BIRMINGHAM AL-The Southern Museum of Flight announces Movie Night, a free monthly event featuring an aviation-themed movie every fourth Friday of the month at 7pm.  This January 25^th it features local filmmaker June Morgan Mack's documentary "Lest We Forget:  A French Village Recalls 1944."  The film premiered last Veteran's Day at UAB and tells the true story of the journey of the Robert Morgan Family of Springville, Alabama in response to an invitation to be honored by the small French village of Vibraye.

For 68 years the French village has remembered a young pilot who died in their midst on a Sunday afternoon.  Though unidentified, he became their symbol of freedom and escape from occupation, and to this day, they have never forgotten.  Film Producer-Director-Editor, June Mack, a UAB faculty member, will be at the Southern Museum of Flight with her mother, Marianne Smith Morgan, sister to the pilot, Captain Malcolm A. Smith, 395^th Fighter Squadron, 368^th Fighter Group.  A brief question-and-answer session with Marianne and June will follow the movie.

The one-hour documentary will begin at 7pm in the South Wing of the Southern Museum of Flight located at 4343 73^rd Street North.  Doors to the museum will open to the public at 6pm, seating is limited and not guaranteed to latecomers.  Since no admittance is required, donations are encouraged to help support the museum and their education outreach initiatives.  Next month the museum will feature "The Tuskegee Airmen" in celebration of Black History Month.  For a full list of movies shown go to http://southernmuseumofflight.org/latest-news-2/

FMI:  Elizabeth Grady, Museum Events Manager, Elizabeth.grady@birminghamal.gov, 205.833.8226

SEATTLE -- Boeing welcomes the progress being made in the 787 investigation discussed today by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Washington, D.C. The regulatory and investigative agencies in the U.S. and Japan have dedicated substantial resources to these investigations, and we appreciate their effort and leadership.

Boeing continues to assist the NTSB and the other government agencies in the U.S. and Japan responsible for investigating two recent 787 incidents. The company has formed teams consisting of hundreds of engineering and technical experts who are working around the clock with the sole focus of resolving the issue and returning the 787 fleet to flight status. We are working this issue tirelessly in cooperation with our customers and the appropriate regulatory and investigative authorities. The safety of passengers and crew members who fly aboard Boeing airplanes is our highest priority.

The National General Aviation Awards (GAAwds) Committee takes great pride in announcing this year's regional General Aviation Awards winners.  They are all finalists for the national awards.  The mission of the General Aviation Awards program is to recognize individual aviation professionals on the local, regional, and national levels for their contributions to aviation, education, and flight safety.  The national judging is currently underway and national winners will be announced not later than March 1st. 

The GA Awards program is a cooperative effort between more than 18 general aviation industry sponsors and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  Nominations for 2014 will be accepted beginning in August.  "Everyone knows a worthy aviation professional.  I encourage you to submit a nomination for your favorite flight instructor, maintenance technician, or FAASTeam representative," urged John Teipen, GAAwds co-chair. 

This year's regional winners are:

2013 Regional Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) of the Year

Scott Eric Austin of Lawrence, Michigan represents the Grand Rapids FSDO and the Great Lakes Region.  Scott is the director of maintenance for Western Michigan University.  He supervises and trains a staff of 11 full time and five part time technicians.

Bruce Albert Berry of Blytheville, Arkansas represents the Little Rock FSDO and the Southwestern Region.  Bruce is vice president of Flight Structures at Aviation Repair Technologies.  He is a certified Composite Trainer and trains the trainers. 

William Thomas"Bill" Fifles of Honolulu, Hawaii represents the Honolulu FSDO and the Western Pacific Region.  Bill is director of maintenance at Kamaka Air, Inc.  He enjoys mentoring youth and young technicians. 

Kenneth Lee "Ken" Gilliland of Clanton, Alabama represents the Birmingham FSDO and the Southern Region.  Ken is chief of maintenance at B& G Flying Service, Inc.  He also developed the maintenance program for the Chilton County Sheriff's Office. 

Leroy Alan Muise of Trenton, Maine represents the Portland FSDO and the Eastern Region.  Leroy is general manger for Columbia Air at Bar Harbor Airport.  He is committed to good customer service and competent maintenance.

