FLIGHT ATTENDANTS EXEMPTED FROM SCANNERS
Flight attendants have also been exempted from random full-body scanner checks, the TSA announced Tuesday. Last week, the TSA said pilots didn't need to pass through the scanners unless they set off the metal detector. Exemption from the routine scanner examinations also means flight attendants and pilots will not undergo the controversial pat-down procedures introduced earlier this month. Meanwhile, the Obama administration has asked the TSA if it can modify its security procedures to dampen passenger backlash to the new rules and TSA Administrator John Pistole says they'll look at it, but not in time for the busy Thanksgiving rush. Pistole has released a video offering tips to passengers to get through security expeditiously. And while there are fears that so-called "opt-out" protests by passengers refusing to use the scanners might disrupt travel on Wednesday, it's more likely the weather will cause more problems. More...

LOOSE TOOL CAUSED 787 FIRE: REPORT
Boeing and its relevant subcontractors are not commenting on a report from France that a tool left in an electrical cabinet led to a fire onboard a 787 test aircraft two weeks ago. The fire, which forced an emergency landing and halted the test program, occurred on a test flight in Texas. On Monday, La Tribune reported that an unspecified tool had been left in the cabinet by mistake and caused a short circuit, which sparked the fire. If confirmed, the scenario is potentially less damaging to the program than if the fire was the result of a design fault, but La Tribune said the incident still raises issues about the aircraft. More...

FIRST LEGACY 650 DELIVERED
Embraer has delivered the first Legacy 650 to a British entrepreneur and member of the House of Lords. Lord Sugar, who says he travels about 300 hours a year on business, said the long-range capability of the new aircraft was a major attraction. He owned a Legacy 600 before buying the 650. The 650 was certified in Europe and Brazil in October and FAA certification is imminent. More...

PROPOSED A&P CHANGES CAUSE CONCERN
The FAA says it wants to change the way it evaluates applications for inspector authorizations, imposing what the NBAA called "a significant change" to the long-established practices for IA qualifications. In a "notice of proposed policy" published earlier this month, the FAA said it wants to clarify the term "actively engaged" for the purpose of reviewing applications and renewals for inspector authorization. The current rules require that an applicant must have been "actively engaged" for at least two years in maintaining aircraft in accordance with FAA regulations. The proposed policy would establish that "actively engaged" means "employed full-time in inspecting, overhauling, repairing, preserving, or replacing parts on aircraft." Anyone who does that kind of work only part-time or occasionally would be evaluated on an individual basis.

The NBAA said that in the past, FAA officials allowed IAs who don't work directly with aircraft to renew their authorization after complying with an annual eight-hour training requirement, which does not seem to be allowed in the new proposal. The Aircraft Electronics Association also expressed concern about the proposed change, saying it is a "flawed policy." The proposal would affect those who are in senior management positions with corporate flight departments, repair stations and air carriers who are not exercising their A&P privileges on a regular basis, the AEA said. The AEA also noted that the proposal would exempt FAA employees. If the proposal becomes policy, it will take effect in March 2011. More...

NEW LEADERSHIP FOR GA CAUCUS
U.S. Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., will serve as co-chair of the House General Aviation Caucus when Congress reconvenes in January, it was announced this week. He will share the chairmanship with Sam Graves, R-Mo., who was named earlier this month. The two will replace Vern Ehlers, R-Mich., who is retiring, and Allen Boyd, D-Fla., who failed to win re-election. The new choices have won support from GA advocacy groups. "Congressman Barrow is very familiar with the essential role business aviation has in promoting job creation," said Ed Bolen, president of the National Business Aviation Association. "His congressional district includes Savannah, Georgia, which is home to Gulfstream, a major business aircraft manufacturer, and is also a base of operation for companies whose business model depends on access to general aviation airplanes." More...

AVWEB'S AOPA REVIEW: IN THE WINGS
As promised, AVweb's comprehensive review of AOPA's finances, operations and mission is in progress, with a planned publication date as soon as we complete our research. Readers may recall that AOPA challenged our story earlier this month when we reported AOPA compensation figures filed with the IRS, citing our misinterpretation of recently changed IRS rules. AVweb questioned some AOPA salaries and payouts, even as most companies in the industry are laying off workers and rolling back wages. To prove its point, AOPA agreed to give AVweb additional information and to answer detailed questions about expenditures, its business development strategy and how it uses its considerable assets. We have provided the association with an exhaustive list of questions. AOPA has provided us with equally exhaustive responses, and our dialog is continuing. We received an overwhelming volume of e-mail on the subject and if you have comments or questions on the story, contact us at editor@avweb.com. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: GUEST BLOG — AIRPORT PROTESTS ARE THE WRONG APPROACH
Passengers have a right to be upset about new security measures at airports but the Business Travel Coalition says disrupting security procedures with protests is the wrong approach. The AVweb Insider welcomes guest blogger Kevin Mitchell, who urges passengers to stay calm and organized instead of becoming frantic and angry. Read more and join the conversation. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: THE SHEER BOREDOM OF NAVIGATING WITH GPS
In his latest post to the AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli takes a break from running around airport concourses screeching about TSA to enjoy a quieter pastime: Flying his Cub on a long cross-country at 500 feet. He and his student had a GPS along, but flying the magenta line proves far less interesting that flying one penciled on a map. Read more and join the conversation. More...

VIDEO: LEARNING TO FLY WITH FLYVIE & JEPPESEN
Jeppesen and Flyvie may revolutionize the way student pilots learn to fly (and the way flight instructors approach flight training) by making actual flight lessons recordable, portable, and reviewable on the ground at the flight school, at home, and almost anywhere. 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.

AVWEB'S NEWSTIPS ADDRESS ...
Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something 200,000 pilots might want to know about, tell us. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com. What have you heard? 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...

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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