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August 3, 2006
By The AVweb Editorial Staff
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 While the big-name airplanes in Aeroshell Square grabbed a lot of attention in Oshkosh last week -- Cessna's proposed LSA,
Eclipse's newly certified VLJ (appearing in DayJet livery by the end of the week), and the soon-to-be-marketed HondaJet, to name a few -- plenty of interesting projects were on display around the
fringes of the field as well. One of those was the prototype of the Ion aircraft, a sharp-looking little composite pusher with a twin tail-boom and tandem seating. "There was a lot of interest, it
went even a little too well, we were kind of scared by all the attention," Vulcan Aircraft's Steve Schultz told AVweb after the
show. "We haven't even flown it yet." And why not? The design seems pretty much ready to go. But it needs a canopy. "This canopy has been a problem for over a year now," Schultz said. The trouble is
that the canopy is "really big," Schultz said, and that size makes fabrication difficult ... and expensive. An effort to find an economical solution didn't pan out, and ate up a lot of time. But a new
vendor has been found who the company hopes will be able to make it work. "Once that's done, we're just about ready to fly," Shultz said, so he hopes to be in the air by the end of this year. So far
the aircraft has flown only in computer simulation, but that seems to be enough for prospective owners to want to start writing checks, he said. Given the history of Vulcan Aviation -- it was formed
by customers of an earlier company that went bottom-up, taking their deposits along -- he intends to be very conservative about both the flight-test program and the taking of deposits. The plan is to
test the prototype next year, then work closely with a couple of homebuilders to develop a kit, which might go on the market in 2008. Next would be LSA approval and eventually a turnkey product,
Schultz said.
 Officials at EAA started early on to tell the media not to expect attendance this year to match 2005, when the
spectacular show featured SpaceShipOne, Global Flyer, and lots more, and on Tuesday they confirmed that prediction. Estimated attendance was 625,000, a decrease of about 10 percent from last year.
Nonetheless, said EAA President Tom Poberezny, "EAA AirVenture 2006 was a tremendous event." This year's show featured more new aviation announcements than any EAA fly-in in history. Also, said
Poberezny, there were many new activities, such as movie premieres and the Beach Boys concert. He also cited other factors that may have affected attendance. High fuel prices don't help, either for
pilots flying in or the public driving from around the country. Also, this year's weather was especially hot and humid with scattered rain, while last year's was unusually pleasant. Other numbers for
the show: 10,000 aircraft flew in during the week, and about 2,300 showplanes were on display on the field, including 852 homebuilts, 798 vintage aircraft, 387 warbirds, 130 ultralights, 121 seaplanes
and 22 rotorcraft. There were 812 commercial exhibitors, 1,704 international visitors registered, and 868 representatives of the media, from six continents. EAA AirVenture 2007 is set for July 23-29.
 Shortly after noon as this year's AirVenture was nearing its close, a passenger in an RV-6
homebuilt was killed when a Grumman TBM Avenger ran into it from behind while taxiing at the Oshkosh airport. Both the Avenger (a very large WWII taildragger with limited forward visibility) and the
RV were in line for departure at Wittman Field, on the taxiway on the west side of the airport's main runway, 18-36. The propeller of the Avenger sliced into the RV and passenger Gary Palmer, 63, of
Nepean, Ontario, was killed. Palmer was president of EAA Chapter 245 in Ottawa. The pilot of the RV, Donald Reed, 58, of Carp, Ontario, was unhurt, as were the two on board the Avenger. "It's always a
very difficult situation when there is a loss of life," EAA President Tom Poberezny said in a statement on
Tuesday. "Our sincere sympathy goes to the families and to all involved." The NTSB is continuing its investigation into the accident.
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 When he lost the use of his legs in a surfing accident, as with anyone in that position, Jim
Kaler's life changed dramatically. He was no longer the pilot of Gulfstreams and Falcon 50s for a good-sized corporate flight department but that didn't mean he wanted to be restricted to piloting a
wheelchair for the rest of his life. Within two years, he was back in the left seat of a Cessna Cardinal and the immense sense of freedom and independence it fostered gave him a mission in life. He
started Able to Aviation, a non-profit group with a simple aim: to introduce (or re-introduce) those with physical disabilities
to the wonders of flight and to do it at no cost to the student pilot. Although Cessna probably didn't have handicapped accessibility in mind when it designed the 177, the low-slung design and the
massive pilot door minimize the greatest obstacle most people with mobility issues face when it comes to airplanes -- getting in without help. "The Cardinal is ideal for our purposes," said Kaler.
