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December 20, 2007

Merry Eclipse-Mas... FAA Certifies Avio NG

First of Avio NG Equipped Birds Rolls Off the Line With C of A

Eclipse Aviation has confirmed to ANN that it has achieved FAA certification of Avio NG. The Avio NG Total Aircraft Integration(tm) system, exclusive to the Eclipse 500 VLJ, provides centralized control of virtually all Eclipse 500 systems and avionics functions. Avio NG significantly reduces pilot workload by simplifying tasks, generating useful information and acting as a virtual copilot.

NOTAM Number: FDC 7/8400 Issue Date: December 20, 2007 at 1751 UTC Type: Hazards

NOTAM Number: FDC 7/8301 Issue Date: December 20, 2007 at 1416 UTC Location: Fort Worth Center, Waco, Texas Beginning Date and Time: January 01, 2008 at 1750 UTC Ending Date and Time: January 01, 2008 at 1855 UTC Reason for NOTAM: Temporary flight restrictions for VIP (Very Important Person) Movement Type: VIP Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A

KC-X Saga Could Continue Well Into New Year

If you were looking for a speedy resolution to the ongoing saga of the US Air Force KC-X Tanker competition... don't bet on it. Comments made by a senior Air Force official Thursday indicate the issue may still be up in the air, so to speak, into spring 2008.

"Delta Two" Advanced Hawkeye Now Flying In Test Program

The second E-2D Advanced Hawkeye development aircraft -- known as Delta Two -- built for the US Navy by prime contractor Northrop Grumman Corporation completed its first flight in just over two hours from the company's St. Augustine, FL manufacturing and flight test center November 29. A second flight followed on December 4.

Requests Sale Of 24 T-6Bs, 24 F-16C/D Aircraft And Systems

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress this week of possible Foreign Military Sales to Morocco. The government has requested a sale of 24 T-6B Texan trainer aircraft, 24 F-16C/D Block 50/52 fighters, and associated systems for each aircraft.

Southwest CEO Says Carrier Will Likely Participate In Consolidation

You Are Now Free To Snap Up Your Competitors?

In a recent question-and-answer session with the Dallas Morning News, Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly said the trendsetting low-cost carrier is interested in consolidation... but he made it quite clear it will be Southwest writing the big check if and when that happens.

Honeywell System May Be Standard In Boeing Birds

A runway-collision-avoidance system manufactured by Honeywell International has attracted attention from American planemaker Boeing, as well as United Airlines.

Celebrates 'Birthday' Of Modern Jetliner

On Thursday, Boeing marked the 50th anniversary of the first flight of its 707 jetliner, and the point in commercial aviation history when propellers gave way to the jet age and air travel became affordable and available.

MOU Stands To Bring Over $1 Billion In Aerospace Work To India

On Thursday, Boeing and India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) intended to bring more than US$1 billion of new aerospace manufacturing work to India.

EASA Directive Applies To About 420 Aircraft

Conceding its prior recommended method to detect fatigue damage in the composite rudder assemblies of Airbus A300 and A310 aircraft may be inadequate, the European planemaker has stepped up inspections on the vertical stabilizers on about 400 of its oldest planes, as well as handful of newer A330 and A340 airliners.

Have You Considered Dispatching? Airline Ground Schools' Danny Mortensen

ANN Daily Touch N Go: 12.20.07 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program) ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 12.20.07 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program) ANN Special Feature -- Have You Considered Dispatching? 12.20.07 (ANN Special Report, with Danny Mortensen of Airline Ground Schools.)

ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 12.20.07

Mary Peters announces an agreement on measures to fight airline delays.
Aspen Avionics resets for deliveries by the end of March.
And Spirit AeroSystems will not be buying four Airbus plants.

More AERO-Casts

ANN Daily Touch-And-Go: 12.20.07

Mary Peters announces an agreement on measures to fight airline delays.
Aspen Avionics resets for deliveries by the end of March.
And Spirit AeroSystems will not be buying four Airbus plants.

More AERO-Casts

ANN Special Feature: Danny Mortensen, Airline Dispatchers - 12.20.07

ANN's Paul Plack talks with Danny Mortensen of Airline Ground Schools about aircraft dispatchers, an overlooked but essential (and well-paid) airline position.

FMI:

More AERO-Casts

NATCA Says Controller Woes Will Affect Safety Under DOT Congestion Plan

New Routes And Procedures Threatened By "Inadequate Training And Staffing"

Be prepared for trouble. That was the ominous message conveyed by Patrick Forrey, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, hours after the announcement of new procedures to be put in place by the government to combat flight delays and congestion along the East Coast of the United States.

Southwest 737 Shed Parts Over East Texas In November

In its investigation of an uncontained engine failure that occurred on a Southwest Airlines flight from Dallas, TX (Love Field), to Little Rock, AR on November 17, the National Transportation Safety Board is searching for engine components that fell to the ground in a sparsely populated rural area of northeastern Texas.

Rose Tani's Car Struck By Train In IL

Aero-News is saddened to report the mother of NASA Flight Engineer Daniel Tani, one of three members of Expedition 16 now onboard the International Space Station, was killed Wednesday when she drove her car through a Lombard, IL railroad crossing and was struck by a train.

Space Florida Signs Teaming Agreement With PlanetSpace

Provides Support, Helps Facilitate PlanetSpace's Bid For COTS Contract

Space Florida announced Wednesday it recently entered into a Teaming Agreement with PlanetSpace, offering support as they prepare and submit their proposal in response to the NASA COTS request for proposal.

Lease Financing Includes Aircraft, Simulators

Aircraft leasing firm Boston Aviation Leasing announced this week it has closed an $8.75 million operating lease financing facility with Delta Connection Academy of Sanford, FL. The transaction includes 34 new Cirrus SR20 training aircraft, and six Aerosim flight training devices. Additional funding for 16 SR20s as well as seven advanced Aerosim flight training devices is anticipated for 2008.

Bird Dog Observer Lost In April 1969

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced this week the remains of a US serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Carrier Calls Notion The Two Are Connected "Half-Baked"... Eventually

It's uncouth, certainly... but is it grounds for suspension? A cabin crew steward has been suspended by British Airways, after he allegedly ate a discarded muffin.

New Officers Elected To Public Affairs Team

The Coalition for Space Exploration officially announced Wednesday its leadership for 2008.

Will Be Operated By China Rescue And Salvage (CRS) Bureau

Eurocopter recently delivered the first 2 EC225 helicopters in China to the Ministry of Communications (MOC) in Zhuhai. The new helicopters will be operated by the China Rescue and Salvage (CRS) Bureau for use on search and rescue (SAR) missions, bolstering the MOC’s existing fleet of 10 helicopters and one fixed wing aircraft.

Brits Add Eight Chinooks To Boost Operations in Afghanistan

Contract Calls For Conversion Of Helos To Support Role

A $125 million contract with Boeing to convert eight British Chinook Mk3 helicopters to a support helicopter role was announced by the Ministry of Defense Wednesday.

Aero-Linx!

The OFMC was formed by Ray and Mark Hanna with the intention of preserving and maintaining rare historic aircraft in airworthy condition.

"Controllers do not feel prepared to add this new workload to their already overstretched limits. What we have now, courtesy of the FAA, are all the ingredients for an aviation catastrophe and it both saddens and infuriates me. The men and women who actually know something about air traffic control in these regions -- the controllers -- were unceremoniously shoved to the side by the FAA and DOT on this initiative while foolish decisions were made in their absence."

Source: Patrick Forrey, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, hours after the announcement of new procedures to be put in place by the government to combat flight delays and congestion along the East Coast of the United States. New departure procedures and r