Sporttrade sports betting app now live in Virginia

Philadelphia-based sports betting operator Sporttrade announced on Thursday it is now live in Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia becomes the fifth U.S. state to welcome Sporttrade.

"We are incredibly proud to keep the Fall 2024 momentum going with our launch in the Commonwealth" said Alex Kane, Sporttrade Founder and CEO. "There is an appetite for premium betting in Virginia, for significantly better prices at higher limits, for instant in-play betting, and a mobile experience that's sleek and intuitive.

"Sporttrade is becoming the home of in-game betting, where players are able to place and cash out of bets, frictionlessly, as the probabilities shift," said Kane. "Thank you to the Virginia Lottery, thank you to our players, partners, and investors, and most of all, I want to thank the Sporttrade family of employees."

Qualified and eligible players will be able to place bets starting today in Virginia on the Sporttrade iOS application while plans to launch on Android are set for later this year.

Sporttrade joins 11 other sports betting operators currently operating in the Old Dominion; Bally Bet, bet365, BetMGM, Betr Sportsbook, BetRivers Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, ESPN BET, Fanatics Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, and Hard Rock Bet.

Virginia has a huge appetite for sports betting. In August alone sports bettors in the Commonwealth wagered over $416 million on events. The $416 million wagered in August 2024 is 30.6% higher than in August 2023.

Since its launch in January 2021, sports bettors in Virginia have wagered over $17 billion on events.

New Rose Gaming Resort now open in Dumfries, Virginia

With no advance notice or opening date announcement, Churchill Downs quietly notified its existing customers on Wednesday that its new gaming resort in Dumfries, Va., is now open.

“We’re thrilled to announce that the gaming floor at The Rose Gaming Resort is officially open,” the company said in an email to customers. “Come experience the excitement firsthand as we welcome our first guests.” But the resort warns services are “limited” as the location builds up to a grand opening next month.

“Please note, we are currently offering limited food & beverage options while we work on expanding our dining experiences,” the company said. “We appreciate your understanding and can’t wait to see you soon. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to build towards our Grand Opening on November 7.”

Delays

The new gambling site is managed by Colonial Downs and Churchill Downs. Churchill Downs became the parent company of Colonial Downs in 2022 and is now managing the Rose Gaming Resort. After several delays, the company finally set a schedule to have the new facility open in late fall this year. No opening date was ever announced until now.

Before Churchill Downs was involved in the project, Colonial Downs Group planned to open the gaming floor in October 2023 and the hotel in January 2024.

In February, the Town of Dumfries approved a “proffer” amendment that allowed Churchill Downs to add additional games at the resort located in Prince William County. The facility is located on the side of the former Potomac Landfill bordered by Virginia Route 234 and Interstate 95. The groundbreaking was held in January 2022 and was expected to be open by now.

Without the gaming resort open, the town was unable to gain tax revenue. To contribute to the shortfall in tax revenue, Churchill Downs made a financial offer to the Town of Dumfries and increased the number of gaming machines in the facility.

The new resort has a hotel, restaurants, special event space, and a gaming floor packed with Historical Horse Racing (HHR) machines for gamblers. Although the hotel will not be open to the public at this time, the resort said in their email on Wednesday.

Historical Horse Racing Machines

HHR machines are very similar to traditional casino slot machines but determine a win differently. Winning jackpots on a HHR machine are determined by randomly selecting a horse race from a historical database to see if the player wins. Wins on standard casino slot machines are determined by a Random Number Generator or RNG.

The resort says all 1,650 HHR games are available to play including Ultimate Fire Link, Devil's Lock, Buffalo games, Rakin' Bacon, and more.

Guests visiting the new resort can enter the Million Dollar Sweepstakes contest for a chance to win up to $1 million in cash on Nov. 30.

Time to clean house, NASA disposes of nine aircraft used in aviation crash test

A large test gantry structure in Hampton, Va., used for full-scale crash and impact tests on aircraft and spacecraft is a national historical landmark, according to NASA’s Langley Research Center.

The Landing and Impact Research Facility, better known as “the gantry,” continues to serve NASA and the nation as a unique venue for testing aviation land and spacecraft water impact research. But now it’s time to clean up the area littered with crashed aircraft and helicopters.

On Tuesday, NASA’s Langley Research Center released a Combined Synopsis/Solicitation contract document seeking a contractor with the ability to clean up all the crashed aircraft and debris left behind from impact testing.

“This is a service contract to procure services to demolish several aircraft and other test articles left abandoned at various sites throughout the NASA Langley facility,” NASA said in contract documents. “Demolition of aircraft shall damage all aircraft components to an extent that they cannot be utilized for spare parts.” The work will remove nine aircraft from the property.

The articles to be demolished are as follows:

At the Landing and Impact Research facility (building 1297, also known as the gantry):

• A Beechcraft Starship fuselage approximately 40 feet long located under a tent.
• The “System of Struts” test article located under a tent.
• A crashed Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter that is approximately 44 ft long.
• A crashed Fokker F-28 aircraft that is approximately 90 ft long.
• Pile of miscellaneous metal structures including landing gear, aircraft wings, and a 30 ft section of fuselage.

At the firehouse (building 1238)

• A crashed Cessna 172 that is approximately 27 ft long.

Behind the model shop (building 1238B)

• Approximately 10 ft of the tail of a helicopter.

In the laydown yard between buildings 1244 and 1245

• A large carbon steel test stand is approximately 16 x 16 x 24 ft.

