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

Chicago Area Business Aviation Association Awards Scholarships

Over $90,000 Distributed To Aviation Students

The Chicago Area Business Aviation Association (CABAA) awarded over $90,000 to aviation students in the form of scholarships and awards at its 2012 Annual Golf Classic, held August 14 at Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Kildeer, IL.

Russian Navy Tests Modified KA-27 Helicopter

Aircraft Designed For Anti-Submarine Missions

A modified version of the Russian Kamov Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopter is undergoing flight testing and warfare trials with the Russian Navy's Northern Fleet.

Long Island Politicians Renew FAA Helicopter Route Petition

Group Seeks A Mandatory Over-Water Route To East Hampton Airport

A group of local, state, and federal elected officials representing the eastern portion of Long Island, NY, have renewed a petition with the FAA to mandate an over-water route for helicopters flying to East Hampton Airport (KHTO).

Help Wanted Sign Out At Gulfstream Brunswick

Facility Needs Employees For Added Completions Work in 2013

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. says it plans to increase employment at its Brunswick, GA, facility by approximately 20 percent in the next year to support growing volume in completions work. The site currently has 174 employees, including nearly 90 technicians.

NASA's Operation IceBridge Resumes Flights Over Antarctica

Studying Changing Polar Ice In Fourth Year Of The Campaign

Scientists and flight crew members with Operation IceBridge, NASA's airborne mission to study Earth's changing polar ice, have begun another campaign over Antarctica. Now in its fourth year, IceBridge's return to the Antarctic comes almost a year after the discovery of a large rift in the continent's Pine Island Glacier.

Nanshan International Flight Academy Orders Level D FFS

Frasca International To Supply The Full Flight Sim To The Chinese Flight School

Nanshan International Flight Academy has ordered a CAAC Level D Cessna CJ1+ Full Flight Simulator (FFS) from Frasca International. The Simulator will be installed at Nanshan’s flight academy located in Longkou, China.

ONR Awards Contract To Develop GPS Jamming And Spoofing Detection Technology

Taps Rockwell Collins For The Three-Year MIST Program

The Office of Naval Research has awarded Rockwell Collins a contract to develop technology to locate and classify an adversary’s attempts to interfere with GPS signals and disrupt military operations.

Predators, Reapers Break Flying Record

Six Reapers, Four Predators Flown Simultaneously During Training Mission

The 29th Attack Squadron, 9th Attack Squadron, and the 6th Reconnaissance Squadron set a non-combat record October 2, by flying six MQ-9 Reapers and four MQ-1 Predators simultaneously during a training mission at Holloman Air Force Base, NM.

iFly GPS Releases Version 7.5 Software Update

New Features Include Portrait Mode, Instruments, Expanded ADS-B Compatibility

Adventure Pilot has announced the release its Version 7.5 Software Update. Enhancements include Portrait Mode, Interactive Instrument Mode, WAC Charts and more. This update will begin shipping immediately and is available for existing iFly 700 and iFly 720 owners.

Associated Aircraft Group Awarded Authorization For KDCA Operations

Access To Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Required TSA Approval

Associated Aircraft Group has been granted access into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) by the TSA under the DCA Access Security Program (DASSP). With the access airport, AAG says its clients now will be allowed to travel from anywhere along the East Coast directly to the nation's capital.

AAR To Open New Aircraft Maintenance Facility In Duluth, MN

Top Aircraft Maintenance Provider Receives FAA Approval To Commence Operations

AAR, a provider of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services to commercial airlines, has passed the FAA's certification approval process for a new aircraft maintenance facility in Duluth, MN. The certification process is a key regulatory milestone that paves the way for AAR to commence operations.