Bret Samuel Proud of Englewood, Colorado represents the Denver FSDO and the Northwest Mountain Region.  Bret is an AMT and DME at Redstone College.  He instructs and mentors students in the AMT Society Maintenance Skill Competition and is a FAASTeam representative. 

2013 Regional Avionics Technicians of the Year

Bruce Allan Lundquist of Willis, Michigan represents the East Michigan (Detroit) FSDO and the Great Lakes Region.  Pentastar Aviation at the Oakland Pontiac Airport employs Bruce.  He has been the lead technician and supervisor for more than 30 years. 

2013 Regional Certificated Flight Instructors (CFIs) of the Year

Timothy John "Tim" Brill, a 2-time Master CFI-Aerobatic of Reno, Nevada represents the Reno FSDO and the Western Pacific Region.  Tim is the owner / chief instructor of Aerobatic Company and Flight School, Inc.  He specializes in emergency maneuver training.

George Patrick"Pat" Brown III of Houston, Texas represents the Houston FSDO and the Southwestern Region.  Pat is owner/chief instructor for Houston Light Sport Aviation and a lecturer for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).

Luke Andrew Collison of Arvada, Colorado represents the Denver FSDO and the Northwest Mountain Region.  Luke is general manager/co-owner and assistant chief instructor of McAir, Inc. 

Peter Gerard "Pete" Demers of Jupiter, Florida represents the South Florida FSDO and the Southern Region.  Pete is chief flight instructor at North County Flight Training, LLC a Part 141 and Part 61 flight school. 

Dean Wesley Eichholz of Soldotna, Alaska represents the Anchorage FSDO and the Alaskan Region.  Dean is an independent flight instructor and Designated Pilot Examiner as well as a broker for Falcon Insurance Agency of Alaska, Inc.

Lee Stanley Jones of Kearneysville, West Virginia represents the Baltimore FSDO and the Eastern Region.  Lee is chief flight instructor for Aero-Smith, Inc. a Part 141 flight school and participates in numerous youth/aviation activities.

Linda Hert Langrill, a 2-time Master CFI of Midland, Michigan represents the Grand Rapids FSDO and the Great Lakes Region.  Linda is a flight instructor for Acker Aviation in Clare, MI.  She participates in several youth aviation activities. 

2013 Regional FAASTeam Representatives of the Year

Gary Michael Brossett, a 2-time Master Aviation Educator of Midland, Georgia represented the Atlanta FSDO and the Southern Region.  Gary is a certified trainer for Pratt & Whitney.  He has arranged, hosted, and/or presented more than half of all safety and WINGS programs in the state for the past three years.

Walter Penn Hunnicutt of Bella Vista, Arkansas represented the Little Rock FSDO and the Southwestern Region.  Walter works fulltime for Air Resource Group and has developed safety programs for Arkansas pilots that combine operations and airworthiness topics. 

Mark Edward Madden, a 3-time Master CFI of Anchorage, Alaska represented the Anchorage FSDO and the Alaska Region.  Mark is a professor of aviation technology at the University of Alaska.  He is a leading safety educator in the local FAASTeam, the university, and the Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation.

Dean Christopher Marshall of East Setauket, New York represented the Farmingdale FSDO and the Eastern Region.  He is a flight instructor at Mid-Island Flight School and avidly supports the FAASTeam teaching seminars, planning events and earning the Master WINGS.

Lynwood Karl"Woody" Minar, a 4-time Master CFI of Dresser, Wisconsin represented the Minneapolis FSDO and the Great Lakes Region.  Woody is chief instructor at Osceola Aero Sport.  He enthusiastically preaches safety while acting as CFI, DPE, Lead Rep, airport manager, and flying club board member.

William Edwin"Bill" Standefer of Fort Collins, Colorado represented the Denver FSDO and the Northwest Mountain Region.  Bill promotes safety in the FAAST/ CFI seminars as a Lead Rep, as a major in the Civil Air Patrol, and as Chairman of the Mountain Flying Training program for the Colorado Pilots Association. 

Arlene Virginia Steier of Omaha, Nebraska represented the Lincoln FSDO and the Central Region.  Arlene spreads the mission of the FAASTeam to flight students, university students, and K-12 teachers in Nebraska and Iowa.

