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The Top Headlines From AVweb's Expanded,
Illustrated News Coverage At AVweb's
NewsWire. AIRCRAFT
BILLINGS REACH RECORD
Ah, it's great to be in the aviation
business ... at least for now. Virtually every economic indicator is
soaring out of sight as companies revel in record numbers of orders and shipments. "All
segments of the general aviation manufacturing industry are continuing
to increase at strong levels," said Pete Bunce, president of the General
Aviation Manufacturers Association, in a news release announcing that
billings hit $4 billion in the first quarter of 2006, up a staggering 40
percent over the $2.9 billion recorded in the same period last year
… which prompted dancing in the streets at that time. "Based on the
encouraging market activity throughout the industry in this first
quarter, and the exciting new technologies and products on the horizon,
it is hard to not get excited about the future of general aviation,"
said Bunce. Far be it from us to pluck the bloom from this particular
rose but it's worth mentioning that when times are a little tougher the
industry folks hasten to mention that aviation is cyclical and recent
history adds credence to that perspective. More... PISTON
SINGLES LEAD CHARGE
Through the sine-wave track of change in
the industry's fortunes in recent years, sales of piston singles have
traditionally been the bright spot (sometimes more of a glimmer) and
2006 is no exception. The total number of piston single shipments in the
first three months of the year was 597, up from 434 in 2005 for a
whopping increase of 37.6 percent. Bizjets weren't far behind,
percentage-wise. There were 189 shipments in January, February and
March, up 36 percent over Q1 in 2005. Only turboprop shipments were
stagnant. There were 59 compared to 57 in the same period last year.
More... CIRRUS
CONTINUES TO LEAD
Cirrus was once again at the head of the
pack and, as with virtually all of its competitors, it's moving more
high-priced models than economy versions of its aircraft. Cirrus shipped
124 of its top-of-the-line SR22 aircraft compared to just 35 of its
(relatively speaking) more plain SR20. The company didn't ship any of
its bottom-of-the-line SRV models. Cessna shipped more four-place
aircraft in total than Cirrus (169) but shipments were divided into four
models. The 172S was the most popular with 53 shipments while the 172
was a close second at 51. Turbo 182s out-shipped the normally aspirated
version 37-28. Columbia shipped 46 of its speedy 400 models but none of
the 350. And while Diamond's DA40 continues to lead its shipments (46),
the twin-diesel DA42 showed strongly with 27 deliveries.
More... |
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SPECTRUM
READIES FOR CERTIFICATION
The graphite-epoxy structured
10-seater design-prototype Spectrum 33 is in early flight-testing and
aiming for a 415-knot cruise at 45,000 feet. It intends to provide range
capabilities reaching 2,000 nautical miles. In a complicated process
like certification, it may be helpful for all involved to know the basic
ground rules and that was the impetus behind a workshop held by Spectrum
Aeronautical recently. The Utah company hopes to certify its
Spectrum 33 business jet, which it claims is lighter and more
fuel-efficient than comparable aircraft in the next couple of years, and
invited certification experts from the FAA to conduct the seminar, which
focused on achieving Part 21 standards. In a news release, Jon Adams,
the company's director of certification, said Spectrum views the FAA "as
a partner" in the certification process. More... ADAM
JET REACHES MILESTONE
Adam Aircraft is no stranger to the certification
process and it continues to make progress with its six-seat, plus
lavatory, A700. Test pilots took an A700 to 41,000 feet and accelerated
briefly to 340 knots true last week. 41,000 is the jet's planned maximum
operating altitude. The company says the plane was still climbing at
1,000 fpm through 39,000 feet. According to the company news release,
the plane performed flawlessly. Other tests toward certification,
including inflation of the fuselage to 26.7 psi and other static
component tests, have been accelerated. They're slated for completion
June 30. Meanwhile, rumor has it that the latest homebuilt jet may fly
to Oshkosh. More... |
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 Manage the Risks of Single-Pilot IFR Flying
...Have you tried this workshop yet? Take a complimentary
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safer. Click here for instant online access.
