Volume 11, Number 30a — July 25, 2005

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

BIG DREAMS COME TRUE -- ESPECIALLY FOR SMALL AIRPLANES...
The grounds were already hot at OSH yesterday (have a quick look around our pre-show gallery number one and number two) ... the temperature rose pretty high, too. EAA AirVenture has become such a huge event that it's almost impossible to encapsulate and in earlier issues we've told you about the truly incredible range of aircraft that will be on display here this year (some have already arrived). Years past have seen thematic marketing, but this year the best of years-in-the-waiting new aircraft designs, engine developments, electronic wizardry, and record-setting dream-fulfilling prototypes -- which in years past often surfaced as yet uncompleted, yet untested, "maybe next year" good intentions -- have found themselves made manifest. You can walk right up and, in many cases, touch them. GlobalFlyer, SpaceShipOne, actual, flying, very light jets -- they're all here. And representing perhaps the most widely pursued, hard-fought and now-attainable everyman's dream -- here are hordes of freshly certified light sport aircraft. More...

...GAS-POWERED TWIN STAR, TAWS FOR CIRRUS...
While part of the show's focus may be on little airplanes, those who build the bigger stuff have plenty to talk about, although the recent flurry of new-product announcements seems to have waned. Last year, Diamond Aircraft's new Twin Star, with its efficient diesel engines, was among the most visited booths. This year, Diamond is bringing both the diesel sipper and its brawnier Lycoming-powered stablemate to the show. While the diesel version is no slouch, performance wise, the 30-percent power boost offered by the twin IO-360s on the avgas model translates to better climb, cruise and single-engine performance. The Garmin G1000 suite is standard in both models. In keeping with its safety theme, Cirrus will be showing off the new terrain awareness warning system (TAWS) that it is now including as standard equipment in all its aircraft. More...

...GARMIN'S NEWEST A SURE HIGHLIGHT...
And for the gadgetly inclined, you may need to seek a twelve-step program after AirVenture. Every kind of aviation-related tool and toy imaginable is on display, and among the highlights are Garmin's next-generation navigation system, GPSmap 396. It's a GPS navigator that combines XM-based weather datalink with XM audio and terrain alerting of the sort found in TAWS boxes costing thousands. Our sister publication, Aviation Consumer, reviewed the 396 in depth. The full seven-page report is available on the magazine's Web site. Don't forget that many of the high-tech gizmos now common on certified airplanes first took flight in the experimental market and that trend continues with PCAvionics, which continues its impressive drive, pushing the leading edge further. More...

...THIS YEAR'S RENAISSANCE...
Sometimes, AirVenture offers a good opportunity to catch up on some old stories that began with fanfare and then didn't seem to amount to much. Such is the case with Bombardier's highly publicized (and even a little mysterious) launch into the GA engine industry. Two years ago, the aerospace giant's V220 and V300T geared V-6s were the talk of Oshkosh after a splashy introduction. But the company missed the next Sun 'n Fun and had a relatively low profile at last year's AirVenture. This year, the engines will be showcased again but the branding has changed, too. More...

...WATCH THE WEATHER IF YOU'RE FLYING IN
And that notorious Wisconsin weather that seems to always be a thread in Oshkosh coverage got an early start disrupting things. Severe thunderstorms and tornados reportedly prevented the mass arrival of Bonanzas that helps kick off the fly-in part of the show on Saturday. The horrific weather also played havoc with those trying to set up displays and it looks like it's going to be a factor for the first few days of the show. Current forecast calls for cloudy, warm, humid conditions with the chance of thunderstorms through Monday. Make sure you get a thorough briefing ... More...

LYCOMING CRANK NPRM ISSUED
The FAA has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Lycoming 540 and 360 series engines that were the subject of a company Service Bulletin and recall two weeks ago. The good news, according to AOPA, is that parts are in stock and the fully funded repairs of the 1,128 engines shouldn't take too long. Lycoming is estimating the engines will be in their shop for 10 days and the rest of the down time is dependent on the removal and re-installation. More...

FSS OUTSOURCING UPHELD
The FAA's decision to outsource flight service stations to Lockheed Martin has been upheld by a contract appeals judge. Judge Edwin Neill recommended FAA Administrator Marion Blakey deny bid protests from within her own organization and from the National Association of Air Traffic Specialists alleging procedural errors, bias and favoritism in the process that resulted in Lockheed Martin's winning the $1.9 billion contract in February. It's the largest and most complex outsourcing process ever undertaken by the agency. However the judge's decision could be moot if some in Congress have their way. More...

