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

Russia Certifies Embraer Lineage Executive Jets Lineage

Follows Closely The Certification Of The Company's Regional Airliners

Russia's Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC), also known by its Russian acronym MAK, has granted type certification to Embraer for the Lineage 1000 business aircraft, opening the door for Russian customers to register and operate the type in Russia.

China's Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport In The '30 Million' Club

Fifth Airport In China To Reach 30 Million Passengers

In case you were wondering why all those commercial airliner sales forecasts point to China as a significant growth area, here is some evidence. At 9:05 am, on December 12 th, 2012, CA4440, flying from Gui Yang, landed smoothly on the runway at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CDIA). That's not exactly news, but the flight pushed the number of passengers traveling through CDIA past 30 million.

NASA Progressing Toward First Launch Of Orion Spacecraft

But The First Flight Is Still More Than A Year In The Future

Recent engineering advances by NASA and its industry partners across the country show important progress toward Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1), the next step to launching humans to deep space. The uncrewed EFT-1 mission, launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida in 2014, will test the re-entry performance of the agency's Orion capsule.

Eurocopter Completes Deliveries Of Four EC135s In Finland

Aircraft Upgrade The Helicopter Fleet Of Finnish Emergency Medical Services Provider SHT

The deliveries of four new EC135s to Skärgårdshavets Helikoptertjänst Ab (SHT) during the fourth quarter of 2012 is enabling this Finnish operator of emergency medical airlift services and air ambulance flights to modernize its helicopter fleet.

T56 Engine Enhancement For USAF Exceeds Expectations

Rolls-Royce Engine Powers Legacy C-130 Aircraft

The United States Air Force has completed flight testing for the latest enhancement for the Rolls-Royce T56 engine, and preliminary results have exceeded expectations for reduced fuel consumption and reliability improvements. The Rolls-Royce T56 engine powers all legacy C-130 aircraft.

U.S. Navy Awards $400 Million Aircraft Maintenance Contract

BAE Systems To Maintain T-34, T-44, T-6 Trainers

The U.S. Navy has awarded a contract to maintain and service T-34, T-44 and T-6 trainer aircraft valued at approximately $400 million over five years to BAE Systems. The company will perform scheduled inspections, along with required repairs, modifications and logistical support, for more than 300 aircraft operated by the Chief of Naval Air Training.

UTC To Focus On Core Aerospace And Commercial Business

Sells Pratt & Whitney Power Systems Unit To Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

United Technologies Corp. said Wednesday that it has reached agreement to sell its Pratt & Whitney Power Systems unit, currently part of Pratt & Whitney, to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). Terms of the agreement were not disclosed and the transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2013.

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (12.16.12)

Aero Linx: American Bar Association Forum Committee on Air and Space Law The Forum’s conferences and other activities serve as the one-stop shop for attorneys interested in all aspects of domestic and international air and space law, as well as regulatory issues arising from governmental entities such as FAA, DOT, NASA and EASA.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (12.16.12): Pilot's Discretion

Pilot's Discretion When used in conjunction with altitude assignments, means that ATC has offered the pilot the option of starting climb or descent whenever he/she wishes and conducting the climb or descent at any rate he/she wishes. He/she may temporarily level off at any intermediate altitude. However, once he/she has vacated an altitude, he/she may not return to that altitude.

Aero-News: Quote Of The Day (12.16.12)

"We cannot smile because of the situation, because of how the company treats us." Source: Union General Secretary Tsang Kwok-fung, discussing the issues surrounding the fact that Cathay Pacific flight attendants are feeling pretty grumpy about how negotiations are going between their union and the airline, and have voted to begin a labor action which may include flight delays and a cut back on the service for which the airline is noted -- even to the point where they might even stop smiling and greeting passengers.