 The right arm of a disabled pilot has lots to do. Rudder and brakes are controlled with a rod
that clamps to the pedals, enabling the full range of movement and combinations for air and ground handling. The device is STC'd and, with some practice, does everything your feet can. The pilot's
right arm fits through a loop on the bar allowing simultaneous control, engine and instrument adjustments. Kaler said that once pilots are qualified, they fly with no restrictions. He said flight is a
powerful motivator and tonic for the disabled. "Learning to fly inspires hope by getting someone out of the wheelchair and into the pilot's seat," Kaler said. "It provides emotional support by
developing self-esteem and self-confidence through the liberating sense that they are out of their wheelchair." Since the program began two years ago, 20 people have started and there are now 10
actively pursuing their certificates. The curriculum covers all the regular material and also includes lessons on adapting to the hand controls. Those who finish the course can continue flying as a
hobby or the group will help them pursue an aviation career.
 Kaler is adamant that student pilots pay absolutely nothing for flight lessons and everything possible is done to
mitigate other costs, like living expenses. The training takes place near Sayville, N.Y., on Long Island, and students have to cover their own transportation costs. Cessna has recently become a major
corporate sponsor and there are about a dozen other companies that help the organization through discounts on hotel rooms, meals, etc. Able to Aviation holds regular fundraisers to cover training
costs. Kaler said he's been overwhelmed by the generosity of the local Long Island community and by sponsors like Cessna. Organizations like Able to Aviation depend on volunteers to do their good work
and if you're a flight instructor with time on your hands, they could use your help. In fact, you don't even have to be a flight instructor. Current pilots are also needed to give demonstration
flights. There are also spots for the clerically minded to handle administrative tasks and able-bodied folks to help transfer pilots from their chairs to the aircraft.
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 Cessna's LSA proof-of-concept design was "mobbed every day," at AirVenture, Jack Pelton,
Cessna CEO, told The Wichita Eagle. "I can't tell you how many have said, 'I'll write you a check today.' It's been
unbelievable." With many still waiting for a new $40,000 airplane, Pelton said the trick would be to produce Cessna's LSA offering for under $100,000. "If we can do that, I think the market is very
much there," adding that even that won't be easy. "As you dissect the cost, if you do business as usual, we'll never make the price point," Pelton said. "We're going to have to look at every possible
place to be competitive." From what we heard in AVweb's audio news segment with Pelton, that very much means Europe, too. He said
current estimates suggest Cessna could sell 600 LSAs per year. A decision about the program's future is expected in early 2007, and decision seems eagerly awaited. Pelton told the Eagle prospective
customers who were told that the company wasn't yet accepting orders -- never mind checks -- asked to be put on a waiting list. In short, Pelton said the response to Cessna's introduction of its Light Sport Aircraft "proof-of-concept" at last
week's EAA AirVenture was overwhelmingly positive, but what that means for the little guy (and the little airplane) in the future of aviation has yet to be determined.
 Pat Forrey will be the new president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) starting Sept. 1, replacing John Carr, who took office in September 2000. Forrey has worked as an air
traffic controller at Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center for 18 years. The election campaign spanned a contentious time for the organization, as the leadership tried fruitlessly to negotiate a
complicated contract with the FAA. Forrey said he will develop strategic long-term plans for the organization and engage diplomatically with the FAA, Congress, industry groups, and others. "My
philosophy has many facets, but the main premise is this: Dialogue is imperative to solving problems," says Forrey in a statement on his Web site. The FAA issued a statement on Monday congratulating Forrey for his win. "We
look forward to working with Mr. Forrey in the months and years ahead. There are many challenges facing the aviation system and we're looking toward a renewed spirit of professionalism, cooperation
and mutual respect," the FAA said. Forrey says he will refrain from "personal attacks against others, and reactionary tactical initiatives that can best be described as crisis management." The
antagonistic approach of labor vs. management is outdated and ineffective, he says. "I believe in building bridges to achieve success. ... A new approach to workers rights, living wages, job security
and economic freedom are overdue in America, and I believe NATCA can show the way." Forrey will serve a three-year term.
