Pilot in stable condition after plane crash off Miami Beach

The U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities are responding to the report of a Cessna aircraft that crashed, Saturday, approximately 200 yards from Miami Beach, Fla.

The Coast Guard received a call from the Miami Beach Police Department at approximately 2:30 p.m. EDT, Saturday, reporting a down aircraft with one person aboard approximately 200 yards from 45th Street and Collins Ave in Miami Beach.

Responding assets are:

• Coast Guard Station 45-foot Response boat - Medium.
• Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew.
• Miami Beach Police Department.
• City of Miami Beach Ocean Rescue.

The pilot of the aircraft was rescued by Ocean Rescue crewmembers and transported to awaiting emergency medical services in stable condition.

The plane, a Cessna 305A (tail number N212KY), has been reported as fully submerged and Coast Guard crews are continuing to work all response efforts and mitigation of pollution.

Search begins for downed aircraft near Jamaica

The U.S. Coast Guard and Jamaican officials are responding to a downed aircraft with three people reportedly aboard in the water approximately 14 miles north of Port Antonio, Jamaica.

On Friday, the Coast Guard 7th District command center in Miami received a call from U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) at 11 a.m. EDT reporting that a Socata TBM 700 single engine turbo prop aircraft (tail number N900KN) departed Rochester, N.Y. at 8:26 a.m. with three people aboard who were reportedly unresponsive to radio calls. The plane was scheduled to arrive in Naples, Fla., at noon.

A Coast Guard C-130 aircrew was launched from Clearwater, Fla., to help monitor the unresponsive aircraft. Two F-15 fighter jets under the direction of North American Aerospace Defense Command were launched to investigate. The Coast Guard Cutter Bernard C. Webber and MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew deployed to the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center, were also diverted to assist in the search.

The C-130 aircrew has arrived on scene along with Jamaican aircraft crews, but have been unable to locate the aircraft or a debris field. The search for the missing aircraft continues.

The Coast Guard continues to monitor the situation in close coordination with U.S. NORTHCOM and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). “More information will be made available as it develops,” the Coast Guard said in a press statement.

The brand new 2014 plane is registered to New 51LG LLC of Rochester, N.Y., according to FAA records.

NASA sends apology for email 'spam'

“NASA GovDelivery Subscribers,

“We apologize for a number of emails that we're sent out in error last night. No one wants email 'spam,' and we certainly don't want to send it to you.

“Unfortunately, a technical glitch during a software update created a problem with our RSS feeds, which then generated the incorrect and unintentional email updates.

“We have corrected the problem and are working to prevent similar issues in the future. We hope to restore the service soon.

“Thanks for your patience and your continued interest in NASA,

“NASA Web Team”

Nevill appointed VP of Aircelle's Customer Services Division

Richard Nevill has been appointed the vice president of Aircelle's Customer Services Division.

Nevill comes to Aircelle from AgustaWestland Helicopters, where he was responsible for the rotorcraft producer's customer support and services activity since 2010.

Previously, from 2005, Nevill worked at Airbus, initially with its Airbus Americas operation in Washington, D.C., and then at the Toulouse, France headquarters as head of Customer Service Solutions - evolving the aircraft manufacturer's Flight Hour Services program as a key element in its after-market growth strategy.

His aerospace career was initiated at British Aerospace Regional Aircraft in the U.K., starting with the commercial team, then transferring into customer support, subsequently developing after-market services in civil and military environments for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing customers.

Nevill is an engineering graduate from the U.K.'s University of Bath.

Aircelle is the second largest nacelle systems provider worldwide, and the leader globally for nacelles on top-of-the-line business jets.

Management changes at Cirrus Aircraft

Cirrus Aircraft announced five important executive appointments Wednesday that will strengthen the company's leadership team and further position the enterprise for global growth.

Customer

Todd Simmons has been promoted to Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Customer Officer. Simmons joined Cirrus in 2008 as Vice President of Marketing and now adds 360-degree customer responsibility to his most recent position of EVP Sales, Marketing and Support. Prior to Cirrus, Simmons was a principal at CubCrafters and previously held positions at both Delta and American Airlines. He holds an engineering degree from Georgia Tech, his master of business administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and is an active private pilot.

Financial

Don McIsaac joins Cirrus as EVP and Chief Financial Officer and is responsible for all financial, treasury and accounting functions at Cirrus. McIsaac has held senior leadership positions in both private and public companies in a variety of industries in Canada and the United States. McIsaac has a bachelor's degree in history from Trent University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Human Resources

Judi Eltgroth has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Human Resources. With Cirrus since 1996, Eltgroth now oversees human resources, organization development and regulatory compliance. She also serves as the company's national security director with reporting responsibility to the U.S. Department of Defense. With over 25 years experience in the field, Eltgroth has led human resources initiatives through multiple transitions, including mergers and acquisitions. A Hunt Academic Scholarship recipient, she holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota.

