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The Top Headlines From AVweb's Expanded, Illustrated News
Coverage At AVweb's
NewsWire. A
RECORD-BREAKING YEAR FOR GA
All the numbers show that 2005
was a great year for airplane sales, the General Aviation Manufacturers
Association (GAMA) reported on Monday. Billings rose to $15.1 billion,
up 27.2 percent over 2004. U.S. manufacturers shipped 2,857 airplanes,
an increase of 21.3 percent. Worldwide shipments of GA aircraft totaled
3,580 units, up 20.8 percent. GAMA President Peter Bunce says he expects
more of the same for 2006. "Our industry has experienced an absolutely
phenomenal, phenomenal success in the past year," he told The
Wichita Eagle. "We want to keep that momentum going." An expanding
global market and the emerging market of very light jets should provide
that momentum, he said. More... PISTON
PURCHASES MAKE PROGRESS
The piston market grew an additional
20 percent over the 20-year peak reached in 2004, with 2,465 units
shipped. Turboprop shipments grew 14 percent. GAMA credits innovations
in performance and comfort for keeping the turboprop segment
competitive. The bizjet sector grew 27 percent, with 750 units shipped,
just 34 fewer than the record of 784 in 2001. Exports from the U.S. grew
67 percent, representing 19 percent of all aircraft built in the
country. "All manufacturers are seeing new markets emerge around the
globe," GAMA said. Jobs at GAMA member companies grew by 6 percent. But
one statistic fell -- there were 3 percent fewer private pilots than in
2004. More... |
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NTSB
CHAIR: GA CRASHES WON'T BE IGNORED
Mark Rosenker, acting
chairman of the NTSB, spoke to the GA world on Tuesday at the General
Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) meeting, and made use of the
occasion to respond to a recent story in The Washington Post. The Post reported last week
that NTSB investigators have been going to fewer accident scenes every
year since 2001, showing up at less than half of the crashes involving
small aircraft. Rosenker told the GAMA audience on Tuesday, "While it is true
that we do not launch on all fatal and serious injury accidents, I must
reiterate that we shall continue to lead an investigation into every
single one of the nearly 1,800 general aviation accidents that occur
each year in the country." More... NO
ACCIDENTS OVERLOOKED
"Whether we launch to the scene or not,
we will conduct all of the research, interviews, and follow-up
examinations necessary to perform an appropriate investigation,"
Rosenker said. "We will write the final report, and the NTSB will
determine the probable cause of every single accident, no matter how
small. This is our mandate, and we are sticking to it." Rosenker said
the NTSB has been on-site at 62 percent of fatal accidents over the last
three years, a drop from 75 percent previously. "I assure you that this
13-point drop involved fatal accidents that had known circumstances and
no safety payback," he said. More... |
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PILOTS
IN DEMAND: VIRGIN AMERICA, NETJETS, TO HIRE HUNDREDS
Virgin America,
the U.S. stepchild of Richard Branson's Virgin brand, has started hiring
pilots for its base in San Francisco. The new airline is looking for six
experienced pilots right now to help with starting up, then will hire
more than 100 pilots later this year to staff its fleet of 33 Airbus
320-family jets. At least 5,000 hours are required, and a type rating
wouldn't hurt. Branson also is interested in getting into the air-taxi business with a fleet of Eclipse jets,
Andrew Broom, public relations manager at Eclipse, confirmed for
AVweb, yesterday. Meanwhile, NetJets says it will hire 450 pilots in 2006. Last year, NetJets
pilots represented by the Teamsters achieved a new labor agreement with
substantial increases in salaries. NetJets' new hires will be based at
Columbus, Teterboro, West Palm Beach, Los Angeles and Dallas.
More... NEW
RULES WOULD HALVE FLIGHT REQUIREMENT OVERSEAS
Under new rules
to be introduced later this year by the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO), the minimum flight time for commercial pilots in
Europe would be cut from 145 hours to 70, while simulator time would
increase from 90 to 170 hours. The British Air Line Pilots Association
(BALPA) is protesting the change. "Simulators may be amazingly realistic
but you always know you will be going home at the end of the day,"
Martin Alder, spokesman for BALPA, told The London Times. "There is no substitute for the
unpredictability of real flying." Lufthansa, which has invested heavily
in new simulators, has pressured ICAO to make the changes, according to
The Times. More... |
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TV
DOCUMENTARY SUGGESTS PILOTS OVERWORKED
Meanwhile, in the
U.K., a documentary on Ryanair by Channel Four accuses the airline of
requiring pilots to work excessive hours, even when they are fatigued.
