APA USES CONTINENTAL 61 TO SUPPORT AGE-60 RULE
Speaking for the Allied Pilots Association, spokesman Scott Shankland told WFAA TV in Dallas/Forth Worth, Thursday, that incidents like the Thursday death of a pilot aboard Continental Flight 61 will be more likely, and he knows why. Shankland told the TV station, "this is the reality of what we're going to be dealing with on an increasing bases as a result of the increase of retirement age to 65." Pilot Craig A. Lenell died at the age of 60 while serving as captain aboard the Continental flight. He was examined on the flight by a 72-year-old cardiologist who attempted to revive the captain with the aid of an onboard defibrillator (mandatory since 2004). Of the multiple events involving a pilot's incapacitation or death while piloting a commercial airliner that AVweb reviewed for this story, none resulted in additional fatalities as a direct result of the flight losing a pilot -- a point with which Shankland concurs. He did, however, point out that losing one pilot on a domestic airline flight would more often than not leave the flight in the hands of a sole remaining pilot who would be required to then declare an emergency and land soon as practical. But, for Shankland, and presumably APA, there are other considerations. More...

FORWARD VISION EARNS BROAD CESSNA STC
Forward Vision announced last week that most single-engine Cessna pilots may now fit Forward Vision's infrared thermal-imaging camera system to their aircraft with the full blessing of a supplemental type certificate (STC). For about $15,000 uninstalled, the system penetrates haze, fog, smoke and precipitation eight to ten times better than the human eye, according to the company. And because the STC covers some "158 models" of Cessna 100- and 200-series aircraft, it may now be installed on upward of 40,000 Cessnas. The list currently excludes the 208 and P210, but Forward Vision expects the P210 to be covered by a separate STC soon. Forward Vision's EVS systems have been available for business jets for some time. The company's EVS-100/600 systems are designed specifically for light aircraft and are already STC'd on Cirrus models. Check Forward Vision's Web site for more details. Pilots interested in the technology can see it with their own eyes and compare competing products -- we have videos after the jump. More...

GROUP OFFERS AVIATION BIOFUELS TIMETABLE (BEST GUESS)
With at least four biofuel test flights flown by leading airlines over the past 12 months, reports say they perform as well or better than traditional jet fuel and that some of the next generation fuels could cut emissions by 84 percent, so what's the hold up? Some hope to see commercial-scale production within the next few years, but the problem is economics. In the short term, serious hurdles exist, including the price and availability of second-generation feedstocks (there may not be enough raw material to supply the entire aviation industry) like camelina, which are used to produce the fuels. Camelina's oil in particular has been championed by Boeing as a drop-in jet fuel replacement, capable of utilizing existing jet fuel infrastructure without the need for component modifications. Still, those growing pains aren't likely to overcome any economy-induced short-term shortfalls in government support for mid- and long-term value. A report by Pike Research cited last week by the Wall Street Journal forecasts that the combined biodiesel and ethanol markets could climb from about $76 billion in sales in 2010 to nearly $250 billion by 2020. The market research and consulting firm has mapped the key milestones it expects to drive aviation biofuel progress over the next few years, but industry groups may have more conservative goals. More...

ECONOMY OF SCALE MAY MAKE F-35 ONLY GAME IN TOWN
Lockheed Martin last week said it is seeing growing demand for its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. As a joint development project in a severely crippled world economy, those countries that can afford to be involved may realize big benefits from joint collaboration. Lockheed Martin believes the aircraft's characteristics will make it a viable replacement for some 13 models currently used by partner countries worldwide. And the company hopes that the vast amount of F-35s to be produced (possibly more than 2,400) will push down the per-unit costs of the aircraft to about $80 million per copy (not including research and design costs), making it ever more alluring when compared with competing designs. Critics claim the aircraft is not as maneuverable as some other available aircraft and not especially stealthy while carrying the munitions that make it particularly lethal. But the aircraft's economics and joint technology mean long-range targeting capabilities and mission versatility at a price that's hard to dismiss. And then there's the support the aircraft is seeing from the U.S. government. More...