Strategic Planning

Additionally, Cirrus has appointed Carolyn Zhang to the new executive leadership position, Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning & Business Development. In this position, Zhang will focus on long-term strategy and growth plans, including expansion into emerging markets and new ownership and service offerings. Zhang was most recently at CargoTec headquartered in Helsinki. She holds her bachelor's degree in accounting and master's of business administration from the University of Missouri.

General Counsel

Finally, Curtis Landherr joins Cirrus as Senior Vice President, General Counsel. Prior to Cirrus, Curtis spent 15 years practicing as in-house corporate counsel, including seven years with Garmin where he provided primary legal support for Garmin's aviation division. Curtis is a 1995 graduate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. In 2010, Curtis was named a "40 Under Forty" honoree by Ingram's Magazine, recognizing accomplished business and community leaders in the Kansas City region under age 40.

First geostationary satellite built in Argentina

The first geostationary satellite built in Argentina – ARSAT-1 – has been delivered to French Guiana, where the spacecraft will be readied for Arianespace’s dual-passenger Ariane 5 mission in mid-October.

Transported by a chartered An-124 cargo jetliner, ARSAT-1 landed at Félix Eboué International Airport near French Guiana's capital city of Cayenne. The satellite was then unloaded for transfer by road to a Guiana Space Center clean room facility, where it is to undergo pre-launch processing.

ARSAT-1 was produced for Argentine satellite operator ARSAT (Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales Sociedad Anonima) by the company INVAP, with Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space as leading equipment suppliers. This spacecraft will deliver a wide range of telecommunications, data transmission, telephone and television services across all of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay – operating from an orbital position
of 72 degrees West on the Earth's equator.

ARSAT-1 will be orbited along with its co-passenger, Intelsat DLA-1. Built for international operator Intelsat by Space Systems/Loral, DLA-1 is to greatly expand direct-to-home entertainment offerings in Latin America, as well as provide backup and restoration services.

Most popular posts August 2014

1.) Cirrus aircraft crashes off Virginia in Atlantic Ocean - The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash of a Cirrus SR22 into the Atlantic Ocean about 50 miles from Wallops Island, Va., on Saturday. [Full story]

2.) Military C-130 'hard landing' reported, no injuries - A Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) aircraft under the control of U.S. Northern Command experienced a hard landing on Aug. 17 at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. [Full story]

3.) Cessna aircraft down near Bahamas, Coast Guard responds - U.S. Coast Guard seach-and-rescue crews responded Aug. 18 to a downed Cessna aircraft with four people aboard in the vicinity of Freeport Bahamas Airport, Bahamas. [Full story] 

4.) Coast Guard ends search for Cirrus pilot in Atlantic Ocean - The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search at 11:30 a.m. EDT Sunday for the pilot of a plane that crashed Saturday approximately 51 miles southeast of Chincoteague Island. [Full story] 

5.) Pilot fatally injured in F-15 crash - Officials confirmed Thursday the pilot of a F-15C Eagle was fatally injured when his jet crashed near Deerfield Valley, Va., on Wednesday. [Full story]

Two Airbus A330-300 planes leased to major Asian airline

FLY Leasing Limited, a global lessor of modern commercial jet aircraft, announced Tuesday it has acquired two Airbus A330-300s manufactured in 2013 and has leased the planes to a leading airline in Asia in a sale and lease-back transaction.

"FLY has acquired 16 aircraft for more than $660 million this year," said Colm Barrington, CEO of FLY. The company now has a fleet of 122 aircraft on lease to more than 65 airlines in over 35 countries.

GPS satellites reach 200 collective years of operational life

The U.S. Air Force's fleet of Global Positioning System (GPS) Block IIR and IIR-M satellites, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, have reached 200 collective years of operational life. These 20 satellites -- about two thirds of the current GPS constellation - help deliver precise positioning, navigation and timing services to more than one billion global military, civilian and commercial users every day.

Originally launched between 1997 and 2009 to add capabilities to the GPS constellation and to replace other aging satellites, the 12 GPS IIR and eight IIR-M satellites have maintained an unprecedented availability record of 99.96 percent. That represents only 10 minutes of down time per satellite during all their years of operation.

The GPS IIR and IIR-M satellites were designed to last 7.5 years, or collectively about 150 years. All 12 IIR satellites are currently operating beyond their design life with the oldest operating for more than 16.5 years. Three of eight GPS IIR-M satellites have surpassed their expected life span and all satellites will have done so in 2017.

GPS III

To meet evolving GPS user demands, Lockheed Martin is already developing the next generation GPS III satellites. These satellites will deliver three times better accuracy, provide up to eight times improved anti-jamming capabilities, and include enhancements which extend spacecraft life to 15 years, 25 percent longer than the newest Block IIF satellites. GPS III will be the first generation of GPS satellite with a new L1C civil signal designed to make it interoperable with other international global navigation satellite systems.

