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November 2, 2009
By The AVweb Editorial Staff
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Business Aviation Will Help Companies Not Only Survive
But Prosper During the Current Financial Crisis
To be your most productive, and your most efficient, you must keep flying. Because in so doing, you will emerge from these times even stronger than before. And you will replace the uncertainty that
surrounds many, with the confidence and courage to light the way for all.
Visit
CessnaRise.com. 
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Top News: Garmin Aera to Debut at AOPA
Summit |
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Although Garmin debuted the premium priced GPSMap 696 only a year ago, it's rolling out yet another new portable navigator model line this week at AOPA Summit in Tampa, Florida. The new product
line is called Aera, and although its features and capabilities are similar to the popular GPSMap 396/496 series, the Aera line will have something entirely new: a touchscreen interface. Gone are the
page, enter, and rocker keys, replaced by what Garmin calls an intuitive touchscreen operating system. As with previous portables, the Aera products will have a full range of navigation
capability, plus XM WX weather, XM audio, Garmin's SafeTaxi ground awareness feature, and the AOPA Airport Directory. The new navigators will be dual purpose as well, with ground navigation
capability provided as a standard feature.
Garmin says the Aera screens are larger than the 396/496, measuring 4.3 inches on the diagonal. The Aera will be available in four models, beginning with the $799 500 and topping out with the
$1,999 full-featured Aera 560. All of these products will be shown at AOPA Summit this week, and for information, see Garmin.com.
Click for photos.
Garmin provided AVweb with a demo unit before the show and we spent a week wringing it out. See
the video here.
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Are You Insured for All of Your Aviation Activities? Are You Certain?
Pilots should work with aviation specialists when comparing life insurance. Get the information you need to find the right policy for your family's protection at the Pilot Insurance Center.
(800) 380-8376 or
PICLife.com. 
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The Coast Guard Sunday called off the search for survivors of a midair collision between a Guard C-130 and a Marine AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter off San Clemente Island on the southern California
coast. There were seven people on the Herc and two in the helicopter when they collided late Thursday in what witnesses reported was a ball of fire. "After an exhaustive effort with the intent to
rescue, our hope has dimmed in finding any survivors," Petty Officer First Class Allyson Conroy, a spokeswoman for the Coast Guard in San Diego told the New York Times. "We are now concentrating on
recovering anything out of the water, or anyone out of the water." Debris has been found but no bodies.
The helicopter crew was escorting troop transport helicopters in a five-ship formation on their way to a night training exercise. The Guard plane was looking for a 50-year-old man reported missing
in a 12-foot inflatable boat. The man in the boat has still not been found.
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Fly Safely. Reduce Your Work Load. Increase Your Fuel Economy. Fly Intelligently.
Save $1,000 Now! The Auracle Engine Management System from Flightline Systems offers comprehensive engine and fuel situation awareness, delivered on a stunning full-color glass panel display.
Easily read and quickly interpreted, Auracle helps you make critical decisions rapidly. It's the best co-pilot you'll ever have.
Learn more at
Ultra-Fei.com/auracle. 
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"We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 41,928
airplanes in the U.S. registry," says the FAA in its move to prevent control wheels from coming loose of their control wheel shafts on certain Piper aircraft. Affected models are certain Piper PA-28,
PA-32, PA-34 and PA-44 series aircraft -- all to be inspected at an estimated cost per aircraft of $40 (that's $1.67 million for the whole flock). The FAA has received two reports of control wheel
shafts that were incorrectly assembled at Piper -- one that led to separation of the right wheel from the shaft and another that was discovered during a ground inspection. The agency has no way of
knowing how many aircraft are affected, but has estimated the necessary repair/replacement cost to involve 16 hours of labor and a total cost of about $1430 per airplane.
Read the proposed airworthiness directive online for a
list of serial numbers of affected aircraft. It's not a rule, yet, and the FAA is seeking comments on the proposed rule through Dec. 29.
