April 17, 2008

By The AVweb Editorial Staff

In Print & Online, Trade-A-Plane Has Everything That Keeps You Flying Get 24 issues (two years) for just $24.95 (U.S., standard mail), including no-cost access to Trade-A-Plane's web site, which is updated daily. Subscribe by calling (800) 337-5263 and mentioning this AVwebFlash, or subscribe online. Top News: Aviation Safety back to top  NTSB Reports Substantial Drop In GA Fatalities General aviation fatalities decreased 30 percent last year compared to the year before, the NTSB reported on Wednesday, down from 703 to 491. It was the lowest annual total in more than 40 years. "The U.S. aviation industry has produced an admirable safety record in recent years," said NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker. "However, we must not become complacent. We must continue to take the lessons learned from our investigations and use them to create even safer skies for all aircraft operators and their passengers." The overall number of GA accidents was up, rising from 1,518 in 2006 to 1,631 in 2007. Estimated flight hours were down slightly, and the overall accident rate per 100,000 flight hours showed a slight increase. This year's fatal accident rate of 1.19 per 100,000 hours is the lowest since 1999. The statistics, which are posted online, are preliminary, the NTSB said. Take Immediate and Aggressive Action ... ... with H3R Aviation Fire Extinguishers from Aircraft Spruce. In AC120-80, the FAA recommends "Immediate and Aggressive Action" against in-flight fires and states, "... Halon fire extinguishers are your best choice." H3R Aviation offers the largest selection of Halon fire extinguishers in the industry, from a 12-oz. flight bag accessory to a 150-lb. wheeled unit for the flight line. All are in stock and ready to ship at Aircraft Spruce. Call 1 (877) 4-SPRUCE or visit online. Excitement! (The Good Kind and the Bad Kind) back to top  Rocket Racing To Debut At AirVenture The Rocket Racing League, which is made up of modified Velocity experimental aircraft with a rocket strapped on the back, will debut its first-ever exhibition race at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh this summer. Two Rocket Racers will compete, and the pilots will carry in-cockpit cameras to broadcast the action live on multiple large projection screens. "EAA has followed the development of the Rocket Racing League concept with great interest," said EAA President Tom Poberezny. "We are excited about the opportunity to develop a whole new audience of aviation enthusiasts, while at the same time promoting aviation innovation." The races will be held Friday and Saturday, Aug. 1 and 2. Initial test flights for the Rocket Racers will take place in May at Mojave, Calif. Pending FAA approval following those flights, the AirVenture exhibition races would be the first of four exhibitions this year. Races are scheduled for the Reno National Championship Air Races in September; at the X Prize Cup in Las Cruces, N.M., at a date to be determined; and at Aviation Nation, Nellis AFB, in Las Vegas, Nov. 8-9. The Rocket Racing League also announced last week that it has acquired Velocity Aircraft and will produce a consistent airframe for all competing racers. Also, Armadillo Aerospace will manufacture liquid oxygen engines for the league. Airplane Stolen At Gunpoint In Mexico A pilot and his family were in their Cessna Stationair on Tuesday, preparing to take off from a dirt runway in Baja California, when they were forced at gunpoint to abandon the airplane, Bob Collins, president of the Aircraft Crime Prevention Institute, told AVweb. "Three men jumped the fence, then three others in a Nissan Sentra pulled onto the runway, blocking it," Collins said. "One of them had a gun, and they broke a window in the airplane and forced the family out. They pushed the Sentra off to the side and torched it, then all six of them climbed into the airplane. There was baggage in there too, and it barely made it into the air," Collins said. ACPI had issued an alert recently that aircraft thefts are rising in the border region. "Mexican officials are seizing aircraft, so smugglers are out looking for new ones," he said. They prefer U.S. airplanes, he added, because they tend to be better-maintained and newer than local aircraft. The pilot and his family were not hurt, Collins said. The Mulege Airstrip is a general aviation dirt airstrip that is located two miles northeast of Mulege, near the Hotel Serenidad in the northern part of Baja California Sur. The World of Flight Gathers at EAA AirVenture EAA AirVenture is The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration. Whatever your favorite aircraft, you'll find