Electric Flight Program Becomes A Foundation Entity

The Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation said Tuesday that the LEAP Electric Flight Program, which includes the Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prize, will become a program of the Lindbergh Foundation effective immediately. The Boards of Directors of the Lindbergh Foundation and Creative Solutions Alliance (the nonprofit organization that runs LEAP) felt that since the missions of both organizations are so closely aligned, it made sense to combine efforts to create a joint program that will make a lasting impact on the future of aviation.

Offers Intuitive Navigation, Charts, Flight Planning And Filing Capabilities

Garmin Pilot, a new aviation app for iOS devices, including the iPad and iPhone, and Android-based mobile devices, was introduced Tuesday by the company. The app brings Garmin’s aviation features to tablets and smart phones, offering pilots complete navigation, trip planning, DUAT(S) filing, weather and electronic flight bag capabilities.

Organizers Call For Volunteers Was Answered By The Local Community

The following blog entry was recently posted on the Lee Bottom Flying Field website. The small airstrip along the Ohio River in southern Indiana is the home to the annual Wood, Fabric, and Tailwheels Fly-In, the future of which had been in some question. If a recent call for volunteers is any indication, the event may have a promising future ... but that remains to be seen.

Entire Evolution Product Line Now Available To European Market

EASA has expanded the European Technical Standard Order (ETSO) authorization for Aspen’s Evolution Flight Display to include additional system components previously approved by the FAA. This EASA approval, announced Tuesday by Aspen, expands the ETSO authorization to include the latest Evolution Software version 2.4.1 (and Level B software version 2.3.2), the second generation ACU2 hardware, the Evolution Backup Display, the EA100 Autopilot Adapter, and Evolution Synthetic Vision.

Certification Nearing Completion For Multiple Aircraft

Avidyne announced Tuesday they are nearing certification of the interface between their DFC90 Digital Autopilot and the Evolution Pro Primary Flight Display (PFD) from Aspen Avionics of Albuquerque. The first certifications of the DFC90 interfaced with the Aspen PFD will be in Avidyne’s Cessna 182 and in Aspen’s Cirrus SR22.

TAS To Be Installed On New 172, 182, 206 Airplanes

Cessna has announced plans to equip 2012 172 Skyhawk, 182 Skylane, and 206 Stationair models will with the Garmin GTS 800 Traffic Alert System (TAS). This system, when integrated into the avionics package, can detect traffic in the vicinity, audibly alert the pilot of the traffic’s location and distance, and make the aircraft more visible to other pilots in the area.

Hope To Land Assembly Of 777X, 787-10 Airplanes

After a deal was struck that will have the Boeing 737 MAX built in Everett, WA, state and union leaders have set their sights on keeping assembly work on other new Boeing products in the Pacific Northwest. But it has not been determined where the planemaker will put together its planned 777X or 787-10 airplanes, let alone where it might build any clean-sheet design it introduces in the future.

Allows For Greater Flexibility In Areas Previously Accessible Mainly By Helicopters

With over 150,000 flying hours across the P-750 XSTOL fleet Pacific Aerospace has achieved certification for its P-750 XSTOL against ICAO Annex 6 for Single Engine IFR Commercial Passenger Transport Operations. A major achievement for the company, the process involved the approval of a number of new modifications; the main one being a dual, independent electrical generation system.

Organizers Seeking New Acts, More Vendors

Event planners at Mid-Ohio Vally Regional Airport (KPKB) in Parkersburg, WV, are looking to expand their 2012 air show in an effort to raise the airports' profile in the community. Donna Rusche, a member of the West Virginia chapter of the Ninety-Nines and co-chair of the air show committee, said they are expecting an expanded presence by the armed forces, as well as new civilian acts.

Full Suite Of Features Available For Aviation Down Under

Nationwide Australian flight tracking is available for the first time for general aviation and commercial airline flights through FlightAware.com. The flight tracking and data service is offering the information free to its Australian users.

Companies Exhibit Together For The First Time At ABACE

Piaggio Aero and CAEA (Beijing) Aviation Investment Co., Ltd have jointly introduced the Piaggio Aero P.180 Avanti II aircraft in China presenting the extraordinary Italian multi utility aircraft for the first time as a certified aircraft in China at ABACE 2012.

Cellulosic Jet Fuel Passes Rigorous Specification Tests

The successful conversion of cellulosic pine tree sugars to drop-in hydrocarbon fuels has been completed by Virent and Virdia, formerly HCL CleanTech, within the BIRD Energy project. A joint program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructure and the BIRD Foundation, the project successfully demonstrated that Virdia’s deconstruction process generated high-quality sugars from cellulosic biomass, which were converted to fuel via Virent’s BioForming process.

