The Top Headlines From AVweb's Expanded,
Illustrated News Coverage At AVweb's
NewsWire.
C-150
PUTS DC AT TERROR LEVEL RED
Capitol Hill Police Chief Terrance Gainer said the plane was on a
"straight-in shot" toward the center of Washington. FAA spokesman Greg
Martin said the 150's initial flight path made it look like the pilot
(certificated more than 35 years ago) "drew a straight line" on a map
between his departure point and destination. And so it was Wednesday
(yesterday) near noon that the White House, Capitol and Supreme Court
were evacuated (the president was out taking a bike ride.) while a
couple of aviators out of Smoketown airport (S37) in Pennsylvania,
apparently on their way to the Mid-Atlantic Fly-In and Sport Aviation
Convention in Lumberton, N.C., flew a Cessna 150 deep into the
Washington D.C. ADIZ and to within three miles of the White House.
F-16s dropped flares to get the attention of the wayward pilots (the
capital's "good" laser
warning system goes live May 21) but it was a Blackhawk helicopter
that escorted the aircraft to a landing at nearby Frederick Airport,
after the Cessna had spent some 54 minutes inside restricted airspace.
At Frederick, the airplane's occupants were taken into custody. The
individual thus far identified as pilot in command has been a
certificated private pilot since 1969 and was Pennsylvania Flying
Farmers' man of the year in 2004. More...
|
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and are upgraded and tested to current factory specifications. In
addition, they are backed by LightSPEED's 30-day money-back guarantee,
one-year warranty, and the LightSPEED emphasis on customer
service and satisfaction. Go online for more information and to
purchase an R25XL at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/litspeed/r25xls/avflash. |
AMID
PRESSURE TO REOPEN DCA TO GA...
The political impetus to reopen Ronald Reagan Washington National
Airport (DCA) to general aviation gained some ground earlier this week
with the approval of a bill by the House Committee on Appropriations'
Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which calls for restoration of GA
access within 90 days of the bill's passage. The subcommittee's bill
becomes the third such bill to be approved for House consideration,
following similar efforts from the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure and the Committee on Homeland Security. And while the
previous bills were lauded by the aviation community, the latest may
carry more weight because it's attached to the Department of Homeland
Security's (DHS's) financial lifeline. More...
...ADIZ
UNDER MICROSCOPE...
When the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure tabled its
legislation, it attached a report that reminded the government how we
reached this seemingly permanent solution to what was initially
regarded as a temporary problem. In the report, the committee pointed
out that the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) around Washington,
D.C., was established in 2003 when the perceived security threat was
at its highest level since 9/11 and was supposed to be eliminated when
the threat level subsided, as it now has. AOPA President Phil Boyer
said that not only has the threat subsided, GA organizations have
introduced workable programs that provide tangible security benefits
-- but continue to bear the brunt of government security measures.
"The ADIZ is not the solution," he said. "It smothers general aviation
without providing real security benefits." More...
...WHILE
INDUSTRY DOES ITS PART FOR SECURITY
Industry-driven initiatives continue to bolster GA security efforts
and a voluntary registry of business aircraft and personnel won some
endorsement from the Homeland Security appropriations subcommittee. In
a release, the National Business Aviation Association said the
committee encouraged the Transportation Security Administration to
"continue moving forward on development of the Transportation Security
Administration Access Certificate (TSAAC)." Under the program,
business aircraft operators voluntarily submit to background checks of
flight and ground staff, inspect baggage and screen passengers.
More...
LOOK
TO THE PIEDMONT HAWTHORNE AIRCRAFT SALES TEAM
WHEN
YOU'RE BUYING or SELLING YOUR NEXT AIRCRAFT
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TSA
DIRECTOR NOMINATED...
President Bush appears to have picked a winner in his selection of
Edmund "Kip" Hawley as the next leader of the Transportation Security
Administration. Mind you, that's what people were saying about the
previous three, all of whom left the post within the previous three
years. Nevertheless, Bush's timely appointment of Hawley ensures there
will be no leadership vacuum when the current boss, David Stone,
vacates the office in June. There are some high hopes and a healthy
dose of skepticism greeting the announcement. AOPA President Phil
Boyer is planning for his next trip through what AOPA calls "the TSA
revolving door." More...
