| Volume 11,
Number 34b — August 25, 2005 |
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This issue of AVweb's AVflash is brought to you by ...
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The Top Headlines From
AVweb's Expanded, Illustrated News Coverage At AVweb's
NewsWire.
BETTER
MOA INFO NOW AVAILABLE TO GA PILOTS...
The Department of Defense has revised its system of issuing Notices to
Airmen (NOTAMs) about "lights-out" night training in Military
Operations Areas to be sure that the information is available to
private pilots when they are briefed by Flight Service Stations, AOPA said on Tuesday. Since the approval of
lights-out operations in 2003, there has been a problem because the
DOD NOTAM system didn't interface well with the FAA system, AOPA says,
so the FSS briefers didn't always have the latest information. Now the
NOTAM system has been modified to ensure the FSS is informed, so
whenever you get a preflight briefing, you'll get current NOTAMs
alerting you to lights-out training near your proposed flight path,
AOPA said. More...
...AND
HOT AREAS MAPPED ONLINE IN REAL TIME
An FAA database called the special-use airspace management system (SAMS)
now will tell anyone with Internet access whether any restricted area,
military operations area, military route, or warning area anywhere in
the country is going to be "hot," AOPA said on Monday. It updates every six minutes,
and the schedule is accurate 24 hours in advance. AOPA said it has
been lobbying for access to this information since 2001. SAMS has been
in the works for a while, AOPA said, but it took time for the FAA to
coordinate with all the Air Traffic Control centers to ensure that the
data is kept updated. More...
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TSA
RELEASES DETAILS FOR DCA ACCESS...
Oct. 18 is the first day that corporate operators will be allowed back
into Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), but if you are thinking
that your corporate-owned aircraft can get in there, you might want to
think again. Complying with the procedures established by the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) would require you to hire, at your own
expense, an on-board security officer; stop for security screening at
one of 12 gateway airports; and obtain TSA approval for every flight,
crew member and passenger. "By TSA's definition, 'corporate operator'
means paid flight crew, operations manual, and recurrent flight-crew
training," Rob Hackman, AOPA manager of regulatory and certification
policy, said on Monday. More...
...AS
VOLUNTARY SECURITY SELF-ASSESSMENT OFFERED ONLINE
The TSA is also working to develop a free Web site that would allow
aircraft owners and operators to voluntarily assess their security
protections against terrorist attacks and receive recommendations on
how to make improvements. The self-assessment tool would ask a series
of questions to develop a comprehensive picture of your security
system, and a second series of questions would assess the threats and
possible consequences. The results are then used to evaluate the
effectiveness of various countermeasures and help in designing a
security plan. The TSA says it would use the data it collects from the
Web site to help prioritize resources. More...
MEGAFLYOVER
REVEALS LOW-LEVEL VIEW OF AFRICA...
Biologist Mike Fay wrapped up eight months of flying at low altitudes
above Africa in a 40-year-old single-engine Cessna in January, but he
collected so much data and so many pictures that the results are only now starting to be revealed. Last
week, an exhibit opened at the National Geographic Society
headquarters in Washington, D.C., and a documentary film about the
expedition debuts on Sept. 22 on the National Geographic Channel. Fay
and pilot Peter Ragg created a unique photographic record of the
region's ecosystems and the human imprint on the land, using a
fuselage-mounted camera that snapped a digital image of the terrain
every 20 seconds during their 60,000-mile flight. More...
...AS
ALASKANS FLY TO RUSSIA, VFR
A group of four airplanes -- a Cessna 210, two 185s, and a Piper Twin
Comanche -- flew from Nome, Alaska, to the Russian Far East's
Provideniya Bay Airport on July 24, in the annual flight organized by
the Alaska Airmen's Association. The airmen have been
working with Russian officials for over 10 years to establish VFR Route B-369. Each flight requires months of
preparation, though the route itself is only about 100 nm long. The
airmen have made arrangements for places for pilots to stay overnight
and for 100LL avgas to be available. They hope to eventually enable GA
pilots to fly from Anchorage to Tokyo. More...
