FAA: LIGHT SPORT TIME CAN GO TOWARD PRIVATE CERT. (SOMETIMES)
So, can a student pilot apply any flight time he or she logged while training for a sport pilot certificate toward a private pilot certificate? According to a letter from the FAA's Office of the Chief Counsel to aviation journalist Tim Kern, who queried the office, solo sport pilot flight time may only be credited to solo private pilot flight time if the "specific category and class of aircraft are met." Logging instruction time depends on the instructor's credentials. If instruction is received from an instructor who holds only a a sport pilot rating, that instruction may not be credited toward the issuance of a private pilot certificate. However, if the instruction toward a sport pilot certificate is provided by an instructor authorized to provide instruction to both sport pilots and private pilots, that time could "be credited toward the flight training requirements for a corresponding private pilot certificate." Click through for more details ... . More...

HELICOPTER, PLANE COLLIDE OVER HUDSON
Nine people were aboard a tour helicopter and a light aircraft that collided over the Hudson River between Hoboken, New Jersey and Manhattan about noon Saturday. Television coverage showed rescue boats being dispatched from both sides of the river. The Coast Guard told reporters the helicopter was owned by Liberty Helicopters, which flies tourists over the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The plane, a Piper Saratoga, took off from Teterboro Airport and was bound for Ocean City with three people aboard; six were in the helicopter. All are believed dead. More...

NETJETS CEO SANTULLI RESIGNS
Richard Santulli, who 25 years ago created NetJets, a worldwide leader in fractional jet ownership programs, announced Tuesday that he would "step down as chairman and CEO of NetJets, immediately." Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in the late '90s, Warren Buffet has appointed David Sokol to act as interim CEO. Sokol said he looks forward to "working with this team in building upon NetJets' legacy which Richard created." Santulli explained his immediate departure saying he made the move, "in order to spend some more time with my young family and pursue other interests," and said he expects to stay on with the company for at least a year, serving as a consultant. Santulli grew NetJets out of Executive Jet, which he purchased a quarter century ago. Sokol is chairman of Berkshire Hathaway's MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. More...

FAA LATEST ACTION ON AIRLINERS' EXPLODING FUEL TANKS
The tenth anniversary of TWA Flight 800, a Boeing 747 that exploded off Long Island, killing all 230 people aboard, passed on July 17, 2006, and in the Aug. 5, 2009, Federal Register, the FAA published an airworthiness directive designed to address the potential problem in Boeing 767 aircraft. The latest Final Rule from the FAA, aimed at preventing aircraft fuel tanks from blowing up, adopts for all Boeing 767 aircraft a requirement to have automatic shutoff systems for the auxiliary fuel tank override pumps and advise crews of certain operating restrictions. The new airworthiness directive aims to "prevent an overheat condition" that "could cause an ignition source for the fuel vapors in the fuel tank and result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane." When pondering a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the subject back in 2005, the FAA noted that its computer models suggested that, on average, aircraft would suffer a fuel tank explosion every four years. In 2006, a Boeing 727-200's right-wing fuel tank blew up while the aircraft was on the ground at Bangalore, India. There are other examples. More...

BOEING 787 DREAMLINER SCHEDULE STILL A DREAM
The economic slowdown may mean that some companies waiting on Boeing's next-generation, long-range composite fuel miser, the 787, are happy to continue waiting -- but with the aircraft already two years behind schedule the company's late-stage wing redesign is adding complications. The 787 was nearing flight tests when composite layers near the wing/fuselage seam separated during ground testing. Now, as engineers scramble to apply a workable solution, a new 787's test schedule may still be weeks away and until that mark is reached, the aircraft's development has been indefinitely delayed. Boeing last month said it wouldn't provide even a new target for the first flight, let alone first delivery. Industry watchers and customers will have to wait, though Boeing has indicated it expects to provide more information before the end of the quarter. The company has said it won't release any timetables until the redesign has passed rigorous testing. As it is, the jet is two years behind schedule, but still holds about 850 orders. But with nearly all of its programs suffering under the down economy, Boeing is well aware of its obligations to its customers. More...

