The World’s First Licensed Woman Pilot

Baroness Raymonde de Laroche was praised for her bravery and boldness.In an era when it was uncommon to see women driving motor cars, the French actress Baroness Raymonde de Laroche made an unexpected leap to become the world’s first licensed female pilot.

Elise Raymonde Deroche was born on 22 August 1886. She was an actress at a young age and used the stage name “Raymonde de Laroche”. The title “Baroness” was just added by Flightmagazine in reporting her first flight. By the time she was 23 she had become a recognized actress, an accomplished balloonist, motor car driver and painter.

In 1909, Charles Voisin suggested to Raymonde Deroche , that she learn to fly an airplane. An offer she readily accepted. On March 8, 1910 de Laroche became the first woman in the world to receive a pilot’s license when the Aero-Club of France issued her license #36 of the ”Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (International Aeronautics Federation or F.A.I.).

In July of the same year, she was the only female participant who took part in the AirMeet at Reims,France. Unfortunately, her airplane crashed and she suffered injuries.

After two years of recovery, she returned to her passion in flying events until the outbreak of World War I when all French female pilots were grounded for the duration. Returning to the air in 1919 she set two women’s altitude records and a women’s distance record. On 25 November 1913 de Laroche won the Aero-Club of France’s Femina Cup for a non-stop long-distance flight of over 4 hours duration.

She participated in the aviation meetings at Heliopolis, Budapest, Rouen, and Saint Petersburg.Baroness Raymonde de Laroche, a symbol of women empowerment, proved that women can also become a part of history. In aviation history that is!

Sources: Wikipedia,FlightSim.com

Amazing Paper Airplane Flying Event

People have never felt enthralled with flying paper airplanes until this. Over 20,000 people came to watch the event for one of the entries in “100,000 Paper Airplanes and Melodies Over Monroe.” Many have always been fascinated with airplanes all of kinds – paper airplanes , remote control planes and even scale replicas of various aircrafts. Visit Pacific Aircraft and discover more about airplanes – amazing, astonishing, captivating!

The World’s Best Global Air Cargo Operators 2010

Air Cargo World, the global news authority on air logistics and freight transport, unveiled the result of its 6th annual Air Cargo Excellence (ACE) Survey. The survey is determined by freight forwarders who rate airlines on customer service, performance, value and informational technology and ranked them respectively. Here are the 10 carriers that top the list:

10. Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific was founded on September 24, 1946 in Hongkong. It operates fifth freedom flights from Bangkok and Taipei, its major focus cities. The airline’s operations include scheduled passenger and cargo services to 114 destinations in 36 countries worldwide with a fleet of 126 wide-body aircraft, consisting of Airbus A330s and A340s, Boeing 747s and 777s. Cathay Pacific’s cargo business currently accounts for around 30% of its total revenue, and helps enhance Hong Kong’s position as the world’s busiest air cargo hub. The airline was awarded with a Five Star Airline ranking and 2009 Airline of the Year by Skytrax.

9. Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines was ranked 33rd in Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies rankings in 2009. Over these 50 years in business, the carrier has expanded its network to over 69 cities in more than 36 countries across the world. It operates a hub at Singapore Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and “Kangaroo Route” markets. The company also operates trans-Pacific flights, including the world’s two longest non-stop commercial flights from Singapore to Newark and Los Angeles on the Airbus A340-500.

8. Lufthansa
With a transport volume of 1.70 million tones of freight and mail, 8.28 billion revenue tone-kilometers and revenues of around 2.91 billion euros in 2008, Lufthansa Cargo ranks among the world’s biggest cargo carriers. The airline is the world’s fifth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating services to 18 domestic destinations and 183 international destinations in 78 countries across Africa, Americas, Asia and Europe.

7. Continental Airlines
Continental Cargo has been ranked in the seventh position in this year’s list – with good performances in the technology and customer performance categories. Principal operations of the airline are from its three hubs at Newark Liberty International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Continental Airlines today became the first airline to launch a mobile boarding pass service to London’s Heathrow. The service allows customers to receive boarding passes electronically on their mobile phones or PDAs. The carrier will be the first to offer the service on nonstop flights from the UK to the US.

