Aircraft Spruce Carries the Redline STIFFY Tow Bar
A spring-loaded, reversible one-way ratchet that delivers tremendous power and allows the wheel to continue rolling in the direction it is being levered, but it has to be "unlocked" in order
to allow movement in the other direction. Traction on the tire supplied by quot;teeth" on the "friction pad." The basic system consists of two pieces (special one-piece tow bar and
the STIFFY mechanism). For more information, please call Aircraft Spruce at 1-877-4-SPRUCE or visit
online.
Although conflict over staffing levels for air traffic control has been simmering for years between the FAA and
the controllers union, last week's fatal crash in Lexington, Ky., has upped the rhetoric. The FAA said this week that
towers at Duluth, Minn., and Fargo, N.D., were the only towers besides Lexington that have both ground and radar functions that didn't have two controllers on duty Sunday night. In New York, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer is demanding that all towers in the state must be fully staffed around the clock. He also
wants Congress to allocate $60 million to replace the 42-year-old tower at LaGuardia Airport, which has been plagued by leaks and power problems. "The FAA says we don't need as many controllers
because we have updated our equipment, but they haven't updated the equipment, at LaGuardia and at too many other towers," Schumer said. "So the new tower is essential to reducing delays and improving
safety on the ground and in the skies." Schumer said only two of 12 towers in New York are fully staffed.
"It isn't just about one-person midnight shifts and airports like LEX," Ruth Marlin, executive vice president for
the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), told The Eagle Tribune. "The FAA is short-staffed at
O'Hare, Atlanta and Dallas towers. If you don't have enough people, you either can't provide the service or can't maintain the safety margin." FAA Administrator Marion Blakey said last week at a news
conference in Louisville, Ky., that staffing is not a problem. "Overall, across the country, we do not have a shortage of air-traffic controllers," Blakey said. Dr. Charles Czeisler, professor of
sleep medicine at Harvard Medical School, told The Eagle Tribune that the sleep-deprived schedule kept by the lone Lexington controller could cause attention lapses and cut reaction time. Czeisler
added that sleep deprivation can cause impairment comparable to being legally drunk. The controller at Lexington had worked 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, taken a nine-hour break and then returned
to work at 11:30 p.m. after two hours of sleep, according to the NTSB. "That is a bad schedule from a human-performance point of view," Gregory Belenky, director of the Sleep and Performance Research
Center at Washington State University, told USA Today. The FAA has said the lone controller didn't
fail to do anything he should have done, and having a second controller on duty might not have made any difference.
The senator from New York is not the only voice in Washington calling for change. Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., and
Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Ill., who are both on the House transportation committee, have demanded an investigation by the Transportation Department's inspector general, USA Today reports. "In aviation, there's no curb to pull over and look under the hood," Oberstar said.
"What you're always looking for is widening the margin of safety." On Tuesday, The
Associated Press reported that a control tower supervisor at Lexington had filed an anonymous safety report with NASA in 2004. The
supervisor reported the airport's radar system wasn't working properly but managers refused to call in a mechanical specialist because it would mean paying two hours of overtime. The supervisor said
staffing in Lexington was a "low priority to the powers above us," and added, "Those types of poorly thought out decisions can cost lives." FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown responded to the AP regarding
the NASA memo. "The anonymous report from 2004 appears to express concern about maintenance technicians, not air traffic controllers. We don't have a staff problem in general at control towers," she
said.
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.
Mary Peters has been nominated by President Bush to take over Norman Mineta's cabinet seat as Secretary of Transportation, the White House announced on Tuesday. Peters was formerly the head of the
Federal Highway Administration and director of the Arizona Department of Transportation. She is currently working in the private sector as a transportation policy analyst. "Mary has a reputation for
character and common sense," the president said. "She's an innovative thinker. She knows how to set priorities and to solve problems." In accepting the nomination, Peters noted that the nation's
transportation infrastructure is "showing signs of aging." Increasing congestion on highways, railways, airports and seaports is "robbing our nation of productivity and our citizens of quality time
with their families," she said. Peters' nomination must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Mineta resigned from the job in June.
Within hours, AOPA, NBAA, EAA, and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) had issued statements
reacting to the announcement. Their main concern -- what will be Peters' position on user fees for GA? AOPA
said the nominee would pose both an "opportunity and [a] challenge." Her position on user fees is far from clear. In the past, she has advocated for collecting highway tolls to upgrade the road
system. "That's because the highway trust fund is going to go broke. The aviation trust fund isn't," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. He added that, "While I don't yet know her personally, Mary Peters
has a reputation for honesty, integrity, and a willingness to listen and understand all sides of an issue ... AOPA fully intends to take every opportunity to take advantage of her good listening
skills to explain why user fees would be harmful to the world's best aviation system." Peters understands that different transportation modes need to be treated differently, and some users taxed at a
different rate than others, an unnamed Washington insider told AOPA. She is also credited with being careful with spending the public's money. The new Secretary of Transportation will be the
president's point person in the FAA funding debate, and the critical "go-between" for Congress, the White House, and the general public on the user-fee issue.
Boyer is not the only GA leader ready to give Peters an earful about the needs of GA pilots. NBAA President Ed Bolen
said, "I look forward to working with Mary and ensuring that she is fully aware of the concerns of business aviation." GAMA President Pete Bunce said, "We congratulate Ms. Peters and look forward to
continuing the same great working relationship on aviation issues that we had with Mr. Mineta." EAA President Tom
Poberezny noted that Mineta leaves big shoes to fill. "Secretary Mineta was a friend to EAA and to sport and recreational aviation," he said. "Under his watch, the sport pilot/light-sport aircraft
rules became a reality. He's been to Oshkosh on a number of occasions and we truly enjoyed working with him." Poberezny added that he looks forward to working with Peters "on important issues that
will affect not only EAA members but all of aviation."
