|
This issue of AVweb's AVflash is brought to you by
...
Piedmont Hawthorne Aircraft
Sales LOOK
TO THE PIEDMONT HAWTHORNE AIRCRAFT SALES TEAM
WHEN
YOU'RE BUYING or SELLING YOUR NEXT AIRCRAFT
 Whether you're looking
for that "envy of many pilots" single (such as a Bonanza) or a
workhorse turboprop or multi-mission jet, Piedmont Hawthorne
Aircraft Sales does it all — and has done so for over 65
years — boasting a professional sales/marketing team engaged in
new and pre-owned aircraft with more than 100 years of sales, support,
and consulting expertise — Turnkey assistance from acquisition,
financing, or sales consulting to award-winning service and avionics
centers, and a VIP program for every customer at their extensive
network of 36 FBOs — Always looking to purchase quality
turboprop, mid-size, and large turbine aircraft. One call to (800)
259-1940, or one click to http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/phas/avflash. |
The Top Headlines From AVweb's Expanded,
Illustrated News Coverage At AVweb's
NewsWire.
NEXT
SPACE RACE UNDERWAY -- ORBIT...
SpaceDev, the
California company that built the hybrid rocket motor that drove
SpaceShipOne, says it has just about completed its plan for a safe,
affordable launch system -- the SpaceDev Dream Chaser -- that could
carry six passengers into low earth orbit. CEO Jim Benson said he
believes the company can "quickly develop a safe and affordable space
transportation system based on existing propulsion technologies and
vehicle designs." While the initial target is the space tourism
market, SpaceDev says its project also could provide routine, safe and
affordable access to the International Space Station for NASA.
SpaceDev's plan calls for multiple manned suborbital test flights by
2008, and manned test flights to orbit by 2010. More...
...OR
BUY A TICKET TODAY FOR A SUBORBITAL RIDE...
Meanwhile, the race to get passengers into suborbital flight is
heating up. Aera
Corp. announced last week that tickets are
on sale now for seats aboard its Altairis rocket. The company says it
is on track to start launching from Florida's Cape Canaveral in
December 2006. The Altairis rocket launches vertically, lands
horizontally and can carry six passengers and one mission commander.
Tickets cost $250,000. Also, former X Prize contender Canadian Arrow
announced on Tuesday it is forming a new corporation, PlanetSpace, with a
U.S. partner and will be ready to carry passengers within two years.
It will also charge a quarter-million per seat. More...
...AS
ADVOCATES "BLITZ" WASHINGTON
Meanwhile, troops of "citizen lobbyists" arrived in Washington, D.C.,
this week to meet with their congressional representatives in search
of support for space exploration. The National Space
Society Legislative Conference took place Tuesday and Wednesday,
with training sessions followed by visits to the Hill. The "blitz"
precedes the 2005
International Space Development Conference, which begins today,
featuring sessions on space exploration, tourism, science, technology,
policy and business. Speakers include Burt Rutan, X Prize founder
Peter Diamandis and Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta.
More...
ADIZ-INCURSION,
PUBLIC PERCEPTION...
If the wanderings of a Cessna 150 would disrupt the day of thousands
of people, and frighten them a bit in the process, could it happen in
any worse place than Washington, D.C.? Concerned about the lingering
effects of that scare on all those legislators and regulators, AOPA
took out full-page ads in yesterday's USA Today and in Roll
Call, an influential Capitol Hill newspaper, to spread the good word
that GA is not a threat. "Last week one pilot made headlines ... The
other 588,656 did not," says AOPA. Chris Dancy, AOPA spokesman, told
AVweb, "The ad is intended not to excuse or explain what
happened, but to help the non-flying public (and members of Congress)
to put the incident into perspective." More...
...AS
LASER "FENCE" READIES FOR DEBUT
Meanwhile, the new ground-based Visual Warning System around the D.C.
