As you may or may not know, it is a federal offense to point a laser, even one of those little handheld ones, at an aircraft. But it seems some countries across the pond, namely Australia, have not banned such activities. Some states within Australia have a laser ban, however, the state with the biggest city, Sydney (in New South Wales), does not.
Over the past weekend, six aircraft have had to alter their flight paths when arriving into Sydney. Beams from four green lasers, which appeared to come from one area southwest of Sydney were directed at aircraft for 15 minutes. Officials think this is a coordinated, deliberate attack.
Officials are considering a ban on small laser pointers. Get caught carrying said laser pointers and you may face electrocution, firing squad, or other torture stiff fines or jail time. I'm not sure of the motive behind an all-out ban, but whatever they think will solve their problems.
Return to Contact Ground .9
Monday, March 31, 2008
Lasers a Threat to Aviation???
F-16 Encounter Angers Pilots
The FAA says it will likely investigate the complaints of a couple of pilots who say they were intercepted and shadowed, at close range, by an F-16 over Arizona earlier this month. Pilatus PC-12 pilot Patrick McCall and Beech Premier pilot Scott Laromee have both filed near-collision reports with the FAA after they allege they were aggressively pursued by an F-16 on March 21 in the Gladden Military Operations Area, a training area used by pilots from Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix (open to civilian aircraft).
McCall said that when his TCAS activated about 10am while he was cruising at 16,500 (VFR with flight following) he ended up having to descend (read dive) his aircraft as the target kept closing on him. The target followed him in the dive and when McCall leveled at about 14,000 feet, he was amazed by the view from his side window. “I then looked to my left side of the aircraft and saw an F16 aircraft off of my left wing,” he said in a written report sent to the FAA. “The F16 was no more than 20 feet off of my left wing.
That's when you get the old Polaroid camera out, go inverted, and give the pilot the Top Gun bird.
Return to Contact Ground .9
Skydiver nearly gets hit by plane
Warning: this video contains the F-Bomb, and rightly so. This helmet-cam video shows a skydiver free falling to Earth as a small aircraft appears below him and comes way to close to comfort just as the guy poops his pants pulls his chute.
Return to Contact Ground .9
Friday, March 28, 2008
Flight school volunteers to give up certificate after 3 crashes in 5 months
The folks at Kemper Aviation knew their time had come. On Wednesday, the Palm Beach County Park airport flight school voluntarily surrendered its Part 141 flight school certificate to the FAA following three crashes in five months that have left eight people dead according to the Sun Sentinel. Its last crash on March 13th included the fatality of the flight school's co-owner. The flight school is continuing its operations under part 61, but only for U.S. citizens. Unfortunately, the majority of students at Kemper are from India. A few of Kemper's current and former instructors had apparently voiced concerns over Kemper's safety record with another local newspaper back in January.
Virgin America gets it right on safety video
Let's be honest. No one pays attention to those safety instruction presentations given by flight attendants before the flight departs. And cracking open that pamphlet of additional safety instructions is usually the last thing you read on the plane after you've finished the articles in the airline's magazine, and daydreamed about owning items in the SkyMall catalog. It's always the same, you've heard it before, and even the flight attendants drone through it because it's boring. That's why the good folks over at Virgin America have put together this nice little animated video going over those same FAA mandated instructions. I wouldn't mind having to watch this as they do a fairly decent job of adding some humor and creativity to the otherwise mundane.
Return to Contact Ground .9
TSA Bob screens the Macbook Air in the world's most pointless video
I meant to post this last week and forgot. I'm sure many of you have heard about the difficulty some TSA screeners have had recently in accepting that the new Apple Macbook Air is actually a notebook computer and not a terrorist's bomb. Part of the issue is the new fangled Apple gizmo has a solid state hard drive instead of the typical hard drives with platters making screeners perk up in their seats. Well, the folks over at the TSA's blog got a hold of a Macbook Air recently and filmed Bob the Screener's review of the screening of this device. Seems interesting, right? Well the hip folks over there at the TSA won't let you see what the x-rayed guts of the Macbook Air look like in the video claiming it is Sensitive Security Information. Well then what's the point of the video??? We want to see the insides!!
Return to Contact Ground .9
Continental 737 blows all main tires on landing
Continental 205 from Oke City had a bit of a bumpy landing at Bush Intercontinental Airport today. In fact the 737 blew all 4 of it's main tires and proceeded to have what was likely a hot brake fire on it's right mains. None of the 113 passengers or crew members were injured, in fact they didn't even evac onto Runway 8L after coming to a stop. That meant the passengers got a nice seat to watch the local ARFF guys douse them with foam as seen in the picture below taken by a passenger. Of course there was a little bit of complaining when the passengers had to wait 2 whole hours for their bags to arrive on the carousel. Sorry to inconvenience you after your near-death experience.
Return to Contact Ground .9
Fed up with 787 delays, Boeing buys out major supplier
The Boeing 787 was supposed to be this marvel of globalization and international cooperation. It was to be the biggest outsourcing program of any commercial aircraft ever. Unfortunately, Boeing is learning the hard way that letting someone else do your work, doesn't always turn out the best. After several unplanned program delays due to supply chain difficulties, Boeing today showed that they cants waits no more! Boeing officials announced that they have acquired Vought's share in the the Global Aeronautica conglomerate with Alenia. Global's role in the 787 program included joining and integrating various fuselage sections at their massive new facility in Charleston, SC. I have the feeling that the new management may put their spurs to production down south.
Return to Contact Ground .9
Twin Otter Almost Hits Boat in Water Landing
Crazy video of a Twin Otter pilot making a water landing in Nassau, Bahamas. I would have been slightly concerned if I was on that boat where the guy was shooting the footage from.
Enjoy.
Return to Contact Ground .9
Cool 777LR assembly video
Return to Contact Ground .9
Hard Landing Down Under
A Qantas plane "bounced" on the runway at Darwin (AU) airport causing major damage to the bottom of the aircraft, according to a transport safety report.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's preliminary report into the "hard landing" of the Boeing 717-200 on February 7, 2008 was released March 27, 2008.
It found the that the Boeing 717, carrying 88 passengers and six crew was descending (read FALLING) at a rate of 1000 feet per minute when it hit the runway. They were not even kind enough to call it an attempted landing.
Damage to the aircraft included several creases to the skin on the fuselage above the wing area and underneath the fuselage behind the wing. The left main landing gear and outside left main tire were also damaged.
The plane is being repaired and expected to be airworthy again in late April.
In other fuselage creasing news, return to Contact Ground .9 and see the Algerian 737-800 rough landing pictures and story.
Airline Pilots Blame TSA for US Air Cockpit Shot
Ah, the moment I was waiting for. The usual fingerpointing has ensued, approximately one week after the captain of the US Airways flight accidentally discharged his firearm in the cockpit while attempting to stow it away for landing.
The Airline Pilot Security Alliance (APSA) Thursday released a statement blaming the TSA for the accidental weapon discharge because of its weapons handling rules. The APSA pointed specifically to the TSA's requirement that pilots remove guns from their person, lock them, and carry them "off body" when off the flight deck.
The APSA further claims that another pilot involved in the federal flight deck officer (FFDO) program said the US Airways captain was preparing for landing and was trying to remove his gun and secure it when "the padlock depressed the trigger." Shoving away any personal responsibility, the ASPA feels that the rules may force some pilots to handle their guns ten times per day, which is a recipe for disaster.
So, once again, expect a federal investigation and rule changes to follow. If the ASPA gets its way, they would have the pilots involved in the FFDO program follow the same procedures as the federal air marshals, which I'm assuming allows them to carry the gun on their person all the time. Nice, so this means the FFDO pilots would look like undercover police officers dressed up as a pilots.
Maybe we should just give tasers to all pilots, spend less money on firearms training, and allow the FFDO program to go on without guns in the cockpits. Then we can have great Youtube videos of unruly passengers saying "don't tase me bro..."
