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March 2, 2006
NewsWire Complete Issue
By The AVweb Editorial Staff
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 The SJ30-2 Is the World's
Fastest Light Business JetNot only is it fast; it has intercontinental range -- 560 mph and over 2800 sm range. The SJ30-2 is the most advanced light business jet in the sky
today -- the perfect package of speed, range, and good looks. Click here for details. |
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In what appears to be the largest crankshaft-related service bulletin yet, Lycoming has notified field shops and distributors that it's calling for the "retirement" of 5100 additional crankshafts in
certain -360, -390, -540 and -720 series four-, six- and eight-cylinder engines. The newest action follows close on the heels of Lycoming's last recall of nearly 400 crankshafts for -360 series
engines last fall and brings the tally of affected crankshafts to some 7500. While last fall's action was a "recall," the latest mandatory service bulletin -- SB 569 (PDF file, here) -- requires the retirement of serial-number-specified crankshafts
within the next three years, by Feb. 21, 2009, or at the first opportunity before then if the crankcase is opened up for overhaul or prop-strike inspection. The distinction between "recall" and
"retirement" is one that some owners may not like.
In previous recalls totaling some 2400 crankshafts, Lycoming has paid for the engine work to various degrees, even reimbursing owners for hangar expenses and loss of use in the 2003 recalls. Not this
time. Owners affected by the crank retirement will get a discount deal on the replacement crankshaft -- $2000 for the shaft, plus a box full of free parts such as gears, bearings, piston ring sets,
connecting rod bolts and nuts and seals. But they're on their own for engine assembly, repair and reinstallation, which field overhaul shops tell us will add another $4000 to $5000 to the job if the
crank is replaced proactively or before the engine reaches routine TBO. Further, owners will have to ship the retired crankshaft back to Lycoming to obtain the discount price, also at their own
expense. The $2000 offer applies to crankshafts for any engine and is substantially below list price for a new part, especially for six-cylinder engines.
Lycoming says it will ramp up production of replacement crankshafts but as in previous recalls, priority will go to government operators and Part 121 and Part 135 operators, with private owners last.
What's not known is if this recall withdraws all of the potentially defective crankshafts from the market. (We queried Lycoming about this but haven't received a reply yet.) The crankshafts in
question were manufactured between March of 1997 and March of 2002. In a separate letter to distributors, Lycoming's Michael Everhart said, "While there have been no incidents involving these
crankshafts, Lycoming Engines, in cooperation with the FAA, continues to monitor and analyze the approximate 5100 affected shafts. Lycoming Engines is instituting this proactive retirement from
service to be consistent with our long-standing commitment to product quality and our customers."
Several engine shops we interviewed report mixed reactions to Lycoming's announcement, since many of them overhauled the engines that will now need replacement crankshafts. It's too soon to gauge
customer reaction or, more important, how many owners may want to replace their crankshafts proactively. And what about those who don't? A mandatory service bulletin can be ignored by a Part 91
operator. "First, it's not an AD note, it's a service bulletin," says Allen Weiss of Certified Engines in Opa Locka, Fla. Does that mean Certified would allow a customer to reuse a retired crankshaft?
"Yes. But we would probably get that in writing and have the customer sign a waiver." Weiss told us he believes Lycoming's price on the replacement crankshaft is a good deal but an owner who
overhauled an engine 500 hours ago may not necessarily agree. We don't yet know if Lycoming will push for an AD upon expiration of the three-year retirement period.
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 In Print & Online, Trade-A-Plane Has Everything That Keeps You FlyingGet 24 issues (two years) for just $24.95 (U.S., standard mail), including no-cost
access to Trade-A-Plane's web site that is updated daily. Subscribe by calling (800) 337-5263 and mentioning this AVwebFlash, or subscribe online. |
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The growing furor over the alleged abuse of local governments employing "eminent domain" powers to grab land from the existing property owners could threaten GA airports in Alabama, according to the
FAA. The agency's Mississippi Airport District Office has written the Alabama Department of Transportation saying eminent domain legislation now before the State Assembly could prevent local
authorities from keeping trees trimmed and providing enough space for the safe operation of about 90 publicly owned, public-use airports, according to a report in Alabama Aviator. Eminent domain is
the power of a government to take over private property if it's regarded as necessary for the community as a whole. Until a Supreme Court ruling last year, that meant property for widening roads,
installing services or creating parks. But the city of New London, Conn., took eminent domain a step further last summer and seized private property so that it could be redeveloped by private
interests. The Supreme Court ruled in the city's favor, saying that economic development is a well-established role of civic government. In the same decision, the court ruled that state governments
could put curbs on the use of eminent domain by civic governments. Most states have either created new eminent domain laws or are in the process.
