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NEW! Zulu with Panel
Power!
With the new Zulu: P ( Panel Power) headset,
Lightspeed has raised the bar in performance, comfort and
crystal-clear audio quality, with more total noise cancellation than any
other headset — and no batteries needed! The Zulu: P uses
the same LEMO plug that you may already have installed. The Zulu:
P also comes with built-in Bluetooth. No one else offers this much
in a total headset package.
Click here for more information. 
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SKYCATCHER
CRASH UPDATE
The test pilot for the Cessna 162 SkyCatcher LSA prototype that crashed
last week was spin-testing the airplane and put it into a
cross-controlled, power-on stall, Cessna spokesman Doug Oliver told
AVweb this week. "He got into a flat spin and couldn't recover,"
Oliver said. The airplane, which was one of several used in the test
program, remained intact until it hit the ground. The spin testing
started at about 10,000 feet, and the pilot bailed out safely at about
5,000 feet above the ground. The kind of testing it was undergoing was
beyond what is required for the airplane's intended ASTM light sport
aircraft certification, Oliver said. He added that the accident is still
under investigation but he doesn't expect the findings will result in
any plans to modify the design. The airplane was equipped with a BRS
ballistic recovery parachute, which was activated by the test pilot but
failed to deploy. Larry Williams, CEO of BRS, told AVweb this
week it is too early to determine exactly why the chute didn't work. "It
looks to me that the parameters were pretty exceptional," he said. "It
was an unusual situation." He added that BRS is working with Cessna and
the NTSB to determine what happened, and he might have more information
later in the week. More...
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NASA,
USAF EXPAND HYPERSONIC RESEARCH EFFORTS
NASA and the U.S. Air
Force said this week they intend to establish three
national hypersonic science centers and they are actively seeking
university and industry partners. Hypersonic speed is defined as Mach 5
and faster. "We have identified three critical research areas:
air-breathing propulsion, materials and structures, and boundary layer
control," said James Pittman, principal investigator for the Hypersonics
Project at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. "These three
areas are the biggest hurdles to successful hypersonic flight and
low-cost space access using an air-breathing engine." NASA and the Air
Force plan to set aside as much as $30 million to fund the centers over
five years. More...
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Introducing AV8OR™ from
Bendix/King by Honeywell
The AV8OR is the portable and affordable GPS built specifically
for pilots, by a company that knows pilots. With navigation routing,
planning and weather information for the aircraft and the automobile,
the AV8OR uses aviation software and symbology pilots understand.
Its 4.3-inch touch screen is larger and easier to read than competing
GPS systems, with an intuitive interface derived from the
pilot-friendly, panel-mounted Bendix/King multi-function display
systems.
For more information, go online. 
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ECLIPSE'S
RUSSIAN FACTORY GETS FINANCING, APPROVALS
Russian officials
have given their OK to allow the construction of a factory in Ulyanovsk,
Russia, where copies of the Eclipse 500 jet will be assembled, Eclipse Aviation announced on Tuesday. The Russian
State Bank, chaired by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, will
finance the project in full, providing $205 million in return for a
share of the enterprise. "Obtaining this approval and financing is an
enormous step forward in our efforts to globalize the Eclipse 500 and
create a highly competitive worldwide business model for Eclipse
Aviation," Eclipse CEO Roel Pieper said in a news release. Components of
the jet will be manufactured elsewhere and shipped to Russia for
assembly. The factory will be built in Ulyanovsk, and is expected to be
ready to start production in 2010. Workers will build up to 800 jets a
year. The factory in Albuquerque will continue to work at full capacity,
the company said. More...