Return to Contact Ground .9
Teen pilot on solo crashes, text messages his way to rescue
This really goes to show you how messed up our priorities are in this day in age. After an 18 year old student pilot crashed his aircraft into the snowy side of a Montana mountain, he was able to alert authorities by sending a text message from his unscathed cell phone. Hiking through the snow with near zero temperatures in shorts and tennis shoes Andrew Scheffer was able to reach a point with decent cell reception and sent out the following text message, "I've crashed and I am alive". That really helps rescuers. He then proceeds to make a PHONE CALL in which he says, "I'm with the aircraft, I'm cold and I have a sore shoulder," according to Dan Hargrove, the Director of Aviation for Rocky Mountain College. Scheffer was rescued and released from the hospital yesterday.
But here's a thought, how about calling the authorities, with an actual phone call, to tell them where you are instead of a texting them with no useful information. Also, shorts and tennis shoes? Don't they teach anything about cold weather flying and appropriate clothing there at the Rocky Mountain College?
Return to Contact Ground .9
737 Lands Hard, Front-Left Nosewheel First
There is not much to say other than wow, that must have been a hard and very unique landing. As the title indicates, it was a left nosegear wheel first landing, like a fatty riding a small unicycle. Apparently the landing put a little too much pressure on the airframe, and this is the result. Too bad no video has surfaced of said landing. All the we know so far is that this incident occurred on a Air Algerie Boeing 737-800 flight from Paris (Flight #AH1143) when it landed at Setif Ain Arnat (DAAS/GSF) in Algeria.
I'm sure a good A&P could buff this little problem away, don't you think?
Return to Contact Ground .9
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Woman forced to remove nipple ring with pliers at airport checkpoint
Sorry, no nipple picture on this one. The AP is reporting that an attorney for a female airline passenger in Los Angeles is claiming that security agents gave his client a pair of pliers and forced her to remove her nipple ring in order for her to board her flight. TSA spokesperson Dwayne Baird told the AP that he was unaware of this nipple incident. While the TSA has no specific policy on nipple rings or other body mods, if an alarm is triggered they will be forced to investigate and delay a boarding. Other individuals (non-nipple-ringers) with wedding rings or other rings typically can usually pass through metal detectors without setting them off according to Baird. I am proud to say that every sentence in this post has the word nipple in it.
nipple
Return to Contact Ground .9
RAF to use new tanker for commercial passengers
In a landmark deal, the Royal Air Force signed a contract with EADS today worth 13 billion pounds for a new fleet of tanker aircraft based on the Airbus A330 to replace its aging fleet of VC-10s and Tristars. The most unique part of this deal though, is that some of the aircraft will be leased by the RAF from EADS' new consortium, AirTanker. And I'm just getting started. Some of the aircraft, while not being used for combat support may be used to transport paying commercial passengers around the world. With an entry into service in 2011, the new tanker, similar to the US Air Force's KC-45, is intended to revolutionize the RAF's strategic and tactical capabilities while making them a little money on the side. I don't know though. Military planes always have that "military" smell in them. I hope the paying passengers don't mind the smell of sweaty man and musky canvas too much.
Return to Contact Ground .9
Endeavour wraps up impressive mission
Some nice video of Endeavour's landing last night at the Kennedy Space Center following the completion of STS-123. Their mission was far from ordinary as they delivered Dextre, a crazy space construction robot; and the first component of Kibo, Japan's contribution to the ISS. The mission was also the first to use the Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System where Endeavour was able to be powered by the ISS while docked, allowing for a longer mission. Too bad this feature is online late in the shuttle fleet's life as this would have been beneficial earlier on in the building phases of the ISS. The next shuttle mission should have Discovery bringing the other portion of the Kibo lab by the end of May. Up next for the ISS is the automated docking of ESA's Jules Verne ATV which will provide the station crew supplies and be capable of boosting the ISS to a higher orbit.
Even more FAA inspections fallout
Just a few weeks after the Southwest Airlines inspection debacle, and just a day after American Airlines cancelled a slew of flights for mandatory inspections, Delta Air Lines is now joining the herd by cancelling 325 flights between today and tomorrow. The cancellations will allow for inspections of wiring bundles in their fleet of MD-80s similar to the inspections AA is doing. I'm getting the feeling that we're still just scratching the surface on this whole inspection deal. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone when congress drops the hammer on the FAA here in the near future and demands a rethinking into airworthiness inspection compliance and monitoring. Until then, be sure to check to see if your flight is running on time before you leave the house.
Return to Contact Ground .9
New Equipment for Lunar Missions
NASA's Chariot is the first prototype in a new line of lunar vehicles that could someday bulldoze roads, provide entertaining lunar tractor pulls, dig trenches, and drill for minerals on the moon. And it is already proving to be nimble and powerful in earthbound testing.
Chariot, a "truck" with a top speed of about 13 miles per hour, has been tearing up the Lunar Yard, a test bed at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, since engineers there completed construction of the vehicle in September of 2007. It it capable of attaching a blade to its front, like a construction grader. Several other attachments are planned.
The Lunar Yard is a 2-acre expanse of small hills covered in a mix of sand and crushed granite designed to mimic the loose surface of the moon. I want one. Tractor pull anyone?
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
C-Series to be built in K.C.?
It seems as though Kansas City is appearing to be a likely candidate to receive Bombardier's (said with French Canadian accent) newest assembly line. According to the AP, the aerospace giant is considering the Midwest town for a $375 million aircraft plant that will build its newest line of passenger aircraft, the C-Series. While still in the preliminary stages of negotiations, the state of Missouri is supposedly working on tax credit legislation to entice our neighbors to the North. Obviously everyone in K.C. and in the Show-Me-State are psyched for this deal, but its not without its hurdles. Supposedly Bombardier made a commitment to build the plant somewhere in Canada and Canadian officials are expecting the airplane manufacturer to honor that commitment.
If K.C. gets the plant, it will be built somewhere on the enormous site that is Kansas City International Airport. Supposedly Bombardier reps have already been scoping the land. The C-Series aircraft is currently slated to consist of 2 aircraft presently; a 110 seater and a 130 seater. This would put Bombardier up there with the big boys competing directly with Boeing and Airbus
Some Reasoning Behind the KC-45A Decision
According to sources quoted in a Seattle newspaper, the Air Force says Northrop-Grumman's proposal for a new aerial refueling aircraft based on the A330 frame was simply better than Boeing's 767 plan. The Air Force will allegedly need 22 fewer Airbuses because the A330 is more efficient at refueling and has a faster turnaround time than the 767. Boeing did have strong points in communications, some aerial refueling capabilities and combat survivability.
Sounds like the 777 plan would have been the better platform for Boeing to base their bid off of, which I would think makes good sense as it is more comparable in size, if nothing else, to the A330. Maybe it was Boeing's last hope to keep the 767 on the production line for a while longer. Maybe we will never know...but Boeing's protest goes on.
In the end, the Air Force is no different than any airline, they apparently want efficiency and a fast turnaround. Who cares about communication, ability to refuel better (isn't that this aircraft's primary mission and purpose???), and combat survivability...makes complete no sense, doesn't it?
Return to Contact Ground .9
The Aftermath of a Gun Discharging in a Cockpit
Below are the photos from inside and outside the US Airways aircraft. The damage is clear, the bullet passed through the exterior skin of the aircraft. Lucky the pilots did not get sucked out of the cockpit by decompression...oh wait, that's only in the movies.
Return to Contact Ground .9
Jail for Diabetic Pilot
There's a lesson to be learned in this news article: Don't lie on your aviation medical certificate application.
Pilot Ronald Crews was sentenced to 16 months in prison for lying about a medical condition that led to a diabetic seizure while at the controls of a Cape Air Cessna 402. This all happened in 2002 when Crews was then 50 years old and had been flying with Cape Air for four years and had not disclosed to the FAA his insulin dependency.
As a result of such non-disclosure and his undisclosed condition leading to the incident that put four passengers in danger, he will serve two years probation following his prison term.
The flight in question occurred on February 8, 2002 out of Martha's Vineyard for Hyannis. The four passengers were spared from disaster thanks to the efforts of Cape Air security supervisor and pilot trainee Melanie Oswalt. Oswalt was then 24 years old and had 48 hours of flying experience. She managed a gear-up landing at the Provincetown airport, quite a ways from the intended destination.
The U.S. Attorney's office said that Crews had hidden his condition from the FAA for his entire life. Crews pled guilty (and probably got a deal) to four counts of making false statements to a federal agency, something that no one would want on their record.
