AOPA AND AVWEB JOINT STATEMENT
Recent reports in AVweb.com regarding AOPA compensation and other issues have been strongly challenged by AOPA leadership. AVweb.com naturally defends its reporting and its role as the independent voice of general aviation. In an effort to have an open-ended, unrestricted dialog about all facets of AOPA's operations -- from finances to fuels to new pilot recruitment -- the association and AVweb have agreed to an unprecedentedexchange of views and information. This will take place in coming weeks in the form of detailed interviews with AOPA principals that will include a fresh look at how the organization functions and how it defines its role in promoting general aviation. Both AVweb and AOPA believe such an independent review represents an unparalleled opportunity to build confidence in GA's future. More...

NATA HOSTS GA INDUSTRY FORUM
More than 70 aviation business leaders met with key political, policy and financial experts this week at the National Air Transportation Association 2010 NATA Aviation Business Roundtable. The two-day event provided a forum to discuss a number of issues affecting the aviation community, including the results of the mid-term elections, the economy, jobs, taxes, safety and security. Speakers included TSA Administrator John Pistole, who outlined the latest security developments affecting GA; an industry overview from NetJets CEO David Sokol, who also discussed his company's recent purchase of Marquis Jet and a fleet of 125 Phenom 300s; and Hawker Beechcraft CEO Bill Boisture, who offered a review of the political and economic challenges facing GA. More...

REPORT: GA SALES CONTINUE TO DROP
In the first nine months of 2010, general aviation shipments were down 15 percent compared to the same time period last year, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported on Tuesday. Pete Bunce, GAMA president, said despite the decline from 1,588 units last year to 1,357 units this year, he believes the longer-term outlook for GA remains positive. "Our industry is coming off of a successful National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention and we are encouraged by the sales announcements and a more positive outlook overall as discretionary spending starts to pick back up on a global level," he said. He added that GA manufacturers are continuing to invest in research and develop new products. "GA manufacturers are clearly looking toward the future and will be poised for a strong return when the economy fully recovers," Bunce said. More...

NEW AIR CARGO RULES FROM TSA
The Transportation Security Administration has imposed some new rules on air cargo, effective this week, in response to the recent attempt to ship explosive devices into the U.S. from Yemen. Janet Napolitano, secretary of Homeland Security, said no air cargo will be accepted from Yemen or Somalia. In addition, no high-risk cargo will be allowed on passenger aircraft. Toner and ink cartridges weighing more than one pound will be prohibited on passenger aircraft in both carry-on bags and checked bags on domestic flights and international flights inbound to the U.S. This ban will also apply to certain inbound international air cargo shipments as well. Further, all cargo identified as high-risk will go through additional and enhanced screening. These measures also impact inbound international mail packages, which must be screened individually and certified to have come from an established postal shipper. More...

AVIATION COMPANIES LAUNCH OLYMPICS SUIT
A coalition of six Vancouver-area aviation businesses is suing the Canadian Ministry of Transport for lost business resulting from the flight restrictions imposed during the 2010 Olympic Games. Mike Skrobica, of the Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC) announced the suit at ATAC's annual meeting in Vancouver on Monday. He told AVweb the companies are claiming lost revenue of almost $1 million. The Canadian government enforced flight restrictions over Vancouver and the resort area of Whistler for about a month from just before the start of the Games in February until just after the opening of the Paralympic Games, which follow the Olympics. The flight restrictions cut or curtailed most training, sight seeing and charter operations. Skrobica said Transport Canada normally compensates companies for such disruptions but didn't in the case of the Olympics. "We're hoping the ministry makes us an offer," Skrobica said, noting the case will be launched with a news conference in Vancouver this week. Collette Morin, owner of Glacier Air, one of the six companies involved in the suit, said the Olympics hurt her business significantly. More...