What may set the Alabama bills apart (S.B 466 and H.B. 622 -- follow up, here) is that legislators there deal specifically with airport land
acquisition. Under the proposed laws, only Class 1 cities, those with a population of 300,000 or more, would have eminent domain rights to buy land needed for airports. The FAA routinely hands out
grants for land purchases to improve airport safety and, according to Alabama Aviator, is concerned that local authorities that get this money will have their hands tied by the limitations imposed by
the proposed legislation. It wants the communities operating all 90 public-use airports to have those powers. According to Alabama
Aviator, the FAA views eminent domain as a last resort for obtaining airport land but it's an option the agency says local governments need to retain to level the playing field with private
landowners.
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 Aircraft Spruce Carries Extreme Simple Green(R)Extreme Simple Green(R) Aircraft & Precision
Cleaner is a water-based formula that cleans engines, aircraft, metals, plastics, high-tech alloys, and parts. This non-corrosive, low-foaming cleaner/degreaser doesn't contain reagents that
oxidize finishes, cause rust, or degrade elastic materials -- but protects the life of hoses, seals, gaskets, paint finishes, and other hard surfaces. This cleaner is VOC-compliant,
non-flammable, non-hazardous, biodegradable, and safe for entrance into oil/water separators. Call 1-877-4-SPRUCE, or go
online. |
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If weather, vacation or your winter slumber has kept you from visiting your plane recently, it might be a good idea to get reacquainted. And if, like a growing number of aircraft owners on the Eastern Seaboard, you discover big holes in the panel where your
avionics used to be, check eBay. Connecticut pilot Tim Vecchiarelli and his King KN-64 DME are expected to be reunited soon after Vecchiarelli's wife Allyson discovered the stolen device posted for
sale on eBay by Avionics Masters, a Florida-based avionics dealer. "I just thought, what the heck. I mean what else is someone going to do with it?" she told AVweb. Within minutes she matched
the serial number of a DME on the auction site to the one that used to reside in the couple's Piper Warrior. The DME was among five items gently removed from the panel sometime last month in what now
looks like a series of avionics thefts along the East Coast. Tim Vecchiarelli said he has no doubt Avionics Masters had no idea the DME was stolen because it took him at least three weeks to report
the theft -- and therein may lie part of the thief's modus operandi. Between the terrible weather that has plagued the Northeast and a sore back, Vecchiarelli hasn't been flying for more than a month.
He's been turning the prop once a week to keep oil circulated but for at least three weeks he didn't take the canopy cover off the airplane. In early February, one of his tie-down neighbors noticed
some of the cover straps were loose. Vecchiarelli said he put it down to the high winds the area received about that time but now he thinks that might have been when the theft occurred. It wasn't
until late in February that he took a look inside.
Avionics Masters owner Jim Scully told AVweb that as soon as the Connecticut State Police contacted him about the DME, he pulled the listing off eBay and shipped the equipment back to the
Vecchiarellis. Scully said the DME was in a consignment of salvage items his company bought as part of its normal business -- finding and reselling used avionics. The company's policy is to check
serial numbers against an FAA list of stolen equipment and this DME cleared because of the delay in reporting it stolen. Scully said he wouldn't characterize avionics thefts as common. "They happen,
though. We've had a few," he said. Scully said there are some relatively simple precautions owners can take. Besides the obvious actions of locking planes and hangars and keeping the parking areas
lit, Scully said installing a homemade security device might frustrate would-be thieves. Most avionics are installed with Allen bolts. Scully suggest cutting sections of a cheap Allen key the
thickness of the receptacles in the bolts and using them to fill those receptacles so that an Allen key won't fit the head of the bolt. "They're usually doing this at night and when [the Allen key]
won't work they'll go on to the next plane," he said. He recommends using a cheap key for the slot fillers because they tend not to fit as precisely as good quality tools and they're easy to remove
with a magnet when necessary.
