June 11, 2009

By The AVweb Editorial Staff

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"It's clear to us in looking at the February Colgan Air crash in Buffalo that there are things we should be doing now," said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. "My goal is to make sure that the entire industry -- from large commercial carriers to smaller, regional operators -- is meeting our safety standard." The agency will host a "call to action" summit in Washington, D.C., on Monday, June 15, to review airline safety and pilot training. Representatives from national and regional airlines as well as industry and labor groups are expected to participate. Officials expect the meeting to result in commitments to act in four key areas: crew education and support, professional standards and flight discipline, training standards and performance, and mentoring relationships between mainline carriers and their regional partners. Two congressional committees this week also are investigating aviation safety issues related to regional airlines. On Wednesday, the Senate's aviation subcommittee heard testimony about the FAA's role in ensuring safety and security for air carriers. And on Thursday, the House aviation subcommittee will investigate pilot workforce issues at regional airlines. TSA Lists Airports Affected By New Security Directive A total of 454 airports will be subject to the TSA's latest Security Directive (SD-8G) restricting the movements of transient pilots, EAA said this week. The list includes airports in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam as well as in the U.S. Click here for the full list (PDF). The directive took effect June 1 and requires pilots to "remain close to their aircraft," leaving it only for trips to and from the FBO or airport exit, according to AOPA, although some airports may also offer escorts to transient pilots. Since individual airports may develop a variety of programs that would satisfy the TSA directive, pilots need to call ahead to their destinations and ask the airport operator or an FBO on the field for information about that airport's security requirements, EAA says. The TSA is expected to provide future guidance regarding self-fueling and emergencies. The full text of the security directive has not been made public. The new listing of airports is not the same as a list of airports (PDF) released by the TSA in January for the Large Aircraft Security Program. Has Zulu Changed Your Mind? If so, we'd sure like to hear your story. We've extended our offer. Just go to the Zulu Change Your Mind web site and fill us in by June 30, and we may post it on our web site. Plus — We'll give you another way to share your Zulu experience: All stories will be entered in a drawing for a headset. Win and make a passenger very happy. For the details, go to ZuluChangeYourMind.com. Where GA Meets USA back to top  Sponsor Announcement Air Force May Open More Airspace To GA The FAA said this week it is working with the U.S. Air Force to find ways to allow civilian flights to regularly use airspace that is normally reserved for the military. The effort would help to relieve delays on commercial and general aviation flights when thunderstorms, traffic, or other constraints limit the number of planes that can pass through commercial airspace, the FAA said. Over the last year, the Department of Defense has already let the FAA use portions of special use airspace during a few high-traffic times, such as last Thanksgiving. "Express lanes" allowed commercial flights to transit military airspace in busy regions across the country. The FAA said it is now working to develop a more permanent way to use this airspace. One possibility under consideration would be to expand the airspace made available to the Air Force but then subdivide it into boxes. The Air Force then could shift its operations into boxes of airspace the FAA doesn't need, and let civilian traffic fly through the boxes that allow for the most efficient movement of airplanes. Currently the Air Force is the only military participant in the program, though the other branches of the military may participate if the effort proves successful, the FAA said. Customs and Border Protection Justifies Ramp Check A spokeswoman for the Washington headquarters of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says the drawing of weapons in the ramp inspection of an aircraft in Long Beach, Calif., last month was justified but not "normal." Kelly Ivahnenko also told AVweb that general aviation pilots can expect more ramp checks by CBP agents thanks to the newly-instituted Electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS). She stressed it's unlikely many of the checks will have the level of intensity employed May 22 with Long Beach, Calif., pilot David Perry and his three passengers. Ivahnenko said in an interview on Tuesday that there was a "heightened alert" involved in the Long Beach operation but she also said she could not discuss the circumstances that led to a more aggressive posture than normal by the CBP and local police. She also said that while eAPIS had nothing to do with the Long Beach inspection, information provided through eAPIS could result in more frequent GA inspections. The system, which involves the online filing of flight and passenger information for transborder flights, became mandatory on May 18. In an interview and podcast with AVweb, Perry