Climax Utilities second-quarter sales jump 314 percent

Driven by an increase in players on the game ProEconomica, Climax Utilities sales shot up 314 percent to $8,700 virtual dollars in the second quarter ended June 30.

The top line included sales from April which reached $5,000, the company's highest sales month since opening in November 2014.

“Across the board, our products grew in sales and increased profits,” said Brothel, president and CEO of Climax Utilities. “At this rate we see sales reaching over $22,000 virtual dollars at the end of the year.”

2015 first quarter sales: $2100.22 virtual dollars

2015 second quarters sales: $8704.78 virtual dollars

Climax Utilities is a virtual electricity and water company created on ProEconomia, a strategy game in which players have the possibility to convert virtual currency into real money. It is one of the few business games where you are rewarded for your daily activity.

Other developments;

-Out of 2,588 U.S. players on ProEconomia, Climax Utilities' CEO Brothel is ranked 73.

-Out of 353 virtual Shop companies on ProEconomia, Climax Utilities is ranked 41.

FAA grants Houston Airport System space Launch Site License

The Houston Airport System has been granted a Launch Site License from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that enables Ellington Airport to establish itself as a launch site for Reusable Launch Vehicles, making it the 10th commercial spaceport in the United States.

Nearly two years after Houston City Council members gave their overwhelming support for the project, the FAA's formal approval opens the door for plans that could see Ellington Airport become a focal point for aerospace operations, such as the launching of micro satellites, astronaut training, zero gravity experimentation, spacecraft manufacturing and a host of other potential activities.

Situated near the Gulf of Mexico, and featuring more than 400 acres of land readily available for development, Ellington Airport is tailor-made for the requirements associated with an operating licensed Spaceport.

Lack of training contributed to 2014 seaplane accident in Canada

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada on Tuesday released its investigation report into the loss of control and subsequent collision with water and fatality involving a Cessna 185E at Taylor Lake, Ontario, Canada.

On May 24, 2014, a privately-registered Cessna 185E, equipped with amphibious floats, departed the Guelph Airpark for a flight to Taylor Lake, Ontario. The pilot was the sole occupant of the aircraft. While conducting a glassy-water landing, the pilot lost control and the aircraft cartwheeled and sank. The aircraft fuselage was damaged by impact forces and the pilot's door could not be opened. The pilot survived the impact but was not able to escape the submerged aircraft before drowning.

The investigation found that the right float contacted the water first, dug in, and resulted in a loss of control and the aircraft cartwheeling. With respect to contributing factors, the investigation determined that the number of hours the pilot had flown in recent years had decreased, and the pilot was likely less proficient than in earlier years. This would make the glassy-water landing more difficult. Glassy-water conditions are considered to present the most difficulty for landing a seaplane, regardless of experience. The mirror effect created by glassy-water conditions affects depth perception making it difficult for pilots to determine the aircraft's height above the water.

The investigation also found that the pilot did not have emergency egress training. Although not required by regulation, egress training has been shown to improve the chances of exiting a submerged aircraft following a survivable accident.

Boeing, Embraer collaborate to test environment-focused aviation technologies

U.S.-based Boeing and Brazil's Embraer S.A. announced Tuesday that they intend to collaborate to test environment-focused technologies through the ecoDemonstrator Program in a joint effort to improve aviation's environmental performance. This expands ongoing cooperation between two of the world's largest airplane manufacturers.

Frederico Curado, president and CEO of Embraer, and Marc Allen, president of Boeing International, signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Brazil-U.S. Business Summit organized by the Brazil-U.S. Business Council.

Boeing launched its ecoDemonstrator Program in 2011 to accelerate testing and use of new technologies that can reduce fuel use, carbon emissions and noise. The company has so far tested more than 50 technologies with a Next-Generation 737-800, 787 Dreamliner and, currently, a 757. Through their collaboration, Boeing and Embraer are planning to conduct ecoDemonstrator tests with an Embraer airplane in 2016. 

The ecoDemonstrator cooperation between Boeing and Embraer advances a relationship that began in 2012 when the manufacturers announced they would cooperate in ways that create value for both companies and their customers. Since then, the manufacturers have worked together to improve runway safety and support Embraer's KC-390 defense aircraft program.

In addition, in 2015, Boeing and Embraer opened a joint biofuel research center in São José dos Campos, Brazil, to perform biofuel research and coordinate research with Brazilian universities and other institutions. Boeing has worked with suppliers, airlines and government agencies on previous ecoDemonstrator flight tests. Those technologies include a new winglet and "bug-phobic" wing coatings that can improve aerodynamic efficiency, software applications that can improve in-flight efficiency and new types of sustainable aviation biofuel.

New airborne target tracking system tested aboard F-16

Lockheed Martin's Legion Pod recently completed its first flight test, successfully tracking multiple airborne targets while flying on an F-16 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Legion Pod was integrated onto the F-16 without making any hardware or software changes to the aircraft. Additional flight tests on the F-16 and F-15C will continue throughout the year.

"Legion Pod is a production-ready, multi-sensor system," said Paul Lemmo, vice president of fire control at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

Equipped with an IRST21 infrared sensor and advanced networking and data processing technology, Legion Pod provides high-fidelity detection and tracking of airborne targets. It also accommodates additional sensors without costly system or aircraft modifications.

Legion Pod is available to meet the requirements of the U.S. Air Force F-15C infrared search and track program of record, which include long-range detection and tracking in a wide field of view. Its flexible design and open systems architecture enable Legion Pod to offer a variety of capabilities for other fighter and non-fighter aircraft.

Proposed $77,000 civil penalty against National Air Cargo Group

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $77,000 civil penalty against National Air Cargo Group Inc., of Orlando, Fla., for allegedly failing to comply with requirements for loading and securing heavy cargo.

The FAA alleges that during March and April 2013, National failed to comply with Federal Aviation Regulations while loading heavy military vehicles onto two Boeing 747 jetliners that the company operated. The jets were flown on seven flights while loaded with one or more Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs), each weighing between 23,001 pounds and 37,884 pounds.

The FAA alleges that National did not comply with the operating limitations set forth in the Boeing 747s’ flight manuals, resulting in cargo that was not properly restrained to prevent shifting that could affect the safe operation of the aircraft.

On April 29, 2013, one of the 747s crashed immediately after takeoff from Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan while loaded with five MRAPs, killing its crew of seven and destroying the aircraft. The FAA alleges that National did not secure those vehicles in accordance with the limitations set forth in the aircraft’s flight manual. The probable cause of the accident is still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

National Air Cargo has asked to meet with the FAA to discuss the case.

New parking and funeral procession area coming to Arlington National Cemetery

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -Norfolk District issued a pre-solicitation notice on Wednesday for a new Funeral Procession Queuing Area at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.

The Army Corps of Engineers is seeking a contractor to construct a new staff parking lot, North Parking lot, and a completely renovated main Funeral Procession and Queuing area. The queuing area will accommodate up to six concurrent funeral processions in multiple funeral procession lanes with up to 24 cars per lane. The renovated main Funeral Queuing area (larger part of Phase 2) will allow families to queue for processions on arrival through an intuitive layout and clear signage.

Preparation of the site may require demolition of existing site features and pavements, removal of some trees and vegetation, and protection of other existing natural site features and select trees, the Army said.

“The magnitude of this project is between $1 million and $5 million,” the Army said in contract documents. “The government intends to award a firm-fixed price contract to the lowest price offeror that is technically acceptable. The government intends to phase this project into three phases. The anticipated period of performance is Oct. 1, 2015 to April 15, 2017.

The official contract solicitation will be issued on July, 10.