Two years ago, when The Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act extended federal age standards for pilots of large commercial aircraft from 60 to 65, it also mandated that the GAO report within
24 months on the effect the change had on aviation safety. There appears to be little to report. The GAO collected FAA accident and incident data, plus NTSB accident data, from December 2007 (when
the act went live) through September 2009. They then pored over it for a month. The result: "We believe the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions" ... "that no
accidents or incidents resulted from the health conditions of pilots 60 years or older." The results address what the FAA in 1960 established what came to be known as the age-60 rule, based on the
belief "that certain important physiological and psychological functions progressively deteriorated with age," according to the GAO. The results of the GAO's study (PDF) say that's not so. There is one "but" ... .
The GAO would like to make a more definitive assessment on change either positive or negative by collecting trends for groups both younger and older than 60 years of age. But they say that's not
possible at this time. The more definitive assessment would require a longer period of time to allow for the collection of more data and a more precise conclusion. Unfortunately, it's only been two
years since the act was enacted.
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JA Air Center, Your Source for the New Garmin GPSMap 696
JA Air Center is YOUR source for Garmin equipment, including the new GPSMap 696 with Victor Airways, Jet Routes, XM Weather, Terrain, AOPA Airport Guide, and Safe Taxi. We purchase used
GPS units, avionics, and aircraft.
We are now open in Sugar Grove, IL (KARR) providing the finest avionics installations, turbine/piston maintenance, avionics/instrument service, internet sales, and aircraft sales. Call (800)
323-5966, or
click for more
info. 
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SportairUSA, distributor for Sting S3 and Sirius aircraft, announced Friday its new "certified pre-owned" light sport aircraft (LSA) program, offering used aircraft with a warranty, plus transition
training. The company says the new program provides benefits for both sides of the buyer/seller coin. The seller, says SportairUSA, gets market exposure with SportairUSA standing behind the sale.
Sellers also get free hangar space and, separately, deferred costs for maintenance and repairs until the aircraft is sold. Buyers get some assurance in that SportairUSA is putting its name behind the
product in so far as the company will inspect the aircraft and make any necessary repairs with OEM parts. The aforementioned warranty is a "six month, 50 hour warranty." And then there's the
training.
SportairUSA says it will also provide five hours of ground and five hours of transitional orientation to the buyer, plus a biennial flight review.
The $300 billion program that is the nation's coming fleet of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters has military towns across the country vying for the economic boon of base modernization and infrastructure
that will arrive wherever squadrons nest. The U.S. Air Force is considering sites in Vermont, Utah, Florida, Idaho and South Carolina for operating bases; and Florida, Idaho, New Mexico and Arizona
for training, according to Reuters. But the selection process now moves to formal environmental impact analysis and the communities' opportunities to provide input. First-round decisions already have
senators seeking to cement favor or reconsideration for their states. An Air Force spokesman told Reuters Thursday that it's too early to determine how much money might be spent to prepare sites to
accommodate the aircraft.
Early contenders were chosen for their "airspace, flight training ranges, weather, support facilities, runways, taxi ramps and environmental concerns," according to Reuters. Further consideration
includes aircraft retirements integration with personnel and equipment already on hand, logistical support and aircraft delivery schedules. Final decisions aren't expected until 2011. The F-35 is now
in early production.
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Get the Scoop on the Best Panel Upgrade for GA — The Garmin G500/G600 — November 10 — Phoenix, AZ
Join Cutter Aviation on November 10, 2009 at 6:00pm at Cutter Aviation Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) for an up-close look at the Garmin G500 and G600 PFD/MFD glass panel
upgrades for General Aviation, along with the new GTS Traffic Systems by Garmin. Learn how to transform your cockpit with the latest technology in situational awareness and safety at an incredible
value. Refreshments, door prizes, and discounts for attendees will be available!
Visit
CutterAviation.com for details and to RSVP. 
