NEXTGEN TESTS ADVANCE TO NEW PHASE
The FAA said last week it is ready to move into a new phase of its testing for the NextGen system, specifying precise times at which aircraft will cross a navigation fix. The new flight tests will be conducted starting this fall, in cooperation with Embry Riddle's aviation consortium, the FAA said. The new technology, called "4D trajectory based operations," will optimize an aircraft's flight path from takeoff to landing, the FAA said, improving efficiency and capacity in the national airspace system. "It also gets to the heart of the Next Generation Air Transportation System: moving aircraft from Point A to Point B with greater efficiency, saving time, money and fuel," the FAA said. More...

MORE CUTS AT CIRRUS, HAWKER BEECH, MAYBE CESSNA
Cirrus Aircraft became the latest manufacturer to announce layoffs this week but most of the 85 people losing their jobs are office workers rather than production staff. "These are challenging days for Cirrus, but the decision made is in the best interest in the entire company," VP of Marketing Todd Simmons told reporters. "Our outlook is still positive. We are making forward progress within the industry." Cirrus's announcement came on the heels of Hawker Beechcraft's announcement earlier this week that about 300 staff are being let go and there are also reports that more cuts are coming at Cessna. More...

MIKE GOULIAN WINS FIRST-EVER RED BULL RACE
Aerobatic pilot Michael Goulian came to EAA AirVenture last month to collect the Bill Barber Award for Showmanship, and this month he topped that off with his first win ever in a Red Bull Air Race, after four years of competition. Goulian edged out Britain's Paul Bonhomme for first in the Budapest race, which takes place over a four-mile course along the Danube River, flying between pylons and under a bridge. "It feels amazing," Goulian said after clocking a winning time of 1:12.51. He got off to a slow start in this year's first two races, before making changes to his engine. "We made an airplane that was fast through the air but didn't focus on the horsepower," he said. "I felt like I was flying in a rowboat. After we changed the engine, it allowed me to just let the airplane fly and I haven't had to push it so hard." After winning the Budapest race, Goulian said he felt gratified. "After four years of hard work this is amazing. I knew we had an airplane that could do it. It's a great win." The win moved Goulian up to 8th place in the overall championship, with 18 points. More...

ALPA CALLS FOR BAN ON LITHIUM BATTERY SHIPMENTS
The Air Line Pilots Association on Tuesday asked for an immediate federal ban on all shipments of lithium batteries on passenger and cargo aircraft until new regulations are in place to ensure their safe transport. ALPA said its concern extends only to batteries packed as cargo, not to batteries in consumer products that passengers (or pilots) might carry aboard. "ALPA has long called for regulations to ensure that safety is the first priority in transporting shipments of lithium batteries aboard airliners," said Mark Rogers, director of ALPA's Dangerous Goods Programs. "Now the evidence of a clear and present danger is mounting. We need an immediate ban on these dangerous goods to protect airline passengers, crews, and cargo." ALPA said three recent incidents have demonstrated the hazards of the battery shipments. More...

PILOTS N PAWS AIMS TO AIRLIFT 5,000 PETS
Pilots N Paws, a nonprofit that launched last year with the aim to help fly shelter pets to new homes and save them from euthanasia, plans to airlift 5,000 animals during the eight days starting Sept. 12. The organization hopes the airlift will encourage more pilots to donate their time (and airplanes) to the cause, and bring attention to the plight of abandoned pets, which are euthanized at the rate of 4 million per year. Many of those animals could be saved if they could be transported from areas where there are too many pets to other parts of the U.S. where they are in demand. The event will also help to promote general aviation as a force for good in our communities, the organizers say. "General aviation in this country is threatened," says the group's Web site, citing Homeland Security directives and user fees. "We want to see general aviation perceived by the public accurately as a driving force in our economy ... We want to see general aviation free of these threats." Pilots who would like to volunteer to fly an animal rescue transport can visit the Pilots N Paws Web site for more info. More...

ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL BY HELICOPTER CAUSES CONSTERNATION
Fourteen-year-old Joseph Sutherin got the memorable first day of school he hoped for, when his father dropped him off in the schoolyard in a Hughes 300 helicopter early Monday morning. But his father Bart got more than he bargained for, when school officials "freaked out," according to the Orlando Sentinel, and called the sheriff and the FAA. The elder Sutherin said he had just hoped to "make a positive impression on the other students." Joseph, an honors student, said he just thought it would be fun. "It would be extraordinary, and I could say, 'Yeah, I flew into the school in a helicopter,'" he told the Sentinel. An FAA official said it didn't appear that any regulations had been violated. Sutherin, a father of three, is certified to fly the helicopter and landed in a clear area away from students. More...

