January 3, 2008

By The AVweb Editorial Staff

Announcing the Online MBA for Aviation Professionals from Daniel Webster College Did you know that professionals with an MBA earn an average of $10,000 to $30,000 more per year? Within 27 months, you can be one of them! Daniel Webster College MBA for Aviation Professionals is a fully-accredited, 100%-online program built for the busy schedule of the aviation professional. Being "on the road" is no longer a barrier to career advancement. Call (866) 458-7525 or click here for more information. Controller Impasse Continues back to top  Sponsor Announcement NATCA Rejects Latest FAA Offer The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) wants nothing to do with a quiet offer from FAA Acting Administrator Bobby Sturgell to raise the pay of some members and offer other incentives to "settle" ongoing labor strife. The proposed deal was outlined in a memo to FAA managers on Monday. The FAA has declined detailed comment on the offer but NATCA President Pat Forrey dismissed it as "a desperate attempt by the FAA to try and stem the alarming rate of controller retirements and total attrition" he says is directly attributable to the contract imposed on the controllers in 2006. He said that until controllers have a negotiated contract, the current exodus of senior controllers is expected to continue. Forrey also went over Sturgell's head to Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters last week with a letter that expressed the same sentiments. He also asked her to impose flight restrictions at some of the country's busiest airports if there's no hope of the government returning to the bargaining table. In the letter to Peters, Forrey says he expects at least 1,100 of the agency's most experienced controllers to head for the doors this year, many of them years before they must legally retire, because they don't like working for the FAA anymore. He asked Peters to call for a new round of contract negotiations in an effort to stem the flow of retirements. "Soon-to-retire controllers have told us that such negotiations might preclude their exodus," he said. Peters might not have much time to react. Today is apparently a financially advantageous day for many federal employees to cash in their accrued leave. Zulu Time ... From Lightspeed The new Zulu headset looks different because it is different. Made with magnesium, stainless steel, and four types of composite plastics, it's extremely durable and yet weighs just over 13 ounces. Rather than concentrating purely on cutting decibels, Lightspeed engineers looked at how pilots perceive noise at different frequencies. You get broader noise attenuation over the entire audible range. Zulu has more total noise cancellation than any headset on the market. Click here for a dealer near you. Aviation Safety back to top  Video Captures 737 Striking Runway Obstruction A 737-300 collided with a car on the runway on its takeoff roll Sunday morning, and the crash and the aftermath were caught on video by a passenger in a window seat just above the wing. The video, posted on YouTube, records a loud smashing sound and apparent turmoil in the cabin. The airplane was stopped on the airport and passengers were evacuated with no reports of injuries. "This was a serious incident in which the plane was damaged," said Valentin Iordache, a spokesperson for Bucharest's Otopeni airport, according to news24.com. The aircraft, operated by the Romanian airline Tarom, was carrying 120 passengers bound from Romania to a resort area in Egypt. It apparently struck a car that had been driven onto the runway to check the lighting. Visibility was poor due to thick fog. "A disaster was avoided thanks to the crew's professionalism," Tarom spokesman Gheorghe Barla told news24. He said the vehicle left on the runway was privately owned and had been "forgotten" there, and the control tower was unaware of its location. The accident is under investigation and no official cause has been determined. No video? Direct link here. Mechanical Problems Unlikely Cause Of Cirrus Crash The lead NTSB air safety investigator looking into last weekend’s fatal crash in California of a Cirrus SR22 Turbo piloted by Cirrus salesman Thomas Leveque told AVweb that she has "no reason to believe there was loss of any flight control prior to impact." Investigator Zoe Keliher, who works out of the NTSB’s Gardena, Calif., office, said she’s "focused on finding good reliable witnesses" and has already interviewed Leveque’s close friend, who told her Leveque was flying from San Carlos to Paso Robles on Sunday with the intention of spending the weekend with the friend and his wife. The friend told Keliher that Leveque flew past his house at 1,000-2,000 feet AGL, "as he had done many times before." Just prior to the fly-by, Leveque reportedly called the friend from his cellphone and "after a quick exchange, he hung up and the witness saw him do a series of descents and ascents followed by a turn, and the crash was shortly thereafter." Keliher said what’s left of the badly charred aircraft has been delivered to a storage yard near Los Angeles. Leveque was Western Region sales rep and demo pilot for Cirrus and the aircraft crashed on a ranch near Creston, Calif. Keliher, who is also a pilot and has investigated other Cirrus events, said she found a chip from the plane’s MFD that might contain