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NTSB Says Wreckage Suggests In-Flight
Breakup |
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back to top |
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CROSSFIELD'S
210A LIKELY PULLED TO PIECES BY STORM
An NTSB early report says most of the lifting surfaces
on Scott Crossfield's Cessna 210A were found about a mile away from the
wreckage of the rest of the plane, suggesting the Category 6
thunderstorm the veteran test pilot had the misfortune of encountering
on April 19 was just too much for the aircraft. Moments after Crossfield
asked air traffic control for a diversion around weather, the plane
disappeared from radar screens. The body of the 84-year-old aviation
icon, who was the first to fly at Mach 2, was found with the main
wreckage about four miles from Ludville, Ga. The slight damage to nearby
trees suggests the main wreckage fell almost vertically and created a
crater four feet deep. More... |
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 In a Group Plan
and Think You're Getting the Best Deal on Life
Insurance?The Pilot Insurance Center ( PIC)
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FAA
FUNDING CRISIS A HOAX(?): AOPA
AOPA President Phil Boyer says
the FAA's justification for imposing user fees is just hot air. Boyer told the American Association of Airport
Executives meeting in San Diego last week that, far from going broke,
the Airport and Airways Trust Fund is awash in cash and will have
billions in the bank in coming years. AOPA says it crunched the numbers
using White House estimates and, using its most conservative forecast,
predicts the trust fund will have a $4.3 billion surplus by 2011. By its
most liberal interpretation, the surplus could reach $9.3 billion. FAA
Administrator Marion Blakey says the trust fund, which is derived from a
percentage tax on airline tickets, is a declining source of revenue and
she wants a revenue stream that's based on the cost of services provided
(definition: user fees). More... BILL
AIMS TO FIX FUEL TAX QUAGMIRE
The National Air Transportation
Association (NATA) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)
say legislation aimed at solving a mythical problem has caused some real
concerns for fuel dealers and, believe it or not, has resulted in taxes
on jet fuel being pumped into a trust fund for highway improvements. New
legislation (S.2666, which has not yet been posted on the Library of
Congress Web site) has been proposed by Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) that
will put a stop to the bizarre arrangement until 2007 when all aviation
fuel taxes expire and must be reauthorized, anyway. Last October, new
rules went into effect that were designed to discourage the use of jet
fuel, with its slightly lower taxes, in car and truck engines.
More... |
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NATCA
TURNS ON CHARM, TURNS UP HEAT ON FAA
National Air Traffic
Controllers Association President John Carr has offered to meet
personally with FAA Administrator Marion Blakey to try to achieve a
negotiated settlement in the current contract impasse. Last week, Blakey
rejected the union's call for a return to the bargaining table, saying
the two sides are too far apart on money issues. In a letter to Blakey
on Friday, Carr says he'll deliver on earlier promises to get the talks
moving on key issues. "I am offering to meet you unconditionally at the
bargaining table, and at that meeting I will direct my negotiating team
to bring you real and significant progress," he wrote. The text of
Carr's letter was released shortly after a NATCA news release claimed
majority support in the House for bill that would virtually disarm the
FAA's impasse strategy. More... "ONLY"
FLYING HAVOC FOR SALE
The "only" airworthy example of a World
War II workhorse is being sold by a broker that specializes in warbirds.
More than 2,800 Douglas A-20G Havocs were built but the only one in
flying condition has been part of a private collection since 1991. The
collection is being split up and Courtesy Aircraft is in charge of the
sale. This aircraft was owned at one time by Paul Mantz, a movie and
racing pilot. According to Courtesy Aircraft's press release, Howard
Hughes is believed to have flown the plane. The company is also selling
a Grumman 8F-2 Bearcat and a Grumman FM-2 Wildcat from the same
collection. More... |
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Don't Leave the Financing of Your Dream
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RYANAIR
ACCUSED OF LANDING BELOW MINIMUMS
The Irish Aviation
Authority is investigating complaints that several airplanes owned by
budget carrier Ryanair landed at Stansted Airport near London when
visibility was below minimums. According to the Scotsman newspaper,
dozens of flights diverted from Stansted when thick fog settled on the
airport and the runway lights went out. However several flights (the
number isn't specified) "landed anyway to avoid costly delays," the
newspaper reported. The newspaper also quotes an anonymous "insider" as
saying the complaint was lodged by a rival carrier, also unnamed.
