CUB SURVIVES CRASH, PILOT'S CAREER MAY NOT
Civil fines and a possible court injunction that would prevent future acquisition of a pilot certificate may be sought for 26-year-old Edwin Stoltenberg, who crashed his father's Super Cub on a sand bar in Alaska last weekend. Stoltenberg may have been at the controls, but he is not a certificated pilot, nor does he hold a valid medical, according to Alaskan NBC affiliate KTUU. The channel reported Thursday that Stoltenberg was denied his medical in August of 2008 because the FAA found he had three convictions for drunken driving and has since acquired a fourth. According to the NTSB preliminary report, witnesses say the young man made several passes on the river, maybe as many as five or six, touching the aircraft's wheels to the water before contact with a sand bar flipped the aircraft. Although on a river in Alaska, the precise area of the flight was populated at the time with at least one family and two other children who were fishing. After the wreck, one young man approached the inverted aircraft, saw Stoltenberg inside and heard his first words, "Don't call the cops." But the drama doesn't end there. More...

OBAMA ACTS, CONTROLLERS REACT
The Obama administration Thursday announced that it will create a mediation team to immediately address the FAA/NATCA contract dispute and NATCA President Patrick Forrey was quick to respond with praise. Controllers have been dissatisfied with work conditions since contract negotiations broke down and the FAA imposed non-negotiated work rules on the union nearly three years ago. NATCA understood the president's comments and action to indicate that the administration's resolve to stabilize the controller workforce and restore a collaborative work environment is a top priority. Said Forrey, "With this bold step, President Obama is fulfilling his commitment to the safety and modernization of the air traffic control system and to the dedicated men and women safety professionals who run the system each day." Forrey added thanks to Transportation Secretary LaHood "for his leadership and commitment to resolving this issue." More...

NETJETS AND UNION AVOID LAYOFFS
NetJets Aviation Inc., the Berkshire Hathaway owned and largest fractional jet ownership operator in the U.S., has agreed with its pilots union on voluntary measures to avoid layoffs. Since December, declines in the use of fractional jets have ranged up to 50 percent in monthly year-over-year figures. NetJets specifically had to contend with that as a reduction in revenue while also writing down the value of its fleet by $54 million to reflect the falling value of its fleet. Faced with that, NetJets executives and union leaders for the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots cooperatively devised cost-cutting measures that would avoid layoffs during the business decline. NetJets pilots have been encouraged by their union leaders to choose either reduced work hours, leaves of absence or early retirement. In a letter to its members, the union called the measures, "unparalleled in the aviation industry and reflective of a genuine labor-management partnership," and encouraged pilots to select one of the proposed options. More...

PIPER HAS BEEN SOLD
The new owner of Piper Aircraft Inc., is Imprimis, "a corporate finance and investment management firm that operates from its offices in Bangkok, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam." Production and product development facilities will remain in Vero Beach, Fla., according to the new owners. Imprimis stated in a Friday press release that it fully supports PiperJet development and intends to aggressively expand Piper's activities, especially in Asia Pacific, targeting pilot training and both commercial and private flying clubs. Speaking for Imprimis, managing partner Stephen W. Berger said his company is dedicated to growing Piper in existing markets and Asian markets "where much of our focus lies." More...

BOEING FLOATS DATE FOR 787 DREAMLINER TEST FLIGHT
About 60 percent of the required certification work is in the hands of the FAA and the aircraft itself is in the paint shop, but Boeing is setting expectations for first flight of the 787 Dreamliner, saying it anticipates liftoff prior to July 1. First test flights had once been expected in late 2007 with deliveries to begin in mid-2008, but with that development (and those delays) in the past, chief project engineer Michael Delaney told reporters the pace of certification has been "far superior to anything we've ever done before." Prior to certification, six aircraft will be built and deployed for testing. Two will have GE engines and four will run Rolls Royce engines. Customer aircraft will likely be powered by more efficient engines developed as a joint venture by GE and Snecma of France. Flight tests should last nearly 9 months, followed soon thereafter with FAA airworthiness certification and first delivery in 2010. If times then are anything like times now, fuel conservation will be a lead element in airlines' ability to prosper, or survive. More...

HONDAJET ANNOUNCES DELAYS, BLAMES SUPPLIERS
HondaJet conforming aircraft will probably not fly before January 2010 with customer deliveries now projected for fourth quarter 2011 -- a year later than originally hoped. Honda Aircraft Company Thursday released the news with the explanation that "ongoing global aerospace industry business challenges" have delayed the arrival of critical components. Honda is working with "leading industry suppliers" in the manufacture of many major subassemblies and says that delays in delivery of some critical components forced the company to push back its schedule. The company said in a news release it remains "confident we will deliver to our customers the best-performing and best-valued light jet in the industry." HondaJet is currently priced at $3.9 million and claims "significantly lower fuel consumption than any light jet of its size." More...

