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| AVflash! UVSI on the Benefits of Drones | back to top |  |
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UAV Industry On Its Potential Impact
Integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the U.S. national airspace system is scheduled for 2015 and, according to the UAS industry itself, that will create more than 70,000 jobs and have a broader economic impact of more than $13.6 billion by 2019. The numbers are not from an independent study but from a study done by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. It details specific job growth forecasts within the first decade following integration. By 2025, the study predicts more than 100,000 new jobs will be created by the new industry in manufacturing, maintenance, operation, sales and support.
The association believes that the total impact of the segment could reach more than $82 billion by 2025. As the FAA works to determine test sites for integration, the association warns that delays delay the economic benefits it predicts the industry could bring. According to the study, "Every year that integration is delayed, the United States loses more than $10 billion in potential economic impact." The figure translates to more than $27 million per day. The association predicts that tax revenues will also be generated through the developing industry, predicting it could generate "more than $482 million in the first decade following integration." UAS could see work in a wide range of industries from agriculture to disaster management, law enforcement, environmental monitoring, news coverage and perhaps freight transport. The association believes the three states most likely to see the greatest benefit from the additional revenue of UAS systems are California, Washington and Texas. |
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| Sequestration Frustration | back to top | |
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GA Advocates Fight Sequester Impacts
As federal agencies scramble to cope with looming federal budget cuts, GA advocacy groups are pressing to minimize the impact on flight operations. NBAA President Ed Bolen this week asked FAA officials to consider more factors than simply the total number of operations at an airport in deciding which towers will close. For example, Tracon staffers would have to handle IFR traffic into those airports, adding to their workload, Bolen said. The shutdown of 173 control towers (PDF) is expected on April 7, with 16 more to close on Sept. 30. The FAA said it won't take any more industry input on its tower-closure plan after today, and will announce a final decision on Monday, March 18.
AOPA President Craig Fuller wrote to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta this week (PDF), expressing concern and alarm over control-tower closings and cuts to services. Thomas Hendricks, president of the National Air Transportation Association, supported (PDF) a proposed amendment that would prevent the FAA from shutting down a disproportionate number of contract towers. Meanwhile, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the Army's Golden Knights skydiving team both have been grounded for the season, while the Navy's Blue Angels have cancelled several upcoming shows.
Related Content:
Question of the Week: How Will the Sequester Affect Your Flying?The full impact of the 5% budget cut is becoming known, and GA-oriented airports are bearing a significant portion of the impact.
Last Week's Question: Results
Want to see the current breakdown of responses? Take a moment to answer the question yourself, and then you can view real-time results.
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or contact the customer service and sales team at (800) 326‑0089 or (251) 436‑8292.
| Sitting Down with Cirrus Leaders | back to top | |
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Cirrus Resolves Loan Issue, Names New President
Cirrus executives got what they wanted from the city of Grand Forks. N.D., this week -- not only the $950,000 loan they had requested, but also an apology. Last week, city official Doug Christensen raised questions about Cirrus's ability to repay the loan, and William King, vice president for business administration at Cirrus, tried to explain that his concerns arose from a misinterpretation of the company's financial reports. On Monday night, Christensen apologized for how he "conducted the meeting … [and] addressed Mr. King," and the city approved the loan, which will go to buy an autoclave for Cirrus's Grand Forks manufacturing facility. Cirrus also announced this week the appointment of a new president for the company, Patrick Waddick.
Waddick, the company's chief operating officer, will assume the title of president as well, Cirrus said on Tuesday. Dale Klapmeier will retain his role as CEO but said he will "hand over day-to-day responsibility of the business to Pat." Waddick has been with the company since 1988, starting out as an engineer. In his new role, he will have responsibility for daily operations, including sales and service, manufacturing and supply chain, product development and administration. "There is no more qualified, capable or proven leader to take the enterprise to the next level," Klapmeier said. "With Pat running the daily operation, now I can spend more time with our customers, dedicate more energy to developing exciting new products and play an even larger role in making access to flight a reality for more people around the world."
Related Content:
Podcast: Cirrus Aims for the FutureFile Size 6.9 MB / Running Time 7:33
At Cirrus Aircraft this week, Pat Waddick moved up through the ranks to take on the job of president, while Dale Klapmeier will retain his title as CEO. AVweb's Mary Grady spoke with both of them about their vision for dealing with the challenges and opportunities ahead.
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| Sam Kitplane Milestone | back to top | |
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First Flight For Retro Sam LS
The Sam LS, a new kit airplane with a retro look, flew for the first time on February 26, near Montreal, Canada, the company announced last week. "Liftoff was perfect, in about 300 feet," said Thierry Zibi, president of Sam Aircraft. The all-metal airplane features tandem seating and a narrow fuselage with a choice of three different wings -- short, for speed; medium, for versatility; or long, for short-field operations. The company is taking orders now for fast-build kits, which they say will take about 250 hours, for $75,000, or standard kits at $39,000 and 900 hours. First deliveries are scheduled for late this summer. Also in the works is a ready-to-fly LSA version for $135,000.