ADIZ is ready to deploy on Saturday. The system signals pilots who
intrude into the no-fly zone with low-level laser beams in an
alternating red-red-green light sequence. Any pilots who receive the
warning must immediately turn away from the signal and contact Air
Traffic Control. The lasers are eye-safe and non-hazardous at all
ranges, according to NORAD (the North American Aerospace Defense
Command), which developed the system. Civil Air Patrol (CAP) volunteers flying
low-and-slow single-engine Cessnas have been working with NORAD in
test flights. More...
|
ADD CELL/SATELLITE PHONE INTERFACE TO YOUR LIGHTSPEED
HEADSET!
Factory conversions are now available for
all active models of LightSPEED's XL and QFR series for only USD $75.
(No sales tax; return shipping included within the U.S.) Model
upgrades come with a 2.5mm patch cord that connects to most phones.
Check LightSPEED's online chart for phones they've tested. The Active
model upgrades also include an additional patch cord for a personal
audio device input. Call LightSPEED at (800) 332-2421 and
mention this AVflash, or print out the online order/instruction form
to send in your headset for a speedy turnaround — at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/litspeed/cell/avflash. |
PUT
AVWEB'S HALF-MILLION DAILY HITS TO WORK FOR YOU
AVweb users can now offer their aircraft, parts, and
accessories for sale on General Aviation's most popular web site --
with our new and improved Classified Ads section. To better qualify
sellers and limit the number of non-aviation products on AVweb,
we've instituted a nominal fee for each listing. Discover our new
Classified section and get in on the ground floor of this exciting new
marketplace. Browse our listings and place your ad today at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/classifieds/avflash.
More...
REPORT
CALLS FOR MORE AVIATION FUNDING
Aviation is not only an important part of the U.S. economy, it's
critical to the growth of the economy as whole, according to a new report released last week by the FAA's Management
Advisory Council. "Part of the productivity of virtually every sector
of the U.S. economy depends on the productivity of aviation," the
report says. The report calls on the White House and Congress for more
funding, no new aviation taxes, faster hiring of new air traffic
controllers and more investment in ATC modernization. As for the FAA,
it needs to streamline -- cutting its current nine administrative
regions down to three, contracting out all of its VFR control towers,
and consolidating TRACONs, the report says. More...
AVIDYNE'S CMAX™ APPROACH CHARTS TAKE SITUATIONAL
AWARENESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL
CMax™ Approach
Charts, which can be displayed on Avidyne's FlightMax EX500 or
Entegra/EX5000 MFDs, provide geo-referenced approach charts and
airport diagrams. CMax™ reduces the amount of paper in your
cockpit, and allows you to access critical chart data more quickly and
easily. CMax™ overlays your flight plan and aircraft position for
optimum orientation. CMax™ even shows runway incursion hotspots
and improves taxiway awareness, reducing the need for "progressives"
at unfamiliar airports. With CMax™, you’ll know exactly
where you are on the approach or on the field. http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/avidyne/avflash. |
CONTROLLERS
HONORED FOR SAVING LIVES
With budget cuts, the threat of looming mass retirements and an
ever-growing air traffic system, attention is drawn to how the skills
of an air traffic controller measure up when it comes to safety in the
skies. Multiple
court cases highlight the critical nature of controller/pilot
communications, and at
least one has saddled controllers with partial blame in an
accident (and saddled the FAA with the bill). But controllers also
save lives, according to the National Air Traffic Controllers
Association's new "Medal of Safety" award. Monday in Washington,
D.C., 12 controllers who helped pilots (and passengers) avert disaster
were honored for their work. Ken Hopf helped a distraught passenger land a
Piper Malibu safely in Laconia, N.H., after the pilot became
incapacitated. Scott Dittamo was working the tower in Newark when
he spotted a 747 on short final with its gear up. His warning assured
a safe landing. Transcripts and audiotapes of the pilot-controller exchanges are
available online. More...
JET
HAS DRINK AT ATLANTIC CITY
Sometimes the rules are there for a reason ... as the crew of a
Citation CJ2 discovered when they flew to Atlantic City's Bader Field
on Sunday afternoon, made one aborted approach, circled around to try
for the longer runway, then ran off the runway's end and plunged into
the (luckily) shallow waters that (practically) surround the downtown
field. The small airport, where the longest runway is 2,900 feet, is
off-limits to jet traffic. The four people on board escaped with minor
injuries and were fished from the water by boaters. The jet and its
four occupants are from Denmark, and were returning to Atlantic City
from a trip to Burlington, Vt. It was unclear if they were actually
headed for Atlantic City International Airport, about nine miles
inland from Bader Field, where the runways are up to 10,000 feet long.