said he and his passengers were put in unnecessary peril by gun-wielding enforcement officials. Ivahnenko stressed Perry's experience is not what most pilots should expect if they're checked by the CBP. "This I would not classify as common or routine," she said. She said the Long Beach action was justified, even though the search turned up nothing illegal. "While the involvement of more than one law enforcement agency and the heightened alert of the situation were slightly unusual, it is within (CBP's) authority to inspect inbound and outbound travelers, vehicles, planes, cargo, etc.," she told AVweb. She also said that only the Long Beach police officers assisting the operation actually drew weapons and CBP agents kept theirs holstered, something Perry vehemently disputes. "Every one of them had their weapons out," Perry said. Perry also said that while most of those who surrounded his airplane carried pistols, he saw at least one assault rifle carried by a CBP agent. Ivahnenko said the CBP agents involved are not equipped with assault rifles and the tactical team that does carry them was not in Long Beach that day. Perry adamantly disagrees with Ivahnenko regarding the presence of assault rifles. While Ivahnenko maintains CBP agents did not draw weapons, she said it was their idea that the Long Beach police officers have their guns out. "We are taking responsibility as the lead agency who requested assistance from Long Beach," she said. "That was simply part of the security protocol for that part of the inspection." Perry said he and his passengers were ordered at gunpoint to first put their hands on their heads and then get out of the airplane one by one. They were individually questioned and they and the contents of the plane were searched. Perry said he's considering filing a civil rights action against the CBP and has been told by an attorney that the search may have violated the 4th Amendment of the Constitution that limits search and seizure powers of the government. Ivahnenko said the controversy stirred by the Long Beach inspection may prompt an outreach campaign by the CBP to address concerns being expressed by the general aviation community about the new border-crossing rules. Aircraft Spruce at the 2009 Golden West Regional Fly-In Visit the Aircraft Spruce exhibit in Marysville, CA on June 12-14, 2009. You'll find them in booths 8 & 9 from 9:00am to 5:00pm on June 12-13, and 9:00am to 4:00pm on June 14. Take advantage of special pricing, no-charge ground shipping (most products), and meet the Aircraft Spruce Air Show Team. Call 1 (877) 4-SPRUCE or visit AircraftSpruce.com. Executive Shift at Piper back to top  Bass To Step Down As Piper CEO James Bass, who has been CEO of Piper Aircraft since 2005, will step down on June 26, the company announced on Wednesday. "All things come to an end," Bass said in remarks to Piper employees. "I have successfully completed my mission at Piper and am leaving the company in very capable hands. What I was brought in to do has been done, and it is now time for me to move on to other challenges." During his four years at the helm, Bass led the development of the PiperJet and initiated a new business alliance with Honda. He also oversaw the introduction of the Meridian G1000 and the popular Piper Matrix, and negotiated $32 million in incentives from the state and county that kept the company in Vero Beach, Fla. "My primary focus when I came to Piper in 2005 was to turn the company around, create a strong, highly competitive business, and make Piper a compelling choice for potential buyers," Bass said. "Now with the sale of Piper to Imprimis, we have achieved that major milestone." Imprimis, a corporate finance and investment management firm, bought Piper on May 1. The next CEO will be Kevin Gould, who is now Piper's VP of operations. Gould joined Piper in 2005, and has more than 20 years of experience in leadership roles in engineering, manufacturing and management, including 12 years at Boeing. He overhauled Piper's manufacturing operations to meet production schedule commitments, while improving both cost and quality performance, the company said. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a J.D. from the University of Southern California School of Law and a B.A. from Washington State University. He holds a private pilot certificate. John Becker, who is now VP of engineering, will be named president of the company. Nonin Pulse Oximeter for Only $99 Now at AeroMedix! Nonin's new GO2 Achieve Pulse Oximeter is now available at AeroMedix for only for $99! Now you can accurately measure your oxygen saturation and heart rate as you ensure the safety of you and your passengers, all at a new affordable price. Made in the U.S.A. by industry leader Nonin Medical. Dr. Brent Blue says: "Now there is no excuse for anyone to fly without knowing their oxygen levels." Visit AeroMedix.com and buy one today! Staying Safe back to top  Air France Speeds Airbus Pitot Replacements After Pilots Complain Air France has accelerated its effort to replace pitot tubes on its Airbus aircraft after members of one pilots union threatened to refuse to fly the unmodified airplanes, the New York Times reported on Tuesday. The airline had said over the weekend it would replace the sensors on all Airbus A330 and A340 airplanes over the next few weeks. But on Monday, Alter, a union representing about 12 percent of Air France pilots, posted