BRITS TAKE CONTIGUOUS 48 STATES IN RECORD TIME (FOR DIABETES)
Saturday, Diabetes Flight 48, piloted by Douglas Cairns and James D'Arcy, two British pilots living with diabetes, broke the record time for landing in all 48 contiguous states with their final landing in Kenosha, Wis. At the time this was written, the two men had not yet blogged their final time (they had to beat 131 hours, 5 minutes) but noted that they had until 9:45 p.m. Central Time on Sunday evening if they were to succeed. The trip was flown in a Baron starting from Council Bluffs, Iowa, on June 16, and the men aimed to use the trip to raise awareness and funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, UK (see video, here.) By Saturday the pair had raised more than $4,500 (donations are always welcome). The trip was originally scheduled to begin June 16, in Iowa, running counter-clockwise after an initial jog from Nebraska. But the best laid plans are changed by weather and the crew reported on June 16 that they began their trip from Iowa, made it to Nebraska and then turned for Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, later configuring a figure-eight pattern to hit all the states. Aside from the record time, the flight included at least one segment that covered eight states in less than 12 hours, detours around storms and "some tremendous low-level flying in the Rocky Mountains." Of course, then there were the tornadoes. More...

ABLE FLIGHT'S SAME DAY COAST-TO-COAST LSA FLIGHT
Earlier this month, Matt Hansen (23) and Jessica Scharle (24) flew From Jacksonville, Fla., to El Cajon, Calif., in an LSA within a single day and believe they set a record in the process, with a couple of twists. The transcontinental flight in a Light Sport Plane logged five stops along the way. It departed Cecil Field at 6:01 a.m., June 8, and arrived at Gillespie Field at 10:22 p.m., totaling 19 hours and 21 minutes en route with a little more than 17 in the air. The Peregrine FA-04 LSA they flew was equipped for night flight (legal when flown by a properly rated pilot) and managed just under 4.9 gallons per hour when the two were able to fly at 8,500 feet. As for the twists, one is that Hansen, a commercial pilot and flight instructor, participates with the nonprofit Able Flight Scholarship program that earned private pilot Scharle her spot on the trip. Able Flight helps facilitate flight instruction for physically disabled pilots. Scharle was born with a condition that essentially works to fuse her body's joints, but her battle with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita did not stop her from becoming the first female Able Flight Scholarship recipient from earning her private pilot certificate. The second twist is that the National Aeronautical Association isn't yet equipped to deal with the LSA category ... but then there's the Guiness Book. More...

WASP TO RECEIVE TOP CIVILIAN HONOR
Legislation honoring the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) who flew more than 60,000,000 miles from 1942 to 1944 on every type of assignment but air combat has passed both houses of Congress. The Hutchison-Mikulski Bill on June 16 passed the House, sponsored by 334 representatives. It had passed the Senate in May, co-sponsored by 75 senators. Upon the signature of President Barack Obama, the bill will award the women with the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their service. The medal, awarded by Congress, is the highest honor a civilian may receive, along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and is bestowed for exceptional acts of service to the United States. Said Senator Hutchison of the Bill's passage, "The day that surviving WASP, and the families of those who have passed, get to hold these medals in their hands is at last on the horizon." During their service, the women were never awarded full military status, were ineligible for officer status and afterward were not granted veterans' status until 1977. Some 300 of the women have lived to see the Bill pass. More...

ANGEL FLIGHT GROUPS INCREASE VOLUNTEER PILOT HOUR REQUIREMENTS
After decades of safe operation, last summer Angel Flight organizations had by August seen three fatal crashes; this summer some of their volunteer pilot requirements will change. A recent letter co-signed by Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic Chairman (AFMA), Steve Craven; president of Mercy Medical Airlift, Ed Boyer; and Executive Director for Airlift Hope America, Jim Smith, written to volunteer pilots listed new pilot qualifications/safety standards effective July 15, 2009. Pilots wishing to participate with those organizations must now have a minimum total time of 500 hours (unchanged) with no less than 400 hours (up from 250) as Pilot in Command with a minimum 50 hours in make and model. Other qualifications for any aircraft to be used for Angel Flights include a minimum of $1 million liability insurance with no less than $100,000 per seat. (There are other requirements, check with the specific groups you're interested in joining.) Contacted Friday for comment, AFMA's Craven told AVweb, "While we had been contemplating increased pilot qualifications and insurance requirements for some time, we were motivated by the fact that after 30+ years, millions of miles and hundreds of thousands of needy patients flown safely, last year the Angel Flight world experienced its first fatal accident." The letter also announced future steps intended to establish a "culture of safety" within the participating organizations. More...

