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Aircraft Spruce Offers Lowest
Pricing on Oil Filters!
Tempest and Kelly Aerospace oil filters are now $173 for a
case of 12. Tempest Oil Filters feature a magnetic secondary filtration
system that attracts steel particles too small to be caught in the
filter, available in 6-packs. Kelly Aerospace Oil Filters' 8-point
spot-weld-on-hex-nuts filters make it your aircraft engine's ultimate
protection, available in 4-packs. Save 10% on 6 or more of the same
Kelly filter. Call Aircraft Spruce at 1 (877) 4-SPRUCE,
or
order online. 
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| Top News: Obama Names Sec'y of Transportation | | back to
top |  | |
ILLINOIS
REPUBLICAN LIKELY NEXT SECDOT
Ray
LaHood, a moderate Republican Congressman from Illinois, has
accepted a request to become transportation secretary in the coming
Obama administration, news agencies reported Wednesday. The nomination
is expected to be officially announced within a few days. LaHood, 63,
has served in Congress since 1995. Kenneth Quinn, a former FAA chief
counsel, told the Washington Post that LaHood is an "outstanding
bipartisan pick." Quinn noted that the new secretary will face
"extremely daunting challenges" in the aviation industry, especially in
trying to cope with labor-management relations at the FAA. "At the same
time, he'll have to effectively modernize our air traffic control system
and deal with very pressing competition and congestion problems," Quinn
said. According to the National Air Transportation Association, LaHood
has been a "proponent for improving local airports [in Illinois] through
securing funds for new construction and expansion, while also working
with officials to increase air service." In 2000, when LaHood served on
the House aviation subcommittee, he was cited as a "strong advocate of
general aviation" by AOPA. More...
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Zero-Down Factory Engine
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what everyone is talking about, call Air Power at (888)
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visit online. 
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People!
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ECLIPSE
AVIATION CUSTOMERS ORGANIZE
Customers of Eclipse Aviation
announced on Wednesday that they have formed an Ad Hoc Customers
Committee to represent the interests of owners and position holders as
the company works its way through bankruptcy proceedings. Eclipse
delivered 259 aircraft and took deposits in the estimated amount of $300
million for future deliveries before filing for Chapter 11 late last
month. "Eclipse customers hold contracts under which Eclipse is
obligated to provide warranty coverage, upgrades, uninstalled equipment,
maintenance coverage, subscription services, and future aircraft
deliveries," the group said in a news release. "In terms of dollar
amount, customers are likely the largest constituency in Eclipse's
Chapter 11 case." The news release said the new committee will act for
the common interests of all owners and position holders of both the
Eclipse 500 twin jet and the Eclipse 400 single-engine jet. David Green,
who is also the president of the Eclipse 500 Owners Club, was chosen as
chair. "The Ad Hoc Customers Committee is funded by the owners and
position holders in recognition that a unified voice is the most
effective way to ensure that customers are fairly treated and that the
Eclipse order book is preserved as one of the most valuable assets of
Eclipse," Green said. More...
NEW
TSA RULES AFFECT GA PILOTS; TSA TO HOLD HEARINGS ON LASP
PLANS
AOPA reported on Tuesday that the Transportation Security
Administration has issued a directive that will require background
checks for general aviation pilots based at airports served by airlines,
starting next year.Those pilots who pass the background check will
receive an ID badge to allow them access to the airport. The directive
won't affect transient pilots, AOPA said, who will continue to be
subject to the current escorting and monitoring requirements in place at
airports that serve air carriers. Currently, most airports exclude GA
operations from these security requirements, but that is about to
change. "Pilots have long operated without incident on these airports,
and it is surprising that the TSA appears to have implemented such a
significant new mandate with no notification or discussion," said Andy
Cebula, AOPA executive vice president of government affairs. "It will
have a significant impact on pilots and airports in many small
communities across the country." Meanwhile, the TSA has announced a
series of public hearings to be held in January to hear public reaction
to its Large Aircraft Security Program, which has met with considerable
opposition in the aviation world. [more] The National Business Aviation
Association has listed details about the hearings, as well as its
analysis of the TSA proposals, at its Web
site. The hearings will be held on various dates in January 2009, in
White Plains, N.Y.; Atlanta, Ga., Chicago, Ill.; Burbank, Calif.; and
Houston, Texas. More...