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 PowerlinkTM FADEC Certified on Liberty XL-2; Is It Right for Your Aircraft?Liberty Aerospace is the first certified piston-powered aircraft with PowerLinkTM FADEC as standard equipment. PowerLink TM FADEC is now also available for several additional certified and experimental aircraft, including
the A-36 Bonanza and VANS RV series. Find out how you can bring your aircraft into the state-of-the-art online. |
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Most people know that alcohol and airplanes don't mix, whether in the pilot or in the fuel tank. That's why some Washington State aircraft owners are lobbying state officials to modify proposed legislation that would require the addition of up to 10 percent ethanol, by volume,
in all motor fuel sold in the State. It would start with 2 percent, to be added by Dec. 1, 2008. Ethanol reacts with seals, lines and other fuel-system components on (unmodified) aircraft and can
cause maintenance or safety problems. There are about 600 airplanes either originally designed or STC'd to operate on car gas in Washington and that's enough for EAA to mobilize its members. EAA has
asked its members to contact the governor and state senators to put an exemption in the bill allowing ready access to fuel without ethanol. "This action is critical to aviation safety," the message to members reads. EAA also
notes that aircraft owners are not alone in the battle. Ethanol-blended fuels are also not recommended in engines used in a variety of terrestrial recreational vehicles like ATVs, boats, snowmobiles
and collector cars.
Some states have recognized various risks posed by ethanol-blended fuels and taken steps to ensure the availability of pure gasoline. For instance, last month the EPA revoked for California a
long-standing mandate that refiners add ethanol to gasoline, but the decision will only go into effect 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register this summer; refiners do not yet know how
it will alter the mix, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. EAA's home state of Wisconsin permits unaltered
gas as long as it fits the "premium" octane level of 91 and EAA is suggesting that Washington adopt a similar exemption. Most users of ethanol-free fuel have neither the money nor the inclination to
be storing large quantities of fuel so it has to be readily available through the regular distribution system. Assuming ethanol-free gas is available alongside the tipsy fuel, EAA said it's imperative
that the pumps be clearly marked. As oil prices trend upwards, it's likely ethanol blending will be considered by many jurisdictions as a way of reducing dependence on oil imports. Washington
legislators also see some home-grown economic benefits by way of using the state's agricultural capacity to produce the ethanol.
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 Mach 1 Headset by LightSPEED: Small, Durable & Ulta-ComfortableTry it out at the upcoming Sun 'n Fun show (Booths D52-53 and D75). After years of pilot input,
LightSPEED introduces the MACH 1, a high-performance in-the-ear (ITE) headset. The "born to be worn" MACH 1 packs a lot for its size. Connect to cell phone and music interfaces. Get
supreme comfort with unbelievable noise attenuation. To order, contact a LightSPEED dealer or call (800) 332-2421 (PST business hours). Click here to view the 60-second MACH 1 video. |
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Airline executives who make up the Air Transport Association, which represents most of the major carriers in the U.S. have agreed to accept a system of user fees to replace ticket taxes "and other
fees" currently collected to fund the FAA's now $14.3 billion budget, according to a Bloomberg News report. The
collection of some $10 billion collected annually from the taxes and fees would be swapped for one "based on use of airspace," a step the report says "will be the basis of industry lobbying aimed at
persuading Congress to change the way it finances the air traffic control system." Paying for actual use of the system may include take-off charges and metered fees based on use of air traffic control
services. Alphabet groups hadn't had time to respond by our deadline. The imposition of user fees at the airlines' invitation puts the spotlight on the FAA, which some fear is seeking to impose
similar fees on GA. From our perspective, there's been a noticeable uptick in major media attention to the National Airspace System in the past few months (the threat of VLJs, the FAA's financial
woes, the political interference of Congress). Some might interpret that press push as a preamble to a pay-as-you-go system that (some feel) could save the cash-strapped airlines a bundle. Guess whom
that could leave to take up the slack? Stay tuned...
