ALPA SEEKS MORE DETAILS ABOUT FAA ANTIDEPRESSANT POLICY
The Air Line Pilots Association says it has "a substantial number of questions" about how the FAA will implement its new policy to allow pilots to continue to fly while taking certain antidepressants, so the FAA has reopened its comment period to give ALPA another 30 days to file its comments. The original 30-day comment period closed on May 5, and the FAA said ALPA "has not formally submitted to the public docket its specific questions about the policy's practical applications." Randy Helling, an ALPA vice president, said recently (PDF) that the organization supports the change in policy, which "marks a significant, positive impact for pilots who may be suffering from depression ... and we are committed to seeing this practice implemented." However, he added that Dr. Quay Snyder, with ALPA's Aeromedical Office, had submitted a list of questions about the implementation of the policy to the FAA and the FAA has not responded. More...

ICE NABS FLIGHT SCHOOL FOR VISA FRAUD
Two individuals who operated a San Diego-area flight school entered guilty pleas last week to charges that they issued false visa documents that allowed at least 53 foreign students to enter the country illegally for flight training. Andrew Burr and Christopher Watson faced misdemeanor charges stemming from a two-year U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) probe that also found the men's flight school illegally hired 11 foreign students as flight instructors between 2001 and 2008. "The actions by the defendants in this case not only undermined the integrity of our nation's legal immigration system, they also posed a significant national security risk," lead investigator Joe Garcia said. According to ICE investigators, even though the FAA had revoked the school's certification to train commercial pilots, school officials issued visa documents for more than 100 foreign students. More...

LSA SALES SLOW TO RALLY
Despite generally upbeat reports from light sport aircraft vendors at Sun 'n Fun last month, sales reported for 2010 from January through the end of April were slow, even slower than in 2009, Dan Johnson reported on his industry blog last week. In 2009, which was an extremely slow sales year across all aviation segments, LSAs sold at the rate of about 20 per month. But in the first four months of 2010, sales averaged just 15 a month, Johnson said. That's a decline from about 45 per month just three years ago. Why the sluggish response to what is generally considered to be the start of a recovery? "No one has a crystal ball," says Johnson, "but common suspects are: an oscillating stock market... government budget problems... and a widely held feeling that LSA are still proving themselves." The industry is addressing the perception issues, he said, but the rest are beyond their control. And there is one bright spot, he added. More...

LSA COMPANY FOR SALE, SADLER VAMPIRE
Sadler Vampire, which produces a mid-wing, twin-boom pusher that's been in development in various incarnations since the 1980s and had been gearing up for LSA certification, is now up for sale -- including a prototype and parts -- for $50,000. As a light sport aircraft, the two-seat Vampire would have folding wings and fly with a Jabiru 3300 burning 5 gph for a 500-nm max range, according to the company. In a May 24 blog post, company vice president David Littlejohn expressed disappointment and blamed the economic downturn for the sale. Without enough interest translating into escrow deposits, "We failed to meet the required pipeline commitments needed to receive second-stage capital from our investors," he said. The prototype has flown, and the company was operating out of Roseburg, Ore. The $50K OBO sale price includes that aircraft, plus parts for three more under construction, along with a Jabiru 3300. The previously developed air-to-ground attack version of the aircraft was not listed as part of the sale. More...

ELT TECHNOLOGY IN TRANSITION
As U.S. pilots slowly begin to phase out old 121.5 MHz emergency locator transmitters and upgrade to 406 MHz units, NASA already is starting to bring the next generation of distress-signal technology online. The Search and Rescue Mission Office at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., has developed a satellite-based system that will be able to almost instantaneously detect and locate distress signals generated by 406 MHz beacons installed on aircraft. NASA said this week it is now testing the system and it will begin the transition to it in 2015. Under the current system, ELT signals are received by weather satellites, but the new system will be incorporated into two dozen GPS satellites, which fly in higher orbits. "With a mid-Earth orbit search-and-rescue capability provided by GPS, one emergency signal goes off, and six satellites will be in view," said Mickey Fitzmaurice, space systems engineer for NASA. "Almost instantly, I can begin processing the signal to determine its precise location. Right now, it can take an hour or more before we can even act on a signal." More...

