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

ESA Plans Manned Lunar Mission By 2020

Robots Would Arrive First, Paving The Way For Multiple Human Landings

ESA has plans to send people back to the moon by the end of the decade.

Two Fatally Injured In CRJ-200 Accident

Plane Was Carrying Mail When It Went Down In Sweden

A CRJ-200 belonging to West Atlantic in Europe went down last Thursday in Swedish Lapland, resulting in the fatal injury of the crew of two on board. The plane was carrying mail from Gardermoen in Norway to Tromsø when the accident occurred.

New Lawsuit Filed Over August Accident Near San Diego

Cessna 172 Collided With A Sabreliner Business Jet At Brown Field in SoCal

Another wrongful death lawsuits has been filed against a contract ATC provider and BAE Systems in relation to an accident which occurred on August 16 last year that resulted in the fatal injury of all five people on board two aircraft involved in a mid-air collision.

DOT OIG Recommends Increased FAA Oversight Flight Deck Automation Procedures

Report Requested By Former Ranking Members Of House Committees

The DOT OIG has released a report requested by former ranking members of the House Transportation Committee and its Aviation subcommittee concerning hazards associated with increased use of flight deck automation.

Applications Now Being Accepted For Two GAMA Scholarships

Stimson And Wood Awards Each Carry A $2,000 Cash Prize

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has announced that applications are now being accepted for two prestigious aviation scholarships.

Hayden, ID Chamber Of Commerce Sued Over 2004 Air Show

One Of The Chamber's Board Members Had Loaned It Money For The Event

A lawsuit filed in 1st District Court in Kootenai County seeks over $104,000 from the Hayden (ID) Chamber of Commerce in repayment of a loan plus interest for the "Thunder Over the Prairie" air show in 2004.

Hawaiian Machinists Ratify New Contract

Five-Year Deal Provides Pay Increases And More Job Security

IAM members at Hawaiian Airlines overwhelmingly ratified recent tentative agreements covering approximately 2,200 Mechanic and Related, Clerical, Office, Stores, Fleet Service and Passenger Service Employees at the carrier.

AUVSI: UAV Manufacturers Focusing On Integration And Safety

Novelty Of The Aircraft Wearing Off ... Serious Work Begins

As drones of all sizes and shapes proliferated at CES, companies are starting to highlight their ability to safely integrate unmanned systems into the airspace by incorporating new features, such as robust sense-and-avoid capability.

IATA: Decline In Air Freight Volumes May Have Bottomed Out

Month-By-Month Volume Down, But A Slight Uptick Seen In Overall Data

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for global air freight markets showing air cargo volumes (measured in Freight (metric) Ton Kilometers) were down 1.2% in November 2015, compared to November 2014. Total cargo volumes, however, expanded compared to October 2015, and were higher than the low point in August. This indicates that the decline in cargo demand may be bottoming out.

F-35 Ejection Seat Weight Restrictions Extended

Solution To The Issue Not Expected Before 2018

Pilots weighing under 136 pounds will be restricted from flying the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter through 2018, according to the U.S. Air Force.

Transport Canada Grants TSO-C159b Design Approval For FLYHT AFIRS 228S

Indicates System Has Achieved An Additional Level Of Airworthiness

Transport Canada has issued Technical Standard Order (CAN-TSO) Design Approval, CAN-TSO-C159b to FLYHT Aerospace Solutions for the Automated Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) 228S. The certification represents an additional level of airworthiness standards met by AFIRS.

Marianne Dyson To Be Featured Speaker At IWASM Dinner

Award-Winning Author And Former NASA Flight Controller Will Discuss Her Role In Early Days Of The Space Shuttle Program

The International Women’s Air & Space Museum (IWASM) will host Dinner with a Slice of History featuring a special presentation by award-winning author and former NASA flight controller Marianne Dyson, who will discuss her experiences as one of the few women in Mission Control during the early Space Shuttle program.

