November 6, 2008

By The AVweb Editorial Staff

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. Purchase by December 31, 2008 and receive a complimentary pair of Bose in-ear headphones ($99.95 value). Learn more and order. Quotes reprinted with permission: Professional Pilot, 2007 Headset Preference Survey, 12/07; Aviation Consumer, 8/07. » Bose Corporation is an official sponsor of AVweb's AOPA Expo 2008 coverage. Please visit them at booth #1320 to see the Bose Aviation Headset X® in action! On-Site Coverage of AOPA Expo 2008 back to top  Cirrus Adds Enhanced Vision Six months after introducing the Perspective avionics package with integrated synthetic vision, Cirrus Design has added the Max Viz 600 infrared enhanced vision system to the package. The new system was announced at AOPA Expo in San Jose. The display is integrated into the 12-inch multi-function display and can be shown at full-screen size or simultaneously with Smart Taxi airport mapping function or the moving map. Meanwhile, the synthetic vision component is running on the PFD, giving the pilot both views to compare. "It really is a stress reliever, especially in night operations," said Cirrus Market and Product Strategy Analyst Matt Bergwall. The system's camera is mounted in a pod under the left wing. It has sensors for both ambient and infrared light and the two images are merged in the display inside. The system is available immediately on production line aircraft and existing airplanes can be retrofitted at Cirrus Service Centers. It costs $14,900. Inflight. Every Flight. XM WX Satellite Weather has quickly become the leading way to fly for pilots across the country. And now, with Aviator Pro, the brand-new weather data package from XM WX, pilots have an even better reason to fly with the datalink weather leader — inflight and every flight. Click here to learn more about XM WX's new suite of weather data and Aviator Pro. » XM WX Satellite Weather, the top provider of pilot wx data, is an official sponsor of AVweb's AOPA Expo 2008 coverage Please visit them at booth #908 to learn more. More New Products from AOPA Expo 2008 back to top  Avidyne Announces Enhanced Weather Package Avidyne says it now offers the most comprehensive onboard weather products package with the launch of the Entegra Wx Series. The company announced the further development in its weather products as AOPA Expo was getting under way in San Jose, Calif. The system will comprise "the newly-TSO'd MLX770 Two-way Datalink Transceiver and the MLB700 Broadcast Datalink Receiver serving worldwide WSI InFlight® datalink weather, as well as Avidyne's TWX670 Tactical Color Lightning System providing real-time on-board weather detection," according to a company release. Avidyne CEO Dan Scwhinn said Avidyne expanded its relationship with weather data provider WSI to offer the world-wide coverage in the new system. "...we have orchestrated a suite of sensors and data services that position Avidyne as the single-source worldwide weather solutions provider for general aviation," said Schwinn. Avidyne also announced a new warranty program extending coverage on its products. Zulu's Gone Wild in San Jose! AOPA Expo attendees are coming to Lightspeed's booth (#226) with reviews in their hands, wanting to see the difference for themselves. No doubt about it — for comfort, quiet, and sound quality, it's Zulu! If you're at AOPA Expo, come by for a Zulu demonstration. If you couldn't make it this year, go to Lightspeed online for all the reviews. See for yourself why Zulu is Aviation Consumer's "Headset of the Year" 2008. » Lightspeed Aviation, maker of the Zulu ANR headset, is an official sponsor of AVweb's AOPA Expo 2008 coverage Visit them at booth #226 for a Zulu demonstration! Mooney the Latest Manufacturer to Join Slowdown back to top  Mooney Temporarily Halts Production On the day before the start of AOPA Expo 2008 in San Jose, another manufacturer announced production curtailments. Mooney Airplane Company spokesman Dave Franson told AVweb that production is being scaled down to balance the current inventory of unsold airplanes. The company laid off 229 of its existing 320 employees, virtually all of them on the production floor. "These are temporary adjustments and they only affect our manufacturing operations," Franson told San Antonio Business Journal. "So our (other operations) will continue to operate normally and be staffed at the normal level. There will not be any change to existing or potential customers and we will deliver airplanes as scheduled." The sudden downturn in the economy is being blamed for the lack of orders and that meant the company didn't give the workers the notice required under Texas law. "These unexpected and unforeseeable conditions are beyond Mooney Airplane Company's control," Gowens said in a letter to the Texas Workforce Commission. "It was impossible for Mooney Airplane Company to predict this sudden collapse in demand at the time when notice would have been required." The factory will start up again when orders justify it, Franson said. Ever Wish You Could Flip a Switch and Turn IFR Visibility into VFR? To find out more, go to True Flight. » True Flight brings the most information to your displays and is an official sponsor of AVweb's AOPA Expo 2008 coverage. At the AOPA Expo ... back to top  Upset NAFI Members Plan AOPA Meeting A dissident group of members