiting at Stand H600, to display its  Read More Of This Story

Aircraft Engine Maker Pratt & Whitney Request Court To Act Quickly

March 5, 2010 - On Thursday, Pratt & Whitney went into court to request the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, in Hartford, Connecticut to act quickly on an appeal before the court on a lower court decision that prevents the jet engine maker from moving over 1,000 job's out of the state and country. Pratt & Whitney  Read More Of This Story

American Airlines Walks Out Of Talks With Flight Attendants

March 5, 2010 - Negotiations between American Airlines Flight Attendants and management broke down on Wednesday when the company left the bargaining table with ten hours remaining before the scheduled end of the intense five-day bargaining session. At 6:30 pm ET, the Association    Read More Of This Story

Boeing To Offer NewGen Tanker to US Air Force

March 5, 2010 - The Boeing Company announced that it will offer the Boeing NewGen Tanker in the competition to supply the U.S. Air Force with a multi-mission aerial refueling aircraft that will meet all the warfighter’s mission requirements for the next several decades. Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said the Boeing NewGen    Read More Of This Story

Red Bull Air Race Pilots Choose Arizona Desert For Training

March 4, 2010 - With only weeks to go before the first stop of the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship, pilots are seeking optimum training conditions in order to be fighting fit for the Abu Dhabi race at the end of March. It seems the Arizona desert is an ideal location for putting any recent modifications to the test as well as providing favorable weather for flying. Pete   Read More Of This Story

Pilot “Refusal To Take A Mandatory Drug Test” Wins Appeal

March 4, 2010 - United States Court of Appeals in the District Of Columbia overturned the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) decision to revoke Dr. Fred Pasternack pilot and instructors certificates. The court vacated the Board’s decision and remand for further proceedings consistent with the courts opinion. Dr. Fred Pasternack  Read More Of This Story

Australia’s Qantas Airways Faces Sex Discrimination Claims

March 4, 2010 - The Transport Workers Union (TWU) in Australia has filed an application for a general protections dispute with Fair Work Australia that seeks to reverse a recent decision by Qantas to bar all women from 47 new permanent positions created at Sydney Airport. Qantas recently replaced 67 temporary positions with 47   Read More Of This Story

FAA Responds To John F. Kennedy Father Son Day

March 4, 2010 - A well seasoned air traffic controller at John F. Kennedy Airport New York brought his child to work during a weeklong winter break form school in February. The intentions of this father was to give his son a glimpse into what his father does for a living, the importance to an education, being a team player, work ethics, Read More Of This Story

Goodyear Tire Ordered To Pay Failing To Rehire Army Reservist

March 4, 2010 - The Justice Department on Tuesday announced that it has reached a settlement, in the form of a consent decree, with the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company that, if approved by the U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City, will resolve its lawsuit filed on behalf of Michael J. Ellis, a major in the U.S. Army Reserve. The Justice Department’s lawsuit, filed in May 2009, alleged that Goodyear violated  Read More Of This Story

Raytheon To Improve Accuracy Information From GPS Satellites

March 3, 2010 - Raytheon has been selected by the U.S. Air Force to develop a new element of the Global Positioning System (GPS) were by improving the accuracy of information from GPS satellites. The contract is worth $886 million. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a U.S. space-based global navigation satellite system. It provides  Read More Of This Story

Air Canada To Layoff Over 1000 Aircraft Mechanics

March 3, 2010 - Air Canada, Canada’s largest full service airline and the largest provider of scheduled passenger services in the Canadian market will be laying off over 1000 skilled aircraft mechanics. Over one thousand highly skilled aircraft mechanics at Air Canada will be laid off this April and the company doesn't give a damn," says a disgusted Fred Hospes, International   Read More Of This Story

Navy Women In Aviation 2010 Pioneer Hall Of Fame

March 3, 2010 - With three Navy admirals in attendance and two Navy officers inducted into this year's WAI Pioneer Hall of Fame, the admirals in attendance sent a strong message that diversity allows for a greater and more versatile workforce. Navy women were out in force at this year’s 21st Annual Women in Aviation International (WAI) Conference held on Saturday in Orlando, Florida. Rear Read More Of This Story

BAE Pleads Guilty Ordered To Pay $400 Million Criminal Fine

March 2, 2010 - BAE Systems pleaded guilty on Monday in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia to conspiring to defraud the United States by impairing and impeding its lawful functions, to make false statements about its Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) compliance program, and to violate the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), announced Acting Deputy Attorney General Gary G. Grindler. BAES was sentenced by U.S. District Read More Of This Story

Mission Readiness Webb Space Telescope Sets Program Landmark

March 3, 2010 - The James Webb Space Telescope reached a mission-readiness landmark when it’s first primary mirror segment was cryo-polished to its required prescription as measured at operational cryogenic temperatures. This achievement sets the stage for a successful polishing process for the remaining 18 flight mirror segments. Northrop Grumman Corporation  Read More Of This Story

DAHER-SOCATA TBM 850 Aircraft With G1000 Has Home In Australia

March 2, 2010 - Melbourne, Australia, DAHER-SOCATA announced the delivery of its first G1000-equipped TBM 850 turboprop aircraft to an Australian customer. Receiving the TBM 850 was Warwick and Katrina Hawksworth of Capstone Financial services. This independently owned and operated organization was formed in July 2002 and has rapidly grown to become one of Australia's leading financial planning licensees today. "We selected  Read More Of This Story

Raytheon’s AutoTrac III To Be Used To Update India’s ATC Systems

March 2, 2010 - Raytheon Company has been awarded a contract by the India Airport Authority in India to automate the air traffic control systems at, Chennai International Airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai and at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Raytheon will install AutoTrac III,   Read More Of This Story

Unite Calls On British Airways Race And Age Discriminatory Practices

March 2, 2010 - Unite the union on Monday denounced British Airways for moving to overturn a recent ruling which said it must apply UK law to its Hong Kong-based female cabin crew. The crew's union says BA's moves are a shameful attempt to persist with its policy of dismissing its female Hong Kong cabin crew at 45 years of age - and can continue to discriminate against its    Read More Of This Story

Irish Court Ruled Ryanair Can Sue Screen Scraper Websites

March 2, 2010 - Ireland’s Ryanair, on Monday welcomed the judgment of the High Court in Dublin, which confirmed Ryanair’s legal right to bring proceedings in Ireland against foreign screen scraping websites which breach the Terms of Use of Ryanair website and Ryanair’s exclusive distribution policy. Ryanair initiated High Court proceedings against German screen scrapers “Billigfluege” Read More Of This Story

Rio De Janeiro To Take Part In The 2010 Red Bull Air Race

March 2, 2010 - The Red Bull Air Race is returning to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2010, exactly three years after one million spectators packed the beaches to witness the biggest-ever sporting event in Brazilian history. Defending champion Paul Bonhomme won the race in South America in 2007 and the British ace will be leading the field of 15 of the world’s best race pilots on May 8^th and 9^th at the 3rd stop in the 8-race championship. The return to  Read More Of This Story