Radar Contact Lost Used by ATC to inform a pilot that the surveillance data used to determine the aircraft's position is no longer being received, or is no longer reliable and radar service is no longer being provided. The loss may be attributed to several factors including the aircraft merging with weather or ground clutter, the aircraft operating below radar line of sight coverage, the aircraft entering an area of poor radar return, failure of the aircraft's equipment, or failure of the surveillance equipment. 

We're Everywhere... Thanks To You!

Even with the vast resources and incredibly far-reaching scope of the Aero-News Network, every now and then a story that should be reported on slips through our fingers. There's a lot of news out there, and sometimes we just don't get to all of it... so we came up with the idea of News Spies.

"This contract represents a huge 'win' for the entire CH-53K team. The contract allows Sikorsky to bundle purchase orders from suppliers to achieve better pricing and pass the savings on to the government, giving us the ability to provide dependable delivery to the fleet and a consistent and predictable timeline for the transition from the CH-53E to the CH-53K." Source: Col. Kate Fleeger, Program Manager of the H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopter Program Office (PMA-261), discussing how the US Marine Corps has signed a nearly $11 billion contract with Sikorsky for the delivery of up to 99 CH-53K King Stallions over the next five years, marking the highest quantity order for the helicopter to date. The service has already received 20 CH-53Ks and is awaiting 63 more on top of the new deal.

Historic $5.9B Deal Makes Flexjet First Fleet Customer

Otto Aerospace announced that Flexjet will be its first fleet customer and its launch customer for the Phantom 3500 business jet, a windowless, ultra-efficient clean sheet aircraft that takes advantage of laminar-flow aerodynamics and all-carbon fiber composite that together cut fuel burn by 60 percent or more.

Alia CX300 and Two Velis Electros to Compete in NAA-Sponsored Race

On October 12, the National Aeronautics Association will be bringing electric aircraft to Springfield, Ohio, to compete for a title that hasn’t officially been given in more than a century: the Pulitzer Trophy. As of now, the lineup includes one Beta Alia CX300 and two Pipistrel Velis Electros.

Dronemaker Loses Lawsuit Against US Department of Defense

Almost a year after DJI filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Defense over its designation as a ‘Chinese Military Company’, the courts have reached a decision… and the drone maker won’t be happy with it. Judges, unsurprisingly, determined that there was not enough evidence separating DJI from the Chinese Communist Party to overrule the DoD’s claims.

Airline Group Will Shed Jobs Over the Next Five Years as Demand Surges

With the power of artificial intelligence by its side, the Lufthansa Group will be cutting around 4,000 jobs over the next five years. The majority of these will be Germany-based administrative roles as the airline works to digitalize and consolidate work through the spike in air travel demand.

Advanced Production Line Up, Targeting 2028 First Flight

Boeing announced that its Phantom Works has commenced the building of the F-47 sixth generation fighter as its advanced composites and coatings plant is up and running.

Statement: Take Necessary Steps To Keep Feds Running

The National Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, joins a host of aviation groups urging Congress to take the steps necessary to avert a government shutdown starting at midnight October 1.

From 2015 (YouTube Edition): Some Of the Prettiest Sights Of Oshkosh Were Also Very Affordable

At EAA AirVenture 2015, there are lots of airplanes to look at, but this one is a real eye catcher. It’s a small single-place airplane, it qualifies as an ultralight, and is so shiny you need dark glasses just to look at it in the sunlight. ANN’s News Editor, Tom Patton, had a sit-down and chat with, Steve Cole, who is the builder and owner of this Hummel UltraCruiser which took the Grand Champion Ultralight trophy this year at Oshkosh. It’s a plans-built airplane that Cole completed with unbelievable attention to detail. The all-aluminum airframe is shiny beyond belief and Cole tells us how he did it. It’s a process that works, but it’s probably not for everybody.