of the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) will hold a meeting on Friday at AOPA Expo in a bid to force "sweeping changes" to the governance of the organization. The group, calling itself Take Back Our National Association of Flight Instructors Committee (TBO NAFI) claims in a news release issued last week that the forced removal of two members of the board, JoAnn and Sandy Hill, focused "long-due attention on the broader governance issues plaguing the NAFI Board." The NAFI board responded with a resolution to undertake "a thorough revision" of the organization's bylaws before its next board meeting. But that isn't good enough, according to the new group. In an entry on the TBO NAFI Web site the group says the proposed timeline is unacceptable and that the new bylaws "must include provisions for the entire Board of Directors to be elected expeditiously by the membership." It's also demanding that once the new bylaws are passed that the existing board immediately resign. The group says its fight is not with EAA, which has a close relationship with NAFI. The meeting will be held in Salon II of the Marriott Hotel Ballroom. The hotel is part of the convention center complex. FAA Medical Officials On Hand Any pilot who has been grounded by a surprise medical condition knows the FAA's cure is sometimes worse than the disease. The complex and often ponderous special issuance process is frustrating and anything but fast. If you're facing a medical issue requiring special issuance, you might be able to fast-track your application by attending AOPA Expo in San Jose, California. AOPA has arranged to have Dr. Warren Silberman, the FAA's chief of medical certification and Dr. Fred Tifton, the federal air surgeon, at Expo to accept records and applications. AOPA's Chris Dancy told AVweb that they won't be able to process cases on the spot, but getting your records into the FAA workflow will fast track your application. For more, see this podcast. Untie Your Dreams at 235 Knots Leave the runway at 1,400 vertical feet per minute. Climb to 25,000 feet. Cruise at 235 confident knots. Nothing releases a pilot's passion for flight like the Cessna 400, the world's fastest fixed-gear aircraft. It's more than speed that makes the Cessna 400 such a pleasure to fly. There's the sophisticated stylish cabin, glass cockpit, side-stick control, and the head-turning gorgeous looks. Looks like Cessna is in the fast business. Go online for all the details. » Cessna Aircraft, the company behind the speedy Cessna 400, is an official sponsor of AVweb's AOPA Expo 2008 coverage. Visit them at booth #417 to see your dream aircraft in person! Search for Fossett Draws to a Close back to top  Steve Fossett's Death Confirmed With the recent discovery of the wreckage of the Decathlon that Steve Fossett was flying when he disappeared last year, it seemed certain that he had failed to survive, but DNA tests on two large bones found near the site now have confirmed that Fossett perished on that remote California mountainside. Local officials announced on Monday that the test results were conclusive. The bones were found about a half mile from the crash site, along with a pair of tennis shoes and Fossett's Illinois state driver's license, which showed evidence of animal bites. "It's finally over, and now maybe Mr. Fossett's family can get some closure," said Erica Stuart, spokeswoman for the Madera County sheriff's office. Fossett and his airplane vanished on Sept. 3, 2007, after he took off from a private landing strip in Nevada. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, investigators now suspect that Fossett was caught off guard by "tricky wind patterns" found in that part of the eastern Sierra and slammed the airplane into a granite wall. The NTSB has collected the wreckage and is investigating the crash but has not yet published any determination of the probable cause. Fossett's widow, Peggy Fossett, released a statement. "I am hopeful that the DNA identification puts a definitive end to all of the speculation surrounding Steve's death," she said. "This has been an incredibly difficult time for me, and I am thankful to everyone who helped bring closure to this tragedy." Zero-Down Factory Engine Financing! Guaranteed Lowest Price! Most Knowledgeable Factory Engine Team! It's no wonder Air Power is the #1 Factory Engine Distributor, with over 27,000 engines sold! To get a quote and see what everyone is talking about, call Air Power at (888) 759-4295, or visit online. Air Power The Best Engines, at the Best Prices, by the Best People! The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is You! back to top  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. 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. » Bendix-King (Honeywell) is at the AOPA Expo in San Jose. Visit them at booth #327 for a demonstration of the AV8OR™. New on AVweb back to top  Columns | Features | What's New | Calendar | Brainteasers Spark Plugs It doesn't get much more essential for getting rated engine performance than a properly functioning set of spark plugs. Click here to read this maintenance article. AVweb Insider Blog: TSA's Dangerous New Proposal Slowly but surely, the TSA is chipping away at the freedom of movement general aviation flying represents. And that's why you need to comment on its latest proposal, says Aviation Safety Editor-in-Chief Jeb Burnside in the latest installment of our AVweb Insider blog. Read more. 