FAA PROPOSES UPDATE TO PART 23
The FAA has released a proposed update to its rules for the certification of light jets. The changes aim to streamline the Part 23 certification process, and "reflect the current needs of industry, accommodate future trends, address emerging technologies, and provide for future airplane operations," according to the FAA. The rule changes aim to establish a standard of certification that would be similar to what is required of other aircraft in the same size range. The FAA hopes the new rules will reduce its current workload of processing exemptions and approving special conditions for small jets. More...

CHINA TO OPEN FACILITY FOR PRIVATE JETS
China will open its first facility for private jets next year at Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport, sometime before the World Expo opens there in May, Shanghai Daily reported this week. The project is already under construction. The 10,000-square-foot private-jet terminal will provide its own security inspections, quarantine facilities and customs, separate from the other air passenger traffic. A hangar will provide space for up to three jets. Officials said up to 4,000 private jets will arrive in Shanghai during the Expo, according to Shanghai Daily. That's about twice as many private jet flights as the entire country now handles in a year. More...

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AVMAIL: AUGUST 27, 2009

Letter of the Week: NTSB Had No Choice

When I was in the industry, I was a "party" on a major accident investigation involving the airline I was employed by. I was assigned to one of the investigative groups and signed a formal agreement that defined my role and set forth ground rules for participation.

I agreed that noncompliance with the agreement would result in my being removed from the investigation. One of the fundamental issues in an aviation accident investigation involves release of information, and participants agree that the Board will be the sole [recipient].

While it is regrettable that NATCA was removed from the investigation, I really don't see how the NTSB had any choice. If you allow one participant to violate the agreement, how do you stop the next one from doing the same? NATCA should have been patient and allowed the NTSB to correct their misstatement, which they did.

Harlow Vorhees

Click through to read the rest of this week's letters.

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...

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

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: NO LSA FOR DIAMOND
Cirrus and Cessna have joined the LSA bandwagon, but Diamond hasn't. On the AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli explains Diamond's thinking: The company is convinced that in the slam-dunk world of daily flight training, LSA won't hold up but the hell-for-strong DA20 will, making it cheaper over the long haul. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: THE PAST CREATES THE FUTURE
The Langley Full Scale Wind Tunnel in Virginia has had a long and storied history — which may soon come to an end. On the AVweb Insider blog, contributing editor Mary Grady insists that's a mistake. More...

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: SELF-CERTIFICATION
The FAA recently gave Boeing much greater self-certification powers, and there is a general movement toward giving manufacturers more certification responsibilities, with the FAA auditing them. We want to know if you think that's a good idea.

Plus: With Barack Obama on vacation under a Presidential TFR at Martha's Vineyard this week, we thought it would be a good time to ask AVweb readers what they think of Temporary Flight Restrictions. Click through to see how your fellow readers answered. More...

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: LOSS OF CONTROL IN AN F-16 FIGHTER, TEST PILOT ON YAW DEPARTURE
At Edwards Air Force Base, they still test F-16 fighters, because each software upgrade and each new weapons package introduces new parameters. Experimental test pilots need to identify the aircraft's performance limits, and they need to know how it will perform before their brothers- and sisters-in-arms take upgraded Vipers into combat. This is one of those tests, and Air Force pilot Desmond Brophy walks us through it step-by-step. More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: GRIFFING FLYING SERVICE (KSKY, SANDUSKY, OHIO)
AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Griffing Flying Service at Sandusky Airport (KSKY) in Sandusky, Ohio.

Sometimes a great FBO can surprise you when you're not expecting to find one. AVweb reader Josh Johnson was on his way to Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky when he discovered Griffing. John confesses:

I was initially a little disappointed when I saw on the wall that there would be a $10 landing fee and a $25 parking fee for my Cessna 172. I thought I had arrived at another of the fee-happy FBOs that seem to be popping up everywhere. What I didn't realize is that this fee also included transportation to and from Cedar Point at no charge for as many people as we could fit into our airplane. Suddenly, instead of moaning about what would likely have cost us $80 for a round trip taxi, we're getting not only airport services but also dropped off and picked up at the front gate of the park! I think this is one of the best values out there, and part of the fees are waived if there is a fuel purchase!

We did have a little problem: When we arrived there wasn't room for everyone in their full-size van, as several aircraft had arrived at once. Not a problem. Mr. Griffing himself gave us a ride to the park in his van — and it was his day off! All in all, an excellent experience!

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!

PICTURE OF THE WEEK: AVWEB'S FLYING PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWCASE
The good times roll on at the world headquarters of AVweb's gawking division. As evidence, check out this powered parachute flight at dusk, snapped during EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh by James Maher of Milford, Connecticut. Keep sending us those photos from Oshkosh (and elsewhere), because our appetite for airplane pictures in insatiable! More...

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

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