a notice on its Web site urging its members to "refuse any flight on an A330/A340 which has not had at least two pitot sensors modified," according to the Times. SNPL-ALPA, which represents the largest share of Air France pilots, made no such suggestion, but union spokesman Eric Derivry told the Associated Press: "What we know is that other planes that have experienced incorrect airspeed indications have had the same pitots. And planes with the new pitot tubes have never had such problems." A U.S. Navy ship and the French nuclear attack submarine Emeraude are both en route to the crash site of Air France Flight 447 to aid the search for the cockpit voice and flight data recorders. The Navy also flew two devices called Towed Pinger Locators to Brazil on Monday. The five-foot-long devices can detect the signals from emergency beacons from as deep as 20,000 feet. They will be towed behind French tugboats. Crews so far have recovered 28 bodies from the crash site. They have been flown via Blackhawk helicopter to Fernando de Noronha, an island 400 miles off the coast of Brazil, and later will be taken to the mainland in a C-130. Identification by fingerprints and dental records is expected to take some time. A total of 228 people died in the crash. On Monday, the airplane's vertical stabilizer was recovered, the largest piece of the aircraft that has been found so far. The piece showed no evident signs of fire or explosion. NTSB Holds Three-Day Hearing On Hudson River Ditching The NTSB this week is holding a three-day hearing on the January ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 in New York's Hudson River. On Tuesday, the board heard Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger recall his decision-making process on that day. After considering all the possible choices, "The only option remaining in the metropolitan area that was long enough, wide enough and smooth enough to land was the Hudson River," he said. "I couldn't afford to be wrong." Passenger Billy Campbell, who was the last passenger off the airplane, told the NTSB that the jolt when the airplane hit the water was violent, and water immediately began to rush into the cabin through a broken window. After everyone got out of the airplane, the life raft that some were in began to sink, because it was still tethered to the airplane, but somebody on a nearby boat tossed them a knife to cut the rope. Campbell said there was not just one lucky break that day but many that allowed everyone to survive. "There were 14 or 15 miracles that had to occur," he said. Also, on Monday, scientists from the Smithsonian said the Canada geese that destroyed the Airbus A320's engines were migrants from Canada, not local geese. At least two females and one male goose were ingested. The hearing will continue through Thursday, and will cover issues including pilot training regarding ditching, bird detection and mitigation efforts, certification standards regarding ditching for transport-category airplanes, cabin safety emergency procedures, and certification standards for bird ingestion into transport-category airplane engines. The board also released the transcript of the cockpit voice recorder, but most of that conversation was heard previously on ATC tapes released in February. The NTSB's comprehensive docket of documents and information about the ditching is available online. Aircraft Financing Available Purchasing an aircraft but wondering about available financing? AirFleet Capital is dedicated exclusively to aircraft and has flexible financing programs available to meet your needs for new and used aircraft. From Light Sport to Light Jet, please call (800) 390-4324 or visit us online for a quote today! What You Missed in AVwebBiz This Week back to top  Hawker Beechcraft Owner Bids For ILFC The Financial Post is reporting Onex Corp., one of the parent companies of Hawker Beechcraft, is reportedly making a play for International Lease Finance Corp., the world's largest aircraft leasing company. ILFC is now owned by American International Group (AIG), which is busy shedding assets to pay off the loan portion of its $182 billion government bailout. ILFC leases airliners to most of the world's airlines and has been a reliable cash cow for AIG since it purchased the company from founder Steven Udvar-Hazy in 1990. Onex, which bought Raytheon's general aviation division in partnership with Goldman Sachs and renamed it Hawker Beechcraft in 2008, is a Toronto-based investment company that frequently delves into aerospace enterprises. Onex President Gerry Schwartz is characteristically tight-lipped about the ILFC bid. Onex also owns Spirit Aerosystems, which was formerly known as Boeing's Wichita division, and is a key contractor on the Boeing 787. Schwartz also participated in a failed bid to buy Qantas Airlines in 2006 and Air Canada in 1999. According to the Post, ILFC is doing well financially (revenues up 16 percent this year) but it's principal asset, the credit rating that it assumed as part of AIG, has, of course, become more of a liability. Onex is reportedly looking for partners in the acquisition in a bid that will be less than the $7.8 billion book value of IFLC but will include assumption of the company's $32 billion debt. Some of that debt comes due in October. 