JETBLUE FLIGHT 194: "WE'VE LOST TWO HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS"
The pilots of an Airbus A320 operated by JetBlue as Flight 194 out of Las Vegas for JFK Sunday told controllers "we've lost two hydraulic systems" before they declared an emergency, audio of the event shows. Ultimately, the flight landed safely and the NTSB is investigating. But the flight itself was far from routine. In the air, the airliner began to swing from side to side and rolled into steep banks. There were roughly 155 passengers aboard and some got sick. The pilots called Las Vegas to request a hold near the airport as they worked the problem. When asked by controllers, the pilots described the problem as "right now, it's quite a few things, but the initial thing is, uh, uh, we lost our hydraulics, two, we've lost two hydraulic systems." It would be four hours before the flight was safely on the ground again. Audio after the jump. More...

REPORT: FAA TEST QUESTIONS SHOULD BE PUBLIC
The FAA should return all of its test questions to the public domain, so the aviation industry can help to review and revise the knowledge required of pilot applicants, an FAA rulemaking committee said this week. The recommendation was one result of a six-month review of the FAA's knowledge tests. The committee also said the FAA should do a better job of communicating with the aviation-training community about changes to tests, and should modernize the technology used to administer them. By the end of September, the committee said, the FAA should create a stakeholder committee to help develop questions and to review standards and handbook content. More...

NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR ICE-REPELLENT WINGS
A research team from Harvard University has developed a treatment for metal surfaces that will keep them free of ice and frost, the Harvard Gazette reported on Monday. "The technology prevents ice sheets from developing on surfaces, and ice that is present slides off effortlessly," the Gazette reports. The researchers' new technology, called Slippery Liquid Infused Porous Surfaces (SLIPS), uses nanostructures to create an ultra-smooth, slippery surface. "This new approach to ice-phobic materials is a truly disruptive idea," said Joanna Aizenberg, leader of the research group. "We are actively working with the refrigeration and aviation industries to bring it to market." More...

FAA AND NASA DEFINE SPACE ROLES
The FAA and NASA agreed this week to work together to create standards for commercial space travel to low Earth orbit and to the International Space Station. "This important agreement between the FAA and NASA will advance our shared goals in commercial space travel," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. By working together, the two agencies aim to avoid creating conflicting requirements and multiple sets of standards, and to advance safety for crews and the public. The FAA will provide a license to commercial providers to ensure public safety, and NASA will be responsible for crew safety and mission assurance. More...

FLIGHT 3407 FAMILIES UPSET BY FAA TIMELINE
New safety regulations announced by the FAA were influenced in part by the 2009 crash of Continental Flight 3407, but they may not be implemented until 2013 and that time frame has angered some safety activists. Rules affecting pilot rest requirements and training passed through Congress two years ago attached to an implementation date of Oct. 1, 2011. The FAA, citing the large volume of public comments they received, has announced that the final rule will not be ready until Oct. 19, 2013. Some surviving family members worked together to push for changes amid concerns over pilot rest and training requirements. The FAA says it's working aggressively to improve safety. More...

NTSB WARNS PILOTS: WEATHER RADAR CAN BE MISLEADING
The "age indicator" on some in-cockpit weather displays can show a time stamp that's off by as much as 20 minutes, the NTSB warned in a safety alert issued on Wednesday. "Even small time differences between the age indicator and actual conditions can be important for safety of flight," the safety alert (PDF) says, "especially when considering fast-moving weather hazards, quickly developing weather scenarios, and/or fast-moving aircraft." The NEXRAD "age-indicator" on the cockpit display indicates the time the mosaic image was created, not the time of the actual weather conditions. The NEXRAD image is always older than the actual weather conditions, the NTSB said. More...

SURVEY: AIRLINE FARES UP, BUT SO IS PASSENGER SATISFACTION
Although airline passengers are paying higher fares and being charged to haul bags, they're apparently happier with the airline experience than they were a couple of years ago, according to a new consumer satisfaction survey. The Michigan-based American Consumer Satisfaction Index reported this week that at 67 on a scale of 100, customer satisfaction with the airline industry is as high as it's been for decades. In 2012 alone, the industry gained 3.1 percent in approval points, this despite higher fares, more crowded flights and fewer scheduling options. What's going on here? "I think in part it's because customers are becoming cleverer when they fly at avoiding the various fees. We're finding that while passengers aren't terribly satisfied with checked baggage fees, fewer of them are checking baggage," says ASCI director David VanAmburg. More...

