Volume 10, Number 41a -- October 4, 2004

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

ON THE SCENE IN MOJAVE
As you read this, history is, hopefully, being made in the high desert north of Los Angeles. The Mojave Aerospace Ventures Team is trying to become the first privately funded group to make successive suborbital space flights within a two-week period to demonstrate the technical viability of space tourism. Assuming SpaceShipOne climbs again past 62.5 miles in altitude, the team, spearheaded by Burt Rutan and funded by Paul Allen, will win the $10 million Ansari X Prize. The event can be seen live, online. Check that same link later today for AVweb's own special report. More...

CHICAGO TAXPAYERS HIT FOR MEIGS CLOSURE
The city of Chicago (in particular, its taxpayers) could face fines approaching $5 million for its midnight assault on Meigs Field 18 months ago. The FAA announced Friday it's proposing the city be fined $33,000 (the maximum) for failing to provide 30 days notice of the closure. The agency also said it was launching an investigation into whether $1.5 million in federal funds that were supposed to be spent on development of O'Hare International were diverted to pay the contractor hired to tear up Meigs. If it's true, the penalty could reach as high as $4.5 million. City spokeswoman Annette Martinez seemed to defend the expenditure to the Chicago Tribune. "Some funds were used to build the airport and it was appropriate to use the airport funds to remove the airport," she said. More...

...CITY SAYS RULES DON'T APPLY IN THIS CASE...
Although it's long been speculated that Mayor Richard Daley ordered Meigs closed to make way for a park, his original justification was that he feared terrorists would use the airport to launch an attack on the city's downtown. Now, the city is using the same line to try and defend itself against the FAA charges. Martinez told the Tribune the city doesn't think the 30-day notice requirement applies in this case because of the perceived terrorism threat. Meanwhile, the city didn't waste any time getting the park started. More...

...FAA SANCTIONS VINDICATION FOR FRIENDS OF MEIGS
Friends of Meigs spokesman Steve Whitney said the proposed FAA sanctions support the notion that the terrorism excuse was a sham. "This proves we've been correct from the start," said Whitney. "The city closed Meigs illegally and under false pretenses. They should apologize and make amends." Whitney gave credit to AOPA for bringing about the FAA's action. AOPA laid the formal complaint that led to the investigation and President Phil Boyer wasn't shy about his personal animosity toward Chicago's mayor. "As much as we relish sticking it to Mayor Daley, we still would rather have the airport," he said. More...

NASA TESTS SYNTHETIC VISION
NASA has announced it has run some tests on a synthetic vision system that appears to add a few wrinkles to the certified system already available from Chelton and the numerous experimental systems on the market. Using a Gulfstream GV as a test platform (a rigorous test environment if ever there was one) NASA and a bevy of private-sector and government partners put the system through its paces. Like existing systems, the NASA gear gives the pilot a computer-generated portrayal of the world outside based on GPS mated to a topographical database, but it goes a few steps beyond. More...

...WHILE FAA LOOKS AT BIRD-STRIKE PREVENTION
While all that gear should theoretically be able to keep most pilots out of the weeds, terrain isn't the only thing that can ruin your day. The FAA has just wrapped up tests on a portable radar unit that can track flocks of birds around airports. The radar has a three-mile range and is designed to give fair warning of potential strikes on aircraft departing and arriving at airports. The tests were done at Dallas/Fort Worth International and are now being reviewed. The portable system would be part of the National Bird Strike Advisory System. More...

CERTIFICATION NEAR FOR ADAM A500
Adam Aircraft is expecting the first customer deliveries of its A500 push/pull twin before the end of the year. The FAA granted Type Inspection Authorization for the speedy piston twin on Sept. 30. Type Inspection Authorization is considered the most important step in the certification process because it means the plane theoretically meets all standards. All that's left is for FAA pilots to confirm the plane actually flies like the technical data says it will and Adam can start selling airplanes. "This is a major achievement in our company history," said CEO Rick Adam. "We expect type certification this fall and will look forward to delivering aircraft to customers this year." More...

