Volume 10, Number 30b -- July 22, 2004

Email this AVflash to a friend

This issue of AVweb's AVflash is brought to you by ... LightSPEED Aviation NEW ANR HEADSET — BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED LightSPEED Aviation introduces a Panel Power headset! The new gray model boasts all their feature-packed benefits, including the new cell/satellite phone and music jack, along with a 6-point Limo connector — the standard panel interface for Cirrus and Lancair. Each comes with a padded headset bag and 5-year warranty. Try one on at LightSPEED AirVenture Booth #2023-2024, or order online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/litspeed/anr/avflash.

The Top Headlines From AVweb's Expanded, Illustrated News Coverage At AVweb's NewsWire.

SPORT PILOT/LIGHT SPORT IN EFFECT SEPT. 1
First there's the rule, then there's the reality. A longtime builder of what will now be called Light Sport aircraft (LSA) says it will take him at least six months to build a finished airplane that he's confident meets all the criteria set out in the new Light Sport/Sport Pilot classification finally announced on Tuesday. Sebastien Heintz, of Zenith Aircraft, told AVweb that even though there are hundreds of Zenith 601 and 701 aircraft happily flying all over the world, the paper trail and organizational structures necessary to support them as factory-built, ready-to-fly aircraft will take his company time to develop. "It will be at least six months. It would be nice if it was sooner but I think realistically anything sooner than that is not possible," Heintz said. However, he expects other manufacturers, particularly Europeans, will be selling finished planes Sept. 1, the day the rule takes effect. More...

...AND SO ARE WOULD-BE PILOTS...
With the announcement only a couple of days old, Heintz has already noticed a surge in interest. Light Sport/Sport Pilot is intended to spark interest in aviation by people who previously thought it too costly or time-consuming to pursue. Initial indications are that it's worked. "There have been a lot more phone calls in the last few days," Heintz said. "There's initially some pent-up demand." He said he's hopeful the interest will translate into airplane sales and is looking forward to EAA AirVenture next week where would-be sport pilots can kick the tires. "There is the potential to get more people involved in aviation," he said. As the announcement was being made, Sport Planes Ltd. was making plans to open 20 sales, training and maintenance centers to meet the demand. More...

...CHANGES: MEDICAL QUALIFICATIONS ALTERED...
Key among the provisions in the new rule is the driver's license as proof of medical fitness. Essentially, almost anyone who has a valid driver's license can legally fly an LSA. But there are caveats, some of them legal, some of them moral. On the legal side, anyone who has been denied a third-class medical will not be issued a Sport Pilot certificate even if they have a driver's license. They must satisfy the FAA that the medical condition that prompted the previous denial has been fixed or is under control. But there's also the onus of self-certification on the pilot. More...

...AIRCRAFT A LITTLE FASTER, A LITTLE HEAVIER
In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the aircraft were going to be limited to 115 knots maximum speed and 44 knots stall speed (clean) and 37 knots (with flaps). The final rule boosts the top speed to 120 knots and clean stall to 45 knots. The stall-with-flaps designation has been eliminated. Also, the all-up weight limit has been increased to 1320 pounds from 1232 in the NPRM. Despite what seemed to be a rocky road to enactment, according to an FAA fact sheet the rule itself appears to be otherwise almost identical to the NPRM that was issued more than two years ago by the FAA. More...

BUDGET HIKE PROPOSED FOR FAA
It looks like the FAA will be getting a small budget increase next year, including funds to speed up the hiring of new air traffic controllers. On July 15, the House Subcommittee on Transportation and Treasury and Independent Agencies approved a $14 billion package for the FAA, up $169 million (a bit more than 1 percent, whehoo) over last year's figure. About $3.5 billion is earmarked for runway and other capacity improvements and, of course, there's money for security. Tucked in the fine print is $7 million to hire and train new controllers. More...

