CONGRESS SEEKS RESULTS ON RUNWAY SAFETY ISSUES
Progress on reducing runway incursions is impeded by a lack of leadership in the FAA as well as technology challenges, a Congressional committee was told by Gerald Dillingham, of the Government Accountability Office, on Wednesday. Dillingham's report also cited NTSB concerns about air traffic controller fatigue, which may result from regularly working overtime. The House Subcommittee on Aviation convened the hearing to discuss how runway safety can be improved. AOPA President Phil Boyer said his group will commit to expanding programs to educate pilots in 2008, but the FAA also needs to do more to make runway safety "a national priority." The FAA said it is expediting its certification process to get better equipment into cockpits faster. "We are actively working on an application from Jeppesen [for a GPS moving-map system], and we expect they will complete certification soon," the FAA said in a fact sheet released on Tuesday. More...

PISTON SALES SLIP SLIGHTLY
Piston single sales continue to buck the trend in a generally robust general aviation industry. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association released its annual statistics (PDF) on aircraft deliveries, and piston aircraft sales were down slightly at 2,675, compared to 2,755 in 2006. Business jets simply blew away other sectors in all aspects. "Aside from the record set for year-end billings, the industry also experienced an all-time high in business jet shipments, delivering over 1,000 units for the first time in history," GAMA reported. In fact, business jets accounted for more than 25 percent of the impressive total of 4,272 aircraft sold in 2007, with 1,186 delivered. More...

ADAM EMPLOYEES HOPEFUL, INDUSTRY LESS SO
There appears to be little optimism among aviation industry leaders that Adam Aircraft will be resurrected. Sources speaking on condition of anonymity have told AVweb that the prevailing opinion is that the company will fold. Adam officials are expected to reach a decision on the future by the end of this week after suspending operations on Monday. Hours after being sent home, employees gathered JD's Bait Shop Sports Grill were relatively upbeat. According to the Denver Post, rather than crying in their beers, the 20 or so Adam employees there expressed hope that someone with money will see the company they way they do. "We're all here tonight because we love this company," quality control worker Ray Romero told the Post. "We want to be there, but there's no money. We're a privately funded company. We have a beautiful product." More...

LAWSUITS BUILD AGAINST SILVER STATE HELICOPTERS FOUNDER AIROLA, LENDERS
Lawyers from across the country are busily rallying former students of Nevada-based Silver State Helicopters, which abruptly went out of business and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection two weeks ago. More...

FAA REWARDS EFFORTS TO REDUCE AVIATION'S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The FAA is presenting its 2007 Excellence in Aviation Research Awards to Professor Ian Waitz at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and to a U.S. Air Force fuel research team. "Aviation needs to continue to get greener," said FAA spokesman Dan Elwell. "Dr. Waitz and the Air Force team are taking the steps to put a big dent in aviation’s environmental footprint. Their work is going to make a difference across the face of our entire planet." Waitz and his research team are working on ways to reduce air and noise pollution from aviation. The U.S. Air Force team has developed a synthetic fuel blend for the B-52 fleet. The blended fuel has less exhaust smoke and fewer particulate emissions than standard fuel. More...

HAWKER BEECHCRAFT TYPE CERTIFIES HAWKER 750
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation announced on Tuesday that the FAA has awarded type certification to its newest aircraft, the light-midsize Hawker 750. The Hawker 750 has the same fuselage and wings as the midsize Hawker 800 series, providing the largest cabin in the light-midsize aircraft segment, the company says. The new model aims to reach new customers for the company, and is already sold out through 2010. "This aircraft has the perfect combination of reliability and operating efficiency, while incorporating a large luxurious cabin with internal and external baggage areas," said Brad Hatt, president, Commercial Aircraft. The 750, which can carry up to eight passengers, has a 2,116-nm NBAA IFR range. More...

NEXTGEN WEATHER GURUS SEEK INDUSTRY INPUT
How will operators use the advanced weather information and tools promised by the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen)? The Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO) hosted a conference in Washington, D.C., this week to collect ideas on the matter from various government and industry subject matter experts. More than 200 people attended. More...

MIDWEST MODIFICATIONS OFFERS MOONEY UPGRADES
Two power-boosting changes for Mooney aircraft by Midwest Modifications have been granted STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) approval from the FAA, the company announced on Tuesday. One STC allows the company to modify the 280-hp turbocharged engine of the Mooney Acclaim to increase the maximum power to 310 hp. With this change, Midwest says, the Mooney Acclaim and Acclaim Type S versions will take off with a shorter roll, climb at a higher rate and reach top speed faster. Midwest Modifications also won FAA approval to install the Hartzell composite propeller for three Mooney models -- M20R, S, and TN. The composite propeller is about 16 pounds lighter than the metal prop and offers a boost in climb performance, the company said. More...