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Holiday Special! Get $100 Off
a Panel Power Zulu
Lightspeed has lowered their price from $900 to $850, plus
they'll give you a $50 mail-in rebate. Give your special pilot
everything dreams are made of: performance, comfort, and crystal-clear
audio, with more total noise cancellation than any other headset, plus
built-in Bluetooth. Purchase from an authorized
Lightspeed dealer by December 31st, 2008.
Click here to see why Zulu is
Aviation Consumer's Headset of the Year for 2008. 
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| That Time of the Year When a Sleigh Is an Aircraft
... | | back to
top | | |
A
PILOT'S DREAM GIFT -- TIME IN MUSTANG SIMULATOR
If there's a
pilot on your holiday shopping list who's impossible to buy for, here's
a gift that should put a spark in any pilot's eye -- an hour in a
full-motion Citation Mustang jet flight simulator. FlightSafety
International is offering a special gift package for anyone with an
interest, pilot or not, the Wichita Eagle reported this week. The Cessna
Learning Center in Wichita, Kan., will provide a brief overview of the
jet plus an hour at the simulator controls, with an instructor, for
$400. Eagle reporter Molly McMillin tried it out, and said "You really
feel like you're doing the flying." Time slots can be booked between
Dec. 29 and Jan. 2, a time frame, we suspect, when regular paying
customers are scarce. For information, call Catherine Kreitler at (316)
220-3100. More...
YEAR'S
END IS TIME TO GIVE
Many folks will face the New Year warily
uncertain of what it might bring, as global economic turmoil continues,
and those who depend on the charity of others face even worse
uncertainty. When times are tough, it's harder to give, but that's when
generosity is needed most. Aviators have long been proud of their
charitable efforts, and EAA has some practical suggestions -- take
advantage of your employer's charitable gift matching program if
available, and if you are aged 70 1/2 or older, you can transfer funds
directly from your IRA to qualified charitable organizations, thus
eliminating income tax on withdrawals. Check with EAA for more details. Also, EAA announced
last week that AirVenture Oshkosh 2009 will spotlight the breadth and
depth of good works accomplished by general aviation. The Fly for Life program will highlight more than 200
organizations that promote flying for humanitarian goals. Activities
will include a major display adjacent to AeroShell Square, aircraft
displays, numerous forums and presentations, an evening program, and
other events. More...
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| |
Icing and Precipitation Can
Be Deadly — Refresh Your Skills Now!
Icing and precipitation are among the top causes of fatal
weather-related accidents. Learn how to recognize the hazards and create
a strategy for avoidance with the newest interactive course from the
AOPA Air Safety Foundation — Weather Wise:
Precipitation & Icing.
Check out this no-cost online course
now!
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QUESTIONS
SURROUND MISSING AIRCRAFT IN CARIBBEAN
A Britten-Norman
Islander took off from the Dominican Republic on Monday afternoon, with
12 people on board bound for New York, but disappeared from radar 35
minutes later after sending an emergency signal, The Associated Press
reported this week. Six airplanes, two helicopters, and a ship from the
U.S. Coast Guard searched the seas near the Turks and Caicos Islands for
the aircraft, but no sign had been found of the Islander as of late
Wednesday afternoon. "The weather was really difficult to search in last
night," Coast Guard Petty Officer Jennifer Johnson told Reuters on Tuesday. "We had 6- to 8-foot seas, lots
of whitecaps and next to zero visibility. It's been clearing up but the
seas are still a little rough." On Tuesday, the AP reported that
aviation officials were giving conflicting reports regarding the
airplane's origin and destination, and the registered owner said the
airplane had been stolen. It was also unclear whether the airplane had
landed in the Turks and Caicos Islands prior to its disappearance.