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For the first time in its eight-year history, the 2010 annual meeting of Cirrus aircraft owners will not be held at the company's headquarters in Duluth, Minn. Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association
President Curtis Sanford announced to members that they will meet in Dayton, Ohio June 17-20. "We have had seven very successful Migrations in Duluth, and will be back," Sanford said. No reason was
given for the change of venue (other than a change of scenery) but Sanford said the move has the support of Cirrus, which plans to exhibit in Dayton.
Last year's meeting, which COPA dubs its "migration," was marked by controversy when Cirrus co-founder Alan Klapmeier announced he was bidding to buy the SF50 jet program from the company. About a
month later, Klapmeier withdrew from the negotiations and a few weeks later he was removed as chairman of the board of directors of Cirrus.
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| Carroll's first two videos |
Dave Carroll, YouTube's favorite musical advocate for the proper treatment of luggage (famous for his YouTube video "United Breaks Guitars") may have a new gripe -- again, with United. Last week,
Carroll arrived at Denver International from Regina, Saskatchewan on a United Express flight operated by Skywest Airlines. He was told his luggage was delayed in its arrival. He was also told he would
need to be on hand when it arrived. It turned up three days later. Thanks to Carroll's celebrity -- the YouTube buzz that eventually hit the 24-hour news networks -- Carroll now regularly has speaking
engagements in which he discusses the importance of customer relations ... which explains why he was in Denver. It also means we know what happened to his bags. And that trip may be a song in
itself.
Carroll's luggage, instead of flying with him to Denver, went first to Calgary and then to Denver. But it didn't stay there. It then went back to Calgary, and from there it departed again for
Denver. But, again, it didn't stay there. From Denver it went to Fort Worth. And from Texas it went back to Denver where it was, at long last, delivered to Carroll's hotel in Colorado Springs, about
40 miles away. United has apologized to Carroll for the inconvenience and has "reached out to him to make this right," according to the Globe and Mail. Carroll recounted the misadventure in his
Colorado Springs gig and it was relayed on Twitter and other social media by conference attendees and the story eventually made its way to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Carroll said he's still
working on the last music video in of his trilogy on the broken guitar and the lost luggage episode may get a mention.
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Big South Fork Airpark is located 50 miles north of Knoxville, Tennessee, and boasts an asphalt runway 5,500 feet in length, with four instrument approaches. The
airpark grounds, totaling 450 acres, offer 1-to-3+ acre home sites starting at $89,000. Personal hangars are also available and start at $95,000. Each home has convenient runway access and is in the
immediate vicinity of the 125,000-acre Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.
For more
information, visit BSFAirpark.com. 
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File Size 5.1 MB / Running Time 5:30
Podcast Index
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How to Listen
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Subscribe Via RSS
At NBAA in Orlando, AVweb's Paul Bertorelli spoke with Hartzell's Mike Disbrow about new developments in the world of turboprops. Conceding that it has a bit of self-interest,
Hartzell is pushing the idea that for efficient travel, you can't beat an airplane pulled through the air with a prop rather than pushed with a turbofan. And the market agrees with Disbrow.
Turboprop flight activity hasn't taken near the hit that jet ops have, indicating that owners and operators are finding definite advantages in props.
Click here to listen. (5.1 MB, 5:30)
Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb
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Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos
At AOPA Summit this week in Tampa, Florida, Garmin will roll out it's new touchscreen-based aera line of navigators. AVweb's Paul Bertorelli spent the last week wringing out a
sample. Here's his video report.
Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb
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Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos
Diamond Aircraft has always stepped right out there with innovation, and even in its modest DA20 trainer, the company is offering two glass panel choices. AVweb recently took a
look at the Aspen EFD1000 and Garmin G500, both offered as options in the DA20.
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Although it's not uncommon to see a female pilot on the flight deck, the front office is hardly representative of the gender and racial diversity of the U.S. York College students
in New York are out to change that. The current class in the college's Aviation Institute is 60 percent female, and most of the aspiring pilots are women of color.