Beside the hangar (building 1244)

• An inoperable HU-25 aircraft that is approximately 55 ft long.

All the aircraft have been drained of fluids and hazardous materials.

“The contractor shall permit NASA-appointed witnesses to watch aircraft and document the demolition process,” NASA said. “The contractor shall provide NASA with an estimate of the final value of the scrap metal produced during the demolition process.”

Companies interested in working on the project have until Oct. 29 to respond to NASA.

Video: Super-secret spaceplane will change its orbit using aerobraking maneuvers

The Boeing-built X-37B will soon perform a series of advanced aerobraking maneuvers, taking the spaceplane from a Highly Elliptical Orbit, where it’s been operating since December 2023, and lowering its altitude using minimal fuel.

This will be the first time Boeing, the United States Space Force, and the X-37B attempt to accomplish this novel demonstration.

During aerobraking, the X-37B will use the drag of Earth’s atmosphere to slow it down, reducing the vehicle’s energy and changing the orbit while expending minimal fuel.

In a company press release, Boeing states the vehicle will dispose of a Service Module while the orbit change maneuver is performed “safely and responsibly.” Once aerobraking is complete, the X-37B will resume its test and experimentation objectives. No details are provided on what exactly the X-37B is doing during its mission.

With every mission, the X-37B innovates and breaks new records. The robotic vehicle flies in space without a crew. Managed by the U.S. military, the reusable spaceplane has flown several missions in Earth orbit and can remain in space for years. The spaceplane is now 10 months into its 7th mission, known as Orbital Test Vehicle-7.

Once its secret mission is complete, the vehicle will land back on Earth like an aircraft.

“There is no other space platform as capable, flexible, and maneuverable as the X-37B, and its next demonstration will be another proof point that this test vehicle sets the pace of innovation,” said Michelle Parker, vice president of Boeing’s Space Mission Systems.

“This first-of-a kind maneuver from the X-37B is an incredibly important milestone for the United States Space Force as we seek to expand our aptitude and ability to perform in this challenging domain,” said Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations.

Tax revenue from Maryland sports betting nearly triples in September

Maryland’s sports wagering market had the most successful month in its nearly three-year history with the start of the 2024 NFL season.

For September, sports betting in Maryland generated $9.3 million in tax revenue for the state from a handle of over $532 million. A portion of the taxes collected from sports wagering go to the Blueprint or Maryland’s Future Fund, which supports public education programs.

The $9.3 million contribution to the state in September was nearly triple the $3.2 million figure in September 2023. Previously, the top-performing month was January, when sports wagering sent more than $8.2 million to the Blueprint Fund. There were 11 mobile platforms and 12 retail locations operating during September; 12 mobile sportsbooks and 13 retail locations operated during September 2023.

Through the first quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 (July 2024 through September 2024), sports wagering contributions to the state totaled $21.2 million, compared to $9.1 million for the same period in FY2024.

“We’re encouraged that the sports wagering market continues to generate additional funding to support schools, and at the same time we also encourage everyone to be responsible about their betting,” said Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin. “Mobile wagering apps have tools that allow you to set limits on your activity. If you bet, please enjoy it in moderation and leave room to simply have fun watching the games and being a sports fan.”

Maryland opened its first retail sportsbooks in December 2021 with online/mobile sports wagering following in November 2022.

Retail Sportsbooks

In-person betting at Maryland retail sportsbooks handled over $13.9 million from bettors in September. Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover had the top handle of over $4 million. The casino hosts a FanDuel Sportsbook.

Greenmount OTB in Hampstead recorded the lowest retail handle at $150,040.50, The sportsbook, betPARX, is located inside Greenmount Station Restaurant.

Online/Mobile Betting

Online/mobile betting reported a handle of over $518 million. FanDuel’s online sportsbook reported the highest handle at $231 million in September.

Veterans Services Corp. (VSC) and its operator partner Bee-Fee LLC had the lowest handle for online/mobile wagering. VSC reported a $376,570.11 handle for September. The betting service is available at LetsBetMD.com.

Online sports betting handles in Maryland for September 2024:

• FanDuel: $231.8 million
• DraftKings $175.8 million
• BetMGM: $39.3 million
• Caesars Sportsbook: $22.9 million
• Fanatics Sportsbook: $22.4 million
• ESPN BET: $15.5 million
• BetRivers: $6.2 million
• Bally Bet: $3 million
• Crab Sports: $653,984.66
• betPARX: $452,955.76
• LetsBetMD: $376,570.11

Hard Rock sets date to open full casino resort in Virginia

Hard Rock International announced on Wednesday that they are in final preparations to open its full resort next month.

The United Company, Par Ventures, and Hard Rock have selected Nov. 14 for the grand opening of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol in Virginia. The venue will host a grand opening ceremony featuring the signature Hard Rock Guitar Smash and a concert by country music icon Blake Shelton at the new Hard Rock Live entertainment venue to commemorate the historic milestone.

Bristol Casino, a temporary casino located at 500 Gate City Highway in Bristol, VA, has been open since July 2022. The full permanent casino will open its doors to the public on Nov. 14 at 12 p.m.