DHS OIG SAYS GA NOT MUCH OF A TERRORISM THREAT
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of Homeland Security says general aviation poses a "limited and mostly hypothetical" tool for terrorists. In a report released last month, but first reported by GovernmentExecutive.com this week, the OIG says GA airplanes are too small and the terrorists know that. "Although [TSA's Office of Intelligence] has identified potential threats, it has concluded that most [general aviation] aircraft are too light to inflict significant damage, and has not identified specific imminent threats from [general aviation] aircraft," Inspector General Richard Skinner said. In a podcast interview with AVweb, AOPA spokesman Chris Dancy said the message from the OIG is one that his group has been delivering for years. AOPA President Craig Fuller said the findings validate his and other groups' contentions but that doesn't mean GA can let its guard down. "The report notes that while the threat is minimal, it is not non-existent and that constant vigilance must be maintained, which is why AOPA coordinated with the TSA to develop and implement the Airport Watch program," Fuller said. "We have always done our part and will continue to do so." More...

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Columns | Features | What's New | Calendar | Brainteasers

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: LIGHT SPORT AMPHIBS — IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER
If you've forgotten why it is you started flying in the first place, Paul Bertorelli and Jeff Van West suggest you pay a visit to Progressive Aerodyne and fly the SeaRey amphibian. If there's not a law against having this much fun, maybe there ought to be. See why it's all Paul can talk about in the latest installment of the AVweb Insider blog. More...

IFR MAGAZINE'S NEXRAD AUDIO PRIMER
IFR magazine's Jeff Van West talks with Paul Devlin of WSI and Bob Dreisewerd of WxWorx about what makes cockpit NEXRAD different from what you see on an average web site. The datalink weather experts also discuss some of the shortcomings of cockpit weather and some tips for using it more effectively. More...

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: WHICH TIEDOWN GADGETS WORK BEST?
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. More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: IDEAL AVIATION (ST. LOUIS AIRPORT, CAHOKIA, IL)

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Ideal Aviation at St. Louis Downtown Airport (KCPS) in Cahokia, Illinois.

To explain why Ideal is so great, we need to invoke a couple of very similar acronyms: First up is NIFA, the National Intercollegiate Flying Association, which held their 2009 SAFECON event in May, and second is NAFI, the National Association of Flight Instructors, whose Executive Director Jason Blair visited Ideal during SAFECON. Jason writes:

During the last two weeks in May, Ideal got "bombed" by over 100 aircraft from 30 university flight schools from all over the country. Ideal allowed the [SAFECON] competitors to park their aircraft across their ramp, and provided fuel and maintenance services to schools that required it. (Western Michigan University brought 2 Cirrus SR-20 aircraft to the event, one of which suffered a small alternator issue during the course of the week. The mechanic from Ideal had the issue rectified, and the aircraft tested and returned to service within a matter of hours.)

When I arrived to attend the final banquet, not only was a ramp space waiting for me in front of the building, but I didn't even have to put my plane in it. I parked in front of the door, and their capable line staff put my plane into a spot later and fueled it for me.

Ideal Aviation showed a great amount of patience, support, and help, to all of the students, advisors, and coaches who attended the 2009 SAFECON event. They deserve a huge round of applause for their amazing efforts during a time in which they were swarmed ... not only the company owners and reception employees, but the two line gentleman that choreographed a safe, efficient, and safe ramp environment, as well.

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!

SHORT FINAL

I was on Salt Lake Center frequency at FL380 when ATC told us to do something odd:

Salt Lake Center:
"Piaggio 123 [this is not our call sign or flight number], turn right, heading 3-7-0; maintain FL 380."

Me:
"Umm, say again for Piaggio 123?"

Salt Lake Center:
"Piaggio 123, turn right heading 3-7-0, maintain FL380."

Me:
"Sir, my compasses generally stop at 3-6-0."

Salt Lake Center:
"Oh! I meant fly heading TWO seven zero. Sorry about the confusion."

Linda Becker
via e-mail

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