AIR
TAXI OPERATORS AIM TO FILL DAYJET'S SLOTS
For those
passengers who had grown to enjoy DayJet's air-taxi service and find
themselves missing on-demand air transportation since the operator suspended
its services last week, other air-taxi companies are offering to
fill the gap. SATSair, ImagineAir, and North American Jet, all members of the Air Taxi
Association (ATXA),
provide service to all 60 of the communities in the Southeastern U.S.
where DayJet formerly served more than 2,400 members. The carriers
operate a combined fleet of over 30 Cirrus SR-22 and Eclipse 500
aircraft. "DayJet shined a bright light upon the emerging
next-generation air-taxi industry and it is our duty to help affected
passengers and communities," said ATXA President Joe Leader. The
companies are offering discounts and price matches to DayJet customers.
More...
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AveoFlash Experimental
Airplane Lights Available at Aircraft Spruce!
AveoFlash™ LED lights feature the exclusive
SmartStrobe™ synchronizer internal circuitry, eliminating the need
for external heavy-draw flasher/strobe box units. Includes
user-selectable flash patterns, with a choice of five patterns, along
with user-selectable flash speed from 2-150 flashes per minute. The
PowerOptimizer™ circuitry permits a universal product for voltage
from 9-32 volts (no separate voltage), resulting in lower power
consumption. Call Aircraft Spruce at 1 (877) 4-SPRUCE, or
visit online. 
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TRAINEES
IN THE TOWER IN AIRLINER "SWERVE"
An incident that thankfully
ended with some fairly rattled pilots and passengers but no more than a
little lost tire rubber begs the question of who is training whom at
some of the nation's air traffic control towers. The National Air
Traffic Controllers Union says two trainee controllers were in on duty
by themselves in the Lehigh International Airport tower when a Mesa
Airlines CRJ700 had to swerve (as in the sudden deviation from a
straight path) to avoid a just-landed Cessna 172 while taking off from
the Allentown, Pa., airport. The widely accepted estimate is the RJ,
with 60 passengers aboard, missed the 172 by about 10 feet while
decelerating from 120 knots. According to the NTSB, the Cessna was told
to take an early taxiway exit but missed and the pilot reported he or
she was heading for the next taxiway. The trainees missed that and,
thinking the 172 had left the runway, cleared the RJ for takeoff.
More...
CANADA'S
SAFETY BOARD SEEKS STRICTER BALLOONING OVERSIGHT
Companies
that offer hot-air balloon rides to the public should be subject to
periodic inspections by federal officials, according to a report by
Canada's Transportation Safety Board. Two hot-air balloons were
destroyed by fire in August 2007 in Canada while carrying paying
passengers. Two passengers died and several others were badly hurt. The
board concluded that Canada's Department of Transport should require
commercial balloon operations that take paying passengers to provide a
level of safety equivalent to that established for other aircraft of
equal passenger-carrying capacity. Standards and regulations should be
clear, and inspections should ensure that they are met, the safety board
said. The safety board also wants rules established to ensure that
balloons carrying paying passengers are equipped with an emergency fuel
shut-off. Transport Canada said it will conduct a risk assessment of the
industry before deciding if new regulations are necessary.
More...
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Precise Flight: Hidden in
Plain Sight
With design capabilities as varied as the number of aircraft models
available, it's easy to find at least one device manufactured by
Precise Flight in the cabin, cockpit, or body of any aircraft on
the market. In fact, integration is a key characteristic of Precise
Flight's operating code.
Learn more online. 
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CUSTOMS
PROPOSAL WON'T FLY, AOPA TELLS WHITE HOUSE
AOPA staffers met
with officials from the White House Office of Management and Budget last
week and explained that many general aviation pilots are not happy with
a proposal that would require them to electronically provide advance
notice and passenger manifests when crossing the U.S. border. "While the
idea of telling Customs who is on the aircraft prior to entering the
United States is OK with members," said Andy Cebula, AOPA executive vice
president of government affairs, "we reinforced the fact that the
requirement to do this electronically would significantly impair general
aviation operations." The problem with the rule is that many GA airports
in the border regions do not have the required Internet access. A final
rule is expected within a few months, AOPA said. More...
