February AE Current Events
Dave Druga
Here are some aerospace current events from February. There will also
be forthcoming emails for March and the first week or so of April. I
appreciate anyone (senior or cadet) who passes along current events to
share with the rest of the squadron.
-(From 2d Lt Richards) "F-22 Raptor Makes its European Debut: Al
Norman, Lockheed Martin's chief F-22 test pilot, describes the flight
demo of the Raptor at the Farnborough (England) Air Show"
http://www.militarytimes.com/multimedia/video/index_da.swf?fa=armytimes&wa=armytimes&wd=575&ht=324&cp=21772&bw=&state=vid&em=false&fn=/flv/20080714_rc_f22
-(2 Feb) The NTSB has released its finding of probable cause for the
Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash in New York, determining that the
accident was due to the captain's inappropriate reaction to an
aerodynamic stall. There appear to have been a number of factors and
distractions that led to his failure to recognize and compensate for
the impending stall. Both pilots, two flight attendants, 45
passengers, and one person on the ground were killed in the crash.
http://ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2010/100202.html
http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/local/Colgan-Air-releases-response-to-NTSB
http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=11144
http://www.faa.gov/library/reports/media/call_to_action_Jan2010.pdf
-(4 Feb) "How the Amateur Challenger Explosion Video Went Public"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qVItDu0hxw
-(4 Feb) When the new proposed (FY 2011) federal budget was released,
there was no mention of general aviation user fees. For now, this is
great news for general aviation pilots and businesses, but with
economic problems lingering, there is a strong likelihood that these
fees will be proposed again in the future.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=busav&id=news/awx/2010/02/03/awx_02_03_2010_p0-201657.xml&headline=FAA%20User%20Fees%20Dead%20for%20Now
-(5 Feb) In more good news for general aviation, the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) is doing away with many new plans for
increased general aviation security. These proposed requirements
would have been very costly in terms of time and money for general
aviation pilots and businesses.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123390163
-(5 Feb) "Volunteers Fly Supplies Into Hard-to-Reach Areas"
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/world/americas/05planes.html
-(8 Feb) "Boeing 747-8 First Flight"
http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/Boeing747_8FirstFlight_201985-1.html
-(9 Feb) "Tension hits new heights in airport-Rectrix feud". Here's
an update on the ongoing drama at Barnstable Municipal Airport.
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2f20100209%2fNEWS%2f2090314%2f-1%2fSPECIAL21
-(10 Feb) "Who used private flights?" In North Carolina, politicians
are pointing fingers at each other after Governor Mike Easley was
fined $100,000 for taking (illegal) undisclosed, free campaign
flights.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/02/10/330169/who-used-private-flights.html
-(11 Feb) Boeing's Airborne Laser Test Bed (ALTB) had another
successful test when it destroyed a ballistic missile. The ALTB is a
modified 747 with a fire control system and high-energy laser in the
nose.
http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/abl/index.html
-(11 Feb) "Uncommon Payback for Crime"
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kcur/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1611358/KCUR.News/Uncommon.Payback..For..Crime
-(13 Feb) "Algae to solve the Pentagon's jet fuel problem" DARPA has
found a way to produce oil from algae for about $2 per gallon, which
may ultimately cost closer to $1 per gallon. It may be possible to
derive jet fuel for around $3 per gallon from the algae. Pretty crazy
stuff!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/13/algae-solve-pentagon-fuel-problem
-(14 Feb) "Wing walker looks back at aviation history"
http://tribstar.com/local/x1413002217/Wing-walker-looks-back-at-aviation-history
-(15 Feb) General Aviation Modifications, Inc (GAMI) has created a
new, unleaded substitute for 100LL aviation gasoline called G100UL.
The company expects the fuel to maintain or possibly increase
performance in current aircraft engines and does not expect G100UL to
cost significantly more than 100LL. GAMI is in the process of
applying for patents and FAA certification.
http://adaeveningnews.com/local/x1412994457/Revolutionary-answer
-(17 Feb) "Southwest jet avoids collision with smaller plane"
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-southwest17-2010feb17,0,3283743.story
-(18 Feb) "Plane hits Northwest Austin office building"
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/plane-hits-northwest-austin-office-building-251925.html
http://www.kcci.com/news/22607335/detail.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-schweitzer/airplanes-dont-kill-peopl_b_469550.html
-(21 Feb) "Space Shuttle makes rare nighttime landing"
http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/national/BO136119/
-(23 Feb) "$6.7 million may land at airport"
http://www.telegram.com/article/20100223/NEWS/2230418/1116
-(25 Feb) "Scott Crossfield Foundation seeks scholarship funds"
http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2010/100225crossfield.html?WT.mc_id=100226epilot&WT.sect=gan
Enjoy!
Dave Druga, Capt, CAP
Aerospace Education Officer