...GAO RECOMMENDS BETTER ENFORCEMENT DATA
As Congress looks at the financial picture, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has been investigating whether the warnings, reprimands and fines doled out by the agency for regulatory violations have any effect on flight safety. The conclusion? It doesn't know and neither does the FAA. The GAO looked at 200,000 enforcement actions undertaken between 1993 and 2003 and found that 53 percent were handled with a warning and about 18 percent resulted in no action at all. In the relatively rare cases where a fine is recommended, the FAA's own lawyers often reduce or eliminate the financial penalty if the alleged violator can prove he or she is taking steps to prevent recurrence of the violation. But just how all this paperwork affects the ultimate goal of making the skies safer remains something of a mystery. More...

SENATOR CALLS FOR HUDSON CORRIDOR CLOSURE, ADIZ-LIKE RULES
Pilots who've done it say there's no better way to see New York City but a local senator wants to close the so-called Hudson River Corridor to GA. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) claims New York City is being shortchanged on security by the existence of the uncontrolled VFR corridor and he believes the Big Apple deserves the same sort of GA ban that Washington, D.C., has. "If they can do it for Washington, they can do it for New York," he told a news conference. Now, we're not sure if Schumer is envious of the 15-nm no-fly zone in Washington or the Air Defense Identification Zone (neither of which has bagged a single criminally minded pilot to date) but he's particularly upset with the Hudson River Corridor (which he calls the Hudson River Approach). More...

FROM PAPER TO PROTOTYPE IN LESS THAN A YEAR
A year ago, the newest entry in the mid-sized turboprop single market was a paper airplane. Later this week, the prototype of the Epic LT will be flown to Oshkosh for its debut at EAA AirVenture. The six-place composite plane had its first test flight July 19 less than a year after Rick Schrameck, president of Aircraft Investor Resources LLC, announced plans to build the aircraft. So far, the company has orders for 16 planes and is now debating where to set up shop. The prototype was built in Bend, Ore. (home of Lancair) but there are two other states courting the company. More...

"POOR MAN'S JET" FLIES
The maiden flight of the Aerocomp Comp Air kit jet took place at Merritt Island Airport in Florida on Tuesday. Dubbed the "poor man's jet" (for those poor enough to have about $600,000 to spend) the single-engine composite plane was apparently docile and predictable in flight on Tuesday and a second hop on Wednesday. In an unusual (and somewhat refreshing) move, the company refused to take money from customers until after the first flight. Now, according to the company Web site, prospective owners are ringing the phone off the hook trying to get an early position. More...

LEGENDARY DC-7 GETS NEW LIFE
The world's only intact, as-original DC-7 could take flight for the first time in 33 years in early August. Legendary Airliners, a Florida travel club, hopes to ferry the former Eastern Airlines passenger plane from St. Paul, Minn., to Miami after replacing a balky engine. The company had hoped to make the flight in mid-July but the No. 4 18-cylinder turbocharged radial engine wouldn't develop oil pressure or power. Legendary Airliners, which operates another DC-7, had a rebuilt engine in stock and hopes to have it installed this week. There are other DC-7s flying but what sets this one apart is its original condition. "It's basically a museum piece," said Legendary Airliners owner Carlos Gomez. More...

CHAPEL HILL AIRPORT GETS REPRIEVE
The immediate future of Horace Williams Airport in Chapel Hill, N.C. appears secure after the state's General Assembly passed amendments to the current budget requiring the airport to stay open until a suitable, accessible replacement can be built, something not likely to happen soon. The airport is owned by the University of North Carolina, which wanted to close it to save money and expand the university. But a groundswell of opposition has apparently saved it, at least for the time being. Meanwhile, in California, politics of a different sort is marring the redevelopment of a choice piece of real estate at Van Nuys Airport. More...

BOMBARDIER BREAKS OUT OF RJ MOLD
Bombardier has announced plans to break out of the regional jet mold with a new airliner that can carry up to 135 passengers. In doing so, the Montreal-based manufacturer will go head-to-head with Boeing and Airbus for one of the most lucrative, if not glamorous, segments of the airliner market. Bombardier spokesman Gary Scott told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in an interview at Farnborough the new jet will be about 15 percent more efficient than the ubiquitous 737s and A320s that now serve most of the 100- to 150-seat corner of the market. But while Boeing faces a new challenger for its bread-and-butter 737, it's also reporting encouraging news about its future marquee jet, the 7E7. More...

