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JA Air Center, Your Garmin
Source
GPSMap 495 and 496 have AOPA Directory and terrain. 496 includes
automotive directions and XM weather and music. Have an old GPS? Do
not let it lose its value! Call (800) 323-5966 for the
current value.
JA Air Center [Dupage Airport (KDPA), West Chicago, IL] provides
the finest avionics installations, turbine/piston maintenance,
avionics/instrument service, mail order, and aircraft sales. Call
(800) 323-5966, or
click for more information. 
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BOEING
777 HEATHROW CRASH UPDATE -- AAIB INTERIM REPORT
The
investigation into why a British Airways Boeing 777 on Jan. 17 crashed
(with no fatalities) short of the runway at London's Heathrow airport
has determined "that there are two possible scenarios" that match the
data collected from the flight -- both involve ice in the fuel system.
The Air Accidents Investigation Board (AAIB) has found that of all
flights flown with similar equipment (about 140,000), less than 0.2
percent had been subjected to fuel temperatures at or below the minus 34
degrees centigrade recorded for the accident aircraft. The accident
aircraft is also noted for operating in those temperatures at very low
fuel flows, but within certified operational limits. As a result, Boeing
777 pilots will be required to cycle the thrust of their engines
(maximum thrust for 10 seconds prior to descent) to clear the system of
ice before landing and vary their altitudes en route when fuel in the
main tank is below 10 degrees Celsius for more than three hours. There
are rules for low-temperature ground operations, too. All instructions
apply to 220 777s worldwide. This short-term fix aims to address
concerns while the exact root of the problem is further investigated and
(for now) acts in place of retooling the Rolls-Royce Trent 800 fuel feed
systems on the jets. For the accident itself, the AAIB has detailed its
two most likely causal scenarios. More...
WHERE'S
MY JET PACK? IT'S IN SAN CARLOS ...
Saturday at the Hiller
Aviation Museum's Jet Pack Show in San Carlos, Calif., scientists,
inventors and pilots taught visitors about research and progress in the
field of modern jet packs. Organizers claim the event was the largest
collection of jet packs ever assembled in one place for display. Modern
players like Jet Pack International, Thunderbolt Aerosystems, and
Solotrek mixed with research experts that included former Bell president
Hugh Neeson. The recently famous Martin JetPack, which flies on two
ducted fans powered by a single engine and was publicly debuted at
AirVenture Oshkosh this year, was not in attendance. Flight times for
current jet packs are most often counted in seconds, but Jet Pack
International is one company offering a model that it says can fly for 9
minutes and can be had for $200,000 (flight training included). A
20-second 130-decibel demonstration flight made an instant celebrity of
pilot Eric Scott who has already acquired the experience of some 700
flights over 16 years. Jet Pack International may be hoping for more
celebrity -- the company has been working on a reality television show
based on its search for new pilots. More...
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Lycoming® — The Engines of
Choice
Lycoming® produces the most
complete line of horizontally opposed, air-cooled four-, six-, and
eight-cylinder certified aircraft engines available, with power ranging
from 100 to 400 HP. For homebuilders, air race and aerobatic pilots, and
others looking for non-certified engines with Lycoming
dependability, Lycoming offers custom-built Thunderbolt Engines.
Lycoming piston engines have a reputation for reaching or
exceeding TBO.
For more information, please visit
Lycoming.com. 
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MIWOK
AIRWAYS TO TRY ULTRA SHORT HOPS IN SOCAL
People in southern
California who are short on time or patience or both may find salvation
in Miwok Airways, a
start-up short hop air service flying on-demand operations to and from
40 local airports, beginning this fall. Four Cirrus SR22s operated
through contract with charter companies will be used to cover a stretch
of SoCal from Oxnard to San Diego with service to begin before November.
The cost for a one-way trip from San Diego to L.A. (including the
airports of your choice) chimes in at about $110 with seats filled and
$338 with two seats empty (cautious planners should count on the higher
price). Flights could cost as little as $82 on short trips with full
seats. The longest available flight will run between Oxnard and Palm
Springs. Miwok has partnered with Enterprise Rent-a-Car to offer special
rates on car rentals where available. Related Content:
Miwok
Airways' Gad Barnea discusses on-demand flight services in an
AVweb podcast interview More...
