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 Aircraft Spruce
Carries the Zaon MRX Collision Avoidance SystemPCAS
MRX is the world's smallest collision avoidance device, yet it
sacrifices none of the features that previous upper-end systems have
become known for. MRX displays range and relative altitude of the
closest threat, with continuous monitoring of the top 10 threats within
the 5 nm scalable detection window. Altitude detection is scalable up to
±5000 feet. For more information, please call 1-877-4-SPRUCE
or visit online.
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The Top Headlines From AVweb's Expanded,
Illustrated News Coverage At AVweb's
NewsWire. PRIVATE
PILOTS HIT BY 100LL PRICES
While airlines can pass along
their costs to customers, the private pilot has no place to turn but his
(or her) own bank account. Luckily, many small aircraft actually get
better "mileage" than some of the SUVs on the road. And the
cash-crunched flyer has more and more options, as promoters of Light
Sport Aircraft are pushing their low operating costs as an enticement to both new and
seasoned flyers. A report posted yesterday at Airnav.com showed the average price nationwide for
100LL avgas was $3.95 a gallon, but prices ranged from $2.50 to $6.73.
The cheapest region was the Central U.S., averaging $3.71, and highest
were Alaska and New England, averaging well above $4 a gallon.
More... AIRLINES
SEEK COST-PER-PASSENGER SOLUTIONS
Every time the price of a
barrel of oil goes up by a dollar, that translates into a $365 million
hike in fuel costs for the 11 major airlines, CNN reported Monday. Added to years of bankruptcies
and labor strife, the airlines are struggling to cope. One strategy is
to find ways to fit more passengers into the same space. Some carriers
are installing seats of stronger, lighter materials with slimmer
seatbacks, crowding extra rows into already packed airliners. Others are
looking at new designs with flip-up seats like in movie theaters, or "sit-stand"
seats, like bar stools but with seatbacks and belts. Even discount
carriers like JetBlue and Southwest are feeling the pinch and raising
fares, though not as quickly as the legacy airlines. More... CHINA'S
DEMAND MAY BECOME FACTOR
Meanwhile, the demand for jet fuel
in China is expected to nearly double by 2010, China Watch reported last week. At a recent
China-U.S. workshop on aviation fuel, experts said China's jet-fuel
consumption has increased at an average annual rate of about 15 percent
since the 1990s. Chinese airlines are feeling the impact of rising fuel
prices and have imposed surcharges for passengers and implemented
fuel-saving strategies such as more direct flights, higher cruise
altitudes and stricter controls on baggage weight. China's growth is
also having an impact in the U.S. More... |
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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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NTSB
FINALIZES EBERSOL REPORT
The probable cause of the fatal crash in Colorado in
November 2004 involving NBC sports executive Dick Ebersol was the flight
crew's failure to ensure that the Canadair Ltd. CL-600-2A12's wings were
free of ice or snow contamination, the National Transportation Safety
Board reported Tuesday. "This failure resulted in an attempted takeoff
with upper-wing contamination that induced the subsequent stall and
collision with the ground," the NTSB said. The board already has issued
several safety recommendations based on its investigation. Three people
died in the crash -- the 14-year-old son of Ebersol, the captain and a
flight attendant. The other three on board -- Ebersol, another son, and
the first officer -- were seriously hurt. More... CREW
BLAMED IN CARGO CRASH
The NTSB also announced on Tuesday its
probable-cause finding in the August 2004 crash of
an Air Tahoma cargo airplane. The crash resulted from fuel starvation
caused by the captain's decision not to follow approved fuel crossfeed
procedures, the board said. The accident airplane, a Convair 580, was
operating as a DHL Express cargo flight from Memphis, Tenn., when it
crashed on approach to landing at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky
International Airport, in Covington, Ky. The first officer was killed
and the captain was injured. The airplane was destroyed. Inadequate
flight planning also contributed to the accident, the NTSB said.