it along the flight line in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Plus nearly 1,000 forums, workshops, and seminars; 750+ exhibitors; daily air shows; evening programs; and more add up to the event of a lifetime! Go online for more information. SPECIAL! Buy now and save! Advance ticket purchases now available online. More Details on Delta-Northwest Merger back to top  Delta Airlines-Northwest Airlines Deal Far From Done As details of the Delta and Northwest "merger" emerge, the number of affected parties continues to grow and it's looking like some key people weren't consulted--like Northwest's pilots. Northwest's pilot's union claims the deal was structured around a new fat contract for Delta pilots and Northwest pilots will suffer, resulting in class warfare on the flight decks. "The labor discord that will result from the current structure of this merger is likely to overwhelm the potential economic positives. We will not tolerate being a B-scale airline due to an unfair contract," union president Dave Stevens said. Then there's the question of whether Minneapolis-St. Paul, Northwest's current home, will continue to be a major hub of the "world's largest airline." Regardless of the customer service angle, it's already been decided that head office of the new airline will be in Atlanta and the current CEO of Northwest, Doug Steenland wasn't exactly direct in his comments on the disposition of his MSP headquarters staff. "We want to be in a position to make commitments on those topics, and we have indicated to the elected officials here that as the transition plans develops, and we can be more specific, we'd like to sit down and have that conversation," he said. Another interesting point is the market's view of the merger proposal. Stock in both airlines dropped on the news. "Wall Street was looking for more insight in terms of how to integrate these disparate pilot unions onto a single labor agreement," airline analyst Brian Nelson told Minnesota Public Radio. "I don't think Delta came out and said it would be aggressive enough with their capacity reduction to really help this industry move forward. And, of course, there's going to be $1 billion in integration costs." Federal regulators have yet to chime in, too. Aircraft Financing to Fit Your Needs AirFleet Capital offers a competitive and experienced approach to each and every loan program by focusing exclusively on aircraft financing. AirFleet Capital provides exceptional terms coupled with personal service and a long-term commitment to support the business and shared passion of aviation. From Light Sport Aircraft to VLJs and Business Jets, AirFleet Capital has a loan program to fit your needs. Call an AirFleet Capital financing specialist at (800) 390-4324, or request a quote online. New Airplanes back to top  Embraer Rolls Out Phenom 300 Embraer rolled out the first Phenom 300 light jet and ground testing will begin shortly in advance of its first flight. Work has already begun on the second Phenom 300. "We are thrilled to see the Phenom 300 become a reality," said Luís Carlos Affonso, Embraer Executive Vice President, Executive Jets. "The Phenom 300... will set a new standard for the light jet category." The 300 was rolled out 10 months after the smaller Phenom 100 was completed. The first Phenom 300 was started about a year ago and 400 engineers have been working on the project. No date has been finalized for the first flight. Audio and video of the event can be found here. Pilatus Displays Next Generation PC-12 The Pilatus PC-12, a well-respected workhorse, has been given a 21st century makeover. The company displayed an example of its next generation model that was certified days before Sun 'n Fun 2008 opened in Lakeland, Fla. The biggest change is installation of a Honewell Primus Apex glass panel, a variation of the Honeywell system found in large business jets and is the base system for Gulfstream's Planeview. Pilatus spokesman Mike Haenggi said the version used in the PC-12NG is optimized for single pilot operation. The latest PC-12 also gets more power. The big single is powered by a Pratt and Whitney PT6A-67P which develops 1,200 hp. Haenggi said the new engine incorporates metallurgical improvements that allow higher operating temperatures and that translates to a 10-knot increase in cruise speed to 280. Pilatus also retained BMW to design the interior and the result is a modern feel that matches the technology up front. Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. Piper Matrix — Piper Compelling Click here for more information on the new Matrix, Piper's next generation of cabin-class sophistication. Compellingly priced at $757,000. News Briefs back to top  Army Soldiers Escape SUV During F-16 Strafing In Utah Two Army soldiers were inside an SUV that was destroyed when an F-16 fired upon it at a training range in Utah last week. The two were able to escape with minor injuries. It was unclear whether the vehicle was hit by the jet's 20-mm cannon fire or if it crashed after the soldiers jumped out, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. The soldiers were taking part in a night training exercise at the Utah Test and Training Range. Live air-to-ground exercises are often practiced at the range, the Tribune said, and can involve firing on abandoned vehicles. It was not clear if the Army soldiers were in an area where they were not supposed to be, or if the jet pilot fired on the wrong target. Both soldiers were treated and have reported back to duty. Next For Airplanes, Mother-of-Pearl Skins? Scientists from the University of Dayton Research Institute have manipulated the process of shell and pearl formation in oysters to demonstrate a method for depositing pearl-like coatings onto various metal surfaces, such as an aircraft, according to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, which is funding the study. The findings could lead to the development of new lightweight, durable coatings that would protect aircraft from impact and corrosion, the USAF said. The Air Force currently uses protective ceramic coatings on aircraft for various purposes, but officials said this new nonhazardous process could create ceramics at room temperature and pressure. Existing methods require a high-temperature, high-pressure environment. Doug Hansen, a University of Dayton Research Institute senior research scientist, maintains live oysters in the lab and uses them to demonstrate ceramic deposition inside and outside of the organism. The researchers insert small pieces of metal into the oysters, which triggers the formation of pearl. They also take blood cells out of the oysters, which when placed on metal behave as if they are growing a shell on the surface. If Aircraft Insurance Brokers Say They Cover the Whole Market ... Why can't they get a quote from Avemco? Because Avemco is the only direct provider of aviation insurance that lets you talk directly to the aviation underwriter for fast, accurate answers. So if a broker tells you they cover the whole market, they're only telling you half the story. Call (888) 241-7891 or visit online for the rest of the story. News Briefs back to top  On the Fly ... A bird strike likely caused the crash that killed two University of North Dakota students last year, according to investigators at the school, the school newspaper reported... Red Bull Air Races come to San Diego on May 3 and 4, and on to Detroit, May 31 and June 1... Diamond's third D-jet has flown for the first time. The flight lasted about an hour and a half, and all went according to plan, the company said. 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. You're a part of our team ... often, the best part. 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. New on AVweb back to top  This Isn't Mig Alley, Mr. Bertorelli MOAs are for everyone, not just the military, says a retired USAF flight instructor and safety officer. Click here for the full story. AVweb Insider Blog: New Posts from Sun 'n Fun Speaking of the AVweb Insider, our blog was hopping last week during Sun 'n Fun. Look for on-site reports from staffers and a nifty behind-the-scenes photo of Patty Wagstaff doing her signature inverted ribbon cut while wired up with AVweb video equipment. Read more. Question of the Week: Synthetic Vision — Must-Have Tech? Or All Bells-and-Whistles? This Week's Question | Previous Week's Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last time out (the week before Sun 'n Fun), we asked how many air shows and/or fly-ins our readers have pencilled in on their calendars for 2008. The most popular answer (by far) was one or two — with a surprising 18% of those who responded saying they would attend none (!) and a scant 2% telling us they planned to attend more than 10. Sounds like we can look forward to seeing quite a few of you at AirVenture in Oshkosh this summer! To see how the other three potential answers (and the ever-popular none of the above and all of the above) ranked, click here. (You may be asked to register and answer if you haven't already participated in this poll.) THIS WEEK'S QUESTION *** At last week's Sun 'n Fun show, the hot new announcements in avionics were about so-called synthethic vision. Garmin announced its own new system, and Diamond is already offering it in the DA40 Star. What's your view of synthetic vision? (Click to answer.) 