June 18, 2009

By The AVweb Editorial Staff

Centennial Cash from Goodyear Available at Aircraft Spruce As part of Goodyear's 100th Anniversary celebration, we want to give you a chance to receive money back on all Flight Custom III™ or Flight Special II™ tires. It's called Centennial Cash — and if you buy Flight Custom III™ or Flight Special II™ tires during June 2009, you can submit a mail-in rebate coupon to receive $20 on each Flight Custom III™ or $10 on each Flight Special II™ tire you buy. Call 1 (877) 4-SPRUCE or visit AircraftSpruce.com. The Future Is Looking More Electric All the Time ... back to top  Sponsor Announcement Italian Electric Airplane Reaches 155 MPH 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. Experimenters have made great strides in recent years with electric power for small aircraft, and a step forward took place last week in Italy when a new battery-powered airplane flew for the first time, then two days later reached 155 mph, which is expected to be a new world record for the category. The SkySpark project is a joint enterprise between engineering company DigiSky and Turin Polytechnic University. The two-seat Pioneer Alpi 300 is powered by a 75-kW electric motor using brushless technology and lithium polymer batteries. Electronic control systems make it possible to modulate RPM and torque, "with dynamics which are far beyond what it is attainable in reciprocating engines," and the engine is very reliable and long-lasting, according to the SkySpark Web site. The team now plans to focus on the next goal: an engine powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Meanwhile, Solar Impulse, a project to build a solar-powered airplane that will fly around the world, plans to unveil its prototype next week in Switzerland. The airplane has the wingspan of an Airbus (over 200 feet) and carries 11,628 solar cells to power four engines. Precisely Engineered for Fun: The Remos GX The Remos GX's legendary German engineering, quality and performance give you an affordable, proven airplane with competitive operating costs. The new full-carbon-fiber wing system combines low weight and high strength for an almost unlimited lifetime. The new slotted flaps allows steeper descent rates and safer short-field landings. Technically superior but uncomplicated and easy to fly, our best-in-class useful load handles all the equipment you need for a unique, fun flying experience for years to come. Click now for details (Remos.com) or call 1 (877) REMOS-88. FOI, Business Interests Collide back to top  NBAA Challenges FAA Release Of Information On Business Jet Travel Generally, data about the movements of airplanes using the federal airspace system is open to the public, but owners of business aircraft can ask the FAA to block their tail numbers, citing security concerns and competitive considerations -- and now a federal court will decide if those requests should be open to the public. The FAA said recently that it would release the list, after a Freedom of Information request from a nonprofit journalism group, but the NBAA has challenged that decision. "The Blocked Aircraft Registry Request (BARR) Program was established over a decade ago," NBAA said in a statement. "NBAA has long supported the BARR program and believes the reasons for its creation remain relevant today, given that access to information about certain flights can be used to inappropriately impact the competitive landscape." NBAA spokesman Dan Hubbard told AVweb the organization wouldn't comment further since the matter is pending in court. ProPublica, the group seeking the release of the list, says some companies are using the system to avoid bad publicity about excessive use of their corporate jets. Operators who want to block their tail numbers submit their requests directly to NBAA, which administers the BARR Database on behalf of the FAA. The requests don't require any specific justification, just a list of the N numbers for each aircraft that the owner would like to be blocked and a copy of the aircraft registration. NBAA argued in its complaint (PDF) to the court that the list is exempt from the Freedom of Information Act because it was voluntarily submitted to the FAA and should be deemed confidential. Prior to agreeing to release the information to ProPublica, the FAA had reviewed an objection from NBAA and rejected it. "The NBAA list is not a trade secret, nor is it commercial or financial information within the meaning of the FOIA," wrote Carol Might, director of system operations litigation. When the FAA said it would release the list this week, NBAA filed the motion, which will prevent its release until the court rules. "We can't imagine why the list of companies that want to keep the movements of their aircraft a secret should itself be a secret," said Richard Tofel, general manager of ProPublica. "We've retained counsel to evaluate NBAA's lawsuit, and are considering our legal options." View Trade-A-Plane's New Edition at No Cost on Your Mobile Device! Just enter Trade-A-Plane.com/mobile. Search for aircraft (hourly updates). Find companies, products, and services. Locate dealers/brokers. Call or e-mail sellers, and click directly to their web sites. With our web and mobile editions, you can view all of our ads at no cost, all the time! Call (800) 337-5263, or visit us online. Shopping for a New Airplane? Here Are Some Ideas back to top  Viking Announces Military Twin Otter While the civilian aviation market is depressed at the moment, military representatives from all over the world are at Le Bourget kicking the tires of hardware they might be able to use. Companies whose market is traditionally civilian are obliging by reworking their passenger and cargo planes. As we reported 18 months ago, Viking Air of Sidney, British