Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum Opens New Exhibt

The Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum "Air Zoo" in Protage, Michigan (6151 Portage Road) opens a new art exhibit called "The Spirit of Flight: The History of Aviation through Art" that showcases aircraft and aircraft carriers from the early beginnings to the modern airplanes of today. The exhibit, is located in the Main Campus' Traveling Exhibit Hall that features more than 50 prints and posters.

Official Site: http://www.airzoo.org/

The Aviators TV Series

The Aviators is a brand new television series on PBS that will feature current news on aviation community that will debut in June 2010.

Visit those sites listed below for more information about The Aviators .

The Aviators Official Site: http://www.theaviators.tv/
Official YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheAviatorsTV
Official Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=91710606260&ref=ts
Official The Aviators Twitter Page: http://twitter.com/TheAviatorsTV
Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) Station Finder: http://www.pbs.org/stationfinder/index.html

"The People...The Places...The Planes...of North America Aviation"

Kissimmee Air Museum Expands

Kissimmee Air Museum in Kissimmee, Florida located at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport (233 N. Hoagland Boulevard) has expanded. The museum has new hangars, exhibits, and programs.

Richmor Aviation Joins AvFuel Network

Richmor Aviation Stewart of Stewart International Airport (SWF) in New Windsor, New York has joined Avfuel network.

Mid-Continent Instruments Debuts MD41-1948 Annunciation Control Unit

Mid-Continent Instruments debuts the MD41-1948 Annunciation Control Unit (ACU). The Annunciation Control Unit is an aeronautical broadband solution. It displays connectivity status of the SwitftBroadband Unit (SBU) and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). It is specified to be in the cockpit or in the cabin.

Aircraft Spruce Releases 2010 Pilot Shop Catalog

Aircraft Spruce & Specialty has just recently published its new 2010 Pilot Shop catalog, which is an 88-page, all-color catalog lists of popular items used by pilots.

Price: Free

Sonex First Kit to be Evaluated by the FAA Team

Sonex Aircraft, LLC hosted a newly-formed FAA National Kit Evaluation Team (NKET) for practice evaluation of its Sonex Aircraft Complete Kit, in the Experimental-Amateur Built aircraft kits under the new Amateur-Built Orders and Advisory Circular.

FAA Revokes Flight 188 Pilots License

The FAA has revoked the certificates of the two pilots of Northwest Airlines Flight 188 that flew past there destination and was without NORDO contact.

The FAA said the emergency revocations cite violations of a number of FARs, including failure to comply with air traffic control instructions and clearances and operating carelessly and recklessly. The revocations are effective immediately. The pilots have 10 days to appeal the emergency revocations to the NTSB.

Jeffery Skipper Arrested for Flying Intoxicated

PUNTA GORDA - A Ft. Myers man has been arrested by the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office for a July incident in which he allegedly flew a small plane dangerously low over parts of Charlotte County while intoxicated.

According to a sheriff's office report, 48-year-old Jeffery Ward Skipper was charged Monday with a third-degree felony of "Operation of aircraft while intoxicated or in a careless or reckless manner."

On July 20th, numerous calls to the sheriff's office reported a small plane flying dangerously low over Port Charlotte, North Port, El Jobean, and East Englewood. Eyewitnesses reported the plane doing flips and flying as low as 50 feet above the ground, nearly hitting tree tops and vehicles.

According to the report, Skipper was flying so low that he was recognized by an ex-girlfriend as he flew by in a small single engine Cessna-172. Minimum safe altitudes in a congested area are 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle.

When Skipper landed at Lee County Airport, a control tower operator that spoke to Skipper said he "smelled of alcohol.

Mid-Continent Instruments and AeroMech Inc. Introduces new MD835 Emergency Power Supply

Mid-Continent Instruments and AeroMech Inc. are partnering up to make a new MD835 Emergency Power Supply. The MD835 features Lithium Nanophosphate technology. Mid-Continent will conduct RTCA DO-160 environmental testing and DO-311 for Lithium Systems qualification in order to receive TSO and STC approval.

University of North Texas Launches Aviation Program

In the year 2010 the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas will become the first Texas public college or university to offer a bachelor of science in aviation logistics.

It'll be offered by the University of North Texas College of Business in fall of 2010. It'll give people a career in aviation.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas

Aviation News Expert, Adam Badger wishes all his readers a very merry Christmas. Hope you have a safe flight back to your loved ones.

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas

In the meantime listen to the Christmas jingles

San Diego Air and Space Museum Hall of Fame 2009

The San Diego Air & Space Museum has selected its hall of fame class of 2009. The honoree was selected for their historic contributions to aviation, space, or aviation technology.

