THE FIGHT FOR PILOTS HURT BY NEW AGE 65 RULE
Now that U.S. airline pilots can fly to age 65, litigation is now moving forward to overturn wording in the 2007 law that also specifically barred some 3,000 pilots forced into retirement before age 60 from being rehired with their prior pay, position and benefits. Congress last year passed the Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act that raised the mandatory retirement age for pilots to a more internationally recognized age of 65, but wording in the law excluded some 3,000 veteran pilots forced to retire between November 23, 2006, and December 17, 2007, from being rehired at their previously held seniority levels. George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley has brought a motion to have the U.S. Court of Appeals determine the constitutionality of the congressional law before it can be used to dismiss petitions filed on behalf of those pilots forced into retirement. "That motion allows the court to review the law faster than it would have otherwise," according to a posting to LegalTimes.com blog. More...

THE SOUND BARRIER-BREAKING, LONGEST-EVER SKYDIVE
Weather permitting, 64-year-old Michel Fournier may already have climbed into his pressurized gondola and been carried for more than two hours by his 650-foot balloon to 130,000 feet (close to 25 miles high) above the earth -- where he may already have stepped out. Fournier said over the weekend that he would, Monday, somewhere over sparse and nearly lake-less Saskatoon, Canada, attempt the highest-ever parachute jump and, himself, move faster than the speed of sound ... weather permitting. Prior to the jump, reports indicated the fall could take more than 15 minutes (including time under canopy) and would take Fournier faster and farther than any previous skydiver, setting records for altitude in a balloon, fastest freefall, duration of freefall, and altitude to initiate freefall. Before the weekend, Col. Joseph Kittinger, Jr.'s record jump of 102,800 feet -- set Aug. 16, 1960 -- held top honors, literally. Reporters were told over the weekend Fournier expected to exceed the speed of sound while trailing a stabilizing drogue chute as he fell through 117,000 feet, accelerating to a maximum speed close to 1.68 Mach. En route, Fournier would pass through temperatures expected to be as cold as negative 115 degrees Centigrade, opening his parachute more than seven minutes after beginning his fall. More...

MORE BIOFUELS, THIS TIME FROM AIRBUS
Virgin Atlantic and Boeing first flew a commercial airliner on biofuel earlier this year, followed by Continental Airline's announcement that Continental would fly a demonstration flight in 2009, and now Airbus with Honeywell, International Aero Engines and JetBlue have announced an alternative fuel partnership. The new partnership will work to develop renewable energy technology that converts non-food-crop vegetation and algae-based oils into a direct Jet-A substitute. Current biomass fuel sources have unimpressive energy yields when compared with fossil fuels, but change may be coming. "Airbus believes that second-generation bio-jet fuel could provide up to 30 percent of all commercial aviation jet fuel by 2030," according to Sebastien Remy, head of Alternative Fuels Research Programs for Airbus. Better still, the company expects that the new biofuel will be a drop-in replacement (no fuel system or engine modifications required) for kerosene or Jet-A burning engines. More...

SUPERIOR AIR PARTS CYLINDERS, THE PROPOSED AD
The FAA has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for specific Superior Air Parts (SAP) cylinder assemblies that may be installed in up to 8,000 aircraft here in the U.S. The engines in question are Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) IO-520, TSIO-520 and IO-550 models. Specific SAP cylinders (identified by part number) installed in those engines may be prone to cracks near the exhaust valve, potentially leading to separation of the cylinder head, structural damage, immediate engine failure, and fire in the engine compartment. The proposed airworthiness directive would require initial and repetitive compression checks for those cylinders that also have acquired more than 750 hours time in service. Some 24 failures have so far been reported to the FAA, half of them by SAP. All of those failures occurred in cylinders with more than 823 hours time since new. The FAA is seeking comments before June 11. Find the additional information you need, here. More...