“We are thrilled to open Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol,” said Jon Lucas, COO of Hard Rock International. “Hard Rock’s rich history fits perfectly with Bristol’s distinction as the ‘Birthplace of Country Music.’ Both the Hard Rock brand and the new hotel & casino are rooted in great music. With this property, Bristol — and the entire region — have a new major entertainment destination, filled with gaming, exciting food & beverage offerings, live entertainment, and world class service for all visitors. Hard Rock is proud to open this amazing facility to serve the residents and visitors to the Tri-Cities area.”

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol is a 620,000-square-foot resort destination that will feature nearly 1,500 slot machines, over 50 table games, a sportsbook, a 303-room hotel, and multiple dining options, including a signature Hard Rock Cafe, Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, YOUYU Asian Dining, Constant Grind, and the Marketplace. The facility also will house a Rock Shop, 2,000-plus seat Hard Rock Live, authentic music memorabilia, and much more.

In a joint statement, Jim McGlothlin, chairman, of The United Company, and Clyde Stacy, president, Par Ventures, shared their perspectives on the opening of the permanent facility.

“The opening of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol is such a pivotal milestone for the city of Bristol and our entire Tri-Cities region across Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee,” the statement read. “This project has created new jobs and generated additional tax revenue, serving as an economic engine and bringing hope to our community.”

Casino Tax Dollars

Three casinos are operating in Virginia: Bristol Casino, Rivers Casino Portsmouth, and Danville Casino. Bristol Casino opened in July 2022, followed by Rivers Casino in January 2023, and Danville Casino in May 2023.

Rivers Casino Portsmouth bypassed a temporary casino and opened Virginia’s first full permanent facility with a hotel “coming soon,” according to their website. Danville Casino, a temporary location, will grow into a full Caesars Virginia resort managed by Caesars Entertainment. The grand opening for Caesars Virginia is planned around Dec. 2. An official date has not been announced.

During August, Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) from Virginia’s three casinos totaled $63.1 million. Over $11 million was paid in taxes to the state from August AGR, according to a monthly report from the Virginia Lottery.

The temporary Bristol Casino facility generated $15.9 million in AGR in August, according to the lottery’s casino gaming activity report.

Since opening in July 2022, Bristol Casino has hit impressive milestone numbers:

Welcomed over 3 million guests

Paid over $66,000,000 in gaming taxes to the Commonwealth of Virginia

Donated more than $960,000 to support local community non-profits

Paid out over $260,000,000 in jackpots

Promoted over 600 team members

Processed over 55,000 employment applications 

“I am so proud of everyone who has helped us prepare for the grand opening,” said Allie Evangelista, President, of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol. “Our incredible Hard Rock team has worked so hard to reach this milestone moment, and we have been inspired by the amazing support from the Bristol community. This new facility will offer the world-class entertainment and dining that Hard Rock is recognized for across the globe. We invite you to come check out the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol, whether to game, dine or relax.”

Casino Player Development

With the grand opening just months away, Hard Rock had their casino host participate in a Casino Player Development Education program in September. It’s the job of a casino host to maintain regular contact with loyal gamblers and repeat customers of a location and provide complimentary services and incentives to customers.

The player development education program held in September was designed to “educate the casino hosts and VIP reps on how to do exactly what the tile means: Initiate, Locate, Communicate, Prospect, Call, Evaluate, and Close on the prospecting casino gamer.” That’s according to Nick Ippolito, a trainer, speaker, and motivator in the casino industry. Ippolito provided the casino host education program for Hard Rock in September. He has served over 100 native and commercial-owned casinos since 1999.

Casinos award players complimentary services or items based on their average daily theoretical loss (or ADT). Theoretical loss is the amount of money a player is expected to lose depending on what game he/she is playing (slot machines, roulette, blackjack, etc…).

During one of his recent education sessions, Ippolito’s material stated “Comps are not rewards. They are incentives to play more.” Comps can be free hotel rooms, casino play, gifts, or even a full cruise for high-level players.

BetFred Sportsbook says goodbye to Virginia

U.K.-based company BetFred Sports announced Monday they will be leaving Virginia’s online sports betting market later this month.

“As of October 21, 2024, Betfred will no longer be available for online sports wagering to players located in Virginia,” the company said in an email to customers. The company set Oct. 1 as the last date available for new account creation, deposits, and wagers for Virginia Betfred players.

“Please initiate a withdrawal of your funds, by your preferred method from the app or our website by 10 p.m., Oct. 21,” BetFred said in their email. “If you do not initiate a withdrawal by this time, all balances will be issued by check to the address we have for you on file, within 30 days.”

BetFred Sportsbook went live in the Old Dominion on Feb. 1, 2023, providing some unique betting opportunities. The company provided betting odds for football, basketball, hockey, tennis, soccer, and alternate sports such as bare-knuckle fighting and bull riding.

In August, a Virginia Lottery report stated BetFred held a 0.10% share of the online sports betting market in the state.  FanDuel leads Virginia sports betting with a 39.91% market share with DraftKings following at 27.44%.

Leaving U.S. Market Altogether

Earlier this month BetFred announced they plan to fully close service in Arizona by Nov. 4. The news follows shortly after the company exited the states of Colorado and Ohio.

In July, BetFred closed its retail sportsbook and online services in Maryland.

“This was not the first time this has happened in Maryland. I don’t think it’s gonna be the last time,” Maryland Lottery Director John Martin said during a monthly meeting.

CEO For a Year

BetFred USA’s current CEO has been on the job for only a year. A recognized online gaming industry leader, Kresimir Spajic was appointed BetFred USA CEO in September 2023.

