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

U.K. Experiences Weekend ATC Glitch

Numerous Flights Cancelled Saturday

Britain's Air Traffic Control system suffered what was described as a "technical problem" Saturday resulting in widespread cancellations of flights throughout the U.K.

LAS Tower Complete In Preparation For Orion's First Mission

Designed To Pull Spacecraft Away From A Failing Booster In Launch Emergency Scenario

NASA engineers and contractors have successfully completed the Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) tower, marking a milestone that puts NASA one step closer to sending Orion 3,600 miles into space on the uncrewed Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) mission, scheduled to launch in September 2014.

Southwest Calls On Passengers To Fight Tax Increases

Open Letter From The Airline Asks Public To Contact Congress

Southwest Airlines is enlisting the aid of its passengers to fight an increase in the TSA Passenger Security Tax from $2.50 to $5.00 in next year's budget.

Southwest Airlines Acquires Slots At New York's LaGuardia Airport

Positions Being Ceded By American Airlines As Part Of Merger Agreement

Southwest Airlines has acquired 12 takeoff and landing slots (for six roundtrip flights) at New York's LaGuardia Airport (KLGA) being divested by American Airlines as part of its merger with US Airways. In addition, Southwest gained permanent control of 10 takeoff and landing slots (for five roundtrip flights) that it currently operates under a lease from American.

ATK, NASA Successfully Demonstrate New Rocket Motor

STAR 48GXV Will Give Boost Needed To Send Solar Probe Plus Mission Spacecraft On Path To The Sun

NASA and ATK successfully tested a proof-of-concept STARTM 48GXV motor for the Solar Probe Plus mission, which will enter the sun's atmosphere to study the streams of charged particles the sun hurls into space. The STAR 48GXV solid-fuel third stage will provide the boost needed to assist the Solar Probe Plus spacecraft in escaping Earth's orbit to begin its approach of the sun.

Ohio Conducts Airspace Study To Fly Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Ohio Airspace Strategic Integration Study Expected To Be Completed In 2014

A study set to be completed early next year will lead to developing a unique national capability in Ohio for flying unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to meet Air Force research needs and to boost Ohio's leadership in developing technologies to integrate unmanned systems. The study will leverage and expand the state's capabilities, particularly in improving the ability of unmanned systems to sense and avoid other aircraft in the same airspace.

Alaska Airlines To Honor Alaska's Two Largest Universities

Unveils Special Livery For Nanook And Seawolf Planes

Mascots and school colors from two of Alaska's most beloved and heated collegiate rivals, the University of Alaska Anchorage and the University of Alaska Fairbanks, will soon be featured on two of Alaska Airlines' Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft. The colorful paint themes were unveiled Friday to a crowd of fans at the Sullivan Arena where the Alaska Nanooks and UAA Seawolf hockey teams will battle in the first of a four-game series to claim the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup.

ILS Proton Successfully Launches Inmarsat-5 F1

First Global XpressA Satellite Launch; 7th ILS Proton Launch Of 2013

An International Launch Services (ILS) Proton Breeze M successfully placed the Inmarsat-5 F1 (I-5 F1) satellite into a super-synchronous (geo-stationary) transfer orbit (SSTO) Sunday. The spacecraft was launched for Inmarsat. I-5 F1 is the first of three Inmarsat next-generation Global Xpress satellites scheduled to launch before the end of 2014.

South Korea Expands Air Defense Zone To Include Disputed Airspace

Claiming Same Region As China Effective December 15

South Korea has expanded an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the South China Sea that encompasses part of the airspace recently claimed as an ADIZ by China. Japan also claims jurisdiction of the airspace.

Napping Passenger Wakes To Find Himself In A Dark, Locked Airplane

Man Was Left Sleeping In His Seat While Airplane Was Parked For The Night

A passenger on an ExpressJet flight flying on a codeshare operated by United Express from Lafayette, LA to Houston, TX Friday decided the flight was the perfect time to catch up on a little sleep, and closed his eyes for a nap. But when he woke up, he found himself locked inside the airplane with the lights off and nobody else on board.