Return to Contact Ground .9
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Snakes On A Plane???
You heard it right and I'm not talking about the movie here. Andrew Bacas, identified as the coach at Yorktown High School in Arlington, VA, was bitten by a juvenile canebrake rattlesnake. The rattler had allegedly gotten into his luggage in the belly of the aircraft on his way home from a team trip in South Carolina.
He reached into his bag after he returned home and was bitten. After this, he slammed the top on this luggage and zipped 'er up, sealing the beast inside. The authorities dealt with the snake by spraying it with a carbon dioxide extinguisher, essentially freezing it and killing it.
Sorry PETA, another one bites the dust.
Return to Contact Ground .9
Aircraft Door Falls Off After Takeoff
Parts be falling off aircraft all over.
Aviation officials say the main passenger door of a Bombardier Challenger CL-60 fell off shortly after takeoff from Grand Junction Regional Airport (CO). No one was hurt, but I can imagine it was about as scary as a loaded gun firing in the cockpit of an airliner.
No one knows how high the CL-60 was when the main door fell off, but the aircraft returned to the airport without further incident. The aircraft is registered to WPF Investments of Snowmass Village, CO.
Return to Contact Ground .9
Photo: KOAA
US Air Force accidentally ships ballistic missle parts to Taiwan
When the government of Taiwan asked their friend and ally the US for some helicopter batteries, the US Air Force accidentally shipped them four non-nuclear nose cone fuses for ICBMs instead. Whoops. Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne said today "The United States is making all appropriate notifications in the spirit of candor and openness in an effort to avoid any misunderstanding." Sounds like someone doesn't want to unerve China. Obviously, there is an investigation already taking place as to why a couple of goober airmen shipped the wrong stuff. Before taking the trip to Taiwan the missile parts, as seen in the diagram, were improperly stuffed into a non-classified warehouse at Hill AFB in Utah instead of going into a classified warehouse. One thing led to another and the Taiwanese Air Force got a surprise instead of helo batteries.
Return to Contact Ground .9
BREAKING NEWS - NY court strikes down passenger rights bill, apocolypse on the runway to follow
BREAKING NEWS - From the Associated Press:
NEW YORK - "A federal appeals court has rejected the first law in the nation requiring airlines to provide food, water, clean toilets and fresh air to passengers trapped in a plane delayed on the ground. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that New York's new state law interferes with federal law governing the price, route or service of an air carrier. The appeals court said the new law was laudable and the circumstances that brought them about were deplorable but only the federal government has the authority to enact such a law."
Take that, whiners! You don't really need food, water, clean toilets or fresh air. What human would?
Return to Contact Ground .9
Emirates to Offer Hot Showers on A380
Planning on flying from New York to Dubai on an Emirates A380 this fall? Have $18,000 dollars to spend on a first class ticket? Feel a little dirty and would kill for a shower on the flight? If your answer to the above three questions is "yes", you are in luck my friend because Emirates will be offering this service to its first class passengers who pay a double premium (first one is for the seat, second for the shower) for a flight from NY.
No pictures have been released of said A380 first class cabin, but it is reported (by Emirates) to be similar to the experience at Dubai's "seven-star" Burj Al Arab hotel.
Environmental groups are, as usual, up in arms over this amenity. And sure, this might impact the environment negatively due to the extra water weight and carbon emissions from carrying additional fuel to haul that extra load -- but note that, realistically, the majority of people who will be able to take advantage of this unique and expensive amenity are people with oil money, so they could give a crap about the environment to begin with and the cost of the extra fuel needed to carry the water weight is going back in their pockets -- kinda completes the circle if you think about it.
I hope this shower spews gold flakes (not a golden shower) on me as I shower or it comes with a flight attendant (as seen above). And, once again, poor Al Gore has a heart attack.
Return to Contact Ground .9
Wing panel falls off 757 at 27,000 feet
A 5 x 7 foot section of a left wing panel peeled off a US Airways 757 at 27,000 on Sunday, struck and shattered the outer pane of a cabin window, then fell to the Earth below. The flight, enroute from Orlando to Philadelphia, landed safely in the City of Brotherly Love, after the incident occurred 45 miles outside of Baltimore. The aircraft was taken out of service for inspections and an investigation, while the panel remains M.I.A. The Baltimore Sun has indicated that local fire officials are asking that if you live in Prince George's or Anne Arundel counties or near Kent Island in Maryland, check your backyard for airplane wings.
Return to Contact Ground .9
Boeing awarded helmet cueing system contract, killing bad guys to become easier
No this helmet is not for the pilots with enormous foreheads. 145 of the US Air Force's F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft will soon be getting an upgrade with the Boeing Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System after the Air Force awarded Boeing a $49.5 million contract for the devices on Monday. The JHMCS provides pilots data much like that of the Heads-Up Display, only right inside the visor of their helmet. Pairing the JHMCS with the AIM-9X sidewider missle creates the High-Off-Boresight System (HOBS) which will allow pilots to direct aircraft munitions simply by looking in the direction of the target. Sweet. The JHMCS can also be combined with FLIR or radar data for air-to-ground missions. Ultimately, Boeing and the Air Force would like to implement the system in the F-15 C/D models as well for some supreme air superiority booty-whoopin capability. Next step, mind control like in the movie Firefox.
Photo: Boeing
Return to Contact Ground .9
F-35 First Flight by Military Pilot (Verdict: Kicks ass)
Lt. Col. James "Flipper" Kromberg of the United States Air Force was the first military pilot to fly the F-35 Lightning II. His verdict was just released: "The aircraft flew very well, exceeding my expectations," Kromberg said. "I was surprised by the amount of power on the takeoff roll. And the handling, particularly with the gear up, was phenomenal. The aircraft was very stable flying in formation with another airplane. It was really a joy to fly."
The F-35 is nicknamed the Lightning II after the WWII era aircraft the P-38 Lightning. It has flown only 28 times, and all flight but this one have been piloted by one of two test flight pilots from Lockheed Martin. The last test flight was only days ago on March 12 for an aerial refueling test seen below:
The F-35 is scheduled to make its debut in 2011 as the world's most advanced fighter aircraft. It is supposed to be the numero uno strike fighter in the world until it is usurped by another beast in 2040.
Click here to return to Contact Ground .9
UPDATED: Pilot's Gun Goes Off In Cockpit
It has become known that the Captain of US Airways Flight 1536 from Denver to Charlotte is now on leave while the airline, TSA, and most likely the FBI and all the other one-hundred federal agencies investigate how/why his gun went off in the cockpit of an aircraft full of 124 passengers. What is even more interesting is that no one else on the aircraft, aside from the first officer, was aware that the gun went off. No news yet on whether the bullet breached the through the aircraft's hull. This pilot is not making things easier for his fellow gun carrying pilots.
T-minus 48 hours until one of the federal agencies involved overreacts, as usual, and bans all guns in cockpits until further notice.
Click here to return to Contact Ground .9
Monday, March 24, 2008
KLM flight wanders aimlessly all over India, pilots unware of new airport
A KLM flight from Amsterdam ended up all over the country of India because its flight crew was apparently unaware of a new airport opening, and an old one closing. The Times of India is reporting that the SNAFU occurred a mere hours after the new Hyderabad airport was opened, and the old one closed. The flight crew of the KLM flight knew nothing about the changeover and was a little confused when they were denied landing at the old airport. When directed to the new airport, named Shamshabad, one pilot asked ATC, "Shamshabad? What's that?".
The flight ended up all over India trying to divert to Dehli before finally re-diverting to Mumbai for landing. The Times cites "an anonymous source as saying the Dutch airline's pilot had been reluctant to land in Shamshabad because its headquarters in Amsterdam had not received a notice about the closure of the old and the opening of the new facility." The new Shamshabad airport in Hyderabad just opened on Saturday. Here's a thought, check local NOTAMs.
Click here to return to Contact Ground .9
Pilot's gun goes off in cockpit
US Airways released a statement today regarding an interesting flight they had from Denver to Charlotte on Saturday when a pilot's firearm apparently discharged...in the cockpit. The pilot is a member of the Transportation Security Administrations Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program that allows certain pilots to carry firearms on board the aircraft for "security" reasons. None of the 124 passengers were injured according to WCNC, and the aircraft was never in any real danger. The TSA and the Federal Air Marshals Service are investigating. Itchy trigger finger, maybe?