Spajic has decades of experience in domestic and international online gaming. He has previously held various executive and principal consulting roles with Great Canadian Entertainment, Apollo Global Management, Hard Rock International, Rush Street Interactive, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, and Bwin. Spajic said he looked to build a sustainable business in the U.S., following his appointment.

The company entered the U.S. sports betting market in 2019 when Betfred USA was formed.

Even with the departure of several sportsbooks, Virginia’s sports betting is very much alive and well.

Continued Growth in Virginia Sports Wagering

Virginia will be left with 11 online and three retail sportsbooks once BetFred leaves later this month. Online sportsbooks currently activity in the Old Dominion include Bally Bet, bet365, BetFred, BetMGM, Betr Sportsbook, BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel, and Hard Rock Bet.

Retail sportsbooks are located at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol, Rivers Casino Portsmouth, and Caesars Virginia in Danville. There are no legal online casinos in Virginia.

On Tuesday, the Virginia Lottery released its latest report on sports wagering activity submitted by licensed operators for August.

Between Aug. 1 and Aug. 31, gamblers in Virginia wagered $416,689,217 on sports. That $416 million is 30.6% higher than last August. In return, winning bettors in Virginia won a total of $376,545,350 in August.

State law places a 15% tax on all sports betting activity. An estimated $5,241,930.27 in taxes was paid to the Commonwealth from sports betting in August.

New Phoenix Link slot game a follow-up to international hit Dragon Link

Aristocrat Gaming is turning up the heat with the release of the new Phoenix Link slot machine.

The company says the all-new slot game perfectly complements the company’s landmark player-favorite Dragon Link. The game brings new twists and turns that provide players with more features, entertainment, and ways to win.

Phoenix Link will premiere in the Aristocrat Gaming booth at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas next month. The game will first hit casino floors in North America.

“Phoenix Link and Dragon Link are the ‘Yin’ and ‘Yang’ to each other,” said Victor Duarte, executive vice president of Gaming Product for Aristocrat Gaming. “While they come from the same family, the Phoenix has its own, fiery personality that brings together game features we know players love, and some new ones we’re excited for them to discover. This game is brought to life in a way that only Aristocrat Gaming can, with industry-leading game design, mathematics, art, sound, and software functionality.”

Check out the latest sports betting picks by DCNewsroom.

Phoenix Link players will enjoy the game’s additional denominations, configurations, and jackpots on each of the launch game theme titles. All four games share two exciting features, the first is Hold & Spin, where classic Hold & Spin gameplay meets the chance for multiple bonus prizes or Major Jackpots on a single symbol. The second is the Phoenix Mystery feature, where all Phoenix symbols landed increment towards a counter with a chance to trigger a free Hold & Spin. The ultimate prize of a Grand progressive scales with higher denominations.

When it comes to exciting Free Games, two game themes feature twin spins for chances at great line wins and increased chances to win the Hold & Spin. Additionally, the remaining two game themes feature wild 2x multipliers for chances at dynamic line wins.

Navy awards contract for flight demonstration of Soviet-era Mi-2 helicopter

The U.S. Navy has awarded a contract to the University of Iowa to acquire flight demonstrations of a vintage Soviet-era Mi-2 helicopter for their test pilot school. The Naval Air Warfare Center- Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) at Patuxent River, Md., announced its intention to procure the flight training in August.

“The contractor shall provide up to 35 demonstration flight hours in an MI-2 aircraft to the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School (USNTPS) student and instructor pilots to support the QE exercise,” the Navy said in contract documents. The flights will begin Sept. 30 and run through Oct. 11. The flight demonstrations will take place at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School which will require the contractor to ferry the aircraft to NAS Patuxent River, Md.

The flight demonstrations will support the USNTPS and HX-21 student and instructor personnel of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Qualitative Evaluation Program. The Qualitative Evaluation (QE) Program institutionalized within the USNTPS is a major facet of the curriculum that provides a wide variety of aircraft with differing flying qualities and performance characteristics to the students.

The Mil Mi-2, also known as Hoplite, is a small, three-rotor blade Soviet-designed multi-purpose helicopter developed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant in the early 1960s. Nearly 5,500 were made by the time production stopped in 1999. A few Hoplites remain in service today.

The Univeristy of Iowa's Operator Performance Lab operates two Mi-2 helicopters as flight-proven airborne testbeds for a variety of sensor and instrumentation packages, configurable for vertical lift flight test needs.

The total value of the Navy flight demonstration contract is $126,645.00, according to contract documents.

Iraq orders 12 Airbus helicopters

Airbus Helicopters has been awarded a contract for 12 H225M multi-role helicopters by the Republic of Iraq. The contract was signed in Baghdad by the Minister of Defence of Iraq Thabet al-Abbassi in the presence of the French Ambassador Patrick Durel.

These helicopters will be operated by the Iraqi Army Aviation command replacing older Mi-17s for a wider range of missions: counterterrorism, special operations, tactical troop transport, attack, ground fire support, MEDEVAC, and combat search and rescue.

Deliveries will start in 2025. Iraq already operates a fleet of Airbus helicopters from the H125, H135 and H145 families.

“We are very pleased to welcome a new member in the H225M family,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.

“The H225M is a combat-proven platform used around the world by many operators, including the French Air Force, for combat search and rescue missions,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “The H225M is unmatched in terms of range, payload and also mission systems.”