IRIDIUM, NAVCANADA TO OFFER GLOBAL FLIGHT TRACKING
A constellation of 66 new satellites that will be launched starting in 2015 will make it possible for operators to track their aircraft anywhere in the world, even across oceans and remote regions where coverage is not currently available, the project partners announced on Tuesday. Iridium Communications is providing the technology, and NavCanada is the launch customer. For routes that operate in oceanic airspace, the new Aireon satellites will provide a "quantum improvement" in efficiency, said NavCanada CEO John Crichton. For example, NavCanada said, flights across the North Atlantic should save $100 million per year thanks to more efficient routing. The satellites, which are scheduled to be online by 2017, will communicate with the ADS-B devices on airplanes. More...

AVWEBBIZ: AVWEB'S BUSINESS AVIATION NEWSLETTER

Have you signed up yet for AVweb's no-cost weekly business aviation newsletter, AVwebBiz?

Delivered every Wednesday morning, AVwebBiz focuses on the companies, the products and the industry leaders that make headlines in the business aviation industry, making it a must-read.

Add AVwebBiz to your AVweb subscriptions today by clicking here and choosing "Update E-mail Subscriptions."

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: NOW WHAT FOR HAWKER BEECHCRAFT?
The company presented three post-bankrupcty plans this week, none of which are likely to be slam dunks. It didn't mention selling the assets or merging with another player such as Cessna or Gulfstream. On the AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli sorts through the possibilities. Whatever follows, HBC will have a fierce competitive environment against the well-established players. Read more and join the conversation. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: HOW DO YOU DO A GO-AROUND?
Do you push the throttle up to max, nudge the pitch and worry about the trim later? Or do you prefer to modulate the power to see if you can handle the pitch change forces? On the AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli discusses the pros and cons of each approach. Read more and join the conversation. More...

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: HOW DO YOU RATE THE AIRLINES?
A new survey says customer satisfaction is up (although it's still not very high). How was your last airline experience?

Plus: Last week, we asked AVweb readers how they make the trek to Oshkosh for AirVenture; click through to see the breakdown of answers. More...

SURVEY: WHAT'S THAT LSA COSTING YOU? 'AVIATION CONSUMER' WANTS TO KNOW
If you're operating a light sport aircraft -- either a legacy or late-model new airplane, our sister publication, Aviation Consumer, would like to know what it costs. Click on this link to take the survey and leave comments. We're interested in all kinds of light sports, but we especially want to know what costs are like when the airplanes are in partnerships. More...

AVMAIL: JUNE 18, 2012

Letter of the Week: The Way to Oshkosh (Whew)

Regarding your "Question of the Week": About every second year, myself and a few mates leave Geraldton, Western Australia and drive four hours to Perth, overnight and then fly commercial six hours to Sydney. There's usually a four-hour wait and then we fly to L.A. (just 15 hours). Then we wait four hours before we're on to Minneapolis (another four-hour flight) and then on to Appleton.

It's a long way but worth every bit. I would come every year if I could.

Rick Pederick

Click here to read the rest of this week's letters.

AVWEB'S NEWSTIPS ADDRESS ...
Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something 255,000 pilots might want to know about, tell us. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com. What have you heard? More...

VIDEO: CESSNA GRAND CARAVAN FLIGHT DEMO
Since its launch in 1985, the Cessna Caravan and later the Grand Caravan have been strong sellers for Cessna. In this video, AVweb takes a flight demo in the latest model, complete with G1000 and GFC700 autopilot. More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: TIFFIN AVIATION (KOLS, NOGALES, AZ)

"Best green chile hamburgers I have even had!" raves AVweb reader Randy Williams of the food at our latest "FBO of the Week," Tiffin Aviation Services at Nogales International Airport (KOLS) in Nogales, Arizona.

Oh, and he also reports that they offered "very fast Customs clearance." But let's not forget those hamburgers.

Keep those nominations coming. For complete contest rules, click here.

AVweb is actively seeking out the best FBOs in the country and another one, submitted by you, will be spotlighted here next Monday!

MEET THE AVWEBFLASH TEAM

AVwebFlash is a twice-weekly summary of the latest news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the world's premier independent aviation news resource.

The AVwebFlash team is:

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Tom Bliss

Editorial Director, Aviation Publications
Paul Bertorelli

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Russ Niles

Webmaster
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Contributing Editors
Mary Grady
Glenn Pew

Contributors
Kevin Lane-Cummings
Jeff Van West

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Karen Lund

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