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March 19, 2009

Search Crews Find Wreckage Of Imeson's Plane

Pilot Did Not Survive Crash Near Canyon Ferry Lake

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 03.19.09 1720 EDT: Search crews in Montana have located the wreckage of a Cessna 180F believed to have been piloted by noted mountain flying instructor Sparky Imeson. The pilot did not survive the accident.

Ballistic 'Chute Deployed, Pilot Safe

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 03.19.09 1700 EDT: A Cessna 162 SkyCatcher crashed north of El Dorado, KS Thursday afternoon, while on a test flight as part of the planemaker's effort to self-certify the light-sport aircraft for its anticipated entry into the US market later this year.

Lawmakers Show Support For Business Aviation

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen thanked Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) Thursday for writing to President Barack Obama to outline the essential role of business aviation for citizens, companies and the country as a whole.

Miniace To Lead Central Region; Vernon Promoted To NW Mountain Region Administrator

Now almost two months in to his administration, President Barack Obama has yet to appoint his nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration... but the agency is shoring up its ranks with Thursday's announcement Joe Miniace and Kathryn Vernon have been named administrators for the Central Region and Northwest Mountain Region, respectively.

How About A 'Virtual' Cockpit View? And "Super First-Class" Seats?

A new passenger flight information system providing a simulated view from the pilot's seat is just one of the products being launched at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2009, which takes place from March 31 to April 2, 2009 at the Hamburg Messe in Germany.

$257 Million Deal Supports Design, Development, Test And Engineering

The ball is really starting to roll on development of NASA's next-generation manned spaceflight program. Alliant Techsystems announced this week it awarded United Space Alliance (USA) a $257 Million contract to perform subcontractor support to ATK for the NASA's Ares I and Ares 1-X programs through the Design, Development, Test and Engineering (DDT&E) phase. The contract includes engineering, deceleration system development and technical KSC operations support for Stage I activities.

Dassault Falcon Signs 115 Net Orders In 2008, Expects Deliveries To Rise

But Company Will Produce Fewer Planes In '09 Thanks To Slumping Economy

During the company's annual financial analysts meeting Thursday, Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Charles Edelstenne announced sales results for 2008. Dassault received a net total of 115 firm orders worldwide for Falcon business jets in 2008... a marked decline from the record 212 orders received in 2007.

Second Successful Test Of Missile Intercept Radar

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) radar built by Raytheon performed successfully this week, in the latest integrated flight test conducted by the Missile Defense Agency and THAAD prime contractor and systems integrator Lockheed Martin.

Will Participate In Testing Program

British Defense Secretary John Hutton announced Wednesday on a visit to Washington, DC the decision to purchase three Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) test aircraft, marking a significant milestone for the UK's commitment to the Joint Strike Fighter project.

Get Ready For "Rebundling"

You may have wondered, when it comes to a la carte fees on airline flights... what could be left? That's a question you might wish we didn't ask.

But Manufacturers Remain Cautiously "Bullish"

The 2009 International Society of Transport Aircraft Traders wrapped up its annual conference in Scottsdale, AZ this week. An audience of airliner buyers, sellers and lessors heard both Boeing and Airbus predict that they'll be able to meet jet production projections for 2009, and deliver a total of 965 planes.

Another Takes A New, More 'Spirit'-ed Route

On a plain that stretches for miles in every direction, the panoramic camera on NASA's Mars rover Opportunity has caught a first glimpse on the horizon of the uplifted rim of the big crater that has been Opportunity's long-term destination for six months.

Aero-News Featured Aero-Casts For Thursday 03.19.09

Lessons Of Flight 1549: Controller Patrick Harten... And Congressman John Mica

ANN Daily Touch N Go: 03.19.09 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program) ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 03.19.09 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program) ANN Special Feature -- Lessons Of Flight 1549: 03.19.09 (ANN Special Report, with congressional testimony from FAA controller Patrick Harten,

ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 03.19.09

Terrafugia announces its flying car has now flown.
The machinists union calls for the heads of AIG execs.
And could Eclipse wind up in China?

ANN Daily Touch-And-Go: 03.19.09

Terrafugia announces its flying car has now flown.
The machinists union calls for the heads of AIG execs.
And could Eclipse wind up in China?

More AERO-Casts

ANN Special Feature: Lessons from Flight 1549, Part III: Controller Patrick Harten - 03.19.09

FAA Air Traffic Controller Patrick Harten tells the US House Aviation Subcommittee about his experience on duty at the New York TRACON during the drama which would come to be known as The Miracle o

More AERO-Casts

Aero-TV: Sikorsky X2 Update -- Progress On An Advanced Rotorcraft

The Coolest Rotorcraft EVER???