The H225M is now equipped with new avionics, an enhanced main gearbox, airborne communication systems and can be equipped with the HForce weapon system. The maximum takeoff weight has been increased by 160 kilograms to reach 11,160 kg. 

There are more than 350 H225s and H225Ms in service across the world, totaling more than 880,000 flight hours. Military customers include France, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Mexico, Kuwait, Brazil, and Hungary.

US Army requests production of new helicopters

The Army Contracting Command - Redstone is seeking the complete production of the EC-145/BK117 D3 aircraft for the U.S. Army. The Army announced the request in a Sources Sought Synopsis document released Friday.

“This sources sought synopsis is being used to conduct market research and identify parties with the necessary industry technologies and resources,” the Army said.

The Light Helicopter Product Office (LHPdO) is designated as the product manager for the U.S. Army’s EC-145/BK117 D3 aircraft and would be the recipient/customer of the products sought in addition to possible procurements from other government agencies.

The H145 (formerly Eurocopter EC145) is a twin-engine light utility helicopter developed and manufactured by Airbus Helicopters. Originally designated as the BK 117, the H145 is based upon the MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 C1.

The U.S. Army selected the helicopter for its light utility helicopter program in 2006. It is also in Army service under the name UH-72A Lakota.

Twin-engine plane crash near Palmyra, Virginia

A twin-engine plane crashed near Palmyra, Va., on Sunday with at least one person reported dead, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The NTSB said on X they are investigating the crash of a Rockwell International Commander 690A (tail number N690BM) in Virginia.

The aircraft departed Manassas Regional Airport on Sunday and headed to Georgetown County Airport in South Carolina. Tracking data provided through the website FlightAware shows the aircraft reached its flight plan altitude of 20,000 feet before crashing.

Several news reports confirm at least one person is dead from the accident.

Multiple Fluvanna County fire companies and law enforcement agencies responded to the plane crash in the area of 264 Miles Jackson Road. Kents Store Volunteer Fire Company advised residents to avoid the area.

“If you live in the area affected by the plane crash (Courthouse Road, Oak Creek Road, Miles Jackson Road) and you locate a piece of the wreckage, contact the sheriff's office immediately and please do not disturb it,” the fire company said in a post on Facebook.

Federal Aviation Administration records show the plane was manufactured in 1975 and registered to Commander 690 BM LLC of Manassas, Va.

The accident remains under investigation.

NTSB: Engine trouble caused emergency landing on Virginia highway

The National Transportation Safety (NTSB) released a preliminary report recently detailing the emergency landing of a single-engine Cessna aircraft on a Virginia highway last month.

On Jan. 19, a single-engine Cessna 208B (tail number N1983X), performed an emergency landing soon after departing Washington Dulles International Airport.

Flight 246, operated by Southern Airways Express, from Washington Dulles International Airport to Lancaster Airport in Pennsylvania departed from runway 30.

During the initial climb after takeoff, about 600 feet above ground level, the flight crew noticed that the standby power light in the cockpit illuminated. Shortly after that, a sudden, shattering noise and vibrations came from the engine area.

The pilot instructed the copilot to declare an emergency and initiate procedures to return to Washington Dulles. During the turnback, it became evident that the engine was unresponsive, and the airplane was rapidly losing altitude. The pilot decided to land the airplane on Highway 606, near the perimeter of Washington Dulles.

During the landing, the airplane touched down on the paved surface of the road and collided with a steel guardrail before coming to a stop. The flight crew secured the airplane, and the crew and passengers were met by first responders.

The aircraft was later disassembled and transported to a Southern Airways Express maintenance facility at Lancaster.

The NTSB continues to investigate the accident.

Town Hall meeting scheduled as proposed Fairfax County casino bill stalls in Richmond

Virginia Senators, Delegates, and local Fairfax County supervisors will meet in McLean on Saturday to hold a Town Hall meeting to field comments and concerns over a proposed casino for the area.

Virginia lawmakers recently introduced Senate Bill 675 (SB 675) that outlines plans for Fairfax County to be eligible to host a casino.

Senator Jennifer Boysko, along with Delegate Rip Sullivan and Supervisor Jimmy Bierman, will participate in the Town Hall meeting on Saturday at McLean High School.

SB 675 says the casino would be located within one-quarter of a mile of an existing station on the Metro Silver Line, within two miles of a major shopping destination, and outside of the Interstate 495 Beltway.

A final vote on SB 675 and a voter referendum to approve the casino won't happen anytime soon after the Virginia Senate Subcommittee on Resources voted 4-0 to carry over the bill to the 2025 legislative session rather than move the bill forward.

Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert and Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn were among those who testified in Richmond on Thursday about the detrimental effect a casino in neighboring Tysons would have on the entire region.

“Opposition to the casino bill is one of the Vienna Town Council’s top legislative priorities,” Colbert said. “Supervisor Alcorn and I expressed strong opposition to the legislation today during a Senate Finance Committee meeting this afternoon, and the bill was tabled for a year for further study.”

SB 675, introduced by Sen. Dave Marsden (D-Burke), sought to put a referendum on a future ballot to authorize a casino in Tysons Corner.

Vienna Town Councilmembers, residents, and others opposed to the proposal responded with numerous calls and emails to their representatives in Richmond.

“We are grateful to the Vienna community for signing petitions and sending emails and letters to the Town Council and Virginia legislators opposing the casino,” Colbert said. “We are also thankful for the support we received from our legislative delegation, Del. Holly Seibold (D-Vienna) and state Sen. Saddam Salim (D-Falls Church).”

