F/A-18C jet gets Blue Angel airframe upgrade

The Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River, Md., intends to award a sole source contract to The Boeing Company to install Airframe Change (AFC-483) A1 and A2 kits (Blue Angel modification) to a F/A-18C jet, BUNO 163747. The contract award was announced Friday.

“This aircraft must be delivered no later than 30 June 2020 to support the Blue Angels 2020 show schedule,” the Navy said in contract documents.

In order to install this modification, the required support equipment must be on site by contract award.  Additionally, an 8,000 foot runway must be in place with a flight and ground operations staff to support Functional Check Flights (FCF) after completion of the modification and before aircraft delivery. The government will provide the FCF pilot. The place of performance for this requirement must be within 25 miles of the Cecil Commerce Center in Jacksonville, Fla.

Boeing was awarded the contract to retrofit nine Block 1 F/A-18E Super Hornets and two Block 1 F/A-18F Super Hornets for the Blue Angels team from the current crop of F/A-18C/D fighters, according to an article published in 2018 by the U.S. Naval Institute.

US nuclear administration seeks to replace Bell helicopters

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Nuclear Incident Response (ONIR), is hosting an Industry Day meeting in Las Vegas this month to discuss the replacement of two Bell 412HP helicopters with a new rotary wing aircraft. The meeting was announced in contract documents released in August.

“Information exchanged during this event will be used to help refine the acquisition strategy and obtaining innovative approaches, solutions, and technologies to meet the government requirements for replacing two helicopters with new rotary wing aircraft,” NNSA said in contract documents.

The ONIR is the premier technical leader in responding to and successfully resolving nuclear and radiological incidents or accidents. Technical teams are prepared to search for radioactive material, and help manage the consequences of a release of radioactive material into the environment. One of these assets, NNSA's Aerial Measuring System, has specialized airborne radiation detection systems that provide real-time measurements of low levels of air and ground contamination. The equipment, aircraft, and trained experts maintain a state of readiness to respond to a radiological emergency at any time. The aircraft operations are at Joint Base Andrews, Md., and Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nev.

To perform these aerial surveys, flights are performed from 50 to 3,000 feet above the ground at speeds from 60 to 80 knots. The crew consists of two pilots and two technical specialists that operate the detection equipment. Survey flight patterns are predominately parallel line patterns often performed over congested areas of the country.

The NNSA Industry Day meeting will be held at North Las Vegas Airport on Oct. 29.

NASA celebrates 20th anniversary of the Chandra X-ray Observatory

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Alabama are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Chandra X-ray Observatory -- the world's most powerful X-ray telescope.

Since its launch on July 23, 1999, Chandra has been NASA's flagship mission for X-ray astronomy. Astronomers around the world use Chandra's X-ray vision to explore cosmic mysteries -- from distant galaxies and an expanding universe to black holes, dark energy and supernovas.

Robert Binns appointed president of Air Wisconsin

Robert (Rob) Binns has been appointed president of Air Wisconsin. The announcement came in a company press release on Monday. Binns will oversee all aspects of operations and performance initiatives for Air Wisconsin and will report directly to Christine Deister, the airline's chief executive officer.

Binns brings over 25 years of airline and industry-related experience to his new role, including chairman and CEO of Global Aviation Holdings, a holding company for World Airways and North American Airlines. He has also held CEO, CFO, CMO and other executive roles at Hybrid Enterprises (Lockheed Martin), TransMeridian Airlines, Pegasus Aviation and Trans World Airlines.

Binns holds a Master of Business Administration as well as a BA in history and political science from the University of Kansas, and an MA in political behavior from the University of Essex (England). He is also a Certified Internal Auditor. Since 2007, Binns has served on the Carter Center Board of Councilors in Atlanta.

Air Wisconsin Airlines, founded in 1965, operates over 300 departures daily to 32 states in partnership with United Airlines. With service to approximately 70 cities throughout North America, Air Wisconsin carries nearly five million passengers annually.

United Airlines opens new club at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

United Airlines on Monday welcomed the newest addition to its network of more than 50 United Club locations around the world with the opening of a brand-new 5,000 square foot United Club at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Located near Gate C1, this new United Club is the first of four new United Club locations set to open in 2019.

"Our multimillion-dollar investment in the United Clubs is one of many ways we are working to improve every aspect of our customers' experience,” said United's Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist in a company press release.

This summer, United plans to open a new United Club in New Orleans in conjunction with the opening of the new terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. United will also open a brand-new United Club location in New York's La Guardia Airport to coincide with the relocation of its operations to the airport's Terminal B. Additionally, United will introduce its first-ever United Club location in Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Video: Boycott of Kraft Heinz products called over Super Bowl ad

A boycott of Kraft Heinz products has been called for by Culture Reframed, an organization that builds resilience and resistance to hypersexualized media and porn.

Devour Foods, a Kraft Heinz frozen food product line, has produced a commercial on "food porn" that is slated to air during Sunday's Super Bowl.

The original, minute-long version of the commercial was posted for a day on Pornhub, the largest porn site on the web, which is widely known for making available free, hardcore porn. An edited, 30-second version airs on Sunday.

The ad normalizes the use of porn and makes light of the costs of porn addiction. "Porn addiction is widely widely shown to destroy the individual, the partners, and the children of addicts. And the impact of porn on the culture is enormous," said Dr. Gail Dines, president and CEO of Culture Reframed. "To promote porn use and make light of porn addiction is the height of irresponsibility and we call on Kraft Heinz to provide resources to groups preventing porn addiction."

Culture Reframed has deemed the use of porn "the public health crisis of the digital age."

Video: US Navy conducts first ever all-female flyover

Honoring the life and legacy of a female pioneer in Naval aviation, the U.S. Navy conducted the first ever all-female flyover. Officially referred to as a “Missing Man Flyover,” the tribute was part of the funeral service for one of the Navy’s first female jet pilots retired Navy Captain Rosemary Mariner, who passed away Jan. 24 following a long and brave fight with cancer.