FAA SAYS KY TOWER WAS UNDERSTAFFED
There should have been two controllers on duty in the Lexington, Ky., control tower instead of just one, on the morning that a Comair Bombardier CRJ-100 commuter jet crashed after trying to take off from the wrong runway, the FAA said on Tuesday. Of the 50 people on board the Comair flight, 49 were killed. FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said the FAA has required two controllers in all towers on all shifts since November 2005, after a near-collision of two aircraft near Raleigh-Durham Airport in North Carolina. The Lexington tower will now have at least two controllers at all times, one on radar and one on the tower position. Early Sunday morning, the controller on duty, who had 17 years of experience, cleared the Comair flight for takeoff on Runway 22 (7,003 feet), then turned away to perform some administrative tasks. The jet took off on Runway 26, which is only 3,500 feet long. However, Brown said, a second controller wouldn't have necessarily made any difference. More...

DETAILS OF ACCIDENT CLARIFIED
"[The controller] expected the flight to take off from Runway 22," according to Debbie Hersman, of the NTSB. "He said the pilots didn't seem confused or disoriented" when he talked to them. The CRJ hit the grass off the end of the runway but then became airborne and was starting to climb when it crashed into trees. The jet reached a speed of 158 mph. The lone survivor of the crash, co-pilot James Polehinke, was at the controls, but it was the flight's captain, Jeffrey Clay, who had taxied the aircraft into position, the NTSB said. Clay then handed off the controls to Polehinke for takeoff. It was about an hour before sunrise, and Runway 26 was not lit, but the longer runway, 22, did have lights on, the NTSB said. Polehinke had landed at the airport two nights earlier, when the lights on Runway 22 were out of service, according to Reuters, but other reports said neither pilot had landed there since changes to the taxi routes in the last week or so. More...

SAFETY QUESTIONS RAISED
As in all fatal crashes, questions have arisen about what could be done to prevent similar accidents in the future. USA Today cited hundreds of cases since the 1980s when pilots tried to take off or land on the wrong runways. Suggestions have ranged from installing better signage and runway markings, to requiring that controllers monitor aircraft movements. Capt. Terry McVenes, of the Air Line Pilots Association, told USA Today the union has been lobbying for better signs and lights for years. "For $8 a gallon for paint, you can solve a lot of problems," he said. Technology is available that would allow pilots to monitor their position, superimposed on an airport diagram displayed on the instrument panel (similar to the moving maps now increasingly common in new cars). Honeywell also has a system that provides aural alerts, telling the crew which runway they are lined up on. Pilots also can check the cockpit compass heading to ensure it agrees with the expected runway heading, but while many pilots make this part of their routine, it's not clear that it's included on pre-takeoff checklists. More...

WILL AMENITIES DETERMINE VLJ SALES?
Adam's A700 very light jet has a lavatory on board, and Eclipse's VLJ doesn't. Is that going to be what drives sales for one, and not the other? As the first wave of VLJs prepares to debut on the market, a story in Monday's New York Times explores the "battle of the bathrooms." Adam Aircraft CEO Rick Adam told the Times, "People are not going to get on a plane without a bathroom, or at least they're not going to do it more than once." Naturally, Eclipse CEO Vern Raburn differs. "How often do you have to go?" he asked. Most air-taxi flights will only be 40 to 80 minutes long, he said. "Lots of people commute by car that long and don't have to stop." Eclipse is expected to start deliveries later this year, while Adam expects certification early in 2007. More...

A NEW PLAYER ENTERS THE VLJ SCENE
The Times also reported that a new air-taxi operator, Magnum Jet, plans to launch next year with a fleet of Adam A700 jets. Jim Burns, who founded Magnum Jet in a partnership with ubiquitous FBO operator Million Air, said he wanted to keep a low profile until he was sure the airplanes would be available. The company will start service in Texas and the Southwest, with plans to expand to New York and the East Coast, then to California. Magnum Jet placed orders for 50 Adam A700s and options for 51 more, plus another 50 orders and 50 options for Embraer's Phenom 100, which is expected to start flying next year. More...

AS MARKET WATCHERS PROGNOSTICATE
Delays and security rules at the airlines could prove a real boon to the VLJ market. James Coyne, president of the National Air Transportation Association, said charters experienced 20-percent growth since 9/11 and a 20- to 70-percent bump since Aug. 10, when carry-on liquids were banned from airline cabins. Tim Spahr, director of charter sales for Pinnacle Aviation based at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Airport, told the Arizona Republic that sales have jumped 45 percent since the latest rules took effect. "It's incredible," Spahr said. "And we've had a significant number of first-time callers who specifically sight [sic] airport security hassles as the reason for considering charter." AVweb recently discussed the VLJ market with Teal Group analyst Richard Aboulafia. More...

THREE SURVIVE WITH CIRRUS CHUTE
Pilots may debate the value of on-board parachutes for small aircraft, but one of the scenarios that is always cited in their favor is, "What if something happens to the pilot?" The value of a chute in that circumstance was proven on Monday, when the pilot of a Cirrus SR22 suffered an apparent stroke while in flight with three passengers on board. The passengers were able to deploy the chute, and all survived. The Cirrus landed in a drainage pond in a subdivision near Indianapolis, and residents rescued the passengers. The airplane had taken off from Eagle Creek Airport on the city's northwest side and was en route to Hilton Head Island, S.C. The pilot, Robert Edesess, 66, was killed in the crash. More...

