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EAA is in discussions with the FAA over the decision to perform a major computer upgrade on the three days prior to and the first day of AirVenture that apparently involve systems used for the slot
reservation system for IFR traffic going to Oshkosh and three neighboring airports. Late last week a note appeared on the Electronic Special Traffic Management Programs (eSTMP) website saying the service, which non-scheduled IFR traffic must use to reserve arrival and departure slots at Wittman, Fond du Lac,
Outagamie and New Holstein airports during the show, would not be available from July 23-26. After being contacted by AVweb and EAA, the FAA changed the message on the website to read that the
upgrades would go ahead as planned but the slot reservation service would remain available.
EAA spokesman Dick Knapinski told AVweb there will be more discussions on Monday over the timing of the computer upgrade. The eSTMP system is used whenever a large influx of traffic is
anticipated in places not generally geared for that kind of activity. IFR operators can reserve a slot up to 72 hours in advance of their planned arrival or departure and must have the slot reserved
and confirmed at least 12 hours in advance. The computer upgrade will occur during one of the busiest periods for the reservation system as it could involve the large numbers of aircraft that will be
on display or be used by exhibitors to get to the show for opening day.
More than 30 DC-3s are expected to be on the field at Whiteside County Airport in Rock Falls, Ill., July 24-26 as The Last Time gathering of the iconic airliners gets under way. There are 42
aircraft registered but some won't make it because of mechanical issues. The event is being held to mark the 75th anniversary of the first flight of the DC-3, considered one of the most important
aircraft ever developed. There is parking for 34 of the big taildraggers and it's anticipated every spot will be filled. Organizers are expecting about 10,000 people a day to turn out for the event,
which is free of admission charge. It's anticipated many of those will be people who have a connection with the aircraft as pilots, flight crew, ground crew or as passengers in peacetime and during
war. The event will be capped with a large formation flight over Rock Falls. There will not be a mass formation arrival at AirVenture Oshkosh as had been originally planned.
Last-minute discussions between AirVenture and Last Time officials failed to yield an agreement on the form and nature of an organized mass arrival and display of the aircraft at Oshkosh. It's
expected that many of the planes taking part in the Rock Falls event will go to Oshkosh. AirVenture has several special events planned to mark the aircraft's anniversary.
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A majority of Hawker Beechcraft workers may soon be looking for work while in an unrelated turn Sikorsky may see a financial windfall. The union for Hawker Beechcraft workers has sent a letter to
its members telling them the company may cut its 6,000-person workforce by up to 75 percent (4,500 jobs) within the next two years, a local NBC affiliate reported Thursday. In a written statement, Hawker said the
company has initiated meetings with the workers union "about serious challenges it [the company] faces." According to Hawker, the talks have covered "a spectrum of possibilities for the company's
future footprint" and "the likely impact on its workforce in all its locations." Far across the country from Hawker's Wichita, Kan., home, Hartford, Conn.'s Sikorsky Aircraft Thursday won a State
Supreme Court ruling against the state. According to the court, Sikorsky paid $916,600 in sales taxes the court says didn't apply to the company.
Connecticut law "refunds sales taxes to companies for aircraft manufacturing," according to Boston.com. The state argued Sikorsky's purchases were made for
research and development and not for the production of helicopters. The court ruled that research and development is an integral part of Sikorsky's manufacturing process. The state now owes Sikorsky
the nearly $1 million in taxes paid by the company for purchases from 1995 to 2002.
Boeing believes that stable growth in the world economy will help the airline industry this year and expects a big upturn in demand from the Asia-Pacific region and Middle East over the next two
decades. Boeing's latest market outlook predicts that the one-third of global aviation that currently passes through the Asia-Pacific region will blossom to 43 percent by 2029. The manufacturer says
that airlines are seeing demand improve but are still plagued by the uncertainty of fuel prices. That uncertainty, according to Boeing, may help drive activity in more established markets like North
America and Europe, where Boeing expects airlines to build upon existing fleets with more fuel-efficient aircraft. Boeing forecasts a market demand of $3.6 trillion over the next 20 years, bolstered
by a recovering world economy. And growth trends may serve up some advantages for passengers.
