Volume 12, Number 2b — January 12, 2006

Email this AVflash to a friend Having trouble viewing this AVflash? View it online. To ensure that you continue to receive this newsletter, please add avweb@homer.belvoir.com to your address book.

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

ANOTHER ENGINE CONCERN
The FAA has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) that requires the replacement of certain ECi "Classic Cast" cylinder assemblies installed on Lycoming 320-, 360-, and 540-series parallel valve engines. The cylinders are found in more than 1,500 engines in the U.S., and must be replaced within 800 hours of time in service. Replacing all four cylinders on a typical Lycoming 360 would take about 12 hours and cost about $4,900, the FAA estimates. Ed Salmeron, president of ECi, told AVweb yesterday the AD reflects the intent of a Mandatory Service Bulletin issued by ECi last September. "ECi has instituted a pro-rated replacement program for parts and labor to be used when the affected cylinders come up for replacement," he said. More...

METAL FATIGUE AD
The FAA took the action because of the failure of some 30 installed cylinders due to metal fatigue. ECi asked for the AD to allow affected cylinder assemblies to be removed at the normal engine operating time-between-overhaul, but the FAA stuck with its 800-hour limit. "The failure data records show that a longer operating time for the affected cylinder assemblies would jeopardize aircraft safety," the FAA said. AOPA said it was satisfied with the final form of the AD. With 30 incidents cited, "there was a clear indication of a problem," spokeswoman Kathleen Vasconcelos told AVweb. In contrast, AOPA vehemently opposed a recent proposed AD regarding ECi connecting rods, which was based on a single incident of failure. More...

ADIZ PUBLIC MEETINGS START TODAY IN MARYLAND
This afternoon, the FAA will hold the first of two public meetings on its proposal to make the ADIZ over the D.C. area into a permanent fixture. The proposal so far has drawn over 19,700 comments, so the agency is sure to have plenty of input. Today's meeting, at the Sheraton Colombia Hotel in Columbia, Md., will run from 1 p.m. until 4, then take a break and resume at 6:30 until no later than 9 p.m. Next week's session is set for Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the Dulles Airport Marriott, the same hours. If you wanted to make an oral statement at either session, you had to have your request in by now. Comments can be submitted by e-mail until Feb. 6. You can access the docket online; type in 17005. More...

ARIZONA PILOTS DEAL WITH NEW UAV TFR
The FAA has established a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) to accommodate unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights by the U.S. Customs Border Patrol near Nogales, Ariz., along the Mexican border. "The unexpected, immediate implementation of this TFR raises concerns that the FAA and the Department of Homeland Security have not taken into consideration the impact that this kind of TFR has on general aviation," said Melissa Rudinger, AOPA vice president of regulatory affairs. "The association staff is meeting this week with the FAA, Homeland Security, and other security officials to take up the issue. ... The implications of this TFR are alarming." More...

NORTHEAST FACES AIRSPACE OVERHAUL
The FAA is working to redesign the airspace in the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia area, and has asked for comments on four potential plans that it says would improve safety, reduce delays and handle growing air traffic. The four alternatives under consideration are Future No Action, Modifications to Existing Airspace, Ocean Routing Airspace, and Integrated Airspace Alternative. A series of 30 public workshops will be held in February, March and April to solicit input from users. Meeting notices will be published and distributed starting this month, and will be posted on the project Web site. Written comments also can be submitted by e-mail. More...

NTSB ON UFO MIDAIR, OR WAKE TURBULENCE, OR...?
The NTSB on Tuesday updated its report on a Cessna Cargomaster that crashed in an Alabama swamp on an October night in 2002, killing the sole occupant, an ATP-rated pilot with more than 4,500 hours total time and 838 time-in-type. Shortly before the accident, the pilot was advised of traffic -- a DC-10 at one o'clock and two miles. The pilot responded he was still in IMC. Soon after, the pilot added, "Roger I got him above me right now." Sixteen seconds later came the pilot's final recorded words, "I needed to deviate, I needed to deviate, I needed to deviate, I needed," and the transmission ended, according to the NTSB's report. Thirty-four mysterious red marks were found on different parts of the aircraft's wreckage, which was strewn over a 600-foot area. Those marks and wreckage area inspired speculation that the crash was the result of an in-flight collision with an unidentified object. So far, the NTSB disagrees. More...

FIRST FLIGHT FOR SPECTRUM 33 LIGHT JET
When Linden Blue, founder and CEO of Spectrum Aeronautical, announced at November's NBAA conference that he had a new light bizjet in the works, it was pretty much a surprise. Now, just about two months later, the company has successfully flown the aircraft. The Spectrum 33 twinjet made its first flight on Saturday, Jan. 7, at Spanish Fork-Springville Airport in Utah. The jet lifted off the 4,500-foot-elevation runway in about 750 feet, the company said, even though it was using greatly reduced takeoff thrust. It was then repositioned to the Provo, Utah, airport, a landing facility with a considerably longer runway. "The acceleration and climb performance of the 33 is remarkable," said Bill Davies, Spectrum's chief of flight test. More...