Class of 2009:
Sally Ride, first woman in space
Sean D. Tucker, airshow performer
Clay Lacy, founder of Clay Lacy aviation
Lockheed Brothers & Skunk Works, Lockheed Martin Aircraft Co.
The Blue Angels, airshow performer
Cliff Robertson, pilot, Academy-Award-winning screen star, founder of Cliff Robertson Work Experience
Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP)


Sally Ride is an American physicist and a former NASA in 1983 the first American woman to enter space. During he career Sally served as the ground-based Capsule Communicator for the second and third Space Shuttle flights. On June 18, 1983 she became the first woman in space on Space Shuttle Challenger for STS-7. In 1989, she became a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego and Director of the California Space Institute. Sally is currently serving as President and CEO of Sally Ride Science, a company she founded in 2001.

Sean D. Tucker is an American airshow pilot. He earned his pilot's certificate at age 17. He has been in airshows since mid-1970s. He is sponsored by Team Oracle and flies a Challenger II biplane. Sean D. Tucker is the founder and president of Tutima Academy of Aviation Safety, where you can train to be an aerobatic pilot. The Tutima Academy of Aviation Safety is the only aerobatic pilot training place in the world.

Frank Robinson, founder of Robinson Helicopter Co.Clay Lacy is the founder of Clay Lacy Aviation, one of the largest corporate jet providers in the country. Clay Lacy Aviation operates the largest number of aircraft in the west. Currently Clay Lacy Aviation flies more charters in the West Coast more than any other.


Lockheed Brothers & Skunk Works Brothers Allan and Malcolm, created a series of aviation companies that eventually became the current company, Lockheed Martin Aircraft Co. that started in 1912. Lockheed Brothers & Skunk Brothers produce some of the most famous aircraft.

United Sates Navy Flight Demonstration Team Blue Angels who are a performing aerobatic team that started in 1946. Blue Angels flew various aircraft over their time-span including a Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat, F8F-1 Bearcat, F9F-2 Panther, F9F-5 Panther, Grumman F9F-8 Cougar, F11F-1 Tiger, F-4J Phantom II, A-4F Skyhawk, and the current day Boeing F/A-18A/B/C/D Hornet. The Blue Angels are one of the most respected team.

Cliff Robertson is a pilot, Academy Award and Emmy-Award-winning screen star as well as founder of the Cliff Robertson Work Experience, within the EAA. Cliff Robertson is an American actor and also a pilot. He has been in films suck as Corvette K-225, We've Never Been Licked, All in a Night's Work, Underworld U.S.A., Sunday in New York, 633 Squadron, Charly, Shoot, Midway, Obsession, The Pilot, Escape from L.A., Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Riding the Bullet, and Spider-Man 3 just to name a few. The EAA's Young Eagles program started in 1992 with Cliff Robertson as the honorary first chairman.

Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) is an organization of civilian female pilots employed to fly military aircraft under the direction of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Between September 1942 and December 1944, the WASP delivered 12,650 aircraft of 78 different types.

Paul Sanderson Dead at 86

In memory of Paul Sanderson (November 23, 1922-October 23, 2009).
Paul Sanderson was the founder of Sanderson Films, a Jeppesen heritage company, and father of modern multimedia flight training programs. He died of natural causes at age 86.

ASTM - New Specification for Binary Unleaded Aviation Certification Fuel

On October 2, 2009 ASTM announced the start of a new avgas specifications for a "binary unleaded aviation fuel."

1. Scope
"1.1 This specification covers formulating specifications for purchases of a binary unleaded aviation fuel under contract and is intended primarily for use by purchasing agencies for testing purposes. 1.2 This specification defines a specific type of binary unleaded aviation fuel for use as an aviation gasoline."

Richard Whitcomb Dead at 88

In memory of Richard Whitcomb (February 21, 1921-October 13, 2009)
Richard Whitcomb was a American Aeronautical Engineer noted for his significant contributions to the science of aerodynamics. In 1954 he developed the "transonic area rule," which reduces the shock wave drag that occurs near the speed of sound. In the 1960s he developed the airfoil design was flatter on the top and rounder on the bottom with a downward curve on the trailing edge. The shape delayed the onset of drag, increasing the fuel efficiency of the aircraft flying close to the speed of sound. In the 1970s he developed winglets. Winglets are found on wide rage of aircraft today and improve fuel efficiency. He died at age 88 from a stroke.

