Also: 2nd ERAU Arrow Wing Cracked, Memphis Airport, Orbital ATK Launch, Flexjet Pilot Salaries

Last week, representatives from the City of Santa Monica and the FAA sat before a judge in the D.C. Circuit Court jointly defending their consent decree that led to the shortening of the runway at KSMO, and will eventually lead to its closure. The two were before the court to respond to a Petition to Review filed by aviation interest groups in February 2017 asking the court to invalidate the Settlement Agreement between the FAA and the City. That agreement gave the city the authority to shorten the runway, which it did last December. The FAA has certified Boeing's design for folding wingtips on the 777X airliner that will allow the aircraft to operate at existing airport gates. The FAA said that the Boeing Model 777-8 and 777-9 airplanes will incorporate CFRP wings with folding wingtips. Boeing will inco

Deadline To Submit Comments Is June 18

TSA is reopening the comment period for the interim final rule (IFR) that established the Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP). TSA is in the process of finalizing the IFR with modifications to improve the efficiency and efficacy of this program consistent with recently-ordered regulatory reform requirements.

Will Use New Technology To Minimize Construction Time

Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport will begin a major infrastructure project to rebuild one of its busiest runways. The project for the refurbishment of Runway 17-Center/35-Center will begin on May 24 with a partial closure, which will still allow the southern portion of the runway to be used during daylight hours. Full closure of the runway will begin in August, with completion of the project slated for December.

Also: Aero-TV: Textron's X5-55, InfraDrone App, NASA's Mars Helicopter, Gremlins on Track

This month, Aurora’s Autonomous Aerial Cargo Utility System (AACUS) successfully delivered cargo to U.S. Marines in the Integrated Training Exercise at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms in California. AACUS completed its first closed loop mission from takeoff to landing for its intended purpose of actual cargo resupply to Marines, as it successfully completed an autonomous cargo sustainment flight delivering more than 500 pounds of water, gasoline, MREs, and replacement communications gear including a packed cooler to represent urgently required cargo such as blood. Aurora says that this was the first ever “autonomous point-to-point cargo resupply mission” providing critical logistics support to Marines in need. The HorseFly truck-launched Autonomous Drone Package De

Facility Offers Demonstrations And Expertise On How New Aviation Technology Can Deliver Solutions For Customers’ Most Pressing Mission Demands

Bell Helicopter has opened its new Advanced Vertical Lift Center (AVLC) today in the Washington, D.C. metro area. This office provides a unique setting for Bell’s military customers, partners and policy makers to interact with technology that is defining the future of vertical lift (FVL). Bell is increasing its presence in the region to offer opportunities for leaders to understand how advanced aviation technology such as the V-280 Valor can meet the urgent needs of the warfighter.

Also: Drones v Flaming Kites, Sherrif Drones, ALPA Is Watching..., Wichita Aviation Pathway

After a number of years in Ontario, California; the highly anticipated 2018 rendition of AMA Expo West will show up in new digs and a somewhat different time of the year. This year, the AMA Expo West team will appear this November 2-4, 2018 at the Fairplex Exposition Center, in  Pomona, California. The new location allows for an extensive series of indoor and outdoor events, flights, races and demonstrations -- significantly broadening the scope and reach of the event -- including full scale flyovers, professional demos and some night flying offerings, to boot. DOT has selected 10 state, local and tribal governments as participants in the UAS Integration Pilot Program. First announced last October, this White House initiative partners the FAA with local, state and tribal governments, which then partner

DOT OIG Finds Operator Of Beech Aviation Defrauded Students, Illegally Operated As A Commercial Carrier For Hire

On May 16, 2018, Robert Charles Jones Brady, owner of Beech Aviation, was sentenced in U.S. District Court, West Palm Beach, Florida, to 7 years’ incarceration, 3 years’ supervised release, and a $400 special assessment fee for operating an aircraft without an airman’s certificate, wire fraud, and falsification of records in a Federal investigation.

Will Tour The Outside Edges Of The Continental U.S. In An RV 7

IAC member Boyd Birchler (IAC#20432) and his wife, Judy, are planning the adventure of a lifetime. They’re planning to fly their RV 7 around the perimeter of the United States – all 8,878 miles of it! They’ll be sharing stick time as they circumnavigate their way around the lower 48.

Krista Paquin Retires; Melanie W. Saunders Named Acting Deputy Associate Administrator

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has named Steve Jurczyk as associate administrator, the agency's highest-ranking civil servant position. Jurczyk has been serving in the position in an acting capacity since March 10. In addition, Deputy Associate Administrator Krista Paquin will retire from NASA at the end of May. Melanie W. Saunders has been assigned as the acting deputy associate administrator, effective June 10.

White Paper Finds Little Collaborative Action Directed At The Issue

The latest research from UK-based aviation recruitment specialists, AeroProfessional, states that little collaborative action has taken place in the last two years to address the pilot skills crisis, specifically in the EU.