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. » Precise Flight is at the AOPA Expo in San Jose. Visit them at booths #1834 & 1836 to learn more about products for your aircraft. AVweb Audio — Are You Listening? back to top  AVweb's AOPA Expo 2008 Podcast #1: Sneak Peek — Fast-Tracking Medical Issues, the New Pres, Sweepstakes, and More File Size 7.1 MB / Running Time 7:43 Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS Got a medical issue you're worried about? If you're attending AOPA Expo in San Jose, California, bring your records. Dr. Warren Silberman and air surgeon Fred Tifton will be there to help fast track special issuances. AOPA's Chris Dancy told AVweb that they won't be able to process cases on the spot, but getting your records into the FAA workflow will fast-track your application. Plus: Meet the new president (Craig Fuller, not Barack Obama), the popular "Let's Go Flying" outreach seminars, and a chance to win a Piper Archer II — all at this year's Expo. This podcast is brought to you by Lightspeed Aviation, makers of the Zulu ANR headset. Click here to listen. (7.1 MB, 7:43) AVweb's AOPA Expo 2008 Podcast #2: Talking Weather with Bob Baron — More than Just Small Talk File Size 7.3 MB / Running Time 7:56 Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS Bob Baron is godfather of datalink weather. Not content with putting wx reports in the cockpits and pockets of pilots across the globe, his company (WxWorx) is developing a host of new products to make flying easier in the busy modern skies. This podcast is brought to you by WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather, the premier weather provider for pilots. Click here to listen. (7.3 MB, 7:56) AVweb's AOPA Expo 2008 Podcast #3: Why Is News Coverage of GA So Haphazard? We Put the Question to Max Karant Award Winner Paul Moses File Size 8.5 MB / Running Time 9:15 Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS We've all seen GA stories reported on the local news and in the hometown paper that made us cringe. Aviation stories in the lay media are often inaccurate or unintentionally misleading, and we (specialists, professionals, and aficionados) have a hard time understanding why the media can't get it right. In this podcast, we put the question to someone who knows — Paul Moses, a CBS journalist attending this year's AOPA Expo to receive the Max Karant Award. This podcast is brought to you by Bose Corporation's Aviation Headset X™. Click here to listen. (8.5 MB, 9:15) 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. » AirFleet Capital is at the AOPA Expo in San Jose. Visit them at booth #233 for a complimentary quote. AVweb Media: Look, Listen, Laugh and Learn back to top  AVweb's AOPA Expo 2008 Video #2: Infrared Enhanced Vision System (EVS) for the Cirrus G3 Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos You can now own a state-of-the-art Maxviz forward-looking infrared enhanced vision system in your Cirrus G3 — and that sounded so appealing to us that we had to make time to fly with one during the AOPA Expo in San Jose, California. Join us for a quick introduction to the system and its benefits. (Video by Glenn Pew.) This video is brought to you by Lightspeed Aviation and WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather. 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. AVweb's AOPA Expo 2008 Video #3: Outgoing AOPA President Phil Boyer (Part 1 of 3) Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos Departing Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association president Phil Boyer talks to AVweb and Aviation Consumer's Paul Bertorelli about his 17 years working on behalf of pilots. (Part 1 of 3.) (Video by Glenn Pew.) 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. This video is brought to you by Bose Corporation. Want Your Travel "Down Time" to Work for You? Subscribe to Pilot's Audio Update and receive monthly CDs with audio articles ranging from "Top 10 Tips from an AME" and "How Controllers Think" to "Pattern Entry and Non-Towered Airports." Listen as Pilot's Audio Update experts give you the latest info you need to stay current. Subscribe now to receive the Acing the Flight Review CD as Pilot's Audio Update's gift with your order. » Learn more about Pilot's Audio Updates and other Belvoir Media Aviation Publications at our booth (#1435) at the AOPA Expo in San Jose. Your Favorite FBOs back to top  FBO of the Week: Winnemucca Flying Service (KWMC, Winnemucca, NV) Nominate an FBO | Rules | Tips | Questions | Winning FBOs AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Winnemucca Flying Service at KWMC in Winnemucca, Nevada. AVweb reader Mick Collins told us about the FBO last week: We had a group flight (eight planes) land at KWMC ... for an overnight. Buster and his crew performed flawlessly in supporting all our various needs and wants, even loaning us his personal car to run folks into town. (We had already commandeered the courtesy van!) I highly recommend anyone looking for top-notch service and the chance to meet some good folks stop in at Winnemucca Flying Service! 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 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 Webmaster Scott Simmons Contributors 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.