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Fly With Bose Aviation
Headset X®
Enjoy an unmatched combination of full-spectrum noise reduction, clearer
audio, and comfortable fit. Voted the #1 headset for the seventh
consecutive year in Professional Pilot's 2007 Headset Preference
Survey. Also rated "Best ANR Headset: The Aviation Consumer
Product of the Year" by Aviation Consumer.
Learn more and order. 
Quotes reprinted with permission: Professional
Pilot, 2007 Headset Preference Survey, 12/07; Aviation
Consumer, 8/07.
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| Airplane-Building — Small-Scale and
Large-Scale | | back to
top |  | |
WHY
YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT THE 51 PERCENT RULE
Some of the most
popular general aviation aircraft designs available today (the Cirrus
SR20 and SR22, the Cessna 350 and 400, the Liberty XL2 and others) trace
a major part of their roots back to the experimental aviation segment.
The argument could be made that if you like innovative certified brand
new general aviation aircraft, you should care about the FAA's proposed
changes to the 51% rule. The FAA's goal is to better control businesses
like builder assist centers that may significantly reduce a builder's
actual involvement in the building process. While older kits previously
approved by the FAA may be excluded from new regulation, new kits like
the Furio -- that could usher in new streamlined methods
of production, design and applied aerodynamics -- could potentially be
stifled by new regulation. EAA believes the current regulations, if
enforced, would be sufficient to meet the FAA's goal. It also believes
that by regulating specific amounts of fabrication and assembly required
of homebuilders the FAA would place on them an undue burden. Your
comments on the FAA's proposal are welcome before the comment period
ends later this month: More...
MACHINISTS
UNION STRIKES, BOEING HALTS PRODUCTION
Boeing has reportedly
halted production of 737, 747, 767 and 777 aircraft as 27,000 members of
the Machinists union rejected Boeing's most recent benefits and pay
raise offers. Boeing intends to keep its plants open, expecting
non-machinists union workers to report in but with production stopped in
Everett and Renton, Wash. Analysts expect Boeing could lose up to $3
billion per month and losses to trickle down. Suppliers will be directly
affected and, depending on the duration of the impasse, airlines could
see delayed deliveries and development of the 787 Dreamliner could be
further delayed beyond current plans to fly it by December and deliver
it in the third quarter of 2009. Airbus could theoretically step in to
fill the void for needy carriers, but for some airlines it's not quite
that simple. The strike represents the first time the union has taken
such action in consecutive contract cycles (previously in 2005) and the
shortest period between strikes. The 2005 strike lasted about 24 days
and delayed delivery of more than 24 aircraft. Workers say salary
increases under the latest proposal would be eroded by changes that
increase health-insurance premiums. The company earned $13 billion in
net profits over the past five years. Boeing says it is open to further
discussion but has no date (as of Sunday) for future negotiations.
More...
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Smart Safety ... Leave
Anxiety Out of Your Flight Plan
As a Cirrus owner, you join a lifestyle that takes safety very
seriously. Whether flying for pleasure or business, you always fly smart
and safe. Cirrus Perspective by Garmin is designed to help by
giving you more time and information to make better decisions, reduce
workload, and improve your overall flying experience. Cirrus
Perspective adds more ability to experience the Cirrus
lifestyle fully and leave anxiety out of your flight plan.
For complete features, go online. 
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JUDGE:
FAA MUST PAY FOR FLAWED INVESTIGATION
The FAA has been
ordered to pay fees and other expenses incurred by two ATP-rated Learjet
pilots, whose certificates the agency had ordered suspended, according
to Aviation
Law Experts LLC, acting on behalf of the pilots. A Chief
Administrative Law Judge of the NTSB found that "the agency proceeded on
a weak and tenuous basis with a flawed investigation bereft of any
meaningful evidence" and further showed a "lack of substantial
justification" ... "not having a reasonable basis in both law and fact."
According to legal counsel for the pilots, the case involved both
FSDO-approved removal of a divan from a Learjet 60 (that FAA inspectors
at another location later deemed in violation of regulations), and the
alleged violation of operating the same jet without a functioning ELT
battery (which defending attorney, Greg Winton, successfully argued was
inapplicable per the regulations). The FAA filed a complaint against two
pilots involved and consolidated those cases, then further sought a
$9,900 civil penalty against the owner of the aircraft. Initiated on
March 21, 2008, the FAA withdrew all charges against the pilots on June
20, 2008. Details follow. More...