Boeing believes airlines will adapt to public preferences by adding more flight options and greater access to a broader range of destinations at lower cost. According to Boeing, that means more
efficient aircraft and more single-aisle smaller jets. That would be a continuance of the last decade's growth trend, which saw the single-aisle aircraft segment outpace long-haul markets.
Bendix/King by Honeywell KFD 840
The KFD 840 Primary Flight Display is now certified and available from your local dealer today. To mark the occasion, initial pricing is set at an unprecedented $11,995 MSRP. The KFD 840
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TECNAM has sold over 3,000 aircraft (mostly in Europe) and says it will debut its first single slated for certification, a new four-seat strutted high-wing, the P2010, at AERO 2011 in Friedrischafen, Germany, though certification may follow later.
The future four-seater will feature a carbon-fiber fuselage with metal wings and a metal "full flying" tail. It will be powered by Lycoming's 180-hp "light" IO-360-M1a engine. Performance goals for
the P2010 include a 133-knot cruise, a 1050 feet-per-minute rate of climb and a 660-nm range. The company says the aircraft will have a 46.2-gallon fuel capacity and a useful load of just over 990
pounds. It's aiming for an 800-foot takeoff roll and landings that need almost 150 feet less. TECNAM says it "has always paid great attention to comfort" in the cabin, and occupants of the P2010 will
enjoy a 3.9-foot cabin width. Pricing has not been set.
The Italian company has been around since 1948. Of its more than 3,000 aircraft produced, roughly 120 are flying in the U.S., according to LSA expert Dan Johnson. TECNAM's lineup currently includes
several LSA models and one light twin. Of those, the P2010 shares most resemblance with the P2008, which launched earlier this year.
Canada has committed to buying 65 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to replace its 30-year-old fleet of about 120 CF-18 fighters. The aircraft order itself is worth $9 billion, including training,
new equipment for air bases and simulators, and a maintenance contract with Lockheed Martin will push the total cost to about $16 billion. Canada is one of eight countries taking part in the
development of the aircraft and some of the money spent on the aircraft will go indirectly to Canadian companies. Nevertheless, the choice of the Lightning II and the way in which it was chosen
ignited political debate in Canada that could result in an election if the current Conservative government's political rivals dig in their heels.
The opposition parties are particularly upset that there was no tender process and the contract was awarded directly to Lockheed Martin. Canada bought new C-17 and C-130 transport aircraft through
a similar process in 2006. The current structure of the Canadian government means that the government's decision could be quashed if all three opposition political parties vote against it in Canada's
parliament. A vote like that would bring down the government and force an election. But it's not just political opposition facing the purchase. Canadian media commentary is full of criticism of the
aircraft itself, saying it's an unnecessarily complex airplane whose short range will be an issue in its primary role of long-range sovereignty patrols.
Editors from All the Top Publications Are Raving!
The SolidFX™ FX8 is the best way to store, organize, update, and view all your Jeppesen terminal charts. Less than 1/2" and under 13 oz. No more hassles with paper. The crystal-clear
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The emergency declared by an American Airlines 767 crew landing at JFK on May 4, 2010, may have been unusual, but it might also represent a situation that's closer to "normal for JFK" than an
emergency call might suggest. AVwebspoke this week to a JFK-based 13-year veteran American Airlines pilot and asked him to share his insights
about operations, stresses, and pilot/controller interactions at JFK, and what -- if anything -- can be done to improve them.
Flight 2 was an American Airlines 767 out of Los Angeles for JFK on May 4, 2010. As the airliner approached, wind was 320 at 23 gusting to 35. Once in the queue, the flight was not directed to land
on 31R into the wind. Controllers instead directed the jet to land on Runway 22L with a gusty direct crosswind. When the pilot responded that "if you don't give us to Runway 31R, we're going to
declare an emergency," the controller's reaction to the "emergency" and the recorded interaction that followed quickly spread through the pilot community.