Return to Contact Ground .9
Lancair Evolution First Flight
The Lancair Evolition's first flight was last Friday. All went well for this all-composite speedster that weighs in at 2,300 pounds empty with a max cruise speed of 330 knots. How so fast you ask? That's because the Evolution is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT-6.
The flight lasted about 40 minutes with test pilot Len Fox at the controls. According to Lancair, the company is planning to have the Evolution at Sun n' Fun, which begins in less than two weeks. Hope they get that baby painted because it's not the prettiest aircraft and it doesn't look so hot in its current all white paint scheme.
Actually selling this aircraft, however, may prove more difficult than the first flight. The FAA has reassessed the rules that have governed kit-built aircraft for more than 20 years and, in doing so, has threaten technologically advanced aircraft such as the Evolution or any aircraft with composite pieces. The FAA is suggesting that home builders should do more of the parts fabrication themselves, rather than straight assembling pre-made parts, but Lancair and other kit manufacturers feel that specialized equipment and materials that go into the parts of a composite airframe are far beyond the scope and abilities of someone working in their home shop. The FAA has since put a moratorium on inspections of new kits to evaluate their conformity with the existing regs.
I'm not sure I see the FAA's motivation behind this potential change...unless they are wanting to drive kit based manufacturers off the map. Why would you want me to fabricate my own parts out of composite or fiberglass when there is someone much more qualified to do so. I would think I would be putting myself more at risk, as it's risky enough to build and fly your own aircraft when you are given most or all of the parts. Maybe the FAA is on a population control mission?
image credit: Lancair
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Air Force goes supersonic on synthetic fuels - tries to save money, not planet
A US Air Force B-1B Lancer flew in to the history books this week when it performed the first supersonic flight burning a 50/50 blend of synthetic and petroleum fuel. The flight was part of a test program that has involved several other Air Force aircraft running on the synthetic fuel with the hopes of having every aircraft in the Air Force fleet burning it by 2011. The 50/50 blend is most notable for its environmental friendliness as it burns much cleaner and reduces combustion-related emissions. Of course, that's not why the Air Force is really interested in the fuel. As the world's largest consumer of aviation fuels, the US Air Force has a greater stake in the program as a means to save the taxpayers some money. Plus, the Air Force is anticipating that at least 50% of the blend will be produced domestically instead of in the countries we love so much to bomb liberate.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Boeing starts a blog on "Tankergate"
No Tankergate is not a real term, not yet at least. But if it does become the tag of what is shaping up to be a nasty fight between the Air Force and Boeing regarding the aerial refueler purchase decision, then I'd like the credit for it. Otherwise, you'll now be able to read all about Boeing's protest on their newly created blog, Tanker Facts. In it, they tell you all about how the contest was rigged, how their aircraft is better, and that French women don't shave their armpits. I think I'll subscribe to this one.
Israeli F-16 pilot's greatest threat not Iranian air defenses, but cancer
The Israeli Air Force has grounded its entire fleet of 62 Lockheed Martin F-16I Sufas after it discovered formaldehyde in the cockpit. Known to cause cancer at certain concentrations, it is unclear as to how the formaldehyde, a by-product of jet exhaust, is entering the cockpit. Lockheed Martin officials are working closely with the IAF and have a suspicion that the chemical may be entering the cockpit through the air conditioning system. The IAF did not ground its fleet of F-16C/Ds and this problem has not been reported by any other operator of the aircraft. It does,however, have many IAF pilots concerned and rightly so.
Dornier 328 becomes real-life "Mannheim steamroller"
This Cirrus Airlines Dornier 328 had a little runway excursion on landing at the Mannheim City Airport in Mannheim, Germany on Wednesday evening. For a reason unknown at this time, the aircraft overan the end of the runway and smacked into a perimeter berm. The left wing and engine sustained substantial damage, but fortunately none of the 24 passengers or 3 crewmembers were injured. German aviation officials have begun an investigation into the incident.
(Photo: © Daniel Roland/PA Photos)
More 787 Delays On the Way???
Seems like we just cannot get enough of this 787 delay saga. Every week something new, something to cloud up the pretty picture of the 787. Again, not a shocker, as Boeing is trying to do something that EADS has been doing for a long time, manufacturing different components off-site and mating them together at the Boeing plant.
Nothing is official yet, however, a key 787 customer is predicting another six-month slip in deliveries and has, for the first time, raised the possibility that the 787's troubles extend beyond the production delays to design problems! Design problems plagued the A380 and officials from Boeing have adamantly denied the 787 has design flaw related delays and has maintained the delays are only because of production. If I was Boeing, I would be concerned that a key customer is seeing this from the outside looking in.
Steven Udvar-Hazy of International Lease Finance Corp (IFLC) has told a JPMorgan official that structural design changes have to be made to the 787's center wing box, which would require throwing the aircraft away RETROFITS to the first two flight test aircraft that are in production. He also predicted in his crystal ball that the 787 would not make its first flight until this fall and that another year would be needed for FAA certification. What this means to Boeing and Japan's All Nippon Airways is that the first 787 delivery would be pushed back until 3Q 2009, or 1.5 years behind the original date of May 2008.
I know this is not unheard of or a complete shocker, but it seems the delays are mounting for this great concept of an aircraft. Only time will tell. Expect a formal announcement from Boeing in April, after they conduct a detailed review of program missed milestones.
Northrop Grumman Touts Its N-UCAS
Northrop Grumman officials are promoting their unmanned strike aircraft being designed for the U.S. Navy as a “first-generation” unmanned combat aerial system (UCAS) with capabilities that include early missile defense intercepts.
The platform for a new strike fight design is based on the NG's X-47B, but NG is assembling an internal system that could fit into a variety of airframes. The aircraft could incorporate air-to-air refueling and advanced sensors, targeting, and weapons.
Officials are also contending that their F-35's and NG's UCAS would be a more powerful combination than Boeing's Super Hornet teamed up with the UCAS because of the F-35's ability to penetrate foreign airspaces in combination with the UCAS.
NG claims the UCAS would be capable of carrying a payload of electronic attack devices, which is important as the United States military (mainly Navy) is to begin phasing out its main electronic attack aircraft, the EA-6B Prowler, in 2012.
And, as you can see from the above picture, the aircraft will be quite stealthy, incorporating next-gen stealth technology.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Space tourism...brought to you by the makers of the A380
Nuts to Burt Rutan and his SpaceShip 2, this is space tourism Euro-style. Robert Laine, CTO of EADS space division, Astrium, told BBC recently that they intend to create a production line of space planes capable of taking off of regular runways with jet engines. The craft would climb to 40,000 feet where it would then ignite its rocket engine and soar up above 100 km into the vast unknown of space giving their tourist passengers an opportunity to experience weightlessness and nausea. EADS is hoping this will usher in a new generation of travel not soley for tourism. Check out the video below for an idea of what they are expecting.
Dead rats stink up Orlando airport
No, not a sequal Snakes on a Plane, these "Rats in an Airport" were non-fiction. At least 24 dead rats hidden in the littlest of nooks and crannies around Orlando International Airport made such a stankyness that airport officials were forced to shut down a customs checkpoint and reroute international arrivals to another concourse. An airport spokesperson is blaming the infestation, which nauseated customs inspectors, on recent airport construction that upset existing rodent habitats. The rodents were poisoned by exterminators during construction, however some of them managed to drag themselves into the little hiding places were they proceeded to die, then decompose and stink, in that order. Airport employees have managed to remove at least 24 of the dead critters, while it is suspected twice that many may still exist. Lovely.
767 heating duct implodes in flight, passengers sprayed with hot ashes and insulation
Passengers aboard a Delta 767 yesterday had a fun time on their flight from Raleight-Durham to Atlanta. According to a preliminary report from the FAA, one of the aircraft's heat exchanging ducts imploded. The force of the implosion caused hot air and ashes to be vented into the aircraft's cabin during cruise at 31,000 feet. The hot air also filled the interior of the fuselage with cabin insulation (at least its not asbestos).