AIR CANADA PILOTS WIN AGEISM CASE
Air Canada must re-hire two pilots who were forced to retire at age 60, according to a ruling this week by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. However, the tribunal stopped short of extending the ruling to apply to all Air Canada pilots. "It's good news, bad news, definitely," said Susan Eng, vice president of advocacy at the Canadian Association of Retired Persons. Pilot George Vilven, who is now 67, will be reinstated with full seniority as Air Canada's oldest employee. Neil Kelly, 65, also gets his job back. Both will be qualified to fly as first officer on the Boeing 777. Both also will be compensated for at least some of their lost wages, though a request for $20,000 each for "pain and suffering" was denied. Air Canada and the Air Canada Pilots Association appealed the ruling to federal court. A hearing will be held later this month. More...

FROBISHER TO METRON

Metron Aviation

Christopher Frobisher is the new Director of Business Development for Global Airline Operations for Metron Aviation. He was formerly Manager of Operations Strategy and Implementation for Continental Airlines.
More...

WHO'S WHERE? YOU TELL US
Get a promotion or a new job? Your colleagues want to know about it, and AVwebBiz can get the word out. Drop us a line about the staff appointment, with a nice recent photo, and we'll do our best to include it in our new section, "Who's Where." The items will be permanently archived on AVweb for future reference, too. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: ASPEN — DRIVING A STAKE THROUGH IRON GYROS
With its clever EFD1000 series, Aspen Avionics has quietly figured out a way to eliminate the need for all but a single backup instrument, an iron attitude indicator. But even that is on the verge of being eliminated, says Paul Bertorelli in the latest installment of our AVweb Insider blog. Read more and join the conversation. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: FEDEX AND UPS — NEW TERRORISM TARGETS?
Could be, but it seems to AVweb's Paul Bertorelli that the first step to keep their airplanes from being blown up is to have a peek inside packages coming from Yemen, the world capital of terrorist bomb-making. On the day explosives were recovered last week, the two companies shipped a total of thirteen packages out the country. Hard to imagine the clerks were too busy to wonder why a printer was being shipped from Yemen to the U.S. when you could buy a new one for less than the shipping cost. Of such stuff is knuckleheaded airline security made. Read more and join the conversation on the AVweb Insider blog. More...

VIDEO: YVES ROSSY DOES LOOPS IN HIS JETMAN RIG
The man you're watching is 51-year-old Yves Rossy — also called Jetman, for reasons that should be obvious. In 2006, he became the first person to fly with custom-made composite wings on his back powered by four small jet engines. This footage (shot Friday, November 5, 2010) is proof that he's now the first man to perform aerobatics and loop in the rig. More...

15 YEARS AND NOW 15 GRAND GIVEAWAYS ... IT'S YOUR CHANCE TO WIN AN IFLY 700 GPS FROM ADVENTURE PILOT

Win an iFly 700 GPS from Adventure Pilot as we celebrate our 15th Anniversary! All you have to do is click here to enter your name and e-mail address. (You only have to enter once, and you'll be entered in our prize drawings for the entire year — so if you've already entered, you're all set.)

And no, we're not going to rent or sell your name, ever. Tell your friends, and invite them to sign up for AVweb so they can qualify for our 15 Grand Giveaways prize drawings, too. (We won't spam them, either — but we hope they will sign up for our newsletters.)

Deadline for entries is 11:59pm Zulu time Sunday, November 28, 2010. (That's a couple of days later than our usual Friday deadline, because of the Thanksgiving holiday.)

Click here to read the contest rules and enter.

MEET THE AVWEBBIZ TEAM

AVwebBiz is a weekly summary of the latest business aviation news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the internet's aviation magazine and news service.

The AVwebBiz team is:

Publisher
Timothy Cole

Editorial Director, Aviation Publications
Paul Bertorelli

Editor-in-Chief
Russ Niles

Contributing Editors
Mary Grady
Glenn Pew

Features Editor
Kevin Lane-Cummings

Webmaster
Scott Simmons

Contributors
Jeff van West

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