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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." — Bing Lantis, President of Columbia Aircraft
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LightSPEED dealer or call (800) 332-241 (PST, business hours). View the 60-second video clip!
CHARTER
AIRCRAFT ATTRACT SCRUTINY With traveling on the airlines just
getting worse, and ever more security restrictions and delays, some
observers now are fretting that travelers will go looking for charter
flights and encounter shady operators. "There's going to be a lot more
guys out there calling themselves John Doe's Charter," Miami attorney
Stuart Grossman told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Grossman was
involved in litigation after the fatal charter crash that killed R&B
singer Aaliyah and eight others in the Bahamas five years ago. FAA
spokesman Les Dorr told the Sun-Sentinel that inspectors can't oversee every
operator, every day. "The sheer number of operators requires the FAA to
allocate resources where the greatest benefit can be gained," he said.
More...
LARRY
KING LOOKS AT GA SECURITY; NBAA OBJECTS Reporter Christiane
Amanpour took a look at GA security on CNN's Larry King Live last week, and the National
Business Aviation Association (NBAA) says the show was "irresponsible in
its lack of balance." NBAA President Ed Bolen wrote to the network, asking for an
opportunity to present "a full picture of GA security." No organization
representing general aviation was included in the report, which looked
at the security measures at GA airports. "As a result, key facts about
GA security were ignored in favor of sensationalist comments from only
one source, and the industry as a whole was mischaracterized," Bolen
said. More...
BRITISH
PILOTS LOSE PATIENCE Meanwhile, across the pond, airline
officials and pilots are fed up with security measures and delays.
RyanAir CEO Michael O'Leary said last week that measures such as banning
shampoo and lipstick in carry-on bags are "farcical, Keystone Cops-like
and completely insane and ineffectual.... We are not in danger of dying
at the hands of toiletries." He said he would sue the government if
security is not restored to normal levels within a week. His airline
lost about £2 million during the latest security crisis. Pilots
also have been banned from taking contact-lens solution into the
cockpit, The Mirror reported. "There is no logic at all in
this," said Capt Mervyn Granshaw. More...
The SJ30-2 Is the World's Fastest Light
Business Jet
Not 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.
BEHIND
THE SCENES: MAKING THE LOPRESTI FURY When LoPresti Aviation
announced plans to build its Fury in Belen, N.M., last week, it made a point of saying there were
dozens of other communities interested in the business. Belen, along
with the New Mexico government, offered a fat incentive program that
included the state's Job Training Incentive Program, the High Wage Job
Tax Credit and the Rural Job Tax Credit. The local government is also
kicking in property-tax incentives, according to ExpansionManagement.com. Among the losing bidders
for LoPresti was Manitowac, Wisc. Officials of that town publicly
questioned LoPresti's description of the lengths to which other
communities and states were willing to go to lure an airplane company
and questioned the manufacturer's business plan. More...
MARKETING
AND POLITICS In a story in the Manitowac Herald Times that ran
shortly before the New Mexico announcement, Ken Stubbe, head of the
town's economic development commission, said "LoPresti didn't seem
willing or able to provide a detailed business plan to us, and that's
what we should have before we put together a proposal." The paper
characterized LoPresti's claims that other locations were offering
millions in incentives as an attempt to create an artificial bidding
war. "The normal entrepreneur is exuberant and tends to exaggerate. That
wouldn't surprise me and you kind of ignore it, but when it goes over
the pale, you have to consider that a red flag," Stubbe told the Herald
Times. More...
BUYING
INTO AN IDEA R.J. Siegel, LoPresti's vice president of
operations, told AVweb on Tuesday that officials in Manitowac
"are really nice guys with good intentions," but it was clear early on
that Wisconsin was not a lead contender for the Fury manufacturing
plant. He added that he negotiated with about 75 communities across the
U.S. to find the right place to locate his business, and secured
non-disclosure agreements with each one, which was breached in only one
case. "So unfortunately the process became public and of course
political," he said. "My job was to find the best deal for my company. I
can only hope I did just that." More...