Georgia Senate passes sports betting bill, House vote next

The Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 386 (SB 386) on Thursday, a measure designed to regulate and tax sports betting under the oversight of the Georgia Lottery Commission. Lawmakers say Georgia currently “illegally” bets nearly $5 billion a year on sports.

The new measure, SB 386, sponsored by Sen. Clint Dixon (R – Gwinnett), will allocate taxes collected from sports betting to student financial aid programs, including the HOPE college scholarship and Georgia Pre-K programs.

Dixon applauded the passage of the measure, stating, “In passing SB 386, we’ve paved the way for responsible and regulated sports betting in Georgia. As our state evolves, it’s crucial to acknowledge the existing landscape with neighboring states already engaging in this activity. With millions in potential revenue, SB 386 ensures that these funds contribute to the growth of Georgia, supporting essential programs such as the HOPE scholarship and pre-kindergarten initiatives. By implementing safeguards, like prohibiting credit card use for betting and providing tools for self-limitation, we prioritize responsible gambling. The bill’s bipartisan support exemplifies a united commitment to the well-being of our citizens and the prosperity of Georgia’s future. SB 386 is more than a legislative milestone; it’s an investment in education and our economy.”

Dixon serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education and Youth. He represents the 45th Senate District which includes portions of Gwinnett and Barrow Counties.

The bill will now be considered by the Georgia House of Representatives.

EveryMatrix gains access to Pennsylvania online casino market

EveryMatrix has obtained approval to operate in Pennsylvania giving it access to its sixth regulated North American iGaming market.

The technology and content provider has been granted ‘interim authorization’ from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board enabling it to offer its software and services to licensed operators in the state.

The Malta-based company has more than 300 global customers with North American licenses and regulatory approvals in all regulated iGaming states including New Jersey, Michigan, West Virginia, Ontario Canada, and most recently Connecticut.

EveryMatrix delivers iGaming software, solutions, and content to online casinos and sports betting services. It will soon begin the rollout of its aggregation services in Pennsylvania via its partnership with betParx alongside expanding existing live customers such as BetMGM, Rush Street Interactive, and DraftKings.

Erik Nyman, President EveryMatrix Americas, said access in the Keystone State is a great start to 2024.

“We will continue to roll out our games portfolio and aggregation services to fill both the content gap while also adding rich bonus and gamification features that will be completely new to the U.S. market,” Nyman said in a company press release. “This will significantly boost our customers’ portfolios with proven, localized revenue-generating titles.”

Union responds to NetJets letter on pilot behavior

An independent labor union representing the 3,200-plus pilots who fly for NetJets, received a letter from the company’s counsel alleging that the union had condoned or encouraged pilots to engage in a work slowdown to negatively impact their operations. The NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots reported receiving the letter from NetJets on Friday.

NetJets Aviation Inc. is a provider of luxury private air transportation. The company is a subsidiary of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway.

NetJets has alleged pilots were "spiking" fatigue rates, increasing the frequency of documenting maintenance issues on aircraft, and refusing to voluntarily extend their duty days.

The pilot’s union, NJASAP, says NetJets failed to provide any evidence to substantiate their claims.

NetJets attorneys demanded the union take disciplinary action, up to and including imposing financial penalties, against any pilots who engaged in such behavior.

“The company issued this demand while, once again, failing to identify a single pilot who engaged in any of the alleged conduct,” NJASAP said in a press release. The union adamantly denies it engaged in any effort to slow down NetJets operations.

“We have issued a communication to our members to cease and desist any individual efforts to do so," NJASAP President Capt. Pedro Leroux said. "We view NetJets' letter and threats as its latest attempt to censor NJASAP's ability to communicate with its members about important matters that affect flight crew and owner and customer safety."

Leroux went on to emphasize that NJASAP will vigorously defend itself against all allegations and will not be intimidated in its efforts to effectively represent the membership's interests.

Single-engine Cessna Caravan forced to land on Virginia road

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the forced landing of a single-engine plane on Loudoun County Parkway in Virginia. The NTSB announced the investigation on their X account on Friday.

“A small plane has landed on the Loudoun County Parkway at Arcola Mills Drive and is blocking all lanes,” the Virginia Department of Transportation said on Facebook.

News reports indicate the turboprop plane had just departed Washington Dulles International Airport before landing on the roadway after its initial climb.

The aircraft, a single-engine Cessna Caravan 208B (tail number N1983X), is operated by Southern Airways Express based in Palm Beach, Fla. The plane was manufactured in 2003.

Founded in 2013, Southern Airways Express is a commuter airline serving nearly 40 American cities across five U.S. time zones. Southern operates a fleet of over thirty aircraft, including the Cessna Caravan/Grand Caravan, the King Air Super 200, and the Citation Bravo.

According to flight tracking data, flight 9X246 was departing Dulles Airport from runway 30 and performed a forced landing on the road approximately two minutes after takeoff.

The aircraft came to a stop at the side of the road and the seven occupants onboard evacuated. Photos of the aircraft show the propeller blades were bent in the emergency landing.

Akasa Air orders 150 more Boeing 737 MAX jets

The Boeing Company announced Thursday that India’s Akasa Air has placed a follow-on 737 MAX order, confirming 150 more jets in its order book.

The purchase of 737-10 airplanes and an additional 737-8-200 jets was announced at the Wings India 2024 airshow.

