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Aero-News Featured Aero-Casts For Tuesday 06.14.11

ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 06.14.11 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program)

Legislation Would Recognize CAP Subchasers

Pilots Recall Dangerous World War II Service

Time, instead of a German submarine, is now the enemy of Civil Air Patrol volunteers from World War II.

STEM Teachers 'Take Flight' At NJ Alexandria Field

Spending Time In The Cockpit Will Help Them Become "Pilot In Command Of Your Classroom.”

Twelve teachers responsible for instruction in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related subjects are on the cutting edge of leadership development by stepping out of their normal routines and into the cockpit of an airplane with the "Leaders Take Flight" workshop.

Navy Reduces Aviation Bonuses

High Retention Cited As Primary Cause For Cuts

The Navy is cutting its aviation bonuses due to high retention of flight officers, according to official documents.

Balloon Recon Marks 150th Birthday

Abraham Lincoln Was First President To Get A Balloon Demonstration

The intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support critical to operations in Afghanistan got its start 150 years ago in June, when a balloonist showed then-President Abraham Lincoln how a gas-filled balloon could help the Union Army prevail in the Civil War.

Lawrence, MA Mayor Accused Of Misuse Of Airport Funds

Mayor William Lantigua Allegedly Siphoned Money To City General Fund

The FAA is looking into allegations that Lawrence, MA, Mayor William Lantigua siphoned off money from the city's municipal airport (KLWM) for use in the city's general fund, and compromising safety at the Lawrence Airport in the process.

TSA Admits To 'Bad Judgement' In Search Of Disabled Man

Pat-Down Conducted On "Severely Mentally Disabled" Individual

A mentally handicapped adult was subjected to an enhanced screening by TSA on a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida in what TSA now admits was a case of "bad judgement" on the part of TSOs in Detroit.

Thai Airways Plans $3.9 Billion Fleet Modernization

23 Airbus, 14 Boeing Aircraft Ordered By The Carrier

Thai Airways plans to modernize its fleet of airplanes, and both Boeing and Airbus will be the richer for the plan.

Vertical Challenge Helicopter Air Show Takes A Different Turn

Renamed "HeliFest," Non-Aviation Components Added

The Hiller Aviation Museum announced on its website that the former Vertical Challenge Helicopter Air Show is getting something of a makeover, and that several non-aviation-related (and possibly counter-intuitive, ed) activities have been added to the program.

Bristow Group Pulls Out Of PAAN

Shares Transferred To Nigerian Ownership A Required By Law

In compliance with the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry Content Development Act and Nigerian Civil Aviation regulations governing Air Operator Recertification, Bristow Helicopters has divested its shares in Pan African Airlines Nigeria (PAAN) by transferring them to Nigerian ownership.

Alabama RC Flyers Sent To The Dump

And They Say They're Happy To Be There

The Baldwin County (AL) Commission agreed last October to a long-term $1-per-year lease for five acres at the Magnolia landfill near Summerdale to the Bay Area Radio Control Society. The commission and the RC pilots say they hope to eventually conduct nationwide contests at the site.

Pilot Fatally Injured In Goodyear Blimp Accident In Germany

Three Journalists Able To Safely Exit The Airship

One of Goodyear's blimps operating in Germany suffered fires in both engines Sunday night. The pilot of the airship was fatally injured in the accident, but three journalists who had been taking aerial photographs of a local music festival were able to jump to safety.

Aero-TV: Blended Winglets -- Advanced Technology From Aviation Partners

Fine-Tuning Aerodynamic Efficiency, Wingtip By Wingtip

Aviation Partners estimates that Blended Winglet technology has saved the industry MILLIONS of gallons of jet fuel. Further; they project that by the end of 2014, Blended Winglets will have saved in excess of 5 BILLION gallons of jet fuel. Yes... BILLIONS.

NBAA Queries FAA On New BARR Requirements

Agency's Answer To Inquiries Posted On Association's Web Site

The NBAA has published the information it has received from FAA officials about the process involved in complying with the government's planned curtailment of the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program.

Government Report: LightSquared System Will Interfere With GPS

RTCA Recommends LightSquared Upper Channel Operations "Should Not Be Allowed"

Testing conducted by the Radio Technical Commission of Aeronautics (RTCA) at the request of the FAA shows that a proposed wireless broadband service from LightSquared will interfere with airborne GPS reception.

Boeing: Commercial Crew System On Track For 2015 Operations

Delta Systems Review Completed On CST-100 Design

The Delta System Definition Review (SDR) of Boeing's Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 space capsule design was completed May 19th, according to a company news relase Monday.

NTSB Cites Pilot Error In May, 2010 CA Fatal Accident

Pilot Did Not Obtain A Weather Briefing, Continued VFR Into IFR Conditions

An accident in California which resulted in the fatal injury of two moderately experienced pilots was caused by pilot error, according to the NTSB. The two people on board the Piper PA-28-235 were a husband and wife. She was flying at the time of the accident.

ATA Welcomes Provisional Approval Of Renewable Jet Fuel Specs

Paves The Way For Increased Biofuel Use In Commercial Aircraft

The Air Transport Association of America, Inc. (ATA) praised the ASTM International Committee on Petroleum Products and Lubricants late last week for approving a new jet fuel specification that will further enable the use of sustainable alternative fuels in aviation.

Boeing Rebuffs Union Offer For SC Assembly Plant

Company Says Union Request "Beyond Reasonable"

With a hearing on a labor-law complaint looming next week at the National Labor Relations Board, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union proposed a settlement to Boeing in an effort to organize workers at the new facility. But the planemaker rejected the offer out of hand.

TSA Fires Screeners In Honolulu For Improper Baggage Checks

Some Checked Bags Loaded On Airplanes Without Proper Inspection

TSA announced late last week that it has proposed the removal of more than 30 Honolulu International Airport (HNL) TSA employees following an extensive investigation into allegations of improper screening of checked baggage.