FAA, CONTROLLERS AGREE ON SAFETY PROTOCOL
The FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association announced on Monday that they will work together to implement a new safety plan. The Air Traffic Safety Action Program is designed to "foster a voluntary, cooperative, non-punitive environment for the open reporting of safety-of-flight concerns by employees of the FAA," according to a joint FAA/NATCA news release. "Creating an atmosphere where controllers and their managers can identify, report and correct safety issues will go a long way in helping us further improve our safety record," said acting FAA Administrator Bobby Sturgell. On Tuesday, the FAA released a new controller-hiring plan, and said its current plan is on track. The agency hired more than 1,800 controllers last year and expects to hire nearly 1,900 in fiscal year 2008. More...

SEAPLANE ACCESS TO WESTERN LAKES RESTORED
The federal Bureau of Reclamation, which closed off seaplane access to hundreds of lakes in a 2006 rule, has announced it will revise that regulation, the Seaplane Pilots Association said last week. The 2006 rule, which cited security concerns, closed over 400 lakes in 17 Western states to seaplane operations. Many of those lakes had been used by seaplane pilots for years. Hendrik Willems, of the Bureau of Reclamation, said a new rule will be published within the next two months that will restore access to pre-2006 status. "Today’s announcement is a major step toward a satisfactory long-term solution," said James McManus, executive director of the Seaplane Pilots Association. More...

NATCA'S ARCHIE AWARDS HONOR ATC SAVES
The annual Archie Awards given out by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association are a stark reminder that every time we launch into the big sky, we face the unexpected -- and sometimes the voice at the other end of the radio can be a lifeline. The awards, named after the first air traffic controller, recognize the efforts of controllers who respond to potentially dangerous situations. This year's award winners helped guide an out-of-fuel pilot to a safe off-airport landing in Alaska, aided a pilot during a two-hour ordeal when his icy airplane wouldn't get stabilized on approach, and directed a confused pilot at night who followed a controller's vectors to a safe landing. More...

BLIND PILOT FLIES SUPERSONIC
Miles Hilton-Barber, 59, an Englishman who has been blind for about 20 years, on Sunday flew with a sighted co-pilot at speeds up to 1,100 mph over Cape Town, South Africa. The English Electric Lightning jet climbed to 50,000 feet in under two minutes, according to the BBC. The record-setting event raised £50,000 for the charity Seeing is Believing, which helps blind children in developing countries. "There are 37 million blind people in the world today, and 28 million could see again tomorrow if the money was available," Hilton-Barber said. He previously flew an ultralight from London to Sydney, and has also tried wingwalking and mountain climbing. More...

THE CASE FOR AERIAL SEATBELTS
A pilot went for a swim and his airplane went flying without him after some unfortunate control inputs during a flight in Florida last September. According to the NTSB's final report, released on Monday, the pilot flew to Lake Okeechobee to practice touch and goes in his Aventura II, a light experimental amphibian. When the pilot arrived at the lake, he turned into the wind and the nose of the airplane rose. He over-corrected, and the abrupt movement jolted his hand on the throttle, causing him to inadvertently apply full power and push the flight controls to the left. The sharp left turn threw him out the right side of the airplane. Anthony Bencivenga, 67, of Port St. Lucie, told the Palm Beach Post that a pontoon hit the water, and somehow he accidentally released the buckle of his safety harness. He found himself in the water with no life jacket and no glasses. "I couldn't see a thing," he said. "I was just praying to Jesus ... I said, if I'm going to die please drown me first before the alligators get me." A friend who was flying nearby spotted him in the water and called for help. More...

AIRLINE PAYS PASSENGERS TO FILL SEATS
Facing a deadline to meet a target on its route from Norwich, England, to Dublin, local airline Flybe paid 172 temp workers to fill the seats, Reuters reported on Monday. The airline had to transport at least 15,000 passengers on the route in the 12 months ending on Monday, or it would forfeit a 280,000-pound ($550,000) rebate from the airport. The airline tried to negotiate a partial rebate for coming close, but the airport said it was all or nothing. Flybe also offered free flights to all comers via its Web site, but when it still came up short, the temps were enticed with an open bar. Richard Jenner, managing director of the airport, called the airline's strategy "ludicrous" and said the target had to be met by regular fare-paying passengers, Reuters reported. More...

ALOHA AIRLINES' FINAL FLIGHT
"This is an incredibly dark day for Hawaii," said David Banmiller, Aloha Airlines' president and chief executive officer, as the airline completed its last flight on Monday, after 61 years of operation. "We simply ran out of time to find a qualified buyer or secure continued financing for our passenger business," he said. Banmiller blamed "unfair competition" for driving the airline out of business. Mesa Air Group's go! airline started up operations in Hawaii two years ago, offering inter-island fares as low as $19 each way. The Aloha shutdown will affect about 1,900 employees, although many of them may continue working in Aloha's air cargo unit while the U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeks bids from potential buyers. The last flight was flown from Kahului with the company's most senior pilot and most junior pilot in the cockpit. More...