AD: Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes

AD NUMBER: 2012-20-09

PRODUCT: Certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes

Gone West: Former AEA President And Industry Icon Monte R. Mitchell

Held Leadership Roles With The Organization From 1977 Until 1996

The AEA has notified ANN of the passing of Monte R. Mitchell, former president of the association and a legend in the avionics industry, who served nearly 40 years in the general aviation industry. Born Feb. 6, 1929, in Quincy, MO, he passed away Oct. 16, 2012, in Lee's Summit, MO, at the age of 83, following a brief illness.

Airborne 10.16.12: Stratos Succeeds, Fully-Built RV-12s, Simpler FAA Certs???

Also: Hawker Hurricane, Mars Rocks, Sikorsky Certifies S-76D, Endeavour Retired, CSeries Underway, Helo Attacker Jailed

No baby steps here... After flying to an altitude of 128,097 feet in a capsule suspended below a helium-filled balloon, Felix Baumgartner completed a record breaking jump for the ages from the edge of space Sunday, exactly 65 years after Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier flying in an experimental rocket-powered airplane. Vans Aircraft announced that it will offer a factory-built version of its RV-12 LSA next year. The aircraft will be built by Synergy Air of Eugene, OR, which currently offers a ‘builders assistance&rsqu

Randy Babbitt Named SWA Senior Vice President Of Labor Relations

Former FAA Administrator Flew For Eastern Airlines For 25 Years

Southwest Airlines has named J. Randolph "Randy" Babbitt as Senior Vice President of Labor Relations to direct and oversee the carrier's labor related activities. Babbitt will report directly to Chief Operating Officer Mike Van de Ven and have responsibility for all negotiation, communication, and ongoing relationships between the Company and the eleven organizations that represent 87 percent of Southwest Employees.

New ADS-B Surface Services Are Now Available

FAA Asks That Users Report 'Irregularities' In The Services

Pilots who use the surface airspace listed below can now receive free traffic and weather information in the cockpit. To receive these services, aircraft must be equipped with an Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) transmitter/receiver or transceiver and a cockpit display of traffic information (CDTI).

EASA Refines Single Sky Traffic Management Plan

Calls Updated Document A 'Pragmatic Approach To Modernizing Europe’s Air Traffic Management Systems'

Europe’s Single Sky modernization has been refined with an update of the European Air Traffic Management Master Plan. This is the newly-agreed-to strategic plan providing technological and operational roadmaps to all aviation stakeholders.

NASA Commercial Crew Partner Blue Origin Completes Rocket Engine Thrust Chamber

Will Power Reusable Booster System To Lift Company's Biconic Space Vehicle

NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP) partner Blue Origin has successfully fired the thrust chamber assembly for its new 100,000 pound thrust BE-3 liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen rocket engine. As part of Blue's Reusable Booster System (RBS), the engines are designed eventually to launch the biconic-shaped Space Vehicle the company is developing.

Bell Helicopter Breaks Ground On New Global Headquarters

Governor Rick Perry On Hand For Event In Fort Worth, TX

Construction of Bell Helicopter's new global headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas got underway Monday with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by TX Governor Rick Perry, U.S. Congresswoman Kay Granger, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, Mayor Betsy Price, and John Garrison, President and CEO of Bell Helicopter.

EASA Proposes To Cancel A Mode C And Mode S Transponder AD

Comments Stress That The Requirement Is Repetitive, Impacts GA

The European Aviation Safety Agency has issued a proposed airworthiness directive (PAD) cancellation notice (CN) to cancel EASA AD 2006-0265, dated Aug. 30, 2006, for Mode C and Mode S transponders, and all types and models utilizing Gilham code altitude input.

Aero-News: Quote Of The Day (10.17.12)

"The establishment of the mandatory North Shore Route mitigated the impacts of helicopter noise in Nassau County and Western Suffolk by keeping helicopters one mile offshore in the Long Island Sound, but did nothing to alleviate the problem on the East End." Source: Joint statement by multiple Long Island area legislators from all levels of government.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (10.17.12): Rain Shadow

An area of reduced precipitation on the lee side of a mountain barrier caused by warming of air and dissipation of cloudiness as air descends the barrier.