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April 26, 2012

ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 04.27.12

The White House is back with its $100 user fee…

NASA wants to prospect for ice on the Moon…

Insurance Giant AIG is suing a familiar name&he

More AERO-Casts

ANN Publishes Extensive AEA2012 Convention Presentations

Nearly 30 "New Product Introduction" Presentations Already Uploaded To YouTube And Other Syndication Portals -- More On The Way!

In cooperation with the staff and leadership of the Aircraft Electronics Association, the Aero-News Network is now uploading carefully edited, individual programs from this month's massive Aircraft Electronics Association Convention and Trade Show. Easy access to the archived coverage can most readily be found at www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, or www.youtube.com/AEAlive, while a great deal of other AEA and other aviation related coverage can be found at www.aero-

Says Programs Are Not Sufficiently Mature For NASA To Pick A Vehicle At This Time

The Commercial Spaceflight Federation has come out in strong support of competition among several companies that are in the process of developing the next generation of human-rates spacecraft, and says NASA should not move too quickly to select a vehicle that will carry astronauts into space.

Designed To Power Upper Stage Of NASA's SLS

The next-generation engine NASA says will help carry humans deeper into space than ever is back, bigger and better. The J-2X engine is currently on the A-2 Test Stand at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi for an extensive round of tests to build on last year's successful test firings.

Pilot Reported He Was Unable To Steer The Aircraft

The NTSB's preliminary report on a powered parachute accident in Plant City, FL earlier this month includes testimony from the pilot that not everything was right with the aircraft as he and a passenger took off on an instructional flight. Both people on board survived the accident, and a video camera mounted on board has been retained by investigators for further examination.

Poseidon Aircraft Sims Include Multiple-Operator Tactics Trainer

A second set of P-8A Poseidon training devices has been delivered to the U.S. Navy at NAS Jacksonville, FL. The devices consist of an Operational Flight Trainer (OFT), a Weapons Tactics Trainer (WTT) and four Electronic Classrooms.

Spirit Airlines Refuses Ticket Refund For Sick Veteran

Airline Sticking To Policy Of Non-Refundable Airfares

Spirit Airlines' refund policy is not earning it much public support after the airline refused to refund the ticket price for a Vietnam veteran suffering from cancer. Jerry Meekins purchased a $197 airfare to visit his daughter in Atlantic City this May. She is having surgery and Jerry wants to be with her to bring her home from the hospital and care for her as she recovers. The problem is Jerry has terminal esophageal cancer which he's been fighting for two years, and his immune system is weakened from treatment to the point that he can't fly.

Supplies Dropped To Army Personnel From USAF C-130 Aircraft

Air drops provide the means to distribute vital equipment and supplies to Soldiers in isolated locations with rough terrain, inadequate delivery routes and enemy activities. The use of air drops, as opposed to resupplying by way of ground transportation, can reduce the risk of roadside bombs and add to the Army's flexibility on the battlefield.

Canseco Says TSA Agent Went Too Far In Search

U.S. Representative Francisco Canseco says he was assaulted by a TSA agent during a pat-down at San Antonio International Airport earlier this month. Canseco said "The agent was very aggressive in his pat-down, and he was patting me down where no one is supposed to go. "It got very uncomfortable so I moved his hand away," Canseco said. "That stopped everything and brought in supervisors and everyone else."

E190 Hit Two Geese Just After Takeoff From Westchester County Airport

A JetBlue Embraer E190 had to return to Westchester County Airport in New York after it hit two geese just after takeoff Tuesday evening on a flight that was to have gone to Florida.

American College Of Surgeons, Washington State's Aviation And Health Care Leaders Participate In Discussions

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) hosted nearly 80 health care and aviation industry leaders at its fifth Surgical Health Care Quality Forum on Wednesday, April 11, at The Rainier Club in Seattle, WA. The event brought together a diverse combination of leaders from Washington State's aviation and health care industries to champion effective quality improvement programs and best practices in checklists, standardization, culture shifts and transparency to make surgery safer and reduce health care costs.

AD NUMBER: 2012-08-13

PRODUCT: Certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes.

AD: Airbus A300 Airplanes

AD NUMBER: 2012-08-03

PRODUCT: Certain Airbus Model A300 B4-2C, B4-103, and B4-203 airplanes; Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called A300-600 series airplanes); and Model A310 series airplanes.

AD NUMBER: 2012-07-08

PRODUCT: All EMBRAER Model ERJ 170 airplanes.

We're In Tough Straits... But How Much Of That Is OUR Fault?

Cruising the exhibits and hallways of NBAA over the past few years, has been an exercise in quiet desperation. While much of the industry had resigned itself to suffering the unkind fate of bad press, negative attention from Washington, and a public image that was sliding from 'not so good' to 'pretty darn deplorable' this year's NBAA convention saw a whole new attitude taking shape.

Avionics Options Among The Key Approvals For Additional Certifications

The FAA has awarded several new STCs to Nextant Aerospace for its 400XT airplane. Among those are approvals for additional avionics options, many of which help to pave the way for final certification by EASA.

OMB Says It Plans To Press On With Per-Flight Charge, Ignoring Industry And Congress

Despite a letter signed by nearly half of the U.S. House of Representatives opposing aviation user fees, the White House, through its Office of Management and Budget (OMB), has indicated it plans to press ahead with its call for a $100 per flight charge on airline and business aviation. Congress remains steadfastly opposed to such a funding scheme.

Says He Stole Secrets, Customers When Founding Air Lease

Insurance giant AIG, which is the parent company of International Lease Finance Corp, has filed a lawsuit against one of ILFC's founders, Steven Udvar-Hazy. In the suit, AIG and ILFC claim that Mr. Udvar-Hazy stole trade secrets and other information when he left to form now-rival Air Lease Corporation.

NASA Awards Contract To Investigate Prospecting For Lunar Resources

Will Determine If Company Can Deploy Ice Prospecting Equipment To The Moon

NASA has awarded a contract to Astrobotic Technology to determine whether its polar rover can deploy an ice-prospecting payload to the Moon. The ice could yield water, oxygen, methane and rocket propellant to dramatically reduce the cost of space exploration.

Appointment Became Effective Wednesday, Succeeds Retiring Rick Maloney

Robert H. Lewis has been named President and CEO of Pentastar Aviation, effective April 25th. He succeeds Rick Maloney, whose retirement from Pentastar last month capped an illustrious four-decade career in aviation. Lewis comes to Pentastar from an industrial services company, where he served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development.

Turnover And Operating Profits Set New Mark

Pilatus has reported an increase in revenues and profit for 2011 despite the slow business aircraft market. The company reported an increase in turnover by almost 14% to $858 million, with a corresponding operating profit up nearly 23% to 108 million.

Flight Instructors Organization Will Promote IMC Club Goals To Its Members

The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) and IMC Club have formed a partnership through a mutual letter of understanding.

"Earning our FAA production certificate means we have successfully built a reliable, high-quality manufacturing process, and are well positioned to expedite aircraft deliveries." Source: Cary Winter, Senior Vice President of Eclipse Aerospace.

A localized, persistent, often abrupt lowering from a rain-free base. Wall clouds can range from a fraction of a mile up to nearly five miles in diameter, and normally are found on the south or southwest (inflow) side of the thunderstorm. When seen from within several miles, many wall clouds exhibit rapid upward motion and cyclonic rotation.