The unions representing the pilots aboard Asiana Airlines Flight 214 say the NTSB's handling of the accident investigation could skew the results and affect the finding of cause. The Asiana Pilots Association and the Airline Pilots Association of Korea say they're concerned the outcome won't accurately reflect the myriad factors that are associated with aviation accidents because the NTSB's public posture has given more weight to the possibility of pilot error. Read More

After a missed approach, the fuel condition of a Virgin-operated Boeing 737-800 with 91 aboard forced an emergency landing at a fog-shrouded alternate airport in Australia on June 18 that left the jet with 15 minutes of fuel remaining when it stopped, the ATSB said. According to the ATSB's preliminary incident report, released Wednesday, the Virgin flight had planned to arrive at Adelaide with 5500 pounds of fuel onboard but weather there diverted it to Mildura. On first approach at the alternate, the first officer reported forward visibility to be "virtually non-existent" due to dense fog. Read More

The FAA is sending a letter and fact sheet to all U.S. pilots to make them aware of the potentially negative effects that certain types of common over-the-counter and prescription drugs could have on the safety of flight. Specifically, the FAA notes the "sedative effects" caused by "many medications" and the ability of some medications to cause cognitive impairment. It also emphasizes the "subtle degradation of the ability to competently evaluate actual IMPAIRMENT [sic]" caused by some medications. Read More

BAE Systems recently demonstrated a system that provides helicopter pilots with situational awareness of their immediate surroundings while flying in zero visibility conditions. Read More

The Aviators Returns for a Fourth Season
Tune in this fall to the all-new fourth season of the award-winning hit TV show The Aviators, the biggest aviation show on the planet. Airliners, bombers, ultralights, gliders, floatplanes, helicopters, and even blimps — absolutely everything for pilots and enthusiasts alike. New episodes start September 2013. Catch up on the first three seasons now on PBS, iTunes, Amazon, and Hulu. Click here to watch The Aviators ... RIGHT NOW! Read More

The Zlin Cub-S will be on display at Oshkosh AirVenture later this month offering its "best in category power-to-weight ratio" and entering the U.S. LSA market with first deliveries scheduled for November. The Cub-S is powered by a 180-hp Titan Stroker IO-340 engine that delivers a power-to-weight ratio of 7.33 lbs/hp at maximum takeoff weight. The power translates into an 81-foot takeoff roll, fully loaded. SportAirUSA is the acting distributor of the aircraft, which come equipped for bush flying.  Read More

Happy End might seem like an odd name for a pictorial book about plane wrecks but not just any wreck made the grade for German photographer Dietmar Eckell. The 96-page volume features a moody selection of photos of 15 wrecks, ranging from light twins to heavy piston transports, in remote locations from Papua New Guinea to Alaska but they all have one thing in common: all of the mishaps were the result of forced landings and the occupants were rescued. Read More

Nearly 100 Piper Cubs flew in to the annual West Coast Cub Fly-In at Lompoc Airport July 12-14. Over 100 planes registered, with the majority of them being Cubs. There were also a few poseurs with the odd assortment of Taylorcraft, Champs and eclectic homebuilts including a modern Van's RV in Cub colors, right down to the bear cub emblem on the tail. Read More

Nearly 100 Piper Cubs flew in to the annual West Coast Cub Fly-In at Lompoc Airport July 12-14. Over 100 planes registered, with the majority of them being Cubs. There were also a few poseurs with the odd assortment of Taylorcraft, Champs and eclectic homebuilts including a modern Van's RV in Cub colors, right down to the bear cub emblem on the tail. Frank Bowlin provided these photos from the event. Read More

Levil Technology is out with a new portable ADS-B unit that included air data input, making it the industry's first portable ADAHRS unit. It sell for $1,395. AVweb's Paul Bertorelli recently flew it in his Cub. Read More

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Each week in "Short Final," we select the strangest, funniest, or most unusual thing AVweb readers have heard over the radio -- either from other pilots or coming directly from the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower. Click through to listen in as this week's winner makes his way across the taxiway. Read More

Heard anything funny, unusual, or downright shocking on the radio lately? If you've been flying any length of time, you're sure to have eavesdropped on a few memorable exchanges. The ones that gave you a chuckle may do the same for your fellow AVweb readers. Share your radio funny with us, and, if we use it in a future "Short Final," we'll send you a sharp-looking AVweb hat to sport around your local airport. No joke.

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