The captain told the FAA that he was making a "routine touchdown" when
the brakes failed, Newsday reported. At least one witness said he saw
the tires smoking as the jet went off the runway. More...
1999
AIRLINE CRASH DEBATED IN COURT
The 1999 crash of an American Airlines MD-82 in Little Rock, Ark., in
which 11 people died (including the flight's captain) is under debate
in federal court this week. A lawsuit by the captain's widow alleges
that the airport was negligent, because the approach light system that
the jet ran into was too close to the runway and too rigid, and the
overrun was less than half of the 1,000 feet it should have been. The
airport's defense is that the pilot's actions caused the crash. The NTSB found the probable cause of the accident to
be the flight crew's failure to discontinue the approach when severe
thunderstorms had moved into the airport area, and the crew's failure
to ensure that the spoilers had extended after touchdown.
More...
ANOTHER
NEW FAA TYPE CERTIFICATE -- FOR SYMPHONY 160
The FAA is never quick to hand out Type Certificates, but there seem
to be a lot of them coming along lately. Newest on the list of
good-to-go GA aircraft is the two-seater Symphony 160, built by Symphony
Aircraft Industries (SAI) of Three Rivers, Quebec. "Receiving the
Symphony 160's FAA type certificate is a significant milestone," said
SAI President Paul Costanzo. "The U.S. market is of great importance
for Symphony Aircraft Industries. With the FAA Type Certificate in
hand there are no more obstacles, and American pilots can start taking
delivery of their new U.S.-registered SA 160." More...
|
PILOTS — EVEN BIRDS HAVE TO WALK
SOMETIMES!
No matter how many hours you log in the air,
eventually you're going to be walking on terra firma. You can make
walking, running, and even standing for extended periods dramatically
more comfortable with Oregon Aero™ ShockBlockers™ insole
inserts. Oregon Aero has put its expertise in eliminating pain and
improving impact protection to work in creating ShockBlockers™.
Oregon Aero™ ShockBlockers™ insole inserts offer 20% more
shock absorption, double the supported area under the foot, reduce
foot tissue damage by more than 50%, and reduce shock to the entire
body compared to other sponge and foam inserts. Select the proper
ShockBlockers™ insole inserts for more comfortable walking at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/oregon/avflash. |
AIRLINER
MAINTENANCE OUTSOURCED OVERSEAS
There's been plenty of talk about outsourcing maintenance work on
airliners, with concerns raised about quality control and oversight.
And recently there was a roundup of maintenance workers in North Carolina
with illegal immigration status, some of them from countries
considered possible sources of terrorism. But what about outsourcing
the maintenance work overseas? America West and JetBlue have some of
their maintenance done in El Salvador, according to a report in last
week's ABC11-Eyewitness News in Durham, N.C. Also,
Continental and Northwest send some of their planes to Hong Kong or
Singapore for maintenance work. More...
ON
THE FLY...
NTSB blamed FedEx crash on bad flying, inadequate
oversight...
United F/As protest pension cuts in "(semi)naked
truth" calendar...
National Aeronautic Association launched new Web
site. 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...
EXTENDED HOURS AND ONLINE SERVICES KEEP AVEMCO
FIRST
Avemco is the only direct insurer of general
aviation aircraft and pilots since 1961. At Avemco, customer service
is more than a promise — it's a reality. With business
hours from 8:00am to 7:30pm ET and Saturdays from 10:00am to 6:00pm
ET, Avemco insurance counselors are taking calls when other agencies
are playing automated recordings. On top of that, Avemco offers
customers the greatest variety of internet services — including
quote requests, online payments, and other policy management
options. Regardless of the day or time, Avemco offers the
easiest and quickest access to coverage. Experience customer
service the Avemco way by calling (888) 241-7991 or going online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/avemco/avflash. |
NEW
ARTICLES AND FEATURES ON AVWEB
COLUMNS
From The CFI #7: Scenario-Based
Training
With new, technically advanced aircraft becoming more
common in the air and at FBOs near you, many in the industry have been
asking if we need to take a new look at how we train new pilots.
