Two former officials of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration along with former President Clinton’s national science advisor have issued a report suggesting that the space agency should return to its roots by restoring the aeronautics portion of its mission.

In one of five recommendations to the Obama Administration, they urge NASA to implement a reinvigorated and effective more

Building on business aviation’s International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) introduced in 2002, business aviation groups from around the world have developed a Safety Management System Tool Kit (SMS TK) to help operators respond to global standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Peter Gatz, chairman of the International Business Avia more

The House aviation subcommittee held a hearing last month on an FAA reauthorization bill that is essentially a reintroduction of the “FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007,” which the full House of Representatives approved in September 2007. That legislation died at the end of last year because the Senate never followed through with its FAA reauthorization proposals.

Now titled the “FAA more

Aerospatiale Alenia ATR 42-320, Lubbock, Texas, Jan. 27, 2009–The crew of the FedEx ATR 42 that landed 300 feet short of the runway on an ILS approach to Preston Smith International Airport survived, with the ATP-rated captain suffering serious injuries and the commercial first officer sustaining minor injuries. The airplane landed short of the runway threshold and hit approach lighting before i more

Twin Commander 690, Wray, Colo., Jan. 15, 2009–The Commander 690, operated by JW Oil, was destroyed when it crashed four miles from Wray Municipal Airport on approach. The pilot and two passengers, both pilots, were killed. The flight was inbound from Centennial Airport in Denver on an IFR flight plan.

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Twin Commander 690B, Rio Grande, P.R., Dec. 3, 2008–The Webstas Aviation Services Aero Commander was destroyed when it crashed in the mountains while maneuvering about four nm southeast of Rio Grande, killing the ATP-rated pilot and two passengers. The controller saw that the airplane, headed for Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, San Juan, was deviating from its assigned heading, taking it more

Hughes 369, Honiara, Solomon Islands, Dec. 27, 2008–The Oceanside Helicopters 369 crashed into the Pacific Ocean and sank after the pilot lost control while taking off from a fishing boat on the Solomon Sea, about 350 miles west of Honiara. The pilot was not found and is presumed dead; the passenger was seriously injured. The helicopter was not recovered.

The helicopter’s mechanic more

Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, Millington, Tenn., Dec. 9, 2008–The right engine of the MU-2 lost power after the airplane took off from Millington Regional Jetport (NQA), where the ATP-rated pilot had flown to buy fuel. The aircraft had been held on the ground twice by ATC while storm cells passed. After takeoff, about 2.5 miles from home base, Charles W. Baker Airport, Millington, the engine quit. As the more

Eurocopter EC 135-T2, Molesmes, France, Jan. 2, 2009–The pilot of the Regourd Aviation EC 135 was killed when the helicopter crashed in hills near Molesmes in IFR conditions. The helicopter, which was destroyed, was en route from Paris to Lyon Bron. The French Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses is investigating.

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Hawker Beechcraft King Air 200, Punta Chivato, Mexico, Nov. 3, 2008–The King Air was destroyed when it crashed soon after takeoff from Punta Chivato Airstrip, and the sole-occupant pilot was killed. The turboprop cleared a small hill, then appeared to lose airspeed and slow its climb before hitting the ground. A fire consumed most of the airplane. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of t more