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 Shipments of general-aviation aircraft totaled 1,843 units in the first six months of this year, a 19-percent
increase over the same period last year, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced last week at AirVenture. "This is the highest recorded billings for the first half of a year in
general aviation's history," said Pete Bunce, president of GAMA. "With our manufacturers' current backlog, we are confident that this trend will continue throughout the remainder of 2006." Industry
billings totaled $8.8 billion, a 35-percent rise over last year. The biggest increase was in business-jet sales, which rose 28 percent to 415 units, but the overall upward trend was evident in all
aircraft segments, GAMA said. Shipments of piston-powered airplanes were up 17 percent from the same period last year, to 1,270 units. Turboprop shipments rose 12 percent, to 158. "We are very
encouraged by this continued positive trend, but we are closely monitoring the potential impact that rising fuel prices and interest rates may have on our dynamic worldwide industry," said Bunce.
"Without question, these strong numbers demonstrate the powerful contribution general aviation makes to all economies and how important it is to preserve and promote the freedom of flight." The full
shipment report can be found at GAMA's Web site.
 Over in the Light Sport Aircraft segment of GA, sales also have been brisk. Just a year ago at AirVenture, the
first 14 approved aircraft were on display. This year, the number of LSA-approved aircraft was up to 38, a pace of two new airplanes a month. "I think that pace will start to slacken a little," Dan
Johnson, director of the LSA Mall, told AVweb at the show. He estimates that by next year, the Mall will host 48 different aircraft. This year, about 500 LSAs have been delivered so far in the
U.S., and about 500 more will be in pilots' hands by the end of the year, Johnson said. With many manufacturers working now to ramp up production capacity, deliveries for 2007 could easily total 1,500
or even 2,000, Johnson said. So far, the high-wing Flight Design CT has been the top seller, and the company said at Oshkosh they expect to deliver 100 copies of the aircraft to North America this
year, and substantially more in 2007. To accommodate that growth, the company will expand its manufacturing plant in the Ukraine, doubling capacity over the next two years. That growth means U.S.
customers won't have to wait too long for delivery, said Tom Peghiny, president of Flight Design USA.
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 In its preliminary report,
the NTSB says the controls of the Spectrum 33 (very) light-jet prototype that crashed on July 25 in Spanish Fork, Utah, just short of its 50th flight, were misrigged. "Specifically, the linkage was connected such that left roll input from the side sticks
would have deflected the ailerons to produce right roll of the airplane," the report says. The jet entered a right roll almost immediately after takeoff. The roll continued to about 90 degrees right
wing-down when the right wingtip impacted the ground. The two crewmen on board were killed. Roll control on the airplane was from the pilots' side sticks to the ailerons through a mechanical system of
torque tubes and push-pull tubes, the NTSB said. The left side stick was primary, and the right side stick was slaved to the left side stick. The roll control motion of the left side stick was linked
through a quadrant below the cockpit floor to the lower torque tube. The lower torque tube ran from the quadrant to the aft pressure bulkhead. The translation linkage -- the linkages and bell cranks
that translated the rotational motion of the lower torque tube to a linear motion of the aileron push-pull tubes -- was located on the aft side of the pressure bulkhead in the main landing gear (MLG)
gearbox area.
According to information provided by the operator to the NTSB, the airplane had accumulated about 44 hours total flight time since its first flight on Jan. 7. Prior to the accident flight, the
airplane's most recent flight, flight number 46, had taken place on June 30. During the time between flight 46 and the accident flight, the airplane had been undergoing maintenance. The maintenance
included removal of the MLG in order to stiffen the MLG struts. Upon reinstallation of the MLG, it was found that inadequate clearance now existed between the left MLG strut and the aileron upper
torque tube V-bracket. The V-bracket was removed and redesigned to allow proper clearance of the MLG. Removal of the V-bracket required disconnection and removal of a portion of the translation
linkage. The NTSB investigation is continuing and a final report will be released sometime in the future.