...INDUSTRY
HOPES HE STICKS
"One reason this gentleman was picked is he has a technical
background, a private sector background," John Mica, chairman of the
House Aviation Subcommittee, told The Washington Post. "We're going to
do a high-tech makeover, which will rely less on personnel and more on
technology." Mica said he expects Hawley to roll up his sleeves and
start fixing the TSA. Hawley was one of the architects of the
"hurry-up-and-get-it-done" creation of the TSA in the tense aftermath
of 9/11. He's a member of the FAA's Air Traffic Services Committee
and, according to the Post, was hand-picked by Michael P. Jackson, the
deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. He most
recently ran an international software company. More...
UNITED
CHANGING THE WORLD (FOR EMPLOYEES)
Retired United Airlines employees can expect their benefits to be cut
by at least a third after the airline won the right to dump its
underfunded plans on a government guarantor on Tuesday. In an historic
decision, Judge Eugene Wedoff of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court agreed with
United that it had no hope of emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy
protection with the crushing expense of the four pension plans. The
also-stressed Pension Benefits Guaranty Corporation, a federal agency,
will take over the plans said it could only cover $6.6 billion of
United's $9.8 billion pension fund shortfall. The other $3.2 billion
will come directly off the checks of retirees. More...
ADAM
A500 CERTIFIED
On Wednesday Adam Aircraft received FAA type certification on its A500
push/pull piston twin. The certification was the culmination of about
seven years and 1.5 million man-hours, said CEO Rick Adam. The company
rolled out its first production model in October and five more are
under construction. There are a total of 65 orders for the big twin,
which is all-composite and powered by Continental TSIO-550 engines.
The company hopes to increase production to six planes a month at
facilities in Englewood, Colo., Pueblo, Colo., and Ogden, Utah, and
get production certification for the aircraft it once hoped to deliver
at the start of this year. Now, about that jet. More...
|
ONLY AT AUCTION! LAKE AIRCRAFT WILL BE SOLD AT
AIRVENTURE!
The owners of the Lake Aircraft line of
amphibious airplanes have chosen the auction method of marketing to
select a new owner for their Lake Amphibian production line.
This comprehensive sale will include the FAA Type Certificate and
associated STCs, engineering data, all documentation, historical
information, fleet support inventory, and manufacturing capacity. The
inventory (in its entirety) will be sold as a comprehensive package to
one able buyer for the purpose of resuming full production capacity.
The auction will be held at 4:30pm July 27 at the EAA Aviation
Center's Vette Theater in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. For additional
information and a complete list of assets to be conveyed, call
Higgenbotham Auctioneers at (800) 257-4161, or visit their web
site (Higgenbotham.com) at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/hig/avflash. |
HOMEBUILT
PILOTS FACE CURRENCY REVIEW
The FAA is underscoring regulatory requirements for pilots who fly
passengers in homebuilt aircraft. A new notice would restrict them to
flying passengers only in planes in which they are qualified and
experienced. Currency and proficiency rules apply to those who take
people for rides in their experimental aircraft and EAA says current
pilots have until Aug. 31, 2005, to prove they have the necessary
category and class ratings for the aircraft they fly. Those who always
fly solo will not need to fly through the bureaucratic hoops. Under
the new notice, which was issued April 21, affected pilots will have
fill out a form and make sure their recreational or higher certificate
is in order. More...
