That loose thermal blanket just under the commander's window on
the space shuttle Discovery may be a bit tattered, but it's no
cause for yet another repair-in-flight spacewalk. So say the powers
that be at NASA.
The FAA is amending its pilot certification regulations to
establish a second-in-command (SIC) pilot type rating and
associated qualifying procedures. This final rule is needed to
conform FAA pilot type rating requirements to the International
Civil Aviation Organization pilot type rating standards.
As noted in previous ANN coverage, the FAA has indeed published
a highly restrictive NPRM designed to greatly rein in operations
around a huge portion of the airspace near the Nation's capital. In
addition to greatly expanding the airspace involved in the ADIZ,
the document calls for the criminalization of willful infractions
of these rules.
By Rob Finfrock
Innodyn Inc., formerly Affordable Turbine Power, displayed three
of the first production engines at this year's AirVenture, as well
as another installed in a Smith Super Cub.
Bell Helicopter has been awarded a $2.2 billion contract by the
United States Army to build its next generation Armed
Reconnaissance Helicopter, or ARH. The ARH will replace the Army's
OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Helicopter also produced by Bell.
By ANN Senior Editor Pete Combs
It's not that there haven't been problems. Since Discovery
launched ten days ago, the shuttle crew has had to deal with
falling foam, dangling gap-filler and tears in a thermal blanket.
That a complex machine like the shuttle has issues is not
unexpected. That NASA has returned the shuttle to flight with a new
attitude is what impresses me most.
NASA To Decide On Yet Another Shuttle Repair Mission
NASA to Discovery Astronauts Stephen Robinson and Soichi
Noguchi: Don't hang up your spacesuits just yet. The shuttle's EVA
team may have yet another task to perform before the orbiter
returns to Earth on Monday.
"Wings To Adventure" Executive Says Aircraft Wasn't Involved In
Video Shoot
Initial reports on what the pilot of a Glasair Sportsman 2+2 was
doing when his aircraft went down during AirVenture 2005 were
wrong. That's the word from the executive producer of the Outdoor
Channel's "Wings to Adventure" program in a statement to ANN
Tuesday.
Administrator Boards SR-22 For A Young Eagles Flight
by Aero-News Senior Correspondent Kevin R.C. O'Brien
"What's your callsign going to be?" I asked Jamail. He started
laughing; it was a decent, honest laugh, a laugh of purest glee
that bubbled up from deep inside him. "FAA One, can you believe
that? Me, FAA One."
Experimental/Hobby Market Entered With Low Cost Unit.
By ANN Correspondent Christopher Armstrong
Crossbow Technology is working on several AHRS systems for
certified aircraft as well as for experimentals and even UAVs.
While walking through the main display hangers at AirVenture 2005
last week, I came across the Crossbow Technology booth.
Doug Koenigsberg, Owner of SkyRanger Aircraft Company, Inc., is
an experienced pilot and SkyRanger builder, holding Commercial,
Instrument and Ultralight Flight Instructor credentials. As CEO, he
is responsible for sales and management of SkyRanger Aircraft
Company.
By ANN Correspondent Aleta Vinas
Steve Saint spoke about "End of the Spear", a movie scheduled
for release in January 2006 last week in the Vette Theater at the
EAA Museum. The two-hour movie covers 50+ years beginning when his
father, Nate Saint, was a missionary in Ecuador.
"My eyes have never seen such a sight."
Source: Discovery Astronaut Stephen Robinson,
perched at the end of the shuttle's 58-foot robotic arm as he
worked on the orbiter's belly. There, he was easily able to remove
two dangling threads of "gap-filler," a ceramic-covered fabric
fitted between thermal tiles.