L-3 AND CIRRUS, YET ANOTHER OPTION
L-3 Communications Avionics Systems (L-3 Avionics) Thursday received TSO authorization and STC approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for the SmartDeck "glass cockpit" integrated flight controls and display system. The system is currently the only one available in the light aircraft market, according to the L-3, that includes a standard dedicated 4 x 5.25-inch display for flight plan management and communication information. The third screen also frees up space on the system's main PFD and MFD screens. It's designed to maximize ease of use with a menu structure that aims "to support pilot functions in 'three clicks or less,'" and make flying "safer, easier and more fun." For Cirrus, which just rolled out its "Perspective" package with enhanced Garmin G1000 capabilities, L-3's package now becomes an option for Cirrus SR22 G2 owners who can now opt for L-3's SmartDeck via STC for retrofit. The two companies are also working together to customize the SmartDeck for Cirrus' the-Jet. More...

BOEING 747 CARGO JET RUNS OFF RUNWAY AT BRUSSELS
A Kalitta Air Boeing 747 cargo jet carrying 76 tons of cargo Sunday crashed following an aborted takeoff at Brussels airport that split the fuselage and (according to some early reports) left four of the five crew members with minor injuries. The aircraft did not catch fire (and may have retained much of the fuel that would have carried it to Bahrain). It ran off the end of Runway 22 and came to rest roughly 300 yards off the end of the runway and 500 yards from homes. The pilot reportedly told rescue authorities he heard a loud noise while on takeoff roll at 1130 GMT, but few details were available prior to our deadline. No obvious cause of the accident was immediately evident. The weather was clear following light rains. More...

HYDE'S REPLICA 1908 WRIGHT FLYER DISPLAYED
A painstakingly precise hand-crafted duplicate of the original 1908 Wright Flyer is scheduled to make an appearance today (Monday) at the National Memorial Parade in Washington, D.C. Produced by Ken Hyde's "Wright Experience," the aircraft replicates the Flyer first flown at Fort Myer in September 1908. The original aircraft was seen by the Wrights as their first practical, marketable design, according to Hyde, and won the first U.S. government competition leading to government purchase of an airplane. "This is the plane that made it happen; the plane that made flying a practical and commercial reality," said Hyde, who added his company "is honored to have brought it back to life in this reproduction." Following its parade appearance, the replica aircraft will be prepared as an airworthy, flyable aircraft and will again be on public display to commemorate the Centennial of Orville Wright's inaugural flights of 1908, beginning September 6, of this year. It will then move to the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles International Airport, where it will serve one year as an interactive educational exhibit. More...

PEDAL-POWERED AIRSHIP'S CHANNEL CROSSING
"Crossing the Channel with a pedal-powered airship is both totally unnecessary and a very eloquent statement on human nature," said Stephane Rousson, the 39-year-old man who plans to do it if only the winds (and his stamina) will cooperate. Rousson is hoping for a near-windless day to facilitate his attempt next month. His airship, Zeppy, is a helium-filled, slightly heavier-than-air craft propelled by two tilting propellers and powered by Rousson, himself. The flight plan would call for a flight of about 34 miles from Lydd in Kent to Wissant, a French Coastal village, at an altitude of about 100 feet. Rousson has 30 hours of experience flying the craft, which he acquired from his father Jean-Marc and Luc Geiser, who together designed and built it. Rousson's father has since passed and did not live to see the aircraft's maiden flight. Now history may witness witness its next. More...

AVMAIL: MAY 26, 2008
Reader mail this week about fuel prices, flight planning, and things you find behind bushes. 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

LEADING EDGE #18: ACHIEVING BALANCE
Knowing your airplane's center of gravity is about much more than just keeping within the limits. More...

WHAT'S NEW FOR MAY 2008
This month, AVweb's survey of the latest products and services for pilots, mechanics and aircraft owners brings you a portable ladder, magnetic pick-up tool, electric DG and more. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: THIELERT SHOWS US HOW TO KILL A COMPANY (OR TWO)
"If Thielert thinks it will dig itself out from bankruptcy with its stratospheric new parts prices and no warranties, it's likely in for a rude shock" — so says Paul Bertorelli in the latest installment of our aviation blog, the AVweb Insider. Think we're crazy? Click on over and join the conversation. More...

BONUS VIDEO! AVIATION CONSUMER TRIES OUT THE ASPEN AVIONICS EVOLUTION PFD AT SUN 'N FUN 2008
Aspen's new certified glass panel "Evolution" display updates older "steam gauge" cockpits and offers a low cost cost easily expandable option for pilots seeking a more capable cockpit instrument panel. More...