Columbia, has resumed production of the Twin Otter and it announced a military variant, called the Guardian 400, in Paris. "By offering a customized version of the Series 400 Twin Otter tailored for military and government operations, namely the Guardian 400, Viking is able to provide its customers with a modern and economical solution for their infrastructure requirements," Viking President Dave Curtis said. The Twin Otter has legendary STOL and harsh weather capabilities and the military version plays on those strengths to offer itself as a surveillance, security and search and rescue aircraft. Equipped with a cabin mounted auxiliary tank, the aircraft can loiter for hours and the optional galley and lavatory makes that bearable for the crew. On the business end, the Guardian can carry an electro-optical and infrared imaging turret that displays either on the Honeywell Primus panel display or a separate monitor in the back. A host of other electronic goodies can be added, depending on the mission and four hard points on the wings give room for "additional stores." Related Content: Get up close and personal with the new Otter in this video from NBAA 2008 (5:39) An Entry-Level Warplane Debuts At Paris The trouble with warplanes is they are so darned expensive, but at this week's Paris Air Show, bargain hunters found a new option -- the affordable Air Truck, a modified two-seat cropduster, built by Air Tractor of Olney, Texas. The turboprop can carry up to four tons of bombs and missiles and machine guns, and can stay aloft for up to 10 hours to provide support to troops on the ground, or to easily hop across the North Atlantic. The Air Truck's speed tops out at 210 mph, but the ability to maneuver low and slow could be an advantage in many combat situations. The airplane is expected to sell for about $5 million, according to the Associated Press, about half the price of today's military-version turboprops such as the Embraer Tucano or the Beechcraft T-6, and significantly less than the tens of millions that is the usual bracket for even the lowliest jet fighters. According to published reports, the Air Truck has been drawing crowds at Paris and plenty of interest from potential buyers, but so far no firm orders. $50 Rebate for ACR Personal Locator Beacons! Hurry: Limited-Time Only! From now until July 31, ACR is offering a $50 rebate for every MicroFix or AeroFix PLB. With or without passengers, no pilot should ever fly without a personal locator beacon. And now AeroMedix and ACR are making it more affordable than ever before. Fly safely this summer and from here on out with a new PLB from ACR. Visit AeroMedix.com and save today! From the Desk of the Administrator back to top  FAA Chief Boosts NextGen Budget, Expects Labor Peace Soon Speaking before a House appropriations committee on Tuesday, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt asked for a 24-percent boost in funding for NextGen projects, a total of $865 million. Babbitt also said that negotiations with the air traffic controllers union, which were stalled and contentious for several years, now are making progress. "I'm optimistic," he said. "The talks are proceeding well, both sides are at the table, and I think we'll reach an agreement. The best agreements are reached when everyone wants an agreement, and right now there is both that desire and a positive atmosphere." Babbitt said the agency will hire more than 1,700 new controllers in fiscal year 2010. "We're hiring more controllers faster than ever," he said. "We are providing them with quality training." He also asked for $3.5 billion to fund airport projects, including runway safety area improvements, runway incursion reduction, and aviation safety management. The FAA's total budget request was $15.9 billion. Babbitt also requested funding to hire 30 new safety inspectors and asked for a 5.3-percent increase in R&D funding that would go toward research on fire safety, propulsion and fuel systems, advanced materials, and aging aircraft. Click here for the full text of Babbitt's testimony to the committee. FAA Chief Promises New, Safer Rules For Airline Pilots FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said on Monday that airlines can expect new rules soon regarding flight and duty hours for pilots, and also that rules will be clarified to ensure that airlines can get data on every checkride a pilot applicant ever took. Babbitt spoke at a high-level closed-door meeting of industry executives, pilot union reps and government officials held in Washington to discuss concerns about safety at regional airlines and what can be done to improve it. "Our job is to deliver and ensure safety, and recently we've seen some cracks in the system," Babbitt said, referring to the publicity about hiring practices and standards at regional airlines during the investigation of the Colgan Air crash in Buffalo. He said he also wants airlines to have a process to ensure that senior captains mentor new pilots as they build experience. Babbitt and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood hosted the "Call to Action" to identify immediate steps that could strengthen and improve pilot hiring, training and testing practices at regional airlines as well as at the major air carriers. The FAA said it will hold as many as 10 similar meetings throughout the country to assure that every carrier and pilot union has the opportunity to commit to these actions and to identify additional best practices that can be shared. FAA inspectors will assist in the implementation of these actions over the next several months and evaluate their effectiveness, the FAA said. AVweb's editorial director Paul Bertorelli was not pleased with the closed-door aspect of the stakeholder meeting -- click here to read his blog and join the conversation. 