Akasa Air will use the 737 MAX family to expand its domestic and international network in the coming years. Since launching operations in 2022, the airline has captured approximately 4% of India’s domestic market, serving 18 destinations with a fleet of 22 737 MAX jets.

“We are excited to announce this historic order for 150 new Boeing airplanes, increasing our total orders from Boeing to 226 jets,” said Vinay Dube, Akasa Air founder and CEO. “In addition to supporting our rapid domestic expansion, the efficiency and economics of these new airplanes position Akasa to launch international routes in the coming months.

The new aircraft will provide Akasa Air with added capacity and range on new and existing routes while reducing fuel use and carbon emissions by 20% compared to older-generation airplanes.

As Akasa Air looks to expand its network in India and South Asia, Boeing’s 2023 Commercial Market outlook forecasts the delivery of 2,705 new commercial airplanes over the next 20 years for the region, of which nearly 90% will be single-aisle jets.

Ashland Place Finance supports acquisition of three Boeing 737-800 freighters

Ashland Place Finance LLC, a commercial aviation financing platform, announced Wednesday the completion of a new facility financing the acquisition of three Boeing 737-800 freighters for Atalaya Capital Management and Crestone Air Partners.

This is the second transaction that Ashland Place has completed with Atalaya and Crestone. Ashland financed a Boeing 777-300ER for Atalaya in August 2022 and four CFM56 engines for Crestone in July 2022.

“The Ashland Place team possess a deep understanding of the industry and how to navigate the current economic environment," said Sebastian Lourier, Crestone's CEO.

Allen & Overy LLP served as legal advisor to Ashland Place, and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP served as legal advisor to Atalaya and Crestone.

Homeland Security lab seeks to test seven drone types to aid first responders

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) is seeking information from potential vendors capable of supplying specific Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for the Blue List UAS SAVER project.

The Blue UAS Cleared List is a list of United States- and ally-manufactured UAS vetted by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to be policy-approved by the Department of Defense (DoD). All UAS on the Blue List have undergone cybersecurity testing by DIU or their contractors. Each device on the list is granted authority to operate from the DIU.

Over the past decade, first responders have begun integrating small unmanned aerial systems as a resource for a variety of operational needs. UAS, often referred to as “drones,” are used by first responders in support of public safety activities such as search and rescue, firefighting, and post-incident reconstruction.

UAS provides first responders with an aerial view of their environment and can be outfitted with various sensors tailored to different applications.

The NUSTL intends to conduct testing and evaluation of the following UAS models and requires two of each of the seven specified drones listed below:

• Ascent AeroSystems, Spirit UAS (K257)
• Flight Wave Aerospace Corporation, Edge 130
• Freefly Systems, Astro
• Inspired Flight, IF800 TOMCAT
• Parrot Drones, PARROT ANAFI USA GOV
• Skydio, Skydio X2
• 1Skydio, Skydio X10
• Teal Drones Inc., Teal 2

The anticipated delivery deadline for the drones is March 8.

Boeing appoints special advisor for comprehensive quality review

The Boeing Company announced Tuesday they have named Admiral Kirkland H. Donald, U.S. Navy (Ret.) as special advisor to Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun.

The immediate appointment of Donald comes after a door plug on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 MAX separated from the plane during flight causing severe depressurization aboard the aircraft.

Admiral Donald and a team of outside experts will conduct a thorough assessment of Boeing's quality management system for commercial airplanes, including quality programs and practices in Boeing manufacturing facilities and its oversight of commercial supplier quality. His recommendations will be provided to Calhoun and to the Aerospace Safety Committee of Boeing's Board of Directors.

"I've asked him to provide an independent and comprehensive assessment with actionable recommendations for strengthening our oversight of quality in our own factories and throughout our extended commercial airplane production system,” Calhoun said.

Donald currently serves as Chairman of the Board for the largest military shipbuilding company in the United States, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. He also chairs the board of the nonprofit Battelle. His public board service also includes Entergy Corp., where he is Chairman of the Nuclear Committee.

Seven F-16s in various stages of production for Bulgaria

Last week, a delegation led by Bulgarian Defence Minister Todor Tagarev visited Lockheed Martin’s F-16 production facility in Greenville, S.C., to view progress in producing the country’s future F-16 Block 70 jets. Bulgarian Ambassador Georgi Panayotov, and Bulgarian Defence Chief Adm. Emil Eftimov joined Tagarev on his visit.

Seven Bulgarian F-16s are in various stages of production, and the inaugural flight of the first Bulgarian F-16 Block 70 is planned for later this year, Lockheed Martin said in a company press release Tuesday.

OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of the Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin, said: “Bulgaria is acquiring a proven, state-of-the-art fighter aircraft system that will deliver decades of 21st Century Security capabilities and NATO interoperability.”

Bulgaria will be the second European country to receive the F-16 Block 70. With a backlog of 135 jets, “the F-16 production line in Greenville serves as a cornerstone of security for allies around the world,” the company said. Today’s latest version, the Block 70/72, offers unparalleled capabilities and will be flown by six countries and counting.

More than 3,100 F-16s are operating today in 25 countries. The F-16 has flown an estimated 19.5 million flight hours and at least 13 million sorties.

Lockheed Martin announced last week the first two F-16 Block70 jets for Slovakia have been delivered for their fleet which will grow to 14.