A 19-year-old managed to steal (at least) five airplanes, allegedly, and eluded capture each time, which means "basically, anybody that wants to steal a plane can," attorney John Greaves told AOL
news. Writing for AOL in an article titled ""Barefoot Bandit" Case Hints at Gap
in National Security," contributor David Lohr asks, "If Harris-Moore did, in fact, successfully steal five airplanes, couldn't a terrorist do the same?" Lohr did ask AOPA for a response and media
relations director Chris Dancy obliged. Dancy noted that small aircraft do not make good terrorist weapons. "It's far easier to get a car or truck and load it," Dancy said. Harris-Moore's alleged
nine-state, 70-count crime spree may or may not have an effect on the public's perception of general aviation security, but there are at least five aircraft owners feeling a direct effect. And the
most recent of them appear to be facing a significant financial loss.
John and Don Miller are two brothers from Indiana and co-owners of the very young Cessna Corvalis 400 that Harris-Moore allegedly stole and damaged while landing in a Bahamian marsh. The brothers
bought the aircraft just over one year ago for $620,000. They insured it for $500,000 and estimate their current situation may hand them a loss somewhere in the ballpark of $50,000 to $75,000. The
Miller brothers, so far, hold little ill-will for the teenager. "He's just a kid. A kid who was misguided from the start," Don Miller told the Seattle Times. His brother John added, "I'm not spiteful about that kid. Not one bit,"
adding that if he ever met Harris-Moore, "I guess I'd just talk to him like a dad talks to his son." A court hearing was set for Friday in the Bahamas to determine the young man's bail, his legal
representation and when he should return to Seattle to face federal charges for an airplane theft there.
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Each week, we run a sampling of the letters received to our editorial inbox here in AVmail. One letter that's particularly relevant, informative, or otherwise compelling will headline this section as
our "Letter of the Week," and we'll send the author an official AVweb baseball cap as a "thank you" for interacting with us (and the rest of our readership). Send us your comments and
questions using this form. Please include your mailing address in your e-mail (just in case your letter is our "Letter of the Week"); by the same token,
please let us know if your message is not intended for publication.
Letter of the Week: Cordless Cockpit
Why do we still have to put up with cords?
I am willing to use batteries to power the headset. Eliminating the cords has been a wish of mine for a long time. I thought Bluetooth technology might have been the answer, but apparently
not.
Kelly Vrem
Keep Your 121.5 ELT
While the FCC's proposed rule hasn't been published yet, the reporting about the wording of its intentions to do so requires no immediate removal for any 121.5 ELTs. As far as the FCC is
concerned, you aren't using a transmitter until you transmit. I wouldn't get too excited about this yet. The FCC isn't proposing requiring you to remove the unit. That would be up to the FAA.
If the FCC follows through as proposed, you would need to replace the unit eventually so you can legally test it. But if it were set off in an off-field accident, are you really worried about the
FCC citing you for an emergency transmission?
Kurt Belgard
A Cheaper IFR GPS
I couldn't agree more with Carl Hensler's letter regarding cheaper IFR GPS. It is ironic that even a handheld GPS is infinitely
more accurate and useful than either a VOR or NDB approach receiver. It is a shame one can't legally be used for an approach, especially if mounted in a viewable position. Frankly, my handheld GPS
will be used if my "IFR-legal" radios crap out and I need to make an approach to save the lives of me and my passengers.
Tom Helm
"The [available GPS units] are great devices but are a lot more complex than necessary to meet the TSO. If [the industry] cared about the welfare of the GA community, it would develop bare-bones
models for older, inexpensive aircraft."
I couldn't have said it any better, and this statement reflects the opinion of most of the pilots at my airport in Milaca, MN (18Y).
Chuck Bever
Mogas and O Rings
Your article about mogas mentions "earlier research" suggesting problems with aircraft fuel systems. MS29513-xxx O rings are
"allergic" to mogas, as they swell up and deform, causing leakage.
I have a few customers who insist on using mogas in their aircraft, and I change out the O rings in the gascolator and fuel valves every year due to leakage. Yes, you can save money running mogas,
but you'll pay for it in the long run with increased maintenance costs.
Eric Niedrauer
Read AVmail from other weeks here, and submit your own Letter to the Editor with this form.
