The EMBRAER 195 commercial airliner made its first flight, Tuesday, at Embraer’s São José dos Campos headquarters and successfully performed a range of flying quality and system validation tests. The airplane took off at 11:58 am (local time) and landed safely 1 hour and 56 minutes later.

"Revisionist" And "Insulting"

The city of Chicago’s claim that Meigs Field was abandoned and had to be cleaned up is an insulting, revisionist explanation that warps the truth, says the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. The claim is contained in a response from the city’s attorneys to an FAA investigation into whether or not Chicago improperly used $1.5 million in airport development funds earmarked for O’Hare International Airport to pay for the Meigs demolition.

Convention of conventions for everything air show gets underway

What do you get when you take a convention hall full of type-A personalities with HADD (Horizontal Attitude Deficit Disorder), stuff them into one room, tell them to wear Hawaiian shirts so loud they're more effective than the new GPS-enhanced ELT's, unveil four open bars and start the music?

Low-Flying UAV To Scout Ahead Of Troops

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Monday awarded funding to three contractors for the first phase of the Organic Air Vehicle – II (OAV-II) program to develop a prototype ducted fan Class II unmanned aerial vehicle for the Army’s Future Force Unit of Action.

Determination Allows C-20 Pilot L:ong-Awaited Return To Flight

Most people would have thought Lt. Col. Andrew Lourake would never see the inside of an Air Force cockpit again, at least not as a pilot.

Use Threats, Deadlines To Deal With Financially Troubled Carriers

The money-lending industry is cracking down on the passenger-flying industry and the result could be deadly for airlines already in or headed for bankruptcy.

AOPA Chief: "There's More To Aviation Than The Airlines"

When aviation leaders from around the world get together, the conversation naturally turns to talk of air traffic control, airport access, regulation, and security. These issues affect every pilot and every flight everywhere in the world — but too often aviation officials think only of the airlines.

Some Lawmakers Want Transport Minister To Resign

As the copilot of a Lion Air MD-82 (file photo of type, below) was transferred from a hospital in Kasih Ibu to another in Jakarta, Indonesia, the flight recorders have been transferred to the US for analysis. And at least one Indonesian political party demanded an immediate review of aviation safety standards and regulations.

EADS Says It's Making Progress In The Far East

EADS says it's achieved another major success in China with the signing of an agreement for 23 single-aisle Airbus aircraft. The signing took place in the presence of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, who is currently visiting the People’s Republic of China.

Flight To Newark Resumed After Search For Explosive Device Turned Up Nothing

A Lufthansa 747-400 headed from Frankfurt to Newark made an unscheduled stop in Ireland over the weekend after the airline got a call saying there was a "suspect device" on board.

Marines Osprey Training Squadron 'Aims High' With Air Force Beneath Its Wings

In a re-activation ceremony held inside the joint Marine Tiltrotor Test and Evaluation Squadron-22 and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron-204 hangar Dec. 2, Air Force Detachment 1, 58th Operations Group, was reborn.

RSW Promotes Her To Governmental Affairs Director

Debra A. Lemke has been promoted to the position of department director of governmental affairs for the Lee County Port Authority. She directs funding strategies, governmental coordination and grant-related issues for Southwest Florida International Airport and Page Field General Aviation Airport in Fort Myers.

Highly Realistic, Full Mission Training Simulation System

At the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) Tuesday, Silicon Graphics said Link Simulation and Training, a division of L-3 Communications, has purchased six SGI Onyx high-performance graphics supercomputers to power a state-of-the-art training system for the Canadian Air Force’s CF-18 Advanced Distributed Combat Training System (ADCTS) program.

Navy Expects On-Time, On-Cost Delivery

Raytheon Company has received a $158 million contract for continued production of AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles and support materials. The contract includes 443 all-up-round AIM-9X tactical missiles, 153 AIM-9X training missiles and support equipment. The award was made by the US Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD.

Project Ahead Of Schedule, Under Budget

Boeing has selected Goodrich Corporation and Honeywell to provide exterior lighting for the 7E7 Dreamliner. In addition, Matsushita Avionics Systems Corporation, of Japan, has won the cabin services system contract, its first, for the all-new airliner.

"This is yet another insult. Our 400,000 members know this airport wasn't abandoned. Meigs Field was willfully destroyed by elected officials using public monies that were intended for airport construction, not destruction. We're analyzing the city's brief to determine if there is an appropriate legal response from AOPA. But it's clear that the city is once again engaging in revisionist history and justification." Source: AOPA President Phil Boyer reacting to a brief to the FAA filed by the city of Chicago. The 40-page document says Chicago indeed used airport funds for both Midway and O'Hare to complete the demolition of Meigs field that Mayor Richard Daley started under cover of darkness because the ripped up strip had been "abandoned."

Last year, ANN had the sorry task of reporting the death of Texas Air Aces/Aviation Safety Training Boss Don Wylie in a T-34 crash. Yesterday, one of Don's compatriots was lost... in a T-34. The Beechcraft T-34 went down some time Tuesday morning near Lake Conroe, some 55 miles North of Houston. One witness reports seeing a wing separate from the aircraft prior to impact. The main impact area was located about a quarter mile from the remains of the separated wing and both occupants, including AST's Richard Gillenwaters.

Cites Incident At Teterboro, Says He's In Dutch With FAA

Movie star Morgan Freeman's flying dreams have been dealt a severe blow - he has been grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for breaking altitude rules.