JUDGE PONDERS CONTROL AT UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT
A U.S. District Court Judge in Florida is now pondering whether negligence by FAA air traffic controllers contributed to the midair collision of two planes in 1999 at Deland Airport, an uncontrolled facility about 14 miles southwest of Daytona Beach. Judge John Antoon didn't render a decision after the civil trial against the FAA by the family of one of the four people who died ended last week. The family of Todd Landry, 22, of Meraux, La., claims controllers should have maintained separation between his aircraft and another, both of which were doing touch and goes at Deland. Landry and his student Eliza Lewis died when their Piper Cadet collided with a Seminole flown by Nicholas Simatos and Abdulla Alhaz, who also died. The NTSB report blamed the pilots for the accident but Landry's family's lawyer Robert Spohrer said they were not entirely to blame. More...

FAA PLANS TRAINING COURSE ON ADIZ
If you're planning a flight to the Washington, D.C., area in the future, you may soon need a new endorsement in your logbook. The FAA is considering making it mandatory for all pilots who fly into the national capital region to complete a training course on the rules of the air in that complex restricted airspace. Pilots who take the course will get a certificate of completion that they'll have to take with them if they want to fly in that space. There's no word on when the course might be available but AOPA hopes it's soon. It's also hoped that the training requirement might calm calls for draconian penalties suggested by some in Congress to deter wayward pilots. More...

AGE 60 RULE BACK BEFORE CONGRESS
The FAA continues to defend its Age 60 retirement rule for airline pilots in the face of Congressional rumblings about a change in the policy. At a hearing last week, Jon Jordan, the FAA's top flight surgeon, testified that at age 60 people start to experience "a general decline in health-related functions and overall cognitive and performance capabilities." However, Ike Eichelkraut, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association, told the hearing the rule costs both the airlines and pilots money and takes "the safest, most experienced pilots in the skies" out of the left seat. More...

CONGRESSMAN'S NATIONWIDE GA SECURITY PLAN
New York Republican Rep. John Sweeney has introduced a bill that would require written security plans, full fencing and double locks on all GA aircraft. "These common sense measures will go a long way toward keeping our nation safer at general aviation airports," Sweeney said. However, AOPA calls the proposals "ridiculously expensive" and unnecessary for most GA airports. "Instead, airport owners should work with their local communities to determine what security measures make sense for them," said AOPA spokesman Andy Cebula. "The Transportation Security Administration developed guidelines that can help communities establish standards but they are meant to be just that -- guidelines." More...

YOUR AIRPLANE IS ON THE FOURTH FLOOR
Going up in an airplane could mean something completely different for owners at Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg, Fla., if a local architect has anything to say about it. Steve Lange is proposing a $16 million hurricane-proof, multistory hangar for aircraft. But don't worry about taxiing your airplane around a series of ramps to get to your spot on the fourth floor. Instead worry whether the robotic system that is supposed to winch your plane to its elevated stall doesn't mix you up with your neighbor. The automatic system of elevators and robots would enable the relatively small (450 feet by 228 feet) building to house up to 336 airplanes. More...

ON THE FLY...
Faulty power cable to be replaced at Philly...
Charter company defends itself against FAA allegations...
Bell Agusta tiltrotor flew like an airplane for the first time. 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. You're a part of our team ... often, the best part. More...

READER FEEDBACK ON AVWEB'S NEWS COVERAGE AND FEATURE ARTICLES:
AVmail: July 18, 2005
Reader mail this week about Wings to Adventure and revoked medical certificates, and a lot about NATCA vs. FAA. More...

NEW ARTICLES AND FEATURES ON AVWEB
REVIEWS
Garmin GPSMAP 396
Navigation, weather and entertainment, all in a portable package. Here are some brief impressions of this impressive product that may be in short supply at Oshkosh.

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NEWS FEATURES
Inside the Chart Factory
Anyone who has used a set of Jeppesen charts has probably been annoyed at the time and effort needed to file those "revisions." But if you think about it, wasn't there someone who had to sort those charts to send to you? Or is it all automated? Come take a look behind the scenes at Jeppesen.

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...
Another day, another air show...

I was "in the queue" for landing at Oshkosh a couple of years back. As everyone knows, landing aircraft are spoken to but don't verbally reply to the FAA controllers.

ATC to Two ahead of me: Brown Cessna, land on the Orange Spot. Rock your wings if you copy.

(The Cessna rocked his wings.)

ATC to One ahead of me: Red Biplane, land on the Blue Spot. Rock your wings.

(The Pitts Special executed two snap rolls to the left.)

ATC: And save that for the show, will you? More...

Visit AVweb (and Our Sponsors) at AirVenture Click here for a printable list of our sponsors (and where to find them). Click here for the AVweb booth schedule.

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.

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