For additional GA Awards program info, call 303-485-8136 & visit  http://www.GeneralAviationAwards.org/ 

Veteran air show performer and AirVenture participant Kirby Chambliss is reportedly fine after experiencing a forced landing Wednesday, January 23, while practicing in his Zivko Edge 540 for a performance in this weekend's Illopango, El Salvador Airshow.
 

Fellow performer Skip Stewart posted the following update to his Facebook page to help verify what happened:

"There is a lot of false information about Kirby out there. I was flying off his wing practicing a dual routine when it happened. So this is the correct information. We were flying a formation high alpha pass. At the end of the runway Kirby's engine quit. There was nowhere to land. He descended into a rocky ravine and crashed onto the side of a steep embankment.

Kirby Chambliss.com by Sam Myers

In an earlier post, Stewart wrote, "Kirby Chambliss is alive and well with only bumps and bruises after forced landing at the Illopango El Salvador Airshow. The airplane is a total loss." - from EAA

ADDISON TX- The Commemorative Air Force's (CAF) famous Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber, FIFI - the only remaining flying example of the aircraft in the world - returned to the sky Saturday, January 13 and flew to her home base in Addison, Texas. The flight crew arrived in Midland, Texas and conducted a successful maintenance flight followed by the one and a half hour trip. It was

FIFI's first flight since October 2012.

The B-29 experienced trouble with the number two engine and returned safely to the ground during a routine photo mission at the conclusion of AIRSHO. The B-29 is equipped with four radial engines, which are needed to power the massive aircraft. It was determined the number two engine would need major repairs and therefore the aircraft was grounded. For three months maintenance crews worked tirelessly to repair the engine and get this historic aircraft flying again as quickly as possible.

And for today's children, FIFI brings a history lesson to life.

"It's hard not to cry, it's real emotional. I'm happy these guys are keeping them flying," said Melanie Skinner, who brought her 8 year old niece to see the B-29 in Lexington, Ky. Skinner went on to say"My niece is a child of the millennium. (To her) World War II is ancient history. To be able to touch them, to feel them, to hear them, that's what history is all about."

Recently awarded the International Council of Air Shows' prestigious Sword of Excellence, Wayne Boggs prepares for his 2013 air show season ready to star in his own TV series.

'Air Boss' will not only tell the stories of air show performers in a way only the producers of The Aviators can, but Wayne will help viewers unlock the secrets of this exclusive world so we can present air shows like you've never seen them before.

Wayne Boggs is an ex-marine, the brother of a major league baseball Hall of Famer, and the nation's top Air Boss.  Wayne is evermore determined to ensure no one gets hurt on his watch.

Rob Reider is a high-energy, award-winning air show announcer and the voice of air shows the world over. He takes the crowd through every twist and dive and must be the calming voice when things go wrong. 

Each week, Air Boss features guest stars from the world of professional aerobatics. They are top athletes and the best pilots in the world. And they all share the same mission as Wayne - to entertain millions in the most exciting spectator sport on the planet... and live to do it again the next week.

-CLICK to VIEWThe Aviators TRAILER-

The 2011 air show season was the deadliest in years - a fact that weighs heavily on performers and show crews every minute of every day. But one man bears the burden of responsibility more than anyone else. The man controlling the show... the Air Boss, Wayne Boggs.

Attended by tens of millions across the country annually, air shows are growing in popularity and Wayne's shows are the best of the best. He routinely bosses shows at venues including the home of the Blue Angels at Naval Air Station Pensacola, the massive Jones Beach air show in New York, and the ultra high-security show at Andrews Air Force Base before the President of the United States.

OZARK-Enterprise State Community College's Alabama Aviation Center in Ozark will be the first to implement an unmanned aircraft systems maintenance program in the state, officials announced Tuesday.

According to a joint statement from the Ozark Economic Development Corporation and ESCC, the school received a $360,000 grant from the state's Workforce Development office to develop and launch the first phase of a program that would certify technicians for both manned and unmanned systems.

A tentative start date for the program is January 2014.

EOCC-Alabama Aviator image

ODEC Executive Director Eric Basinger  reportedly said ESCC's new program was supported by ODEC and private-sector companies interested in expanding their unmanned aircraft capabilities.