The flight crew of Delta 1819 diverted the flight with 259 passengers to the Greenville, SC airport where it landed safely. Everyone was released from the flight and it appears that there was only one injury. A woman received a burn to her knee. Of course, post incident interviews with local media included the usual hopeful buzzwords, "bomb", "9/11", "the worst", etc. Although this would be scary if you were a passenger, it is reported that life did go on.
(Photo: The Greenville News)
Embraer's Phenom 300 Gets Its Wings (and Engines)
Embraer successfully performed the wing-fuselage mating and installation of the engines of the first Phenom 300 executive jet last week at its Gavião Peixoto plant. In addition, the first electrical power-on test was successfully completed on Tuesday, March 4.
Big news for Embraer as it aims to complete a mid-year 2008 first flight of the Phenom 300. The beauty is in the light jet category, capable of carrying 8-9 passengers with a range of 1,800 nautical miles. Estimated to cost a cool $6.65 million for first production delivery in 2009. In case you were curious, the P-300 will be powered by two of P&WC's PW535E model engine.
Not quite the pocket rocket like its little sibling, the Phemon 100, but it's still good lookin'.
Click here to return to Contact Ground .9
iPods Are Everywhere
Yes, you are not seeing things and this image has not been photoshopped, aside from the arrow and text. That is an iPod on board the Space Shuttle Endeavor, taken during the current shuttle mission, STS-123. Interestingly, NASA has to replace the standard rechargable lithium ion battery with specially designed alkaline alternatives to ensure safety standards are met. Sounds like the NASA iPod just got a little more expensive as compared to is earth bound cousins.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
PIA to ground all of their fuel hungry 747s
Pakistan International Airlines has announced that they intend on grounding their entire fleet of 747s today citing rising fuel costs. A spokesman for the airline was unsure as to whether or not they would be returned to service in the future or stored permanently. He did go on the record to say that the aircraft is too expensive to operate at current fuel prices.
Woman sues American Airlines after passenger ejaculates into her hair
Yes, you read that correctly. Centava Dozier, 21, of Harris County, Texas is alleging that after waking up from a nap on her American Airlines flight she found a "substance" in her hair, and a man masturbating in the seat next to her. Dozier has filed a lawsuit for $200,000 claiming the flight crew did nothing in response to her request for help. AA is countering saying they took appropriate action and that the "shooter" was arrested after landing. I hope she kept a sample as evidence.
More FAA Inspections With Some Randomization
Federal Aviation Administration inspectors were ordered yesterday (3/18) to review maintenance records at ALL domestic airlines to ensure that carriers have complied with safety orders and other directives. This is an unprecedented move with the same knee jerk reactionary symptoms the United States deals with on daily basis. I would challenge the FAA to stay on top of these things rather than having a country-wide airline records audit to ensure the FAA has not missed anything or that the airlines are trying to pull a fast one.
As you will recall from the news and our Pointniner blog posts, the FAA is under pressure from Congress to tighten oversight stemming from the alleged inspection lapses at Southwest Airlines that led the agency to propose the record fine of $10.2 million on March 6, 2008.
In response, these audits will give the FAA a snapshot of compliance (or non-compliance) with various safety directives issued over the years that require inspections or other maintenance work. At least part of the audit will focus on airlines flying older Boeing 737 models which have been at the center of the controversy over checks for structural cracks caused by metal fatigue. As for the remaining aircraft, FAA inspectors are free to select which directives to review for at each airline. Time to give the airlines the old "random" cavity check.
According to FAA statistics, there are 4,000 airliners of all types flown by domestic passenger airlines, in addition to the 2,800 regional jets flown by regional carriers. Sounds like a great time, don't you wish you were a FAA auditor?Regulators do not suspect there are inspection oversight problems (not to cause any alarms), but since Southwest got this all started, they are probably better off being safe than sorry.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Boeing flies world's smallest synthetic aperture radar on ScanEagle
Boeing announced today that they have successfully flown the world's smallest SAR aboard one of its ScanEagle mini-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The NanoSAR weighs in at only 2 pounds and is roughly the size of a shoebox. The first flight apparently took place back on the 7th of January, however, Boeing is just now releasing the results. The ScanEagle was able to take ground imagery with the NanoSAR which was then recreated on the ground. Boeing's next step is to collect and view the imagery in real-time while the ScanEagle is in flight.
This is a huge step for the tiny UAV as it's only previous payload included electro-optical and infrared sensors. The NanoSAR will now give users the ability to see through clouds, fog, haze, and rain. These were killers for ScanEagle in the past with its EO/IR sensors, but now should pose no problem for battlefield tacticians. Take that, Killer Bee.
The coolest Air Force in the world
I just ran across these photos on the US Air Force's website and wanted to share them.
This first one shows a pair of specially painted F-117 Nighthawks on their very last aerial refueling before their retirement on March 11. Nice little Stars and Stripes action for ya. Thanks again F-117 for your years of service to our country.
The reason I really liked this photo was because at first it looks like a black & white photo. Then, you realize it's a color when you see the ANG on boom fin and the color off the canopy. Real nice shot. This Raptor is from the brand new 90th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska.
Our unstoppable air superiority, and our style factor, as seen above, are why we truly have the coolest Air Force in the world.
First Flight for Cessna Skycatcher Prototype (Model 162)
The title essentially speaks for itself as not much information is known about the actual flight aside from the fact that it happened.
Cessna said its engineering team "continues to evaluate" the 100-hp Continental O-200 engine that is installed in the proof-of-concept aircraft, which first flew in August 2007, just weeks after the program's official launch at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. The SkyCatcher is priced at $111,500. It is expected to cruise at speeds up to 118 knots with a maximum range of 470 nautical miles, a useful load of 490 pounds and a usable fuel capacity of 24 gallons. The aircraft will feature a Garmin G300 avionics system, and will be capable of day and night VFR operations, Cessna said. First deliveries are expected by late 2009.
I like how Cessna continues to emphasize that all Model 162 engineering and testing will take place in Witchita, KS; downplaying the fact that it will be manufactured in China! Surely the aircraft will have a sticker on it stating "Engineered in Kansas" with no mention of a little gold sticker with black type on the panel saying "Made in China." Do not get me wrong, I'm all in favor of the Skycatcher, but this is beginning to sound a bit like Scairbus manufacturing the KC-45A in Alabama, but we all know where the parts are coming from!!! Blast!!! Alabama is a front, just like Kansas is for the Skycatcher.
The Cessna 152 continues to shed tears as it knows it days are numbered, soon to be replaced by the 162 as an economical trainer aircraft.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Biplane smacks into lake
AOPA Releases $$ Amount Spent on Lobbying
AOPA released its dollar amount spent on lobbying in 2007. In total, AOPA spent 4.8 billion (yes I said billion) sticking up for the the GA types of the world, which would include myself and Steve. Breaking it down, that is roughly $10 of each AOPA member's annual dues, which are $40. Glad to know that money is being spent toward something. I know AOPA has a pretty big footprint in Washington general aviation issues, but I guess 4.8 billion was not what I would have guessed. Naturally most of this money was spent to bend the ears of those who make the laws or regulations pilots and manufacturers abide by.
Sweet Video From G650 Annoucement
Check out what looks to be amateur (maybe not supposed to have a video camera) video from inside Gulfstream's G650 announcement conference. Shows construction techniques and some awesome still shots of the 650. Pretty exciting - can't wait to see it in person.
Happy St. Patrick's day to all the readers.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
New pics of FedEx 757 freighter conversions
(Pictures courtesy of FedEx)
Bloggin' to you from the road on this one. These are brand new pictures of the first of FedEx's acquired 757s being converted to freighters. You can see the one is a former US Airways bird. The first of these new guys should be in service by June or July flying between Memphis, Indianapolis, and Dulles. By 2012, FedEx intends on having 87 in the fleet. Hopefully they'll be able to retire some of their gas guzzling 727s at that point. I bet these will look sweet in the FedEx colors.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Oklahoma Air National Guard bombs Tulsa apartment complex
It is easily understandable why Jeremy Isbell of Tulsa, Oklahoma was a little confused as to why a 25 lb Air Force bomb ended up in his apartment last night. After returning home that night from being out with his wife, he discovered that a BDU-33 practice bomb had ended up in his bathroom after falling errantly from an Oklahoma Air National Guard F-16. A spokesman from the 138th Fighter Wing out of the Tulsa Airport Air Guard Station indicated that the inert device was thought to have been released over a test range in Kansas during a routine training mission, but apparently dislodged itself on departure from the airport. The Air National Guard, FBI, and ATF are all investigating this one. I wonder if he gets to keep it. That would be a cool souvenir.
