ECLIPSE SEEKS TO REVEAL CRITICS' NAMES
A subpoena issued by a California court last week in response to a request by Eclipse Aviation seeks to obtain the names of about 28 people who have posted anonymous comments on the Eclipse Aviation Critic NG blog. The blog, hosted by Shane Price of Dublin, Ireland, is the "next generation" of the original Eclipse critic blog, which was started by Stan Blankenship in 2006 but stopped publishing earlier this year. The subpoena commands Google, which hosts the NG blog, to supply IP addresses of the commenters. "We're not trying to suppress dissension or criticism," Eclipse CEO Vern Raburn told the Albuquerque Journal. "We're just trying to find out where it's coming from." Raburn said he wants to know if any of the posters are Eclipse employees or others who are legally bound by non-disclosure agreements. In a letter posted on the NG blog, Google says it will release the identifying information to Eclipse unless the posters object in court; several of the blog contributors have said on the blog site they will pursue such an action. Price wrote online that several of the blog aliases listed in the subpoena had never posted on his blog. "It seems to be very out of date," he wrote, "and I'm actually feeling left out, as they didn't include me." More...

EXISTING AIRCRAFT KITS GRANDFATHERED BY FAA
The FAA has made it official, in a written notice published Friday, that existing aircraft kits already approved by the FAA will not be re-evaluated. The clarification is certainly a relief to many kit manufacturers, as well as homebuilders with unfinished kit projects. The agency has temporarily suspended kit evaluations while it develops new procedures, and speculation as to whether existing kits might be re-evaluated has been widespread. "Previous FAA-conducted amateur-built aircraft kit evaluations remain valid," the agency now declares. "As is current practice, a re-evaluation of any kit on the current eligibility list would only occur if a potentially unsafe condition is identified." Kim Smith, manager of the FAA's Small Airplane Directorate, first announced the "grandfathering" policy at a forum at Sun 'n Fun. More...

THIELERT TROUBLES DISSECTED
The diesel engines produced by Thielert in Germany have made inroads in general aviation aircraft, with installations in both Cessna and Diamond airplanes. But the company has run into multiple financial problems -- as AVweb recently reported, CEO Frank Thielert has resigned as CEO, though he will remain with the company as chief operating officer. An extensive report published this week in Defense Industry Daily details the timeline of recent events at Thielert, as well as various interpretations of those events put forth by the company and investigators. The company has faced multiple challenges in recent months as stock values plummeted and cash reserves were depleted. More...

AVIATION INDUSTRY VOWS TO COOPERATE FOR THE PLANET
With Earth Day celebrated around the world on Tuesday, executives from Boeing and Airbus joined together at the third Aviation & Environment Summit, in Geneva, to announce they will work together to create a more efficient air traffic system that will save energy. "I am convinced technology and innovation hold the key to reducing aviation's environmental impact and increasing eco-efficiency," said Airbus CEO Tom Enders. Other aviation leaders at the event joined in signing a declaration on climate change, vowing to work toward carbon-neutral growth and a totally sustainable industry. The declaration is not "just fine words," according to summit organizer Philippe Rochat. "For the first time, the industry can agree on a set of common goals and a pathway to achieve those goals ...[we are devoting] energy, investment and sheer determination to ensure the industry has a sustainable future." Keith Johnson, blogging at The Wall Street Journal, suggests the industry's green agenda may be driven more by economic concerns than environmental ones. More...

WEB SITE LAUNCHES ONLINE "MATCHMAKING" FOR AIRCRAFT PARTNERS
Plenty of people have turned to the Internet to find dates for social occasions; now the Aircraft Partnership Association aims to use the Web to find matches for pilots who want to share airplane ownership. "Trying to find suitable aircraft partners by posting a flyer at your local airport ... is tremendously ineffective," says David Kruger, president of the APA. The difficulty in finding the right match discourages potential partnerships, Kruger says. The APA will help users search its database for potential partners based on member profiles that include the type of aircraft desired, location, flying experience, and more. The entire matching/selection process occurs online before potential partners ever meet. More...

MAINE HANGS ON TO AIRCRAFT USE TAX
Despite lobbying from AOPA and aircraft owners who have been slapped with hefty tax bills after flying their airplanes into Maine, the state has refused to change its ways, AOPA said this week. "We've told the legislature that they won't be able to get much revenue from the use tax, because new aircraft owners won't fly into the state," says Greg Pecoraro, AOPA vice president of regional affairs. The state has billed aircraft owners for up to 6 percent of the value of their aircraft. The use tax kicks in during the first year of ownership if the owner hasn't paid a 6-percent sales tax elsewhere, and the airplane is in Maine for at least 20 days. Those 20 days can sneak up on you, Pecoraro warns. "Let's say your aircraft gets weathered in during your weekend trip, but because of work obligations, you have to leave your airplane and drive or catch a train home. The clock is ticking the whole time the aircraft is stuck in the state," he says. A bill that AOPA had lobbied for to make the law less egregious has been "gutted" by the legislature. Details of the Maine tax are posted online. More...