TOUGH
ELECTRONICS COULD BENEFIT AIRCRAFT
An experiment that began 25,000 feet underground could help aircraft
fly higher, farther and more safely. Sandia National Laboratories is developing
ultra-durable electronic components, like computer chips, that can
withstand the extreme temperatures and pressures of deep-well oil and
gas exploration. Well, it turns out the abuse these gadgets take on a
drilling rig is comparable to what might happen to them next to an
aircraft engine or inside the braking system. That got researchers
thinking about the potential benefits of such on-site controls and
monitors and they estimate that weight reductions alone could
translate into $30 million in fuel savings over the life of an
airliner. More...
|
ATTENTION, AIRCRAFT OWNERS:
Switch to the
aircraft insurance agency that more pilots choose. At the AOPA
Insurance Agency, aircraft insurance is what they do. And they are the
only agency that offers the built-in expertise of AOPA's 66+ year
commitment to general aviation. One call to the AOPA Insurance
Agency will provide you with multiple quotes from major A-rated
underwriters in just minutes. Call (800) 622-2672 for a no-cost quote,
or go online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/aopa/ins/avflash. |
TURN
YOUR FIXED-WING INTO A HELICOPTER?
Australian researchers are working on an idea that could eventually
lead to conventional aircraft being able to gently lower and pick up
cargo, including people, in places where even helicopters can't make
the delivery. And the technology involved requires little more than a
sturdy length of cable and a winch. The Royal Melbourne Institute of
Technology is patterning its work after the exploits of a little-known
American missionary named Nate Saint who used the innovative (and
almost impossibly simple) system 50 years ago to exchange (yes, it was
a two-way effort) gifts with indigenous people in the jungles of South
America. More...
NEW
AIRCRAFT WITH A SPECIAL MISSION
Aircraft play a vital role in humanitarian efforts all over the world
and now a Sandpoint, Idaho, company has not only come up with what it
claims is the ideal aircraft for the purpose, it's going to be able to
cover the cost of 10 percent of the planes it produces for use in aid
projects. Quest Aircraft Company developed the Caravan-like
Kodiak entirely on donations funneled through the various causes it
will ultimately benefit. The result of the effort will something other
plane-makers can dream about: a fully funded certification with no
debt, no investors to satisfy and what appears to be pretty credible
competition to existing bush planes. More...
|
SEE CLEARLY METHOD IMPROVES & STRENGTHENS VISION
NATURALLY
The See Clearly Method does this without
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optometrists and research scientists, the See Clearly Method is based
on the same principles and techniques used by thousands of pilots in
WWII. As one pilot states, "I never thought it was possible to
actually improve your vision, but it worked. I tell other pilots that
this is an effective way to improve your vision, naturally."
Call (800) 881-7934 for a no-cost informational video, or visit http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/seeclear/avflash. |
NATCA
STAGES ANNUAL HILL DAY
The various issues surrounding FAA funding and the future of air
traffic control services will again take center stage in Washington on
Monday and Tuesday as the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
holds its annual legislative conference. The agenda of speeches and
face-to-face lobbying comes a couple of weeks after the FAA let it be
known, both in a session it hosted and in House committee hearings,
that it believes the system is financially unsustainable. And while
assessing user fees for ATC services doesn't seem to have gathered
much political support, there is still plenty of buzz surrounding the
issues to ensure an entertaining exchange next week.
More...
ON
THE FLY...
The Eclipse 500 is getting more expensive, both in year 2000 and 2005
dollars...
Embry Riddle students take honors at Salina
competition...
Northwest brake failure leads to terrestrial
collision...
Bizjet sales, NetJets booming in spite of fuel cost,
according to NYT. 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...
|
PILOT GETAWAYS MAGAZINE — YOUR FLIGHT PLAN
FOR ADVENTURE
Pilot Getaways magazine's March/April
issue lives up to it's "getaways" name with a romantic retreat to
Madden's Resort in Minnesota; outdoor delights in Colorado's Majestic
Mountains; a weekend getaway to Petit Jean, Arkansas; back-country
flying in the Garden State; fly-in dining in Hampton, New Hampshire;
and bush flying into the Flying M Ranch, Oregon. A subscription to
Pilot Getaways gives pilots just want they want and need
— more places to fly and more things to do! Order your
subscription today at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/getaways/avflash. |
NEW
ARTICLES AND FEATURES ON AVWEB
COLUMNS
The Pilot's Lounge #87: Etiquette
Isn't Just Raising Our Pinkies
Just because you can take a 3g
turn and handle turbulence with hardly a butterfly doesn't mean you
should make your passengers deal with all that. And we all know not to
fly low over noise-sensitive areas. AVweb's Rick Durden points out a
few more items to make flying more enjoyable for you, your passengers,
and those anti-airport folks on the ground. 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...