AS
GREEK CRASH REPORT RELEASED, A 737 DOWN IN PERU
A Boeing 737-200 operated by TANS, a Peruvian airline, made an
emergency landing -- in a marsh -- on Tuesday night, during a fierce
storm with strong winds, torrential rain and hail. The flight was only
about a mile from its destination airport, in a remote jungle area 500
miles northeast of Lima. The aircraft, with 92 passengers and 8 crew
on board, split in two on impact and burned. At least 41 died.
Meanwhile, a preliminary report released Monday about the Helios
Airways 737-300 that crashed in Greece Aug. 14 shows that authorities
have retrieved data from the damaged cockpit voice recorder. A man
believed to be 25-year-old flight attendant and student pilot Andreas
Prodromou sat in the captain's seat for the last 10 minutes of the
flight and twice tried to issue a mayday, but the radios apparently
were not on the right frequency and nobody heard him. "The tone of his
voice suggested the person was a man who was suffering or was
exhausted," the report said. More...
RARE
DORNIER AMPHIBIAN GREETS HUDSON RIVER SATURDAY
One of the stranger-looking aircraft we saw at Oshkosh last month, the
one-of-a-kind Dornier Do-24ATT three-engine amphibian, will be landing
on the Hudson River in downtown New York City on Saturday. The visit
is part of a yearlong round-the-world journey for the airplane, which
is owned by Seair, a Philippines airline. The aircraft will touch down
off Battery Park at 10:30 a.m. The arrival aims to commemorate a 1931
visit on the same date by a similar Dornier seaplane during a world
tour. On that visit, the airplane was flown by Claude Dornier, founder
of the company, and greeted by President Herbert Hoover. On this tour,
Dornier's grandson Iren, chairman of Seair, is at the controls.
More...
BIG NEWS FROM AIRVENTURE 2005
Appearances of
SpaceShipOne and Global Flyer captured all of our attention at
AirVenture this year, but just as significant to aviators was the
announcement that the Lancair Company has re-branded itself as
Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The manufacturers
of the Columbia 350 and Columbia 400 — the world's fastest
certified piston aircraft — made the change as part of an ongoing
campaign to develop a unique identity for the premium aircraft. If you
missed them at AirVenture, look them up at the Reno Air Races (where
all the world's fastest planes gather) or one of the other stops on
their interactive Fly Columbia Tour being held at airports
countrywide. For a complete schedule, go to http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/columbia/avflash. |
UAVS
AVOID OBSTACLES, MAP WILDFIRES
NASA tested several small robotic aircraft called APV-3s,
propeller-driven planes with 12-foot wingspans, at Moffett Field in
California last month to demonstrate their ability to avoid other
aircraft in a "flock" and to also swerve past obstacles in flight even
without guidance from the ground. The UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles)
are equipped with thermal sensors and are being studied for their
potential to help monitor wildfires. "There is potentially a nice fit
here, where you could do your water attacks and use your manned
aircraft during the day, and fly the UAVs at night," said NASA
scientist John Melton. The aircraft cost about $50,000 each and are
easy to launch and operate. More...
SKYTAXI
EXPANDS INTO NORTHEAST
SkyTaxi, a
company aiming to implement NASA's "Small
Aircraft Transportation System" concept flying six-seat
twin-engine Cessna 414s on-demand from small local airports, is
expanding to serve 560 airports in the Northeast. Initial service
areas are Ohio, Michigan and the high-traffic corridors through
Pennsylvania linking New York and Washington, the company said last
week. The Cessnas are flown by two-pilot crews from airports with at
least a 3,000-foot runway, and are upgraded to feature the latest
safety and navigation equipment, the company says. Passengers can sign
up for a seat, arrive at the airport 20 minutes before departure time,
and fly direct to rural towns and small cities without all the hassles
of airline flying, according to the company's Web site.