'Green' Flight Grabs Attention The FAA and American Airlines have wrapped themselves in the eco banner in selling the benefits of the NextGen airspace system. The agency and airline are promoting the environmental benefits of the system with the announcement that the latest technology and techniques will be used for a "green" flight from Paris to Miami on Thursday. But what it really comes down to is that the 767 will go GPS direct rather than following the airways and use gradual rather than stepped climbs and descents. In other words, it will operate like general aviation has for more than a decade. The flight has earned a remarkable amount of attention from the mainstream media. The Miami Herald trumpeted the flight as a "Step Forward For Aviation" and newspapers all over the world picked up on the potential fuel savings. However, there were those who pointed out that there's nothing really new about this except that it's a regularly scheduled airliner doing it. "The event scheduled for this week with the American Airlines aircraft is simply a publicity stunt," the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said in a statement. "The flight will be using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology that we have been using for years." Miami was chosen as the destination because it's the first air traffic control facility in the U.S. to be outfitted with the NextGen gear. AVwebBiz: AVweb's Business Aviation Newsletter Have you signed up yet for AVweb's no-cost weekly business aviation newsletter, AVwebBiz? Delivered every Wednesday morning, AVwebBiz focuses on the companies, the products and the industry leaders that make headlines in the business aviation industry, making it a must-read. Add AVwebBiz to your AVweb subscriptions today by clicking here and choosing "Update E-mail Subscriptions." Become a Mooniac Now There has never been a better time to own the fastest single-engine piston plane available. Mooney Airplane Company is offering generous incentives, low interest rates, the best warranty in the industry, and immediate delivery from current inventory. In addition, you may qualify for significant tax advantages with 50% bonus depreciation this year. Click here for the top 10 reasons to buy a Mooney now. News Briefs back to top  New Test Would Reduce Color-Blindness Barrier For Pilots Using new tests that have been developed by researchers in London, 35 percent of pilot applicants who now fail color-blindness exams would pass, the UK's Civil Aviation Authority said recently. "The CAA intends to promote this research internationally with a view to gaining acceptance of the [new] test and its incorporation in worldwide medical standards for pilots," said Dr. Sally Evans, chief medical officer at the CAA. The research, which was co-sponsored by the FAA, was conducted at City University London. Under current guidelines, pilot applicants with minimal color deficiencies will often fail traditional tests, the CAA said. However, researchers found that some of these individuals may be able to perform safety critical tasks just as well as those with normal color vision. About 8 percent of men and fewer than 1 percent of women have some level of color vision deficiency. [more] Current color vision requirements are open to interpretation and often vary between countries. The new test developed in London is accurate and thorough, the CAA said. Click here for a copy of the full report, published by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority. Experimental Balloonists Gather For Annual Fly-In Click for more images The fifth annual XLTA event, held recently in Amherst, Mass., attracted the pilots of 27 lighter-than-aircraft, most of them experimental homebuilts, for a weekend of flying and fellowship. "This is not a public event, not a spectator event, but entirely participatory," organizer Dan Nachbar told AVweb this week. "There is no pressure on the pilots to fly -- but everyone wants to fly as much as they can." This year's 70-plus attendees included pilots and crew from as far away as Wisconsin and Washington state, and five pilots from the UK. They brought with them a variety of creative and colorful projects, from a spectacular tetrahedron-shaped balloon to a hot-air blimp (though the blimp is not a homebuilt but manufactured by Thunder & Colt). About half of the aircraft were "cloudhopper-style," featuring just a harness to hold the pilot aloft, and half had baskets of various kinds to allow passengers. And most satisfying to Nachbar, five of this year's pilots were under 30. "We're generally a gray-haired crowd, not just the lighter-than-air folks, but experimental aircraft in general," Nachbar said. "So it's great to see the whippersnappers get involved." For a gallery of photos from the event, taken by pilot and homebuilder Noah Forden, of Exeter, R.I., click here. A West Coast version of the event, XLTA Seattle, will be held July 25-26. For more information about both events and a photo gallery, click here to go to the XLTA web site. On the Fly ... At least one person survived the crash of New Mexico state helicopter in a snowstorm on 12,000-foot Sante Fe Baldy Mountain. The fate of the other two onboard was not known at our deadline... President Barack Obama has nominated NTSB member Deborah Hersman to fill the role of NTSB chairman... Peter Besenyei, inventor of the Red Bull Air Races, made an emergency landing in a farmer's field in Canada on Tuesday afternoon after experiencing engine problems in his racing airplane. The airplane's wheels