additional information about the aircraft’s condition but she’s "not hopeful" due to the fire damage. Keliher said her preliminary report will be available on the NTSB’s website "in a couple of days." Leveque's death came days after Cirrus employees mourned the loss of another worker in Duluth who died of medical problems. Gill Aircraft Batteries Are Available at Aircraft Spruce Gill has become the OEM "original equipment battery" for Raytheon, Cessna, LearJet, Mooney, Piper, Ayres, Airtractor, Maule, Scheizer, and others in the aviation industry. Gill's "pink power" aircraft batteries offer a dramatic improvement in battery technology combined with the new international color for lead-acid aircraft batteries. Used by more aircraft manufacturers and the military than any other brand, Gill Batteries are furnished with Electrolyte (except overseas). For more information, call Aircraft Spruce at 1-877-4-SPRUCE, or visit online. Flying Tech back to top  Garmin's GNS480 Becomes An Orphan Garmin International told its dealers this week that the GNS480 GPS navigator will be discontinued due to declining sales, a development many owners had feared. Compared to Garmin's mega-selling GNS430 and 530 series navigators, the 480 sold in fractional numbers. But according to our sister magazine, Aviation Consumer, the product had a small but loyal following due to its unique flight management system-like capabilities, including a database with airways as a route option. Garmin acquired what was then the CNX80 when it bought UPSAT in 2003. UPSAT developed the technology for the first WAAS-capable navigators for light-aircraft GA and the CNX80 was WAAS ready long before Garmin's bigger selling boxes were. However, once the WAAS-capable GNS430W and 530W became available, CNS480 sales tanked. Garmin's Jessica Myers told AVweb that Garmin will continue to support both the CNX80 and GNS480 for "years and years," but that no new units will be sold once existing stock is gone, which is likely to be in 2008. NASA And CAFE Announce Technology Prizes For 2008 NASA and the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency project (CAFE) have partnered to create a new $300,000 Personal Air Vehicle Challenge for 2008. It will be a "Pentaviathon" that aims to advance five vital general aviation technologies: noise reduction, fuel efficiency, speed, safety and ease of use. This year, the event introduces its first-ever "Green Prize," which organizers say will test true "Environmental Efficiency." The $50,000 Green Prize will reward the competing aircraft that scores the highest MPGe, or equivalent miles per gallon, a measure based upon fuel price, fuel density and payload, after flying a CAFE 400 race course. Other prizes will recognize technological achievements in the five main categories, with special awards for light sport aircraft. Registration for the event opened on Dec. 23. The competition will be conducted at CAFE's Flight Test Center in Santa Rosa, Calif., from Aug. 2 to 10. More details and information for competitors can be found online. Precise Flight's High-Intensity Discharge Landing & Taxi Light Systems ... ... Are the brightest illumination available. The stellar combination of increased light output, reduced power consumption, superior lamp life, and brilliant light quality are a few of the major benefits of HID lighting. The PreciseLite HID landing light, approved for Cessna and Piper models, is now approved for Beechcraft Bonanzas with cowl-mounted lights replacing the existing cowl lamp and available in 12 and 24 volts. Click here for additional information. Airport Politics back to top  Voters - Or Fate? - To Decide Maine Airport's Future The future of a small municipal airport in Biddeford, Maine, will go on the ballot this year, so voters can decide if it should stay or go. The City Council is expected to decide this week whether a special election will be held, or if the question can wait until the general election in November. Opponents have argued that the airport costs the city money, and it would be better to sell the land to a developer for a few million dollars of profit. Mayor Joanne Twomey told the Sun Chronicle she will abide by the wishes of voters. "I am a big believer in democracy and the voice of the people," she said. She added that since there is a successful small airport 20 minutes away in Sanford, maybe Biddeford doesn't really need one. "I see this airport issue as one of priorities. We have a school that needs attention," she said. "My thought is we need to put our priority list out there." Local EAA and AOPA members have lobbied to preserve the airport, and a group called Friends of Biddeford Airport has been formed in hopes of convincing the City Council and voters that the airport has value. But ultimately, the airport's fate may be decided by more mysterious forces -- staffers at the Sun Chronicle asked a Magic 8 Ball, "Will Biddeford residents vote to keep the municipal airport open?" The response: "My sources say 'no.'" Questions Raised About Federal Air-Travel Subsidies If you've flown commercial lately, you know that spam-in-a-can feeling, but some travelers are finding themselves with room to stretch out aboard aircraft with vacancy rates of up to 89 percent -- thanks to government subsidies that keep the routes profitable for regional airlines serving low-density areas. Lawmakers