 For many wannabes it's the next best thing, but the same goes for many instrument pilots looking to keep their skills
up. It's almost three years since Microsoft Flight Simulator's Century of Flight 2004 edition let you trade places with Orville and Wilbur in the original Wright Flyer. The latest flight simulator
isn't quite so radical, but it does add the chance to fly a Grumman Goose, De Havilland Beaver, a Maule on Skis, a Cosmos Trike Ultralight, and a DG808 sailplane with a tow plane. Flight Simulator X
-- pronounced as "Ex," not "ten," even though it is the tenth version -- made its biggest advances in realism and multiplayer modes. The FSX world is much higher resolution and contains dynamic
objects you'd better watch out for. Other airplanes, ground vehicles, and even birds might cross your path. Of course, if you're flying one of the many G1000-equipped aircraft you might forget to look
at the virtual outside. The new multiplayer mode lets two pilots in the same room, or over the Internet, share a cockpit. Flight Simulator has always had the option for approach and en route
controllers, but now it offers tower controllers, complete with the view from the tower cab. All this visual grandeur comes at a processor price. In an interesting bit of spin, Microsoft is saying
that the requirements for a multi-gigahertz processor and a super video card to get full utility out of FSX is a feature, not a problem. It means that when you purchase that Vista-enabled supermachine
in two years, there will still be something new for you in this copy of Flight Simulator.
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The Kestrel prototype is now flying in Bend, Ore., Flight International reported on
Tuesday. There was no mention of Epic Aircraft, a one-time project collaborator. The single-engine turboprop will fly to Europe next month for further testing and promotion...
Gulfstream will offer Synthetic Vision Systems on board its
jets, the company announced at Farnborough...
Columbia Aircraft has adopted FITS training standards in its transition training for pilots who buy new
Columbia 350s and 400s...
A $45 million research project in Europe would enable ground controllers to take over
control of a hijacked airplane. Exactly how this would help to resolve the situation or improve security is not clear...
A close call on the runway at O'Hare raised
concerns about staffing and oversight of the system.
 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.
Find all of today's stories in AVweb's: NewsWire
Online Now: Listen to, or take AVweb's no-iPod-required audio news with you.
Find exclusive interviews featuring Cessna's Jack Pelton on his company's LSA, TCM president Bryan Lewis, NATCA president John Carr, New Piper CEO Jim Bass, Hal Shevers for Sporty's Pilot Shop, Light
Sport guru Dan Johnson, Excel Jet's Bob Bornhofen, Adam Aircraft's Joe Walker, FAA administrator Marion Blakey, Cirrus Design's Alan Klapmeier and more. AVweb's Podcast index, is online, now. You'll hear things you won't find anywhere else.
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COLUMNS
The Savvy Aviator #34: Is This Engine Airworthy?
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WATCH: GA IN THE "SPOTLIGHT". Sign up today at http://www.avweb.com/profile/ .
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Nominate an
FBO | Rules | Tips | Questions
| Winning
FBOs 
AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Franklin Municipal Airport, at
KFKN, Franklin, VA.
Offering up Franklin, Ben Jamey" Duffey" told us, "Franklin VA's airport (FKN) has the nicest staff (Jimmy Gray - Manager, in particular), Lowest fuel prices around, 24 hour weather, pilot briefing
and bathrooms. Instrument approach with a nice long lighted runway. If you are traveling up or down the east coast - this is the place to stop for fuel, etc. Wonderful airport and great staff!"
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!
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This Week's Question
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Last Week's Question
PREVIOUS RESULTS ***
Oshkosh was the town on everyone's lips last week. There are
plenty of reasons to attend, but in the lead-up to EAA's big show, we
asked AVweb readers to chime in and tell us their reasons for
wanting to attend AirVenture.
Most of you (37% of those who responded) said you wanted to see
what's new — a reason that's near and dear to our hearts, as that's
the primary reason we fly out to Oshkosh every summer.
Beyond that, your votes were split pretty evenly among the many
reasons one might want to attend — educational talks and
seminars, spectacular air shows, seeing old friends and
meeting new ones, and (of course) gawking at warbirds!
