Antares rocket launch from Virginia rescheduled

The third Orbital Sciences cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS) under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract is scheduled to launch at 6:22 p.m. EDT Tuesday, from Pad 0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

A Monday launch attempt was scrubbed because of a boat down range in the trajectory Orbital’s Antares rocket would have flown had it lifted off. The Antares will launch with the Cygnus spacecraft filled with over 5,000 pounds of supplies for the ISS, including science experiments, experiment hardware, spare parts, and crew provisions.

A Tuesday launch will result in the Cygnus spacecraft arriving at the space station early Sunday.

Chicago air traffic delayed by phone line problems

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) briefly delayed departures Monday for flights headed to O’Hare or Midway from Canada and Midwestern airports because of problems with several phone lines between the Chicago Terminal Radar Approach Control facility in Elgin, Ill., and the FAA’s adjoining en route centers. The FAA resolved the problem and lifted the delay restrictions at 5:50 p.m., EDT, 43 minutes after they were put in place.

Over the weekend, FAA technical teams working on restoring telecommunications systems at the FAA’s Chicago En Route Center in Aurora, Ill., removed all of the equipment and cabling that was damaged in the Sept. 26 fire at the facility. Cleaning crews removed the remaining soot and debris from the area. The FAA teams on site are continuing work to connect the new and existing equipment and test it to ensure all systems are running properly.

Air Force awards contract for new expeditionary radar

The U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon Company a $19.5 million contract for engineering and manufacturing development of a new expeditionary radar that will detect, identify and track drones, missiles and aircraft. The total contract, including all options, is currently estimated at $71.8 million and includes the procurement of an additional three radar systems, for a total of six radar systems and product support. The radar, called the Three Dimensional Expeditionary Long Range Radar, or 3DELRR, is one of the first programs under the Department of Defense's Better Buying Power initiative to be designed for exportability, enabling U.S. forces, allies and security partners to benefit from the system.

Raytheon's 3DELRR system is a gallium nitride (GaN)-based radar that operates in the C-band of the radio frequency spectrum. By using GaN, Raytheon was able to affordably increase the radar's range, sensitivity and search capabilities. C-band also offers the military increased flexibility because that portion of the spectrum is relatively uncongested.

3DELRR will replace radars, such as the Vietnam-era AN/TPS-75, which are no longer able to keep pace with current and emerging threats.

FAA removes remaining fire-damaged equipment at Aurora facility

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) technical teams expect to complete the removal of all remaining fire-damaged equipment and cabling from the Chicago En Route Center in Aurora, Ill., by Monday morning. Meanwhile, replacement equipment continues to be installed and tested, the FAA reported Sunday.

FAA air traffic controllers continued to handle high volumes of traffic into and out of Chicago-area airports this weekend. The number of arrivals and departures at O'Hare were more than 90 percent of the two-month average for a Saturday, while total operations at Midway reached more than 95 percent.

The weather forecast for Monday calls for a chance of rain showers in Chicago, which could affect arrival and departure rates into both major airports.

New aircraft maintenance service at Leesburg Executive Airport

Beginning Monday, Leesburg Executive Airport in Virginia will have a new aircraft maintenance and avionics support service under the name Skyline Aviation Service Center (SASC).

ProJet Aviation announced in August they were discontinuing commercial maintenance and repair operations at Leesburg Airport in order to focus on managed aircraft clients. ProJet acquired aircraft maintenance services at the airport in June 2012 after purchasing all of Landmark Aviation's assets.

Founded by Mark Granger, the previous customer project manager for ProJet, SASC aims to provide the aircraft owner with the utmost in maintenance and support. Through integrity, personal relationships and cost effective solutions, SASC will long be at the forefront of customer service for the region.

SASC will be operating in the main ProJet hangar just down the ramp from the Leesburg Airport Terminal. Capabilities range from single/twin piston aircraft, turboprop, turbine jet aircraft and helicopters. Through a unique blend of aviation talents; services will include airframe, engine and avionics maintenance, repair, inspection, modification and upgrades.

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Chicago-area air traffic slowly returning to normal following fire

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is continuing to manage high levels of air traffic in and out of the Chicago-area airports Tuesday. FAA analysis shows by 2 p.m. EDT, almost 80 percent of the average Tuesday traffic for the past two months was flying in and out of O’Hare, and about 85 percent at Midway. Data for Monday shows air traffic flow at Chicago O'Hare and Midway was more than 85 percent of the average traffic for the past two months.

“The FAA will continue to safely maximize efficiency of the airspace and work closely with airlines to provide predictability in arrival and departure rates,” the agency said in a press statement. “The FAA is closely monitoring the weather outlook in the Chicago area and is working with the airlines on weather-related contingency plans in anticipation of predicted thunderstorms in the region over the next several days."

Meanwhile, technicians are working around the clock at the FAA’s Chicago En Route Center in Aurora, Ill., to finish cleaning the facility’s ventilation system and other smoke-damaged areas and to install new communications equipment, cabling, and the infrastructure to support it.

“Workers have completed a seismic protection grid in the new telecommunications room and have started to install cabinets known as 'racks' that house the new equipment,” the FAA said.