Northern and Southern Lights Filmed on Saturn by Hubble

Saturn is a strange planet anyway....There exists a very strange octagonal feature on one of the poles. 2001 A space oddity absolutely

clipped from www.dailymail.co.uk A spectacular light show on Saturn has been captured in unique new photos of the ringed planet. The aurora images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) were made possible by a rare chance to see the planet with its rings edge-on and both poles in view. It takes Saturn almost 30 years to orbit the Sun, and during that time such a picture opportunity occurs only twice. The images show glowing aurorae flickering at each pole - Saturn's equivalent of the Northern and Southern Lights on Earth. Hubble will never capture such images again because the telescope is due to be decommissioned before the same view of Saturn is repeated.

Loran C Has Been Posted to the Graveyard

I have to admit that ever since the introduction to the general public of GPS, I haven't given Loran C much thought. GPS was a magical addition to flying operations. No one had to read maps any longer and we could even use it to drive to Grandma's house in Key West from Juneau.

But, Loran C was at one time the electronic means to locate oneself on a map, especially along water ways. Boats with extra equipment always had this device and alot of airplanes could utilize it.

Now that I think about it though, I remember only one trainer having it installed out of 5 or so Cessna 152s in stock, that I used while training for PIC. Of course, I started out in a 150 Aerobat with the basic comm set and I was just happy learning to land my first few lessons. One day, I got my hands on a newer 152 that was real easy on the eyes. I think all planes are easy on the eyes--especially when in the air. I wanted to learn how to use this Loran C, but my instructor said it wasn't necessary--I suspected his knowledge of it was limited at best.

This was at a time I when I was soloing and asked my instructor if we could do spins, NO, and eventually,I asked all of the available instructors if they would teach me spins, NO! Blank looks, stares met me at every request. They had done their spin training to get their certifications, but I wasn't required to have it to get my private pilot certification. Also, their excuses included the notion that it would tumble the gauges and do irreparable harm. Always thought we could cage a gyro, but no forward progress here at this time.

Having accepted all the no's available, I forgot about the Loran C and spin training.

Ok, now the Loran C is being disabled as costly and unnecessary to the U.S.A for redundancy and safety. I wonder what we have as a backup to GPS? The constellation of satellites are getting older and eventually, the replacements in space will need to be replaced, but as I understand it--newer generation GPS satellites aren't a top priority now. Another question, begs, who has Loran C still installed in their cockpits? If GPS failed, how long before it went back online?

China and Russia are putting up their own GPS type systems for their strategic value, but all of the systems are incompatible at this time. China's systems are 3 to 5 times more expensive than ours and not yet as accurate. It'll be like our space program. We can hitch a ride aboard Russian spacecraft, because we will not have an active space program to lift human cargo beyond 2010 and we can use the other global powers' GPS type systems when we don't fund the USA version any longer. ...... lakotahope
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Coast Guard sounds death knell for loran-C

By Sarah Brown

The U.S. Coast Guard gave notice Jan. 7 that it will start decommissioning the long range navigation (loran-C) system beginning Feb. 8.

All loran stations will cease transmission by Oct. 1, according to the notice. While loran-C is not now widely used for navigation, government and independent agencies have recommended using an enhanced version of it, eLoran, as a national backup system for GPS. The termination of loran will leave the country without a single national backup system in the event of a GPS outage.

“Recent reports have shown that the constellation of satellites is vulnerable to outages and service disruptions,” said Craig Spence, AOPA vice president of operations and international affairs. “AOPA has long cautioned against decommissioning loran before a separate navigation system is established as a backup.”

The vulnerability of satellite coverage was made clear in 2007, when a scheduled Navy training exercise in the Port of San Diego unintentionally jammed GPS signals, shutting down satellite-based navigation, tracking, and cell phone services. Outages could become more frequent as older satellites reach the end of their operational life: A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released in 2009 concluded that many of the older satellites in use could stop working faster than they can be replenished, possibly resulting in reductions in service as early as this year.

In the event of a loss of GPS-based services, the Coast Guard says that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has determined that sufficient alternative navigation aids currently exist and that loran is not needed. However, a 2006 Independent Assessment Team (IAT) report commissioned by the DOT and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) found that “eLoran is the only cost-effective backup for national needs … . It is a seamless backup, and its use will deter threats to U.S. national and economic security by disrupting (jamming) GPS reception.” IAT reiterated its support of eLoran in 2009.

The DOT and DHS jointly recommended in 2007 that eLoran be the national backup for GPS, and DHS formally announced in February 2008 its intention to implement eLoran as a national positioning, navigation, and timing system to complement GPS in the event of an outage or disruption in service.

Loran-C has been periodically slashed from budgets over the past several years, but it has always been restored pending a decision on what system will be in place if satellite services are disrupted. Decommissioning loran-C would eliminate the infrastructure upon which a potential eLoran system would rely.