NTSB: Flight 188 Accident Update

NTSB Advisory
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
October 26, 2009

NTSB ISSUES UPDATE ON ITS INVESTIGATION OF FLIGHT 188 THAT OVERFLEW INTENDED MINNEAPOLIS AIRPORT

---

In its continuing investigation of an Airbus A320 that overflew the Minneapolis-St Paul International/Wold-Chamberlain Airport (MSP), the National Transportation Safety Board has developed the following factual information: On Wednesday, October 21, 2009, at 5:56 pm mountain daylight time, an Airbus A320, operating as Northwest Airlines (NWA) flight 188, became a NORDO (no radio communications) flight at 37,000 feet. The flight was operating as a Part 121 flight from San Diego International Airport, San Diego, California (SAN) to MSP with 144 passengers, 2 pilots and 3 flight attendants.

Both pilots were interviewed separately by NTSB investigators yesterday in Minnesota. The following is an overview of the interviews:

• The first officer and the captain were interviewed for over 5 hours combined.
• The Captain, 53 years old, was hired in 1985. His total flight time is about 20,000 hours, about 10,000 hours of A-320 time of which about 7,000 was as pilot in command.
• The First Officer, 54 years old, was hired in 1997. His total flight time is about 11,000 hours, and has about 5,000 hours on the A-320.
• Both pilots said they had never had an accident, incident or violation.
• Neither pilot reported any ongoing medical conditions.
• Both pilots stated that they were not fatigued. They were both commuters, but they had a 19-hour layover in San Diego just prior to the incident flight. Both said they did not fall asleep or doze during the flight.
• Both said there was no heated argument.
• Both stated there was a distraction in the cockpit. The pilots said there was a concentrated period of discussion where they did not monitor the airplane or calls from ATC even though both stated they heard conversation on the radio. Also, neither pilot noticed messages that were sent by company dispatchers. They were discussing the new monthly crew flight scheduling system that was now in place as a result of the merger. The discussion began at cruise altitude.
• Both said they lost track of time.
• Each pilot accessed and used his personal laptop computer while they discussed the airline crew flight scheduling procedure. The first officer, who was more familiar with the procedure was providing instruction to the captain. The use of personal computers on the flight deck is prohibited by company policy.
• Neither pilot was aware of the airplane's position until a flight attendant called about 5 minutes before they were scheduled to land and asked what was their estimated time of arrival (ETA). The captain said, at that point, he looked at his primary flight display for an ETA and realized that they had passed MSP. They made contact with ATC and were given vectors back to MSP.
• At cruise altitude - the pilots stated they were using cockpit speakers to listen to radio communications, not their headsets.
• When asked by ATC what the problem was, they replied "just cockpit distraction" and "dealing with company issues".
• Both pilots said there are no procedures for the flight attendants to check on the pilots during flight.

The Safety Board is interviewing the flight attendants and other company personnel today. Air traffic control communications have been obtained and are being analyzed. Preliminary data from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) revealed the following:

• The CVR recording was 1/2 hour in length.
• The cockpit area microphone channel was not working during this recording. However, the crew's headset microphones recorded their conversations.
• The CVR recording began during final approach, and continued while the aircraft was at the gate.
• During the hours immediately following the incident flight, routine aircraft maintenance provided power to the CVR for a few minutes on several occasions, likely recording over several minutes of the flight.

The FDR captured the entire flight which contained several hundred aircraft parameters including the portion of flight where there was no radio communication from the flight crew. Investigators are examining the recorded parameters to see if any information regarding crew activity during the portion of flight where radio contact was lost can be obtained.

The Safety Board's investigation continues.

-30-

NTSB Media Contact: Keith Holloway
hollowk@ntsb.gov
(202) 314-6100

Rans Unveils Coyote II S-6ELS

Rans has unveiled the Coyote II S-6ELS. This aircraft is based on the Rans S-6ES. This is a new sport plane that can be available in trike or tail-wheel configurations. The powerplant is a Rotax 80 HP standard, and an optional Rotax 100 HP. It has a 95 knots cruising speed.

Price: 69,995.00

Aerox Mask gets FAA Nod

Aerox has received FAA approval for its medium altitude oxygen mask with microphone and medium mask without microphone.