FAA SAYS: REPLACE OLD MUFFLERS
If the muffler on your reciprocating aircraft engine is more than 1,000 hours old, you should replace it to help minimize the chance of getting carbon monoxide in the cockpit, according to a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin released by the FAA. The recommendation is not mandatory. The FAA based its suggestion on the results of a technical study by Wichita (Kans.) State University that was completed last year. The researchers surveyed accident data from the NTSB and found that when CO was a factor, the muffler system was the top source. In 92 percent of the muffler-related accidents, the muffler had been in service for more than 1,000 hours. Diesel-powered engines are not affected by this recommendation, Centurion Aircraft Engines said this week, because that combustion process produces hardly any excess CO. More...

GARMIN G500H HELICOPTER PANEL STC'D
The features and convenience fixed-wing operators take for granted with their Garmin glass panels are now available to the helicopter market. Garmin announced today that its G500H has received a supplementary type certificate from the FAA for Bell 206 and 407 models. The dual screen PFD/MFD was specifically designed to fit the limited panel space available in many helicopters but it maintains all the features that are now expected in new-release avionics. More...

GA PILOTS, YOUR INPUT WANTED
Researchers working on NextGen are looking for general aviation pilots to contribute to a study on weather technology in the cockpit. The brief online survey aims to collect information about how GA pilots use weather technology now and what options they would like to have available in the future. The data collected will help researchers at the University of North Dakota to assess user needs for different phases of flight. The UND team will report their results to the FAA to help in designing and implementing the Next Generation Air Transportation System. The survey is short and completely anonymous. Click here to take the survey now. More...

USED AIRCRAFT INVENTORY DOWN SLIGHTLY
Business aircraft use is up and used aircraft inventories are down but both are a long way from the heady days of early 2008, according to a study released by JETNET. There are still 2,700 used business jets on the market and 1,400 turboprops for sale in the U.S. but both figures are down slightly compared to the same time last year. The number of jets for sale represents 15.5 percent of the fleet, down from 17.7 percent at its peak in July of 2009. Proportionately fewer turboprops are on the market. As of the end of April, about 11 percent were available compared to the high of 12 percent last summer. Meanwhile, perhaps one of the most encouraging signs is the increase in business aircraft use. More...

BIOFUEL-FRIENDLY GA ENGINE DEBUTS IN SOUTH AFRICA
A South African company has introduced a new engine for general aviation aircraft that the company says will run on a range of fuels, including unleaded mogas with an octane rating as low as 85, standard avgas, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), or biofuel. The 320-hp Adept Aviation engine "sets new standards for performance and low life-cycle costs," according to the company's news release. The liquid-cooled engine with electronic engine management was rolled out last week in an SA Ravin 500 airplane. The engine features low emissions and noise levels, the company said, and weighs about 348 pounds. "It is roughly 30 percent lighter than traditional piston engines of comparable horsepower and offers fuel efficiencies of up to 30 percent better than conventional GA powerplants," the company said. More...

AVWEBBIZ: AVWEB'S BUSINESS AVIATION NEWSLETTER

Have you signed up yet for AVweb's no-cost weekly business aviation newsletter, AVwebBiz?

Delivered every Wednesday morning, AVwebBiz focuses on the companies, the products and the industry leaders that make headlines in the business aviation industry, making it a must-read.

Add AVwebBiz to your AVweb subscriptions today by clicking here and choosing "Update E-mail Subscriptions."

BRAINTEASERS QUIZ #150: CUMULONIMBI
Whatever the time of year, thunderstorms can be a real showstopper for flight. Test your knowledge of CBs and TCUs before your passengers can scream, "OMG!"

Take the quiz.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: PILOT PROFESSIONALISM
Pilot professionalism has been on the minds of lots of people in high places in the last week, with an NTSB forum and some follow-up speeches on the topic. How are pro pilots doing, in your opinion?

Plus: How many of you participated in Learn to Fly Day? Click through for the results of last week's question. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: SHOULD YOU BUTT IN WHEN ANOTHER PILOT GOES AWRY?
Every airport has at least one ace of the base whose judgment is just cock-eyed. Do the rest of us have an obligation to straighten this person out? That's the question guest blogger Mark Sletten addresses in the latest installment of the AVweb Insider. Click here to read Mark's post and share your own thoughts. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: SURVIVAL BY RANDOM CHANCE
What does the Deepwater Horizon disaster have to do with aviation? Maybe nothing — if you don't count the powerful lesson in preparedness that Paul Bertorelli took away from a 60 Minutes interview with survivor Mike Williams. Click here to read Paul's latest post to the AVweb Insider blog and share your own thoughts. More...