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  Wounded Iraq Vet Gets A Chance To Try Flying Veterans Retreat, a Miami Beach-based charity that helps enrich the lives of veterans wounded in the Iraq or Afghanistan wars, recently brought retired Army Capt. Mark Brogan and his wife, Sunny, to Florida for a free weekend of flying. "Mark has wanted to fly since he was a kid," Sunny told a local reporter. Capt. Brogan was injured in a 2006 suicide bombing that left him with brain and spinal cord injuries and nearly severed his right arm. Doctors at first told Sunny to be prepared to "pull the plug," he said, but today he is walking and talking, against the odds. "My wife and I have been through quite a lot," he said, in an Air Force Times story about his recovery. "This has mostly been a journey of blind exploration for us." Veterans Retreat offers vets a chance to spend a few days in Florida and try flying, scuba diving, or sailing. Each aviation student receives introductory instruction, their own logbook and advice on how to continue their flight training at a hometown airport, seek a career in aviation or simply fly with an instructor whenever they want an adventure. "A lot of these guys surf the Internet all day long with nothing to do," Tim Sureath, founder of the group, told a local TV reporter. "We want to help them find some purpose." This week, the group wrapped up a charity auction of a South Beach condo. Not enough tickets were sold to win the condo, but the lucky ticket holder took home $30,000 and so did Veterans Retreat. Share Your Thoughts on Aviation Headsets What's important to you when choosing an aviation headset? Please take a few moments to complete an online survey. Help influence the headset industry. Go to survey. News Briefs back to top  Two Cirrus Air-Taxi Operators Join Forces SATSAir and ImagineAir, two of the new generation of air-taxi operators flying Cirrus SR22 aircraft, said on Tuesday they have entered a "flight networking" or "code-share" agreement, effectively expanding their combined network across a 10-state area in the Southeastern U.S. "Customers of both companies will benefit from the increased aircraft availability immediately," said Steve Hanvey, SATSair president and CEO. "From an operational standpoint, this will also create an opportunity for both companies to route their aircraft in an even more efficient manner." Both operators offer on-demand flights to over 1,000 airports in the Southeast. Each company will retain its own pricing structure and operate its own flights. "While code-shares have been common practice in the airline industry for years, 'flight networking' is really an innovative 'first' for the next-generation air-taxi industry," said Aaron Sohacki, CEO of ImagineAir. "High standards of service and professionalism across both carriers were keys to making this happen." SATSAir launched in 2004 and ImagineAir began operations in 2007. Both companies have said recently they are doing well despite the down economy, and plan to continue expansion. On the Fly ... L-3 Avionic Systems has sued Cirrus Design, seeking $18 million because Cirrus canceled its plan to buy avionics for its jet from L-3 and switched to Garmin instead... Owners of certain Bonanzas and Barons affected by a circuit-breaker airworthiness directive with an Aug. 6 deadline now have an extension, but must follow strict procedures, as outlined by the American Bonanza Society on their Web site... This year's women's Air Race Classic launches on June 23 from Denver... New campaign from Evektor aims to get flight schools replacing their old trainers with new light sport aircraft... Buy AirVenture tickets online for a discount, through June 30 at the EAA Web site. Business Owners: AOPA Business Credit Card Offers WorldPoints® Rewards The AOPA WorldPoints credit card rewards you and fights for GA with every purchase. By choosing this product, you will be providing valuable revenue to AOPA, which helps fund AOPA's daily efforts to maintain the freedom, safety, and affordability of GA. For every dollar you spend on purchases, you get a point — and double points at over 4,700 FBOs. Then redeem your points for great rewards like cash, merchandise, and travel. Limited time offer — $50 statement credit! Click here to apply today! 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. Question of the Week: Still the Coolest Job in Town — Or Not So Much? This Week's Question | Previous Week's Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Your answers to last week's poll question left us with seriously long faces. We asked if flying has become too much of a hassle (what with the badges and the passenger manifests and the customs check horror stories), and an incredible 65% of those who took time to answer said yes, the seemingly determined effort on the part of government to limit GA is actually discouraging you from continuing to fly. 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 *** There's been a lot of talk about the way young airline pilots are trained and treated after they're hired. Is flying the line still a career you'd recommend to young people? Would you recommend young people pursue an airline career? (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. Save Money. Fly Safer. By insuring with Avemco®, you can save up to 10% off your annual insurance premium with the Avemco Safety Rewards Program. It rewards pilots for receiving safety instruction and/or new ratings. For more information, call us at (888) 241-7891 or visit us online. Opinion & Commentary back to top  AVweb Insider Blog: Air Safety Behind Closed Doors That's the way it was on Monday when the Transportation Department held a closed-door session with the airline industry to discuss issues related to the Colgan