A Pilot’s Blog
A blog about aviation, aviation news, and space.

In a stunning development this week, the GAO sustained Boeing’s protest of the Air Force’s decision to award its next-generation tanker contract to Airbus (via middle-man Northrup Grumman). This was widely unexpected as the GAO rarely upholds such protests, but leaves hope for a new bid on the contract that will be evaluated fairly. And if that is the case, then I’m confident that Boeing will eventually win the day. Congratulations Boeing!

Related: The Tanker Deal

So, since it’s been all over the news lately, I guess I should opine on the recent decision by the Air Force to award the contract for building the next generation of tanker aircraft to Airbus instead of Boeing. I see it two ways. On one hand, above all, I want the Air Force to have the best possible aircraft to do the job, and I want them to get those aircraft as soon as possible. On the other hand, I am an unapologetic Boeing fan and believe that any aircraft they brought to the table would have been the superior one hands down. Now that Congress is investigating the matter it’s coming to light that the judging criteria may have been stacked against Boeing. If this turns out to be true, I hope that they challenge the results and have a chance to bid again, because in a fair bid, I believe they would easily win. But whatever happens, I hope that the Air Force gets their new tankers as expeditiously as possible.

Update: Boeing has decided to protest the decision. Good luck!

After a certain point in my flight training, almost daily my instructor would pull “engine out” drills and I would have to go through the motions of making an emergency landing. This guy had to do it for real.

A single-engine airplane surprised motorists on I-70 just east of the Greenfield exit Sunday afternoon after the pilot lost power and had to make an emergency landing on the highway, according to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.

Thankfully the pilot was able to land safely, and after an roadside inspection, was able to take off again from the highway to return to the airport. There’s something you don’t see everyday.

While 2007 brought devastating news with the loss of Steve Fossett, there were no major airline accidents or passenger fatalities in the United States. According to an article in USA Today, this is the first time since 1998 that that has happened. I think this is a wonderful testament to the training and professionalism of our flight and cabin crews. There may be events outside of your control that cause flights to be late or canceled, but the flying public can remain at ease knowing that they will arrive safely at their destination.

There is more great news for Boeing this year, as they have earned a potential $1.2bn order from NASA to upgrade their Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS) over the next 5+ years.

Initially valued at $695 million, with options increasing the deal to $1.2 billion, the contract calls for two spacecraft, with the first ready to launch in 2012. The second is expected to be ready for launch in 2013.

Boeing will design and manufacture the TDRS K series satellites as well as upgrade NASA’s TDRS system ground terminals located near Las Cruces, N.M., according to a release. The ground terminals are the primary two-way communications link between the TDRS satellites and the ground-based elements of the TDRS system communications network.

Being a government entity, the FAA always manages to come up with things with a straight face, that most anybody else would stop and go…wait a minute. All airports have a three-letter identifier with which they are referenced in the aviation world. The identifier that was given to Souix City, Iowa’s Gateway Airport? SUX. Of course, Souix City didn’t really like that, so they petitioned the FAA to have it changed. Their choices were “GWU, GYO, GYT, SGV and GAY”. Again, you’ve got to love the FAA. Anyways, the airport has decided to turn the tables around and use the unique identifier to their benefit. Fly SUX!.

AP story here.

On October 14, 1947 then Captain Chuck Yeager piloted his Bell X-1 “Glamorous Glennis” into the history books. What began as a flight that was just supposed to go to Mach .97, ended with a Mach 1.06 flight past the sound barrier. Captain Yeager went on to retire a Brigadier General in 1975. You are truly an inspiration General. I salute you.

Per a Press Release issued a few days ago:

LONDON -(Dow Jones)- Cobham said Thursday that a memorandum of agreement (MOA) has been signed between its U.S. subsidiary, Sargent Fletcher and Boeing Integrated Defense Systems to provide the composite Body Fuel Tank System for the KC-767 Advanced Tanker.

The MOA was issued by The Boeing Company to Sargent Fletcher, part of Cobham’s Air Refuelling and Auxiliary Mission Equipment Division, in support of the USAF Tanker KC-X proposal, the company said.

The English military is going to be using the Boeing 767 tankers, and I can only hope that the USAF will also continue to use Boeing aircraft for their mid-air refueling needs.

The official search for missing aviator Steve Fossett was halted a few days ago. I had hoped the situation would turn out differently, and I’m very saddened that Mr. Fossett has not yet been found - in any condition. Godspeed sir.

Through the efforts of Google and other companies, satellite images taken of the search area where Mr. Fossett is believed to be have been uploaded to Amazon Mechanical Turk. If you have an account there, and some free time, you can assist with the search to find this legendary aviator.