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As you put the final touches on your press material for AirVenture Oshkosh, we have some tips to help you get the most out of your PR presence at the big show. If you have a new product, a
significant update of an existing product or a new service that 260,000 pilots and aviation professionals will be interested in knowing about, by all means let us know. You can reach us at
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.
Introducing Cobalt's Co50
A 5-place canard for the certified market using the latest innovations in composites, chassis structure, and fuel/power management systems. TCM's FADEC, 350 hp, twin-turbocharged TSIOF-550-D2B and
Hartzell's Constant Speed 3-blade aluminum propeller produce high performance to go 600nm with four adults and one child at +200 KTAS, including 45' reserves. Luxurious and ergonomic interior with
great panoramic views. Discover Cobalt's Co50 in the Main Aircraft Display, booths #21-22, at EAA AirVenture.
AVweb's Glenn Pew speaks with veteran American Airlines pilot Jason Goldberg about his experience flying into often-congested JFK International Airport, his insights regarding the May
4 "emergency" and the state of controller/pilot interactions.
The owners of one of the airplane that Colton Harris-Moore allegedly heisted were admirably generous in their reaction to the theft, suggesting that he just needs a father-to-son talking to. Paul
Bertorelli agrees — and in the latest installment of our AVweb Insider blog, he explains why the sit-down should happen at the state pen.
It tanked for some of the same reasons that will challenge modern diesel makers, says Paul Bertorelli on the AVweb Insider blog. Packard figured out the weight and power density challenges,
but durability proved elusive. So did power, which, when given the choice, pilots seem to prefer over economy. Maybe the impending doom of 100LL will give them second thoughts.
The New EX600 MFD with QuickPan™ Is Simplicity Reinvented
With the EX600's simple "map-centric" operation and new Map Panning feature, you can display a moving map of your flight plan and view Datalink Weather all along your route of flight.
And view On-Board Wx Radar. And Special-Use Airspace. And Traffic. And Terrain. And Color Lightning. All without ever leaving the map page.
It's the only MFD available that provides the complete picture.
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Win a Spidertracks Aviator 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 Friday, August 6, 2010.
Rediscover Jet City!
Make King County International Airport/Boeing Field your flight destination! Conveniently located just 5 miles from downtown Seattle, KBFI is positioned in the center of the growing
economy of the Puget Sound region, serving as a hub for business travel, private jets, and general aviation travel. Partner with aviation experts when you fly to Seattle. Make your destination
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AVweb reader Craig Gill knows the importance of a good FBO and tells us how Aurora Aviation at McGregor Executive
Airport (KPWG) became his FBO of choice — and our latest "FBO of the Week":
I have the choice of three local airports as my home base and chose KPWG because of the service I get from Aurora Aviation. I have a Lancair IV turbine that requires a special towing, and they always
take extra care with my bird. If I have maintenance needs, they get to me as quickly as possible and get me back in the air.
AVweb is actively seeking out the best FBOs in the country and another one, submitted by you, will be spotlighted here next Monday!
Traditional Tactics Need a Fresh Approach
Doing the same thing and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. Isn't it time to initiate a digital marketing program with AVweb that will deliver traffic and orders
directly to your web site? Discover several new and highly successful marketing options to use in lieu of static print or banner campaigns.
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To many people, it's just a joke about funny Canadian place names, but Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan is the center of the universe for young military officers from all over the world who
want to become military pilots. Under the auspices of 15 Wing Moose Jaw, the Canadian Forces and Bombardier are in a joint venture to train Canada's next generation of pilots and also new pilots from
as far away as Singapore. AVweb's Russ Niles went for a ride in the CT-156 Harvard II (the Canadian version of the Texan II used by the U.S. Air Force) and spoke with flight instructor Capt.
Zack Charbonneau.
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Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page.
If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly.
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.
urging a carbon monoxide detector in the cockpit. The new CO Experts Model 2010 Low Level CO Monitor is the lowest reading level CO detector you can buy! There are others that start working
at 35 PPM, but only the CO Experts starts reading CO at 7 PPM. Don't find out about CO poisoning when it is too late!
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 
