Aero-News Network: The aviation and aerospace world's daily/real-time news and information service

Aero-News Featured Aero-Casts For Thursday 06.30.11

ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 06.30.11 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program)

Guest Editorial: Flight Service Station Modernization

“Did We Get What We Were Promised, Or Is It A Relic?"

Recently on an aviation forum, there was a discussion about how pilots were using the current FSS and DUAT/DUATS services being provided by the FAA, CSC and Lockheed Martin. The responses were very interesting.

Boeing Opens New 787 Vertical Fin Assembly Line In Salt Lake City

Utah Fabrication Facility Will Feed South Carolina Assembly Plant

While the labor wranglings in South Carolina grab the headlines, Boeing commemorated the opening of a new 787 vertical fin assembly line at its production facility in Salt Lake City, Utah on Tuesday.

Singapore Airlines Rolls-Royce Order Totals $1 Billion

Deal To Supply Trent 700 Engines For Airbus A330s

Rolls-Royce has won a $1 billion order from Singapore Airlines to supply Trent 700 engines to power 15 Airbus A330 aircraft, along with TotalCare services support.

NASA, NSF Collaborate To Develop Advanced Robotics

Goal Is To Improve Everything From Space Exploration To Factory Work

The National Science Foundation (NSF) will take the lead with NASA and two other federal agencies to support the administration's National Robotics Initiative.

Free Distribution Of Pilot's Guide to Avionics Begins At AirVenture

New Edition Features Info On Everything From Glass Retrofits To ADS-B

The 2011-12 edition of the Aircraft Electronics Association’s Pilot’s Guide to Avionics debuts during the EAA’s AirVenture, July 25-31, in Oshkosh, WI. The free Pilot’s Guide is available at the AEA’s booth in Hangar B.

Eurocopter Confirms Heli-Union Contract For 4 EC175s

Aircraft Will Support Offshore Oil And Gas Operations

Heli-Union is extending its long-standing relationship with Eurocopter by ordering four EC175 for offshore oil and gas missions.

Rheinmetall, Sikorsky Reach Teaming Agreement

Aftermarket Support Includes Training And Logistics In Germany

Rheinmetall Defence and Sikorsky Aerospace Services have signed a teaming agreement to provide long term training and logistics support to the German armed forces in anticipation of the introduction the Cyclone multi-mission helicopter into Germany.

Testing Of F-35 Sensors Completed At Northern Edge 2011

Combat Sensors Flown In 'Robust Electronic Warfare Scenarios'

While participating in Northern Edge for the second time, F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter sensor capabilities were tested in the Alaskan multi-operational environment June 13-24.

Sandel HeliTAWS Receives Part 29 Approval

Wire And Terrain Safety System Approved For Bell 412EP

The FAA has granted an STC to Sandel Avionics for its ST3400H HeliTAWS wire and terrain safety system on a Bell 412EP helicopter.

USMC Buys UK Harriers To Harvest Spare Parts

As Many As 40 Of The VTOL Aircraft To Be Purchased, Cannibalized

The U.S. Marine Corps plans to buy as many as 40 Harrier GR7s and GR9s in order to harvest them for parts for their fleet of AV-8Bs, and some in the U.K. are reportedly not happy at the purchase price.

AD: Learjet

AD NUMBER: 2011-13-10

MANUFACTURER: Learjet Inc. Model 45 Airplanes

Barnstorming: Thank God We're Not Getting All The Government We're Paying For

Short and Sweet... Washington Has To Quit Screwing With Our Industry

News and Analysis by Jim Campbell, ANN E-I-C Tell ya what folks, I was going to take a short break from the series I was working for a few days... I was tiring of the depressing task of writing about bad business practices and the folks who were doing so much unnecessary damage to the aviation world -- and then, God Help Us, our esteemed President takes not one, but several, cheap shots at the business aviation community -- again.

Classic Aero-TV: Stating The Obvious, Again--AOPA Examines Flt Training (Part 3)

Surprisingly Little New Information Presented and Few Possible Fixes... Why?

At the 2010 AOPA event in Long Beach CA, the organization, while attempting to reorient itself under the somewhat testy leadership of Craig Fuller, held a symposium looking into the current state of the flight training industry.

Industry Reaction Strong To President Obama's Proposed Tax Changes

GAMA, IAMAW, AAAA, NATA Join Chorus Against Changes In Accelerated Depreciation, Other Remarks Deemed Disparaging To GA

The Aviation Trade associations have rapidly responded to remarks made by President Obama during a news conference Wednesday in which he proposed ending accelerated depreciation for business aircraft, and took what many viewed as a swipe at the industry by referring to tax breaks for "corporate jet owners."

HAI Issues A 'Call To Legislative Action'

Says Obama, Congressional Democrats Moving Quickly To Remove Accelerated Depreciation Structure for GA Aircraft

A very serious matter affecting general aviation and the rotorcraft industry has now been elevated to the leadership level in both the House and Senate.

FAA: Zenith CH 650 Officially Meets 51% Rule

National Kit Evaluation Team Completes On-Site Evaluation, OK's The Airplane

A five-person FAA National Kit Evaluation Team (NKET) recently concluded a two day visit to Zenith Aircraft Company in Mexico, Missouri.

ICON Aircraft Closes $25 Million Round Of Investment Capital

U.S., U.K. Venture Investors Helping Move The Airplane To Market

ICON Aircraft announced that it closed a $25 million round of equity funding in June. The round will fund the company through the completion of its ongoing engineering development program, manufacturing setup, and the beginning of production of its A5 amphibious sport plane.

Purdue University Selects API For Flight Training Support

State-Of-The-Art University Flight Training Meets High Tech Logistics Management

Purdue University has selected Aerospace Products International (API), a wholly owned subsidiary of First Aviation Services, as their logistics management supplier to support its new fleet of Cirrus SR20 training aircraft.

Jacksonville, FL University Team Wins Air Race Classic

First Time A College Team Has Won Overall Top Honors

When the final calculations were finished at the end of this year's Air Race Classic ... the all-women transcontinental national air race ... a team representing Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, FL emerged as the first university team to take overall top honors in the event.