NEW DRONE CONTROLLED FROM THE AIR
Uncomfortable with the idea of sharing the airspace with pilotless aircraft controlled from the ground? How about drones controlled from another aircraft? Boeing recently tested a system that enables the weapons system operator on an F-15 to remotely pilot a modified T-33. During the tests, the F-15 and its pilotless wingman went through a range of war-fighting scenarios and the results were encouraging. "The ability of manned aircraft to coordinate operations with unmanned aircraft will provide new dimensions in survivability and mission effectiveness," said Boeing spokesman Patrick Stokes. More...

WANTED: AVIATION-RELATED PDA SOFTWARE
If you're a dedicated PDA user, we're sure you have some favorite aviation-related programs. If so, Aviation Consumer would love to hear from you for an article about PDA software. Send a note with comments or tips to avconsumer@comcast.net. More...

ON THE FLY...
Inexpensive drone deployed to Iraq...
Virgin pilot suspected of drinking pleaded guilty to lesser offense...
Ducted fan replaced tail rotor in Bell tests...
Water bomber set down on a road after engine blew in Canada. More...

AVWEB'S NEWSTIPS ADDRESS ...
Drop us a line. Heard something that 130,000 pilots might want to know about? If it caught your eye, it will probably interest someone else, too. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com. More...

BUSINESS AVFLASH
HAVE YOU SIGNED UP yet for AVweb’s NO-COST twice monthly Business AVflash? Reporting on breaking news, Business AVflash also focuses on the companies, the products and the industry leaders that make headlines in the Business of Aviation. Business AVflash is a must read. Watch for a Business AVflash regular feature, TSA WATCH: GA IN THE "SPOTLIGHT". Sign up today at http://www.avweb.com/profile/ More...

NEW ARTICLES AND FEATURES ON AVWEB
_______
COLUMNS
Say Again? #39: ATC 204 - IFR Flight Plan II
Want another good reason to be careful how you file your flight plan? How about avoiding a midair collision? AVweb's Don Brown is back with another in his "courses" on better ATC and pilot communication. This month he's trying to figure out why some pilot wants to go to Kentucky via Canada.

More...

AVWEB'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK ...
A couple of weeks ago, AVweb asked the loaded question, "Are professional pilots overpaid?" (About 2/3 of you said "no.") This week, just to be fair to everyone in the aviation industry, we want to know what you really think about the salaries of CFIs: Are flight instructors overpaid? PLUS: Results of last week's question on the looming Sport Pilot rules. More...

AVWEB'S PICTURE OF THE WEEK ...
Ah, happy coincidence! As we gear up for AirVenture 2004 in Oshkosh, whose name should appear on the blind ballot for our "PotW" winner? None other than H.G. Frautschy of the EAA, who took this week's winning photo at Pioneer Airport in Oshkosh! Congratulations, H.G. — not only did you win a licensed AVweb baseball cap to wear around the field at Oshkosh, but you also broke the streak of "PotW" winners from Michigan. We look forward to seeing you in Oshkosh next week.

Speaking of Michigan: What happened, guys? Did you run out of aviation photos this week? Not a single final-round contender from the unofficial capital of "PotW" country? More...

AVflash is a twice-weekly summary of the latest aviation news, articles, products, features and events featured on AVweb, the Internet's Aviation Magazine and News Service. http://www.avweb.com

Letters to the editor intended for publication in AVmail should be sent to mailto:editor@avweb.com.com. Have a comment or question? Send it to mailto:newsteam@avweb.com.

Today's issue written by News Writer Russ Niles:
http://www.avweb.com/contact/authors.html#rniles
AVweb's editorial team: http://avweb.com/contact/authors.html.

Have a product or service to advertise on AVweb? A question on marketing? Send it to AVweb's sales team: mailto:sales@avweb.com.

AVflash is now available in optional easier-to-read graphic format, which includes some photos and illustrations. If you prefer, you can continue to receive AVflash in text-only format. Simply follow these instructions and AVflash will continue to arrive as it always has, in text format.