Terminal 5 finally opens at Heathrow
With a project that was once the largest in all of Europe, and that dates back 26 years, the British Airports Authority finally held its grand opening ceremony for Termial 5. While the official first flight out of T5 (as the Brits call it) won't take place until March 27th, today's events, with the assistance of Queen Elizabeth II, mark a triumphant end to the construction of the collosal new terminal. British Airways, T5's soon to be sole occupant, is looking forward to moving their Heathrow operations into the new facility wich will be fully capable of handling their entire flee including their Airbus A380s on order.
While the main terminal and Concourse B will be ready for use on the 27th, Concourse C will not be opened until 2010. At full operational status, the new T5 will be able to accomodate 35 million passengers annually. Is that enough? Well, BAA already plans on completly reconstructing Terminals 1 through 3 by 2020 with the hopes of having an all new airport capable of meeting the demand of what is already the busiest international airport in the world. To get there, though, they will definitely need that third runway they have recently re-proposed.
BAA has put together a really cool video of the building of T5 which you can see here.
U.S. Launches Secret Spy Satellite?
It has been reported that the United States launched a secret satellite last night around 3a.m. PDT aboard an Atlas 5 rocket, mission NROL-28. Other than admitting the launch occurred (pretty hard to deny that), officials have been tight lipped. The launch had been delayed two weeks to be sure the new satellite would not get taken out by any debris remaining in space from the defunct satellite shot down recently. Possibly this was a planned replacement?? It was also confirmed at 4:09 PDT that the launch was a success. What is even cooler is that the secret launch took place in low clouds and fog...to make the mission seem even more secretive (as you can see in the above picture).
The satellite was launched for the National Reconnaissance Office, so go get in your birthday suit and show the NRO what your made of.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Raytheon Looks to Usurp Boeings UAV Dominance
Here is another battle Boeing does not want to lose. A pretty serious battle is breaking out between Raytheon and Boeing to be the primary supplier of UAVs to the United States Navy and Marines. Boeing currently has a lock on the reconnaissance UAV market. Its ScanEagle UAV has been in service since 2004, since the Pentagon decided their use was vital to missions in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Then in 2005, the Navy purchased the ScanEagle to observe over-the-horizon oil platforms and suspicious ships.
Robot set to become space station's newest inhabitant
NASA is all set to begin the installation of Dextre tonight. The large, special purpose two armed dexterous manipulator will be installed on the ISS with the hopes of easing the need for human EVAs in the future. Dextre hitched a ride to the space station on Space Shuttle Endeavour along with the Japanese laboratory, Kibo, on STS-123. Once in place, Dextre should be able to handle most of the exterior work on the ISS with its two special gripping hands. The same folks in Canada that brought you the Canadarm on the shuttle fleet and ISS, have also manufactured this gizmo. I sure hope they haven't given the thing AI. They obviously haven't seen the movie Red Planet yet.
Woman tries to take skeleton on flight
The AP is reporting that baggage screeners in Munich Germany stopped a woman yesterday who was travelling with the skeleton of her deceased brother in a plastic bag, crammed in her suitcase. The 62 year-old woman, travelling with her friend from Brazil to Italy told security officials she was just trying to fufill the last wishes of her brother, RIP, by having him buried in Italy. And just when did her late brother pass?.......11 years ago. Mmm, nice and fresh.
BREAKING NEWS: Gulfstream launches G650
Sweet. At 9:00 EST this morning, Gulfstream announced their intentions for the launch of the G650, a brand new business jet built by what many consider to be the leader in business jets. This aircraft, dubbed "The New World Standard", is being haled as the widest, fastest, and longest range business jet in its class. With a departure from the standard Gulfstream cabin, the G650 will have a cabin more than 8 feet wide, and 6 feet high. It will have the largest windows of any aircraft at a staggering 28 inches. Powered by the new Rolls Royce BR725 (a derivative of the BR710 powering the G500 and G550), it will cruise at a speed near Mach .925 making it the fastest civil aircraft in the world. With a range of nearly 7,000 nm, the G650 can carry 8 people from Los Angeles to Cairo. The G50 will also feature a newly designed wing, the latest in advanced flight controls, the PlaneView II avionics system, and it's signature Enhanced Synthetic Vision. With first flight scheduled for sometime next year, Gulfstream is aiming for an entry into service by 2012. All I have to say is, "WOW". This is one amazing looking aircraft with some incredible features and specifications. Supposedly the market for this aircraft is already ripe. I can't wait to see this one on the ramp. Nice job, Gulfstream.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Gulfstream set for "big" announcment tomorrow?
The rumor mill is a churnin at full speed on this one. Word through the grapevine has it that Gulfstream is set to make a big announcement tomorrow. Could it be the new G600? We already know they have G150 through G999999 trademarked in case they need it. Some are saying it will be an even larger class cabin to possibly bite off a chunk of the BBJ/ACJ market. Others are predicting a mid-size jet with longer range. I guess we'll find out Thursday. We'll try here at Contact Ground .9 to have the latest and greatest from Savanah, GA tomorrow.
Southwest Grounds 44 B737s
Forty-four Boeing planes were grounded "to determine whether they should go through further safety inspections." Southwest Airlines spokeswoman Whitney Eichinger said Wednesday. Which, to me, sounds like a nice beat around the bush answer considering they will have to undergo further safety inspections as the aircraft have been flying past inspection dates.
No one will confirm whether the inspections will be on the fuselage or rudder, issues that have been raised by the FAA as areas of concern. The FAA has also said it may levy an 10+ million dollar fine on Southwest if it's found to have violated the federal aviation regulations. According to FAA documents provided to congressional investigators, in some cases, aircraft were operational 30 months past governmental inspection deadlines. Violation? hmm, maybe.
These 44 737s are not free to move about the country. Time for Southwest to get its wallet out.
Boeing files formal protest over tanker decision. World in shock...oh wait, no we're not.
Citing the USAF tanker contract decision as "seriously flawed", it should come as no surprise to anyone that yesterday Boeing filed a formal protest with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding the outcome of the contest to build the Air Force's next generation aerial refueler. The team of Northrop Grumman and EADS received the winning bid to build the KC-45A as a replacement to the aging fleet of KC-135s. It is kind of ironic that Boeing is crying foul now that they allege the Air Force changed the requirements of the competition midstream to make things unfair for them and favor the A330 design. Especially since they were implicated with the Air Force back in 2002 for running a single-bid competition for this same contract. I guess you reap what you sow. I believe Boeing is planning on having Aaron represent them in the upcoming legal battles over this.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Tunnels of Activity
The rumbling of space shuttle engins and the view of a spectacular liftoff are only a small part of what happens on launch day. I'm not talking about mission control or other visible support providers. I'm talking about support systems in the tunnels beneath Launch Pads 39A and 39B which are not as glamorous, however, they are very important to the overall success of a mission.
A series of rooms and connecting tunnels called the Pad Terminal Connection Rooms (PACR) were actually built above ground (prob cause KSC sits on ground that is near sea level)in the 1960s, before construction of the launch pads on top of it. The largest room in the PACR is called the Environmental Control System (ECS), which contains electrical lines, power systems, and air conditioning units that serve and power the launch pad area and shuttle.
From the moment the shuttle arrives at the launch pad, NASA employees and contractors are in the PACR keeping the shuttle and lauch pad's systems operating. About 12 hours before launch, workers prepare for hazardous gaseous nitrogen purges in the shuttle compartments. Once that is completed, NASA transfers ECS control to the Firing Room and all officials outside the blast area. From then it's all up to the "above the ground" operations personnel.
Citation makes sweet giant Cessna logo in sky. Point?
Marketing stunt? Certification flight? Huge waste of fuel and time? Who knows, but a Cessna Citation X belonging to the Cessna Aircraft Company flew a flight path from and to Wichita Mid-Continent Airport last Friday in the shape of the aircraft used in the Cessna logo as seen in this screen shot of its flight from flightaware.com.
