FAA UPDATES FLIGHT PLAN INFRASTRUCTURE HARDWARE
The FAA is nearing completion of a hardware update that "virtualizes" its flight plan infrastructure. The new National Airspace Data Interchange Network (NADIN) will soon be fully integrated, helping process the more than 1.5 million messages that are part of the national traffic system each day. In the new system, both general aviation and airline pilots will not file their own flight plans but will file through a service provider or flight station, according to DailyTech.com. The new system aims to reduce system computer crashes and the system's overall vulnerability to hackers. Virtualization means that the system allows one server to provide services "to provision services across that server, in a much faster manner, without having to perform modernization upgrades or hardware installations," according to FAA IT administrator Jim McNeill. More...

SHIFTING SANDS FOR BOEING'S DREAMLINER
Boeing has scrubbed its schedule for the production of its all-composite 787 Dreamliner as it works to reinforce the aircraft's wing section while customers have scrubbed orders for about 72 of the jets this year, including 15 dropped by Qantas last week. Still the order book for the untested, unfinished aircraft stands at roughly 850 for a list price total of more than $151 billion. The aircraft's first flight has seen four delays that have so far put the jet two years behind schedule, and the cascade of reactions to that reality include Boeing's bartering with carriers who still hold orders for the aircraft. Among those, All Nippon Airways has actually added five more of the jetliners to its orders, which may give a glimpse into the complicated contracts that manufacturers create with their clients. Some customers are seeking compensation for the delays as Boeing's delays disrupt their strategic operating plans amid volatile oil costs and a depressed economy. On the upside, Boeing has the opportunity to avoid penalties with remaining customers as they gain some flexibility in delivery schedules among fewer buyers. On the downside, the jet hasn't flown yet and after extensive computer modeling, ground tests have detected structural flaws that require structural changes. Wednesday, new rumors surfaced. More...

AIR FRANCE 447 INVESTIGATION INTERIM REPORT
The BEA Interim Report (PDF) released Thursday covering the crash of Air France Flight 447 shows a span of more than nine hours between the last message received from the flight's crew and the launch of a first rescue aircraft. Though communications on oversea flights can be sparse, the rescue launch order was still a full eight hours from the interval at which time the aircraft sent 24 messages showing onboard faults and system failures. When debris was found, it consisted mainly of light items from all areas of the plane. No evidence of fire or explosion has yet been discovered. Distortions in the metal vertical reinforcements of specific debris "showed evidence of great compressive forces" with crumpled walls and ceilings that were deformed downward while the floor "was curved under the effect of a strong upward pressure from below." This suggests, and investigators have publicly stated, that the aircraft hit hard in a rather level attitude. The translated report summarizes it less obviously stating, "Visual examination showed that the airplane was not destroyed in flight; it appears to have struck the surface of the sea in a straight line with high vertical acceleration." (There is some speculation as to the exact meaning of "in a straight line," which may have translated directly to "in the line of flight," but may have been intended to mean "in a level attitude," or simply that the aircraft had negligible yaw at impact.) More...

ALASKA AND HAWAII AIM FOR SPECIALIZED PILOT TRAINING
The FAA is working with several specialized aviation groups to create terrain-awareness simulation training to improve air tour safety in Alaska and Hawaii. The training would target new commercial pilots flying air tour routes and involves visual cue-based simulator training to acclimate new air tour pilots with their route of flight under various meteorological conditions from CAVU to severe weather. The goal is to familiarize pilots from outside the state or new to a geographical area with conditions that warrant a turn-around or a landing at an alternate airport. Visual checkpoints are highlighted in the simulator and pilots are trained to revise their decisions based on conditions at each point and are graded on their decision-making. The training developed from authorities seeking an end to avoidable CFIT accidents in the region and relies heavily on accurate 3-D realistic geographic data, which, in Alaska, isn't always easy to come by. More...

FLY4LIFE LOOKING FOR 1,000 PILOTS AT OSH
One of the themes of this year's EAA AirVenture is the recognition and promotion of public benefit flying and the call is out to everyone who uses their airplane to help others to stand up and be counted in Oshkosh. EAA and the Air Care Alliance, co-sponsors of Fly4Life, are hoping at least 1,000 volunteer pilots and aircraft owners register at the Fly4Life tents on the south side of Aeroshell Square to get recognition for their own efforts and to promote the cause. "Our focus is to provide an awareness-generating opportunity for you and/or your organization and to recognize the GA community for its positive influence on the lives of others," the groups said in a news release. More...