AVweb's Linda Pendleton has certianly been asking, and she discusses
the kinds of scenarios that work and don't work in this month's From
The CFI column. 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...
|
DA40 DIAMOND STAR A FLEET FAVORITE
Airline
Transport Professionals, Beijing PanAm, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University CAPT, Empire Aviation, Middle Tennessee State University,
and Utah Valley State College — all have selected the
G1000-equipped DA40 Diamond Star. For value, efficiency, and
safety, the DA40 is the fleet favorite. For more information, go to http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/diamond/avflash. |
AVWEB'S
QUESTION OF THE WEEK ...
This week, AVweb wants to know who you hold responsible for the DC
incursion — the pilots or the government? PLUS: Results of last
week's question on ADIZ and the incursion. More...
ASO — A BETTER WAY TO SELL YOUR AIRCRAFT
SHARE
Finding aircraft share buyers can be hard — FBO
bulletin board flyers are too limited, and ads in national
publications are too broad. Now there's a better way, with
ASO's Partnership Ads. List your share on ASO, the most
trusted place for aircraft sales, and interested buyers will have the
ability to search geographically to easily find your partnership
listing. For a limited time, select Partnership Ads are complimentary.
Get your share in front of potential buyers tomorrow by calling (888)
992-9276 today, or visit http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/aso/partner/avflash. |
AVWEB'S
PICTURE OF THE WEEK ...
Wha—? Where are all the pictures this week? Is everyone O.K. out
there? Not that we're complaining, but this has been the slowest week
for "POTW" submissions in well over a year. (If you don't count
Christmas, AirVenture, and Sun 'n Fun, when submissions typically
slack off.) Quite frankly, we're a little worried about our
photographer friends. Send us some pictures and check in! Thankfully,
those who did submit pics this week turned in some gorgeous photos
— like our winning FJ-4B Fury pic from Rich Sugden of Wyoming.
Naturally, Rich will be covering his head this summer with an official
AVweb baseball hat for his efforts. Our other winners will have to
settle for the fleeting fame of being "POTW" contenders — along
with the oohs and ahhs of a few hundred thousand aviation buffs who
read AVweb. More...
| Sponsor News and
Special Offers
Access to AVweb and AVflash is provided by
the support of our fine sponsors. We appreciate your
patronage. |
| SHOPPING DEALS |
|
GAMI
CUSTOMERS RAVE ABOUT A SMOOTHER RIDE AND SAVING FUEL
"The
first ground runs were with the original injectors, then we installed
the GAMIs. I didn't need the EDM 700 to tell me I had spent my money
wisely. The motor is notably smoother and more responsive, with
mixture totally controllable." "I put my GAMIs in my 470 and love
them. I run LOP; couldn't before. My airplane uses less fuel on a trip
than some SUVs!" To check out GAMIs for your airplane, go
online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/gami/avflash. |
ASA BRINGS YOU A LIFETIME OF HANDS-FREE
COMMUNICATIONS
ASA's new portable push-to-talk
switch works with any general aviation headset, intercom, and radio.
It features a low-profile ergonomic button, superior contact switch,
heavy-duty gold-plated plugs and jack, durable shield-coiled cord,
hook and loop mounting strap, molded strain relief, and a lifetime
warranty. Eliminate the distraction of picking up the microphone, keep
your focus on flying the aircraft, and modernize your interior with
the sleek functional design. For complete details about this new
product, visit ASA's web site at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/asadirect/avflash. |
SEE WHAT ATC SEES — AND THEN SEE WHAT THEY DO WITH
IT
The AVweb Edition of Flight Explorer is the
PC-based graphical aircraft situation display that gives a real-time
picture of all IFR aircraft in-flight over the U.S. and Canada.
Whether you're tracking a friend or want to learn more about the
system in action, Flight Explorer has the information you need for
just $9.95 a month. Go to http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/flightexplorer/avflash. |
FED UP WITH BIG BILLS FOR ROUTINE AIRCRAFT
MAINTENANCE?!