Get Your 100% No-Cost Copy of Voyager
FreeFlight
See why Eclipse Aviation and thousands of pilots chose Voyager as
their flight planning, moving map, and approach plates solution —
and why it won Product of the Year! New Voyager FreeFlight
is a streamlined version of the full Voyager system with many of the
same features: autorouting with terrain avoidance - DUAT briefings &
filing - profile view with terrain, TFRs, clouds, airspace, airways -
satellite and radar overlays - AOPA airport information - detailed trip
printouts - and much, much more. Click here to download now or watch a self-running
demo.
ADAM
A700 CERTIFICATION -- $93 MILLION CLOSER Adam Aircraft
has attained $93 million in fresh funding, led by new investor
DCM, a venture capital firm, the company said on Tuesday. "This funding
round puts Adam Aircraft in a strong position to accelerate our product
development and production plans," spokeswoman Shelly Simi told
AVweb yesterday. Deliveries have started on the A500 piston twin,
though full FAA certification for night and IFR operations is still
pending. That certification is now just "days away," Simi said. The
company now will roll its resources over to the A700 VLJ program and
hire additional engineers for its facilities in Colorado and Utah. A700
certification is currently aimed at early 2007, Simi said.
More...
RUSSIAN
AIRLINER CRASH KILLS 169 A Tupolev 154 operated by Pulkovo
Airlines, of Russia, crashed in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, with no
survivors. Reports varied from 169 to 171 killed. The aircraft was
flying at about 33,000 feet in stormy weather, with heavy rains and
strong winds, and the crew issued several emergency calls. Some reports
said the airplane had caught fire in flight and the crew was trying to
make an emergency landing. Others said it didn't start to burn until
after it hit the ground. Authorities don't suspect terrorism. The
airplane hit a hillside field and was destroyed. Both data recorders
have been recovered by investigators. It was the third major incident
involving a Russian airliner in less than four months. Tuesday, Russian
officials said a criminal inquiry will look into a possible violation of
safety rules. More...
Purchase Your Garmin GPSMap 496 at Aircraft
Spruce
Fly smarter and safer with the GPSMap 496 on board. This
"know-it-all" mini-MFD puts more power and information at your
fingertips than any other portable handheld in the history of aviation.
Similar to the GPSMap 396, the 496 combines satellite datalink weather
with a detailed color map and terrain alerting, then takes it up a notch
with even more high-end software and features. The 496 is a
"must-have" for any pilot. For more information, please call
1-877-4-SPRUCE or visit Aircraft Spruce online.
BOATER
ARRESTED FOR INTERFERING WITH SEAPLANE A boater repeatedly
swerved in front of a floatplane on Bantam Lake, near Hartford, Conn.,
earlier this month, apparently trying to prevent it from taking off
because he thought the airplane shouldn't be operating on the lake, the
Hartford Courant reported this week. The boater was
arrested on Sunday. The floatplane pilot had been donating rides to
inner-city campers for many years, according to the state Department of
Environmental Protection, whose officers made the arrest. On Aug. 4, the
pilot was trying to take off with two girls on board, when the boat
pulled in front of the airplane and stopped, forcing the pilot to abort,
state officials said. It happened a second time, and the pilot returned
to the dock and dropped off the girls. More...
PALM
SPRINGS TOWER AS AN ECONOMIC ISSUE Advocates for a new tower
at Palm Springs International Airport in California say it's needed not
only for safety, but also to ensure that business and tourism continue
to grow in the area. In an editorial in The Desert Sun on Sunday, the newspaper
said airplanes have nearly collided at the airport once every four
months during the last year, and one reason is that the control tower is
too short. The tower, built in 1967, sits in a gully, and controllers
can't see to the ends of the runway. A new tower and new radar equipment
would cost about $20 million. "Our $1 billion tourism industry is
heavily dependent upon people flying here," the editorial says. "If our
airport gains a bad reputation for safety, that's a mark against our
ability to draw tourists and conventions." More...