FAA
FUNDING EXTENDED TO MARCH 2009
It's been a challenge to get
Congress to act on FAA funding this year, with elections looming and a
change in administration certain, and this week the issue was postponed
yet again -- this time until March 2009. "That means we can declare
victory in the battle against user fees, at least in 2008," said AOPA
President Phil Boyer. "But it also means we start the battle anew in
2009," said Andy Cebula, AOPA executive vice president of government
affairs. "A new Congress means new FAA funding bills will have to be
introduced. And the user fee proponents haven't gone away. With rising
deficits, the federal government has even more pressures on its spending
and the need for new revenue sources." On Tuesday, both the House and
Senate passed bills that will extend the deadline and authorize the FAA
to continue its current spending level, according to AOPA. The National Business Aviation
Association (NBAA) also weighed in, urging Congress to have a new
funding plan ready to go by the time this one expires.
More...
ON
THE FLY ...
FAA suspended two airline pilots who allegedly
fell asleep during a flight...
FYI, USAIG, the United States
Aircraft Insurance Group, is NOT affiliated with AIG, the American
International Group....
GE video explores the meaning of EAA
AirVenture as an innovation center...
Deadline is nearing for
comments on 51-percent rule...
The 2008 US National Aerobatic
Championships are under way in Texas...
Two Seattle pilots flew
10,000 miles around Canada in their Beavers...
Three vintage
airplanes flew across the U.S. to honor an airmail anniversary.
More...
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Some of Aviation's Worst
Accidents Have Happened on the Ground; Find Out Why
Refresh your skills and learn how to avoid runway incursions by taking
advantage of the Air Safety Foundation's complimentary runway
safety tools. ASF's online Runway Safety Interactive
Course can be completed in less than an hour, and completion
qualifies towards AOPA Accident Forgiveness and the FAA Wings
Program. Plus, ASF's downloadable Runway Safety Flash
Cards help pilots better understand runway signage and markings.
Click for your runway safety
tools. 
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QUESTION
OF THE WEEK: IS THE VLJ DREAM DEAD?
Two years ago, very light
jets were seen as the future of business aviation and possible a savior
for the entire industry. A number of recent events have shaken the faith
of even true believers, but it's way too early to count VLJs out. This
week, we want to hear what you think. Plus: Find out how
AVweb readers answered last week's poll, on using their airplanes
for humanitarian volunteer efforts. More...
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AVWEB
INSIDER BLOG: FSS UNDER LOCKMART — STOP WHINING AND LOBBY FOR SOME
BETTER TOOLS
Don't like the brave new world of
Lockheed-Martin's Flight Service? Too bad. It's here to stay and after
three years of working at it they've clawed their way back up to the
level of adequate. Some of what we once had with locally knowledgeable
briefers is gone forever, but at least one gem of bygone days could be
brought back with the right software and some willing users, according
to IFR
magazine Editor-in-Chief Jeff van West, who takes the new FSS system
to task in the latest installment of our AVweb Insider Blog.
More...
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Win This
Plane!
Enter AOPA's 2008 Sweepstakes and you could be flying high in a
fully refurbished Piper Archer II, accented with a new instrument panel
featuring the world's first installed certified EFD1000 PFD. Custom
extras include handcrafted leather seats, tie-down rings, nav light
retainers, and wood trim accents.
Click for more details. 
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TURBINE
BARON TOUTED AS VLJ SUBSTITUTE
If your Baron could climb at
4,500 fpm and cruise at 300 knots, why would you need a jet? That's the
thought process Rocket Engineering is promoting as it celebrates
first flight of its fourth turbine conversion. The company, which
already has turbine STCs on the Bonanza, Duke and Piper Mirage, has
fitted the 500-shp Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A-21 to a Baron in hopes
of having a retrofit package STC'd by late 2009. "The combination of
speed, performance and economy of the new P-Baron PT6A turbo-prop are
very realistic, and will serve as a viable and compelling alternative to
the yet unproven VLJ market," said Rocket Engineering's president,
Darwin Conrad. More...