in Washington recently allocated $110 million to the Transportation Department to fund the program in 2008. The subsidies have been expanding in recent years, USA Today reported this week. The newspaper's analysis of where the money goes shows that much of it supports local trips to airport hubs that could easily be replaced with road trips of less than two hours. Aircraft with up to 24 seats often fly with just a few passengers, and depend on the subsidies to remain profitable. The USA Today story is comprehensive and detailed, but one thing it doesn't mention -- why not replace those big, empty turboprops with smaller, more efficient GA aircraft? DOT administrators would like to see the program reduced, according to USA Today, but lawmakers continue to raise funding for it in response to industry lobbying. "Clearly, what we're doing now is not working because the list of cities getting the (subsidized) service is growing," Andrew Steinberg, the DOT's assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs, told USA Today. "The goal here should be to get sustainable solutions where the marketplace provides service. Unless we change our approach, the cost will go up." What Is the True Age of an Aircraft? Take the Air Safety Foundation's new online course — Aging Aircraft — to learn what factors affect aircraft aging and how to mitigate their risks. You'll get invaluable tips on how to recognize the symptoms of aircraft aging. Includes complimentary Buying and Renting Guides and information on manufacturer issues. Take this no-cost, online course now. News Briefs back to top  Germany's Remos Aircraft Expanding, Challenges Cessna Remos Aircraft, of Germany, has expanded its Light Sport Aircraft business in the U.S. with a new assembly plant in Arkansas. The company has been pushing an effort to entice away buyers of Cessna's SkyCatcher LSA, promising delivery within three months, much faster than the likely wait time for a new SkyCatcher order, plus a discount for Cessna buyers who switch. "The REMOS G-3 is the airplane that Cessna should have announced at AirVenture, and the G-3 is available today," said Michael Meirer, CEO of REMOS Aircraft. Meirer said the G-3 also offers a greater useful load -- 695 pounds vs. 490 for the SkyCatcher -- and it is built in Germany, "a country famous for its efficiency, modern technology and precision in manufacturing." Cessna, meanwhile, has been taking some flak over its decision to build its LSA in China. "Much of the feedback we heard was emotionally charged," Tom Aniello, marketing vice president, writes at the SkyCatcher Web site. Some comment areas at the site had to be taken down due to "non-conforming replies." Aniello added, "We have complete confidence that Shenyang Aircraft Company (SAC) will build the SkyCatcher to Cessna’s rigorous standards for safety, quality, reliability, value, and performance." Remos has leased a commercial hangar at Rogers Municipal Airport-Carter Field, the Morning News reported on Monday. The site will be used as a finishing center for the Remos G-3. There are 40 G-3s in the U.S. and 227 worldwide, according to the company. The airplane sells for about $110,000 to $128,000. Australia's Flying Doctors Struggling For Funds Despite growth in donations to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) of Australia -- contributions have nearly doubled in the last five years -- the outfit is still not able to provide the services required by remote patients in need, the Adelaide Advertiser reported on Tuesday. The group receives some government support but must raise its own money to pay for the repair, maintenance and replacement of its entire fleet of 44 aircraft. "Last year the Service flew over 16 million kilometres [almost 10 million miles], therefore these aircraft need to be replaced on a systematic basis, to ensure that they are safe and economical to operate," says the RFDS. The cost of replacement aircraft has almost doubled since 1997, says the group, due both to the exchange rate of the Australian dollar and the rising cost of aircraft. RFDS spokesman John Tobin told the Advertiser that requests for service also have been rising, from not only rural residents but urban Australians who are traveling in remote regions and in need of medical care. He added that the expectation of onboard medical services is also increasing, and the RFDS needs more money to provide defibrillators and other medical gear onboard. "In the next four years, we will spend $30 million on aircraft, medical equipment and upgrades to our facilities," Tobin said. "That's indicative of the financial requirement and a lot of that will come from fundraising." The Finer Points Delivers Weekly Training Tips "Great, love it! The music is a great addition and adds a bit of that sense of thrill and awe we all feel flying (or should feel), reminding us why we really love doing this. I have become especially appreciative of the professional, high-quality approach to both the format of the podcast and the approach to safe, fun flying at TFP." Visit TheFinerPoints.net. News Briefs back to top  Recreating John Glenn's Historic Flight, 50 Years Later Some AVweb readers may remember the effort that went into re-creating the first flight of the Wright Brothers for the 100th anniversary in 2003 -- despite earnest efforts and the assembly of a crack flight-test and construction