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. Brainteasers Quiz #132: Peek Behind the ATC Curtain The Pilot/Controller Glossary contains terms used on both sides of the NAS fence. Too often, pilots don't understand controller phrases, and controllers don't know the pilot stuff. You'll know it all by acing this quiz. Take the quiz. More Brainteasers The AVweb Bookstore, The Most Complete Aviation Bookstore Anywhere Over 400 titles representing 52 publishers are in stock and ready for immediate delivery — as books, videos, or CDs. 100+ titles available instantly as fully searchable e-Book downloads. Whether you are a pilot, an A&P technician, or a kit airplane builder, if it's worth reading, it's available from the AVweb Bookstore. Click here to visit online. Your Favorite FBOs back to top  FBO of the Week: Amelia Reid Aviation (KRHV, San Jose, CA) Nominate an FBO | Rules | Tips | Questions | Winning FBOs AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Amelia Reid Aviation at KRHV in San Jose, California. AVweb reader Konstantin Blank recommended the FBO, citing the unique training experience: Amelia Reid Aviation is a rare place where you get excellent flight instruction while connecting with the roots of aviation. While they instruct for all airplane ratings, the spcialty is in tailwheel aircraft ... a place where hangar flying is a both a pleasure and valuable (non-loggable) flight experience. I recommend everyone get a tailwheel transition training here as it will be fun and make you a better pilot. While tailwheel training isn't on our list for this year, we'll definitely spread the word. (And now we know a good FBO in San Jose to stop in on during our travels.) 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! Stuck on the Freeway? Put That "Down Time" to Good Use with Pilot's Audio Update Subscribe to Pilot's Audio Update and receive monthly CDs with topics from "Expediting an IFR Approach" and "Airplane Trim Systems" to "Carburetor Ice" and "Low Workload Maneuvering." Subscribe now to receive the Acing the Flight Review CD as a gift with your order. 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 *** As we were packing up for Sun 'n Fun, we asked AVweb readers to keep submitting pictures, promising that we'd dive back in as soon as we returned. You guys certainly lived up to your end of the bargain, uploading nearly 150 photos over the past two weeks. Now that we're back in front of our submission pile, it's time for us to pull our weight and start dishing out pics. So let's go! medium | large copyright © Geoff Sobering Used with permission "Moonbeam McSwine" in the Glow That's the glow of three balloons preparing for take-off during the Manitowoc (Wis.) "Thunder on the Lake Shore" air show, courtesy of Madison's Geoff Sobering. Geoff makes a good case for subtle photo manipulations here, detailing in his comments how difficult it was to balance the glow of those burners and the darkness of those shadows under Moonshine's nose. The result, however, is pretty spectacular.   medium | large copyright © Joshua Griswold Used with permission Sunset Departure from Boston On the subject of crispness and color manipulations, Joshua Griswold (of New York City) offers up this composite put together from three different exposures.   medium | large Used with permission of Peter D. Howell At Least They Plowed! There's plenty of contrast here, too — but in this case, it's all natural. (Literally!) Peter D. Howell of St. Paul, Minnesota reminds us that winter isn't as far behind us as we'd like to believe.   medium | large Used with permission of Ben Woodruff After the Storm Ben Woodruff of Salina, Kansas used the same strategy, relying on nature to produce some incredible colors in the wake of a thunderstorm. (Ben tells us the photo op came "during Kansas State University's mountain flying course," so we imagine there was plenty of opportunity to snap pics while the storm passed over.)   medium | large copyright © Sparky Barnes Sargent Used with permission A Shimmering Show of Sparkles Sparky Barnes Sargent of Washington, Oklahoma flies us out this week. Supplying the fireworks is Manfred Radius in his Salto. Hey, wait! Is that what we miss out on during the night shows at Sun 'n Fun? Suddenly editing video and writing stories seems like a little more work ... .     More Reader-Submitted Photos! With over a hundred in the box this week, we've just gotta show you more than five. Click on over to AVweb's home page and check out two dozen of our favorites from this week's mailbag. Click here to submit your own photos to "POTW." — 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: 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.