PRE-RENO
AIR RACE FATALITY
Commercial pilot Erica Simpson, 32, was
flying a Cassutt IIIM "Little Lynn" Saturday in preparation for the
weeklong event that begins today (Monday), when the wings apparently
failed, the aircraft crashed and Simpson was killed. Reno's Air Races
run this year from Sept. 10 through 14 with about 150 pilots competing
for $1 million in prize money. Qualifying begins Monday. Simpson
competed in the Race's Biplane Class in 2006, missed last year's races
when three pilots were killed, and this year intended to fly in the
Formula One Class. The near-term misfortunes at Reno now account for
four of the 19 fatalities attributed to the event in the last 45 years.
Critics say that fatalities threaten the future of the sport making it
far less appealing as a destination for local field trips and spectators
who prefer to see a demonstration of inspirational skill and excitement.
A press release issued by Mike Houghton, President and
CEO of the National Championship Air Races and airshow, stated that
Simpson "was a highly skilled pilot and fierce competitor, but more
importantly she was a friend." Houghton told The Associated Press, "in
every competition there is risk, and ours is the same." He added, "If
you did away with the risk, you'd have checkers and Ping-Pong." Race
officials would not speculate on the cause of the accident and the NTSB
will investigate. A tribute for Simpson is planned for the opening
ceremonies of the races. More...
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Life Insurance Premiums
Continue to Decrease in 2008!
According to a Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education
report, 3/4 of Americans think life insurance is too expensive. Term and
permanent life insurance rates are generally half from a decade ago,
partly due to life expectancy increases. Pilot Insurance Center
specializes in providing pilots — from student to ATP — with
proper insurance planning at the most affordable rates available. A+
Rated Carriers – No Aviation Exclusions – Quick and Easy
Application Process. Call 1 (800) 380-8376 or
visit online. 
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NEXT-GEN
HELI: DISC-ROTOR COMPOUND HELICOPTER PROGRAM
Intended to
explore the possibilities of high-speed flight and high-efficiency hover
beyond the capabilities of aircraft like the V-22 Osprey, DARPA's
Disc-Rotor Compound Helicopter program may ultimately develop a
helicopter-like aircraft with a rotating circular wing and retractable
blades. Boeing Thursday was announced as the expected recipient of a
Sole Source contract for ongoing development of the program, beginning
with small-scale model testing, and will be supported with $3 million in
2008 and $6 million in '09. According to an unclassified DARPA report,
"the enabling technologies are disc-rotor configuration, circulation
control, seamless reversible transition between hover and wing borne
flight, and loading/center-of-pressure control." Following wind-tunnel
tests of scale models, a full-scale demonstrator aircraft would be built
to establish the concept's feasibility with hopes of evolving it into an
aircraft capable of cruise speeds in the 300-400 knot range. That
aircraft could provide vertical takeoff and landing plus hover
capability for troop and cargo insertion. More...
ON
THE FLY ...
Cirrus lays off 100 workers ...
Airplane
thief gets four years ...
Emirates grounds A380. More...
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Dr. Blue Says, "Be Smart — Carry a
PLB!"
Flying, hiking, camping, riding your ATV or bike — accidents happen
that can become a life-threatening situation. Be prepared with a
Personal Locator Beacon ( PLB). It's as easy as pushing a
button. PLBs from Aeromedix.com include the ACR MicroFix 406
MHz for pilots when you're enjoying activities in unpopulated
areas.
Click now to visit Aeromedix.com
for complete details. 
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SAFETY
PILOT IN IMC
We all agree the real learning happens when you
take it into the clouds, but no one says the guy in the right seat has
to be a CFI. More...
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"A
Celebration"
Celebrating their 45th anniversary this September, the National
Championship Air Races are the last head-to-head air racing event
left on Earth and are the favorite among aviation enthusiasts,
worldwide. The event features six high-speed racing classes and a static
aircraft show, and this year the USAF Thunderbirds and F-22
Demonstration Team will highlight a fleet of world-class aviation
demonstrations. For more information on the National Championship Air
Races or to purchase tickets, call (775) 972-6633, or
visit AirRace.org. 
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MIWOK
AIRWAYS' GAD BARNEA DISCUSSES ON-DEMAND FLIGHT
SERVICES
There's been a lot of buzz about air taxis in recent
years and how they're the next big thing in business transportation.