AVWEB'S
QUESTION OF THE WEEK ...
This week, AVweb wants to know if the DC ADIZ is doing their job
— or are we just overreacting to their overreactions? PLUS:
Results of last week's question on looming user fees.
More...
AVWEB'S
PICTURE OF THE WEEK ...
Busy day so far? Sneak a few moments for yourself and peek at this
week's batch of amateur aviation photos. No skydivers, aerobatics, or
wrecked planes this week — just a handful of gorgeous aircraft
photographed against idyllic landscapes. This week's top winner comes
all the way from Afghanistan, and photographer Byron Miranda will soon
be sporting a brand-new AVweb cap for his efforts. If you'd like one
of these spiffy caps to keep the sun out of your eyes this summer,
just send us your amateur aviation photos. If your pic makes into the
final round, we'll spotlight your photographic genius right here on
AVweb — and if you're lucky enough to win the top spot, we'll
send you one of those prestigious caps! More...
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PILOTS — EVEN BIRDS HAVE TO WALK
SOMETIMES!
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AVEMCO TEAMS WITH PILOT INSURANCE CENTER (PIC) TO OFFER
LIFE INSURANCE
Avemco, the only direct writer of property
and casualty insurance for general aviation in the U.S., is sponsoring
a Term Life Insurance Program underwritten by well-respected insurance
companies that have products tailored to general aviation pilots. The
Avemco Program will be administered by the Pilot Insurance
Center, using PIC's unique criteria. This collaborative effort will
make life insurance more widely available to pilots at the best
possible rates. For more information, go to http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/avemco/avflash. |
McCAULEY IS "THINKING FORWARD" FOR THEIR
USERS!
McCauley Propeller Systems, the world's
largest full-line propeller manufacturer, has launched its "Thinking
Forward" campaign. This customer-focused campaign brings
operators the option of upgrading their aircraft to achieve maximum
efficiency and performance. McCauley propellers are installed on
more than 250,000 aircraft worldwide. McCauley is the only
propeller and piston engine governor manufacturer with a worldwide
network of authorized service centers. Think Forward for your
aircraft with McCauley. See the McCauley professionals at the
Alaska Airmen's Show May 14-15, at Booths
190-191. For more product information and an
authorized service center near you, go to http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/mccauley/avflash. |
DISCOVER WHY HOMEBUILTS ARE THE HOTTEST SEGMENT IN
GENERAL AVIATION
Subscribe to Kitplanes
magazine and catch the building excitement. Each issue is packed with
flight reviews; building, buying, and flying guidance; and much more.
Order online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/kitplanes/avflash. |
| SPONSOR NEWS |
IFR REFRESHER'S JUNE ISSUE
HIGHLIGHTS:
"Commander's Last Call" — reverse-aviate,
-navigate, -communicate in a high-stress situation and trouble awaits;
"New Traps for Old Dogs" — finding yourself in an unfamiliar
airplane in unfamiliar country; "Zero Engine Approach" — minimize
the impact of an engine failure in IMC; "Cleared for the Visual"
— a visual approach saves time and provides an easy end to an IFR
flight, just don't be too quick to accept the clearance; "David vs.
Goliath" — Avidyne was the first to put big glass in a certified
airplane, but powerhouse Garmin is catching up fast; and "Human
Factors" — to keep out of trouble, you must understand and
recognize the physiology and psychology behind each flight. Be updated
and smart; order your IFR Refresher subscription online
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FEELING GUILTY? YOU SHOULD BE STUDYING & REVIEWING
...
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up-to-date. Stop by Sun 'n Fun for all Rod Machado's books,
tapes, and CDs or order online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/machado/avflash. | |
_____________________________________
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