MACKAY TROPHY HONORS B-1 CREW
On July 31, 2008, a B-1 crew's actions in support of ground forces in Afghanistan distinguished them for "one of the most important awards in the United States Air Force," according to the National Aeronautic Association. The crew of BONE 23, 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, was contacted to support troops who were facing an attempted overrun of their base by a force of 200 enemy combatants. The specific request came from the Joint Terminal Attack Controller for delivery of a 2000-pound guided weapon to a location where friendly forces were in Danger Close range. The B-1 crew responded by suggesting they instead deliver a 500-pound guided weapon and, facing a critical fuel situation, coordinated with their tanker to provide more time on station. Within 30 minutes, the BONE 23 crew, including Major Norman Shelton, Captain Kaylene Giri, Captain Louis Heidema, and First Lieutenant Boyd Smith, had made three bomb runs, "decisively slowing the enemy attack" according to the NAA, and allowing for coalition ground forces to regroup. More...

NEW SPIN ON ZEPPELIN TOURS -- PILOTING YOURS
Airship Ventures, the group offering zeppelin tours of San Francisco Bay, Moffett Field and the Monterey Coast, is now offering full- and half-day piloting experiences to private-pilot-rated individuals holding a current medical certificate. The company is charging $2950 per student-slot for the honor (sightseeing flights range from about $200 to $750). For pilot "training" the session includes a half day of training to cover ground and flight operations, limitations and performance, and systems, as well as airship history and terminology. A next half-day flight session offers students (taken aloft six at a time) 30 minutes at the controls including climbs, descents, turns and "hovering." Students also get to try their hand at "two takeoffs and landings." The pilot training course takes place in the Zeppelin Eureka and, according to Airship Ventures, "is the only one like it in the world." Currently, the company lists only two separate training program sessions amidst its other operations that, aside from sightseeing tours, include a photo safari. More...

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AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: SOMETIMES ONLY A BUSINESS JET WILL DO
When the federal government needed Bill Clinton in North Korea to broker the release of two captive American journalists, it sent him there the only way it could: on a private business jet. In the latest installment of our AVweb Insider blog, Russ Niles wonders if this may drive home the point that bizjets are good for more than golf junkets. More...

THIS COULD HAPPEN TO YOU
Many pilots take for granted the idea that their FBO will always be there for them — or at least that their place on the airport is relatively secure — but that's not always the case. At Hemet field in Southern California, the closing of an FBO may mean not only the demise of a soaring club that's operated on the field for about 40 years, but also the closing of the runway the gliders use — basically altogether banishing glider operations from the field. More...

EAA AIRVENTURE 2009 VIDEO SERIES: PRODUCT MINUTES—GARMIN G500 IN DIAMOND TRAINER, DIAMOND DA42 NG, AND VAMPIRE LSA
There are lots of new products at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2009. Here's AVweb's look at some of the more interesting ones: Garmin G500 in Diamond's popular Eclipse trainer, the Austro diesel-powered DA42 NG, and the Vampire LSA.

This video is brought to you by WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather and Lightspeed Aviation. More...

EAA AIRVENTURE 2009 VIDEO SERIES: PRODUCT MINUTES—VAL AVIONICS' COM 2000, COMLINKPRO ANGEL BLUETOOTH RECEIVER, AND BRIGHTLINE BAGS' PILOT BAG
Once again, we visit the LSA Mall and vendor booths at EAA AirVenture to see what don't-miss products we can find among the displays. This time, we uncovered: VAL Avionics' super-slim COM 2000 radio; a keen Bluetooth receiver/remote control from ComLinkPro; and one of the handiest flight bags we've seen, at the Brightline Bags booth.

This video is brought to you by Bose Corporation. More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: CARLSON AVIATION (CHAN GURNEY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, YANKTON, SD)

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Carlson Aviation at Chan Gurney Municipal Airport (KYKN) in Yankton, South Dakota.

AVweb reader Steve Wolf stopped there on his way to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh and made it a planned stop on his way back:

Not ony did they have the cheapest fuel around ($3.50/gal), but they fed all the transient crews for free — Sloppy Joes on the way out and hot dogs on the way back! (They ran out of their 100 lbs. of Sloppy Joe meat.) I think YKN was the second busiest airport in the world last week. I need more thumbs — "two thumbs up" falls way short.

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

Overheard in IFR Magazine's "On the Air"

After clearing runway 161 at Van Nuys, California Airport, the tower asked my destination on the field. The conversation continued as follows:

Tower:
"Okay, cross runways 16L and 16R, continue taxi straight ahead to [name of FBO] and stay with me."

Me:
"Crossing 16L and 16R, and appreciate the invitation to stay with you, but we have a home in the area and our car is at the hangar."

Steve Danz
Encino, California

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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.

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