dug in and it flipped. Besenyei was checked out at a hospital but released with just minor bruising... AeroExpo, one of the UK's largest GA events, is on this weekend just outside London... The pilot of a Cirrus SR22 landed safely in North Carolina after pulling the emergency chute when his engine failed... TSA Acting Administrator Gale Rossides said on Wednesday that next week the Federal Air Marshal Service will open its second facility dedicated to the recurrent training of federal flight deck officers, in Dallas, Texas... The annual Biplane Expo held its grand finale event in Oklahoma last weekend... This Saturday, June 13, is EAA Young Eagles Day, check for a rally near you. It's Thunderstorm Season — Take ASF's New Thunderstorm Safety Quiz! Airplanes and thunderstorms don't mix. These convective beasts can produce airframe-shattering turbulence, damaging hail, sudden and dramatic wind shear, blinding downpours, and strong, gusty winds — sometimes as much as 20 miles from the edge of a cell. Understanding thunderstorms is the key to avoidance. Put your knowledge to the test in ASF's new graphics-rich interactive safety quiz. New on AVweb back to top  Columns | Features | What's New | Calendar | Brainteasers Question of the Week: Is Flying Becoming Too Much of a Hassle? This Week's Question | Previous Week's Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, we asked AVweb readers to rate the health of their local airport and its perceived value in the community at large. We were happy to see so many of you (17% of the total number who took our informal poll) say your airport is considered a vital community resource and report that local officials are always looking for ways to improve it. The most popular choice, according for 35% of responses, was that most people recognize its value and importance, though there are detractors. For a complete (real-time) breakdown of reader responses, click here. (You may be asked to register and answer if you haven't already participated in this poll.) THIS WEEK'S QUESTION *** Security badges, rules about where you can go on the ramp, submitting passenger manifests, being held at gunpoint without any apparent cause — it's getting tougher to enjoy the freedom of flight these days. Is it giving you second thoughts about your flying activities? Is flying becoming too much hassle? (click to answer) Have an idea for a new "Question of the Week"? Send your suggestions to . NOTE: This address is only for suggested "QOTW" questions, and not for "QOTW" answers or comments. Use this form to send "QOTW" comments to our AVmail Editor. AVweb Insider Blog: GA a Soft Target for Security? AVweb When David Perry and his passengers got ready to leave for a brief vacation in Mexico, they were detained, searched and interrogated at gunpoint Long Beach, Calif., Now, the Customs and Border Protection Agency won't say precisely why. In the latest installment of our AVweb Insider blog, Editor-in-Chief Russ Niles wonders if this could be a glimpse of the future of GA security and if there is really a good reason to keep the circumstances of this incident secret. Read more. You and Your Dollars Go Further in a Diamond When smart pilots compare safety statistics and resale values, plus maintenance, insurance and operating costs, it's clear that investing in a Diamond pays big dividends. Top that off with Diamond's outstanding performance, luxurious interior and cutting-edge technology, and there's no question — you'll go further in a Diamond. 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. Rediscover Jet City! Make King County International Airport/Boeing Field your flight destination! Conveniently located just 5 miles from downtown Seattle, KBFI is positioned in the center of the growing economy of the Puget Sound region, serving as a hub for business travel, private jets, and general aviation travel. Partner with aviation experts when you fly to Seattle. Make your destination King County International Airport/Boeing Field! For more information, visit online. AVweb Media: Look, Listen, Laugh and Learn back to top  Exclusive Video: TV News Copters Made Affordable Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos Thanks to seismic shifts in the news business, many local television outlets can no longer afford their own turbine-powered eye-in-the-sky. As a result, Robinson is doing a brisk business selling its R44-based ENG camera ship. AVweb visited Robinson in Torrance, California for a closer look. 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. Video Marketplace Spotlight Bendix/King AV8OR Demo When Bendix/King rolled out its AV8OR portable GPS last summer, the $749 retail price — about $675 discounted — caught GPS buyers by surprise. So did the AV8OR's feature set, which includes a touchscreen interface and automotive navigation as built-in standard capability. In this video, AVweb's editors took the AV8OR out for a spin to wring out its major features. Click here to watch the video (and discover other great products) at AVweb's Video Marketplace. 