Former Cirrus Investor Seeking Protection From Creditors

Bahrain-based Arcapita Bank, which at one time owned the lion's share of Cirrus Design, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a U.S. court.

CEO Tom Horton Said Mergers Have Been "Good For The Industry"

The CEO of AMR Corporation, the parent company of bankrupt American Airlines, says he would be open to discussions of a merger with another carrier at some point in the future, but not right now.

Watchdog Agency Says S-76C+ Overpriced, Underutilized

A legislative budget watchdog in North Carolina says the state's S-76C+ helicopter flies too little, is too expensive, and should be sold as a cost-savings measure. The Sikorsky is used primarily as VIP transport, and reportedly flies only about six hours per month.

Competition To Focus On Six Key Air Transport Industry Issues

The next Fly Your Ideas (FYI) challenge will give students the opportunity to help shape the future of flight by addressing one of six issues facing the air transport sector: energy, efficiency, affordable growth, traffic growth, passenger experience, and community friendliness. Held every two years, this Airbus competition asks students to develop ideas for an eco-efficient aviation industry.

US Navy Says Combined Contracts Will Result In Savings Of $2.3 Billion

Delivery of the U.S. Navy's first aircraft acquired through the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Multi-Year Procurement (MYP) III contract has been completed by Boeing. Aircraft G-57, an EA-18G Growler, was the first of 148 F/A-18E/Fs and EA-18Gs that the Navy will purchase through the contract. The aircraft was delivered to the Navy on January 26 and arrived at its home base at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island on January 30.

Vintage Aircraft To Be Hosted By Valair Aviation At Wiley Post Airport

Valair Aviation will host aircraft on display for the Collings Foundation’s Wing of Freedom Tour at Wiley Post Airport (KPWA) in Oklahoma City, OK. The tour is open to the public April 6th – 8th. Attendees will have  the opportunity to fly aboard the B-17 or B-24 Bombers or get some “stick time” in the world’s only Dual Control P-51C Mustang Fighter.

Woman Had Been Asked To Get Off An Airliner For Feeding Her Daughter

A woman who says she was kicked off a Delta Connections flight in 2006 because she was breastfeeding her year-old child has settled with the three airlines involved in the case.

Expands Capabilities Of Existing iPad App

The NASA Visualization Explorer is now delivering new opportunities to explore NASA's research of the sun, planetary bodies, Earth and the universe to your iPad. NASA says the product is not new, but is a great expansion of an existing one.

Five Recognized For Dedication To Safety

Employees in Bristow's operations in the U.S. and U.K. have been recognized recently for their leadership in safety by industry and government organizations.

Beat Out AMFA By 48 Votes

Mechanics and related workers at Horizon Air reaffirmed their support for the Teamsters Union today, voting in favor of representation by the Teamsters Airline Division.

Thunderstorm Activity Appears To Have Contributed To Tragedy

Mother Nature can be horribly unforgiving... especially for those flying craft that require some semblance of gentility on her part. What should have been an enjoyable day of ballooning and skydiving has turned out quite poorly as weather conditions appear to have played a part in the downing of the balloonist. A second full day of searching on Sunday has failed to turn up any sign of missing balloonist, Ed Ristiano. The 63 year old pilot from Cornelius, North Carolina, was flying Skydivers near Fitzgerald, Georgia, as part of the annual Wild Chicken Festival. Ristiano and 6 skydivers were caught by a sudden thunderstorm.

Also: Tecnam, WingX, HBC Furloughs, Online Medicals, Collier Trophy, FAA Forecast, Vicki Cruse Scholarships... and MORE!