"With its proximity to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker and the many aviation businesses in our region, ESCC's ability to provide comprehensive aircraft maintenance training will boost our ability to recruit and retain employers seeking such expertise for their employees," Basinger said in the statement. -From News Reports, FMI:Dothan Eagle, Alabama Aviation Center

FAIRHOPE AL - The Festival of Flight will return to H.L."Sonny" Callahan Airport this year with the support of the Fairhope City Council.

Monday night the council unanimously approved a resolution that says if the Fairhope Airport Authority is unable to raise enough funds to hold the event through grants, sponsorships or fundraisers then the city will provide in-kind support of up to $50,000, according to reports.

Fairhope Festival of Flight

Mayor Tim Kant reportedly said organizers are looking at the last week in September to hold the event, which was last held in 2008. According to reports Kant said one of the biggest reasons for holding the festival is to showcase city property at the airport.

Council President Burrell noted one of the main reasons for returning the event to the city's municipal airport on Baldwin County 32 is to attract more aviation and aerospace business in light of the recent Airbus announcement in nearby City of Mobile.

Fairhope Festival of Flight

According to Air Show committee members, the event would be a mix of an air show and trade show with a possible job fair and vendor opportunities. Plans are underway with more details announced soon.

Fairhope Festival of Flight

FMI: Fairhope Festival of Flight -B Meyer, Images-Alabama Aviator

DOTHAN AL- The Wiregrass EAA Chapter 1358 recently flew its first Young Eagle in their new Redbird TD 2 Flight Simulator located at AeroOne at Dothan Regional Airport. The Young Eagle program is an Experimental Aircraft Association, EAA, initiative to introduce youth ages 8 through 17 to the world of flight using general aviation aircraft.  

The Wiregrass Chapter has made the Young Eagle program its special emphasis activity and recently completed a fund raising effort - including the visit of EAA's B-17 to Dothan Regional Airport in October, 2012. Those funds allowed the Chapter to purchase a Redbird TD 2 simulator that is FAA certified to log flight time.  According to local Young Eagle Coordinator Larry Turnage,"On Saturday, January 26, Young Eagle Bobby Sheffield of Headland, AL, was our first youngster to fly the new simulator and he did a fantastic job."

-The Chapter 1358 Redbird simulator has a digital instrument panel so youngsters will learn using the most modern equipment.- -William Castlen image

Independence KS - ATP increased the size of its training fleet, taking delivery of 10 new Cessna 172 aircraft in December, 2012.  All aircraft are Garmin G1000 equipped, allowing ATP to continue providing high quality, effective, and efficient training to customers pursuing training for aviation careers.  The deal between ATP and Cessna is valued at $3 Million.

The aircraft that ATP purchased in this deal will be used in some of the 28 locations around the country ATP operates.  A few of the aircraft will be used in providing aircraft to FAA contractors while the other aircraft will allow ATP to open new facilities to be announced in the near future.

FORT PAYNE AL  - The Real World Design Challenge (RWDC) is an annual competition that provides high school students, grades 9-12, the opportunity to work on real world engineering challenges in a team environment. Each year, student teams will be asked to address a challenge that confronts our nation's leading industries.

Students utilize professional engineering software to develop their solutions and  also generate presentations that convincingly demonstrate the value of their solutions. The RWDC provides students with opportunities to apply the lessons of the classroom to the technical problems that are being faced in the workplace.

The Fort Payne students competed against students from across the state to design an aerial drone that could be used in search and rescue operations. The team will now go on to compete in the national competition in Washington, D.C. April 19-21. FMI: WHNT, http://www.realworlddesignchallenge.org/

Standing, GSCC President Raymond W. Staats, Mark Heinrich, Alabama Community College System chancellor, Audrey Webb, Stephen Martinez. Seated, Jacob Lynch, Johnathan Williams, Josh Gaddy. (Courtesy GSCC) 

The group from Gadsden State Community College submitted their plan to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville involving an automated experiment which could be carried into orbit on the International Space Station. In April, the group will get a chance to test their proposal on a series of parabolic flights on a DC-9, the Vomit Comet, to simulate a weightless atmosphere.

In May, the group will begin an internship with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to work out their automated experiment. The experiment could  be sent to the space station in September. Click for more info

Columbus, GA - Advanced tickets to the March 16 and 17 Thunder in the Valley Air Show are now available for sale. Building on last year's popularity of the option, tickets can be purchased online as well as at a variety of local retail locations.

