NTSB: GA FATALITIES DECLINE FOR 2010
The NTSB Wednesday released its preliminary annual aviation statistics for 2010, and while U.S. scheduled Part 121 airlines and Part 135 commuters suffered zero recorded fatalities, GA's numbers, though improved, were less fortunate. Year over year, general aviation accidents declined. Out of 1435 GA accidents in 2010, 267 were fatal, resulting in 450 deaths, including three on the ground. On-demand operators, a category that includes medical, charter, air taxi, and air tour flights, saw an overall decrease in accidents from 47 in 2009 to 31 in 2010, but that trend went against the segment's fatality statistics. On-demand operators suffered an increase from two fatal accidents in 2009 to six in 2010. Accidents per 100,000 hours follow after the jump. More...

SAFETY EFFORTS AIM TO REACH VOLUNTEER PILOTS
A new online course addressing safety issues for pilots who fly medical transport flights for charity should be ready by later this summer, Air Care Alliance President Lindy Kirkland said Saturday at the group's annual meeting, in Providence, R.I. The course is one step the ACA is taking to address safety recommendations issued by the NTSB last year in response to several fatal accidents that occurred in 2007 and 2008. The 45-minute course, which is being developed with support from AOPA's Air Safety Institute, should be ready in time for EAA AirVenture in July, Kirkland said. He also said more than 200 volunteer pilots attended a "safety stand-down" hosted by the NTSB last month at its training center in Ashburn, Va. More...

SWIFT FUEL TESTED IN BEECHCRAFT DUKE
Swift Enterprises is testing its alternative aviation fuel in an unmodified twin-engine Beechcraft Duke in Europe. The airplane took off for the first time with Swift Fuel on April 10 and was on display last week at the Aero Friedrichshafen trade show in Germany. "The B60 Beechcraft Duke is an excellent platform to demonstrate Swift Fuel because the engines require high-octane fuel," said Mary-Louise Rusek, president of Swift Enterprises. "Many general aviation aircraft demand higher octane levels, which 100LL provides. Swift Fuel can meet those octane needs, and lead emissions are eliminated." The Duke is test-flying with standard fuel in the left engine and Swift Fuel in the right engine; click through to watch a short video of the aircraft's first takeoff in Europe. More...

LINDBERGH PRIZE GOES TO PIPISTREL
Pipistrel's Taurus Electro won the 2011 Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prize for "best electric aircraft" at the Aero Friedrichshafen trade show last week in Germany. The prize, awarded by Erik Lindbergh's nonprofit group, recognized the Electro's "plug and play" electric power system, enhanced by solar panels on the aircraft trailer that allow the system to recharge using clean energy. "The integration and safety features are excellent and can serve as a model for industry standards for electric aircraft," according to LEAP. The prize aims to encourage innovators through recognition, but no cash is awarded. The two finalists for the prize were the Hugues Duval electric Cri-Cri and the Sunseeker II solar airplane. More...

JETMAN MEETS GRAND CANYON, MAY 6?
Weather permitting, Friday, May 6, Yves Rossy, strapped to his roughly six-foot, four micro-turbine-powered, carbon composite wing will make his attempt to negotiate a section of the Grand Canyon, in Arizona, according to Popular Science. The flight will reportedly take place somewhere in the Canyon's western area and could pass within 700 feet of spectators, but the exact route has not yet been announced. This flight, like Rossy's previous flights across the English Channel and over Lake Geneva, will launch from an aircraft and land via parachute. Rossy's rig and his control over it have evolved since he first flew the wing in 2006. In November of 2010, Rossy looped and rolled a 2-meter rig after jumping from a balloon at 7,875 feet. And we have the video to prove it. More...

MOLLER PROMISES SKYCAR FLIGHT DEMO
Moller International's Skycar, which has been in development for decades, will be ready to fly at an invitation-only media event on Oct. 11, the company said this week. The M400, fueled by ethanol, will lift off in Vacaville, Calif. "The Skycar has the potential to provide an airborne alternative to a significant portion of the miles now traveled by automobile," the company says. It's powered by eight custom-built rotary engines. According to the company website, the four-seat M400 will be able to fly faster than 350 mph and will be safe, easy to handle, and fuel-efficient. The company said more than 250 members of the press "have already indicated an interest in attending this historic flight." More...

ATC SUPERVISORS ONLY FOR OBAMA, BIDEN FLIGHTS
The latest air traffic control SNAFU on Monday evening involved a plane carrying First Lady Michelle Obama when controllers at Andrews Air Force Base ordered a go around. The First Lady's C-40, a military version of the Boeing 737 operated by a Guard unit, was handed off by the Potomac TRACON about three miles behind a C-17, instead of the required five miles. Officials were quick to point out that there was never any danger of collision and the go around was a precaution. The FAA is interested in knowing how the loss of separation occurred and the TRACON will undoubtedly be a busy place Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, the agency is also dealing with the suspension of a controller and supervisor in Cleveland after it was reported that the controller was watching a movie while on duty. "For a little more than three minutes, the controller's microphone was inadvertently activated, transmitting the soundtrack of the movie over the radio frequency for that airspace," the FAA said in a statement. The incident occurred shortly after midnight at the Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center. The controller was watching the movie on a portable electronic device while working a radar position, the FAA said. The stuck-mic problem was brought to the attention of ATC by the pilot of a military aircraft using an alternate frequency. More...