PIPERJET
PRESS DEMO PHOTO GALLERY
 Piper rolled out the red carpet for members of the press
wanting an inside look at their single-engine very light jet entry, the
PiperJet, and AVweb's Paul Bertorelli was on hand to snap a few
photos of the demo model in action. Piper VP of Sales Bob Kromer told us
in a podcast
interview that we can expect the first deliveries in 2011. (For more
on Piper's press event, click
here.) More...
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Join NAA and Help Shape the Next Century of
Flight
It's a great time to join the National Aeronautic Association
( NAA), the nation's oldest aviation organization. At $39 a year,
NAA membership is a terrific value for any aviation enthusiast!
Members receive the Smithsonian's Air & Space magazine, plus
access to aviation records and much more. To become an NAA member,
sign up online
or call (703) 416-4888 and press 4.
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| Don't Miss It Next Week — Sign Up for
AVwebBiz | | back to
top |  | |
HELP
AVWEBBIZ SPREAD YOUR NBAA NEWS
The world's most important
business aviation event, the National Business Aviation Association's
annual convention, is coming up Oct. 6-8 in Orlando and there will be
hundreds of product announcements and updates. AVweb will be
there with daily coverage of the events, news conferences and
announcements that make this show so important but if your company has
something more than 100,000 business aviation decision-makers need to
know about, we're encouraging you to let us know in advance. That way we
can give your news the full attention it deserves and make sure it's
released in a timely fashion during our coverage. Don't worry. We'll
strictly observe all embargos. Send your advance material to
rniles@avweb.com and thanks for your help in making our coverage the
most comprehensive available. More...
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Attention, Turboprop
Operators! Reserve October 28-30 on Your Calendars
Turboprop Expo 2008, October 28-30 in Scottsdale, AZ, will offer
specialized programs including seminar tracks for airframe and turboprop
engine topics as well as operational and ownership information. Dr.
David Strahle will present his informative and acclaimed seminar:
Understanding Nexrad Imagery. Enjoy the relaxing surroundings of
a classic resort and network with industry leaders at Turboprop Expo
2008.
For more information and to register,
visit online. 
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| The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is You! | | back to
top | | |
WHICH
DEICING SYSTEM DO YOU PREFER?
 With winter weather coming, now's a good time
to think about the three main deicing systems out there: pneumatic
boots, TKS and electro-thermal. Sister publication Aviation
Consumer is conducting a survey on what pilots think about them.
Even if you have experience with only two of the three, we'd like to
hear from you. Send a note to aviation_safety@hotmail.com
to share your experiences. (The results will appear in a future issue
of Aviation Consumer. For subscription information, click
here.) More...
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FBO
OF THE WEEK: UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI FBO (SKYHAVEN AIRPORT, KRCM,
WARRENSBURG, MO)
 AVweb's
"FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to an FBO at Warrensburg, Missouri's
Skyhaven Airport (KRCM) run by the Department of Aviation at the University of
Central Missouri. AVweb reader Ryan Sanders
gave the location his hearty recommendation: I cannot
say enough about this FBO. I get great service every time I come into
Warrensburg. Although students run the University's FBO, they really are
a great bunch. All ... are extremely passionate about aviation, and they
pass this on to their customers. They are quick on fuel, and the prices
are the best in the Midwest. 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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PICTURE
OF THE WEEK: AVWEB'S FLYING PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWCASE
 The weather is beginning to cool down a
bit at "POTW" world headquarters, and that means we're
spending more time indoors. Thankfully, AVweb readers from around
the globe continue to submit their original photos to our weekly
contest, helping us pass the time in style. Whereas we often close our
weekly round-up of reader photos with a breathtaking sunset, we're
turning things on their head today. Guy
Lynch of Pewsey, Wiltshire (U.K.) kicks off this week's
entries with plenty of orange and just a hint of crisp evening air.
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 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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