Aero-News Network: The aviation and aerospace world's daily/real-time news and information service

Third Phenom 100 Takes Flight

Engine Mounting For Larger 300 Expected Soon

Just in time for the holidays, Embraer updated ANN on the progress of the Brazilian planemaker's light-jet program.

Thielert Touts 250 Service Centers At End Of 2007

Added 93 New Centers, Seven New Sales Partners This Year

Looking to make a big impression in the emerging market for diesel-powered piston aircraft engines, Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH significantly expanded its sales and service center network in 2007.

China's First Homegrown Airliner Rolls Off Assembly Line

"Flying Phoenix" ARJ-21 Debuts In Flashy Ceremony

In a rollicking ceremony complete with laser light shows and rousing music, China's first home-designed-and-built commercial airliner made its formal entrance into the world Friday.

Space Access Plans Suborbital Trips In-Line With Cost Of An Ocean Cruise

Space Tourism For The Masses!

Could space tourism be made affordable in the near future? That's the plan for Miami, FL-based Space Access, which hopes to revolutionize the tourism industry by introducing affordable space travel in the coming years... and, a chance for adventurous individuals to be involved in the process from the start.

Two Rescued Following Caravan Ditching Near Bahamas

Sailor Came To Missionary Pilots' Rescue

A good Samaritan with a sailboat came to the rescue of two missionary pilots heading to Florida, when their Cessna 208 Caravan ditched in the ocean near the Bahamas Thursday.

Frasca To Supply Four C172 FTDs To Shenzhen Airlines

Company Has Sold Nine Sims To Chinese Customers

Frasca International announced this week it was awarded a contract by China's Shenzhen Airlines Company, Ltd. to supply four Cessna 172R Flight Training Devices (FTDs). The four new FTDs will be located at Shenzhen’s Flight Training School, located in Wuzhou, Guangxi province, China.

Vietnam Airlines Adds To Airbus Order Totals

Signs Contract For 10 A350 XWBs, 20 More A321 Narrowbodies

This week, Vietnam Airlines firmed up an earlier commitment for 10 A350-900 XWBs, and also signed for 10 more A321s. The announcement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the aircraft on October 1, in the presence of Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of Vietnam during his state visit to France.

NASA Mars Scout Mission Delayed Two Years

Cites "Serious" Conflict Of Interest In RFP

A much-anticipated mission to Mars has been delayed as long as two years, as officials at NASA look into reports of a conflict of interest during the purchasing process.

ASF's Nall Report Shows Continued Downward Trend For GA Accidents

Notes Pilots Are Also Flying Less Hours

On Friday, the AOPA Air Safety Foundation released its 2007 Joseph T. Nall Report, an analysis of general aviation accidents from the previous year. The report shows many signs an increasing emphasis on safety among pilots is paying real dividends.

Aero-News Featured Aero-Casts For Friday 12.21.07

The Rise Of The Turboprop, With Forecast International's Ray Jaworowski

ANN Daily Touch N Go: 12.21.07 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program) ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 12.21.07 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program) ANN Special Feature -- The Rise Of Turboprop: 12.21.07 (ANN Special Report, Ray Jaworowski, Senior Aerospace Analyst with Forecast International.)

Congress Urges NASA To Restart Pilot Safety Survey

Agency Still Dealing With Fallout From Withholding Results

Not only should NASA finally get around to publicly releasing the results of a controversial $11.3 million federal air safety survey of pilots, lawmakers said this week, the agency should also consider resuming the survey to detect more potential air safety issues.

EAA Files Exemption For E-LSA Conversion Process

Says Backlog Shows More Time Is Needed

Saying its members need more time to beat the deadline, the Experimental Aircraft Association submitted an exemption request this week that, if approved by the FAA, would allow owners of two-place ultralights the opportunity to complete the airworthiness certification process of their vehicles to the experimental-light-sport aircraft (E-LSA) category after the January 31, 2008, deadline.

Cessna Delivers 8,000th Independence-Built Piston To Civil Air Patrol

Service Is Planemaker's Largest Customer

This week, Cessna delivered the 8,000th single-engine piston aircraft since resuming production in Independence, KS some 10 years ago. The customer for the 8,000th aircraft was the US Civil Air Patrol (CAP), Cessna's largest and one of the company's oldest customers.

Dick Rutan Makes Forced Landing After Engine Failure

Puts C150 Down On Road Outside Victorville, CA

What was supposed to be a short hop from Mojave, CA to Palm Springs for world record-setting aviator Dick Rutan this week, instead turned into a dead-stick landing on a small road near Victorville.

Klyde Morris (12.21.07)

Klyde's Less-Than-Enthusiastic About His Holiday "Bonus"

QinetiQ Says Farewell To The UK's Last Flying Jaguar

Entered RAF Service In '75; Company Purchased XX833 In 2001

Thursday was a historic day for aviation enthusiasts as XX833, which for the past six months was the only flying UK military-registered Jaguar left in service, took its last flight, marking the end of an era for Jaguar flying in UK. The last of the RAF’s Jaguars were themselves retired this summer.

Gone West: Palm Springs Air Museum Founder Robert Pond

Former Naval Airman Was 83

ANN has learned a former naval aviator, who later founded the Palm Springs Air Museum to honor World War II airmen, recently passed away at the age of 83.

Boeing Clears The 1,200-Mark With Qantas 737 Deal

Planemaker Holds Tenuous Nine-Plane Lead Over Airbus For 2007

It's gonna be close. On Thursday, Boeing announced a final agreement with Australia's Qantas Airways for the order of 31 737-800 jetliners. The order, valued at $2.3 billion at list prices, pushes the American planemaker's 2007 sales orders past the 1,200 mark.

KSC Advises Pilots On December 24 Santa Claus Fly-By

Jolly Ol' St. Nick Reportedly Interested In New Lightning Protection System

NASA tells ANN the space agency has granted permission to Santa Claus to access Kennedy Space Center's airspace on Christmas Eve, December 24.

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (12.21.07)

Aero-Linx!

NAAA represents more than 1,300 members in 46 states. The majority of NAAA members are licensed as commercial applicator-operators that use aircraft to enhance food, fiber and bio-fuel production, protect forestry, and control health-threatening pests.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (12.21.07): Liquid Crystal

Aero-Terms!

A type of liquid whose molecules can be arranged by electrical charges in such a way that polarized light cannot pass through a film of the liquid.

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (12.21.07)

"We felt an exemption request was the right thing to do for our members. The last thing we want to see happen is they end up with an expensive 'lawn ornament.' More time will help solve the problem."

Source: Earl Lawrence, vice president of industry and regulatory affairs for the Experimental Aircraft Association. Saying its members need more time to beat the deadline, the EAA submitted an exemption request this week that, if approved by the FAA, would allow owners of two-place ultralights the opportunity to complete the airworthiness certification process of their vehicles to the experimental-light-sport aircraft (E-LSA) category after the January 31, 2008, deadline.