REEL STUFF FILM FESTIVAL DEBUTS IN DAYTON
The National Aviation Hall of Fame will host the First Annual Reel Stuff Film Festival of Aviation on April 24-26 in Dayton, Ohio. The series of eight classic and contemporary Hollywood productions and documentary films will celebrate aviation history and the passion for flight. Each movie will be introduced by an actor, producer, aerial coordinator or cinematographer associated with its production, and an audience question-and-answer session will follow. Actor Cliff Robertson will introduce the 1964 drama "633 Squadron," and aviator Clay Lacy will introduce the 1986 hit "Top Gun" and the 2005 IMAX film "Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag." Lacy was a pioneer in developing the air-to-air cinematic techniques used in both films. More...

ON THE FLY ...
Alaska Airmen are raffling off a Supercub, tickets are $50...
Red Bull Air Races will add Detroit to U.S. schedule...
Diamond Aircraft got production authority for DA40-TDI in China...
King Schools gave away a Cessna 172S this week to sweepstakes winner...
NASA has scholarships in aeronautics to give away to deserving students. More...

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. What have you heard? More...

ABACE: OLYMPICS KICKSTARTS BIZAV GROWTH
National Business Aviation Association President Ed Bolen opened the third Asian Business Association Conference and Exhibition today in Hong Kong by telling delegates the economic growth in the region makes aviation a natural partner for success. "There is no doubt that the future is bright for business aviation in Asia. China, in particular, as one of the fastest growing economies in the world and fueled by the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games brings exciting opportunities for business aviation growth," he told the opening session. Attendees and exhibitors are shivering in an unseasonably cold Hong Kong for the show. ABACE is smaller than last year, but is demonstrating that it still has value for manufacturers and regional operators. About 50 exhibitors and 800 registered attendees have flown in from all over the world and there is obviously brisk business afoot, with customer demonstrations and tours going on all day. More...

Columns | Features | What's New | Calendar | Brainteasers

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: AMAZING FEATS OF AVIATION — DHL BAGHDAD
Recounting one of the most impressive feats in recent aviation history, AVweb video editor Glenn Pew recalls the circumstances of the DHL A300 shot by a surface-to-air missile over Baghdad. The crew successfully landed the aircraft without the ability to manipulate any control surfaces. (Note: The aircraft shown in simulation is a Boeing 777, not an Airbus A300.) (Click through to watch.) More...

THE SAVVY AVIATOR #54: HOW MUCH INSURANCE DO YOU NEED?
It's important to carry enough liability insurance to protect your net worth. When it comes to hull insurance, however, having too much is almost as bad as having too little. More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: NORTH LAS VEGAS AIRPORT (VGT, LAS VEGAS, NV)

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to the FBO at North Las Vegas Airport (VGT) in Las Vegas, Nevada.

AVweb's own Mike Busch has nominated these folks before, pointing out that "the same customer service people have been working there for as long as I can remember (zero turnover), so they really know what they're doing." In addition, Mike tells us, "The facility is very nice, and the avgas prices are always extremely competitive (particularly at the self-serve island close to the GA terminal). There's a regular shuttle service that runs between the GA terminal and the hotels on the Strip."

So why is Mike so eager to have us make VGT's FBO our "FBO of the Week"? Well, there's this:

About my only complaint is that there's a restaurant up on the second floor of the terminal building with a lovely view of the airport, but they seem to have a hard time keeping it open. It has changed hands a number of times and keeps going out of business, which is a bummer. Maybe if VGT [is] the "FBO of the Week," it'll get so much new business that they can keep the restaurant open!

One can only hope! Congrats to the folks at VGT for running such a tight operation. (Mike, bring us back a hamburger.)

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!

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: THE FUTURE OF ADAM AIRCRAFT
Following Adam Aircraft's decision to suspend operations on Monday, there have been quite a few long faces among fans of very light jets. This week, we'd like to hear your prediction for Adam's future: Will the company (or its products) be resurrected? Plus: Rising fuel prices vs. the threat of user fees — in the last seven days, which did AVweb readers say had a better chance of grounding them? More...

TELL US ABOUT YOUR INTERIOR SHOP
Our sister publication, Aviation Consumer, is preparing a report on interior shops. If you recently had an interior redone, the editors would like to hear from you, whether the experience was good or bad. To take part in the online survey, click here.

The results will appear in a future issue of Aviation Consumer. For subscription information, click here. More...

PICTURE OF THE WEEK: AVWEB'S FLYING PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWCASE
The number of submissions to our weekly photo contest may have crept up again this week — but the quality skyrocketed! With so many gorgeous photos in our submission box, we're jumping straight to the goods. (Watch for an extra-large batch of bonus pics in this week's slideshow on our home page.) With a scene so evocative we can hardly believe it was taken "in the backyard of a client's house," Justin Heitman of Airlie Beach, Queensland (Australia) claims the top spot today. Justin and crew were "on the way to a helicopter safari with 11 helicopters traveling through Tasmania" when he snapped this on his Nikon. More...

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/. More...

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

Managing Editor
Meredith Saini

Contributing Editors
Mary Grady
Glenn Pew

Features Editor
Kevin Lane-Cummings

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