Ticket can be ordered on the Air Show website (www.ThunderintheValleyAirShow.com/tickets/) or by scanning the QR Code found in ads and posters promoting the air show. Advance tickets purchased online cost $10 each, plus a $.99 service fee. All major credit cards are accepted.

Children six and under are always free. It's important to note that tickets are good for only one of the two show days - to attend both days would require two tickets - and that there are no rain dates or refunds.

Online advanced tickets will be available until 11:59 p.m. March 15. Retail locations will offer discounted tickets until close of business on Friday, March 15. Day-of-event tickets are only $15.

Gates will open at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. on both Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17.

The Thunder in the Valley Air Show began in 1997 as a local fly-in for aviation enthusiasts and has grown to become one of the largest outdoor family events in the Chattahoochee Valley, thanks to the efforts of more than 600 dedicated volunteers - both groups and individuals. The Air Show brings in top performers from across the United States, all paid for by local and regional sponsors whose products and services are exposed to an average of 13,000 guests each day of the Show, and included in advertising that reaches hundreds of thousands before the event. National attention has been given to the Thunder in the Valley Air Show by the International Council of Air Shows for excellence in marketing. The Thunder in the Valley Air Show is a fun, family event with proceeds going to youth organizations in the Chattahoochee Valley. For more information on the event, visit www.thunderinthevalleyairshow.com.

ALBERTVILLE AL- Alabama Aviation Center of Albertville, the Southern Region FAASTeam and BHM-FSDO presents the 4^th Annual Inspection Authorization Seminar. The Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) seminar training is valid for 8 hours of credit toward the FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards Program and 8 hours of Inspection Authorization Renewal credit IAW 14 CFR 65.93, SO-FSDO-09 & ASO-204.

• John Evans from Aerotech of Louisville, Inc. will discuss trouble shooting, maintenance and inspection of electrical systems.
  
  
• Timothy Gauntt the director of Warranty and Technical Support for Hartzell Engine Technologies will discuss pertinent maintenance  and inspection procedures on turbocharger and combustion heaters.
  
  
• Bill Ross from Continental Motors will give us the latest information on maintainance and inspecting Continental engines and the latest on alternative fuels.
  
  
• Tim Hayes from the BHM FSDO will discuss the role of government and the Federal Aviation Regulations.
  
  
• Richard Henry from the BHM FSDO will discuss local and national FAA issues concerning the IA and much more.

Alabama Aviation Center- AMT-IA Seminar
Saturday, February 23, 2013
8:00am- 5:00pm

Alabama Aviation Training Center- 8A0
300 Alldredge Drive
Albertville, AL 35950

 FAIRHOPE AL - Baldwin County students and adults will have an opportunity to be well prepared for a future in aviation thanks to a planned $2.5 million training center at the H.L. "Sonny" Callahan Airport.

Continental Hangars at Fairhope Sonny Callahan Airport, Airnav image

Courses in industrial maintenance and welding and other technical aviation skills will be offered by the community colleges as a dual enrollment for high-school juniors and seniors, and they will also be open to adults attending FSCC or Enterprise. These courses will lead to a career in A&P mechanics. FMI: NEWS ARTICLE

To prepare for the possibility of a budget sequestration on March 1, 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is making plans to reduce its expenditures by approximately $600 million for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2013.

Among the changes we are considering are furloughing the vast majority of our 47,000 employees for approximately one day per pay period; closing over 100 air traffic control facilities; eliminating the overnight shift at over 60 facilities; and reducing preventive maintenance and support for all air traffic control equipment. All of these changes will be finalized as to scope and details through collaborative discussions with our users and our unions. 

We will begin furloughs and start facility shut-downs in April. You can read more about this process in this letter from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta (PDF).

Facilities effected in Alabama are: Birmingham BHM -Overnight Shift Maybe Eliminated
and  Dothan DHN, Mobile BFM and Tuscaloosa TCL maybe closed. -FAA.GOV

The lists of affected facilities can be viewed here:

• Facilities Where Overnight Shifts Could be Eliminated (PDF)
  
   
  
• Air Traffic Control Facilities That Could be Closed (PDF)