Subscribe to Light Plane
Maintenance and join the thousands of savvy general aviation
owners who are saving big by doing-it-themselves! Each monthly issue
brings you tips and techniques for maintenance procedures you can
perform yourself legally and easily. Order now for big savings off the
regular rates at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/lpm/avflash. |
PHOTON'S WHITE FREEDOM MICRO NOW 2X
BRIGHTER!
Photon, the first name in LED micro-lights, has a
new product for your flying, hunting, and outdoor needs. The
white Freedom Micro, already one of the brightest micro-lights
available, is now a full 2X brighter, making it hands-down the
brightest single-LED keychain light in production! Order yours today
and save! SPECIAL: $10 off any Photon order of $75 or
more at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/photon/avflash. |
AIRSPORT AVIONICS OFFERS A $100 DISCOUNT & COMPLIMENTARY
SHIPPING
AirSport Avionics is the only manufacturer
of Altitude Alerters that work by listening to everything your
transponder and encoder are reporting to ATC, both Mode A (squawk
code) and Mode C (altitude). A double benefit! AirSport Alerters are
completely portable and don't require permanent installation.
SPECIAL: $100 discount on all models, with complimentary ground
shipping. Order online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/airsport/avflash. |
HASSLE-FREE AUTO BUYING FROM CREWCAR & CONSUMER
GUIDES
Don't go blindly into a dealership when purchasing a
vehicle; look to CrewCar. CrewCar is a car-buying service
providing shoppers with a complimentary integrated phone and
electronic concierge-level buying service offering value nationwide.
The service is provided gratis and meets the Consumer Guide dealership
network standards. For more information, visit CrewCar at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/crewcar/avflash. |
CFIs — DISCOVER THE SECRETS TO SUCCESS IN GREG
BROWN'S CLASSIC BOOK
The Savvy Flight
Instructor. You passed the challenging CFI checkride, but what
about all those "other" flight instructing questions — how to
recruit flight students; how to keep them flying; how to optimize your
pass rate on checkrides; and how to get students to return for
advanced ratings? Find the answers in The Savvy Flight
Instructor by Greg Brown, AOPA Flight Training
columnist and 2000 Flight Instructor of the Year. AVweb
EXCLUSIVE: Order your personally autographed copy of the book at
http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/paperjet/avflash. |
| SPONSOR NEWS |
AVIATION CONSUMER HAS GARMIN & LOWRANCE SHOOT IT
OUT OVER PORTABLE GPSs
in the June issue. Also in this
issue: "The Diesel Dilemma" — Diamond's composite twin
diesel-powered aircraft; "Hangar Tugs" — Aviation Consumer
likes Northwest and Skyline; "T-34S Under the Gun" — how the
industry might establish practical life limits for certain airframes;
"JPI's Data Blunder" — owners steamed; and the Used Aircraft
Guide highlights Grumman/American General's Tiger. Be in the know with
your Aviation Consumer subscription at money-saving
rates. Order online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/avcons/avflash. |
THOUGHT THAT USING GPS WOULD BE FUN, DIDN'T
YOU?
Then you went through the manual and came away
frustrated and confused. Stop laboring to understand those
manufacturers' manuals! For less than $40 (plus shipping and handling)
you can better understand and operate most of the modern GPS units on
the market with ZD Publishing's Pilot Friendly GPS
Manuals. GPS operation is fun and rewarding when you
understand how to get the desired results. These manuals will help you
through all operations. Order at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/zdpub/avflash. |
AVWEB IS
EXPANDING ITS READER SURVEY PANEL
If you're willing to
answer (very) brief questionnaires about aviation products and
services once or twice a month, please consider joining our exclusive
panel of reader advisors. We're currently seeking pilots at all
levels of experience in many different FAA regions. To apply,
visit http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/readerpanel/avflash. | |
_____________________________________
We Welcome Your
Feedback!
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 Mary Grady:
http://www.avweb.com/contact/authors.html#mgrady
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.
Fly it till every part stops.
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.
Want to subscribe or unsubscribe? Review/update your AVweb Account?
Forgot your password? No problem! Simply go to our friendly Member
Services menu.
|