PowerLink™ FADEC Certified on Liberty
XL-2; Is It Right for Your Aircraft? Liberty Aerospace is the first certified piston-powered aircraft
with PowerLink™ FADEC as standard equipment. PowerLink™
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.
HOW
MUCH IS A LIVE WEATHER BRIEFER WORTH? The FAA and the
National Weather Service are running a test in the Leesburg, Va., Air
Route Traffic Control Center this month to see if it's really necessary
to have on-staff meteorologists in the center, or if off-site weather
briefers could do the work instead. The FAA says it's trying to
determine if it can save money and at the same time enhance services.
"We pay the Weather Service $12 million to do face-to-face briefings for
us at our facilities," FAA spokesman Paul Takemoto told The Baltimore Sun. "We could be doing this remotely
through video conferencing. It's a more efficient and cost-effective way
of doing things." More...
DAVID
CLARK'S LATEST David Clark Co.'s new X11 Electronic
Noise-Canceling aviation headset has hit the market, with
"dramatically enhanced" comfort and new user-friendly features. The X11
represents the culmination of years of research and development, the
company says, based on the input of dozens of commercial and GA pilots.
The sleek, lightweight headset uses a low-force carbon-fiber suspension
assembly and fabric-faced, contoured gel ear seals for comfort. The
entire headset weights just 12 ounces and folds compactly into its own
carrying case. A small control unit, powered by two AA batteries (good
for about 30 hours), features inputs for your cellphone and music
player. More...
Do You Know Who Aviation Insurance Brokers
Represent?
The fact is that many private pilots don't understand that brokers do
not represent Avemco. Yet many brokers say they represent the
entire aviation insurance market. Avemco wants to make sure that the
aviation insurance consumer understands that they have a real choice.
Call Avemco now at (888) 241-7891 for fast, accurate
answers about aviation insurance or for an immediate quote. You may be
surprised at what you learn. Online too!
ON
THE FLY... AOPA gives Lockheed-Martin a B+ for its operation
of FSSs... The FAA okayed a new airport site for St. George,
Utah... Kaiser Aluminum will provide aluminum for Eclipse
jets... FAA AD aims to correct heading errors in Sandel TAWS/RMI
units... Microlon aviation-engine treatment pushing into auto
market... Synergy Air offers kitbuilders a course in fiberglass
fabrication. More...
AVWEB'S
NEWSTIPS ADDRESS ... What have you heard? There might
be something to it. If you've heard something that 130,000 pilots might
want to know about, tell us. Submit news tips via email tonewstips@avweb.com. Our best
stories start with your tips. More...
Introducing New AeroShell® Oil W 80
Plus
The newest member of the AeroShell® family, AeroShell®
Oil W 80 Plus is designed to provide excellent protection for pilots who
fly in colder weather or less frequently. With the same anti-wear and
anti-corrosion additives found in AeroShell® W 100 PLUS, new
AeroShell® W 80 Plus provides pilots with a lighter
single-grade oil they can trust. Learn more online.
As the Beacon Turns #104: History Books A
pilot's logbooks can be a simple list of flight times, or they can be a
journey into the past as you relive each flight. Or someone else's
flights, as Michael Maya Charles discovers in this months As The Beacon
Turns column.
A
Tale of Whoa With the right tools and the right techniques, you
can replace your brakes quickly and easily. More...
AUDIO
NEWS For AVweb subscribers who prefer their news
straight from the horse's mouth, AVweb posts fresh audio news
issues each Monday, plus interviews, Friday. We call them podcasts, but
no iPod is required. Check our audio news index and hear what you've been
missing.
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.
The 2006 New Piper Mirage Offers Serious
Sophistication
Avidyne'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.
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...
Attention, Piper Owners and
Pilots!
The Piper Flyer Association (PFA) provides parts locating,
tech support, a monthly member magazine, online forums, national and
regional events, an annual convention, seminars, and more. With a
one-year membership for $39, access the needed information to expand
your knowledge and get more enjoyment from owning and flying your Piper
aircraft. The PFA is located on the Waupaca Municipal Airport in
Wisconsin, just 35 miles NW of Oshkosh. For more information, and to
request a sample copy of the magazine, click here.
AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon
goes to Skyline Aeronautics at KSUS, Chesterfield,
MO.
Offering up Skyline, Robert Greenfield told us, "Truly the
best of the best. Great plane rentals, instructional staff, and
services! I've flown thru many FBO's in the past, but these guys bend
over backwards to help you out! Currently working on my instrument
ticket with them, and couldn't be happier!."
Tired of the High Cost of Fuel? GAMIjectors Are
the Answer!
Don't be grounded by sky-high gas prices. Install GAMIjectors,
and you could see up to a 20% cut in your aircraft's fuel bill. Balanced
fuel/air ratios make your aircraft's engine run smoother, cooler, and
more efficiently. Call 888-FLY-GAMI, or order a kit online for your Continental or Lycoming
engine.
QUESTION
OF THE WEEK: YOUR AVIATION LINEAGE This week, AVweb wants to
know a little bit about your flying pedigree. What influences helped
bring you to aviation (or aircraft ownership)? PLUS: Results of
last week's question on 100LL — and the nebulous future of avgas.
More...
No Cute Cartoons, No Fancy Covers. IFR
Magazine Brings You the Hard Facts IFR magazine has insightful facts to polish your
proficiency, updates on changing regs, and articles that help keep your
decision-making skills sharp in the demanding IFR environment. Order your subscription online for savings from the
regular rate.
PICTURE
OF THE WEEK "Picture of the Week"
submissions inch back up to normal levels thisweek, with just under 100
photos in our contest. As usual, ourphotos come from all around the
globe — although this week, there seemedto be a curiously high
number of submissions from Illinois, at leastamong our top ten or
fifteen contenders. (What, did you guys allget the week off work?) Two
of them even made it into this week'sfeature, although if you're looking
for our winning photo, you'll wantto shift your gaze a bit to the
southwest — to Lawrence, Kansas, home ofDoug DuBois. Congratulations, Doug! Keep
your eye on the mailbox, 'causewe'll be sending you one of those
sharp-looking AVweb baseball caps towarm your head in that li'l
Dragonfly. (To win one of these hats for yourself, you mustsubmityour aviation
photos! Each week, we'll choose our favoritesand share them right
here on AVweb — but we can only do that if you keepsending photos.
So get cracking! (Maybe your state orprovince can make it a week-long
holiday, like they do in Illinois.) More...
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, Avidyne's TAS600
Series makes premium performance, active-surveillance traffic alerting
affordable for virtually every general aviation aircraft. Visit Avidyne online.
Cessna Single & Twin Owners: Learn to
Save Thousands on Maintenance!
Aircraft maintenance expert Mike Busch will be offering his
acclaimed weekend Savvy Owner Seminar in cities throughout the
U.S., including a location within easy flying distance of you. In one
information-packed weekend, Mike will teach you how to have a safer,
more reliable aircraft while saving literally thousands of dollars on
maintenance costs, year after year. For seminar cities, details, and to
reserve your space, click here.
AVweb's Flight Explorer 5.0 Available
at Same Low Price! Version 5.0 is now available at the same low price! New features
include FAA Airport delays; enhanced terrain/elevation map depictions;
updated Airways, NAVAIDs, Fixes, Special Use Airspace, and Flight
Service Stations; and more. Click here for more information and to
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.
Gas Prices Keeping You Grounded? Share
Expenses on Your Next Flight!
Join PilotShareTheRide.com. This unique site is offered at no
cost to pilots AND those who love to fly and don't have access to an
aircraft. You can share costs on your next flight! Pilot Share The Ride
is supported by advertisers, just like AVweb, so there are no membership
costs. Check out PilotShareTheRide.com.
Subscribe to Aviation Safety and
Save!
You spent thousands earning your license; safeguard it for just pennies
a day. Aviation Safety helps pilots stay ready for the
realities of today's demanding flight environment with instructive
articles to keep your decision-making skills sharp. Save by subscribing online.
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.
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marketing? Send it to AVweb's
sales team.
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