Acting Administrator May Get The Permanent Gig

ANN has learned that the Obama administration has nominated Michael Huerta, currently the Acting Administrator of the FAA, to take on the post, in full. Huerta assumed his current role on December 5, 2011, after the resignation of Administrator Randy Babbitt... following his arrest for DWI just days before.

Ric Peri Provides A Solid Overview of the Potential of ADS-B

One of the greatest benefits that we at ANN enjoy, is the nearly unrestricted ability we have to engage in tremendous conversations (and the resultant education) with some of the industry's most expert analysts and advocates. Near the top of our 'favorites' list is AEA's Ric Peri... who not only understands the importance of virtually all aspects of the avionics future we're trying to adapt to... but does so from a vantage point only blocks away from all the decision-makers in Washington, DC.

Get Your Wacky Ideas In NOW!

ANN E-I-C Note: Folks... I gotta warn you... this may be one of our best year's yet... and as always... NO ONE IS SAFE. We had some fun with EVERYONE... the FAA, TSA, EAA, AOPA, Chuck Schumer, Sun 'n Fun, Brent Wouters, LightSquared, the USAF, Cessna, Cirrus, NASA, you name it. If you want to be a part of the foolishness, get your ideas and submissions into us ASAP! Time is fast ticking down to a date the entire ANN staff looks forward to every year. See, each April 1st, we have a problem getting our stories straight... we make things up, we get silly, we exaggerate and lampoon. In other words, we act weirder than the loons who run Sun 'n Fun, Cirrus, and/or the FAA... and in this group, that's really say

The 'Best and Brightest' Of The Avionics World Show "What's New" In Washington, DC, April 3-6, 2012

ANN RealTime Update, 03.27.12, 1512 ET: Please note that we have made changes to the Wednesday and Thursday afternoon schedules in order to accommodate the availability of our guests... we'll keep you updated if any other changes occur! The avionics industry has been described as the most innovative aspect in all of aviation... and if you look at the development of GPS, the glass panel, Airborne Comm and Data, Synthetic Vision, and new generations of power systems; you'd be hard-pressed to disagree. The annual Aircraft Electronics Association Convention & Trade Show is "where all the cool stuff happens." This year's gathering is ju

Negotiations Remain Stalled, Airline Says It Has No Other Options

American Airlines has made good on its threat to ask a judge to void its union contracts after extensive negotiations have failed to produce agreements in its bankruptcy proceedings.

Flight To Las Vegas Diverted To Amarillo, TX

The captain of a JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas diverted to Amarillo, TX Tuesday after the captain exhibited what TSA described as "erratic behavior."

Line Flow Has Begun For The High-Performance Piston Single

Cessna announced Tuesday that line flow has commenced for the Cessna Corvalis TTX. The TTX holds the distinction of being the fastest commercial certified piston-driven aircraft currently in production. “The TTX program has been moving steadily along through various certifications and testing phases,” said Terry Shriner, Cessna TTX business leader.

TSO Approval Allows System To Be Developed By OEM And STC Partners

The FAA has granted TSO approval to Aspen Avionics for the Evolution Backup Display system. Now available for third party STC and OEM applications, the Evolution Backup Display is a fully digital, independent flight display system designed to replace mechanical backup instruments used in Part 23 EFIS installations.

Units Include  Byteflight Databus And Hybrid Touch Interface

Avidyne has unveiled a dual-system configuration of their IFD540 FMS/GPS/NAV/COMs, and demonstrated how its Byteflight databus architecture adds inter-operability and "cross-sync" functionality, enhancing ease of use, redundancy, and safety.

High Performance, Subscription-Free Receiver Made For Foreflight

The first completely wire-free weather receiver for the iPad has been introduced by Appareo, and it requires no monthly subscription. Stratus combines an ADS-B and GPS receiver into a single unit that wirelessly streams NEXRAD radar, text weather, TFRs and aircraft position to the popular ForeFlight Mobile app for iOS devices.

“Taking this step—one that could be fairly described as running roughshod over our contract—will not foster long-term success for American Airlines." Source: APA President Captain Dave Bates.

An authorization by ATC requiring pilots to submit only that information needed for the purpose of ATC. It includes only a small portion of the usual IFR flight plan information.

What Happens When Lightning Strikes An Airplane

It is estimated that on average, each airplane in the U.S. commercial fleet is struck lightly by lightning more than once each year.