Airborne 01.12.16: CAFE Scandal, Gone West: RAF's Genzlinger, Boeing Record

Also: Congressman Pompeo, Aero-Calendar, UAV Legal Woes, Frasca 172, BOC Aviation, USAF C-130 Upgrades, H145 Heli Sims

According to their website, The Board of the CAFE Foundation recently learned that its former president, Brien Seeley, has attempted to co-opt this CAFE program. They say Seeley has apparently formed a new nonprofit, and has now announced that he will be holding "EAS-2016". The CAFE Board has notified Seeley that he and his organization have no right to use the name, format, history or brand of this CAFE program. The Recreational Aviation Foundation, known as the RAF, is deeply saddened

FAA Posts Flight Restrictions For State Of The Union Address

Washington Special Flight Rules Modified For The Speech Tuesday

The planned 2016 State of the Union Address in Washington, DC is scheduled for January 12, 2016 between the hours of 2000 to 2300 local time. At the request of the Department of Homeland Security and as part of the airspace security measures for the event, the FAA will be modifying the Washington Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) and Washington Metropolitan Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ) with additional flight restrictions.

Charlotte Leads In NextGen Air Traffic Improvements

New Arrival And Departure Procedures In Place At KCLT

North Carolina was “first in flight” when the Wright Brothers took to the skies at Kitty Hawk, and now it’s leading the way to the next generation of air traffic control. NextGen procedures are helping flights operate more efficiently at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), improving on-time performance and decreasing emissions.

SpaceX Plans Ocean Recovery Following Next Falcon 9 Launch

Company Plans To Boost NASA's Jason-3 Satellite Into Orbit From Vandenberg AFB Next Sunday

When SpaceX launches NASA's Jason-3 ocean-monitoring satellite into orbit ... planned for next Sunday from Vandenberg AFB in California ... the company will again attempt to recover the Falcon 9 booster.

U.S. Conducts B-52 Bomber Overflight In South Korea

Demonstration Shows To Commitment To Allies In The Region, PACOM Says

A U.S. B-52 bomber from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, conducted a low-level flight in the vicinity of Osan, South Korea, in response to a recent nuclear test by North Korea, according to a U.S. Pacific Command news release.

AeroSports Update: Are You Ready For Fly-In’s?

The First Big Event Is The Sport Aviation Expo In Sebring, And Sun ‘N Fun Is Not Far Behind

Fly-ins and airshows can be a lot of fun for the recreational flyer, but they can also offer challenges if you’re not prepared. Be ready for unusual traffic situations and make sure your pilot skills are up to the task. Here are some things to think about.

EAA, AMA Sign Memo Of Understanding To Boost Aviation Participation

Agreement Updates Joint Efforts To Introduce And Support Flying On All Levels

The EAA and Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) have signed a memorandum of understanding that expands the organizations’ joint efforts to bring the possibilities of flight to more people.

Conservationists File Legal Challenge To IDFG Helicopter Flights

Look To Prevent Flights Into The Frank Church-River Of No Return Wilderness Area

A coalition of conservation groups represented by Earthjustice have filed a legal challenge to the decision by the U.S. Forest Service to allow the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) to conduct approximately 120 helicopter landings in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness as part of a program to manipulate wildlife populations in the wilderness.

Airborne 01.11.16: United CEO Heart Transplant, British Airways, 3DR Software

Also: BIG Multi-Rotor!, Boeing CH-47 Chinook, FAA Releases B4UFLY, Mars Rover, FedEx Fine, World's Safest Airline, Private Jets To Cuba

United Airlines reported in a statement last week that their CEO, Oscar Munoz, who has been on medical leave since October, underwent a heart transplant operation. It’s reported that a transplant was considered the preferred treatment and was not the result of a setback in his recovery. United said they expect him to return to his position at the end of the first quarter or the beginning of the second quarter of this year. British Airways has shelv