AVIATION CONSUMER'S DIAMOND MOTOR GLIDER GLIDING TRIAL
At Sun 'n Fun, AVweb took a look at Diamond's reintroduced HK36 motor glider. In this follow-up video, we tried it out in extended glider operation, and (no suprise) it's a great performer. If you want to learn soaring and still want a powered airplane, the HK36 is a remarkably well-executed compromise. More...

IFR MAGAZINE SHARES GPS TRICKS FOR VOR CLEARANCES
Handling clearances with that panel-mount GPS is a snap — until they throw some rogue radial off a VOR into the mix. IFR editor Jeff Van West unlocks the insider techniques that make clearances like this just another day plying the airways. More...

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 LSA DURABILITY SURVEY
Do you have an LSA at a flight school? Do you rent one? Aviation Consumer needs to hear from you. Aviation Consumer is looking at the long-term durability of these aircraft when subjected to the rigors of flight training, as well as their cost and ease of repair. Whether you run a flight school with LSAs, own an LSA that you lease back, or just rent them for your flight training, you voice matters. Click here to participate in our quick LSA durability survey.
(The results will appear in a future issue of Aviation Consumer. For subscription information, click here.) More...

AVIATION CONSUMER: TELL US ABOUT YOUR OPINIONS ON DIESEL ENGINES AND ALTERNATE FUELS
Our sister publication, Aviation Consumer, is conducting research on attitudes toward replacement strategies for 100LL. To take the survey, click this link and let us know what you think.
(The results will appear in a future issue of Aviation Consumer. For subscription information, click here.) More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: SKY HARBOR AVIATION (KCRG, JACKSONVILLE, FL)

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Sky Harbor at Craig Municipal Airport (KCRG) in Jacksonville, Florida. Here's how they saved AVweb reader Gerry McMunn's bacon a few weeks back:

After departing Winter Haven, we could not retract our gear on our Piper Arrow. We diverted to Craig Muni because of the maintenance facilities. ... Sky Harbor welcomed us in their beautiful office/pilot's lounge and connected us with Northeast Florida Aircraft Maintenance Inc., ... [who] immediately made space for our aircraft and got to work on the problem. John and Duane conducted an extremely thorough and professional investigation, found a broken wire, and repaired it. [They] got us underway within 2 hours — after having removed all luggage, back seats, and interior panels. Their fee was very reasonable. ... This was a very fortuitous stop at a very pleasant FBO and airport. We were under stress upon arrival, but quickly were made to feel welcome and treated very well. Terrific people — all of them.

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!

15 YEARS AND NOW 15 GRAND GIVEAWAYS ... IT'S YOUR CHANCE TO WIN AN AV8OR HANDHELD GPS

Win an AV8OR handheld GPS (from Bendix/King by Honeywell) as we celebrate our 15th Anniversary! All you have to do is click here to enter your name and e-mail address. (You only have to enter once, and you'll be entered in our prize drawings for the entire year — so if you've already entered, you're all set.)

And no, we're not going to rent or sell your name, ever. Tell your friends, and invite them to sign up for AVweb so they can qualify for our 15 Grand Giveaways prize drawings, too. (We won't spam them, either — but we hope they will sign up for our newsletters.)

Deadline for entries is 11:59pm Zulu time June 18, 2010.

Click here to read the contest rules and enter.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK: AVWEB'S FLYING PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWCASE
Time to push the door closed, grab a fresh cup of coffee, and take five with AVweb's "Picture of the Week." Ney Grant of Pollock Pines, California included a link to his blog, promising that we could see the wing mount for his camera there. Silly us, we clicked through and goofed off for an hour researched our readers' typical hobbies for a while. Check it out yourself. If you get the same voyeuristic kick from peeking inside others' cabins that we do, you'll enjoy it. (By the way, it's eerily related to something that's been on our mind lately.) 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

Click here to send a letter to the editor. (Please let us know if your letter is not intended for publication.)

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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.

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