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University say the FAA and FCC should maintain their bans on cellphone use on airliners and consider broadening the ban to computers and other non-broadcasting
electronic devices. Airlines should also be compelled to install monitoring equipment so pilots can detect signals that might disrupt their instruments. The researchers found that the interference
with aircraft systems caused by all electronic devices was greater than previously thought, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The team concluded that the in-flight use of electronic devices
"will, in all likelihood, someday cause an accident by interfering with critical cockpit instruments such as GPS receivers." And, surprise, surprise, they discovered that not everyone obeys the
current rules against cellphone use. The researchers gathered their data by putting monitoring equipment on aircraft during flight. The equipment picked up signals (including up to four cellphone
calls per flight) from all the sources and the researchers said they were surprised at just how much the signals interfered with the aircraft's electronics. Previous FAA studies indicated that
non-broadcast devices didn't pose any threat but the CMU study suggests otherwise. "We found that the risk posed by these portable devices is higher than previously believed," researcher Bill Strauss
said in a release that announced the findings.
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Work With The Insurance Professionals at CS&A for Your Aircraft's InsuranceCS&A Insurance
combines one of the most knowledgeable teams of aviation insurance professionals with the industry's most respectable aviation underwriting companies. Call the CS&A pros at (800) 761-2557
and mention this AVwebFlash, or go online.
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It used to be that kids not happy with things at home would run away and join the circus. Nowadays, they grab the keys to the old man's Mooney and fly away to Mexico. At least, that's what two
California teens would have done if there'd been gas in the plane, according to police in Big Bear, Calif. The two 14-year-olds managed to get a parentally owned Mooney M20 off the ground from Big
Bear Airport on Sunday after one of them had a fight with his parents. They stayed in the air for about 10 minutes before running out of gas and made a relatively safe deadstick landing in the desert
near Joshua Tree. A witness saw the boys wheeling the plane out of its hangar and called police but deputies arrived too late to prevent the takeoff. Authorities didn't catch up to them until some
park workers came across them standing near the broken Mooney. The boys had (up until that point, anyway) only minor injuries but, judging by photos of the plane, they'll be mowing lawns and painting
fences for a long time to pay for the damage.
On March 22 and 23, the FAA is holding public meetings in Kansas City, Mo., on what to do about keeping safe and serviceable the aging machinery that flies in regular service around the country.
Expect to hear plenty from pilots, maintenance experts, crash investigators and the like, but in terms of overall impact on the continued use of 40-, 50- and even 60-year-old aircraft, the constant
denominator is the insurance business. Avemco spokeswoman Lauretta Godbey said the company's chief underwriter, Jim Lauerman, will speak from experience and offer suggestions in his presentation. "We
want to let people know that we are thinking about this issue and we are concerned about this issue," she said. Lauerman, who has extensive experience in aircraft underwriting, can only offer his own
perspective on the issue but she said it's likely that his thoughts will be echoed in insurance company boardrooms across the country. She said Lauerman is also planning on offering tips to the owners
of aging aircraft on how to help keep insurance affordable for them.
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Oregon Aero — It Feels Like Flying!Don't let your old seat bring you down. Renew your passion for
flight with Oregon Aero(R) Seat Cushion Systems. Painless, safer and durable, your new seat will make flying feel like it should. Oregon Aero's seat cushion
designs and materials work together to ensure ideal body position and a perfect fit. Whether you fly a homebuilt or production aircraft, you can fly pain-free no matter how long the flight. Visit Oregon Aero online or call (800) 888-6910 for a free catalog.
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Inspiration sometimes comes from unusual sources and a Princeton University scientist's examination of the air flow through a car's sunroof may someday make
jet engines quieter, speed up stealth aircraft and make better micro air vehicles. What Clarence Rowley has demonstrated, through a Princeton-worthy series of calculations and experimentation, is that
the sound created by the turbulence at the barrier between slow and fast moving air can be cancelled in much the same way that noise-attenuating headsets give pilots a quieter ride. Using wind tunnels
and models resembling a car sunroof, Rowley analyzed the forces responsible for the wind noise that leads many of us to wonder why automakers would cut holes in the roof in the first place. Then, he
installed a microphone to channel the noise through a computer which, using those calculations, offered an equal and opposite response to an accompanying speaker, thus canceling the noise. "The
physical mechanism is actually very simple," Rowley said. The same setup can be applied to jet engines and the bomb bay doors on aircraft, but Rowley is concentrating on applying the technique to
create model-size aircraft that fly as fast as birds but maneuver with the agility of insects. We wonder what that equation looks like...