The aircraft used is seen in the picture below and is currently under going a certification program for the addition of "elliptical" winglets to the Citation X. Boy, I hope the eco-freeks don't find out about this one.
(photo: Winglet-Technology)
Endeavour Lifts Off on STS-123
In Tuesday's pre-dawn hours at Kennedy Space Center, more specifically at 2:28AM EDT (0628 GMT), space shuttle Endeavour lifted off launch pad 39A with an international payload incluiding two of the newest components of the space station: a two-armed Canadian robot and the first piece of Japan's three-part Kibo laboratory.
This was only the second dark or nighttime launch of a space shuttle by NASA since the Columbia disaster (2/2003). The first was in 2006. Daytime shuttle launches have been preferred, and were initially required because any debris falling from the shuttle and possibly impacting it would be more visible. Nighttime launches are now allowed, and somewhat preferred due to radar clearness. One piece of debris was noted falling from the external tank 83 seconds into the launch. NASA officials believe it missed the right wing of Endeavour.
This was NASA's second of six planned missions for 2008. STS-123 will also be NASA's longest space station mission at a planned 16 days, which includes 5 planned spacewalks (also a record). Click on the picture, it is very HQ (credit: NASA).
Air Force quietly retires one of its most secret jets
After 27 years of service with the US Air Force, the "old school", low-observable, OG Stealth Fighter, the F-117A is being quietly slipped into mothballs next month. Program managers at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, OH are hosting a private retirement ceremony for the jet today along with officials from Holloman AFB in New Mexico where the fleet of 45 Nighthawks is based. The last flight of F-117s will leave Holloman for Palmdale, CA on April 21 where they will hold another ceremony at the home of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. The Skunk Works team of engineers were the grand wizards of stealth technology in the late 1970s when the now obsolete F-117 technology was created. The last flight of Nighthawks will then continue on to the Tonopah Test Range in Tonopah, NV which was the home of the F-117 flight test program. There they will be mothballed with the (slim) possibility they could come back out of retirement for service if needed. The rush to retirement was in part due to free up funding to field more F-22 Raptors.
This aircraft holds a special place in the hearts and minds of my family as certain members were very involved in the development program for this awesome plane. It's amazing how fast it's time went. Oh well, thanks Nighthawk for your valiant 27 years of service to defending this country!
Airbus rolls over Ramper's foot
I saw this in the FAA's incident/accident summary the other day. In Portsmouth, NH an Airbus A319 rolled over the foot of a ramp worker after it was disconnected from the towbar. Doesn't really say which airline or to what extent the injury was. If he had steel-tow boots, though, wouldn't the weight shove the steel cap right into his toes? I'm sure next time he'll check with the flight crew to make sure brakes are set.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Nice little lesson how to do the least damage during a "crash"
A nice video, back from 2007 of a "crash" (although without much spectacle, which is good) in which the pilot was trying to save both all of the prop blades on his Beech Baron 55. Note how he cranks the left engine after both engines come to a stop prior to touchdown. Also, nice to the see the ARFF dudes giving handshakes.
Overly controlling instructor will teach you how to land a P-51 wih the joy of condescension
Jules Verne makes it into space without use of giant cannon
The European Space Agency finally has something to celebrate besides their Columbus module on the ISS. Yesterday the ESA launched an Ariane 5 rocket carrying Jules Verne, their first Automated Transfer Vehicle and their most complicated spacecraft ever. Jules Verne will make an automated dock with the ISS shortly after the Space Shuttle Endeavour departs the station on its STS-123 mission. Now park that thing Europe.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Jules Verne finally ready for le voyage extraordinaire
The Ariane 5 launch vehicle set to carry Jules Verne into space for the first time arrived yesterday to its launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana. The European Space Agency's 22-ton Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) named after the French author of From the Earth to the Moon will make its maiden voyage tomorrow to the International Space Station to resupply it with food, air, water, fuel, and supplies. It will be the heaviest load ever lifted by the Ariane 5 rocket. However, due to the launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-123 scheduled for a March 11th liftoff, the Jules Verne will park itself in an orbit until after the completion of the shuttle mission. It will then make an automated docking with the ISS after Endeavour has left for its return to Earth.
The ATV is designed to supplement the Russian Progress resupply ships and Shuttle resupply missions with Europe's own little pet project. It has been a long road just to get to the launch pad, but when the ATV enters service it will provide the ISS with up to 3 times the amount of cargo that could be carried in a Progress ship. Check out the comparison below. The downside, ole' Jules Verne has only one mission. Once it's done at the ISS, it will be loaded with the old station junk and be sent on a burn-up re-entry. I wonder how much these things cost?
Friday, March 7, 2008
TSA contaminates teen's feeding tube, puts health at risk
An "overzealous" TSA screener in Orlando is under fire after reportedly contaminating a sealed up feeding tube belonging to a teenage traveler. The passenger is claiming the screener would not allow him to pass through the security checkpoint without having the sterile clear plastic bag containing a spare feeding tube opened and checked. The teen is insisting the screener involved was adamant about opening the bag and by doing so contaminated his sterile feeding tube thereby putting his health at risk. The TSA has opened an investigation on this one.
SHOCKER: 787 program faces...another delay!
A Goldman Sachs report recently released is indicating that the Boeing 787 program is about to hit another delay. This whole project has taught them a thing or two about supply chains. New power-up time frames are looking at April, with maybe...maybe a first flight by June. Deliveries of the first aircraft are now slipping to 3Q 2009. Boeing's thoughts are parallel to George W. Bush's comments on the recession: "What delays? I wouldn't call this a delay."
Navy Robo-plane Squadron by 2025
The US Navy has indicated it plans to field its first squadron of Unmanned Combat Air Systems (UCAS) by the year 2025. The program, dubbed F/A-XX is intended as a replacement for the Navy's fleet of F/A-18s but not its Super Hornets. These guys obviously haven't seen the movie Stealth yet.
Photo: Northrop Grumman
My APU is on FIRE, Redux
Apparently the NTSB has forgotten about this incident in January of 2007 in their recommendation letter earlier this week. The photo is pretty self explanitory. In a similiar fashion to the Air Norstrum and ASA incidents, this Mesa Airlines CRJ-200 shed one of it fan blades over Cripple Creek, CO (coincidence?) in a flight from Denver to Phoenix. They were able to return and land without problem at Denver, but their wasn't much left of #1 engine fan assembly. All incidents involved the GE CF34-3B1 engine.
(Just in case you were wondering, yes we realize an APU was not involved in any of these incidents. It is simply a reference to an actual APU fire we were involved with years ago that included a French Canadian flight crew)
My APU is on FIRE (said in your best French accent)
Defective fan blades on General Electric CF34-3B1s should be taken out of service before another in-flight fire or engine failure occurs -- so says the NTSB, labeling the associated safety risks "unacceptably high."
Ok, so your APU is not on fire because of defective fan blade, however, saying "Oh my gosh, my left engine is on FIRE (in your best French accent) is much worse and not preferred...especially because the French play a role in Airbusness.
In its Mar. 5 recommendation letter, the safety board cites two previous failures, both involving Bombardier CRJ-200s. The first event occurred July 27, 2006, shortly after Air Nostrum Flight IB8174 departed Barcelona International. During climbout through 23,000 ft., the flight crew heard a loud bang and the aircraft experienced severe vibration. The No. 1 (left) engine fire warning continued for 9 min. 39 sec. and ended as the aircraft returned safely to the airport on one engine.
The second event occurred May 24, 2007, when an Atlantic Southeast Airlines flight was in cruise flight at 23,000 ft. The pilots also reported a loud bang and severe aircraft vibrations, and inspectors determined that the blade in the No. 2 (right) engine separated below the platform in the blade attachment area. The ASA flight diverted to Blountville, Tenn., landing without incident. The NTSB expressed concerned that the ASA blade fractured "early" in its service life - after only 4,717 cycles and 5,845 hours.