6. Japan Airlines
Jumping from 22nd place to the sixth position in this year’s survey, is Japan Airlines, JAL Cargo . JAL Cargo currently operated a fleet of 10 freighters, in addition to utilising the cargo space on the national carrier’s growing fleet of passenger aircraft. he JAL Group’s operations include scheduled and non-scheduled international and domestic passenger and cargo services to 220 destinations in 35 countries worldwide, including codeshares. The airline group has a fleet of 279 aircraft, consists of only Boeing aircraft for its long-haul operations; andAirbus, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas aircraft for its short-haul operations.

5. Nippon Cargo Airlines
Marketed as Japan’s only cargo-specialist airline, NCA has steadily developed its reputation for safe, fast and reliable performance since 1985. With a fleet of eight B747F freighters currently in operation, NCA’s worldwide on-line network covers 20 major cities in Asia, Europe and North America. Nippon Cargo Airlines was established on September 21, 1978 and started operations in 1985. It was Japan’s first all-cargo airline. Its growth has been reflected in this year’s survey, with Nippon Cargo Airlines jumping to the fifth position from number 30 last year.

4. Virgin Atlantic
Since it was founded in 1984, Virgin Atlantic Airways has become Britain’s second largest longhaul airline serving the world’s major cities. The company holds a CAA Type A Operating Licence to carry passengers, cargo, and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats. Virgin Atlantic’s fleet uses both Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with an average age of 8.6 years as of March 2010. Boeing 747-400s are used on all routes from Gatwick and Glasgow. Boeing 747s and Airbus A340s are used interchangeably on routes from Heathrow and Manchester. Virgin Atlantic has orders for Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A380-800 aircraft for delivery beginning 2011 and 2013, respectively.

3. Emirates SkyCargo
Its highest score was registered in the customer information category, although it also performed well in the technology and overall categories. The airline’s freight division currently uses cargo hold capacity in Emirates’ passenger aircraft, plus seven freighters – two Boeing 777F, four Boeing 747-400Fs, and two 747-400ERFs. Reflecting Emirates’ overall policy of excellence in every area of operation, Emirates SkyCargo has become a significant force in the global air cargo industry. It accounts for 20% of Emirates’ transport revenue.

2. FedEx Express
It is a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation, delivering about 3.4 million packages daily to more than 220 countries and territories each day. It maintains a fleet of about 655 aircraft and more than 51,000 motor vehicles and trailers. FedEx Express operates the world’s largest cargo airfleet with 660 aircraft and is the largest operator of the Airbus A300, Airbus A310, ATR 42, Boeing 727, Cessna 208, McDonnell Douglas DC-10/MD-10, and the McDonnell Douglas MD-11.

1. Southwest Airlines
Based in Dallas, Southwest Airlines is largest airline in the world by number of passengers carried per year (as of 2009). Southwest Airlines is known for its quick turnaround services. In the beginning, Southwest Airlines managed to turn planes around in ten minutes or less. After an initial testing phase that began in February 2009, Southwest announced on August 21, 2009 that it will begin rolling out in-flight wi-fi service throughout its fleet in the first quarter of 2010. Its cargo division currently serves more than 70 cities and has more than 150 million pounds of available cargo lift per month. Interestingly, Southwest Airlines was not even included in last year’s top ten – it settled at number 12 in 2009 – but it takes the top spot this year with the highest overall airline score.

Source: ArabianSupplyChain.com, Wikipedia

Terrain Awareness and Warning System to Cut Helicopter Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board released a final report of the fatal 2008 Air Angels medical helicopter crash in Aurora . The report which was out March 11 said the DuPage Airport air traffic controller contributed to the accident by failing to issue a safety alert, which is required by Federal Aviation Administration rules. It also said that “the helicopter was not equipped with a terrain awareness and warning system, which would have detected any obstacle along the flight path and alerted the pilot.”

The Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) is installed aboard the aircraft that makes sound and visual and warnings if it detects dangerous terrains both ahead of and below it. It is designed to overcome the shortcomings of the original Ground Proximity Warning Systems (GPWS) by letting the pilot identify the obstacles and warn them of possible accidents. Furthermore, the system also reliably and automatically provides flight crew with warning of potential collision with terrain in sufficient time for effective avoiding action to be taken.