"There's still a lot of unanswered questions here," FAA spokeswoman
Kathleen Bergen told the AP. Questions also were raised about the
pilot's credentials; one report said the pilot had only a student license.
More...
WHITEKNIGHT2
COMPLETES TAXI TEST; NEW MEXICO SPACEPORT OK'D
Is a first
flight imminent for the White Knight Two? When the huge double-hulled
aircraft rolled out last summer in Mojave, the media was told to expect
a first flight by the end of this year. This week, Flight International
reports that at least one low-speed taxi trial took place last Friday at
about 3 p.m. local time (click here for video), and the first flight may take
place as soon as this Friday. The airplane was designed to carry space
tourists for Virgin Galactic. WK2 will fly to about 50,000 feet with a
spaceship suspended beneath its wing. The spaceship will then fall free
and light a rocket to reach altitudes above 100,000 feet, where tourists
can experience weightlessness and view the curvature of the Earth. This
week, the age of space tourism took another step forward when the FAA
issued a license for vertical and horizontal launches for Spaceport
America, in New Mexico. Virgin Galactic is expected to sign a lease for the
facility by the end of this month, and construction should begin early
next year. The project will be the first purpose-built commercial
spaceport in the U.S. More...
ON
THE FLY ...
Eileen Collins, Russ Meyer, Jimmy Steward and Ed
White are the 2009 National Aviation Hall of Fame
inductees...
Special flight rules will be in place for the
Inauguration in Washington on January 20...
Pax were stunned when an
airline pilot said he had to turn around because he wasn't qualified to
land...
FAA will reinstate 60 pilot testing centers whose privileges
had been revoked, AOPA says...
United Air Lines is sued for
allegedly serving alcohol to an inebriated passenger, who later beat his
wife. 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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ADIZ/SFRA
PERMANENT
The FAA has made the Air Defence Identification
Zone (ADIZ) around Washington, D.C. permanent (and called it a Special
Flight Rules Area (SFRA)) but AOPA says it will keep fighting to get rid
of it. "While this is a final rule," Andy Cebula, AOPA's executive vice
president of government affairs said in a news release, "circumstances and conditions
evolve, and rules can be changed." While AOPA is working on that, the
government seems pretty stuck on keeping the 15 and 30-nm bubbles around
DC (flying shoes notwithstanding) and says it's in everyone's best
interests. "This rule will help air traffic controllers and security
agencies monitor air traffic by identifying, distinguishing and
responding appropriately if an aircraft deviates from its expected
flight path or is not complying with instructions from controllers," the
agency says in a news release. More...
TWO
NEW AIR SHOWS AHEAD FOR 2009
Air shows continue to be one of
the best vehicles for introducing the masses to the world of aviation,
and this week brought announcements about two major new shows coming up
next year. Colorado Sport Aviation said it will launch the
Colorado Sport International Air Show and Rocky Mountain Regional Fly-In
at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Denver, on Aug. 22-23. The
Rocky Mountain Fly-In has been held at various locations in its 29-year
history, and this will be a new venue, incorporating the airport's
popular annual open house event. The airport, located between Denver and
Boulder, is close to plenty of tourist facilities and potential
visitors, and provides spectacular mountain scenery. Also, Branson Airport,
in Branson, Mo., will host the first annual Branson Air
Show, May 8-10, which will set the stage for the grand opening of
the brand-new, privately operated commercial airport on May 11. Acts
will include the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the Aeroshell Aerobatic
Team, Manfred Radius, Patty Wagstaff, and more, plus plenty of warbirds
on display. More performers are expected to be confirmed soon.
More...
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| |
Win This Plane! Last Chance
to Win — Enter by December 31st
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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AVWEB'S
VIDEO GIFT IDEAS 2008
 Looking for a gift for yourself or
your pilot friends? AVweb can help! Video editor Glenn Pew has
put together our most useful product overviews for you to peruse and get
ideas. If you see something you like in one of these videos, visit our
sponsors
and get your shopping done online. Stay informed; stay entertained.
Happy holidays from your team at AVweb. (Click through a link to
the videos.) More...