After 16 years of legal wrangling, a Hawaiian pilot who's blind in one eye has been told to start over again in his bid for compensation from an airline that refused to hire him. Bruce Pied has
maintained a valid ATP rating for the full 16 years (one of more than 200 one-eyed ATPs on the FAA's register, according to The Associated Press), worked for other airlines (he amassed more than 1,200
multi hours) and, at one point, was awarded $1.4 million in compensation by the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission over Aloha Island Air's (now Island Air) decision not to hire him, according to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin,. The airline, which appealed the commission ruling, says it's free to hire whom it chooses and even though the
eye problem was the reason they chose not to hire Pied, it's not discrimination because according to the FAA he's not disabled. Now, the Hawaii Supreme Court has "cleared the record" on the case and
ordered a new jury trial to start from scratch. Pied, now 53, lost sight in his eye from a bout of shingles when he was a teenager but that didn't stop him from playing sports or learning to fly. The
affected eye follows the good eye and appears normal. In 1990, Pied got a job offer from Aloha Island but, when he voluntarily informed the airline about the eye (he didn't have to), the offer was
rescinded. The airline maintains that it has the right to hire the safest pilots possible and, even if Pied can prove that the blind eye is the reason he wasn't hired, he has no recourse because he's
proven the condition is not a disability. Pied's lawyer said the situation isn't as unusual as it seems and crops up frequently in discrimination cases. "Their argument is that Mr. Pied is not
disabled. Therefore, they can discriminate against him," he told the Star-Bulletin.
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Join AOPA: The Real-Time Flight Planner Is Worth the Dues Alone!AOPA nembership can be an invaluable
resource at an incredible value. Join AOPA for $39 a year, and take advantage of the benefits exclusive to members, including: a year subscription to AOPA Pilot magazine; 24-hour access
to the "Members-Only" section of the web site; and AOPA's Real-Time Flight Planner with up-to-the-minute flight restrictions, routing images, weather info and more! As the largest aviation
organization in the world, AOPA is a tireless advocate for over 405,000 members, protecting their right to fly. Click here
to become an AOPA member today.
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An international aircraft registry went live today allowing airlines, individuals and governments to register their interests in airframes, helicopters and engines in a one-size-fits-all
database. Proponents say the registry will save governments and industry billions of dollars...
Retired Brig. Gen. Robert L. Scott, a former Flying Tiger and author of God Is My Co-Pilot, died at the age of 97 in Warner Robbins, Ga. He was officially credited with 13 kills with his P-40
but estimated the actual total was 22...
The National Air Traffic Association has joined the call for federal mediation to try to settle its contract with the FAA. The agency called for mediation in November and the union rejected it.
NATCA President John Carr said the union decided to ask for mediation after recent talks in Seattle failed to create much movement...
Adam Aircraft may get a $50 million cash injection from Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd. as part of a deal to take over maintenance and repair of the A500 piston twin and A700 jet. The
investment option would allow Adam to ramp up production of aircraft quickly to meet an anticipated heavy demand.
Drop us a line. If it caught your attention, 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.
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Click, Shop, Save -- at the Pilot's Shopping Site -- Pilot ShopMake shopping for everything you
and your plane need easy and quick at Pilot Shop. Books, sunglasses, flashlights, radios, GPSs, timers, headsets, watches -- the list goes on and on! AVweb Special: $15 discount
coupon for purchases of $100 or more. One use per customer. Offer expires 3/31/06. Coupon Code: AVweb. With this special, no-cost shipping, and no sales tax
(outside NM), you have to see for yourself. Click here!
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COLUMNS
Say Again? #60: ATC 303 -- Bedrock ATC
The history, the basics and the bedrock of ATC is all about making sure two planes don't get to the same point in space at the same time. You thought the space-time continuum only had to do with
Einstein? Not even close, as AVweb's Don Brown discusses in his next 300-level ATC course.
___________
AUDIO CLIP
Landing, when it has to be right. Dick Taylor offers an approach of standardized technique to conquer the engine-out landing. Use it with care every time you fly and you'll be one step closer to
mastering your aircraft's unique aerodynamic profile. Click through to learn.