More...
|
PILOT GETAWAYS TRAVELS FROM COAST TO COAST AND TO
NEW ZEALAND
In the July/August issue, Pilot
Getaways takes you to: Harbor Springs, Michigan for some
Victorian elegance by the bay; Beaumont, Kansas, where you can taxi
down a country road to find hospitality in the heartland and zonkies;
Napa, California for fly-in dining; Greybull, Wyoming, where guests
are in cowboy heaven; Northampton, Massachusetts, the home of friendly
flying; Upper Loon, Idaho where solitude in the back country is heaven
too; and New Zealand's Flyinn Tours, where the beauty of the land is
as wonderful as its people. Don't miss an issue; order online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/getaways/avflash. |
TRACKING
GRAND CANYON OVERFLIGHT RULES
Four microphones attached to tripods in remote areas of the Grand
Canyon National Park are working for 50 days this summer to record the
natural sounds of the park, in an effort to establish a baseline for
"natural quiet." The microphones record 10 seconds of sound every two
minutes. That database, combined with another 50 days to be recorded
this winter, will be analyzed by a computer to determine a "natural"
decibel level, which can then be used to decide whether the current
noise regulations that restrict overflights of the park are adequate.
The goal is to have natural quiet in 50 percent of the park at least
75 percent of the time. More...
JAPANESE
SPACE AGENCY TO TEST SUPERSONIC AIRCRAFT
Concorde's demise left the world bereft of supersonic passenger
travel, but Japan's space agency is working on a design that could
fill that void. It was reported this week that the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA) will test a model of a supersonic airplane next month
over the Australian desert. JAXA is working under a joint agreement
with France that was announced at the Paris Air Show in June. The
uncrewed mock-up will be launched from a booster rocket, accelerate to
Mach 2, and return to the ground under a parachute. The plan aims to
build a jet that could carry 300 passengers from New York to Tokyo in
under six hours, as soon as 2015. More...
|
MIKE BUSCH'S SAVVY SEMINAR IS COMING TO A CITY NEAR
YOU!
During the next 12 months, aircraft maintenance expert
Mike Busch will be offering his acclaimed weekend Savvy Owner
Seminar in Chicago, Boston, Denver, Frederick, Atlanta, Phoenix, Los
Angeles, Charlotte, Orlando, Houston, Memphis, Las Vegas, San Diego,
and Salt Lake City. Learn how to have a safer, more reliable aircraft
while saving literally thousands of dollars on maintenance costs, year
after year. For seminar details and to reserve your spot, go to
http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/savvy/avflash. |
ON
THE FLY...
NASA awarded civilian astronaut wings Tuesday to X-15 pilots...
ATG
will build its Javelin jets in Front Range, Colo...
The FAA is
investigating a 747's nosegear collapse...
Two Santa Monica,
Calif., pilots are planning a month-long flight along Route
66...
Russian test pilots last week broke two world speed
records...
Free admission for flight uniform-clad flight crews to
the musical, "Plane Crazy". 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...
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. |
NEW
ARTICLES AND FEATURES ON AVWEB
ATIS
The Right to Flight
More and
more security restrictions have reduced the accessibility andviability
of general aviation, and the proposed, permanent, D.C.-arearestriction
takes the cake. AVweb wants everyone to realize that this canbe
stopped with the right actions right now.
_______
COLUMNS
As the Beacon Turns #92: Phoenix Risin
A quiet morning on a
sleepy ramp somewhere out west -- the perfect way to start a trip
across a beautiful country. AVweb's Michael Maya Charles tells about a
great day to be alive and to fly. More...
AVWEB'S
QUESTION OF THE WEEK ...
There's been a lot of discussion about the ADIZ in Washington becoming
permanent (including this editorial, appearing today in our "ATIS"
opinion section). We've already asked how you feel about the
possibility; this week, we'd like to know if any of you are planning
to fight the plans to make the ADIZ permanent. PLUS: Results of last
week's question on hypoxia. 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
PICTURE OF THE WEEK ...