California entrepreneur Gad Barnea sees the market a little
differently, however, and had taken a slightly different approach with
his shorthaul service, called Miwok Airways. AVweb's Russ Niles
spoke with Barnea about why flying passengers around Southern California
in Cirrus SR22s makes sense. More...
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New! Jeppesen Avionics
Knowledge Library — Garmin G1000 IFR Training
The Jeppesen Garmin G1000 — IFR Procedures training is an
advanced, extensive computer-based training program developed with
Garmin teaching skills to master the operation of and confidently fly
the G1000 in IFR conditions. Learn: How to pull up and fly instrument
procedures; how to load and activate approaches including RNAV and GPS;
all the new WAAS-enabled approaches; and how to perform course
reversals, fly holding patterns, and execute missed approaches. Call
Jeppesen at (303) 328-4274, or
visit online for more
information! 
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VIDEO
OF THE WEEK: HIGHLANDER DEAD-STICK TAKE-OFF
"You're
gonna love this," wrote AVweb reader Scott Evans by
way of introduction to this week's featured viral video. "We've all
heard of dead-stick landings — now check out this dead-stick
take-off!" We're not sure what the backstory is on this clip —
is that actually Bob Hoover narrating? — but it's worth a look.
(Click through to watch.) More...
AVWEB'S
AIRVENTURE 2008 VIDEO ROUND-UP
This year at EAA AirVenture we
brought you fourteen video reports over the course of seven days. We
realize the news was flying fast and furious during the show, so just in
case you missed any of our reports, you can catch them all here. (Click
through to watch.) More...
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Find Your Next Aircraft on ASO!
When you search for used aircraft on ASO, you get the most
complete picture of the market available anywhere. View thousands of
listings with detailed specs and photos or use ASO's advanced
search tools to quickly find your next aircraft. Best of all, know that
every ad is current and no time is wasted on stale listings. If you're
ready for your next aircraft, it's ready for you — on ASO.
Visit ASO.com today! 
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FBO
OF THE WEEK: MCDONALD-GREGORY AVIATION (DVK, DANVILLE,
KY)
 Traveling
AVweb readers have recommended many FBOs to us this week. If
you'd like to see your favorite FBO spotlighted here next Monday, recommend them using our
online form. Our latest "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to McDonald-Gregory Aviation at Danville-Boyle
County Airport in Danville, Kentucky. AVweb reader
Richard Grindal made an unscheduled visit last
week: Far from home and way out of my comfort zone
— and experiencing engine trouble — I precautionary-landed on
Monday, September 5 (Labor Day). The owner of the FBO arranged a car and
called the mechanic that night. With an overnight and the chief mechanic
dropping everthing (including work on a Cessna 414) to work on my lowly
experimental Cub, I was quickly on my way again — thankful for the
hospitality and expertise on the mechanic work, as well as the
reasonable price for everything. Thanks again to Tim and
Shane! 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! More...
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September's Featured Classified Ad Now
Online:
Captain Jeppesen. A behind the scenes,
up-close-and-personal, never-before-told story of E. B.
Jeppesen written by his son, Richard Jeppesen. This is the real
accounting of a deadly unforgiving business and the cost it took to make
flying safe.
AVweb Classified Ads — Buying or
Selling Anything & Everything Aviation
Ads change daily.
Post your no-cost ad, too!
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SHORT
FINAL
 | | Overheard in IFR Magazine's "On the
Air" |
Into Tampa, Florida at night, I
overheard the controller misspeak to the airliner ahead of me in the
line-up for landing: Tower:
"Airline 123, you're
number three of two — wait, that's number two of three.
Sorry." Airliner:
"That's okay, five out of three
pilots have dyslexia, anvway." Travis Eddleman
via
mail-e More...
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Choose the Flight Explorer
Edition Right for You
Flight Explorer is an information system tracking commercial and
general aviation flights. With the Flight Explorer Personal
Edition, view air traffic for the U.S., Canada, or New Zealand and
monitor and display real-time delay information, TFRs, SUAs, and more.
With the Flight Explorer Pilot Edition, view weather along a
route, receive alerts with your preliminary flight plan, and have an
e-mail sent to someone on departure or arrival.
Click here for more information and to
subscribe. 
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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 Webmaster
Scott
Simmons Contributors
Mariano Rosales
Jeff van
West
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. More...
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