First of all, let's offer up an apology for being a few hours late with this edition of Airborne. As we were in the midst of producing this program, Airborne Host Ashley got an early morning call with the news that she was in the processing of becoming an Aunt... and let's face it, that was important stuff, indeed and worth a little extras time so that she could be part of that amazing event. In the meantime, though, there's lots of pretty cool news on the aviation front as well... some good and some bad. We're not sure what's going on at Cessna, but

Veteran Aviator/Journalist, Glen Moyer, Takes On Duties As A New Voice For ANN

ANN is trying to be ready for the future -- even before it gets here... just a few days ago, we upgraded our server capabilities aggressively, and are in the process of fine-tuning a number of feature sets and capabilities for the aviation world's most comprehensive 24/7 RealTime news service -- efforts which will lead the way to even more Aero-Goodness. One of the biggest changes is a new role for our long-time Aero-Casting programming... some 5000 programs strong and the longest running aviation audio program in the business. Aero-Casts resume today, and with them, a new voice... that of Glen Moyer... known to many people throughout the world as the voice of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta an

Klyde Exposes The TSA's Shoe Fixation 

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

Urges Members To Contact Representatives Concerning The Alexander-Wyden Amendment

The Alexander-Wyden amendment, which would give the National Park Service unprecedented power to curtail air tour operations, passed in the U.S. Senate as part of the surface transportation bill this week. The Helicopter Association International (HAI) is now urging its members to contact their representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives in an effort to have the amendment stripped from the bill before passage there.

Premier Aircraft Gets The Nod To Keep The Mooneys Cool Inside

Premier Aircraft Service in Fort Lauderdale, FL has been awarded exclusive rights to sell and install Mooney air conditioning systems on all Mooney M20R aircraft including the Acclaim, Ovation and Bravo models.

Advocacy Organization Calls For A Proactive Posture

Business aviation faces many challenges, and with a host of new EU legislation, the industry expects more to come. So now is the time to be proactive. That was the message during the European Business Aviation Association’s (EBAA) Annual General Meeting held Thursday in Brussels at Eurocontrol headquarters.

Adds About Eight Cubic Feet Of Storage Space On Older-Model Bonanzas

The FAA has awarded an STC/PMA to Approach Aviation for its SmartSpace Extended Baggage Compartment for pre-1979 Beechcraft Bonanza 36 & A36 aircraft, providing owners of these aircraft with the increased utility of the latest Beechcraft Bonanzas.

China Delays A330, A380 Purchases As Trade War Brews

A Virginia-based aviation analyst says that the EU will likely back down from its hard line stance on its recently-imposed Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

Aero Linx: The Balloon Federation of America In honor of ANN's newest staffer, Glen Moyer, let us introduce you to one of his favorite websites... The BFA is a 501c3 non-profit association dedicated to the advancement of the sport and science of lighter-than-air aviation, both hot air and gas balloons. Founded in 1961, membership in the BFA is open to anyone who shares a fascination with Lighter Than Air flight. They have a great magazine... also edited by ANN's Glen Moyer.

Direction Finder A radio receiver equipped with a directional sensing antenna used to take bearings on a radio transmitter. Specialized radio direction finders are used in aircraft as air navigation aids. Others are ground-based, primarily to obtain a "fix" on a pilot requesting orientation assistance or to locate downed aircraft. A location "fix" is established by the intersection of two or more bearing lines plotted on a navigational chart using either two separately located Direction Finders to obtain a fix on an aircraft or by a pilot plotting the bearing indications of his/her DF on two separately located ground-based transmitters, both of which can be identified on his/her chart. UDFs receive signals in the ultra hig

"W.J. LaGrone was my high school band director. He was a veteran and used his GI Bill benefits to learn to fly during my years in high school. Every day he would regale us with tales of his flying lessons. You didn't learn to fly in Beaumont, Texas in the '70's without meeting legendary aviation writer and radio show host Gordon Baxter (Flying Magazine's "Bax Seat"). Willie and Bax became great friends and ironically Bax would also have a major influence on my career direction." Source: That's the new voice of ANN's Aero-Casts, Glen Moyer, talking about some of his early influences and remembering one of the best aero-writers of all time... the incomparable Gordon Baxter. (We miss you, Bax! --ANN E-I-C)