OUTLOOK FOR MOONEY: STRONG SALES IN EUROPE
Like other U.S. manufactories benefitting from the weak dollar, Mooney is enjoying strong sales in Europe, with buyers divided between business and pleasure flyers. Mooney CEO Dennis Ferguson says that's good news, but he also notes that one challenge the company continues to face is controlling production costs. AVweb's Paul Bertorelli interviewed Ferguson in Kerrville last week. More...

PHOTO PODCAST EXTRA! AVIATION CONSUMER FLIES MOONEY'S TYPE S: YES, IT'S AS FAST AS THEY CLAIM IT IS
Just a few weeks ago, Mooney announced final approvals on its new version of the Acclaim, the Type S. The company claims a 242-knot top speed, and Aviation Consumer's Paul Bertorelli recently took a demo flight in the new airplane. Sure enough, it is that fast. See the details in this photo podcast from our recent visit to Kerrville. More...

PHOTO PODCAST EXTRA! AVIATION CONSUMER MAGAZINE DEMOS THE EVOLUTION EFIS FROM ASPEN AVIONICS
For those of us not in the market for a $600,000 new airplane, Aspen Avionics is now shipping the Evolution EFIS for the aftermarket. Our sister publication, Aviation Consumer, sent Larry Anglisano to investigate. Larry and the AC team few the system in a Cirrus SR22 and found that the company has done its engineering homework, calling the Evolution EFIS "very impressive technology that's practical to install and affordable to buy." In this enhanced podcast, hear (and see) how the Evolution works. More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: MIDWEST NATIONAL AIR CENTER (KGPH, MOSBY, MO)

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Midwest National Air Center at KGPH in Mosby, Missouri.

AVweb reader Robert Parker recommended the FBO, citing the owner's eerie prescience:

John somehow knew before we landed that we'd been fighting fierce headwinds the previous four hours. He met us at the plane,then towed the plane to the SS fuel pump, fueled it with my card (at prices quite below the national average), parked it back in front of the FBO, then drove out to buy batteries for our headsets so my wife and I could relax before flying the final four-hour leg home!

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!

SHORT FINAL

Overheard in IFR Magazine's "On the Air"

While on a trip in a Grumman Cheetah from Marathon, Florida Keys to Exuma in the Bahamas, I ran into a large area of clouds hanging over Andros Island. They'd been classified as benign when I'd received my weather briefing about an hour and a half earlier. I penetrated with a warning from Miami Center:

Miami Center:
"Grumman XXXXX, I show a large area of weather ahead of you. How would you like to proceed?"

Grumman:
"My Stormscope shows it's not active. I'll continue on course."

[a few minutes later]

Miami Center:
"Grumman XXXXX, say flight conditions."

Grumman:
"It's a little bumpy, but other than that it's fine."

[a few minutes later, after it suddenly turned active]

Grumman:
"Miami Center, Grumman XXXXX, experiencing ... severe ... turbulence. Request ... lower."

[I went up and down at about 2000 feet per minute. The Stormscope lit up all around us. We were tossed on our side.]

Miami Center:
"Grumman XXXXX, unable lower at this time. I'll have to call Nassau to get lower."

I righted the airplane. Everything flew around the cockpit. I saw a hole and aimed for it.

[a few minutes later]

Grumman:
"Miami Center, Grumman XXXXX, we're out of the weather now. Sorry about the deviation, but I could not hold altitude or course."

Miami Center:
"Not a problem, I understand."

A passing airliner overheard this ...

Airliner:
"Miami, Airliner XXXX, that guy that penetrated the weather over Andros — what kind of airplane did he say he was flying?"

Miami Center:
"A Grumman."

Airliner:
"Like a big Grumman?"

Miami Center:
"No, like a little Grumman Cheetah.

Airliner:
"A Cheetah? Wow, he's got a lot of balls."

Miami Center:
Airliner XXXX, I'm sorry, sir, you broke up. Say again?

Airliner:
"I said, he's got a lot of balls."

Miami Center:
"Airliner XXXX, I'm sorry, sir, you are coming in broken up again. I believe you said (ahem) that he was a very brave man?"

Bob Brayman Marathon
Florida Keys

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

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.