HOUSE TRANSPORTATION CHAIR CAUGHT BY HOMELAND SECURITY
There's nothing like experiencing things firsthand and the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee now knows what it's like to be wrongly suspected of being a terrorist. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) was detained and questioned at Anchorage Airport earlier this month because the name he booked his ticket under (Donald E. Young) is close to that of a Donald Lee Young who is on the federal government's "watch list." Despite the extra scrutiny, Young still made his flight and will try using his full name (E. is for Edwin) on tickets in the future to avoid the unwelcome attention. But while the Don Youngs of the country get interviewed (not to mention Edward Kennedies and John Lewises) a government report says there are plenty of actual terrorists who don't appear on the lists. More...

CONCORDE GROUP PRESSES ON
By now, maintenance on Concorde involves a thorough dusting, but a dogged group of British aviation buffs is hoping to hear the roar of those big engines again. Fueled by a 20,000-name petition, Save Concorde Group (SCG) is hoping to convince the British government to join the campaign. The petition will be presented at Prime Minister Tony Blair's official residence at 10 Downing Street on Oct. 22. "The public's fascination with Concorde is as strong as ever," said an SCG news release. More...

EAA DOWNPLAYS SPORT PILOT DELAY
The FAA has delayed implementation of a key element of the Sport Pilot program but EAA says we shouldn't worry. Last week the agency said it won't be able to start processing Sport Pilot student applications until at least Jan. 15, 2005, two months later than originally planned. That's the same day that the first Sport Pilot flight tests are scheduled to take place. EAA spokesman Earl Lawrence said the FAA is doing its best to get Sport Pilot in gear as soon as possible. "Considering the massive infrastructure required ... we knew the schedule was ambitious and we expected a few hiccups along the way," said Lawrence. More...

MOUNTAIN EMERGENCY STRIPS IN PERIL
The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) is calling on pilots to help prevent the Canadian government from plowing up a couple of mountain airstrips that provide critical emergency diversion points for aircraft crossing the Rockies. A 60-day public comment period on a Comprehensive Environmental Assessment of the grass strips at Banff and Jasper, Alberta, began on Sept. 27. COPA President Kevin Psutka is urging pilots (not just Canadians, anyone can write in) to e-mail their support (comments-commentaires@telus.net) to retain the strips, which are on two of the three major mountain-pass routes commonly used by light aircraft. More...

"PILOT ERROR" IN UAV CRASH
Well, this was bound to happen sooner or later. Pilot error has been blamed in the crash of an Air Force Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Nevada last June 14. An Air Force investigation concluded that an instructor pilot allowed a student pilot to continue a badly botched approach past the point of no return; the Predator was damaged to the tune of $4.2 million. More...

ON THE FLY...
Hartzell Propeller acquired Industrial Tube Corp....
10,000 attended Daniel Webster College's Aviation Heritage Festival...
Whirly-Girls International plan 50th convention...
Fund set up to help mechanic injured in Bushmaster crash. 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...

NEW ARTICLES AND FEATURES ON AVWEB
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The Pilot's Lounge #79: Reno, Baby -- Go Fast, Fly Low, Turn Left
AVweb's Rick Durden and his mates left the confines of The Pilot's Lounge to breathe the fire (and dust) and feel the thunder of the air races in Reno last month. Even the slowest planes makes drag racers look tame.

More...

READER FEEDBACK ON AVWEB'S NEWS COVERAGE AND FEATURE ARTICLES:
http://www.avweb.com/avmail/

Reader mail this week about ATC staffing, differences between the presidential candidates, why we fly and much more. More...

AVWEB'S 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...

SHORT FINAL...
While coming into Grand Forks on a rather slow day, I was awaiting the freq change to tower...

Me: Approach N*** looking for tower.
Them: N*** 12 o'clock, 11 miles. It's the tall one.
(pause)
Them: (laughing) N*** squawk VFR contact tower eighteen four have a good day.
(...Maybe they could see my expression through the radio.) More...