NTSB
TO INVESTIGATE AIRSHOW SAFETY
The NTSB will hold a hearing
next month to gather information about the safety of air races and
airshows, the board said on Friday. During a one-day meeting on Jan. 10,
the board will hear from regulators, aviation organizations, industry
groups, and airport authorities to learn about safety practices,
procedures and protocols. The board also will gather information about
the safety regulations and oversight in the planning and execution of
these events. In September, a pilot and 10 spectators were killed in an
accident at the Reno Air Races, and several performers died in U.S.
airshow accidents over the last season. More...
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Bose® A20®
Aviation Headset
The Best We've Ever Made
Bose was the first to introduce active noise reducing headsets to
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Today, we continue to set the standard with the Bose A20 Aviation
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Learn more.
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| Ambitious FAA Grapples with Safety, Privacy
Issues | | back to
top |  | |
FAA
AIMS TO CUT COMMERCIAL ACCIDENTS BY HALF
The FAA's Commercial
Aviation Safety Team said last week it will expand its proactive
accident-reduction efforts with the goal of cutting the already-low
fatality rate in U.S. commercial aviation 50 percent by 2025. The team
also will start to include general aviation, helicopter operators, and
the military in its programs. In addition to analyzing past accidents
and their causes, CAST works to collect data on current aviation
operations and incidents to identify emerging and changing risks and
prevent accidents. More...
FAA
MISSES DEADLINE ON FATIGUE RULES
Another deadline passed
Wednesday without the FAA acting to finalize new rules aimed at pilot
fatigue, and that brought ire from family members of the victims of
Continental Flight 3407. The concerned parties have organized into the
Families of Continental Flight 3407, an action group formed in
remembrance of relatives lost to that
2009 crash, and to see through what they believe are necessary
preventive changes in regulation. The FAA's original deadline for the
pilot fatigue rules was Aug. 1. It was later moved to Nov. 30. The
agency says it is "working aggressively" to complete the new final
version of the fatigue rules "as well as separate rules that address
pilot qualifications and training." The agency has met organized
opposition in the past. Comments from one of the family members suggest
he believes there may be more corrupt motives in the mix.
More...
FAA
OPENS BARR
The FAA announced Friday that it will no longer
require operators to provide a valid security concern -- or any other
requirement -- to participate in a specific program that prevents IFR
flight information from being displayed online. Those who want to enroll
aircraft in the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program for
the sake of privacy, or any other reason, may now do so simply by
properly asking. The National Business Aviation Association,
Experimental Aircraft Association and Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association all fought for that outcome and welcomed the change.
More...
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Is Your Entire Life Savings
Worth 10 Minutes of Your Time?
Life insurance protection for pilots often requires special care to be
certain you have the right policy. Pilot Insurance Center knows
life insurance for pilots. No aviation exclusions. Call PIC at
(800) 380-8376 or
visit PICLife.com. 
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LAWMAKERS
BLOCK SAFETY RULE CHANGE
Pilot unions concerned that
international safety standards are lacking when it comes to regulation
of lithium batteries have (at least temporarily) lost out to industry
and foreign government interests. A deal struck as part of the talks on
long-term funding for the FAA blocks new battery shipment rules proposed
by the Obama administration and reverts to what the pilot unions believe
are inadequate international standards. Industries that ship products
containing lithium batteries supported the provision that blocks the new
rules. Top figures at both the Independent Pilots Association (IPA) and
the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) have voiced clear concern.
More...
CESSNA
ADDS INSPECTIONS FOR AGING AIRCRAFT
Cessna has launched an
initiative to educate owners about new required inspections for the
145,000 single-engine aircraft in the 100- and 200-series that were
built between 1946 and 1986. The supplemental procedures will be added
into the service manuals this month for aircraft in the 100 series and
in April for the 200 series. The added inspections mainly require checks
of areas where corrosion and fatigue damage can occur. "The new
inspection requirements we've developed are very simple, and are based
on visual inspection that can be done quickly by a trained inspector
during an annual inspection," said Beth Gamble, Cessna's principal
engineer for airframe structures. More...
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More Versatile than a Swiss
Knife
For more than 25 years, operators have relied on the Caravan
models to meet the most demanding mission parameters. To which the
Caravan replies, "Bring it on." Its confidence is backed by a
remarkable dispatch reliability rate of over 99 percent and exceptional
payload capabilities from its 675-horsepower engine. And when you
consider the versatility, configurability, and sheer ruggedness of the
Caravan line, the applications are virtually limitless.
So, where will the Caravan take you?
Visit Cessna.com.
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AIR
FORCE CUTS BACK ON DEMO FLIGHTS
The U.S. Air Force will scale
back single-ship demo flights for next year's airshow season, the Air
Combat Command announced last week. "We face significant fiscal
constraints," the ACC said in a statement (PDF). Those constraints require "tough decisions,"
and the ACC said it will scale back from sponsoring six single-ship demo
teams to just one. The F-22 demo team will perform at up to 20 events.
The A-10, F-16, and F-15 demos will not fly. The Air Force will continue
to support a full season for the Thunderbirds airshow team.
More...
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Mobile FliteDeck:
A
Paperless Enroute Charting Revolution for Your iPad®
Aviation is transformed with the first interactive mobile enroute flight
application. With Mobile FliteDeck and a Jeppesen
electronic chart subscription, you'll benefit from immediate access to
accurate information, improved situational and operational awareness,
and a more streamlined flight process. The app's features include
enroute chart data and Airway Manual ® text, class-leading vector map imaging, and
data-driven IFR and VFR terminal charts.
Watch a view overview.