Submissions were down a bit this week — barely 50 fresh photos to
choose from! Luckily for us, every single photo we received this week
was a "Top 10" contender. It made picking a winner tough, but the
process was a lot of fun. When the dust settled, Steve Bailey of
Illinois took home this week's top prize — an officially licensed
AVweb logo hat! Wear it with pride, Steve — and be sure to remind
your admirers that they, too, can win an AVweb hat if we choose one of
their photo submissions as "Picture of the Week." More...
| Sponsor News and
Special Offers
Access to AVweb and AVflash is provided by
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| SHOPPING DEALS |
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NON-OWNER (RENTER) PILOTS EXPOSED:
HOW PILOTS ARE
HELD FINANCIALLY LIABLE
FOR LOSSES INVOLVING RENTED OR BORROWED
AIRCRAFT
You rent an aircraft on a beautiful day to fly
around the patch. All is well until it's time to land. You get caught
in a crosswind, and the aircraft is damaged in the process.
Fortunately, you are okay, but the airplane is in bad shape. Who is
responsible for the expense to repair the plane and the FBO's lost
revenue? Far too often, it is an uninsured renter pilot. Get the
comprehensive coverage your need by calling Avemco
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E-OX: HIGH-QUALITY PORTABLE OXYGEN
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Aeromedix's new 2-, 3-, and 4-place systems with individual Nelson
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ASO — A BETTER WAY TO SELL YOUR AIRCRAFT
SHARE
Finding aircraft share buyers can be hard — FBO
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Call (888) 992-9276 or visit http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/aso/partner/avflash
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SEE WHAT ATC SEES — AND THEN SEE WHAT THEY DO WITH
IT
The AVweb Edition of Flight Explorer is the
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picture of all IFR aircraft in-flight over the U.S. and Canada.
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FED UP
WITH BIG BILLS FOR ROUTINE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE?!
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AIRSPORT AVIONICS OFFERS A $100 DISCOUNT & COMPLIMENTARY
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SPECIAL: $100 discount on all models, with complimentary ground
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CARBON
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GUARDIAN
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| SPONSOR NEWS |
MICHAEL MAYA CHARLES RELEASES NEW BOOK: ARTFUL
FLYING
There's more to flying than safely getting the
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KITPLANES SHOWS "FAMILY VIRTUES" AND LOTS MORE IN
THE OCTOBER ISSUE
Kitplanes compares two aircraft:
One you can buy with a big wad of cash and one you'll have to put
together yourself. Lancair "twins" Columbia 300/350 and ES may have a
lot of design concepts in common, but they've definitely gone their
own ways. Kitplanes reports on a Slovenian kit motorglider that
combines the joy of soaring with practical cross-country capability.
And in "Blowing It," Kitplanes shows what it takes to build
your own turbo system. To finish off this October issue,
Kitplanes is "Surveying the Sonex" with its all-metal,
two-seat kits, and the "Designer Spotlight" is on Chuck Slusarczyk,
the CGS Hawk ultralight pioneer. Order your subscription at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/kitplanes/avflash. |
PILOTS COMMENT AFTER READING IFR: A STRUCTURED
APPROACH:
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bit player to a skilled conductor of instrument flight, this is
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help of this book, you will establish your own personal standard
operating practices for IFR, including incorporation of checklists,
flows, callouts, briefings, and the "fly by the numbers" method
of aircraft control. For more information and to order, go to http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/skyroad/avflash. |
ZD
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Operations on the Garmin G1000 covers all the navigation
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procedure turns, holding, OBS Mode, RAIM prediction, vertical
navigation, user waypoints, and map panning. PFD operations and
optional features such as MX Weather are not included. This manual
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_____________________________________
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Today's issue written by News Writer Mary Grady:
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