DIAMOND MAY LOSE KEY WORKERS
Diamond Aircraft says other companies are snapping up engineers and other workers laid off three weeks ago when the London, Ontario, Canada planemaker suspended its D-Jet program. The company has run out of money to continue the development of the D-Jet and is waiting for a decision on a $35 million loan from the Canadian government. A total of 213 people were laid off and within a week, Piper held a job fair looking for engineers for its aggressive Altaire jet program. Piper spokeswoman Jackie Carlon told the London Free Press that as many as 25 engineers may be making the move from London to Vero Beach. Meanwhile, the Free Press is also reporting that Bombardier is rumored to have made offers to 85 workers for jobs on its Lear 85 development program in Wichita. Diamond CEO Peter Maurer said the brain drain will delay the D-Jet and add costs. "It is dire. We would lose employees. It is a difficult situation for everyone," he said. More...

"NEW" ADAM 500 IN THE WORKS
The new owner of assets of Adam Aircraft says he intends to certify an improved version of the A500 push/pull piston twin rather than resume manufacturing the aircraft under its existing certification. Thomas Hsueh, owner of Triton Aerospace, of Anacortes, Wash., told the Skagit Valley Herald he's not satisfied with the aircraft as it was certified and the new aircraft, as yet unnamed, will weigh 800 to 1,000 pounds less than the original. Hsueh said he's not happy about the recertification plan but it's the only alternative to get the airplane he wants and one he's sure has a "pent-up demand." More...

AVWEBBIZ: AVWEB'S BUSINESS AVIATION NEWSLETTER

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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.

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AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: FIRST LADY AIRPLANE FIASCO
So, let's see: A Potomac TRACON controller hands the Andrews Tower a crappy sequence — like that's never happened in the history of aviation. Of course, of all the weeks to do that and of all the airplanes, it has to happen to First Lady Michelle Obama's C-40. The next thing you know, lead item on the evening news. Paul Bertorelli's not-so-suble message for your in our latest installment of hte AVweb Insider blog: People, get a grip. Read more and join the conversation. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: SUN 'N FUN TIEDOWN TESTS
When the tornado blew through Sun 'n Fun on April 7, it left a trail of overturned airplanes. Product tester that he is, Aviation Consumer editor-in-chief Paul Bertorelli immediately set about interviewing aircraft owners and constructing a giant chart of which tie-downs were used where. After a couple weeks' of analysis of the data, he's concluded there are no definitive conclusions about which tie-down is best — but there are a lot of lessons to be learned. Paul shares a bit of that hard-won wisdom from Sun 'n Fun attendees in the latest installment of our AVweb Insider blog. Read more and join the conversation. More...

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: GOVERNMENT OVERREACTION?
Last week we took a whimsical approach to the whole sleep-on-duty issue, but we're dead serious this week. Is there a serious problem in the towers and the TRACONs, or is the government response to the latest round of errors ridiculous?

Plus: Last week, we asked AVweb readers ; click through to read what AVweb readers had to say on the subject. More...

AVWEB'S NEWSTIPS ADDRESS ...
Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something 255,000 pilots might want to know about, tell us. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com. What have you heard? More...

VIDEO: PRACTICING SLAM-DUNK APPROACHES WITH 'IFR' MAGAZINE
Eventually, every instrument pilot gets a slam-dunk approach. IFR magazine's Jeff Van West explains how to practice for the slam to remove the guesswork and even add the high-speed technique to your instrument flying toolbox. More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: ATLANTIC AVIATION (PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, KPHL)

AVweb's latest "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Atlantic Aviation at Philadelphia International Airport (KPHL). Terry Carlson recently visited the FBO and shared his experience:

I visited KPHL for a business meeting in the City of Brotherly Love. I flew in ... with some reservations, since my Bonanza A-36 was no match for the serious jet traffic into and out of the city. But it was a joy, starting with approach control through ground control. All [were] professional and treated my Bonanza as though we were the Airbus landing on the parallel runway. [T]he real surprise was at Atlantic Aviation. While it was not cheap, the service was exceptional. Stephanie and Mary Ann arranged a conference room for us and treated us as though we just arrived on an empty Gulfstream [and were] buying a full load of fuel. Rental car was arranged, and when I had to leave early because of an emergency, they had my plane fueled and ready right up front. While it is not inexpensive, I will definitely come back to Atlantic Aviation at KPHL.

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!

ICAS FOUNDATION'S KYLE & AMANDA FRANKLIN FUND
The aviation community is coming together to help Kyle and Amanda Franklin get back on their feet and eventually back in the air after their mishap at Air Fiesta at the Brownsville/South Padre Island Airport. If you'd like to contribute, click on the banner at right to visit the ICAS Foundation web site. More...

PICTURE OF THE WEEK: AVWEB'S FLYING PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWCASE
This week's winning photo comes from Monroe Hubbard of Frisco, TX. Click here for the rest of this week's submissions. 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

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