Medium mask with Microphone
Part Number: 4110-712
Sizes: Small (-1), Medium (-2), and Large (-3)
Length: Hose (36 inches), Microphone Cord (5 feet)
Weight: 0.75 Pounds
Material: Mask Face/Silicone Rebreather/Taffeta
Inlet: 1/4 Inch 02 Bushing
Microphone Jack: PJ068
Operating Temp. Range: +20 degrees F. to 120 degrees F. (-7 degrees C. to +71 degrees C.)
Available Accessories: 4110-616...FMNV-PB1 (Flow Meter Needle Valve)
4110-617...FMNV-PB2 (Flow Meter Needle Valve)
4110-618...FMNV-SC (Flow Meter Needle Valve)
4110-626...FMV-PB1 (Flow Meter Valve Glow Meter)
4110-627...FMV-PB2 (Flow Meter Valve Glow Meter)
4110-628...FMV-SC (Flow Meter Valve Glow Meter)
4110-650 Aerox Flow Indicator
4119-614 Aerox Flowmeter Valve (Glow Meter)

More Information: http://www.aerox.com/4110-712SeriesMask.htm

NTSB: Flight 188 Accident

NTSB Identification: DCA10IA001
Scheduled 14 CFR Part 121: Air Carrier Northwest Airlines
Incident occurred Wednesday, October 21, 2009 in Minneapolis, MN
Aircraft: AIRBUS , registration: N374NW
Injuries: 152 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On Wednesday, October 21, 2009, at 1756 mountain daylight time, an Airbus A320, N374NW, operating as Northwest Airlines (NWA) flight 188, became a NORDO (no radio communications) flight at 37,000 feet. The flight was operating as a 14 Code of Federal Air Regulation Part 121 flight from San Diego, California (SAN) to the Minneapolis-St Paul International/Wold-Chamberlain Airport (MSP) with 5 crew members and 147 passengers.

At 1958 central daylight time, the aircraft flew over the destination airport and continued northeast for approximately 150 miles. The MSP center controller reestablished communications at 2014 CDT and the pilot stated "we got distracted and we've overflown MSP. We are overhead Eau Clare, WI (EAU) and would like to make a 180 [degree turn] and do an arrival from over EAU." At 2019, the controller asked the pilot to explain the cause of the situation to which the pilot replied, "just cockpit distraction, that's all I can tell you."

SATSair Ceased

On October 24, 2009 SATSair ceased operations "due to circumstances." The cessation of operations was not unexpected as five of the company's aircraft had been repossessed and were without engines and a further ten SR22s had been sitting on the ramp without engines for some time.

NBAA Light Business Airplane Buyer’s Guide

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has released the NBAA Light Business Airplane Buyer's Guide.

The Buyer's Guide provides manufacturer specifications for 42 light business aircraft in eight categories below.
Single-Engine Piston
Single-Engine Piston Turbocharged
Multi-Engine Piston
Multi-Engine Piston Turbocharged
Single-Engine Turboprop
Multi-Engine Turboprop
Very Light Jet
Light Jet
Download the NBAA Light Business Airplane Buyer's Guide (364KB, PDF): http://www.nbaa.org/admin/registration/lba-buyers-guide/

West by 180 Book NOW Published

West by 180 by Captain Harry B. Hardin book is now published. This book is about Captain Harry B. Hardin and his 1956 Cessna 180 and his experience of a lifetime that talks about his three-month trip. Harry has alot of flying experience. He describes his flights in airstrips in valleys and on mountains, next to rivers in canyons where the runways disappeared. Hardin describes about camping with the wildlife.

Price: $16.00 + shipping

Want your own copy? Order if from:
Harry Hardin, 1752 E. Beasley Rd, English, Ind., 47118.
Call: 812-338-3845
Email: captainHBH@aol.com

Basic Aviation Fundamentals Book NOW Published

"Basic Aviation Fundamentals" is now published. On the front cover it has a sexy woman in a bikini and on the back it has a sexy good-looking ripped shirtless man.

Latitude Technologies introduces New SkyNode Email Gateway Wifi System

Latitude Technologies had introduced its SkyNode Email Gateway, which provides aeronautical email access for crew and passengers. The SEG100 is designed for use with the SkyNode S200 Satcom voice/data systems. Wireless cabin email access is provided to users of laptop computers or any WiFi capable devices. It connects via RS-232 to the SkyNode S200, the Seg100 router.

For more information: http://latitudetech.info/

AMT Troubleshooting Tool Debuts

CAE has developed a new Professional Troubleshooting Skills (PTS) tool for training maintenance technicians. The tool is made for maintenance technicians to isolate, identify, and fix problems more quickly and reducing costs. The CAE PTS simulation software uses high-resolution monitors to accurately display fault isolation. Uses exercises such as actual electrical, hydraulic, and other schematics and simulated aircraft systems.

I'm Back with THE NEWS

I am back and I will continue to bring Aviation News right to your desktop. My internet wasn't working for a while until it got fixed like 2 weeks ago. I also got a new computer I got a Dell flat-screen computer (I used to have a Dell flat-screen computer.) I deleted and cleaned up my computer's hard-drive. Now my computer will run faster than it did before. I will try to catch up with the news since I left. So keep continuing to reed my great Aviation News blog.