27 Years of the RVator Over half the airplanes at GNB are Vans homebuilts. In fact, over 6,100 have been completed and are flying. If a 200 mph, 9 gph airplane intrigues you, this is where to learn more. It's 500 pages of builder and flyer advice written by Vans Aircraft, specifically on the RV-3 through RV-10. Nothing will describe the building experience better, and nothing will be more useful once you start. Buy the book, CD, or eBook at AVwebBooks.com for $29.95. Your Favorite FBOs back to top  FBO of the Week: First Aviation Services (KTEB, Teterboro, NJ) Nominate an FBO | Rules | Tips | Questions | Winning FBOs AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to First Aviation Services at Teterboro, New Jersey's KTEB. AVweb reader Stan Ross tells how he and his Lifeguard transplant flight team "were treated like VIPs from touchdown to take-off": "Outstanding customer service" is truly an understatement for the quality of service, level of attention, and extremely detailed efforts to meet and/or exceed our every need. ... We arrived near midnight, and the team at First Aviation was absolutely the best I have ever seen in every regard. I eagerly look forward to a return visit for more of their great hospitality and suggestions for local amenities like the Meadowlands Diner. Top shelf in every respect. 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! Economic Challenges Call for Proven Advertising Results — AVweb Delivers Results Since 1995, AVweb has been the most comprehensive no-cost aviation site online. Advertisers reach over 255,000 pilots, aircraft owners, and aviation professionals via a unique and effective combination of newsletter text messages and web site banner ads. Links send readers directly to advertisers' web sites for instant information. Click now for details on AVweb's cost-effective programs. Reader-Submitted Photos back to top  Picture of the Week: AVweb's Flying Photography Showcase Submit a Photo | Rules | Tips | Questions | Past Winners Each week, we go through dozens (and sometimes hundreds) of reader-submitted photos and pick the very best to share with you on Thursday mornings. The top photos are featured on AVweb's home page, and one photo that stands above the others is awarded an AVweb baseball cap as our "Picture of the Week." Want to see your photo on AVweb.com? Click here to submit it to our weekly contest. *** THIS WEEK'S WINNERS *** So the weather turns nice for a day or two and you all run off to fly your airplanes and prepare for all the June air shows, eh? No more time to submit photos to the old "Picture of the Week" contest with AeroExpo London just around the corner! We understand — and we won't cast stones. But if you feel compelled to share a few photos out of pity, well — we won't complain. medium | large Used with permission of Pete Ouellette Morning Rain and Sun 'n Fun '04 Pete Ouellette of Easthampton, Massachusetts snapped this week's winning shot "after an early morning rain" at Sun 'n Fun. And he wisely held onto it for five years — which means he can move a few precious dollars out of his summer hat budget and put 'em toward his next $100 hamburger. Wise move, Pete — we'll be getting an AVweb ball cap in the mail to you post-haste. medium | large Used with permission of Ken Miller Cedar Island Lighthouse, Long Island One theme that hasn't cropped up much lately (with a few notable exceptions) is "airplanes against the backdrop of interesting locales." Ken Miller of Aquebogue, New York satisifies our craving today with his EZ breezy lighthouse photo. medium | large Used with permission of Bobbi Thompson Rainbow Eye Bobbi Thompson of Airport Business Solutions couldn't resist sharing this "fun photo taken at our FBO at Midcoast Regional Airport in Atlanta." medium | large Used with permission of Tom McLaughlin Hump Phase During Take-Off Tom McLaughlin of Battle Creek, Michigan has been doing some floatplane training — and has also apparently found a really solid way to mount his camera on the wing, based on some great shots he submitted this week. We had to pick just one to share, and — well, we thought you'd want to see the floats in action. medium | large copyright © Outwardbound Photography Used with permission of Donald Neuberg The Great AeroShell "Smoke-Out" The boys from the AeroShell Team "closed out the Good Neighbor Day Air Show at Peachtree-Dekalb Airport in Altanta with their signature 'Smoke-Out'" — and Donald Neuberg of LaGrange, Georgia gets a litle extra mileage from it too, using his shot of the performance to cap off this week's edition of "Picture of the Week." We hope to have some awesome bonus pics up in the slideshow on AVweb's home page by the time you read this — but if they're not there yet, don't panic. "POTW" headquarters is currently beseiged by thunderstorms, and if the power flickers out, we may save the update for Thursday morning. One good way to pass the time while you wait is submitting a few of your own photos to "POTW." (Believe it or not, all the terrific photos you saw today came from readers just like you!) — A quick note for submitters: If you've got several photos that you feel are "POTW" material, your best bet is to submit them one-a-week! That gives your photos a greater chance of seeing print on AVweb, and it makes the selection process a little easier on us, too. ;) A Reminder About Copyrights: Please take a moment to consider the source of your image before submitting to our "Picture of the Week" contest. If you did not take the photo yourself, ask yourself if you are indeed authorized to release publication rights to AVweb. If you're uncertain, consult the POTW Rules or or send us an e-mail. 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 Mariano Rosales 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.