NEW FOUNDATION HONORS SCOTT CROSSFIELD
A new nonprofit called the Scott Crossfield Foundation has launched this week. The foundation's mission is to continue and expand upon the lifelong work of the legendary test pilot, the first to fly Mach 2, who died in 2006. The group will work to promote the Aerospace Education Teacher of the Year Award, which was created and funded by Crossfield in 1986. To help support the Foundation, limited-edition reproductions of William J. Reynolds' painting "On The Way To The Stars" are available for purchase through the Foundation Web site. These 27-year-old, mint-condition prints are each numbered and signed by the artist, with a limited number also signed by Crossfield. The Web site also features archives of historical material about Crossfield and his life and work, including photographs, slideshows, videos, stories, and comments from friends and colleagues. More...

HOLLYWOOD DISCOVERS AVIATION
Suddenly, airplanes are the big thing for the big screen. We caught up with producer Karl Koeppen at Sun 'n Fun, who is ready to start work on "Northern Lights," about airshow pilots, later this summer. (Click here for the podcast interview with AVweb editor-in-chief Russ Niles.) This week, a film crew visited EAA in Oshkosh, Wis., to shoot aviation scenes for "Public Enemies," a gangster movie starring Johnny Depp. Also this week, Variety reported that Hilary Swank and Richard Gere will star in a movie about Amelia Earhart. Shooting will start later this month in Toronto, Nova Scotia, and South Africa. Of course, airplanes are nothing new in the movies. The Reel Stuff Film Festival opens this week in Dayton, Ohio, with eight classic movies on screen, Thursday through Saturday. More...

ON THE FLY ...
Fasteners that failed on a 757 in March had been redesigned after earlier problems, the NTSB said...
The Senate is expected to move forward on FAA user fees soon, NBAA says...
Alaska's annual Aviation Trade Show will be held May 3 and 4 in Anchorage...
FAA named USAF Gen. Robert Tarter as vice president of safety for the ATO. 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...

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

ACROSS THE POND #16: REPORT FROM EUROPE
The demise of the JAA, new aircraft on the horizon and heroic women feature in this month's report from AVweb's Liz Moscrop. More...

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: EARTH DAY, AS SEEN FROM THE SKIES
If you're able to read AVweb, we can safely assume you've heard about Earth Day and all the new ways to conserve, recycle, and take a little better care of our environment that came out of this year's celebration — and if you've heard about it, there's even a chance you actually did something about it. Plus: Find out what AVweb readers had to say about synthetic vision technology in last week's Question. More...

FBOS OF THE WEEK: BARRETT AVIATION/AIR CHARTER EXPRESS (ACE) (KORK, NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR)

Maybe it's all the travel related to Sun 'n Fun, but we received quite a few (really compelling) nominations for "FBO of the Week" over the last few days. The standout among these was a rather unusual recommendation (and plea) from AVweb reader Doug McDowall of EAA Chapter 165. Doug raved about two airports he frequents in North Little Rock, Arkansas — Barrett Aviation and Air Charter Express (ACE) — both located at North Little Rock Municipal Airport, KORK (formerly 1M1). On April 3, the airport was hit by a tornado, causing massive damage to both FBOs' rental and charter airplanes. The two have still managed to keep up with Doug's demands, and he hopes the exposure as AVweb's "FBOs of the Week" might encourage more people to stop by and support the FBOs during their reconstruction.

Doug writes:

[Fuel sales] may be the only source of income for both Barrett Aviation and Air Charter Express for months to come. If you are coming through this area and need to make a fuel stop, it would really help these two FBOs to get through some tough times. Barrett Aviation is a Phillips 66 dealer, and Air Charter Express handles Shell products (also has a 24-hour self-fueling faciltiy on the SW corner of the field). Both Barrett Aviation (Harry Barrett) & Air Charter Express (Tommy Murcheson) ... have taken a major hit from Mother Nature and deserve a helping hand.

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!

PICTURE OF THE WEEK: AVWEB'S FLYING PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWCASE
With only 60 photo submissions this week, our initial stack of contenders for the top spot consisted of eight photos, and we can't recall a week where it's been tougher to pick out a single winner. At the end of the tooth-gnashing, coin-flipping, and wishy-washing, however, we were left staring down this pic from Suzy Kryzanowicz of Bay City, Michigan. As you look through this week's top photos, remember that you too can be part of the fun; just submit your own airplane (or aviation-themed photos) right here on AVweb. 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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