Ryanair has denied and disputed all of the
filmmakers' allegations. The program, Dispatches, aired Monday night. Two undercover
reporters posed as cabin crew and spent five months secretly filming
Ryanair's training program and flights. The reporters claimed to reveal
inadequate safety and security checks, dirty airplanes, exhausted cabin
crew and pilots complaining about the number of hours they have to fly.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said the allegations were unfounded.
More... CONGRESS
ASKED TO REVIEW DUTY-TIME RULES
U. S. Rep Tom Reynolds, of
New York, called last week for an investigation into pilot
fatigue and a fresh look at rules regarding duty time. "Not since 1940
have flight-and-duty-time rules for pilots been updated," said Reynolds.
"That simply is unacceptable." Reynolds cited a recent NTSB report on a fatal crash in Kirksville, Mo., in
October 2004, which found that pilot fatigue was a contributing factor.
The pilots had been on duty for over 14 hours on the day of the crash.
Reynolds said he also wants to review the rules regarding the use of
Terrain Avoidance Warning Systems. No such system was required for the
fatal flight. One of the 13 who died aboard Corporate Airlines Flight
5966 was a New York resident. More... |
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NEW
ZEALAND PILOT ACCUSED OF CRASH FRAUD
A New Zealand pilot was
in court this week on fraud charges related to lying about having
ditched his Cessna 185 in July 2004, according to the New Zealand
Herald. Howard Jamison, 46, had reported that he took off from Timaru
Airport and was flying offshore when the airplane's engine surged and
stopped. He said he dead-sticked into the water, and was able to remove
part of the airplane floor, which he rode into shore as the airplane
sank. Jamison submitted an accident report and insurance claim, but the
wreckage was never found. The Cessna was reportedly found last month, undamaged, stored in a
shipping container. Jamison has said that if found guilty, he may sell
his three other aircraft if necessary to repay the insurance of
NZ$258,000. More... THREE
KILLED WHEN GLASAIR HITS HOUSE
A Glasair II two-seat
kitplane crashed into a house in a suburban neighborhood
outside Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday afternoon. The airplane's owner,
Patrick O'Brien, 49, of San Clemente, was killed, along with James
McIsaac, 43, of Roseville, who was also a pilot. Chris Musil, 19, who
lived in the house with his father, was killed. According to The Sacramento Bee, McIsaac lived in the
neighborhood, and his wife and mother were watching when the aircraft
suddenly dove into the house, which was quickly engulfed in flames.
Witnesses said the aircraft was flying low over the neighborhood and
performing aerobatics just before the crash. Spokesmen from EAA and
Glasair were interviewed in the local press. More... |
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When It Comes to Aircraft Insurance, the
Choice Is EasyThe AOPA Insurance Agency is the
only agency that offers the built-in expertise of AOPA's 66+ years'
commitment to general aviation, and the only aircraft insurance agency
qualified to carry the AOPA name. More than 405,000 pilots trust AOPA
for their aviation needs, so when it comes to aircraft insurance, why
call anyone else? One call to the AOPA Insurance Agency, and you'll have
multiple quotes from major A-rated underwriters in minutes. Call AOPA
Insurance Agency for a complimentary quote at (800) 622-2672,
or go online.
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SOMETHING
ELSE TO SEE AND AVOID -- SPACE ELEVATORS?
LiftPort Group, a
consortium of companies working together to develop a space elevator,
said on Monday it has successfully completed a second round of tests of
its high-altitude platform. The tests, which required an FAA waiver to
use the airspace, were completed earlier this month in Arizona. LiftPort
says it launched an observation and communication platform to over 5,000
feet and maintained it in a stationary position for more than six hours,
using an arrangement of high-altitude balloons. A ribbon attached from
the platform to the ground supported robotic lifters that climbed as
high as 1,500 feet. LiftPort says the technology can eventually be used
to create a space elevator that would be anchored to an offshore sea
platform near the equator in the Pacific Ocean. More... ON
THE FLY...
