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

Sling 2 Completes Circumnavigation

Landed Friday Back In South Africa

The Sling 2 airplane being flown around the world by Jean D'Assonville and Patrick Huang has arrived safely back in South Africa, completing a circumnavigation that began in July.

Airborne 09.25.15: Female Honor Flight, FAA Funding, UAV Pilot Charged

Also: Hartzell in China, FAA’s Disastrous UAV Policy, MT-Prop, TSA Thief, Flying Smart’s New UK Base, Atlas Air, KSC Celebrates

ANN Airborne Link: Airborne 09.25.15, YouTube Airborne Link: Airborne 09.25.15 An Honor Flight organized by the group's Midwest

FAA ATC Hiring Rules Hurting College Programs

Where Once There Were Waiting Lists, Now There Are Empty Seats

Colleges that used to see waiting lists for their programs to train air traffic controllers now have slots available, and many may shutter their programs in light of the FAA's new hiring practices for controllers.

Trans States Pilots Approve Contract Extension Agreement

Includes Economic Gains, Changes In Work Rules

The pilots of Trans States Airlines (TSA), represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), have approved a contract extension with TSA management that includes gains in economics and work rules. Of the pilots who voted, 71 percent voted in favor of the deal.

Jazz Flight Attendants Ratify Labor Agreement

Contract Covering 820 FAs Had Been Finalized In August

Flight attendants flying with Jazz Aviation LP ('Jazz'), a subsidiary of Chorus Aviation Inc., have ratified their tentative agreement reached on August 27, 2015. The Canadian Flight Attendant Union (CFAU) represents approximately 820 flight attendants employed at Jazz.

ALPA, Sun Country Reach Tentative Agreement On New Contract

Five-Year Deal Includes Significant Pay Raises And Other Improvements

Sun Country Airlines and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) have reached a tentative agreement on a new five-year contract that includes significant pay raises and other improvements. Union leaders and the airline came to terms after five years of direct negotiations and federal mediation.

FAA Central And Northwest Mountain Regions Sign ACSF ASAP MOU

Aviation Safety Action Program Now Approved In All 48 Contiguous States

The FAA Central and Northwest Mountain Regions have signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Air Charter Safety Foundation that allows charter operators, corporate flight departments and fractional program managers to participate in the organization's Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). The ACSF-managed ASAP program is now approved in the contiguous United States.

FAA Approves UAVs For The NFL

But Aircraft Can Not Be Flown During Games

The FAA has approved a Section 333 exemption for the National Football League, making the NFL the first major sports league to get approval to fly UAVs. But before you get too excited about seeing a quadcopter at a football game, you should realize that as with all such things, it came with caveats and provisos.

Bell Helicopter Prague Receives Russian Civil Aviation Authority Certification

Authorizes Performance Of Maintenance On Helicopters Of Russian Registry

Bell Helicopter's Prague, Customization and Delivery Center, has received Russian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) certification to perform maintenance on Russian registered aircraft.

Orbital ATK Ships Key Components For Webb Telescope

Fuel And Oxidizer Tanks En Route After Successful Qualification Testing

The Space Components Division (SCD) of Orbital ATK has shipped fuel and oxidizer tanks to Northrop Grumman in Redondo Beach, CA for integration into NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). These tanks will provide propulsion for JWST, which is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope.

P&W, Netherlands MoD Sign F135 Depot Activation Contract

Engine Powers The F-35 Lightning II Aircraft

The Netherlands Ministry of Defense (MOD) has entered into an agreement with Pratt & Whitney for the establishment of a Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul, & Upgrade (MRO&U) capability for the F135 engine which powers the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft.

USAIG Adds APS Upset Prevention And Recovery Training (UPRT)

Joins Insurance Company's Performance Vector Safety Initiative

Aviation Performance Solutions LLC (APS) has joined USAIG's Performance Vector safety initiative. Performance Vector delivers valuable, forward-looking safety support and is available to USAIG policyholders who insure turbine-powered aircraft or place multiple policies with USAIG. Eligible policyholders can choose annually from a range of safety enhancing programs and services delivered by the industry’s leading providers.

Flexjet Introduces Its Fourth New Aircraft Program In A Year

Adds Midsized Planes To Fractional Fleet Flexjet will add an Embraer Legacy 450 midsized program to its current new-aircraft collection. Flexjet’s midsized program will use the Legacy 450 as its principal aircraft.

Monacair Acquires Six H130s

Will Operate Scheduled Flights Between Monaco And Nice Airport

Monacair has signed an order for six H130s to set up an improved service of regular scheduled flights linking Monaco Heliport to Nice International Airport. The first commercial flight is planned for January 2016 with a flight every 15 minutes.

Science Committee Chair Says America Needs The SPACE Act

GAO Report Shows The FAA Faces 'Multiple Challenges' In Addressing Commercial Space Industry Developments

A report released this week by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) says the FAA faces "multiple challenges in addressing developments in the commercial space industry. The report, requested by House Science Committee chair Lamar Smith (R-TX), also underscores the need for extending the crucial “learning period” beyond September 2015. The SPACE Act would extend the learning period for 10 years while introducing additional accountability and transparency measures.

FAA IG To Initiate Audit Of Airliner Cockpit Vulnerabilities

Requested By Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) Following Germanwings, Other Incidents

The Office of Inspector General plans to initiate an audit of the FAA's oversight of the safety of commercial airline flight decks. The audit is being conducted at the request of Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Flytenow Case Against FAA Rules On 'Flight-Sharing' In Court Friday

Lawsuit Challenges FAA Regulations That Shut Down Private Pilot Website

Friday, September 25, Flytenow Inc., an innovative start-up business that uses the Internet to connect private pilots with passengers wishing to share travel plans and flight expenses, will make its case in federal court against the FAA for shutting the website down.

Boeing Hosts China President Xi Jinping

Announces Airplane Sales, Expanded Collaboration With China's Aviation Industry

Boeing on Wednesday welcomed China President Xi Jinping to its widebody commercial airplane factory and announced several agreements that will broaden and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between Boeing and China.

AeroSports Update: Skydiving’s History Now Online

A Website Is Now Devoted To Sport Parachuting’s Colorful History

The “Encyclopedia of All Things Skydiving” is a new online presence for a planned museum exploring the history of skydiving around the world. Its WIKI format invites registered visitors to contribute their personal experiences in skydiving, with an eye toward building a comprehensive resource for future generations of freefallers.

OpenAirplane Grows To Over 10,000 Pilots

Makes Renting An Airplane As Easy As Renting A Car, Company Says

OpenAirplane reached an important milestone this week as it crossed over 10,000 pilots signed up to fly with the service. More than 58% of those pilots' home airports are now less than 25 miles from the nearest participating airplane - compared to just 22% when the service launched in mid 2013. Hours flown using OpenAirplane have more than doubled year over year.