More... 113
LOST WHEN A320 GOES DOWN IN BLACK SEA
An Airbus A320 with 113
people on board, operated by the Armenian airline Armavia, went down
yesterday at about 2 a.m. local time in stormy weather over the Black
Sea. The jet was making a second approach to its destination airport, a
resort town on the Russian coast, when it vanished from radar screens
about four miles out. No distress calls were sent by the crew. Recovery
of debris and bodies began yesterday, despite continued stormy weather
and high seas. Investigators said they have ruled out terrorism. The
NTSB in March expressed concern over the safety of rudders on A300 series aircraft, but the A320s were
not cited. More... |
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 Fly in
Ultra-Comfort with LightSPEED Headsets"Custom ear molds
made my Mach 1 as quiet as any headset I've tried," said Bing Lantis,
President of Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing. Discover what thousands of
pilots already have: the most comfortable headsets in the industry. The
in-the-ear Mach 1 weighs less than 1 oz.; the full-size Thirty 3G, just
under 16 oz., uses soft conform-foam ear cushions. Try a comfortable
LightSPEED headset with a 30-day money-back guarantee. To order,
contact a LightSPEED dealer or call (800) 332-2421 (PST, business
hours). View the 60-second video clip!
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FAA
NEEDS TO SPEED UP TECH UPGRADES, CRITICS SAY
It's not just
aviators anymore who are frustrated with the snail's pace of technology
upgrades in the National Airspace System. The FAA is taking heat from Congress over its lagging ADS-B
project that would empower pilots and controllers with improved traffic
situational awareness. By 2010, the agency plans to spend $300 million
and install 400 ground stations to support the system, and the gear
should be in every cockpit by 2016. But on Monday, two leaders on the
House Transportation Committee sent a letter to FAA Administrator Marion
Blakey expressing concern that the deadline couldn't be met: "It is not
clear that [the FAA] budget supports this goal," wrote Reps. James
Oberstar (D-Minn.) and Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), The Associated Press
reported Tuesday. The Air Line Pilots Association has expressed support
for the new system, but also says the budget is not up to the task.
Other projects also have taken heat. More... ECLIPSE
EXPECTS CERTIFICATION SOON
The Eclipse 500 is on track to
receive FAA certification by the end of this quarter (June 30, 2006) and
EASA certification by the end of the year, Eclipse Aviation said in a news release on Tuesday. The five-jet Eclipse test
fleet has flown 1,700 hours and recently completed tests for flight
flutter, structural strength, air-data compliance, and battery
endurance, the company said. The highest-utilization jet,
N506EA, has flown almost 600 hours over seven months, with a dispatch
rate of over 99.50 percent. "It's amazing to see the Eclipse 500
excitement build as we near certification and first customer
deliveries," said Eclipse CEO Vern Raburn. "Certification testing
is progressing exceptionally well." More... |
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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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NEAR-DEATH
EXPERIENCES RAIN DOWN FROM THE SKY
Canadians had a string of
close calls with falling airplane parts over the last week. "I was 12
feet away from being dead," Norm Kataras told pulse24.com, after a window from a Beechcraft Baron
smashed into a car lot. The window apparently broke off shortly after
takeoff from Buttonville Airport. Just two days earlier, Wayne Mathias,
of Orillia, was cut by flying debris when the detached door of an
airplane crashed down in a parking lot. "If it would have hit me ... my
head would be gone, because that aluminum strip was so sharp," he said.
Monday night, a wing flap from an A300 cargo jet hit the parked SUV of a
Mississauga woman just moments before she would have been in the
driver's seat. More... AOPA
OPPOSES LORAN DECOMMISSIONING SCHEDULE
AOPA yesterday urged the FAA to support the continued operation of
the loran navigation system until a permanent backup system for GPS is
established. The U.S. Coast Guard plan to decommission the loran system
is "premature," AOPA said. "Once gone, loran will no longer be a backup
option, and any other suitable aviation alternative would likely be more
costly, take longer to implement, and would be the responsibility of the
FAA exclusively," AOPA President Phil Boyer told FAA Administrator
Marion Blakey. "Let's look before we leap on this issue." Although most
GA pilots use VORs as a backup navaid, the FAA is planning to
decommission VOR stations, leaving no backup system should there be a
major disruption to GPS. More... |
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The 2006 New Piper Mirage Offers Serious
SophisticationAvidyne's Flightmax Entegra Integrated
Flight Deck is standard equipment on the New Piper Mirage. Three
flight displays, moving map, Garmin GNS 430, autopilot, color radar
system, and dual Air Data/Attitude and Heading Reference System (ADAHRS)
combine to provide serious sophistication for a higher level of
confidence. Click here for complete information on the New Piper
Mirage.