L-39 warbirds confiscated in Alaska by the
FBI...
Boeing on Monday delivered its 5,000th 737, to Southwest
Airlines...
An IPO at Eclipse Aviation? Not this year...
Jeppesen
NavData Alert for Minneapolis Class B Airspace...
Two federal air
marshals face drug charges...
PM Tony Blair on board a DC-8 during
aborted takeoff in South Africa...
A rainbow-painted Lear Jet is
flying children for Make A Wish...
A flying motorcycle takes to the
air on TV news video. More... |
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Don't Buy an Aircraft without Checking with
CS&A's Insurance Pros!Check with CS&A's insurance
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NEW
ARTICLES AND FEATURES ON AVWEB
NEWS
FEATURES
The Making of
the World's Largest Skydive
The world's most experienced
skydivers recently met in Thailand to build a record, 400-way formation.
What did it take? The resources of an entire air force, 300 tons of
Jet-A, a trainload of oxygen bottles and the determined endurance of a
marathon runner, according to AVweb's Editorial Director (and skydiver)
Paul Bertorelli. _______
COLUMNS
The Savvy
Aviator #28: Be Prepared
The most exasperating aircraft
mechanicals invariably occur between Friday night and Sunday afternoon
when you're hundreds of miles from home. The difference between a minor
annoyance and major trauma often hinges on whether you're
prepared. __________
AUDIO CLIP
Non-towered pattern
entry. Dick Taylor explains the not-so-common knowledge that keeps you
safer in the pattern at a non-towered airport. This is one case where
the simplest approach isn't always the best. Click through to learn. More... |
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Attention, Piper Owners and
Pilots!The Piper Flyer Association ( PFA)
provides parts locating, tech support, a monthly member magazine, online
forums, national and regional events, an annual convention, seminars,
and more. With a one-year membership for $39, access the needed
information to expand your knowledge and get more enjoyment from owning
and flying your Piper aircraft. The PFA is located on the Waupaca
Municipal Airport in Wisconsin, just 35 miles NW of Oshkosh. For more
information, and to request a sample copy of the magazine, click
here.
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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... |
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Pilots Know They Need to Protect &
Improve Their EyesAs a pilot, Brian Grote knows that
visual acuity is an asset he can't afford to lose. After years of
declining vision, he's finally found an all-natural supplement that may
help protect and improve the health of his eyes for years to come. Click
here to find out more about Claroxan, an all-natural
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AVWEB'S
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
This week, AVweb wants to know if being
paid to fly is still the dream job it once was. You may get the chance
soon — but do you want it? PLUS: Results of last week's question on
mid-air collisions. More... |
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Tired of the High Cost of Fuel? GAMIjectors
Are the Answer!Don't be grounded by sky-high gas prices.
Install GAMIjectors, and you could see up to a 20% cut in your
aircraft's fuel bill. Balanced fuel/air ratios make your aircraft's
engine run smoother, cooler, and more efficiently. Call
888-FLY-GAMI, or order a
kit online for your Continental or Lycoming engine.
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AVWEB'S
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
 What's got soaring jets,
majestic mountains, tropical beaches, and adorable children? O.K., it's
a trick question. We all know the answer is the latest installment of
AVweb's "Picture of the Week" contest. We'll kick things off with a
photo from this week's winner, David
Coggin of Altus, Oklahoma. More... |
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AVwebFlash is a twice-weekly summary of the latest news, articles,
products, features, and events featured on AVweb,
the internet's aviation magazine and news service.
Today's issue was written by news writer Mary Grady (bio).
Click
here to send a
letter to the editor. (Please let us know if your
letter is not intended for
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Comments or questions about the news should be sent
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Have a product or service to advertise on AVweb? A question on
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If you're having trouble reading this newsletter in
its HTML-rich format (or if you'd prefer a lighter, simpler format for
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here.
Freedom, independence, responsibility.
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