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FAA
FUNDS BIOFUEL PUSH
The FAA will award $7.7 million to eight
companies developing alternative fuels (biofuel), the agency announced
Thursday, seeking a test product by next year. The companies will
receive guidance from the FAA to develop an approved drop-in jet fuel
alternative derived from sustainable sources for use in current systems
and current infrastructure. Source matter will include alcohols,
biomass, sugars and organic oils. The contracts themselves direct the
companies to research quality control and long-term mechanical effects
of burning biofuels in jet engines. Biofuel has already helped drive
airliners and passengers across the United States as part of
traditional/biofuel blends. Feasibility is one thing. Affordability and
profitability wield their influence in the far more important arena of
practical application, where real challenges remain. More...
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Order your Custom-Build
TITAN® Cylinders
... And We'll
Pay the Freight
That's right. Order your new FAA-PMA ECi® TITAN® cylinders (steel or nickel barrel)
direct from the factory, and we'll take care of the freight bill.
Lycoming engine series: Parallel Valve 320/360/540
Continental engine series: STC Cylinders for C-/200/300 and new
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Order today: (800) ECi-2FLY (800-324-2359).
For details,
visit our web site at
eci.aero/2DayTITANs. 
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AVWEB
INSIDER BLOG: SECURITY THROUGH A FIRST-TIME TRAVELER'S
EYES
Anyone who's stood in the airline screening queue behind
a clueless first-time passenger has experienced frustration and the
seemingly arbitrary rules we have to put up with to board an aircraft.
But imagine how irritating it must be for the airline virgin. Russ Niles
had that experience recently and does his best on the AVweb
Insider blog to channel the bemused derision of a first-time
traveler to demonstrate just how silly our security procedures are. Read
more and join the conversation. More...
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Fly More for
Less
Visit the AVbuys page for discounts, rebates, incentives,
bargains, special offers, bonus depreciation, or tax benefits to help
stretch your budget. We're helping you to locate and view current offers
instantly, with a direct link to sponsors' web sites for details.
Click for the resource page.
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| The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is You! | | back to
top | | |
BRAINTEASERS
QUIZ #166: WORKING THE ANGLES
 The shortest distance between
two points sometimes involves more than a straight line. Whether VFR or
IFR, aviation is loaded with angles, and without bending too many rules,
see how you can work the answers to this quiz. (Includes results of the
General Aviation Party's primary election!)
Take
the quiz. More...
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A Great Read!
Available from AVweb Bookstore.
Brave, Splendid Fools is your aviation must-read this
holiday season. This amazing autobiographical account from WWII fighter
pilot Captain William L. Bacheler, a.k.a. "Batch," will hold
you spellbound. Brave the crosswinds and fly into the combat zone!
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VIDEO:
JEPPESEN'S MOBILE FLITEDECK (PART 1)
 Last
summer, Jeppesen rolled out its iPad-based Mobile FliteDeck, a complete
chart manager system for owners who already subscribe to Jeppesen's
electronic charting products. In this video, AVweb launches the
first of three Product Minutes to review the new app. More...
VIDEO:
JEPPESEN'S MOBILE FLITEDECK (PART 2)
 Jeppesen's new Mobile FliteDeck is a route-based app
that compiles approach plates and procedures from Jeppesen's charting
materials. In this video, part two of three, Paul Bertorelli takes a
look at how its route functions work. More...
VIDEO:
JEPPESEN'S MOBILE FLITEDECK (PART 3)
 Jeppesen has switched strongly to delivery of charts
via electronic means, and its new iPad app, Mobile FliteDeck, does the
heavy lifting. In this video, the final of three, AVweb's Paul
Bertorelli takes a video tour of the plate management part of the
application. More...
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Says,
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PODCAST:
PROPOSED MEDICAL CHANGES -- THE IMPACT ON LSA
EAA and AOPA
are working to craft a proposal to the FAA that would expand the
aircraft models available to those who want to fly without a third class
medical. How will that affect the LSA industry? AVweb's Mary
Grady talks with Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft
Manufacturers Association (LAMA), to find out.
This podcast is
brought to you by Bose Corporation.
More...
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FBO
OF THE WEEK: U.S. AVIATION (KDTO, DENTON, TX)
AVweb reader Ron Huckins has our latest
top-notch FBO recommendation this week -- U.S.
Aviation at Denton Municipal Airport (KDTO) in Denton, Texas.
Ron recently made the switch to USA. for his regular trips to the area
and was surprised to discover that he's been missing out on a great
FBO: I have been traveling to
Denton, Texas from Wichita, Kansas about two to three times a month! I
had been using the other FBO until I found out that U.S. Aviation has
better service and excellent 100LL fuel prices at full service —
cheaper than the other FBO that is self-service! [U.S.] even offered to
hangar my "old dog" 1958 Cessna 310 at no charge.
Wow!
And this will be important again when I fly my 1951
Cessna 195 that is polished and would like it in a hangar. Darren, the
line manager, was there late on Sunday afternoon working for one of his
crew that called in sick! Now is that not a great guy to work with?!
Even had decent prices on rental cars — and if you are a Hertz Gold
Member, it is even better! Thanks, U.S. Aviation at Denton! I will be
back! 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! More...
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SHORT
FINAL
Realizing that I had not practiced an engine-out
approach in too long, I decided to "fail" my Lycoming while doing
touch-and-goes at Jacksonville's Herlong
airport. Me:
"Cherokee 69T. Simulated engine-out and
short approach." [After a few moments, I saw that I would be
seriously short.] Me:
"Cherokee 69T again,
simulating getting my engine back on!" (The next try was
spot-on.)
Milford
Shirley
via e-mail More...
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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.) 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. More...
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