A regulation mandate from Federal Aviation Administration requires all aircraft carrying six or more passengers be equipped with TWAS has been in works since 2005. The AC 23-18 of FAA describes the “airworthiness considerations for such installations as they apply to the unique features of the TAWS and the interface of the TAWS with other systems on the airplane.” In November of last year, the FAA announced its intention to require TAWS in medical copters.

However, FAA spokesman Elizabeth Cory said that the rule is still in process. She said it must still be approved by the Department of Transportation and the Office of Management and Budget.

Sources: Chicago Tribune, Skybrary, Aviation News

LITENING Targeting System Demo on US Navy F/A-18E/F

Northrop Grumman Corporation today announced it successfully demonstrated its LITENING advanced targeting capabilities on the U.S. Navy’s premier fighter/attack aircraft, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, marking the eighth U.S. combat aircraft to fly the advanced targeting system.

“With LITENING, Northrop Grumman offers advanced sensor technology, unique features, high reliability, proven worldwide support and a demonstrated ability to easily integrate emerging technologies, all at a very competitive price and delivery schedule. As a result of this successful integration of LITENING on the F/A-18E/F aircraft, potential international Super Hornet customers now have another advanced targeting system choice to maximize their targeting and surveillance capabilities.”

To date, more than 600 LITENING pods have been ordered by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and seven allied nations. More than 500 systems have been fielded, the largest number of any advanced targeting and sensor system. LITENING is combat proven on the AV-8B, A-10A/C, B-52H, EA-6B, F-15E, F-16 (Blocks 15-52) and F/A-18 Hornet aircraft. Together, all variants of the LITENING pod have amassed more than 1,000,000 flight hours, with over 500,000 hours logged under deployed or combat conditions.

B-2 Bombers arrive at Andersen AFB

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam: More than 240 Airmen from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., arrived here in late February to support the deployment of B-2 Spirits as part of the continuous bomber presence here.

The Airmen and aircraft replaced the service-members and the B-52 Stratofortresses deployed here from Barksdale AFB, La.

Andersen AFB has had bombers present on its runway since 2004, the year the continuousbomber presence mission began.

The B-2‘s stealth characteristics give it the unique ability to penetrate an enemy’s most sophisticated defenses and threaten its most valued and heavily defended targets. The bomber’s capability to penetrate air defenses and threaten effective retaliation provides a strong effective deterrent and combat force well into the 21st century.

The B-2s join forces with F-22 Raptors deployed from the 90th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, as part of the theater security package. The tandem of premier airframes creates a formidable alliance supporting Andersen AFB’s mission within the Pacific region. This is the second pairing of these airframes for this mission.

Boeing to Offer NewGen Tanker to USAF

The Boeing Company today announced that it will offer the Boeing NewGen Tanker in the competition to supply the U.S. Air Force with a multi-mission aerial refueling aircraft that will meet all the warfighter’s mission requirements for the next several decades.

Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said the Boeing NewGen Tanker will satisfy all mandatory Air Force requirements and offer an American-madetanker that will be capable, survivable, and combat-ready at the lowest cost to the taxpayer.

“Having supplied tankers to the Air Force for the past 60 years, Boeing has drawn on its unmatched aerial-refueling experience to thoroughly review and evaluate the KC-X solicitation issued by the Air Force,” Muilenburg said. “We respect and understand the KC-X requirements, and appreciate the importance of this program for the United States and its warfighters. We intend to bid for the honor to work with our Air Force customer to replace the existing fleet of KC-135 aircraft with a new-generation, multi-role tanker in a fair and transparent acquisition process.”

Boeing studied the mission requirements closely to determine the optimal airframe size that would deliver the most capability for the lowest cost to own and operate. The result was the NewGen Tanker, a widebody, multi-mission aircraft based on the proven Boeing 767 commercial aircraft, updated with the latest and most advanced technology and capable of fulfilling the AirForce’s needs for transport of fuel, cargo, passengers and patients.