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Low Year-End Aircraft
Financing Rates
Get your aircraft financing application to AirFleet Capital before December 19, 2008 for a year-end
closing to take advantage of tax benefits and low year-end rates. 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
go online to submit your
application. 
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QUESTION
OF THE WEEK: THE PERFECT GIFT FOR A PILOT
With Christmas only
a week away, AVweb would like to know what constitutes "The
Perfect Gift" for pilots and aviation buffs.
Plus:
Last week, we asked AVweb readers if they're flying more now that
fuel prices have fallen; click through to read what they had to say on
the subject. More...
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Virtual Flying in Some of the
World's Great Airplanes
Classic Cockpits is a series of high-quality DVDs that put you
into the pilot's seat of some of the world's great airplanes. Be there
for engine start, checklists, taxi, take-off, climb, cruise, descent,
landing, and more. Titles currently available are:
Flying the Legendary DC-3, 
Flying the PBY Catalina,
and
Flying the de Havilland
Vampire. 
Makes the perfect holiday gift!
Click on the individual titles for complete descriptions, and
click here to order all DVDs
online. 
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EXCLUSIVE
VIDEO: F/A-18 CRASH NEAR SAN DIEGO
 An F/A-18 Hornet crashed about 9,000
feet shy of Runway 06L at MCAS Miramar, in a residential neighborhood
near San Diego, California, Monday December 8, 2008 at approximately
11:59 a.m. local time. This initial report was published by Glenn Pew
the day of the crash with the information available at that time. (Click
through to watch.) More...
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Central Europe's Dedicated
General Aviation Exhibition for 2009
AeroExpo Europe/Prague is the dedicated general aviation
exhibition in Central Europe in 2009, showcasing everything from
ultralights through business jets. Its location at the heart of Europe
together with the facilities means it will be the single most important
venue for exhibitors to showcase their products and services to the
European general aviation market and particularly to the emerging
markets of Eastern Europe and Russia.
Go online for complete
information. 
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| |
FBO
OF THE WEEK: PECOS AIR CENTER (KPEQ, PECOS, TX)
 AVweb's
"FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Pecos Air Center at KPEQ in Pecos,
Texas. AVweb reader Jeffrey B. Chipetine called the
FBO "a terrific stop on the way home to New York from
California": [I] called in on Unicom (45 miles out
from 13.5K) as dark was falling fast. Was answered immediately and was
told they'd be open when we arrived. Was offered a handshake, help with
bags, tie-down assistance, and a courtesy car before I could say "thank
you." ... These folks know how to make weary travelers feel welcome and
wanted. Add me to the list of Pecos Air Center
fans. Didn't realize we were keeping the list,
Jeffrey, but we've pinned it to the virtual AVweb bulletin board
and added your name! 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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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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PICTURE
OF THE WEEK: AVWEB'S FLYING PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWCASE
 Dwayne
Clemens of Benton, Kansas leads us into the skies this week
with this photo of Greg Largen smoking up the air over Stearman
Field. That old holiday spirit seems to be upon us all this week —
as evidenced by the outpouring of great "POTW" submissions we found in
our inbox today. Among the sunsets and skyscapes, we found quite a few
holiday cards and festive photos this week — but rather than run
them, we'll save them for next Thursday, when AVwebFlash (and
"POTW") will hit the streets on Christmas morning. Yes, we're planning
to make next week's edition of "POTW" an all-holiday affair!
Light the menorah, trim the tree, and send us your best
and brightest holiday-themed airplane photos. We'll share as many as
we can right here on Christmas Day! (Be sure to get your photos in by Tuesday morning to be
considered for the holiday issue.)
Plus: We've
got some great guesses (after this week's photos)
More...
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| |
Are Your Company's Sales
Stalling?
Advertise Here to Reach Over 240,000 Aviators
Worldwide
AVweb advertisers receive instant response, tracking, and
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has been the premier internet news source, now delivering over 240,000
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comprehensive no-cost online aviation site.
Click for details on AVweb's
cost-effective programs. 
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| The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is You! | | 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. More...
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