Orbital Releases ISS Supply Mission Details

Launch Window Pushed Back To December 18

Orbital's Antares and Cygnus teams are in the advanced stages of preparation for the company's first operational resupply mission to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract. The launch to the Station will originate from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility.

Beech Starship Placed In Surplus Auction

Town Of Marana, AZ Divesting Non-Airworthy Airplane

The town of Marana, AZ has placed a non-flyable 1993 Beechcraft Starship Reliant in a public surplus auction, but it's not going to be inexpensive.

Airborne 12.10.13: TBirds To OSH14, Brad Pitt Spitfire, Fake Pilot In 737 Crash

Also: Bell 47 Update, USSC Aero-Legal Decision Coming, Evergreen Kaput, Blue Angels Full Sked

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team is on the airshow circuit again. Even better, it looks like they may show up at EAA AirVenture 2014. Russian authorities say the pilot of a Russian airliner that went down near Kazan on November 17th may have held an invalid pilot certificate. The accident resulted in the fatal injury of all 44 passengers and six crew members onboard the airplane. Hollywood heartthrob, Brad Pitt, has reportedly dropped $3.3 million on an original Spitfire after landing his role in the World War II movie 'Fury' which is current

Boeing 777X Wind Tunnel Testing Under Way

Low-Speed Model 'Flying' At QinetiQ Test Facility In The U.K.

Low-speed wind tunnel tests are underway for the Boeing 777X, a major milestone in airplane development. Testing started on Dec. 5 at QinetiQ's test facility in Farnborough, U.K. Wind tunnel models allow experts to test many different configurations for the airplane. Low-speed tests measure airplane performance with a variety of high-lift surface settings to simulate takeoff and landing conditions.

EADS Outlines Plan For Defense And Space Restructuring

Will Cut 5,800 Positions From Future “Airbus Defense And Space” Division And Corporate Functions

EADS on Monday presented a restructuring plan for its future Airbus Defense and Space Division (Airbus DS) to the European Works Council. This presentation follows a decision by the EADS Board of Directors in July this year to consolidate the defense and space businesses of the Group into one new Division and to rebrand EADS into “Airbus Group”.

IAM Skips New American Airlines’ NASDAQ Debut

Did Not Attend Ceremony To Ring The Opening Bell On Wall Street

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) declined management's invitation to participate in the new American Airlines’ opening bell ceremony Monday celebrating the carrier’s first day of stock trading on the NASDAQ.

Envrio Group Takes Legal Action Against FAA, State Of Arizona

Center For Biological Diversity Looks To Stop Airport Development Near The Grand Canyon

The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a cease and desist notice with the FAA and state of Arizona’s Department of Transportation to stop what it says is the illegal spending of tens of millions of federal dollars on expanding a local airport it says will be harmful to the Grand Canyon.

USAF Thunderbirds Release 2014 Show Schedule

Season Will Open At Rose Parade In Pasadena, CA January 1

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds have finalized their 2014 show schedule. In its 61st season, the team is slated to perform 66 demonstrations at 34 locations. The flying unit, officially known as the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, will perform its first public flyover of 2014 at the opening of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA on Jan. 1.

Aviation Warning Issued For Ash Cloud From Russian Volcano

Klyuchevskoi Volcano Has Been Active Since August, Officials Say

An aviation warning for an ash cloud from the Klyuchevskoi volcano in the far eastern portion of Russia has been posted following nearly four months of activity.

Cessna 310 Down In Jacksonville, FL

Dense Fog Reported In The Area, Three Fatally Injured

A Cessna 310 that had departed from Fort Pierce in southeast Florida headed for Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport (KCRG) went down in a residential area near the Jacksonville airport Sunday night resulting in the fatal injury of three people on board.

Aero-News: Quote Of The Day (12.10.13)

Aero-News Quote of the Day “We’re glad to be back. While we’re excited to know we’ll be able to tell the Air Force story on the road, we’re completely focused on ensuring we have a safe show season.” Source: Lt. Col. Greg Moseley, Thunderbirds commander and lead pilot.