17% of you, however, said you planned (or hoped) to attend for
some other reason entirely ... .
For real-time results of last week's question,
click here.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION ***
Cessna's LSA. What effect has Cessna's possible entry had on
your feelings about purchasing a Light Sport Aircraft?
Click here to share your opinion
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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Attention, Piper Owners and Pilots!
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Submit a Photo
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Rules
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Tips
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Questions
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Past POTW Winners
Team AVweb has survived another hectic (but fun!) trip to EAA
AirVenture. Big thanks to all the "POTW" submitters past and
present who stopped by the booth to say "hello." It's always nice
to place a face with the name!
And as much fun as we had
cruising
the
grounds and
taking
our
own
pictures
last
week, we were anxious to dive into the "POTW" submission
pile and see what you were up to while we were traveling. As it
turns out, you've been busy! We received almost 150 submissions
over the past two weeks and had a tough time narrowing it down to 10 or
20 pics to contend for this week's top prize. When all was said
and done, we couldn't resist awarding this week's AVweb baseball cap —
or rather, a matched set of AVweb caps — to father-and-son duo
Greg and Brad Palmer of Palatine,
Illinois. Though we didn't meet them at the show (that we know
of), we think the Palmers captured the spirit of AirVenture perfectly.
Remember: Each week, we award an AVweb baseball cap to
one winner — and share as many of the runners-up as time permits, right
here on AVweb. But you gotta be in it to win it, so
submit
your aviation photos today!
*** THIS WEEK'S WINNERS ***
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"Young Joy at Oshkosh"
We don't remember meeting Greg
Palmer of Palatine, Illinois at Oshkosh — but it looks like
he and son Brad had more important
things on their mind than stopping by the AVweb booth. While we
were scrambling around the show grounds on Saturday, Greg and Brad
visited the antique Army tent and tank display, where this shot was
taken.
"Although it looks like a helicopter," writes Greg, "it is actually a
Mohawk static display." |
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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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copyright ©
David A. Love
Used with permission |
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"OSH Opening Day Bombing Run"
David Love of
Hudson, New Hampshire almost started the Oshkosh picture-taking
before we did! He snapped this shot "from the business
office of EAA's B-17, the Aluminum Overcast ... about 9:30am
Monday," the opening day of the show. |
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medium
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copyright ©
Richard S. Smith
Used with permission |
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"USAF 22 at OSH"
Richard Smith of Belleville,
Michigan caught one of our favorite Oshkosh sites on film — the
entrancing F-22. We had a hard time snapping good
shots of
the USAF's new state-of-the-art jet — and an even harder time believing
they were real after the fact!
In Richard's photo, the F-22 is seen "squeezing moisture out of the air
in a high-G maneuver." |
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"2005 Miramar Air Show"
James Younger of
San Diego, California may or may not have been at Oshkosh — but he
certainly captured the air show spirit in this photo from Miramar.
According to James, the photo was a stroke of luck. At Miramar
last year, he happened upon this scene while hustling down the runway to
catch an aerobatic demo flight already in progress. |
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"Omen on Friday the 13th"
Stephen Max Freeman of Dallas, Texas
spooked us just a bit with his photo of an eerie cloud formation over
Florencia, Colombia. The photo was taken August 13, 2004 (a
Friday) "in FARC country, ten miles from where the CIA aircraft was shot
down."
In the wake of such omens, warns Stephen, "you don't stay
overnight!" |
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Copyright © Elio
F. Marcillo
Used with permission |
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"Essential Flight Gear"
USMC Captain Elio F. ("Frosty")
Marcillo returns with an interesting (and well-staged) photo
depicting the differences between civilian flying and military flying.
In Capt. Marcillo's words:
Flying out here in the Middle East is different from what we are accustomed to back home. We ensure we carry the essential gear that will get the mission accomplished.
How often do you carry a pistol just in case you have to return fire? How often do you need to bring a set of night vision goggles just incase it gets too dark and you can't see the
runway because they are illuminated by IR lights? How often do you review your EPs before you jump in the cockpit
Staying focused from the moment I strap myself on my seat 'til I set the parking brake at the end of the flight will ensure a safe return back to the USA for me and my
crew.