FORMER CESSNA CEO MEYER JOINS AVIATION HALL OF FAME
For 2009, the National Aviation Hall of Fame will induct astronauts Eileen Collings, the late Edward White and movie legend the late Jimmy Stewart, alongside Russ Meyer, who led Cessna Aircraft as chairman and CEO from 1975 to 2003. Cessna had halted production of its piston-powered aircraft amid liability issues that held the manufacturer responsible for aircraft over its entire life. Meyer is credited with helping pass the 1994 General Aviation Revitalization Act, limiting liability for manufacturers and leading Cessna to re-enter the general aviation market. Today, the company has delivered more than 40,000 Cessna 172s to market, making it the most-produced aircraft model in history. Meyer played a role in the development of the "Be A Pilot" program and went on to oversee expansion of Cessna's Citation line, which holds claim to the title of most popular bizjet line in the world. He also originated the Citation Special Olympics Airlift that organized hundreds of Citation owners in their transport of athletes from around the country to the National Special Olympics games. Winner of two Collier Trophies, Meyer was in 1996 inducted into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame and served on three Presidential Commissions. He is a commercial instrument-rated pilot with more than 15,000 hours logged. More...

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

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: SOMETHING YOU SHOULD SEE
We get a lot of news releases, and Glenn Pew admits that when some press notes about a tiny wing-flapping drone came across his desk, he didn't give it the time of day. In the latest installment of the AVweb Insider blog, Glenn explains why he's having second thoughts — and shares the details. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: GREENER AIRPLANES, BLUER SKIES
In the latest installment of our AVweb Insider blog, editor Mary Grady laments that it can be tricky to be both an aviator and an environmentalist but is thankful for new technologies (and new ways of thinking) that help bridge the gap. When we talk about airplanes getting greener, notes Mary, it's not just emissions that make the difference. 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...

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: LYCOMING-POWERED DIAMOND DA42 L360 DEMO FLIGHT
Aviation Consumer and AVweb report on the new Diamond DA42 L360, powered by a pair of Lycoming IO-360 engines. More...

SPOT LANDINGS FOR KEEPS
Aviation Safety magazine editor Jeb Burnside talks power-off landings with Gary Hemphill, executive director of the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA), which conducts regional and national spot-landing contests. More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: EAGLE AVIATION (SPF, SPEARFISH, SOUTH DAKOTA)

Last week, the Cessna Pilots Society held their annual fly-in at Spearfish, South Dakota, bringing over 50 Cessnas to bear on today's "FBO of the Week," Eagle Aviation.

We were flooded with comments from pilots who attended the event, many of whom told the tale of an overwhelmed FBO pulling off the near-impossible without breaking a sweat. Apparently the FBO offered a special rate on fuel to attendees and were johnny-on-the-spot when it came to assisting pilots with their tie-downs, serving up tasty barbecue, keeping the facilities "spotless" in spite of the crowds, and (according to one attendee) even resolving some issues with a rental car company on pilots' behalf. Jeffrey Chipetine writes, "A full ramp coupled with a full field of airplanes didn't phase them in the least. ... No matter what we needed (including such odd things as a PA system), Eagle came through for us."

Congrats to Laurie, Ray, and all the rest of the crew who got name-checked in this week's nominations. There's no doubt you guys worked hard to earn a nod as AVweb's "FBO of the Week"!

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

Many years ago, I had just landed at Cairns in Far North Queensland, when an incoming DC-9 called over the radio:

DC-9:
"Cairns Tower, TN 123. Request a wheelchair to meet the flight on arrival. It's the Captain's last landing."

Tower responded appropriately. I thought this was too good to miss, so I stayed on the air. Eventually the DC-9 appeared, touched down, and bounced spectacularly before finally getting under control and rolling through.

DC-9 (a different voice this time) :
"Tower, can you make that 98 wheelchairs?"

Terry Wesley-Smith
via e-mail

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.