Also: Ridiculous Arkansas Regs Proposed, Tecnam Juggernaut, New EC135 T2+ Training Helo, NBAA Joins 'Know Before You Fly', Wipaire Grand Opening, AirVenture SkyDive Record

As the media hype continues to grow regarding the occurrence of a small unmanned aerial system landing on the White House lawn, Bob Brown, President of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, sent a letter to FAA administrator Huerta indicating AMA’s continued interest in working with the FAA to resolve UAV issues. In Brown’s letter, he said in part, that the “AMA has always believed that the best, and perhaps the only, way to successfully manage the recreational community is through a community-based set of safety guidelines and the combined efforts of the FAA and AMA.” An investigator on the team working to determine what happened to AirAsia Fight 8501 says that the Cockpit Voice Recorder captured the sound of stall

Former TSA Administrator Pistole Announced His Departure Over Three Months Ago

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Bill Nelson (D-FL), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, along with subcommittee leaders Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) have urged President Barack Obama to, “prioritize the formal nomination of a qualified, experienced, and dedicated individual to serve as Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).”

Caldecott Says New Meridian Features Electronic Stability Protection, Underspeed Protection, Other Safety Improvements

Piper Aircraft has introduced its newest top-of-the-line M-Class single-engine Meridian M500 turbine business aircraft with the latest in Garmin avionics, enhanced safety features and a number of other significant product improvements.

Merger Expected to Close February 9; New Company To Begin Operations February 10

Orbital Sciences Corporation has announced that at a special meeting held Tuesday morning, the company’s stockholders voted overwhelmingly to approve the proposed merger with the Aerospace and Defense Groups of Alliant Techsystems Inc., pursuant to the definitive transaction agreement dated April 28, 2014.

Five Google Lunar XPRIZE Teams Take Home $5.25 Million For Key Technological Advancements

XPRIZE has announced that five Google Lunar XPRIZE teams have been awarded a combined $5.25 million in recognition of key technological advancements toward their quest to land a private spacecraft on the surface of the moon.

Will Pay Tribute To Crews Of Apollo 1, Shuttles Challenger And Columbia, Others

NASA will pay will tribute to the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other NASA colleagues, during the agency's annual Day of Remembrance Wednesday, Jan. 28.

Route Set, Departure Planned In Late February Or Early March

The route has been set for the Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) attempt to circumnavigate the globe in a solar-powered airplane.

Canadian Sandra Rolfe Set A New Female Endurance Record In Her ANX-04 Hot Air Balloon

Sandra Rolfe is referred to as an extreme balloonist, and has set a new women’s record for a hot air balloon endurance flight of 7 hours and 25 minutes aloft. Her flight started from Plantagenet, Ontario last week and she touched down at Montreal’s Mirabel Airport. Her record flight will be recorded when it is ratified by the Fédérational Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).

Union Plans Conference Call To 'Update' Investors, Media, Others

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters will host a call to update Allegiant Travel Company investors, industry analysts, customers and press regarding the current status of contract negotiations for Allegiant Air pilots, their recent strike authorization vote and the union's request for a proffer of arbitration from the National Mediation Board.

Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker Becomes New CNAF

Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF) held a change of command ceremony aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) at Naval Air Station North Island Jan. 22.