LOW AND SLOW DANGEROUS, EVEN WITH A CHUTE
On Monday, a flight instructor and his student died when the Cirrus SR20 they were flying crashed while they were practicing touch and goes at Gen. William J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster, Calif. The airplane's ballistic chute was found deployed at the wreckage site, but witnesses quoted in early reports disagreed as to whether it was activated before or after hitting the ground. In practice, low and slow in the pattern is a dangerous time for something to go wrong and even if chute deployment is attempted, there may not be time for it to help. Depending on attitude and airspeed, it can take about 300 feet to a maximum of 1,000 feet to fully deploy the chute, Cirrus's Bill King, vice president of business administration, told AVweb on Tuesday. More...

AUSTRALIAN FLIGHT TOURS NO MORE
Despite a last-ditch effort to change the minds of Australia's government regulators, GOANA Australian Air Safaris is gone, shut down as of Dec. 31, after 12 years of providing fly-yourself adventures to pilots from around the world. Mal Shipton, who owned the company, blamed the indifference of bureaucrats who imposed a complex set of security rules on his operation and refused to listen to those affected by those rules. "They have stifled the success we had hitherto enjoyed -- all in the name of aviation security," Shipton said on his Web site. "Marjorie and I thank each and every person we have hosted and trust your memories are as fond as mine of a great 12 years, the best in my life," he said. More...

AOPA PUBLISHES GUIDE TO HANGAR DEVELOPMENT
Among the many challenges of owning an airplane -- financing, taxes, maintenance, etc. -- finding a place to keep it can be one of the toughest. A tiedown is adequate for some, but for security and protection from the elements, most pilots really want hangar space. There are not enough hangars to go around, and getting new ones built can be a bureaucratic nightmare. To help ease that process, AOPA's Airport Support Network has published a free, 40-page step-by-step guide. AOPA's new Hangar Development Guide lays out five crucial steps to success -- determining the need, creating a sound business case, careful planning, actual building and project evaluation. More...

BUILD YOUR OWN TURBOPROP
It's a pretty big project to undertake in your garage, but Aircraft Investor Resources has the OK from the FAA to sell its EpicLT turboprop as an experimental amateur-built kit. If your garage is not up to the task, owners will be offered space at an Epic Build Facility with access to tools and materials. "We are pleased with the FAA's positive support and participation in our program," said CEO Rick Schrameck. "We look forward to expanding our kit offering across North America in an endeavor to broaden the educational experimental market segment." The six-seat, carbon-fiber LT flies at 350 knots behind a Pratt & Whitney PT-6 and sells for about $1.2 million. More...

AWOS TELEPHONE SERVICE TO SWITCH TO PAY-ONLY
&publicatiAs AVweb told you a couple of years ago, it's possible to listen to AWOS broadcasts via a toll-free telephone number through a company called anyAWOS. The idea was to have a short commercial message from sponsors to pay for the system but it apparently hasn't worked out that way. In a note on its Web site, anyAWOS has announced that it will be charging subscription fees for using the system effective Feb. 6. "...anyAWOS is a private business and like any business, it has to make money to survive. We have received no funds from any external source to date. We have tried various means of subsidizing access to anyAWOS, but so far none has been successful." More...

ON THE FLY...
A Conn. man pleaded guilty to stealing an airplane and flying drunk...
BRS got STC for Symphony SA 160...
GlobalFlyer expected to land at Kennedy Space Center today...
FAA notes fire danger from laptop batteries in the cockpit...
A 1974 Cessna 210L, N93160, stolen last week in Baja California...
Fatigue cracks found in both wings of Mallard that crashed in Fla....
AOPA appointed four new executive vice presidents...
Check out sectionals online at this not-for-navigation site...
Over 800 jet pilots in Ohio taking steps to join Teamsters. More...

AVWEB'S NEWSTIPS ADDRESS ...
What have you heard? There might be something to it. If you've heard something that 130,000 pilots might want to know about, don't be shy. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com. Our best stories start with you. More...

NEW ARTICLES AND FEATURES ON AVWEB
COLUMNS
As the Beacon Turns #97: What's Important -- Now?
Part of becoming a good pilot is knowing what to pay attention to at any particular time. There are plenty of things begging to be taken care of, but if you get distracted by the less important ones, your safety margin will plunmet. AVweb's Michael Maya Charles reminds us to watch our priorities.

Audio Clip
When it comes to ice detection, knowing where to look is half the battle. Click through for a free clip from our experts. 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 ...
LSA: Do you plan to be a participant, or just an observer? A burgeoning industry hopes the skies will soon be teeming with Light Sport Aircraft, but we want to know if one of those aircraft will belong to you. PLUS: Results of last week's question on VFR vs. IFR. Click through to find out which AVweb readers prefer ... . More...

AVWEB'S PICTURE OF THE WEEK ...
Welcome to another edition of AVweb's "Picture of the Week" — and to those of you who were traveling or otherwise engaged during the holidays, welcome back. Now that 2006 is underway, submissions to our weekly photo contest have resumed their steady climb, with just under 100 photos coming into consideration this week. Topping the list is a fly-over photo from Joseph Aldendifer of Corona, California. Joseph's photo mixes the spectacular skyline of Los Angeles with the warm and familiar cockpit of a DC-3, and it earns him our top prize — an official AVweb baseball cap. Wear it with pride, Joseph! Click through to enjoy this week's photos — but don't forget to submit your own pictures. You could win a hat like Joseph's if you're chosen as a top weekly winner. And even if you don't make it to that coveted spot, your photo could still be featured here, where it will bring a smile of delight to a hundred thousand or so of your fellow pilots. More...

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.

Freedom, independence, responsibility.

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.