Volume 9, Issue 46b November 13, 2003

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The Top Headlines From AVweb's Expanded, Illustrated News Coverage At AVweb's NewsWire.

DON'T GO THERE
The pilot who plodded along in a Mooney M20 above the Potomac River on Monday morning flew within eight miles of the White House, and managed to intrude not only into the Air Defense Identification Zone, but also its inner ring, the Flight Restricted Zone, which extends in a radius of 15 nm from the Washington Monument. In some cases of piloting errors, filing a reporting form within the Aviation Safety Reporting System can sometimes offer some level of "immunity" -- against sanctions, not against prosecution. FAA, spokesman William Shumann told AVweb, "In those cases where a penalty was imposed even though an ASRS report was filed, it might be because the pilot didn't check NOTAMs or otherwise comply with FAR 91.103, which requires a pilot to 'become familiar with all available information concerning that flight.'" As for satisfying those requirements, "If one wants to be legalistic, the Automated Flight Service Stations are the only 'official' source of information, and DUAT is the only 'authorized' source outside of AFSS," but Shumann said that applies only to Part 121 and 135 -- not Part 91 operators. More...

...IN THE AFTERMATH OF ANOTHER INCURSION
Could Monday's incursion of White House airspace by a Mooney pilot actually be a blessing in disguise? It may turn out that way if it highlights what's becoming an increasing frustration for the FAA -- and GA pilots. Since Feb. 10, when the ADIZ was put in place in Washington, it has been violated more than 600 times. "Frankly, we're a bit frustrated that pilots are still violating it, and we don't know why," the FAA's William Shumann told AVweb yesterday. "It's on the charts, it's on our Web site." Pilots who violate the ADIZ (so far none have been discovered to be full-fledged evil-doers, or even to harbor any ill-intent) generally get a 30- to 90-day suspension of their certificate, Shumann said, but each case is handled individually. The range of possibilities does include revocation. More...

CONCORDE, THE PAPERWEIGHT
The Concorde's life as an airliner may be over, but its life as a paperweight is just beginning. At least three separate auctions of Concorde bits and pieces and memorabilia are coming up in the next few weeks, so get those checkbooks and mouses greased and ready. Internet bidders can shop via eBay thanks to a group called Concorde Collectables, whose auction is already underway online, through Nov. 16. As of Tuesday, 27 bidders had raised the price on a pair of original Day-Glo-orange seats up to 530 pounds -- that's about USD $885. Only six folks, though, had worked up an interest in the much-cheaper Dunlop wiper head. More...

...AS AIRLINES OFFER CHARITY AUCTIONS...
To buy your leftovers direct from Air France or British Airways, though, you'll have to hop across the pond. Air France is holding an auction of 218 lots, via Christie's, in Paris on Nov. 15, and BA will hold its affair in London, with Bonhams auctioneers, on Dec. 1 -- just in time for holiday shopping. Christie's sale includes a radome, captains' seats, motors, souvenirs, and photographs. BA also has a radome on sale, and expects it to attract as much as 35,000 pounds. Among the 120 lots from BA are a Machmeter, a 12-place Concorde dinner service, a case of wine , and a Wedgewood ashtray. More...

...WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE JETS
BA announced this week that the very last, final, no-more-after-this Concorde flight ever in history will be from Heathrow, via the Bay of Biscay, to Filton, Bristol, on Nov. 26, as the last flying Concorde returns to its birthplace at Airbus UK. Meanwhile, the final homes for each of the fleet have been announced. One of the Air France airplanes has been donated to the National Air & Space Museum, and arrived in Virginia this summer. Two of the BA birds will also come to the U.S.: one arrived in New York this week en route to the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, and one has already flown in to the Museum of Flight in Seattle. More...

SENATE OKS GUNS FOR CARGO PILOTS
On Monday, the U.S. Senate voted to let cargo pilots carry firearms and stun guns in the cockpit. The measure would amend the law already in effect that allows pilots of passenger airlines to participate in the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program administered by the Transportation Security Administration. The vote comes on the heels of a report last Friday that terrorists may be planning to use cargo planes -- possibly seized overseas -- against American targets, possibly inside the United States. No specific information about a potential threat was received, the Homeland Security Department said. The bill now must be passed by the House and signed by the president before it can take effect. More...

$100 MILLION FOR GA? SPEAK NOW, OR...
With time running out for this session of the U.S. Senate -- scheduled to adjourn on Nov. 21 -- pressure is building to get some action on the FAA reauthorization bill, which has stalled over the last week or so. NBAA, an advocate for passing the bill, on Tuesday urged its members to contact their senators and request their support for swift passage of the act. While some GA lobbyists say they can live with the current version of the bill -- which includes $100 million in cash relief for small GA businesses hurt by 9/11 and airspace restrictions -- the National Air Traffic Controllers Association continues to staunchly oppose it, holding out for more explicit protection from privatization. Whatever your take on it, your senators won't know unless you tell them. More...