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ALVIN
WHITE, SUPERSONIC TEST PILOT, DIES
Alvin White, who was Scott Crossfield's boss at
North American during the heyday of supersonic flight testing, died over
the weekend. He was 88. "Al assigned Scott to the X-15 while Al took the
less flashy XB-70, which he then proceeded to fly at Mach 3 for
hours on end," Rick Durden, who knew both men, told AVweb in an
e-mail. "He was one of the great test pilots ... he took the F-100 and
F-107 to the edges of their performance envelopes. He survived that time
of unprecedented exploration of extremely high speeds and altitudes
within the atmosphere, when airframes and engines were developed as fast
as engineers could put ideas to paper and metal could be bent to fit."
More... MOST
MEMORABLE AVIATION RECORDS CITED
A 10-minute rocket flight
and a two-day-long balloon flight were among the most memorable aviation
records of 2005, the National Aeronautic Association announced last
week. Dick Rutan flew XCOR's EZ-Rocket, a modified Long-EZ, from Mojave
to California City in just under 10 minutes, the "longest record flight"
by a ground-launched, rocket-powered airplane. In February, Troy Bradley
broke a 60-year-old duration-of-flight record when he flew a small gas
balloon from Texas to Georgia. Other memorable flights included Steve
Fossett's GlobalFlyer circumnavigation in March, and John Parker pushing
his Thunder Mustang to 376 mph on a straight course less than a
kilometer long. Other records recognized a wide spectrum of aviation
achievements. More... |
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In Aircraft Insurance, There Is an
Option -- Go Direct to AvemcoMany insurance agents
say they represent "all the markets," implying once you call them you
needn't bother with any other aircraft insurance provider. What these
agents don't tell you is that there is an option -- Avemco.
Avemco is the ONLY direct writer of general aviation insurance in the
country and the only insurance company you can contact directly to
purchase insurance. You always have an option with Avemco, offering
mid-term premium discounts, storage options, credits for training,
same-day service, and multiple payment options. Call (888)
241-7891 or go online.
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ON
THE FLY...
Service set for Scott Crossfield at Arlington,
Aug. 15...
LoPresti will announce at Oshkosh where it will build a
Fury factory...
EAA AirVenture NOTAM is now available...
First
S-LSA approval for a powered parachute...
Boeing will acquire Aviall
for $1.7 billion...
Wreckage found of a Navy jet from 1960 crash in a
Montana lake...
American Eagle jet ran off the runway at O'Hare
Tuesday, nobody hurt. More... |
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It's Not What You Know But Who
You Know That Can Save You Money!Avionics -- next to
your airframe and engine(s), avionics are the most expensive items you
will purchase for your aircraft. Don't spend more than you need to!
Before you buy anywhere else, call Bennett Avionics at (860)
653-7295, or visit Bennett online. You'll be glad you did!
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PODCASTS
Coming,
Friday: An in-depth interview with AOPA's president, Phil Boyer.
Check AVweb.com
Friday to listen.
Online Now: 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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When Was the Last Time Your Plane Recorded
Your Flight Times?Now it can by installing a TimeTrac
Flight Recording System from P2 Aviation Technology! The
TimeTrac system consists of a tiny onboard computer that receives data
from your GPS (or Loran) and fully-integrated software for a laptop or
PC. With this data, you are able to track every flight as well as manage
records for pilots and aircraft. TimeTrac is a valuable tool for anyone
who wants to automate their record-keeping once and for all. Take
advantage of the introductory price of $1,695 by ordering directly at
1 (888) 921-8359 or learn more online.
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NEW
ARTICLES AND FEATURES ON AVWEB
MAINTENANCE
MATTERS
Aircraft
Cleaning
Remember the good-old days when the choices of products
to clean your airplane were few? Today it seems we are overwhelmed with
choices to the point of bewilderment, but AVweb has some suggestions to
keep a healthy shine on your steed. 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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Avidyne Introduces Large-Format Version of
MHAS6000Avidyne has a large-format version of the
MHAS6000 Multi-Hazard Avoidance System featuring the Avidyne
FlightMax (R) EX5000 Multi-Function
Display (MFD) and TAS600 Series active surveillance traffic system. It
joins the FlightMax EX500 version as a comprehensive situational
awareness package available immediately for retrofit installation in
most general aviation aircraft with savings of up to $3,000 over
individual system purchases. For
complete details, go online.