Alice Speri takes a look at the program and the students.
Anyone who has ever flown a long cross-country in an airplane knows that the cabin turns into a disorganized mess of charts, water bottles, headsets and snack sacks. Paul Bertorelli and
Kitplanes editor Marc Cook have the video footage to prove it — and they'd like to hear your best theories on why the cockpit gets so messy on a long flight. Head over to the AVweb
Insider to watch their video blog and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Read more.
Those poor sods over at Delta who landed their B767 (with 193 aboard) on (active) taxiway M at ATL after being cleared to land on runway 27R in the pre-dawn of October 19 sure had one thing going
for them, says AVweb's Glenn Pew — what the pilots at Northwest were about to do on October 21 to trump them. In the latest installment of our AVweb Insider blog, Glenn looks at
the two high-profile mistakes that have commanded headlines for the last couple of weeks.
Read more.
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If You Own a Cirrus, Or If You Are Considering Purchasing a New or Used Aircraft, Consider This:
Avidyne and leading Cirrus sales and maintenance facilities have launched the G3-R9 program combining the purchase of a late-model, low-time Cirrus and the Avidyne Entegra Release
9 avionics suite for much less than purchasing a new aircraft. G3-R9 — combining the best airframe, best engine, and best avionics for the best value.
Click here for more
information. 
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The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is
You! |
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Aviation Consumer would like to know. We're most interested in hearing about successful long-term aircraft partnerships.
What works for you? How have you sustained group ownership? And what effect has the current economic downturn had? Contact the editorial staff directly at avconsumer@comcast.net and we'll respond with our questions.
(The results will appear in a future issue of Aviation Consumer. For subscription information, click here.)
 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. You're a part of our team ... often, the best part.
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Fly the Engine
The ultimate book on aircraft engine operation takes you through all phases of engine operation: how to spot engine discrepancies on preflight; how to start a hot, cold, or flooded engine; how to
troubleshoot a rough runup; when (and when not) to lean; how to recognize valve sticking; and much more. Fly the Engine is a gold mine of engine wisdom for any pilot of any skill level.
For more information, call (800) 780-4115.
Book $39.95 / eBook $34.95
Check out this and
other books at AVwebBooks.com
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Nominate an FBO
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Rules
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Tips
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Questions
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Winning FBOs
AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to the FBO at Beatrice Municipal Airport (KBIE) in Beatrice,
Nebraska.
AVweb reader R. L. Saathoff told us how the crew at BIE took care of business on a recent visit:
The airport manager and staff are willing to help in any situation. While traveling to see my father who was hospitalized, I needed transportation. They provided a crew car for my entire stay and
had my aircraft ready for me when I returned.
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!
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Tell Your Friends: Read AVweb, Win a
Handheld MFD |
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Bendix/King by Honeywell is helping us give away one last AV8OR handheld MFD unit this year! All you have to do is click the image at right to enter your name and e-mail address. And no,
we're not going to rent or sell your name, but Bendix/King by Honeywell may send you information on the AV8OR. You may also forward this newsletter to friends and invite them to sign up for
AVweb so they can qualify for the AV8OR prize drawing, too. (We won't spam them, either, but we hope they will sign up for our AVwebFlash and AVwebBiz newsletters.)
Deadline for entries is midnight EST on Wednesday, November 4, 2009.
Click here to read the contest rules and enter.
(There's nothing to buy. All you need to do is be registered with AVweb.)
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 | | Overheard in IFR Magazine's "On the Air" |
Airliner:
"Approach, what's our sequence?"
Approach:
"Calling for the sequence, I missed your callsign — but if I find out what it is, you're last."
Courtesy of the Top Twenty Actual Transmissions Heard in the O'Hare
Tracon, from IntentionallyLeftBlank, the newsletter of O'Hare's National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
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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.
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.
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As a Mooney owner himself, Wayne can guide you through the purchase process.