AA 587: MONUMENT PROMISED, FINAL REPORT EXPECTED IN SPRING
Yesterday marked two years since American Airlines Flight 587, an Airbus A300-600, crashed in Belle Harbor, N.Y., killing all 260 people on board and five on the ground. The NTSB released an update this week on its investigation, saying it has tested a bolt like those in the A300-600 tail fin, and the bolt did not fail until it was subjected to a load beyond its design ultimate limit. The board said its final report will not be completed until sometime in the spring of next year. Meanwhile, N.Y. Gov. George Pataki pledged on Sunday to build a "suitable and fitting" memorial to commemorate those who died. More...

AIRSPACE WARS BREWING DOWN UNDER
With Australia's airspace about to undergo radical change as of Nov. 27, controversy over the new rules is intensifying. Aviation industry experts have raised concerns about the change, which will make the system more like the one in the U.S. Air traffic controllers say the new system will pose a significant safety risk. Pilots complain they have not yet been informed of the new procedures they will need to follow. Other critics add that Australia's radar coverage is inadequate. Transport Minister John Anderson said this week a comprehensive training and education package would enable pilots to move safely to the new arrangements. More...

NASM RESPONDS TO ENOLA GAY PETITION
In a statement issued last Friday, the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum responded to a recent petition that said the museum's exhibit of the Enola Gay fails to address the "disturbing issues" raised by the use of the atomic bomb. The museum's statement includes the full text of the display label, and notes: "This type of label is precisely the same kind used for the other airplanes and spacecraft in the museum. Its intent is to tell visitors what the object is and the basic facts concerning its history ... allowing visitors to evaluate what they encounter in the context of their own points of view." A spokesman for Peace Action said his group would prepare a response to the NASM statement, but it had not arrived at AVweb by press time. More...

MOST DANGEROUS AND MOST OVERPAID?
It seems to be the time of year that folks are in the mood to make lists, and airline pilots are getting onto some of them. AVweb told you last month that a federal report found a job as a commercial pilot to be one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the U.S. Now a financial writer for CBS, Chris Plummer, has come up with a list of the top 10 most overpaid workers -- and guess who's on it? Airline pilots come in at number 9, just above wedding photographers and just below West Coast longshoremen. Plummer claims no statistical proof for his ranking, just his opinion, but with "input from compensation experts." More...

ON THE FLY...
Skydiver Jay Stokes Tuesday made 534 jumps in 24 hours, a new record...
EAA will name today its one-millionth Young Eagle...
FAA issued NPRM re extended two-engine aircraft operations...
PBS's Nova debuted a documentary about the Wright brothers...
2004 Women in Aviation Conference in Reno, Nev., March 11-13.
More...

AVWEB'S AVSCOOP AWARD...
Congratulations and an AVweb hat go out to Kenneth Steamer, this week's AVscoop winner. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com. Rules and information are at http://www.avweb.com/contact/newstips.html. More...

NEW ARTICLES AND FEATURES ON AVWEB
COLUMNS
Say Again? #30: The Little Big Flick
When confused about what you should be doing, it helps to have the big picture. AVweb's Don Brown freely admits he doesn't always have The Big Flick to help him understand why ATC is being run the way it is. But he wonders if those running it (or funding it) have The Big Flick either. More...

AVWEB'S PICTURE OF THE WEEK...
We received over 100 pictures last week. Congratulations to this week's winner, Christopher Snow, of Glendale, Ariz. His picture titled "Starship Graveyard" captures a rather unusual and eerie sight. Raytheon recently started scrapping the remainder of the Beech Starship fleet and our winner happen to come by the temporary holding area for the fateful aircraft. On Nov 11, 03 he flew his Cessna 152 Aerobat from Phoenix (DVT) down to Pinal Airpark (MZJ) to take some pictures of Starships in a desert graveyard waiting to be parted out and scraped. Great picture, Christopher! Your AVweb hat is on the way.

To check out the winning picture, or to enter next week's contest, go to http://www.avweb.com/potw More...

AVWEB'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK...
We received over 300 responses to our question last week on our readers’ preferred aircraft to fly. Over 80 percent of those responding fly certified fixed-wing general aviation aircraft (Piper, Mooney, Cessna etc), while only 6 percent said they fly homebuilts (plans or kits). On a smaller scale, only one percent of the respondents indicated they flew ultralights with the same result for our rotorcraft subscribers.

To check out the complete results or respond to this week's question, go to http://www.avweb.com/qotw
This week, we would like to know your thoughts on flying personal jet aircraft. More...

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AVflash is a twice-weekly summary of the latest aviation news, articles, products, features and events featured on AVweb, the Internet's Aviation Magazine and News Service. http://www.avweb.com

Letters to the editor intended for publication in AVmail should be sent to mailto:editor@avweb.com.com. Have a comment or question? Send it to mailto:newsteam@avweb.com.

Today's issue written by News Writer Mary Grady:
http://www.avweb.com/contact/authors.html#mgrady
AVweb's editorial team: http://avweb.com/contact/authors.html.

Have a product or service to advertise on AVweb? A question on marketing? Send it to AVweb's sales team: mailto:sales@avweb.com.

Let's all be careful out there, okay?

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