The time between when the pilot reported a bird strike and when it crashed could be key to unraveling one of the world’s worst aviation disasters in years.

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American Airlines outage: Planes grounded across US on Christmas eve
“Our team is currently working to rectify this. Your continued patience is appreciated,” the airline said in response to a customer.
Airbus Launches E-Fan Electric Trainer Airplane
The Airbus Group launched their two-seater, E-Fan electric trainer airplane in France last month.
The all-electric all-composite experimental plane designed specifically as a demonstrator for the small electric aircraft technology made its first public flight in Bordeaux, France, during the Airbus’ E-Aircraft Day.
The aircraft is comparatively quieter than the non-electric planes and has zero carbon dioxide emissions during flight. Moreover, it lasts an hour for training flights and half an hour for manoeuvres.
According to Airbus, the E-Fan electric trainer plane will be used as a model for designing, building and selling two improved versions through their subsidiary company, VoltAir.
Elbit Systems’ Brazilian Subsidiary, Aeroeletronica, Awarded a Contract to Supply Hermes(R) 450 Unmanned Aircraft Systems to the Brazilian Air Force
– Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ and TASE: ESLT) (“Elbit Systems”) announced today that its Brazilian subsidiary, Aeroeletronica Ltda. (“AEL”), was awarded a contract to supply Hermes(R) 450 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to the Brazilian Air Force. The contract is not in an amount that is material to Elbit Systems.
This project is a part of the Brazilian Air Forces’ objective to establish independent UAS capabilities, allowing for self-reliant operation and development of UAS in Brazil. Located in Porto Alegre in southern Brazil, AEL performs a variety of projects for the Brazilian Air Force, as well as other branches of the Brazilian Armed Forces.
Hermes(R) 450 is an experienced and mature UAS that has, to date, accumulated over 200,000 operational flight hours in various arenas worldwide. Its capabilities are suitable both for homeland security and anti-terror missions, and it can be equipped with a variety of advanced sensors, according to customers’ requirements. As part of the development of the Brazilian Air Forces’ future UAS, AEL will utilize technological capabilities of its parent company, Elbit Systems, and will also work with local Brazilian industries.
Joseph Ackerman, President and CEO of Elbit Systems, commented: “We are extremely proud of the Brazilian Air Force’s selection of Elbit Systems UAS, a decision that marks yet another significant milestone in AEL’s long-time collaboration with the Air Force. The Brazilian Air Force is considered a global leader, and the selection attests to the quality and maturity of our UAS, currently operational with more than 20 customers worldwide.” Ackerman added: “We hope this new project will further strengthen the cooperation between AEL and the Brazilian Air Force, as well as other Brazilian customers, and will be an incentive for future collaborations.”
About Aeroeletronica – Elbit Systems’ subsidiary in Porto Alegre
Located in Porto Alegre (the largest state in South Brazil), Aeroeletronica’s workforce currently includes more than 180 employees – with plans for expanding the workforce in the near future. Based on technological investments, know-how transfer and extensive training of its employees at Elbit Systems’ headquarters, Aeroeletronica is a center of excellence for development, production and logistic support of advanced systems serving Brazilian as well as other South American customers.
About Elbit Systems
Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international defense electronics company engaged in a wide range of programs throughout the world. The Company, which includes Elbit Systems and its subsidiaries, operates in the areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (“C4ISR”), unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”), advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, EW suites, airborne warning systems, ELINT systems, data links and military communications systems and radios. The Company also focuses on the upgrading of existing military platforms, developing new technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial aviation applications and providing a range of support services.

Small plane crashes into Brazilian tourist city, killing at least 10
“Unfortunately, initial reports indicate that the aircraft’s occupants did not survive,” Governor Eduardo Leite said in a post on social media platform X. According to the public security office of Rio Grande do Sul state, at least 15 people were taken to the city’s hospital, most of them suffering from smoke inhalation caused by the fire triggered by the crash. Nestled in a mountainous region, Gramado is the most popular tourist destination in Rio Grande do Sul, which was severely impacted earlier this year by unprecedented floods that claimed dozens of lives, destroyed infrastructure and significantly disrupted the state’s economy.
France: Air Traffic Control Strike
French air traffic controllers are on strike.
Strikers are protesting France’s pension reform that would raise the country’s state pension age for all workers in France from 60 to 62 by 2018. Although public announcements tried to assert that only short haul travel would be affected most strongly, air travel has come to standstill. British Airways has cancelled 90% of flights to France, and Ryanair has also cancelled flights over French airspace. Easyjet cancelled 61 flights; Iberia cancelled 34 flights yesterday alone.
Spanish airports report some delays.
French train service has also ground to a halt.
Reports are that the general strike in France affect French airspace until 0600 hours on Friday, September 24.
Dana Air Update (News)
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Peter Tonna
On August 9, 2012 at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, two months after the June 3, 2012 crash, after that all possible DNA testing was complete (only 52 of 149 bodies identified, the rest burnt beyond testability,) the Lagos Government announced that it would release bodies of Dana crash victims to the next of kin.
Families were requested to contact the Funeral Director’s office on 01-8542254 at the teaching hospital 24 hours before they come to claim the bodies.
One family trying to claim their loved one, Mr. George Moses, found he is missing. He was #22 on the list of 29 identified names at the Lekan Ogunsola Memorial mortuary in June. Mr. Achief Olajide, a family member said that after the June 3 crash, he saw Moses intact body, his ID card and wallet. The mortuary refused to let him claim the body, and now it is lost.
Below, a retired Nigerian Air Force captain criticizes the Nigerian government’s handling of aircraft emergency.