The 2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, signed into law in October 2009, allows for the termination of the system subject to the Coast Guard certifying that termination of the signal will not adversely impact the safety of maritime navigation and DHS certifying that the infrastructure is not needed as a backup to GPS or to meet any other federal navigation requirement. The Coast Guard determined that those certifications were made.

According to the Office of Management and Budget, shutting down loran-C will save $36 million in fiscal 2010 and $190 million over five years.

Light Sport Aircraft Delivery Made to Cessna

I've been waiting to see this aircraft come into fruition and I hope it will succeed in the American marketplace. With the new tail feathers added as a result of abhorrent behavior during power-on stall trials, this aircraft is ready for flight training and the Light Sport Aviation pilot. Two aircraft were lost in flight tests--one being dragged across the ground by its BRS chute after having failed to recover from spin tests.

At a starting base price of $111,000, this is an aircraft that looks like it may be in the pocket book range of more private pilots and aviation clubs. .. lakotahope

Skycatcher Joins Light Sport Aircraft Fray
Dec 21, 2009
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Kerry Lynch

Kerry Lynch Cessna Aircraft Friday took a step forward in its plans to become a major player in the light-sport aircraft market with the delivery of the first Model 162 Skycatcher Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). The aircraft was handed over to Rose Pelton, wife of Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton, during a ceremony at Yingling Aircraft in Wichita, Kan. Yingling is one of three facilities in the U.S. that will reassemble Skycatchers produced by Shenyang Aircraft Company (SAC) in Shenyang, China. SAC builds the Skycatchers, integrates the engines and avionics, and then ships the aircraft to the U.S. for reassembly. Delivery followed Cessna's determination last summer that the aircraft has demonstrated compliance with ASTM standards. As an LSA, the aircraft is not required to receive FAA certification, but must meet the standards established by the international standards-setting organization ASTM International. The determination cleared the path for delivery, as well as signified that the program overcame development setbacks that occurred when the aircraft crashed twice during spin testing (BA, March 30/12). Cessna announced plans to enter the LSA market with the Model 162 Skycatcher two-place, single-engine piston, high-wing aircraft during the AirVenture Oshkosh in 2007. The company has since accumulated more than 1,000 orders for the aircraft, which was priced at $111,500. The aircraft was designed to fit within the LSA category, which calls for aircraft to have a maximum gross weigh of 1,320 pounds or less and a top speed of no more than 120 knots. Powered by the Continental O-200D 100-horsepower, air-cooled engine and a fixed-pitch propeller, the aircraft will cruise at speeds of up to 118 knots and have a 470-nautical-mile range. The Skycatcher is equipped with Garmin G300 avionics, which include either a single, split-screen primary flight display with a multifunction display, or two full-screen displays. Cessna said the aircraft will be capable of Visual Flight Rules/Day/Night operations. The Wichita airframer also has worked with King Schools to develop a Web-based training system for sport and private pilots. The training will be offered through the Cessna Pilot Center network. The first four centers gained approval to use the programs (see item on Page 285). Photo credit: Cessna

The Last Official Ice Airport in the Continental United States

In the small amount of time that I have flown as PIC, it never occurred to me to want to land on an ice covered lake. Granted, I've dreamed of having a Lake Amphibian or a Sea Otter and the thoughts of gliding over tall evergreens surrounding the perfect lake in a "very hospitable" valley. Landing gently on the mirror like surface and taxiing to the perfect camp site. Yes, dumping all of my camping gear out of my aircraft and setting camp, then throw out my first cast. I really can picture this moment now at this keyboard.

But, I want to lead up to the following article about an Ice Airport that is only open a couple of months a year--weather permitting. Ice on highways is dangerous and I've usually been cautious when driving in wintery conditions. Oh, there were a couple of times in my youth where we'd find the largest snow covered parking lot and see what the dynamics of sliding cars entailed. (I did learn how to get into, get out of and especially recognize inherent out of control phenomenon, which I am sure aided me in driving safely on the previously mentioned wintery roads). Ice on landing strips seems bad and wanting to land on an ice covered lake seems worse. Just because I haven't spoken with any pilots who have enjoyed this part of flying, nor do we have any lakes in my area that will freeze solidly and thickly enough to hold my weight and my aircraft's weight. But, the following video is great and read the article--just click on the title of this particular blog....Sigh! ... lakotahope
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Buffalo Crash Blamed on Cockpit Crew

After all was said and done, I reckon this wasn't hard to figure out. The plane virtually pancaked and the pilot never pushed forward on the control wheel to stop the stall. The instruments were there to tell him that a stall was in progress, but he refused to inhibit the stall and continued to hold the control column back.

Maybe, this was due to the fact he wasn't much above 1,000 ft. agl. Also, due to the co-pilot not being 100% at the time and they weren't abiding by one of the rules in the cockpit--no talking about anything other than what is necessary to fly the aircraft safely under 10,000 feet.

There was more than one factor involved in this crash and the pilot and co-pilot were victims to these circumstances as were the passengers and the victim on the ground..... lakotahope

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