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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 was awarded Monday 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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Isn't It About Time You Chose Something
Extra?Pilot-inspired, German-engineered, and
internationally renowned -- that's the difference in Extra
Aircraft's EA-300 and EA-500. All it takes is one flight in the
EA-300, and you'll discover why so many world-champion aerobatic
pilots choose Extra. Extra's certified, Rolls Royce-powered, 6-seat
turboprop EA-500 is in a class all by itself. The only
new-technology cabin class airplane, the EA-500 averages 220 kts, gets
11 mpg, and costs less than $200/hr to operate. Click
here for more information on both remarkable aircraft.
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QUESTION
OF THE WEEK
This week's question comes by way of a suggestion
from Richard Herbst of Control Vision Corp. "I’d like to see a 'Question
of the Week' addressing the relationship between fuel prices and hours
flown," writes Richard. "What effect are fuel prices having on your
flying?" Click through to answer. PLUS: Results of last week's poll on
your favorite VLJs. 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
FAA-Approved Flight Instructor Refresher
Clinic (FIRC) from ASA
Attention, flight
instructors! Wouldn't it be nice to renew your flight instructor
certificate from the comfort of home? ASA's FAA-approved
Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic (FIRC) provides
everything you need to renew your flight instructor certificate for 2
more years. Features over 11 hours of professional DVD presentations,
supported with internet-based evaluation and course tracking. You don't
need to be online for the entire duration of the course. For complete
details, visit ASA's web site.
Attention, Cessna Owners
Do you
need to modernize your old, tired RT359A or RT459A transponder? Narco
Avionics proudly announces the availability of their all-new AT165/C
and AT165/C Value Series digital display transponders. The AT165/C and
AT165/C Value Series are designed as direct slide-in plug & play
replacement transponders for the old ARC units. Both units feature
instant VFR recall with quick and easy one-knob code entry. The AT165/C
also features pressure altitude display with hold alert, along with
three independent timers with audible alert. For more information, visit
Narco Avionics online.
See What ATC Sees — And Then See What
They Do with It
The AVweb Edition of Flight
Explorer is the PC-based graphical aircraft situation display that
gives 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 need for
just $9.95 a month. Check it out.
Subscribe to IFR Refresher Now &
Save!
You worked hard for your IFR ticket. Now protect it!
IFR Refresher is the monthly that polishes your
proficiency, challenges your knowledge, briefs you on changing regs, and
keeps your decision-making skills sharp. Order
today and you'll enjoy guaranteed savings for as long as you
subscribe!
Comm1 Radio Simulator — Special Offer to
AVweb Subscribers
Receive a complimentary Communications
Reference Card with the purchase of any Comm1 Radio Simulator. Fly
confidently by training with Comm1 Radio Simulators —
unique, interactive CD-ROMs designed to teach pilots how to communicate
safely and professionally with Air Traffic Control. Available in VFR,
IFR, and Clearances on Request versions. Experience real flight
situations through high-quality audio and graphics from the safety and
privacy of your desktop. Also Available: VFLITE's Garmin GPSMap
396 Interactive Guide. Order
online.
Power Flow's Short Stack Approved for Pipers
& Grummans
Power Flow Systems, manufacturers of
FAA-certified tuned exhaust systems, have introduced a new "short stack"
exhaust pipe for Piper PA-28 and Grumman AA5 series aircraft. The new
STC'd short stack looks better while still providing up to 23 more
available horsepower. For more information on this, and the right tuned
exhaust system for your aircraft, go
online.
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PICTURE
OF THE WEEK
 If you love gawking at
flying machines as much as we do, you've come to the right place —
AVweb's "Picture of the Week"! Every Thursday, we select and publish the
top photos from dozens submitted by our
loyal AVweb readers. It's a tough job — especially when there are
as many good photos to choose from as there were this week — but we
manage. Even tougher is picking a single photo that stands out among all
the others. Fortunately, Sparky Barnes
Sargent of Washington, Oklahome made this week's choice a
little easier than usual. Even in a week filled with stand-out photos,
Sparky's caught our eye and practically demanded to be named
"Picture of the Week." As our top winner, Sparky will receive an
official AVweb baseball cap in the mail. (Keep your eyes peeled for the
postman!) 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 Mary Grady (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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