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• Airmen Killed in C-17 Crash Identified.
  "These fallen warriors embody the pride and professionalism of American Airmen," said Col. John McMullen, the 3rd Wing commander at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. "They selflessly served their country and will be sorely missed by our entire (Elmendorf AFB total force) family."

  
  

  
  
  
  
• Pratt & Whitney Share of Jetstar Airways Order Potentially Valued in Excess of $1 Billion.
  SINGAPORE, Jan.: Jetstar Airways, a subsidiary of Qantas Airways, has awarded International Aero Engines (IAE) an order for V2500 engines to power a new fleet of 50 Airbus A320-family aircraft, with the option to purchase V2500 engines for up to 40 more aircraft.

  
  

  
  
  
  
• iPad Popular With Aviation Crowd in Oshkosh.
  OSHKOSH, Wisconsin: Apple's iPad continues to find a very receptive audience in the aviation community. This week at Airventure, a number of companies are offering applications for the device ranging from simple study guides to weather and navigation tools aimed at pilots.

  
  

  
  
  
  
• FAA Finds Mexico Does Not Meet ICAO Safety Standards.
  WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that Mexico is not in compliance with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), following an assessment of the country’s civil aviation authority. As a result, the United States is downgrading Mexico from a Category 1 to Category 2 rating.

  
  

  
  
  
  
• TSA, DHS Open Dialogue with GA Community on Security.
  Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Transportation Security Administration Administrator John Pistole got a glimpse at the heart of general aviation at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., this week. It was the first time that the two, and anyone in those positions, had been to the show, which brings together thousands of GA pilots from around the world.

  
  

  
  
  
  
• NASA’s Eco-Friendly Airplanes.
  Air pollution is a major problem plaguing this planet. But now the agency most concerned with outer space is taking up the cause for clean air. Scientific American reports that NASA is commissioning eco-friendly airplanes, investing millions into the effort.

  
  

  
  
  
  
• Sonex Electric Power: It Looks Simple, but Sparks Challenges.
  What could be simpler than an electric-powered airplane? A motor with just one moving part, a battery, a control box, some wires to connect them, just hook ’em up and fly, right? Radio-controlled model folks have been doing it for years. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works; as size and power increase, difficulties and complexities scale up exponentially faster.

  
  

  
  
  
  
• Seventy-Five Years of Flying Fortresses.
  It's been 75 years-that's three-quarters of a century-since the prototype of the Flying Fortress series took to the skies for the first time over Seattle, Washington. For so many reasons, the B-17 Flying Fortress became an American icon.

  
  

  
  
  
  
• Sikorsky Introduces “Project Firefly,” Electric Helicopter Demonstrator.
  OSHKOSH, Wisconsin: Sikorsky Innovations, the technology development organization of Sikorsky Aircraft, today officially introduced “Project Firefly,” an all-electric helicopter technology demonstrator, at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture exhibition. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:(UTX)).

  
  

  
  
  
  
• Helicopter Crash Kills Three.
  Three crew members on board a LifeNet helicopter died as a result of injuries sustained in a crash Wednesday afternoon. Air Methods Corporation says the EuroCopter AS350 was based in Douglas, AZ. The paramedic, flight nurse and pilot were en route from Marana to Douglas. No patients were on board at the time of the crash.