crash in Buffalo. "What's up with this?" wonders Paul Bertorelli in today's AVweb Insider blog. Shouldn't the sun shine in on such governmental meetings? The new administration said it would. TranspoSec Ray LaHood said the meeting was too urgent to wait for the NTSB's full report in another eight months. Read more. AVweb Insider Blog: Why Speculating on Airplane Crashes Is a Good Thing Used to be, we reclined in smug professionalism in being sophisticated enough to know aircraft accidents take months to investigate. But these days, the information comes at you a mile a minute from dozens of sources, so in the latest installment of our AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli argues that it's actually a healthy thing to offer your own theory or suggestions on crash causes. Not to worry; the NTSB won't pay you the slightest bit of attention. Read more. 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. AVweb Media: Look, Listen, Laugh and Learn back to top  Exclusive Video: Which Tiedown Gadgets Work Best? Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos In this video, Aviation Consumer's Jeb Burnside tests three of the popular commercial tiedown products against a $3 doggie auger. The results proved surprising. 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 Bose® Aviation Headset X®: Intelligent Power Handling Intelligent Power Handling: See how AdaptiSense® headset circuitry helps preserve battery life. Click here to watch the video (and discover other great products) at AVweb's Video Marketplace. Peter Drucker Says, "The Best Way to Predict the Future Is to Create It" It's easy for your company to be more proactive, flexible, and entrepreneurial with AVweb's cost-effective marketing programs. Discover the benefits of instant response, quick copy changes, monthly tracking reports, and interactive programs. To find out how simple it is to reach 255,000 qualified pilots, owners, and decision-makers weekly, click now for details. Your Favorite FBOs back to top  FBO of the Week: Lane Aviation (CMH, Columbus, Ohio) Nominate an FBO | Rules | Tips | Questions | Winning FBOs AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Lane Aviation at CMH in Columbus, Ohio. Apparently AVweb reader Josh Johnson didn't get much exercise on his visit to Lane, but he seemed pretty happy with that: We were in town for two days of business meetings in a nearby hotel. Immediately after landing, we were met at the door of our airplane by a friendly line guy ... . We were planning to take the hotel bus to our hotel; however, the line guy insisted on taking us there himself! He also said that they would gladly pick us up after our meeting and drop us off at the plane. We arrived for departure and found our airplane a decent walk across the ramp, [but once again] the line guy dropped us off at the door to the FBO to use the restrooms and file our flight plans. When we walked out to go back to the plane, he motioned us to get back in the van for a ride back to our plane! Excellent! By the way, we arrived in a Cessna 172, and they were taking care of a large jet for a celebrity at the time we arrived. We certainly felt special getting such excellent treatment! 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! 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 *** A big thanks to everyone who showed pity on us after last week's transparent attempt to guilt-trip readers into submitting more photos. Your kindness gave us a little more eye candy to help us through the hot, stormy afternoons! medium | large Used with permission of Stephen Jones B-25 Engine Start How can you not love this photo of Panchito from Stephen Jones of Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey? Stephen caught up with the B-25 at World War II Weekend in Reading, Pennsylvania and preserved the experience to share with the rest of us. medium | large Used with permission of James L. Hamilton III Ready to Launch into the Blue! That's Mark in the front cockpit, Neita in the back, and Stew acting as wingrunner in this shot from James L. Hamilton III of Sparks, Nevada. So what are Mark and Neita about to get up to? They're preparing to launch their ASK-21 on an air-sailing adventure in Reno! medium | large Used with permission of Stephan Kollitz Headline #3 "I was out at the airport (RCM) ... when this thunderstorm popped up and started moving," writes Stephan Kollitz of Cainsville, Missouri. "I felt sorry for this poor Yak 52TW ... . I felt it was going to get hailed on in addition to damage it had sustained when it came in. The Yak had lost its tailwheel — the tail is sitting up on sandbags in the picture — and the prop had been damaged." For more shots of the beleaguered Yak, click through to the large version, which features a whole contact sheet worth of stills from the video Stephan shot at RCM. medium | large copyright © Dan Giguere Used with permission Joe Biden Makes a Trip to Kalamazoo, Michigan Dan Giguere of Plymouth, Michigan had us thinking up werewolf jokes that wouldn't offend the Vice-President all evening — and would you believe we're still coming up empty-handed? (Maybe it's just too nice a photo to crack wise about.) medium | large copyright © Gilbert Benzonana Used with permission Sand Flower Gilbert Benzonana of Grand-Lancy, Geneva (Switzerland) has been on a roll lately, sending us a great sampling of photos. This week, we give him the honor of seeing us off — though we have to admit that part of our brain is still concerned about the person who belongs on the other end of this "flower"! You'll find more reader-submitted photos in the slideshow on AVweb's home page. Don't miss 'em! And click here to submit your own photos to "POTW." We're dying to see 'em! — 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.