team, the project met mixed success at best. But that's not discouraging Craig Russell, a former cargo jet pilot living in Alabama, who has latched on to the even more daunting mission of re-creating astronaut John Glenn's historic 1962 orbit around the Earth, 50 years later, on Feb. 20, 2012. So far Russell has been shopping the idea around, looking for supporters. Most have been encouraging but few have written checks. Russell estimates it would cost at least $45 million to buy a new rocket and create a reproduction of Glenn's Mercury space capsule, complete with parachute for a splash-down landing, but it would be well spent. "You have to believe," he told the Huntsville Times. "People either get it or they don't." If you think you get it, you can visit Russell's Web site for more info. Russell has attained tax-deductible status, and said he plans to continue the effort at least through 2008. If enough support fails to materialize, he told the Times he may abandon the project. In order to meet his timeline, he would need to procure a space vehicle sometime this year and begin astronaut training in 2010. On the Fly ... Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has been awarded a $2 million FAA grant to help develop the "Airport of the Future" at Daytona Beach International Airport ... An Australian traveler had to destroy two valuable bottles of vintage wine that were not allowed past an airport security checkpoint ... The pilot and two medical technicians died when their search-and-rescue helicopter crashed after hovering above the location of a lost hunter in Alabama on Sunday ... AOPA videos aim to inspire new pilot starts via YouTube. Leave the Paper Trail Behind ... ... Subscribe to AircraftLogs, a complete record-keeping solution for aviation. Whether you operate a single plane or a corporate fleet, AircraftLogs' digital services help you manage your operation easily and efficiently while keeping your records safe. Manage your data with AircraftLogs' FAA-compliant technology that streamlines flight operations, maintenance documentation, and financial information. Subscribe. Log in. Click. Fly. For complete details, call (888) 359-5647, or go online. New on AVweb back to top  Columns | Features | What's New | Calendar | Brainteasers Across the Pond #12: New Year, New GA Efforts in Europe As 2008 gets off to a cold start in many countries across Europe, Liz Moscrop reports on what's going on around the region. Click here for the full story. Over 16,000 Happy GAMIjectors® Customers Can't Be Wrong! GAMIjectors® have given these aircraft owners reduced peak cylinder head temperatures, reduced fuel consumption, and smoother engine operation. GAMIjectors® alter the fuel/air ratio in each cylinder so that each cylinder operates with a much more uniform fuel/air ratio than occurs with any other factory set of injectors. To speak to a GAMI engineer, call (888) FLY-GAMI, or go online for complete engineering details. Your Favorite FBOs back to top  FBO of the Week: 1st Class Air (KSPI, Springfield, IL) Nominate an FBO | Rules | Tips | Questions | Winning FBOs AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to 1st Class Air at KSPI in Springfield, Illinois. With storms criss-crossing the U.S. for the last few weeks, many of our most glowing recommendations have come from pilots who found themselves trapped in less-than-ideal conditions far from home. AVweb reader Scott Bartley was in just such a position, stopping at Springfield because of bad weather a little further north. When weather put the kibosh on his flight, the team at 1st Class air checked in Scott's crew car and got him a rental, and when he need to get back to the plane a day early (just after Thanksgiving!), 1st Class had it ready for the air. "Everything went smoothly despite my ever-changing plans," writes Scott. "This FBO will remain on my list of planned stops for all trips north." 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! StickyCharts — No Tape or Thumbtacks Required Your favorite FAA charts beautifully printed on removable adhesive backing. Easily map your route with dry-erase markers. Up to 4 feet tall, StickyCharts are delivered in a sturdy tube. Go online to order at StickyCharts.com. Tell Us What You Think back to top  Question of the Week: The Top Aviation Story of the Coming Year This Week's Question | Previous Week's Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Happy new year!  Last week, we asked AVweb readers to cast their eye back over 2007 and tell us which single story had the greatest impact on aviation over the past 12 months. A few of you pointed out stories that we'd completely overlooked or (just barely) decided not to include on our short list — things like the privatization of FSS, the Age 60 Rule being bumped up to the "Age 65 Rule," the growth of the very light jet market, and the commercial rollout of the Airbus A380. (Be sure to check out Monday's AVmail for a sampling of the great e-mails we received.) But, when all was said and done, most of our respondents thought the ongoing battle over user fees was the top story of the year. (Although the disappearance of Steve Fossett was a close second.) For the complete breakdown of answers, click here. (You may be asked to register and answer, if you haven't already participated in this poll.) THIS WEEK'S QUESTION *** Let's change gears a bit and ask, What do you think will be the biggest aviation story of the coming year? Click here to answer. If your nominee isn't listed, don't worry:  We've set up a (new) temporary address at 2008@avweb.com where you can tell us your contenders. Have an idea for a new "Question of the Week"? Send your suggestions to . NOTE: This address is only for suggested "QOTW" questions, and not for "QOTW" answers or comments. Use this form to send "QOTW" comments to our AVmail Editor. AVweb's Newstips Address ... Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something that 130,000 pilots might want to know about, tell us. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com. You're a part of our team ... often, the best part. Fly Somewhere! Use AVweb's Calendar of Events The skies are blue; you and your plane are ready. Check out AVweb's Calendar of Events for an event near you. If you have an event you want folks to know about, post it at no cost on AVweb's Calendar of Events. Reader-Submitted Photos back to top  Picture of the Week: AVweb's Flying Photography Showcase Submit a Photo | Rules | Tips | Questions | Past Winners Each week, we go through dozens (and sometimes hundreds) of reader-submitted photos and pick the very best to share with you on Thursday mornings.  The top photos are featured on AVweb's home page, and one photo that stands above the others is awarded an AVweb baseball cap as our "Picture of the Week."  Want to see your photo on AVweb.com?  Click here to submit it to our weekly contest. *** THIS WEEK'S WINNERS *** Even with a bellyful of holiday ham, AVweb readers know how to start off a new year in style!  Join us as we pore over the the best photos submitted by our readers in the last week of 2007. medium | large copyright © Robert L. Burns Used with permission "It's Lonely on Top" Robert (Bob) Burns of Mauckport, Indiana is back with another great photo, this time of the highly-recognizable P-51 Big Beautiful Doll.   medium | large copyright © Michael J. Gallagher Used with permission Climbing ... Climbing ... Speaking of familiar names, Michael J. Gallagher of Peoria, Illinois finds himself in "POTW" for the second week in a row — and his description is almost as riveting as the photo:  "The F-15E Strike Eagle screams overhead and plies through the smoke after pyrotechnics detonated during the 2007 Rockford, Illinois air show. Shot from the pyro field."   medium | large Used with permission of Kenneth Tomb Frank Luke Tribute Kenneth Tomb of Chandler, Arizona dials it back just a bit, taking us off the air show field and into the more serene surroundings of Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport, where "this Spad was recently put on display in Terminal 3 ... to honor Frank Luke, the Arizona Medal of Honor winner."  According to Kenneth, this aircraft is similar to the one Luke flew in WW1, but was restored by GossHawk Unlimited in Casa Grande.   medium | large copyright © Geza S. Bodor Used with permission Team Breitling Geza Bodor of Denver, Colorado amps things up again with another shot from the Red Bull Air Races in Monument Valley.  This time, it's Nigel Lamb in his MX2 getting our blood pumping ... .   medium | large Used with permission of Jason Tepool Phoenix Sky Harbor Jason Tepool of Colorado Springs, Colorado flies us out this week — with a shot taking while he was flying in to Sky Harbor. Send us your photos here! Want to see more reader-submitted shots?  There's always a few surprises in the slideshow on our home page. — A quick note for submitters:  If you've got several photos that you feel are "POTW" material, your best bet is to submit them one-a-week!  That gives your photos a greater chance of seeing print on AVweb, and it makes the selection process a little easier on us, too.  ;) A Reminder About Copyrights:s: Please take a moment to consider the source of your image before submitting to our "Picture of the Week" contest. If you did not take the photo yourself, ask yourself if you are indeed authorized to release publication rights to AVweb. If you're uncertain, consult the POTW Rules or or send us an e-mail. More AVweb for Your Inbox back to top  AVwebBiz: AVweb's Business Aviation Newsletter HAVE YOU SIGNED UP yet for AVweb's NO-COST weekly business aviation newsletter, AVwebBiz? Reporting on breaking news, Business AVflash focuses on the companies, the products and the industry leaders that make headlines in the business aviation industry. Business AVflash is a must read. Sign up today at http://www.avweb.com/profile/. Names Behind the News back to top  Meet the AVwebFlash Team AVwebFlash is a weekly summary of the latest news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the internet's aviation magazine and news service. The AVwebFlash 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 Click here to send a letter to the editor. (Please let us know if your letter is not intended for publication.) Comments or questions about the news should be sent here. Have a product or service to advertise on AVweb? A question on marketing? Send it to AVweb's sales team. If you're having trouble reading this newsletter in its HTML-rich format (or if you'd prefer a lighter, simpler format for your PDA or handheld device), there's also a text-only version of AVwebFlash. For complete instructions on making the switch, click here. Aviate. Navigate. Communicate.