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/
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used avionics equipment and will work out an exchange for newer electronics. Bennett Avionics is your one-stop used avionics specialist. Call the Bennett Avionics specialists at (860)
653-7295, or go online.
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*** PREVIOUS RESULTS ***
Last week,
AVweb asked if you're worried about the controller shortage.
Most of you — an overwhelming 88% of those who responded — feel
controllers are the single most important part of the flight system.
We'd better have enough, you said, and they'd
better be properly compensated!
7% of those who responded (just under 100 individuals at press
time) thought that controllers are important — but didn't believe
the FAA would allow a controller shortage to jeopardize safety.
Another 3% of respondents (under 50 of you at this writing)
thought there might be more controllers to fill demand if NATCA were
willing to negotiate lower salaries.
And a tiny 2% of you (24 people at press time) aren't concerned
about the so-called "controller crisis."
*** THIS WEEK'S QUESTION ***
Lycoming's
crankshaft
issues
continue. Have the recalls and retirements affected your
impression of the company and its product?
Click here to answer
Have an idea for a new QOTW? Send your suggestions to
qotw@avweb.com. NOTE:
This address is
only for suggested QOTW questions, and not for QOTW answers or
comments.
Use
this form to send QOTW comments to our AVmail Editor.
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Avidyne's New TAS600 Systems Deliver Active-Surveillance Traffic Awareness Protection Under $10,000With pricing
starting at $9,990, Avidyne's new TAS600 systems set a new price-performance standard for active-surveillance traffic capability and make important safety systems affordable for owners
of light GA aircraft. TAS600 systems show standard TAS symbology on display systems from 15 different manufacturers, including Avidyne's Entegra and EX500/5000 MFDs; Garmin's G1000, MX20, and
400/500-series; as well as displays from Honeywell, Collins, Chelton, Sandel, and others. Click here for complete details.
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Submit a Photo |
Rules |
Tips |
Questions
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Past POTW Winners We've always heard it's best to do your
preflight checks before the rotors are spinning. Then again, we're
not lucky enough to have a flight suit that matches our aircraft's paint
job, so who are we to question this brave soul?
This week's winning photo is from Gary Grass of Port Alberni, British
Columbia. Like all our first-place winners, Gary will be receiving
an official AVweb baseball cap in the mail, as a "thank you" for
submitting. To win one of these hats for yourself, all you have to
do is submit
your aviation photos. Each week, we'll choose one first-place
winner and show you the best runners-up, right here on AVweb.
*** THIS WEEK'S WINNERS ***
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copyright © Gary
Grass
Used with permission |
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"One Final Look"
Gary Grass of Port Alberni, British
Columbia (Canada) reminds us that it's never too late for one last
pre-flight check. We're not sure what the back story on this photo
is, but it made us curious enough to name Gary this week's "POTW"
winner. |
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AVweb continues to receive a large number of excellent images for
our POTW contest. Here are some of the runners-up. Due to privacy issues,
AVweb does not publish e-mail addresses of
readers who submit photos. |
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Used with permission
of Mark DeFrancisco |
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"Ghost of an Era Never to Be Forgotten"
Mark DeFrancisco of Glendale,
Arizona sent in several photos of the Collings Foundation's restored
B-17 Flying Fortress, the
Nine-O-Nine — but our favorite photo was this one of the
bombardier's seat. |
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copyright ©
Dan Valentine
Used with permission |
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"Heavy Metal"
More close approaches! We always get a kick out of these photos,
and regular "POTW" contributor Dan Valentine of
London, England (U.K.) delivers up a fun one. |
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copyright © John
Hayes
Used with permission |
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"New Feathers for the TBM 850"
Ah, airplane premiere events! John Hayes of
Tucson, Arizona captures the surreal atmosphere and general
circus-excitement with this photo of Socata's TBM 850 premiere party.
John writes, "The grand unveiling revealed the plane draped in mist and
surrounded by beautiful, feather-clad showgirls. It was
spectacular, and everyone wanted to order one."
