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

Colgan Attempts To Block Testimony Of Former FAA Inspector

On The Record As Critical Of Colgan Pilot Performance A Year Before The Buffalo Accident

Colgan Air is asking a judge to block the testimony of a now-retired FAA inspector who went on the record criticizing the performance of Colgan Air's pilots a year before one of its planes went down in Buffalo, NY.

NASA'S Dawn Sees New Surface Features On Giant Asteroid Vesta

Reveals Unusual Geologic Features Never Before Seen On An Asteroid

NASA's Dawn spacecraft has revealed unexpected details on the surface of the giant asteroid Vesta. New images and data highlight the diversity of Vesta's surface and reveal unusual geologic features, some of which were never previously seen on asteroids.

Fire Scout Team Takes Steps To Arm Unmanned Helicopter

Navy Requests Weaponized MQ-8B, First For The Service

The U.S. Navy for the first time has reqested that one of its unmanned aircraft be configured to carry weapons. The Navy plans to arm the MQ-8B Fire Scout with a laser-guided rocket, the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), in just 18 months.

Deployable Air Traffic Control System Program Back On Track

ECS Project Had Been Threatened By Budget Cuts

A program to provide a new deployable air traffic control system is moving forward again after budgetary challenges. The Deployable Radar Approach Control, or D-RAPCON developed by the Air Force's Electronic Systems Center (ECS) is designed to provide worldwide expeditionary approach and en route surveillance for joint, coalition and civil aircraft to direct and monitor air missions through sequencing, separation of aircraft, navigation assistance and airspace control services.

Eagle Air Med Wins AAMS Community Service Award

Eagle Air Med Raises The Bar For Breast Cancer Awareness With 2011 Campaign

The Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) is pleased to honor Eagle Air Med from Blanding, Utah with the 2012 Excellence in Community Service Award. This award is given to an emergency medical transport individual or organization demonstrating broad-based continuing commitment to the communities they serve. Eagle Air Med was selected as this year’s honoree for their 2011 Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign.

Bulgaria Air Adds First Embraer E190

Three Additional Regional Jets To Be Delivered By Year's End

The first Embraer E190 to be operated by Bulgaria Air has been delivered to the airline by the planemaker in a ceremony at the airline’s headquarters in Bulgaria‘s capital city, Sofia. Three additional E-Jets on order for the airline will be delivered by the end of this year.

Aviation Industry Boosting The Economy Of Morocco

Boeing, Safran SA, Others Building High-Tech Factories, Offering Jobs

The aviation industry is playing a role in lifting the economy of Morocco by building advanced manufacturing facilities there and offering local workers good-paying jobs.

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (03.25.12)

Aero Linx: U.S. Centennial of Flight -- Barnstormers They were the most exciting daredevils of their day. Stunt pilots and aerialists--or "barnstormers" as they became known--performed almost any trick or feat with an airplane that people could imagine. During the 1920s, barnstorming became one of the most popular forms of entertainment. It was also the first major form of civil aviation in the history of flight. For many pilots and stunt people, barnstorming provided an exciting and invigorating way to make a living, not to mention a challenging outlet for their creativity and showmanship.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (03.25.12): Upslope Fog

Upslope Fog Fog that forms when warm, moist surface air is forced up a slope by the wind. It is adiabatically cooled to below its initial dew point, which means the air cools by expansion as it rises. It forms best where there is a gradual slope, and it can become quite deep, requiring considerable time to dissipate.

Aero-News: Quote Of The Day (03.25.12)

Aero-News Quote of the Day “This is the very first weaponization program on this aircraft... it was identified by the fleet as an urgent need for joint forces, so we are pressing forward as hard as we can to get it out there.” Source: Jeremy Moore, Fire Scout weapons system integration lead, in comments accompanying the news that the US Navy (for the first time) has reqested that one of its unmanned aircraft be configured to carry weapons. The Navy plans to arm the MQ-8B Fire Scout with a laser-guided rocket, the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), in just 18 months.