CALIFORNIA SUIT TARGETS 100LL
A California environmental group has served notice it will sue more than 40 suppliers of avgas in the state to force them to stop selling it. The Center for Environmental Health has given a legally-required 60 days of notice to all the major oil companies that sell 100LL and the FBOs that pump it at 25 airports to stop. "The oil and aviation industries need to know Californians will not tolerate lead pollution that threatens our health and healthy environments," Michael Green, executive director of CEH, said in a statement. "We expect the industries to take immediate action to eliminate pollution that endangers children and families who live, work and play near airports across the state." CEH cites a 2008 EPA report s that show avgas is polluting the air and in some cases groundwater around airports with piston traffic. More...

TSA'S GA CHIEF RESIGNS
AOPA is reporting that Brian Delauter, the GA General Manager of the Transportation Security Administration is leaving after less than two years in the post to return to the private sector. AOPA CEO Craig Fuller said Delauter's GA experience was an asset in his assumption of the role in 2009 and his leadership will be missed. "We are hopeful that Administrator [John] Pistole will build on the relationships Brian developed with general aviation industry and pilots by finding a successor with a similarly strong GA background." More...

GAMA REPORT: PISTON SHIPMENTS UP
In the first quarter of this year, 188 piston aircraft were delivered by U.S. manufacturers, compared to 166 in the first quarter of last year, a 13-percent increase, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported on Tuesday. "This good news may be indicative of the start of a recovery in the traditional markets that we hope will accelerate," said GAMA President Pete Bunce. However, business jet deliveries failed to show growth. Shipments were down 22 percent, with 166 deliveries in the first quarter of this year, compared to 188 last year. Just 56 turboprops were delivered, a 6.7-percent decline. "This has been a very difficult year to date as a result of the slow economic recovery in North America and Europe," said Bunce. A U.S. tax provision that allows 100-percent expensing might help turn things around, he added. More...

SIGNS OF CHANGE? PIPER, CITATIONAIR UPBEAT
A "substantial" bump in sales of the Meridian turboprop helped drive an upward performance trend for Piper Aircraft in the first quarter of this year to $26 million in billings, the company said this week. The Meridian sells for more than $2 million, and Piper delivered seven in the first quarter 2011, compared to only two in the first quarter 2010. Although delivery numbers declined from 30 to 26, aircraft billings overall were up more than 40 percent over last year's first quarter, due to a higher proportion of more expensive aircraft sold. "Strenuous efforts" by the company contributed to the improvement, said Piper CEO Geoffrey Berger. CitationAir also said this week it is recalling all of its furloughed pilots. The company, based in Greenwich, Conn., had placed 85 pilots on furlough in 2009. All of those pilots have now been offered their jobs back, the company said, and 53 have already returned. More...

VIDEO: "JETMAN" ROSSY CONQUERS CANYON
Yves Rossy, the Swiss pilot known as "Jetman" for flying a unique jet-propelled wing attached to his back, has successfully flown above the Grand Canyon, after canceling a scheduled attempt last Friday. The flight occurred in Nevada over the weekend, sponsor Breitling announced on Tuesday. "My first flight in the U.S. is sure to be one of the most memorable experiences in my life, not only for the sheer beauty of the Grand Canyon but the honor to fly in sacred Native American lands," Rossy said in a news release. "Thank you Mother Nature and the Hualapai Tribe for making my lifelong dreams come true." Rossy launched from a helicopter at 8,000 feet above the canyon, and steering only by movement of his body, flew at speeds up to 190 mph for more than eight minutes at altitudes as low as 200 feet above the canyon rim. He then deployed a parachute and landed safely on the canyon floor. More...

STAGE SET FOR EBACE
The second biggest business aviation show in the world is less than a week away and judging by the email traffic, the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition is looking to tap into that elusive recovery that has been hoped for and predicted for so long. The show gets under way at PALEXPO at Geneva International Airport next Tuesday and all the players in the business aviation industry will participate. About 500 exhibitors are registered and the static display will have hundreds of aircraft. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: WHY WE DON'T CARE MUCH ABOUT FATAL ACCIDENTS
One reason is for lack of frame of reference. A total of 275 fatal wrecks a year doesn't seem like that much, but if driving had the same fatal rate, we would kill more than a million a year on the roads. On the AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli argues than any cultural change aimed at reducing fatal accidents will first involve GA participants admitting that the current rate really is unacceptable. Read more and join the conversation. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: SAFE'S SYMPOSIUM — A GOOD START
But also a significant challenge. Whether you believe GA's mediocre accident rate impacts student starts or not, the fact remains: It's worth the effort to try to reduce fatal accidents. It can probably be done, but in the latest installment of our AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli argues that it will take recommendations with teeth and/or some financial incentives. Read more and join the conversation. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: PELTON'S LONG-TERM VIEW CUT SHORT
When Jack Pelton "retired" on May 2, the aviation industry lost a powerful advocate and visionary. In his post to the AVweb Insider blog, AVweb editor-in-chief Russ Niles explains why Pelton may not stay gone long — and speculates on the difference of vision that may have led to his sudden departure. Read more and join the conversation. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: FLYING FOR FUN
Could ultralights be the gateway drug for the next generation of pilots? AVweb editor Mary Grady thinks so, and she explains how a pilot video on YouTube reinforced that notion in her latest post to the AVweb Insider blog. Read more and join the conversation. More...

RUTHERFORD TO INNOTECH

Peter Rutherford

Peter Rutherford is now regional manager for tech sales for Europe, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Africa for Innotech. He was formerly with Bombardier as aerospace manager of its international customer response team.
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ROSS TAKES NEW BUSINESS JET CENTER ROLE

Jamie Ross

Jamie Ross is the chief brand manager for Business Jet Center. She was appointed to the newly created job after working as executive flight solutions manager for Business Jet Access, a sister company to BJC.
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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...

SURVEY: 'IFR' MAGAZINE WANTS TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON LOCKHEED MARTIN FSS
Do you use Lockheed Flight Service? Did you used to but you don't any more? We're planning to sit down for a chat with Lockheed and want to hear your thoughts before we do. Please take a moment to complete this short survey so your voice can be heard. Hey, you're paying for the service whether you use it or not ... . Click here to take the survey. More...

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...

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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