Worldwide Flight Services acquires Swissport's cargo business at Copenhagen

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has signed an agreement to acquire Swissport's cargo business at Copenhagen Airport, reinforcing its position as the largest independent cargo handler in Denmark.

Under the terms of the agreement, Swissport will transfer all business activities to WFS on Oct. 1. WFS will take over Swissport's cargo terminal at Copenhagen, which handles 18,000 tons a year on behalf of leading international airlines.

Marc Claesen, Regional Vice President, North Europe at WFS, said: "Copenhagen has been a big growth airport for WFS since we opened our operation in 2006 and this latest investment not only gives us
potential for further expansion, it brings more leading international airlines into our portfolio in Scandinavia, that are also customers of WFS elsewhere in our global network."

WFS provides services to 300 airlines globally, is present at 120 major airports in 20 countries on four continents, and handles four million tons of cargo a year.

The new agreement with Swissport will take WFS' total cargo volume at Copenhagen
Airport to 100,000 tons a year. WFS' airline clients at the airport include Singapore Airlines, China Cargo
Airlines, Korean Air, British Airways, TAP Portugal, Iberia, Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Air Greenland, Cargolux and Icelandair.

Stock portfolio running rough? Switch to biofuels

There are 15 cellulosic ethanol projects under development in the United States today with a construction value worth an estimated $2 billion, according to Industrial Info Resources, a provider of global market intelligence in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets.

Iowa alone will soon see the opening of two large commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plants. Cellulosic ethanol is a biofuel produced from wood, grasses, or the inedible parts of plants. But cellulosic ethanol is only one type of biofuel. As an investor you want to pick the right biofuel stock that will keep your portfolio running clean and green. Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEIX) may be a good pick for a “biofuel rush” in California.

Pacific Ethanol

Pacific Ethanol is the leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the Western United States. Pacific Ethanol also sells co-products, including wet distillers grain, a nutritional animal feed.

Serving integrated oil companies and gasoline marketers who blend ethanol into gasoline, Pacific Ethanol provides transportation, storage and delivery of ethanol through third-party service providers in the Western United States, primarily in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Colorado, Idaho and Washington. The company has a 91 percent ownership interest in PE Op Co., the owner of four ethanol production facilities. Pacific operates and manages the four ethanol production facilities, which have a combined annual production capacity of 200 million gallons. These operating facilities are located in Boardman, Ore., Burley, Idaho, Stockton, Calif. and Madera, Calif. The facilities are near their respective fuel and feed customers, offering significant timing, transportation cost and logistical advantages.

PEIX shares are up 519 percent over the last 52 weeks (Sept. 3, 2013 to Aug. 29, 2014). This year alone the stock is up 354 percent, closing Friday at $23.11 per share, up three percent for the day. PEIX has a 52-week low of $2.33 and a high of $23.15.

For a dividend play we turn our attention to FutureFuel Corp. (NYSE:FF) in Montana.

FutureFuel 

FutureFuel is a leading manufacturer of diversified chemical products and biobased products comprised of biofuels and biobased specialty chemical products.

In its chemicals business, it manufactures specialty chemicals for specific customers (custom manufacturing) as well as multi-customer specialty chemicals (performance chemicals).

Its custom manufacturing product portfolio includes a bleach activator for a major detergent manufacturer, a proprietary herbicide and intermediates for a major life sciences company, and chlorinated polyolefin adhesion promoters and antioxidant precursors for a major chemical company. The performance chemicals product portfolio includes polymer (nylon) modifiers and several small-volume specialty chemicals for diverse applications.

In its biofuels segment, the company predominantly produces biodiesel.

FF shares are down 13 percent over the last 52 weeks (Sept. 3, 2013 to Aug. 29, 2014). This year alone the stock is down 11 percent, closing Friday at $13.92 per share, down 0.3 percent for the day. FF has a 52-week low of $13.34 and a high of $22.25.

The company paid a dividend of $0.25 in November and $0.12 in February, May and August.

Disclaimer: This post is provided for information purposes only and should not be used as the basis for any investment decision. I am neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. Keith Stein has no position in any stocks mentioned in this post. DCNewsroom has no position in any of the stocks mentioned in this post.

Coast Guard ends search for Cirrus pilot in Atlantic Ocean

The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search at 11:30 a.m. EDT Sunday for the pilot of a plane that crashed Saturday approximately 51 miles southeast of Chincoteague Island.

A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane crew searched until sunset Saturday and the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Beluga searched through the night until Sunday morning for wreckage or any sign of the pilot aboard the downed aircraft.

A fisherman in the vicinity of the crash recovered a wheel and an engine cowling thought to belong to the crashed plane and turned it over to the crew of Cutter Beluga. Both items are scheduled to be turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board.