NTSB Says Both Chose To Fly Into Dangerous Weather

It's likely that medical helicopter transport will always remain a dark corner in accident statistics. A no-go call on these missions risks a patient death, and the calling of a helicopter usually means time is of the essence. But in two recent probable cause reports, the NTSB notes fatal accidents resulted when pilots took unnecessary weather risks during routine flights home, after their patients had reached the hospital.

Calls The Compromise 'Crippling' To Labor Organizations

As was to be expected, not everyone is happy with the compromise worked out between House and Senate leaders to move a long-term FAA funding bill forward in congress. Sito Pantoja, General Vice President of Transportation for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has issued a statement criticizing a Congressional proposal that provides long-term FAA funding at what he says is the expense of airline and rail workers’ rights to join unions.

Two Locked In A Legal Struggle Over Blended Winglet Design

When Joe Clark and his business associates founded Aviation Partners, Inc. (API)  in 1991, he had no idea that he'd be locked in a legal battle with European government-backed aviation giant Airbus. Now Aviation Partners has filed a response to the pre-emptive lawsuit Airbus recently filed that seeks to invalidate Aviation Partners' patent (number 5,348,253).

Letter Promises 'Appropriate Action' Against EU Should The Press Forward

The NBAA is among the organizations applauding a strongly-worded letter from two high-ranking U.S. government officials to European Union President Jose Manuel Barroso, warning that Washington will take "appropriate action" if the EU continues demanding that aircraft flagged in the U.S. participate in Europe’s Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS).

Tells Space Coast He Accepts 'Grandiose' label

Certain places in America seem to trigger pandering by politicians more than others. In 2008, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney promised a crowd in Detroit a $20 billion bailout for the domestic auto industry if he was elected. This week, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich spoke to aerospace industry leaders on Florida's Space Coast, and proposed a Kennedy-esque commitment to return to the Moon, not just to visit, but to establish a manned base.

Bipartisan Effort To Remind President Obama Of Benefits Of BizAv

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin (R) and New Hampshire Governor John Lynch (D) have written to President Obama asking for his support for all of general aviation, including business aviation. The governors’ letters remind the president of the industry’s essential role in supporting job creation, helping companies of all sizes compete and succeed and connecting communities to global markets.

Flight Appeared To Be Routine From Witness Reports, ATC Transcripts

The NTSB's preliminary report for an accident involving an L39 Albatros indicates the flight appeared to be fairly routine. The pilot, who according to media reports was qualified both for the airplane and flight in IFR conditions, did not give any indication anything was wrong with the aircraft before it went down very shortly after takeoff from Northeast Alabama Regional Airport (KGAD), in Gadsden, Alabama.

Agreement Covers 6,700 Mainline FAs

US Airways and the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) said Friday that they have reached a tentative agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement. AFA represents the airline's 6,700 mainline flight attendants. Details of the agreement were not immediately available from either party.

It's For Real! ANN REALTIME NewsBug Released To ANN Readers, Worldwide 

For those of you using a windows PC (MAC version in the works... we promise), a new REALTIME News Service from the Aviation World’s DAILY News Service, the Aero-News Network (ANN), will let you know when our REALTIME, award-winning NewsFeed has been updated.

"The proposal imposes Congressionally-mandated standards for union representation elections and oversight that have always been up to independent federal labor authorities to decide.” Source: Sito Pantoja, General Vice President of Transportation for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.