So... a few months ago, we had the chance to sit back in awe at the expertise already displayed by one of the Avidyne R9 glass panel's most passionate advocates... and users. There are few more knowledgeable people on the planet, as far as R9 is concerned, than Trip Taylor and for the better part of a few hours, we had the chance to sit back and enjoy his synoptic descriptions of just a few of the many intriguing features built into one of the most usable glass panel cockpits we've yet flow... now made even more so with the advent of the DFC100 digital autopilot.

Flight Attendants from Southwest Airlines, represented by the Transport Workers Union (TWU) 556, and AirTran Airways, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) Council 57, voted Tuesday to ratify their Seniority Integration Agreement.

Representatives of the Transport Workers Union, Local 514, have launched a website it hopes will rally support for unionized American Airlines workers by emphasizing how jobs could be affected by the airline's bankruptcy filing. The union says that to date, nearly 2,000 individuals have added their names to the list of supporters.

AERO-PAC is the Northern California and Northern Nevada prefecture of the Tripoli Rocketry Association. Three high-power rocketry launches are held each year at their launch site in the Black Rock Desert.

Flight Training Adelaide (FTA) has contracted with Diamond Aircraft, in conjunction with their Australian distributor Hawker Pacific, for the purchase of up to 26 DA40 aircraft, to be based at Parafield, Australia. The first four of eight 2012 deliveries will be made midyear, with options for 18 additional aircraft scheduled for 2013 and 2014 delivery.

Bell Helicopter has delivered the 4,000th commercial product since it began production at its Mirabel, Canada, facility 25 years ago. During a small ceremony at Bell Helicopter’s facility in Mirabel, long-time customer, Air Medical Group Holdings (AMGH), took delivery of the 4,000 aircraft – a Bell 206L4.

The Information Age makes secrets harder than ever to keep. The one major announcement we know has been saved for Heli-Expo 2012 is slowly leaking out. Star-Telegram.com is reporting that Bell Helicopter, which has been readying what it calls a clean-sheet, turbine twin helicopter code-named "Magellan," will apparently call the model "Relentless" upon introduction.

At a time when deficit spending and a business exodus in California threatens the state with a fiscal crisis next month, aviation business advocates are warning a lawsuit against the leaded avgas supply chain could devastate the aviation business in the state.

The Pentagon announced this week it has suspended high-speed ground and flight operations of more than 15 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets after discovering improperly packed parachutes under the pilot's ejection seat. The decision will affect six Air Force variants of the F-35 fighter jet based at Edwards AFB in California, which will halt flight testing there until the parachute issues are resolved.

Following the announcement late Tuesday that House and Senate negotiators had reached an agreement on a long-term authorization bill for the FAA, several of the industry's organizations were quick to express their support for passage of the measure.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory is reporting on its website that renewed eruptive activity of Cleveland Volcano has been observed in satellite data, and AVO is raising the Aviation Color Code to Orange  and the Alert Level to Watch. A new lava dome has been observed in the summit crater, and as of 30 January 2012 was approximately 130 feet in diameter.

The entire aviation world has mounted a concerted challenge to EASA over its scale of fees and charges, which are characterised as inexplicably high and are acting as a major drag on the aviation industry in Europe. IAOPA has joined organizations representing every facet of regulated aviation on the EASA Advisory Body in writing to the Chairman of the EASA Board of Management expressing concern at the damaging effect of EASA’s fees.

The FAA has issued an emergency airworthiness directive (EAD) (2012-02-51) for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell) Model 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4 helicopters with certain main rotor blades installed.

Universal Avionics Systems Corporation has partnered with Air Training International Ltd. (ATI) to provide Future Air Navigation System (FANS) operational training for UniLink UL-800/801 Airborne Datalink System.

Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has successfully test fired SuperDraco, a powerful new engine that will play a critical role in the company’s efforts to change the future of human spaceflight. “SuperDraco engines represent the best of cutting edge technology,” said Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and Chief Technology Officer.

As part of it bankruptcy reorganization strategy, AMR corp has discussed the possibility of shedding its pension obligations to bring the company back to solvency. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC) doesn't think that's a very good idea, and has filed $91 million in liens against the airline in an effort to pressure it to hang on to its retirement plans.

A report issued by the Department of Transportation Inspector General on the FAA's oversight of staffing and training at its most critical air traffic control facilities indicates that staffing levels and training at some of the nations' most critical Air Traffic Control facilities is not up to par.

LightSquared has until mid-March to resolve its issues with the FCC over its proposed 4G broadband network under an extension of its deal with Sprint Nextel. The move comes after a 30 day extension was granted to the company at the end of 2011. Approval of the service from the FCC is a condition of a 15 year agreement between the wireless provider and the start up broadband company.

American Airlines has released a business plan which targets an annual financial improvement of more than $3 billion by 2017, including $2 billion in cost savings and $1 billion in revenue enhancements. The airline says additional cash flow will enable American to renew its fleet and to invest several hundred million dollars per year in ongoing improvements in products and services to deliver a world-class travel experience for customers.

Howard Putnam, former CEO of Southwest and Braniff Airlines, presented his views on leadership Tuesdays as the keynote speaker for the second day of the Naval Academy Leadership Conference. "Attitude starts at the top," said Putnam to an audience of students and faculty from both military and civilian universities. "Make your vision clear, and if you say your people are important, you better mean it."

A resident of Lakeside, California was reportedly killed when the propeller of a Piper PA-28R-200 he was hand-propping struck him in the head at Gillespie Field in El Cajon. The accident happened Monday at about 0830, and has elicited numerous comments within the community about the proper technique for hand-starting, and whether it should be attempted at all.

The International Space Station got a delivery of supllies including water and fuel Saturday, as a Russian Progress M-14M unmanned capsule docked with the station in orbit. The Progress ship had launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan early Thursday, and arrived at its destination at 0008Z, according to mission control sources quoted by AFP News.

<strong>&ldquo;After a five-year delay and 23 temporary extensions, this measure is key to advancing the nearly eight percent of our nation&rsquo;s economy impacted by the aviation industry.&rdquo; Source:</strong> Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL).

An area of reduced precipitation on the lee side of a mountain barrier caused by warming of air and dissipation of cloudiness as air descends the barrier.