Possibly the most avidly anticipated briefing of Heli-Expo 2009, was the official Sikorsky update of the truly innovative X2 program. Just last year, Sikorsky proved that it's one incredibly cool -- and equally unusual -- flying machine... and, it works! Sikorsky successfully completed the first flight of its X2 Technology Demonstrator, in late August, maneuvering the prototype aircraft through hover, forward flight, and a hover turn, in a test flight that lasted approximately 30 minutes.

More Videos

GAMA's Bunce Advocates For GA, NextGen

Testifies Before House Aviation Subcommittee

Appearing Wednesday before the House Aviation Subcommittee, Pete Bunce, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), testified on the modernization of the NextGen air traffic control system and near-term achievable goals associated with its implementation.

FAA Investigates Bearing Problems On 2,800 Bell Helos

Model 206, 407 And 427 Helis Subject To AD

A problem that first crept up during a customer delivery flight last week led the FAA Wednesday to ground approximately 2,800 Canadian-built Bell helicopters until operators can search for improperly installed bearings on the co-pilot cyclic controls, and replace the suspect parts if necessary.

The Coolest Rotorcraft EVER???

The Answer Isn't An NFL Player, Or "American Idol" Winner...

The challenge issued by a flight attendant during a recent commercial air flight seemed innocuous enough: "Name just one of the five Medal of Honor recipients from the current engagements in Afghanistan or Iraq, and get a free drink coupon." But the passengers' response -- more specifically, the inability of all but just one to respond -- revealed how little the average American knows about its military heroes.

Cites Weak Demand Out Of New York... But Strong Demand From Toronto

The largest customer for the Airbus A380 has pulled service on its first route serviced by the massive airliner. Dubai-based Emirates announced Wednesday it will replace two A380s operating on the Dubai-New York route with twin-engine Boeing 777-300ERs, due to dwindling passenger numbers that made it hard to justify flying the larger planes.

Aims For Gains In Low-Altitude Infrastructure, Protecting Patients, Advancing Air Ambulance Safety

Establishing a congressional air-medical caucus, achieving greater federal funding levels to support the low-altitude infrastructure, passing proposed air-medical safety legislation, increasing air-ambulance Medicare reimbursement rates, and addressing regional disparities in access to trauma services caused by inadequate Medicaid reimbursement were some of the many issues that air-medical services leaders focused on during the Association of Air-Medical Services' Capitol Hill congressional briefings last week.

Unions Filed Suit To Stop Job Cuts Last Month

Embraer's plan to cut some over 4,000 jobs was upheld Wednesday in a Brazilian court, following a suit brought forth by several of the company's labor unions. It's unclear what the next step will be for either side, however.

NASA Researchers Find Clues To A Secret Of Life

Meteorites May Reveal Why Certain Amino Acids Are "Left-Handed"

This may either be the most profoundly significant story ANN will report this year... or one of the all-time weirdest, period. Or both. NASA scientists analyzing the dust of meteorites have discovered new clues to a long-standing mystery about how life works on its most basic, molecular level.

$2.13 Billion Deal For Maritime Patrol Aircraft

The US State Department recently cleared a $2.13 billion sale of eight Boeing 737-based P-8I aircraft to India, giving a big fiscal boost to the aerospace firm.

Technology Uses Current Technology And Fuel

Alliant Techsystems announced this week it successfully completed testing for a new class of hypersonic propulsion systems that will enable High Speed Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to travel long distances at velocities more than five times the speed of sound.

Aero-Linx!

The purpose of this group's effort is to build a highly inspirational aircraft device that will make a positive influence on our youths for years to come. Also, the F-4 Phantom II Thunderbird Simulator's intends to give the everyday person a once in a life time opportunity to get in a real jet cockpit and actually fly it.

Aero-Terms!

An object's albedo is the ratio of the amount of solar radiation reflected from an object to the total amount it receives. An object with a high albedo is shinier than an object with a low albedo. A white, completely reflecting object has an albedo of 1.0; a black object with no reflectivity has an albedo of 0.0 (zero).

"The challenge issued by a flight attendant during a recent commercial air flight seemed innocuous enough: "Name just one of the five Medal of Honor recipients from the current engagements in Afghanistan or Iraq, and get a free drink coupon." But the passengers' response -- more specifically, the inability of all but just one to respond -- revealed how little the average American knows about its military heroes."

Source: Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service, in a rather humbling commentary piece that notes while most Americans can name at least one winner on "American Idol"... very few can name any of this nation's most recent, true heroes.