JET, GLIDER COLLIDE, ALL SURVIVE
A Hawker XP800 corporate jet flying about 300 mph at 16,000 feet near Reno, Nev., on Monday afternoon collided with a Schleicher sailplane. The collision damaged the nose and landing gear of the jet, but the crew was able to make a safe belly landing at Carson City. The pilot suffered minor injuries, but the co-pilot and three passengers were fine. Meanwhile, glider pilot Hirao Akihiro, 58, bailed out over the Pine Nut Mountains, landed safely, and hiked about three miles until rescuers found him about 6:45 p.m. Other than some cuts and bruises, he was unhurt. The wreckage of the glider has not been found. On Tuesday, a local pilot said jets approaching Reno shouldn't be directed over the mountain range, which is a popular site for gliders. More...

AOPA: SERVICE BULLETINS NOT MANDATORY
If a manufacturer wants an owner to do something with his aircraft, the FAA has to approve it -- that's the bottom line, AOPA said on Monday. A manufacturer's Service Bulletin doesn't carry the same weight as an Airworthiness Directive, which has gone through a complex, public rulemaking procedure. AOPA has always held that position, but sought clarification recently after an NTSB judge issued a ruling a couple of months ago that clouded the issue. Now, the FAA says AOPA is right. FAA Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulations Rebecca MacPherson issued an interpretation of the regulations to answer a question raised by Cessna Pilot Association's Mike Busch almost a year ago. More...

JACKSONVILLE BANS AIRCRAFT KIT PROJECTS
A city ordinance that was passed in June in Jacksonville, Fla., bans home-based construction of aircraft, EAA says. The building or restoring of anything that flies is forbidden. The ordinance aims to solve a dispute between an EAA member and some of his neighbors, who contend the project was noisy and an eyesore. "We can imagine the outcry from the public if Jacksonville passed a rule saying residents could not work on automobiles, boats or motorcycles at the their own homes," said Earl Lawrence, EAA's vice president of industry and regulatory affairs. "It seems quite unfair that an aircraft builder could not quietly fit two parts together while his neighbor might be able to rebuild and engine test a muscle car next door." More...

EMBRY-RIDDLE TO EXPAND WORLDWIDE
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will open branches in Asia and South America and boost its operations in Europe, the Orlando Sentinel reported Tuesday. The school is scheduled to announce its plans today. The global plan will include the construction of a new international headquarters near its main campus in Daytona Beach, Fla., to be completed in 2008. The school aims to train workers in aircraft and airport management to meet booming needs in China, India, Brazil, Spain and Ireland, according to the Sentinel. Embry-Riddle currently operates a second residential campus in Prescott, Ariz., as well as 130 branches in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. More...

DIAMOND AIRCRAFT EXPANDS IN NORTHEAST
Diamond Aircraft on Monday named Columbia Aircraft Sales as its exclusive distributor in New England, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The Columbia group operates FBOs throughout the region, providing aircraft sales and fuel, with a staff of over 100. The company also provides maintenance, charter and management services for jet, turboprop, and piston-powered aircraft. "Columbia brings more than 25 years of aviation experience and deep familiarity with aircraft sales and customer service across nearly every segment of the market," said Peter Maurer, president of Diamond Aircraft, in a news release. More...

AVIATION EDITOR WANTED
Belvoir Media Group (AVweb's parent company) is seeking an aviation writer/editor for a staff position at Kitplanes magazine (AVweb's sibling). We're looking for someone with a proven track record in writing, reporting and editing. The ideal candidate -- we know you’re out there -- should have a good working knowledge of experimental (amateur-built) aviation as well as a broad-based background in general aviation. Familiarity with Adobe InDesign page layout software and advanced flight ratings are a plus. Contact editor@kitplanes.com. More...

ON THE FLY...
NTSB wants FAA to require inspections of some Cessna control wheels...
Seven died in the crash of a Cessna 401 in Kentucky on Monday...
CFI sport pilot instruction guide free online, from EAA...
Elite athlete's artificial leg lost by an airline...
Webster, N.Y., banned private airports and outlawed helicopters...
NTSB wants "urgent" action to prevent failures of jet engines...
NASA helping pilots to fly airliners with throttles only...
Fewer carry-ons means faster boarding, longer luggage wait...
A hydrogen-powered UAV is being flight-tested in Georgia...
Adventurer Steve Fossett has reached 50,699 feet in a glider...
Want a free car? Just buy an airplane from CompAir. 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...

NEW ARTICLES AND FEATURES ON AVWEB

COLUMNS

AUDIO NEWS
For AVweb subscribers who prefer their news straight from the horse's mouth, AVweb posts fresh audio news issues each Monday, and interviews, Friday -- it's information you won't find anywhere else. 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.

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...

FBO OF THE WEEK: SKYLINE AERONAUTICS, CHESTERFIELD, MO

For local prices, enter your U.S. ZIP Code or Airport Identifier: Fuel prices provided weekly by AirNav, based on prices from the past 2 weeks. Changes are relative to last week.

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!."

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!

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: RUNWAY RESPONSIBILITY
This week, AVweb wants to hear your opinion on runway responsibility. A controller can clear you onto a specific runway, but if you find yourself somewhere else, who bears responsibility for that mistake?
Plus: Results of last week's question about readers' flying pedigree. More...

PICTURE OF THE WEEK
Variety is the order of the day in the latest installment of AVweb's"Picture of the Week."  Submitters from all across the globe (notjust Illinois) sent us photos of planes, gliders, helicopters, balloons,and even a few birds this week.  If it flies, we've probably seenit!  And after sorting through the entries, it's time to shareeight of our favorites with the rest of the world. Headlining this week's entries is VincentCzaplyski, who will receive an official AVweb baseball capfor his submission.  Each week we award one of these caps,to our favorite photo of the week — so let that (and the possibility ofsharing joy with thousands of AVweb readers) be an extra incentive tosend us youramateur aviation photos. 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).

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