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June 11, 2009

Everything Looks Good For Saturday STS-127 Launch

13 Astronauts Will Be On Board ISS

Prelaunch activities remain on schedule at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as the agency prepares for liftoff of space shuttle Endeavour on its STS-127 mission, a 16-day flight to the International Space Station.

ANN Special Feature: Chris Kurz, Gyro Adventurer, Part I - 06.11.09

ANN's Paul Plack talks with Chris Kurz of Austria, a homeopath and pilot who was sponsored by AutoGyro GmbH on a flight across the US, with friend Robert Nuentz, in a pair of the company's MT03 ope

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ANN Special Feature: Chris Kurz, Gyro Adventurer, Part II - 06.12.09

ANN's Paul Plack talks with Austrian pilot Chris Kurz, who with friend Robert Nuentz flew across the US from Boston to San Diego in a pair of open-cockpit, MT03 gyroplanes. Chris comments on the fl

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ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 06.11.09

Piper CEO Jim Bass is stepping down.
The White House announces its pick to head the NTSB.
And British Airways pilots are being asked for concessions.

ANN Daily Touch-And-Go: 06.11.09

Piper CEO Jim Bass is stepping down.
The White House announces its pick to head the NTSB.
And British Airways pilots are being asked for concessions.

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FAA's Babbitt Testifies In Senate Hearings

Investigation of Colgan Air Flight 3704 Focuses On Training, Records

North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan (D), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee's Aviation Subcommittee (pictured right), Wednesday called on the FAA to "immediately" begin the process of changing a rule that can allow airlines to hire pilots without checking their training history beyond five years.

NTSB's Rosenker Discusses FAA's Role In Oversight Of Commercial Air Carriers

NTSB Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker has testified before Congress about the FAA role in the Oversight of Commercial Air Carriers and the relevance to Safety Board recommend

California Launch Scheduled For November 1st

NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, has been assembled and is undergoing final preparations for a planned Nov. 1 launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

ANN Daily Touch-And-Go: 06.11.09 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program) ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 06.11.09 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program) ANN Special Feature: Chris Kurz, Gyro Adventurer, Part I - 06.11.09 (ANN Special Report, with Gyro Flyer, Chris Kurtz)

Low Earth Orbit For Humans As Well As Cargo Is The Goal

Industry and government leaders will meet on June 18 to explore the promising future of commercial space transportation -- of humans as well as cargo -- in meeting government and private sector needs in low Earth orbit.

NATCA v FAA... Again

It's been a few days since we heard that NATCA wasn't happy about something and wouldn't you know that the party that they're STILL most unhappy with happens to have the initials 'F.A.A.'

FAA Bans Local Police From Using Unmanned Air Surveillance.

We hear a lot about the success the US Military has with Unmanned Air Vehicles, or UAV's for missions such as reconnaissance and even air support for ground troops. But the FAA has banned local law enforcement agencies from using UAV's for surveillance operations at potential crime scenes, and that chafes some local officials.

Safety Alert Stresses Non-Precision Approachs

SAFO Calls For A Constant Angle Of Descent For Night IFR

The FAA has issued a Safety Alert For Operators (SAFO) for Parts 121 and 135 Operators using Constant Angle of Descents techniques for nonprecision approaches.

On Time Arrival Rate Climbs to Nearly 80%

The nation's largest airlines had a rate of on-time flights this past April that was higher than both the same month last year and the mark posted in March 2009, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

Common System For MH-60R and MH-60S

Lockheed Martin has delivered the 200th Common Cockpit avionics suite to the U.S. Navy's MH-60R and MH-60S multimission helicopter programs. The avionics suite has flown more than 250,000 flight hours aboard the two SEAHAWK helicopter types since cockpit deliveries began in January 2000. To date, Lockheed Martin has delivered 47 cockpits for the MH-60R, the Navy's newest and most advanced

Arlynn McMahon Takes Flight Instruction To New Heights

We've still got a big smile on our face over the few days we spent at this year's Women In Aviation Conference... and not just because ANN's Jim Campbell got to play token male among the thousands of aero-minded women in attendance -- but simply for the positive vibe and the many great people we met, got to know and interviewed.

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Aero-TV: Instructor Of The Year -- Master CFI Arlynn McMahon

Arlynn McMahon Takes Flight Instruction To New Heights

All Looks Good For Saturday Launch

The countdown to launch of space shuttle Endeavour on its STS-127 mission began at 0900 Wednesday at T-43 hours. Preparations to begin the countdown have stayed on schedule as NASA prepares for liftoff of Endeavour on Saturday at 0717 EDT.

Wanna Twitter at FL 410? Cessna Offers Aircell High-Speed Net for Citations

New Technology Makes Affordable, Internet Available To New Categories Of Business Aircraft

Cessna is ready to offer Aircell's new High Speed Internet system as a factory option aboard its Citation XLS+, Citation Sovereign and Citation X business jets (that's what you call high-flying company...).

Says Hersman Understands Business Aviation

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen today commended the Obama Administration for nominating Deborah A. P. Hersman as chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Says Ground-Based Service Wants To Limit Competition

United Parcel Service – the 100-year-old company parcel-delivery company, is seeking a Congressional bailout that critics say is designed to limit competition for overnight deliveries.

Flight Attendants To Protest 2009 UAL Shareholder Meeting

To paraphrase -- hell hath no fury like an FA scorned -- especially when they seem to have some serious beefs with United Airlines -- a company that makes it all too easy to believe that they're in trouble for something... again.

Won't Approve Lower IFR Minimums At Hailey, Idaho

Sun Valley, Idaho, has long been one of the country's most popular ski destinations, and features beautiful scenery year round. But one thing Sun Vally doesn't have is an IFR approach to Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, and it's unlikely to get one.

More Than A Dozen Militants Eliminated

Coalition forces used a precision air strike in Afghanistan's Ghowr province Tuesday to target a local warlord and Taliban commander responsible for attacks along the main highway in the border areas of Ghowr and Herat provinces, military officials reported.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (06.11.09): Overlay Approaches

Overlay Approaches With this week's American Airlines "NextGen" flight, we're likely to be hearing a lot more about GPS navigation andd the many ways in which this technology is being readied for the flights of tomorrow -- which brings with it a new set of terms to become familiar with. For instance: "Overlay Approaches" can use GPS instead of the primary designated navigational aid, but the approach must be designated for GPS and be in the current aircraft database.

Aero-Linx: Aerofiles Aviation Timeline, Chronology Something that's always noted in news reports is "firsts". Being the first to do anything is usually newsworthy, and aviation is, of course, no exception. From the first American to fly a balloon to the first composite materials airplane, "Aerofiles" is a chronology of aviation firsts.

"All things come to an end... I have successfully completed my mission at Piper and am leaving the company in very capable hands. What I was brought in to do has been done, and it is now time for me to move on to other challenges. Kevin, John and the rest of the management team are exceptionally talented and dedicated to the future of Piper. They are seasoned, highly determined, and will continue what we have created: a results-driven culture..." Source: Outgoing Piper President/CEO, James Bass, in remarks made after he disclosed he was leaving his post effective June 26, 2009.