The CRJ just keeps giving more reasons to hate on it.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Titusville crash video finally surfaces
CLICK TO SEE THE VIDEO
Video footage of the fatal runway collision last Saturday at the Arthur Dunn Airpark in Titusville, Florida has finally surfaced on CNN. The video quality is very poor, but you can clearly see one of the planes, a Velocity, flipping over and bursting into fire. Towards the end of the video, it pans over towards the other aircraft, a Vans RV-8, which also caught on fire. Apparently the Velocity veered off the runway on landing in an attempt to avoid colliding with another aircraft and instead sliced right through the RV-8. Three people in the RV-8 were killed wile the Velocity pilot somehow survived. Both aircraft and most of the crowd were at the Airpark for the monthly EAA pancake fly-in. The incident comes nearly at the anniversary of another tragic accident in Titusville when a stunt pilot flying an L-39 crashed in a loop at the Space Coast Regional Airport during an airshow.
French Airbus workers unhappy with tanker contract; Make up your mind Frenchy!
Apparently not everyone in France is happy with the US Air Force contract win by Northrop Grumman and Airbus. The union that represents French EADS workers is claiming that the assembly of the KC-45A in Mobile, Alabama will take jobs away from them. First you want us to fly your goofy Europlane, then you're upset when we decide to do it! This is just one reason why many of us (Aaron) wanted to go American from the start. On the other hand, the United Kingdom couldn't be happier with the choice. Now you know why they are our ally.
Somehow I think we'll be posting a lot more on the KC-45 in the near future.
Southwest gets their peepees slapped for flying uninspected planes
The FAA is alleging that Southwest Airlines knowingly failed to perform mandatory inspections for fuselage fatigue cracking on 46 of its 737s and is proposing to fine the airline $10.2 million for the violation. These 46 planes amassed 1,451 cycles during the period the airline was in violation. Six of these have now been reported to have actually fatigue cracking in the fuselage. The P.R. war is already in full swing as many media outlets have picked up on this and are accusing the airline of flying "unsafe airplanes." Have fun with that one, Southwest.
Momma Mia! Italians show you how not to refuel
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
American 777 flies transatlantic with only 5 passengers, Al Gore bursts into flames
In an apparent contest with Singapore Airlines to see who is the ultimate archenemy of the environment, American Airlines is under fire from the eco-group "Friends of Earth" for apparently flying a Boeing 777 from Chicago to London Heathrow with only 5 passengers on board. The "eco-scandal" as FOE calls it, was due to an earlier cancellation with all but the five remaining passengers being able to make other accommodations. The "obscene waste of fuel" was estimated to have created 43 tons of CO2 per passengers. American Airlines' response? "Die you miserable planet!!"
I hope they got upgraded to First Class.
A model of the KC-45A
What a french beauty eh? I bet she has hairy armpits. As you may know, based upon the post entered by Steve a couple days ago, I am not a huge Airbus fan (I like a plane that won't attempt to interpret what I mean when I pull back on the yoke). But I came upon this picture and thought I would share it.
Air Transat Flight diverts after family gets sick on board. Lesson: don't eat at the Punta Cana Cantina
An Air Transat flight enroute from the Dominican Republic to Edmonton, Canada made an emergency divert into Ft. Lauderdale last night after a family of 8 became sick shortly after takeoff. All 8 were taken to the hospital in Ft Lauderdale. After the Center for Disease Control lifted its quarantine on the aircraft they commented that they believe the family ate or drank something in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic that got them all ill. Someone forgot to wash their hands before they made the mofongo.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Northrop Grumman video outlines Bama KC-45 assembly
This video from the Northrop Grumman website sheds a little light on how Northrop Grumman and Airbus (shhhh) plan on building the Air Force's newest aerial refueler here in the good ole' US of A. For the sake of the multi-billion dollar contract and Aaron's sanity, we must stress this is a genuine American-made product. No proceeds of this contract containing US tax dollars will go to line the pockets of any socialistic European dignitaries bent on EU domination. I've read this is expected to bring $1 billion of economic activity to the Mobile, Alabama area. What I haven't heard is how much may actually float back across the pond. Video refers to aircraft as KC-30 as this video was produced prior to contract awarding and subsequent name change to KC-45.
Oh My Dubai
Dubai International Airport (DXB) says it had 34.3 million international passengers in 2007, which was an increase of 19.3 percent over 2006. This makes DXB the fastest growing airpuerto among the world's top 10 airports for international travel. It is estimated that DXB's international traffic will top 40 million in 2008.
The busiest airport for international traffic is London Heathrow, which handled 61.3 million international passengers in 2006.
Put another way, Dubai is taking over the world...one year at a time. On a side note, DXB also had 260,530 aircraft movements in 2007.
Record Jet Sales and Helicopter Sales Jump
The New York Times is reporting the deliveries of business jets broke an annual record in 2007 for the second consecutive year. GAMA (General Aviation Manufacturers Association) said last year, 1,138 business jets were delivered, which is a 28.4 percent increase over 2006. Both the US (giddy up) and the EU (scairbus) accounted for a large portion of the increase, accounting for 50% and 25% respectively.
Meanwhile, down at the pad, deliveries of civil turbine helicopters were up more than 25% in 2007 from 2006 and are only expected to increase throughout this year as well. This is according to Honeywell International.
Singapore to run Trans-Pacific routes with 100 seat A340s, Al Gore weeps
Singapore Airlines has announced plans to strip almost half of its seats out of their fleet of environmental unfriendly Airbus A340-500s in an attempt to make them entirely business class for their non-stop flights between Singapore and Los Angeles. By doing so they are taking the already reigning champ of long range fuel inefficiency and making them less effective in terms of transporting passengers. An A340-500 flying only 100 passengers 1/2 way across the globe?!?! Some one apparently has some carbon credits to redeem.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Bonanza of a landing
Additional Lufthansa A320 pictures
As you can see in these up close pictures, the Lufthansa A320 did not fare too badly in its attempted crosswind landing with a wingtip strike. Weather data from Hamburg Airport showed winds gusting up to 49kt. The A320, identified as D-AIQP, escaped with only superficial damage. Seems lucky not have lost the wingtip altogether if you ask me.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
One bad weekend for Lufthansa
On top of having one of its A320's lose a winglet in Hamburg this weekend, Lufthansa had another wind related incident in Frankfurt. It appears the wind blew a catering truck on to the wing of an Airbus A340-600 causing some pretty serious damage.
Sorry for the low res.
Editor's Note:
It seems as though the original photos have mysteriously vanished from the host's website. Lesson learned: save the photos prior to vicious Lufthansa laweyers having them deleted from existence.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Lufthansa A320 sheds winglet in crazy crosswing approach
This incident apparently happened today in Hamburg Germany. The photo above (from Lars Tretau (if you couldn't figure that out)) shows the point on it's crazy crosswind approach when the Lufthansa Airbus A320 made contact with the hard surface using only its left winglet shortly before executing an immediate go around. The video below is reportedly from the same event, though the vantage point is no where near as good, and the point of impact get's a little fuzzy. I'm waiting for anyone to debunk this one. It's nearly too difficult to believe. Maybe I just want to believe it's fake. I've seen some crazy approaches, but that's just stupid. 2 words: crosswind alternate.
Colossal new Beijing International Airport opens (Made in China)
China officially opened it's new Beijing International Airport yesterday several months in advance of hosting the Summer Olympic Games. To give an idea of it's massive terminal's size, the British architect describes combining all 5 terminals at Heathrow, then adding 17%.
How does China thank it's British design team? By not inviting them to the grand opening. "Thanks for all the work, here's a dim sum dumpling to go." Of course, they don't discuss the army of Chinese workers that it required to built this thing. I'm sure the Communist Government gave them good wages.
"Kriss-Kross"ed brake cables the "Daddy-Mac" in Jackson Hole Runway Excursion
The NTSB has indicated preliminary inspections of the United Airlines Airbus A320 that slid off the runway at Jackson Hole, Wyoming last Tuesday night show that it had its left main gear wheel speed tachometer wires crossed incorrectly between the inboard and outboard wheels. This configuration could easily lead to improper anti-skid usage by the aircraft. Supposedly, both main gear units were replaced earlier in the month.
The flight from Denver exited the runway edge and ended up in 5 feet of snow severely damaging the both engines (as seen in the photo from Jackson Hole News&Guide;) Apparently, damage to the airframe is nominal. While the NTSB investigation continues, Jackson Hole Airport officials wonder how many more aircraft they'll have to yank out of ditches as this is the second commercial flight to exit the runway in 2 weeks.