Ryanair denied any safety breaches. More... COAST
TO COAST IN A POWERED PARACHUTE
A Pennsylvania man is
planning an epic transcontinental journey by powered parachute that
includes a carrier takeoff and landing. Baron Tayler plans to take off
from the deck of the USS Midway in San Diego on May 10 for a two-month
trip to Charleston Harbor, S.C., where he'll land on the deck of the USS
Yorktown. He'll cover 3,600 miles and stop at least 53 times on the
trip. Tayler was the first to get a sport pilot certificate for powered
parachutes and part of the reason for the trip is to educate the public
on some of their unique capabilities. More... |
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Columbia Simplifies Buying & Selling All
Aircraft BrandsSelling an aircraft can be a challenging
odyssey. Aircraft owners need to: locate a broker with national
resources to sell for top dollar; select and utilize the most effective
advertising; access no-cost, no-obligation finance pre-qualification;
consult aviation tax experts; and obtain insurance quotes with higher
liability limits. Columbia Aircraft has created a tool to assist
pilots and aircraft owners of all brands. Check
out their web site.
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ON
THE FLY...
Teledyne Continental Motors is giving away a
free engine...
Eight of 16 surviving members of the Doolittle Raiders
gathered last week...
A UAV patrolling the Mexican border crashed
April 25...
Seawind says its amphib has cleared a major certification
hurdle...
A New York fractional ownership company says it will offer
Eclipse 500s. More... |
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Garmin 396 vs. Flight Cheetah with XM
Weather ComparisonHow does the Garmin 396 really compare
to the Flight Cheetah with XM Weather? Check out this
link to find out. (866) 443-3342
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PODCASTS
Online
Now: Take today's news with you via AVweb's downloadable podcasts.
Find exclusive interviews featuring Scott Crossfield, Cirrus Design's
Alan Klapmeier, FAA administrator Marion Blakey, and more.
AVweb's Podcast index, is available online -- pick and choose your particular
interets, or subscribe
free to AVweb's podcasts and receive them automatically
for listening on your computer, iPod, or while traveling with any MP3
player. You'll hear things you won't find anywhere else.
More... |
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Maximum MPG ... Maximum MPG ... Maximum
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NEW
ARTICLES AND FEATURES ON AVWEB
COLUMNS
Probable Cause
#5: Improper Procedure
A pilot salvaging an approach ended up in
a stall and spin when turning from base to final. Did good IFR
conditions cause him to drop his guard? This week's Probable Cause
column presents some ideas. This report first appeared in AVweb's sister
publication, IFR Refresher. _____________
WHAT'S
NEW
What's
New For May 2006
This month AVweb's survey of the latest products
and services for pilots, mechanics and aircraft owners brings you
logbook software, an airspace & weather review DVD, virtual radar and
much more. 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... |
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ASO -- A Better Way to Sell Your
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FBO
OF THE WEEK: SILVER WINGS
Nominate an FBO |Rules
| Tips | Questions
| Winning
FBOs AVweb's "FBO of
the Week" ribbon goes to SILVER WINGS at KLEW, Auburn,
Maine. SCOTT D HIGGINS wrote in to say, "SILVER WINGS IS
BRAND NEW AND REALLY STRIVING TO BUILD A CUSTOMER BASE. OWNER AND PILOT
DOUG POHL HAS PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS TO MAKE THIS THE FINEST IN THE
STATE. NOT ONLY THE NICEST FACILITIES BUT THE FUEL PRICES ARE THE LOWEST
IN MAINE." Keep
those nominations coming. Click here to nominate
your favorite FBO and here for complete contest
rules AVweb is actively seeking out the best FBO's in the country
and another one, submitted by you, will be spotlighted here next
Monday! More... |
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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
Aeromedix Introduces Safe Escape Smoke Hoods
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Husband in Trouble; Wakes Wife While Reading
& Laughing!
Pilots and students can't put down Rod
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IFR Refresher's May Issue
Highlights:
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SHORT
FINAL...
Oh, the years gone by... Many years ago when I was
a student pilot flying a C-120, (if you can remember when flight schools
used C-120s, you may be older than I am), I groundlooped in front of the
tower at BFI. Here's the exchange, as I remember
it: Tower: Cessna triple 7, are you experiencing
difficulties? Me: No. (pause) ...not now that I've
got the sonofa**** stopped. Tower: [Through laughter]
Triple seven, taxi to the ramp. More... |
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
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Comments or questions about the news should be sent
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If you're having trouble reading this newsletter in
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here.
Freedom, independence, responsibility.
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