NO FULL PLANE PARACHUTE? NO PROBLEM
A Cessna 182 crashed Friday after departing Thun Field, Wash., when the aircraft reportedly lost power and the pilot tried to turn back for the runway -- a move that often puts pilots in a world of ... excrement. Things were no different in this case, but as fate would have it, that world may be exactly what saved the pilot from substantial injury. The aircraft fell short of the runway, clipped a fence and flipped upside-down into a stand of porta-potties. Fortunately for the pilot, the portable toilets had what it took to absorb or dissipate the remaining kinetic energy of the crash and the pilot "walked away apparently unhurt," according to the Associated Press. Fortunately for everyone else (including, we assume, the NTSB), the porta-potties were not deployed in service at the time, but were sitting idle and empty (we pray, of everything) in a storage yard. More...

WASP SEEKS YOUR VOICE AND RECOGNITION
The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) are the subject of Bill S614 that would recognize, with the award of a Congressional Gold Medal, their service during World War II, and they are asking that supporting voices speak up and be heard. The intent of the WASP program was to free up male combat pilots from stateside duty during the war but ultimately it "served as a catalyst for revolutionary reform in the integration of women pilots into the Armed Services," according to the bill. From 1942 to 1944, WASPs instructed, transported cargo and personnel, ferried aircraft and more, but they were never commissioned or given active duty status and only earned veteran status decades later. Those interested in supporting the congressional award should check the position of their representatives, here, which offers "not" and "on board" lists and suggests simple actions you can take to convey your interests to your representatives. More...

LUCKY AV8OR WINNERS
Almost 10,000 people entered our contest, sponsored by Bendix/King by Honeywell, for a chance to win one of five AV8OR GPS units. The lucky winner of the unit given away at AERO Friedrichshafen in Germany in early April was Nikolaus Gable from Memingham, Germany. In conjunction with our daily show coverage at Sun 'n Fun, we gave away four AV8ORs and the winners are: Brian Catchpoole of Lincolnshire, UK; Marianne Blair of Waynsboro, VA; Andrew Vlack of Westmont, IL; and David Joseph of Lakeland, FL. Our thanks to those who entered online and stopped by to see us at our booths at both shows. If you weren't one of the lucky ones this time around, you'll have another chance starting July 13 for AV8ORs that will be awarded after AirVenture 2009. Stay tuned for more details. More...

AVIATION CONSUMER'S ASPEN AVIONICS SURVEY
Have you installed an Aspen Avionics PFD/MFD? Our sister magazine, Aviation Consumer, wants to talk to you about the experience and your satisfaction with the system. Please take a moment to fill out this survey and share your experience with other potential buyers.(The results will appear in a future issue of Aviation Consumer. For subscription information, click here.) 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...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: FAA'S TURN TOWARD SECRECY
Between bird strike data and the disastrous photo op for Air Force One over New York City, the FAA seems to be relying more and more on secrecy in public affairs. In the latest installment of our AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli wonders what this may mean for the larger issue of aviation safety. More...

NEW PRESIDENT AT AIR CARE ALLIANCE
Lindy Kirkland, who retired from the Marine Corps in 2006 as the pilot of Marine One, is the new president of the Air Care Alliance, a national organization of public benefit flying groups. He spoke with AVweb's Russ Niles about his goals for the Alliance. More...

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: AVIATION CONSUMER REVIEWS JEPPESEN'S VISUAL CHARTS
Does the world need an alternative to the government's section charts? Jeppesen thinks so, and Aviation Consumer's Jeff Van West finds that these new products from Jeppesen are well-designed and well-executed, with a just a couple of small shortcomings. More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: JET AIR SYSTEMS (GILLESPIE FIELD, KSEE, EL CAJON/SAN DIEGO, CA)

"It's easy to look good when things go smoothly," writes AVweb reader Jim Wholey, "but Jet Air [at KSEE in El Cajon/San Diego] still looks good when problems arise." Jim explains the stellar service that makes Jet Air our "FBO of the Week":

I arrived [at Gillespie Field] early in the evening but after rental car agencies were closed. Due to a mix-up on dates, I did not have a car waiting. The staff at Jet Air patiently investigated various options and were able to arrange a temporary loaner car. But more significant, they proved their high level of customer service to me! (Thanks, Missy.)

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!

PICTURE OF THE WEEK: DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT OUR BONUS PICS
Don't forget that we've got quite a few bonus photos up in the "Picture of the Week" slideshow on AVweb's home page. When you're done browsing the latest aviation news, be sure to cruise on over there, scroll about halfway down the page, and check out the reader-submitted pics. (Don't forget to upload your own photos for the current week's contest!) More...

SHORT FINAL

The following actually happened on April 24, 2009. (N12345 is a Piper Archer with headphones.)

Tower:
"All aircraft, ATIS information Victor is present."

N12345:
"WB Approach, 12345 is inbound with Victor, full stop."

N12345 Passenger:
"There are four people on board, and no one is named Victor. Where is Victor on this plane, or did you forget him?"

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
Mariano Rosales

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