FAA PROPOSES CHANGES TO HUDSON RULES
The FAA is proposing restructuring the low-level VFR airspace around Manhattan in reaction to last month's collision between a sightseeing helicopter and a PA32 over the Hudson River. The agency says it wants to separate traffic flying over the river from aircraft flying to and from heliports and seaplane bases by altitude. This will include a new Class B VFR corridor that it hopes will be the preferred choice of pilots flying over the Hudson. This new airspace will go from 1,300 feet to 2,000 feet and aircraft within it will operate under direct air traffic control. Uncontrolled VFR traffic will operate between 1,000 and 1,300 feet and pilots will be required to monitor a common frequency and announce entry, progress and departure from the airspace. The working traffic below 1,000 feet will monitor the same frequency. New charts will be created to clearly delineate the corridors and will highlight the hybridized Class B. "These steps will significantly enhance safety in this busy area and create crystal-clear rules for all of the pilots who operate there," said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. The new rule would also formalize some common practices. More...

CIRRUS SETS $1.39 MILLION INTRO PRICE FOR VISION JET
Cirrus Aircraft announced on Wednesday that it has set a maximum initial price of $1.39 million for its single-engine Vision Personal Jet, for owners who already hold current production reservations. This price will be for a Vision Jet delivered in a configuration analogous to the current GTS model SR22, the company said. "With our pricing announcement today, we have rewarded those who partnered with us since the beginning of the Vision Jet development program by creating substantial and immediate value in their production position reservations," said Cirrus Aircraft President and CEO Brent Wouters. For new buyers who reserve a production position between now and the end of the year, the maximum purchase price will be $1.55 million. Buyers must put down a non-refundable deposit of $100,000 to secure that price. "Our commitment to the Vision Jet is absolute and unequivocal," Wouters said. "Cirrus has the personnel, leadership and conviction to bring the Vision Jet to serial production as quickly as possible." More...

HAWKER HOLDING OFF ON PREMIER II DEBUT
Hawker Beechcraft CEO Bill Boisture said this week his company is making good progress on its Beechcraft Premier II program, but will hold off on an entry-into-service date for the new jet until late 2012 or early 2013, in hopes that the economy will improve by then. "While we remain fully committed to certifying and fielding the class-leading Premier II as designed, we must be prudent in our evaluation of the current and forecasted global economic environment," Boisture said in a news release. "Based on these conditions, we have made the decision to extend the entry-into-service date to better align with anticipated rebound of the business jet market." The company has successfully test-flown the aircraft's new engines on a modified Premier IA and the first Premier II fuselage is now on the assembly line. More...

PRIZE FOR HUMAN-POWERED ROTARY FLIGHT RISES TO $250,000
Prizes have done much through the last 100 years or so to spur aviation innovation, from Lindbergh's Orteig Prize to today's X Prize competitions, but sometimes if the prize is not quite enticing enough, it doesn't really do the job. That seems to be what the folks at Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. have decided, since they recently announced a dramatic change in the prize money for the Igor I. Sikorsky Human-Powered Helicopter Competition, from $20,000 to $250,000. The prize, which goes to the first human-powered helicopter that can hover at least 10 feet off the ground for 60 seconds, was first offered almost 30 years ago and has never been claimed. The best effort so far was by Prof. Akira Naito of Nihon University in Japan, who achieved an altitude of just over 6 inches and flight duration of 19.46 seconds. (Click through to see it on video.) A team at CalTech got into the air for 8 seconds at a height of 8 inches. More...

MEMORIAL SET FOR AEROBATICS PILOT VICKI CRUSE
A memorial event to celebrate the life of Vicki Cruse will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, at her hangar on Santa Paula Airport in California, EAA said this week. Cruse, who was president of the International Aerobatic Club, died in the crash of her Edge 540 while participating as a member of the U.S. Unlimited Aerobatic team at the World Aerobatics Championships in England on Aug. 22. She was a former U.S. Aerobatic Champion and Reno racing pilot. The celebration is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP and indicate whether they plan to arrive by plane or by car. For more information and contact info, see the flyer created for the event. More...

AMERICAN LEGEND OFFERS "CASH FOR JUNKERS"
If you have an old aircraft that's due for trading up -- even if it's not airworthy -- American Legend Aircraft Company is willing to take it in trade in its own new "Cash for Junkers" program, offering $4,500 back on the purchase of a new Legend Cub. "There have been skeptics who weren't sure that now is the time to buy," said Kurt Sehnert, general manager of American Legend. "Our rebate incentive is good for the economy, good for energy independence and great for pilots. We are giving them a chance to speak with their wallets. We intend to spur sales in this sluggish economy." The rebate applies to the purchase of any model American Legend manufactures, including the kit-built Texas Sport. The company said it will donate aircraft collected under the program to museums or schools to be used for educational purposes. More...