John adds, "There were probably even a few new TBM 850s ordered!" |
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"Short Final for Shelter Cove"
Two approach photos in one week? When you've seen this one from
Ralph Finch of Davis, California at
its full-size,
you'll realize we couldn't pass it up. This one makes a great
desktop wallpaper! |
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copyright © Jean
Aker
Used with permission |
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"DCA in 1979"
Jean Aker of Gaithersburg, Maryland
takes us back in time. For those who don't recognize the gate,
this is Washington National Airport in 1979, as seen from a UH-1D en
route to Andrews Air Force Base. |
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"Coming to Get Shane Before the Freeze-Up"
According to Mike Radford of
Anchorage, Alaska, Yoder Lake is accessible only by floatplane (when
it's warm) or snowmobile (during the freeze). Shane here was
apparently ready to leave — and no wonder, considering that the trip is
only 45 minutes by plane, but can take over 5 hours by snow! |
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Used with permission
of Michael H. Burnett |
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"Night Panel"
Michael H. Burnett of Richmond,
Virginia takes us home this week, with a quick photo of his Cessna 172
instrument panel during a night flight. Stay safe out there,
Michael — and thanks for sharing. |
To enter next week's contest,
click here.
A Reminder About Copyrights: Please take a moment to consider the
source of your image before submitting to our "Picture of the Week" contest.
If you did not take the photo yourself, ask yourself if you are indeed
authorized to release publication rights to AVweb. If you're uncertain,
consult the
POTW
Rules or
send us an e-mail.
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AVWEB APPRECIATES YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR SPONSORS,
WHO BRING YOU TODAY'S NEWS AND FEATURES AT NO COST TO
YOU
Bonanza & Baron Owners: Learn to Save Thousands on Maintenance
The 10,000-member American Bonanza Society is sponsoring two weekend Savvy Owner
Seminars by maintenance expert Mike Busch: April 22-23 in San Francisco (CCR) and November 4-5 in Mobile (BFM), including a TCM factory tour. Seminars are open to all GA aircraft owners! In
one information-packed weekend, Mike teaches how to save literally thousands on maintenance costs, year after year. For details and to
reserve your space, go online.
Use the Best -- ASA 2006 Test Books, Software, & DVDs for FAA Exam Prep
ASA's Test Preps for pilots and Fast-Track Test Guides for AMTs
include all FAA Knowledge Exam questions. Prepware combines all the information in the Test Prep and Fast-Track Test Guide series in computer-based training. Virtual Test Prep lets
students study from their TVs or computer DVD players. For complete details about these products, visit ASA's web site.
See What ATC Sees & Then See What They Do with the Information
The AVweb Edition of Flight Explorer is the PC-based graphical aircraft situation
display that gives you 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 want for just $9.95 a month. Subscribe now.
Aviation Consumer Helps Pilots Buy Smart
Get immediate no-cost access to more than 75 of Aviation Consumer's acclaimed used aircraft guides (plus
reviews of hundreds of aviation products) when you order a money-saving subscription to Aviation Consumer today. And as an Aviation Consumer subscriber, you'll have unlimited
no-cost use of the ratings-packed AviationConsumer.com archives. Order now.
Flying Flies the New Falcon 900DX
Flying magazine's March issue includes: A flight in Dassault's new Falcon 900DX with its revolutionary
cockpit design; a datalink weather cockpit overview; a look at Beech's G36 Bonanza with Garmin's complete G1000 flight guidance system; plus all the columnists and writers you've come to know and
respect. Save by ordering online.
Have You Ever Wondered Why Some Pilots Seem to Have It Together?
Ever wonder why you lack confidence? Take a look at Instructional Methods for Flight
Instructors, and Ways to Improve the Precision, Safety and Confidence of Rated Pilots, wherein Gordon Henrie takes lessons from fifty years of flying and tells you HOW to be more
capable and confident in your own flying -- and how to teach more effectively. This is not a question-and-answer book, but will help you rout out bad habits. Order online.
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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 Russ Niles (bio).
Click here to send
a letter to the editor. (Please let us know if your letter is not intended for publication.)
Comments or questions about the news should be sent
here.
Have a product or service to advertise on AVweb? A question on marketing? Send it to AVweb's sales team.
If you're having trouble reading this newsletter in its HTML-rich format (or if you'd prefer a lighter, simpler format for your PDA or handheld device), there's also a text-only
version of AVwebFlash. For complete instructions on making the switch, click here.
Freedom, independence, responsibility.
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