The airplane is powered by the 100-hp Rotax 912S paired with a Sensenich ground-adjustable composite propeller. It was designed to be "comfortable, rugged, easy to repair, economical, fun… and to have the distinctive classic look of a warbird trainer," according to the company's news release. The cockpit is equipped with a 10-inch Dynon SkyView panel. The Sam LS will be on display and flying at both Sun 'n Fun and EAA AirVenture, the company said. AVweb's editorial director Paul Bertorelli spoke with Zibi about the airplane at last year's Sebring LSA show; click here to listen to the podcast. |
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| Go to Mars, Collect Accolades | back to top | |
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And The Collier Goes To -- Curiosity
The NASA/JPL Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity Project Team will receive the 2012 Robert J. Collier Trophy, the National Aeronautic Association announced on Tuesday. In choosing the project from a field of seven nominees, the committee cited the "extraordinary achievements of successfully landing Curiosity on Mars, advancing the nation's technological and engineering capabilities, and significantly improving humanity's understanding of ancient Martian habitable environments."
Curiosity took second place in AVweb's online poll, attracting just over half the votes given to Felix Baumgartner and the Red Bull Stratos Team. The other nominees were Lockheed Martin's unmanned aerial cargo system, the NASA/JPL Dawn Project team, the Gulfstream G650, and the U.S. Air Force MC-12 Project Liberty Team. The trophy will be formally presented at the annual Robert J. Collier Trophy Dinner on May 9, in Arlington, Va.; information about tickets for the event can be found at www.naa.aero. |
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| What You Missed in AVwebBiz This Week | back to top | |
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FAA Approves Testing For 787 Fix
The FAA has approved flight testing of what Boeing hopes will be a permanent fix for the lithium ion batteries on its 787 airliners. Two test aircraft have been cleared for flight to test a three-part solution to the issue that has grounded the fleet since the middle of January. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the aircraft won't carry a passenger until the fix is proven through a "comprehensive series of tests." "We won't allow the plane to return to service unless we're satisfied that the new design ensures the safety of the aircraft and its passengers," LaHood said in a statement. It appears Boeing has opted to fix the existing setup rather than recertify a new system and it involves a reworking of the internal workings of the battery.
The FAA said Boeing's plan calls for "redesign of the internal battery components to minimize initiation of a short circuit within the battery, better insulation of the cells and the addition of a new containment and venting system." Quality control on the batteries will be tightened and the charging system tuned to tighten the voltage range. FAA inspectors will be present for the testing, in contrast to initial certification of the electrical system, which was handled in-house by Boeing. It's not clear when the test flights will begin or how long they will last but airlines that were counting on 787s for the busy summer travel season are making other plans. Leasing companies report brisk business for 767s and A330s.
FCC Wants To Phase Out 121.5 ELTs
The FCC says it wants to get on with the process of phasing out 121.5 MHz emergency locator transmitters and anyone with comments or concerns has until April 1 to make them known. On Jan. 7 the commission issued its third Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (PDF) on the topic, calling for an end to the import, manufacture or sale of 121.5 ELTs a year after the rule becomes effective. In 2009, the FCC amended its rules to ban the ELTs immediately. Since ELTs are required equipment, that would have left hundreds of thousands of aircraft owners with illegal devices on their aircraft. After hearing from the FAA and various groups about the impracticality of such a move, the FCC backed off. The phased approach appears to be causing little concern among the groups or authorities.
Many organizations, including the Civil Air Patrol and Coast Guard, are strongly in favor of the elimination of 121.5 ELTs. Search and rescue satellites stopped listening for 121.5 signals in 2009 and now the only way to detect one is from airborne or ground-based radio receivers. The receipt of a 121.5 signal triggers a search even though most are the result of accidental triggering. New 406 MHz ELTs embed contact information for the aircraft owner in their signals and authorities can usually verify if there is a true emergency by phone.
AVwebBiz: AVweb's Business Aviation Newsletter
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| Opinion & Commentary | back to top | |
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AVweb Insider Blog: Is AOPA Hopelessly Broken?
Not at all, although AVweb's survey last week revealed significant complaints from members about the direction the association has taken in recent years. On the AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli distills those thousands of comments on AOPA and offers his own suggestions on how AOPA might correct its course to the satisfaction of its membership.
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| AVweb Video: Look, Listen, Laugh and Learn | back to top | |
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Video: Total Eclipse Flight DemoOriginal, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos Eclipse is touring the country with its Total Eclipse, a factory re-do of the original EA500. But the airplane is a good stand-in for new production airplanes, which will be called Eclipse 550s. AVweb recently took a flight demo in a Total Eclipse and prepared this video report.
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| Your Favorite FBOs | back to top | |
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FBO of the Week: Orangeburg Municipal Airport (KOGB, South Carolina)
Nominate an FBO | Rules | Tips | Questions | Winning FBOs
AVweb's latest "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to the FBO at Orangeburg Municipal Airport (KOGB) in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
AVweb reader Jeff Grigg described his recent visit to the airport:
We had an appointment with an examiner at this airport. While there, we were offered a nice Ford to go get some lunch. When our appointment was over, the weather had turned real sloppy, and the ceiling at our home airport was only 600 feet. The folks at the Orangeburg Airport offered the use of a hangar for a few days until we could return and pick up our plane. When we returned, she was nice and dry in the hangar. The manager filled the plane and even gave me a little discount on fuel and did not charge me any rental for the hangar due to the weather. With service like this, you bet I'll recommend this airport and the management to anyone flying through! Everyone was very friendly, the facilities were everything I could want in a small town, and these were just plain good folks.
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! |
| The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is You! | back to top | |
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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. You're a part of our team ... often, the best part. |
| Names Behind the News | back to top | |
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Meet the AVwebFlash Team
AVwebFlash is a twice-weekly summary of the latest news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the world's premier independent aviation news resource.
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