LANGLEY WIND TUNNEL EFFORTS CONTINUE, DOWN TO THE WIRE
At the end of this month, when wind-tunnel tests now under way wrap up, NASA plans to shut down and dismantle the historic Langley Full-Scale Wind Tunnel in Virginia, unless a new letter-writing campaign and other efforts can change their minds. The deadline, originally set for late August, has been pushed back to Sept. 30. Ken Hyde, president of The Wright Experience, is asking supporters to write letters to their representatives in Congress to try to boost support for keeping the Langley tunnel up and running. He created a new Web site where information can be found and where updates will be posted. NASA's own Web site notes that wind tunnels are a national technological resource. "They have provided vast knowledge that has contributed to the development and advancement of the nation's aviation industry, space program, economy and the national security," says NASA. More...

FAA PROPOSES CHANGES IN FLIGHT TRAINING
Under new rules proposed by the FAA this week, flight schools would be excused from the requirement to have a ground school space if they offer Internet-based ground-school training, and students would be allowed to apply for both a private pilot certificate and an instrument rating at the same time. The agency also said it would like to change its definition of "complex airplane" to include airplanes equipped with FADEC engines. Another change would require pilots of single-pilot-certified light jets to pass a proficiency check. The FAA also said it would like to make it easier to issue U.S. certificates to foreign pilots. "Because of changing technology in aviation, the results of successful research, and an international agreement, the FAA has determined these proposed changes to the pilot, flight instructor, and pilot school certification rules are necessary," the FAA said in its proposal. The changes will help to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, the FAA said. More...

NTSB ISSUES NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HELICOPTER EMS SAFETY
The FAA needs to do more to regulate helicopter emergency medical services, the NTSB said on Tuesday, and operators also need to improve their training and procedures. "The pressure on HEMS operators to conduct their flights quickly in all sorts of environments makes these types of operations inherently more risky than other types of commercial flight operations," said NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman. "Operators need to use every available safety tool to conduct these flights and to determine when the risk of flying is just too great." The board said the FAA should mandate better pilot training, improve its data collection and monitoring, develop a low-altitude airspace infrastructure, and require crews to be trained to use night-vision systems. The agency should also require the use of autopilots during single-pilot HEMS operations. Operators should work to improve pilot training and upgrade their equipment, the NTSB said. More...

AVWEBBIZ: AVWEB'S BUSINESS AVIATION NEWSLETTER

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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...

AVIATION CONSUMER'S ROTAX AIRCRAFT ENGINE SURVEY
Do you own or operate an aircraft equipped with a Rotax engine? Our sister magazine, Aviation Consumer, wants to hear from you about its reliability, maintenance costs, factory and field support, and about your overall satisfaction with the engine.

Please take a moment to complete this survey and share your operational experience!

(The results will appear in a future issue of Aviation Consumer. For subscription information, click here.) More...

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: THE FAA'S PROPOSED RULES FOR THE HUDSON RIVER CORRIDOR
The FAA is proposing rules that would segregate Hudson Class B Exclusion Area traffic by altitude and mandate common safety practices already used by many pilots. We'd like to know what you think of them, particularly the Class B VFR designation that is being proposed.

Plus: Last week, we asked if more manufacturers should be granted the same latitude as Boeing to self-certify parts and processes — or perhaps even wider powers of self-certification. Click through to see how AVweb readers responded. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: NTSB'S HUDSON CORRIDOR RECOMMENDATIONS? MIXED
Once again, says resident blogger Paul Bertorelli on the AVweb Insider, the NTSB jumps the gun on the Hudson corridor midair by issuing a round of recommendations before the accident probe is completed. Although the recommendations make sense (mostly), they also won't fix the problem, because there is no problem to fix. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: BATTERIES SHOULD GO BY SHIP, NOT AIRPLANE
ALPA would like the FAA to ban lithium batteries from being shipped by air. They're right, says AVweb's Paul Bertorelli on the AVweb Insider blog — though he doesn't understand why the industry won't just refuse to carry them. 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: NORTH STAR AVIATION (RAVALLI COUNTY AIRPORT, 6S5, HAMILTON, MT)

There's nothing like firsthand experience when it comes to planning a route with great FBOs along the way.

AVweb reader Joseph Barber had been to this week's top FBO, North Star Aviation at Ravalli County Airport (6S5) in Hamilton, Montana, two years ago and remembered the positive experience:

I first discovered North Star ... when making an ice run during an especially hot camping trip in Moose Creek. The FBO was unusually friendly and helpful then. This past week, during another back country stay, I discovered a maintenance problem and limped in to Hamilton on a Friday afternoon. Herman, the A & P, efficiently took care of the problem and sent me on my way, at far less cost than I was anticipating. The following Sunday, on our way back home to Seattle, we stopped for fuel to discover the owner hosting a pancake breakfast.

This is an unusually friendly and capable FBO, as helpful to back country campers as it is to the turboprops and jets it services.

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
As summer begins to wane, "POTW" submissions continue to take our breath away. Charles E. Dickinson of Denver, Colorado launches today's installment with Gary Rower performing his routine at Colorado Sport International Air Show's twilight performance. More...

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Paul Bertorelli

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