C-130 Crew has New Method for Airdrops

A C-130 Hercules aircrew conducted a new method of airdrop that makes deliveries more accurate and flexible for resupply of small, mobile forces, in Afghanistan.

The C-130 aircrew from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, performed the first-ever low-cost, low-altitude combat airdrop to re-supply Soldiers at a forward operating base in Afghanistan. The airdrop concept became operational March 1.

A C-130 Hercules low-cost, low-altitude combat airdrop is accomplished by dropping bundles weighing 80 to 500 pounds, with pre-packed expendable parachutes, in groups of up to four bundles per pass.

The drops are termed “low-cost” to reflect the relative expense of the expendable parachutes compared to their more durable, but pricier, nylon counterparts. “Low-altitude” alludes to the relative height from which bundles are released from the aircraft.

“Our goal for this mission is to fly to a small forward-operating base and drop some of the smaller bundles to them,” said Lt. Col. Darryl Sassaman, the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron assistant director of operations who flew on the first LCLA combat mission. They’re different from the usual, larger bundles, which we normally drop. Depending on the group we’re dropping for, they may not need the mass amount of supplies and equipment, but still need re-supply. Utilizing these smaller bundles accomplishes that mission, giving (ground forces) the ability to quickly pick up the supplies and keep moving forward.”

The new airdrop method is another tool airlifters in Afghanistan use to keep ground troops supplied with what they need. In many parts of Afghanistan, rugged terrain and the lack of roads for vehicle convoys make airdrop the only way ground forces get what they need to continue combat operations.

Low-cost, low-altitude combat airdrops will be a niche augmentation to its cousin, container delivery system airdrops, said Col. Keith Boone, the director of the Air Mobility Division at the Combined Air and Space Operations Center here. In addition to increased accuracy, LCLA drops require no specialized training for parachute riggers and can be dropped from a variety of aircraft.

USAF Set to Resolve Critical B-2 Sustainment Issue

Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S. Air Force hope to soon resolve, once and for all, a technical issue that’s challenged engineers and maintainers of the nation’s fleet of B-2 stealth bombers for more than 20 years: cracking in the B-2‘s aft deck, a metallic panel on the bomber’s upper surface that shields its composite airframe from the heat of engine exhaust.

The team has just completed a paper “fly-off” between two alternate approaches for redesigning the aft deck. The goal of the program is to develop and produce a new aft deck that can span normal long-term B-2 maintenance cycles without needing additional service or repairs.

Northrop Grumman is the Air Force’s prime contractor for the B-2, the flagship of the nation’s long range strike arsenal, and one of the most survivable air systems in the world.

“Resolving the aft deck problem is an important part of guaranteeing the long term viability of the B-2,” said Dave Mazur, Northrop Grumman’s vice president of long range strike and B-2 program manager. “We are committed to helping the Air Force develop and implement the solution that is in the best long term interests of both the B-2 fleet and U.S. taxpayers.”

Located behind the B-2‘s exhaust outlets, the aft deck is exposed to extreme temperatures and acoustic-induced vibrations, making it vulnerable to fatigue and cracking.

“The key to producing a reliable, high performance aft deck is creating a balance between stiffness and flexibility,” explains Chuck Osberg, Northrop Grumman’s aft deck program manager. “If the deck is too flexible, high cycle fatigue will cause premature failure; if it’s too stiff it can put undue stress on adjacent structures.”

According to Osberg, the winning aft deck design — a fundamentally new approach — was selected on the basis of cost and performance. It reflects many years of thermal and structural analysis of the aft deck, the structures to which it attaches and its operating environment by Northrop Grumman engineers. It also includes new stiffening elements designed to significantly reduce the vibration and metal fatigue currently experienced in flight by the aft deck.

The aft deck upgrade program is the latest in a series of modernizations that the Air Force, Northrop Grumman and its subcontractors have undertaken to ensure that the B-2 remains fully capable against evolving threats.

Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S. Air Force hope to soon resolve, once and for all, a technical issue that’s challenged engineers and maintainers of the nation’s fleet of B-2 stealth bombers for more than 20 years: cracking in the B-2‘s aft deck, a metallic panel on the bomber’s upper surface that shields its composite airframe from the heat of engine exhaust.