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

Aero-News Featured Aero-Casts For Thursday 06.16.11

ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 06.16.11 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program)

Rick Volker Airshows To Demo High-Octane Unleaded Fuel

Air Shows Flown With Proposed 100LL Drop-In Replacement During 2011 Season

International extreme airshow performer Rick Volker of Rick Volker Airshows has joined forces with Swift Enterprises to use Swift's unleaded, high-octane aviation gasoline during the 2011 air show season.

Larry Alexandre Appointed President of Heli-One

Neil Calvert Retiring After 30 Years With The Company

Larry Alexandre has been appointed president of Heli-One, replacing Neil Calvert, who has announced his retirement after a 30-year career.

New RNP Paths At Queenstown, NZ, Will Streamline Air Traffic Management

GE Aviation Helps Airways New Zealand Redesign Airspace For Projected Growth

Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) Services will assist Airways New Zealand in a redesign of the Queenstown airspace that will accommodate expected traffic growth of 40% at the Queenstown airport over the next five years.

Airbus Presents A 'Panoramic' View Of 2050

Rolls Out "The Future By Airbus" For Paris Air Show

In advance of the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, Airbus on Tuesday invited the passengers of 2050 to discover its Concept Cabin - what it calls a whole new flying experience inspired by nature.

X3 Hybrid Demonstrator To Make Public Flight Debut At Paris Air Show

EC175 Also To Make First Public Flight At Le Bourget

The first public flight presentations of Eurocopter's X3 hybrid demonstrator and the new EC175 helicopter are planned at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport this month.

Man Tossed Off Atlantic Southeastern Airlines Flight May Sue

Removed From Delta Connection Flight, Allegedly For Swearing

A New Yorker's colorful language got him removed from an Atlantic Southeastern Airlines flight operating as a Delta codeshare, and now he's threatening to sue the airline ... even though no charges were filed against him.

TSA Reportedly Blocks Airports From Hiring Private Screeners

Some TSOs Said To Protest In Uniform At Montana Airports

Three Montana airports which applied to the TSA for permission to hire private screeners were denied earlier this year, and one airport director says TSOs showed up in uniform at the airport telling passengers they would be "less safe" if private companies were permitted to conduct security screening.

NMB Sets Election Dates For United/Continental Ramp Workers

Vote To Begin July 7th, Results Expected August 11

The National Mediation Board (NMB) has set July 7, 2011 as the starting date for a five-week election that will determine which of two massive unions will represent the 14,300 Ramp/Fleet Service workers of the recently-merged airline.

Dawn Spacecraft Captures Video Of Approach To Asteroid

Orbit Insertion Is Expected July 16

Scientists working with NASA's Dawn spacecraft have created a new video showing the giant asteroid Vesta as the spacecraft approaches this unexplored world in the main asteroid belt.

SpaceX Secures Launch Contract In Major Asian Market

Thai Company Will Launch Satellite Aboard A Falcon 9 From Cape Canaveral

Thai satellite company THAICOM Plc. has chosen SpaceX to launch the new Thaicom 6 telecommunications satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) from its Cape Canaveral launch site in the second quarter of 2013.

UARC Air Racing Program Shuffles Team Roster, Dumps Controversial Pilot

Event Spokesman Confirms FAA Race Approvals Still Under Way... BUT NOT YET GRANTED

In a story broken last week by ANN and earning extensive concern and attention from the airshow and air racing community, we have confirmed that UARC (Ultimate Air Race Challenge) has eliminated controversial Pilot David Riggs from its program. First described as "Mixed Martial Arts with Airplanes," it appears that the fledgling race program is reshuffling its pilot roster in order to present a more conservative profile to an industry wary of controversy and the potential of bad press.

Classic Aero-TV: Anousheh Ansari -- The Woman Behind The Prize

Imagine... Be The Change... Inspire

One of the more unusual phone calls I have ever received occurred a few years ago... from Anousheh Ansari... long distance. About as long distance as it gets, these days, as Anousheh was calling form the International Space Station where she was plainly having the time of her life.

Boeing Announces Wichita Layoffs

Maintenance, Modifications, Upgrades Reductions To Occur Through 2011

Boeing said Tuesday that it would cut approximately 225 jobs at Boeing Defense, Space & Security’s Maintenance, Modifications & Upgrades (MM&U) facility in Wichita. The reductions are a result of some Wichita programs coming to an end and other adjustments in aircraft maintenance cycles.

NBAA Concerned Over New Airport Use Fees in Oregon

Fee Schedule Based On Aircraft Type, Weight

The NBAA says it has been made aware of a new airport use fee schedule enacted recently at the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (KOTH) in North Bend, OR.

B737 Production To Climb To 42 Airplanes Per Month Beginning In 2014

Boeing Says Strong Demand Continues For The Company's Single-Aisle Jetliners

Boeing plans to increase the production rate for its Next-Generation 737 to 42 airplanes per month, the company said Wednesday. Once implemented in the first half of 2014, the 737 program expects to build on average two 737s each workday and nearly 500 airplanes each year.

CAF Red Tail Project Becomes The CAF Red Tail Squadron

Mission Shifts Focus To Education, Launches "Rise Above" Traveling Exhibit

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Red Tail Project has changed its name to the CAF Red Tail Squadron. The change from Project to Squadron reflects the current status and mission of the group as an active volunteer-driven association of the Commemorative Air Force, a non-profit organization.

Crews Work To Get Remains Of Liberty Belle Out Of IL Cornfield

B-17 Which Went Down Monday Near Chicago A Total Loss

Crews attempting to remove what's left of the B-17 "Liberty Belle" following an emergency landing and fire in a cornfield near Chicago Monday struggled in muddy conditions through the night Tuesday.

Southwest Pilots Applaud Termination of SkyWest Codeshare

Says The Agreement Was A Violation Of Their Contract

The Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association (SWAPA) said Monday it is pleased with Southwest Airlines' recognition of their Collective Bargaining Agreement with the pilots and the contract's prohibition against domestic codeshare.

Aero-News: Quote Of The Day (06.16.11)

"Over time the CAF Red Tail Project has evolved into something larger than a 'project'- it has become a group of individuals with a shared vision to tell the story of the Tuskegee Airmen in such a way that it brings to life their struggle against adversity." Source: CAF President/CEO Stephan Brown.