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June 18, 2008

Here We Go Again! GAO Sustains Boeing Bid Protest

Agency Recommends Air Force Reopen the Bid Process

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has just sustained the Boeing Company’s protest of the Department of the Air Force’s award of a contract to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation for KC-X aerial refueling tankers. Boeing challenged the Air Force’s technical and cost evaluations, conduct of discussions, and source selection decision.

Says DOT/FAA Plan Based On "Ideological, Market-Based Theory"

The gloves are off. New York Senator Chuck Schumer joined with the Air Transport Association and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Wednesday, to mount a united front against plans by the Department of Transportation to impose flight caps and slot auctions at three New York City-area airports.

Says All Airmen May Lead By Example In Troubled Times

Good leadership at all levels will fix what ails the Air Force, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during an event at Nevada's Nellis Air Force Base on Tuesday.

Kuebler Seeking Investors As Company Heads To Full Insolvency

Have rumors of Thielert Aircraft Engine's imminent exit from the engine-making business been greatly exaggerated? The troubled German manufacturer would like us to believe so... and announced Wednesday it has a "full head of steam" to resume full production, even as the clock counts down to full insolvency proceedings.

Did Not Check Weather, Or Flight Plan The Route

The fatal March 3 downing of a Russian Mil-17 helicopter ferrying 10 people from a camp for former Maoist rebels in Nepal has been blamed on pilot error.

NOTAM Number: FDC 8/3036 Issue Date: June 18, 2008 at 1258 UTC Location: HIBBING , Minnesota near HIBBING VOR/DME (HIB) Beginning Date and Time: June 18, 2008 at 1630 UTC Ending Date and Time: June 18, 2008 at 1730 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Temporary flight restrictions Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A

OR Firefighting TFR: UFN

NOTAM Number: FDC 8/2982 Issue Date: June 18, 2008 at 0438 UTC Location: CHILOQUIN , Oregon near KLAMATH FALLS VORTAC (LMT) Beginning Date and Time: June 18, 2008 at 1300 UTC Ending Date and Time: Until further notice Reason for NOTAM: TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR FIRE FIGHTING Type: Hazards Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: SEATTLE (ZSE) Automated Flight Service Station, 253-351-3520

NOTAM Number: FDC 8/3047 Issue Date: June 18, 2008 at 1314 UTC Location: Lucerne Valley, California near HECTOR VORTAC (HEC) Beginning Date and Time: June 19, 2008 at 1300 UTC Ending Date and Time: June 25, 2008 at 0300 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Aerial demonstrations by two P40 Kittyhawk aircraft Type: Airshow Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: Los Angeles (ZLA) Center, 661-265-8240

NOTAM Number: FDC 8/2988 Issue Date: June 18, 2008 at 1030 UTC Location: Klamath Falls, Oregon near KLAMATH FALLS VORTAC (LMT) Beginning Date and Time: June 19, 2008 at 1930 UTC Ending Date and Time: June 21, 2008 at 2345 UTC Reason for NOTAM: High performance aerial demonstrations by the USAF Thunderbirds Type: Airshow Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A Pilots May Contact: Seattle (ZSE) Center, 253-351-3520

The Story Behind "Experimental Helo" Magazine, With Stu and Kathy Fields

ANN Daily Touch N Go: 06.18.08 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program) ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 06.18.08 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program) ANN Special Feature -- The Story Behind "Experimental Helo" Magazine: 06.18.08 (ANN Special Report, with publishers Stu and Kathy Fields.)

Lessons To Be Learned From April 2007 Incident At TVC

In the aftermath of the National Transportation Safety Board's review last week of the circumstances leading to the April 2007 runway overrun of a Pinnacle Airlines CRJ200 at Traverse City, MI, on Tuesday the NTSB issued three recommendations to the FAA intended to address crew fatigue issues, and other factors which may have contributed to the accident.

Commission Determined Ruptured Exhaust Gas Conduit Led To Failure

A Failure Review Oversight Board (FROB) convened by International Launch Services (ILS) has cleared the Proton Breeze M launch vehicle to return to flight this summer, following its examination of test results and analysis regarding a redesigned engine component.

First C-27J Spartan For JCA Program Takes Flight

Completes Maiden Trip Skyward In "Poor" Weather

Alenia North America announced Tuesday the first C-27J Spartan for the US Army's Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) successfully completed its maiden flight at the Alenia facility in Turin, Italy.

GAO To Rule On Boeing Protest By Friday

We're approaching the final days -- and possibly hours -- before the Government Accountability Office will rule on a protest filed by Boeing, contesting the February 29 awarding of a lucrative US Air Force tanker contract to a team comprised of Northrop Grumman and EADS. A decision on that protest could come at any time... and that means the competitors are getting their last licks in, while they still can.

Passenger Taken To Hospital, Condition Unknown

The downing of a vintage single-engine aircraft in Ohio claimed the life of the pilot Tuesday morning, and injured the passenger onboard.

ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 06.18.08

Mooney cuts production, and jobs.
Airline capacity cuts - they're not just for the US anymore.
And as of April, airline employment was still up.

ANN Daily Touch-And-Go: 06.18.08

Mooney cuts production, and jobs. Airline capacity cuts - they're not just for the US anymore. And as of April, airline employment was still up.

More AERO-Casts

ANN Special Feature: Stu & Kathy Fields, Experimental Helo Magazine - 06.18.08

ANN's Paul Plack talks with Stu and Kathy Fields, who've turned their four-decade-long love of flying homebuilt rotorcraft into Experimental Helo magazine.

FMI:

More AERO-Casts

Aero-TV: Honeywell's KFD 840 Gets Ready To Take Flight

Another Avionics Powerhouse Gets Serious About GA Glass

The Glass panel game is a popular one... and filled with extremely aggressive competitors with exciting products... but with nearly all the cards on the table, EFIS-wise, all eyes turn to Honeywell/Bendix-King... and the "other shoe" that they are about to drop. With Industry innovators like Avidyne, Chelton and Garmin in the competition and some novel new players like Aspen coming hot and heavy on to the scene, Honeywell has a tough road ahead... but then again, they ARE Honeywell.

More Videos

Aero-TV: Honeywell's KFD 840 Gets Ready To Take Flight

Another Avionics Powerhouse Gets Serious About GA Glass

The Glass Panel game is a popular one... and filled with extremely aggressive competitors with exciting products... but with nearly all the cards on the table, EFIS-wise, all eyes turn to Honeywell/Bendix-King... and the "other shoe" that they are about to drop.

And That Concerns Boeing And Airbus

It took a little longer... but record-high oil prices have started to take their toll on carriers outside the United States, as well. On the same day Air Canada announced it plans to reduce capacity and cut jobs before the end of the year, comes news a number of profitable foreign airlines are also feeling the pinch.

Survey Says Customer Satisfaction At Lowest Levels In Three Years

Stop us if you've heard this one before. There's another survey to tell you about, that shows passengers are fed up with the shoddy treatment they receive at the hands of commercial airlines.

Smallest Year-Over-Year Increase Since March 2007

US scheduled passenger airlines employed 1.0 percent more workers in April 2008 than in April 2007, the 15th consecutive increase in full-time equivalent employee (FTE) levels for the scheduled passenger carriers from the same month of the previous year... but the smallest year-to-year increase since March 2007, the US Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported Tuesday.

39-A Damaged During Discovery Launch

Officials with NASA allowed journalists to take a look at damage to Pad 39-A at Kennedy Space Center on Monday, two weeks after the launch of space shuttle Discovery caused some 5,300 heat-resistant bricks to break off from a flame-retardant blast wall.

If Only All Emergencies Could Go This Smoothly...

C150 Lands, Takes Off Again From FL Interstate

An emergency landing by a Cessna 150 on Interstate 95 gave lunchtime commuters something to talk about in Ormond Beach, FL Tuesday.

No Water Found Yet, But Scientists Optimistic

One of the ovens on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander continued baking its first sample of Martian soil over the weekend, while the Robotic Arm dug deeper into the soil to learn more about white material first revealed on June 3.

DC-9 Fleet Will Be Reduced To 61 Aircraft

On Tuesday, Northwest Airlines announced its second cut in capacity in two months, further building on fleet reductions announced earlier this year.

Cloud Seeding Operation Goes Awry

The owner of a suburban Moscow home feels like her government is dumping on her. Can't say we blame her... after all, we'd probably feel the same, too, if a government plane had dropped a sack of cement on our house.

Ingested Into A320 Turbofan

An aircraft mechanic working on the engine of an Airbus A320 in the Canary Islands died when he was ingested into the turbofan during a run-up exercise Monday night.

Aerospace Adventures For Students!

Students, grades 1-12, are invited to join the aerospace adventure summer camps in June, July and August at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, OR. Featured aviation- or space-themed camps include: Aileron Adventure, Aviation in Motion, Aviation Academy Camp, Blast-Off Day Camp, Space X-plorers and Aerospace Challenge.

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (06.18.08)

Aero-Linx!

A Balloon Fiesta is no place for black and white film. It’s also no place for late risers since the launches are generally early to take advantage of the cooler, more stable air. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, now in its 36th year, is probably one of the better known festivals in the US.

Aero-Terms!

A relatively thick, narrow-chord wing, featuring relatively low drag and a stable center of pressure, thus developing lift at low angles of attack. The B-24 Liberator of WWII is one famous example of the Davis wing.

"Across the airline experience, from check-in, to the flight, to deplaning, passengers are being affected by the ramifications of carriers making staff cutbacks and have expressed that performance and attitudes of airline staff are suffering."

Source: Sam Thanawalla, director of the global hospitality and travel practice at J.D. Power & Associates. In its annual survey of overall customer satisfaction with US domestic carriers, the market research firm found passengers' opinions of airlines fell to their lowest levels in three years.