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| Regular readers may have noticed that
we try to limit ourselves to a small sampling of sunset photos at
"POTW" headquarters. It's not that we dislike them — as we
told a couple of visitors to the AVweb booth, we actually really
enjoy most of them — but we limit the number we run in order to
keep a little variety in "POTW." Let's face it, Mother
Nature can provide some spectacular scenery — especially when
you're photographing it from 8,000 feet above the surface.
If we didn't limit the number of sunset photos we run,
they'd dominate this feature every week. That said, here are two
absolutely terrific sunsets for you to ejoy: |
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"Sunset Skydive in Casa"
Witness T. Gasparini's Casa 212-200 at the Frontier Skydiving Boogie in
Batavia, New York on the evening of July 6 — courtesy of
Yvonne White of Bath, New York. |
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medium |
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Used with permission
of
Christopher Neuhaus |
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"Two-Seven Left"
And another from Christopher Neuhaus
of Munich, Bayern (Germany). Christopher writes, "I know, people
from Arizona are spoiled when it comes to sunsets. But for Germany, this is pretty much out of this world."
We dunno, Christopher — judging from the photo, it seemed pretty out of
this world on this side of the Atlantic, too! |
To enter next week's contest,
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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
Avidyne TAS600 — Because Two Antennas Are Better than One!
Whether you're flying in a busy terminal area, navigating a long cross-country, or hovering over a city, seeing and avoiding traffic requires having the right information in real time.
Avidyne's TAS600 Traffic Advisory Systems, with dual-antenna technology, provide significantly improved signal coverage and target tracking, enabling faster updates and enhanced
performance over single-antenna systems, for maximum safety. Starting at $9,990, vidyne's TAS600 Series makes premium-performance, active-surveillance traffic alerting affordable for virtually every
general aviation aircraft. Visit Avidyne online.
Bonanza & Baron Owners: Learn to Save Thousands on Maintenance
The 10,000-member American Bonanza Society is sponsoring a weekend-long Savvy Owner Seminar by maintenance expert Mike Busch November 4-5 in Mobile, Alabama (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.
AVweb Flight Explorer Personal Edition 5.0 Online Now!
New features include: FAA airport delays; enhanced terrain/elevation map depictions and updated Airways; NAVAIDs; Fixes; Special Use Airspace; Sector boundaries; Flight Service Stations; and more.
Current subscribers will need to download and install the new version of AVweb Flight Explorer. For more
information about the AVweb Flight Explorer 5.0 upgrade, check out the FAQ page.
Whether Your IFR Ticket Is Recent or Signed by Lindberg ...
The IFR environment is constantly changing. You need to keep informed. IFR Refresher is the publication for you if you're serious about flying IFR. No other publication can help
maintain your flying and decision-making skills. Order your subscription online for savings from the regular rate.
Flying Magazine's August Issue Reviews the Mooney's Acclaim
Flying finds the Acclaim quick, solid, and smooth. Plus: Expert advice on pre-take-off strategy and in-flight avoidance tactics for thunderstorms;
Richard Collins is impressed with Columbia's 400 with G1000 autopilot; and much more. Don't miss an issue. Special
subscription rates online.
Ensure Yourself and Your Passengers' Safety for Under $149!
CO Guardian has reliable and proven CO detectors in both portable and panel-mount models starting at $149. You can't afford not to purchase from CO Guardian. Order online.
Aviation Safety's August Issue Shows How to "Stay Proficient in a Fuel-Short World"
Plus: "Building A Safer Trainer" — manufacturers haven't achieved perfection yet; "Rethinking Risk Management"; "The Yellow Brick
Road" — taxi procedures; "Five Ways to Better NPAs" — points to consider before accepting a non-precision approach; "If I Had a Hammer" — ensuring your aircraft
is appropriate for the mission; and the "Squawk Box" reviews the FAA's recent airworthiness and maintenance information bulletins, including a water contamination advisory in a Baron's
deicing boots, cracked and broken Cessna engine mount brackets, a Grumman's collapsed wing fuel tank, and more. Order
Aviation Safety subscriptions 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 Mary Grady (bio).
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Freedom, independence, responsibility.
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