SUN 'N FUN NEXT WEEK, AVWEB WILL BE THERE
The aviation season gets off to a running start in Lakeland, Fla., next week with the opening of the annual Sun 'n Fun fly-in, Tuesday through Sunday. AVweb will be there with daily news reports, video, and podcasts. Light sport aircraft will get lots of exposure, with an expanded LSA Mall located right near the main entrance. The Commemorative Air Force will fly in about a half dozen antique aircraft. The seaplane splash-in is moving this year to the lake adjacent to Kermit Weeks' Fantasy of Flight aviation museum. All the big aircraft manufacturers will be there, with new products and special deals, and we'll be there to keep you in the loop every day. More...

ON THE FLY ...
The GEnx engine, which will power Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, FAA certified...
FAA safety team was dismayed by Alaska flight instructors' lack of interest...
AOPA gets some murky clarification from Florida re its use tax for aircraft...
The NTSB wants glider pilots to use transponders. More...

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

PROBABLE CAUSE #55: NOW WHAT?
Before you shoot an approach, know what you're going to do when you get to the missed-approach point. A Bonanza pilot apparently didn't and paid for it with his life. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE MIGS, DON'T FLY IN MIG ALLEY (APPLIES ALSO TO F-16S)
Be sure to visit our new blog, AVweb Insider, for personal insights and commentary on the aviation industry from our staff of writers and editors. In his most recent post, Editorial Director of Aviation Publications Paul Bertorelli shares some concerns about the recent incursion by a Pilatus and Beech Premier into a military operations area -- and their subsequent run-in with an F-16:

I'm trying to be sympathetic here, but as a former F-16 and now airline pilot friend of mine says, if you play in the sandbox, expect to get sand in your shoes. The rules of operating inside active MOAs are clearly stated in the Aeronautical Information Manual. I won't quote it chapter and verse here, but the upshot is you're permitted to use the airspace, but you do so at your own risk, unless you're under IFR.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: YOUR 2008 AIR SHOW TRAVEL PLANS
As we're packing up to head south for Sun 'n Fun, now's a good time to ask about readers' plans for this (busy-looking) air show season. Plus: The most popular method for saving fuel when you fly, courtesy of AVweb readers who answered last week's Question. More...

GOT CYLINDERS? TELL US ABOUT YOUR SERVICE HISTORY
Our sister publication, Aviation Consumer, is conducting a survey on aircraft engine cylinder products. If you've done an overhaul during the past several years, the magazine's editors would like to hear from you on how the cylinders have performed. Just click on this link to take the survey.

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

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...

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: LOCKHEED U-2S "DRAGON LADY" COCKPIT TOUR
The Lockheed U-2 has been in service for over 50 years. It has been at the center of some of the most tense moments in America's history. AVweb's Glenn Pew takes you inside the cockpit on a guided tour with an active U-2 pilot. (Click through to watch.) More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: LANDMARK AVIATION (NORFOLK, VA)

Today, AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Landmark Aviation at KORF in Norfolk, Virginia, which was recommended to us by AVweb readers David & Roberta McKenna, who write:

The line staff and front counter girls were outstanding, giving [us] a truly excellent experience. We were given the AOPA 25¢ fuel discount, a reservation at Windmark Hotel for $68(not a misprint!), their shuttle to and from the FBO, and a restaurant recommendation. Outstanding service!

Are you running out of good FBOs to tell us about? Nominations have dropped off a bit, so we hope you'll keep telling us about great FBOs around the country.

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!

PICTURE OF THE WEEK: AVWEB'S FLYING PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWCASE
David J. Benna of Ames, Iowa kicks things off today with a little stormy weather. "There were about seven lightning strikes around the Ankeny (Iowa) Airport this night," David writes. "It was a great night for this type of lightning." (Great for the lightning, perhaps, but not so great for pilots ... .) As you read this, our crack team of editors, reporters, gophers, and ne'er-do-wells are packing their bags, checking their flights, and gearing up for Sun 'n Fun in Lakeland, Florida. Remember that "POTW" will be on hiatus next week as we struggle to ogle all the cool planes at the show — but that doesn't mean you're off the hook, dear readers! We hope you'll continue to submit your photos so we can have a great batch of "Pictures of the Week" when we return from the show. 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

Contributing Editors
Mary Grady
Glenn Pew

Features Editor
Kevin Lane-Cummings

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