The F-16 Block 70 performed its maiden flight one year ago at its Greenville facility.

US-owned company Aerovel to be acquired by Europe’s Airbus Helicopters

Airbus Helicopters and Aerovel have signed an agreement regarding the acquisition of Aerovel and its unmanned aerial system (UAS) Flexrotor. Airbus entered the deal to strengthen its portfolio of tactical unmanned solutions.

Flexrotor is a small tactical unmanned aerial system designed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions at sea and over land.

"This strategic acquisition aligns with our vision to expand our UAS offering and respond to a growing customer demand worldwide for additional mission capabilities such as manned-unmanned teaming,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “Aerovel's expertise in autonomous flight technology will undoubtedly complement our UAS development with the VSR700.”

Designed to operate alongside shipborne naval assets, the Airbus VSR700 UAS under development will provide commanders with a larger and clearer tactical picture, greater search and rescue power, and bring to bear a highly capable autonomous platform in times of heightened threats.

"Joining forces with Airbus will allow us to scale innovation, accelerate our mission to advance unmanned aviation, and maintain our unwavering support for the U.S. military and its allies,” said Ali Dian, CEO of Aerovel.

The Flexrotor, a modern Vertical Takeoff and Landing unmanned aircraft with a maximum launch weight of 25 kilograms, has been designed for ISTAR missions for more than 14 hours in a typical operational configuration. The UAS can integrate different types of payloads including an electro-optical system and advanced sensors to suit customers’ unique mission needs.

With the ability to autonomously launch and recover from either land or sea requiring only a 12 by 12-foot area, the Flexrotor is ideal for expeditionary missions requiring minimal footprint.

Through the support of the U.S. Department of Defense, and contracted deployment in a variety of maritime security exercises, the Flexrotor is a mission-proven, force multiplier for operations in harsh, high-threat, GPS-denied environments.

The Flexrotor can also be used for missions such as forest fire surveillance (providing firefighters with critical images day or night) and ice navigation (helping guide naval vessels through ice in the Arctic Ocean).

Based in Bingen, Wash., Aerovel will remain a US-owned company and continue collaboration with the U.S. military.

The acquisition between Airbus Helicopter and Aerovel is expected to be approved and closed later this year.

Missile Defense Agency extends contract to upgrade sensors on HALO aircraft

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is pushing forward with work to upgrade sensors on three aircraft used to collect infrared data during ballistic missile defense tests. Work to upgrade the sensors experienced “COVID-related impact” issues, MDA said in contract documents released Friday.

In addition to COVID-related delays, the agency highlighted the rescheduling of integration tasks, acceptance testing, and supply chain issues delayed progress. Known as task order HQ0147-19-F-0039, the contract had a period of performance (PoP) ending Dec. 29, 2023.

“Additional time is required to complete three Next Generation Sensor Systems,” MDA said.

The agency wants to replace the primary electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) sensors currently in use on their HALO-II and HALO-IV aircraft with HALO Next Generation Sensor (NGS) systems. The planes are airborne during MDA missile defense tests to collect electro-optic and infrared data.

“No new work is being added to the contract,” MDA said in a Justification and Approval (J&A) document requesting the contract extension. “This J&A requests approval to extend the PoP end date to May 1, 2024. The cost of the extension/overrun is ~$1.5M.

“The sole purpose of the PoP extension and upward cost adjustment is for the contractor L3Harris AEROMET to complete NGS systems with the goal of aircraft delivery. If the work were recompeted at this point, the new contractor would have to perform work already done under this contract.”

The Missile Defense Agency Competition Advocate approved the contract extension.

Coal in your stocking this past Christmas? Not a bad investment

If you found coal in your stocking Christmas morning it may have nothing to do with the way you behaved the past year. Santa could be giving you a hint, invest in coal.

Investors are flocking to coal stocks right now, highlighting the sector as one of the best places to invest right now. One coal stock on a positive upward trend, with a dividend, is Natural Resource Partners LP.

Natural Resource Partners LP (NYSE: NRP)

Based in Houston, Texas, Natural Resource Partners L.P. is a diversified natural resource company that owns, manages, and leases a diversified portfolio of properties in the United States. The properties include coal, industrial minerals, and other natural resources. The company also has rights to conduct carbon sequestration and renewable energy activities.

In addition, NRP owns an equity investment in Sisecam Wyoming LLC, one of the world’s lowest-cost producers of soda ash.

Some of the company’s positive upward trend was provided during NRP’s third quarter 2023 results in November.

"NRP had another robust quarter with $80 million of free cash flow generated in the third quarter of 2023 as a result of continued strong performance from our mineral rights assets and a significant cash distribution from our soda ash investment," said Craig Nunez, NRP's president and chief operating officer, in a company press release.

In addition, NRP’s board of directors declared a third-quarter 2023 cash dividend in November of $0.75 per share. The dividend was paid on Nov. 21. The board also declared a $2.15 million cash distribution on NRP's outstanding preferred units.

Shares of NRP stock are up 106.87% over the past year. This year alone the stock is up 9.29%, closing Friday at $101.16 per share, up 3.40% for the day.

NRP shares have a 52-week low of $44.68 and a high of $102.00.

NRP 2023 Dividend History

• 11/13/2023       Cash      $0.75
• 08/15/2023       Cash      $0.75
• 05/15/2023       Cash      $0.75
• 03/13/2023       Cash      $2.43
• 02/13/2023       Cash      $0.75

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.