A Cessna test pilot conducting a flight test on the only remaining SkyCatcher  162 prototype was severely damaged after it entered an " irrecoverable flight condition ".  The pilot activated the emergency ballistic recovery chute and was able to walk away from the severely damaged aircraft.

NASA mission managers congratulated the team that successfully launched space shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station on March 15 at 7:43 p.m. EDT.

NASA Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier expressed his thanks to the teams from the NASA centers that resolved the technical issues which delayed the launch. "It was a true team effort at NASA," Gerstenmaier said. "There was a lot of critical work that needed to be done and they just did a phenomenal job."

Following two engine thrust rollback events on Boeing 777 aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce engines, the National Transportation Safety Board issued an urgent safety recommendation today calling for the redesign of a Rolls- Royce engine component.  The Safety Board also recommended that, after the redesign is completed, the new system be installed on all affected B-777 airplanes at the next maintenance check or within six months.

These recommendations are being issued in response to the findings in two investigations - an accident and an incident - involving engine thrust rollbacks on Boeing 777-200ER airplanes powered by Rolls-Royce RB211 Trent 800 Series engines.  In both cases a build-up of ice (from water normally present in all jet fuel) on the fuel/oil heat exchanger (FOHE) restricted the flow of fuel to the engine, resulting in an uncommanded engine rollback.

The first event, which is still being investigated by the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), occurred on January 17, 2008, when a Boeing 777 experienced a dual engine rollback on final approach and crashed short of the runway at London's Heathrow International Airport.  One passenger was seriously injured, eight passengers and four of the flight crew sustained minor injuries; the airplane was substantially damaged.       

The Dutch Safety Board has issued a warning to Boeing as a result of the first findings of the investigation into the crash of the Boeing 737-800 at 25 February 2009 a few moments before the landing at the Polderbaan of Schiphol Airport. The automatic throttle system, as a part of the automatic steering system received incorrect information because of a malfunction in the left radio altimeter. The chairman of the Board, prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven, reported Wednesday that, while the plane was still at an altitude of 1950 feet, the radio altimeter reported an altitude of 8 feet, which caused the automatic throttle system to reduce power and configurated the rest of the systems as if the plane was only a few meters above the Polderbaan. When the crew of the Turkish Airlines noticed what was going on, it was already too late to intervene effectively.

What looked like the end for Eclipse Aviation Group last week after attempts to restructure by means of a Chapter 11 reorganization failed may not be over yet.  Last week Eclipse Aviation's failed to obtain additional bridge financing to continue operations.  The remaining 800 employees were laid off permanently.

The most recent GAMA (General Aviation Manufacturers Association) report on aircraft deliveries indicates the worldwide general aviation market has continued to deteriorate.  The decline is being driven by overall weakness in the economy, the inability of customers to obtain financing, and the increase of both new and used aircraft inventory.  As a result, and to ensure our continued viability, Piper Aircraft has decided to shut down operations for one week in May and another week in June, in addition to the previously  announced closings of one week in April and one week in July.  These shutdowns will be without pay and will affect all employees in the Company, from Executive Management to Hourly manufacturing employees.