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Transportation Security Administration officials have asked airport managers, flight schools, flight-training
providers, and aircraft operators to remain vigilant for suspicious behavior and activities. The notice was prompted by a recent undisclosed incident involving suspicious activities at flight schools,
the TSA said. The TSA advisory, issued on Friday, warns of continuing Al-Qaeda efforts to conduct
multiple attacks against the U.S., and says those attacks may involve aviation. Owners of GA aircraft and airport owners and operators are urged to review the security measures contained in the TSA
publication, "Security Guidelines for General Aviation Airports," as well as AOPA's Airport Watch Program materials. The theft of
any GA aircraft and any suspicious activity should be reported immediately to the appropriate authorities and the TSA General Aviation Hotline at 866-GASECUR (866-427-3287).
A source of complication for many GA pilots has always been that once you land, you still have to get to
your destination, and it's not always easy. One car-rental company is trying to solve that problem, with a program aimed directly at GA pilots. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the biggest car-rental company in
North America, has an easy-to-use Web portal, where pilots can plug in any airport identifier and get immediate detailed information about
rental-car availability. In some cases, there is a branch on the airport, but if not, Enterprise will deliver the car to your FBO or pick you up there and shuttle you to their facility. The site lists
what service is available, as well as car models and prices. Response to the project has been "tremendous," Enterprise spokesman Brad Carr told AVweb on Tuesday. "The [online] information is
updated frequently as our status at airports change and we are on site at more and more locations every day. It has been available for more than a year now. Pilots like the fact that it is essentially
one-stop shopping." Enterprise has more than 6,900 offices in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany and Ireland. The company operates more than 850,000 vehicles and has about 220 on-site airport
locations.
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.
When pilots Steve Fossett and Einar Enevoldson reached 50,699 feet in a glider over the Andes last week, there was more to it than just catching another world record. The pair was conducting scientific research on atmospheric
phenomena, trying to learn more about the structure of mountain waves and how they interact with polar winds. Because the stratosphere is generally stable, with no thermal lifting, the only way for a
glider to get up there is to hitch a ride on mountain waves. The objective of Fossett and his team was to "surf" from one wave to another, to climb as high as possible. They tried for five seasons on
three continents before reaching their target height, surpassing the 1986 record by 1,662 feet. The glider was released from a tow plane at 13,000 feet, and took four hours to reach its highest
altitude. The crew wore spacesuits on loan from NASA to survive in the unpressurized aircraft. The record will be certified by Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
A paraglider was flying along above Utah last Friday, about 75 feet high, when he encountered an airplane at his
altitude ... which quickly became an unpleasant surprise. The remote-controlled airplane, with a 21-inch wingspan, dispensed enough force to disrupt the parafoil. The paraglider pilot, Wade
Hutchinson, 31, of Wyoming, crashed on the side of a slope, but was spared serious injury. "That mountain helped break his fall," local police officer Clint Fackrell told the Salt Lake Tribune, referring to the angle of the terrain. The glider "folded up" on impact, according to the Tribune (not much of a
surprise considering paraglider wings have no solid structural members). Hutchinson was flown to a hospital by helicopter, but his injuries were reported to be not life-threatening. Police said they
don't plan to file any charges against the pilot of the radio-controlled airplane.
If Brokers Say They Cover the Whole Market, Why Can't They Get a Quote from Us?
The fact is brokers can't get a quote from Avemco, the only direct provider of aviation insurance. On top of that, only Avemco lets you talk directly to the aviation underwriter for
fast, accurate answers in one simple phone call. Plus, Avemco offers consistent rates and coverage as well as short, easy-to-understand policies. So if a broker tells you he covers the whole
market, he's only telling you half the story. Call Avemco at (888) 241-7891 or visit online to hear the rest
of the story.
Two Mitsubishi MU-2 aircraft that crashed in the last two weeks in Florida have successfully raised additional concern
over the safety of the twin turboprop. The MU-2 accident record prompted the FAA to undertake a safety review of the aircraft in
December 2005. The review found that although the airplane's fatal accident rate is about 2.5 times that of similar twin turboprops, the airplane is not inherently unsafe. The FAA mandated extra
training for MU-2 pilots. Last Friday, Hardy Head, 64, was killed when the MU-2 he was flying crashed in rural Walton County, Fla. On Aug. 26, Ward and Barb Walter, a Michigan couple in their 60s,
died when their MU-2 crashed near Ormond Beach, Fla. The aircraft "operate more like a business jet than they do a turboprop," FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. "The flight characteristics are more like a jet and the
handling characteristics are more like a jet." Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan has raised about $1 billion to develop a regional jet, to start deliveries in 2012. The project would be
the first passenger jet built in Japan.
Jim Carlaccini and John Long plan to fly from Florida to California next month to raise money for children's charities. They'll fly an FPNA A-22 Valor LSA and an
Airborne XT-912 trike. The trike has been adapted with hand controls for Carlaccini, who uses a wheelchair since
a skydiving accident several years ago. Their trip will take about two months. In South Africa, two rotary pilots plan to crisscross their country, one flying an R22 Robinson helicopter and the other an ELA gyrocopter. They'll also be earning their commercial flight ratings and being the stars of a
National Geographic documentary along the way. Danie Koen, 53, and Werner Alberts, 39, are spending just two weeks on the flight. Click on our links for more info, and maybe get inspired to start on a
plan of your own.
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
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.
The sole survivor of Comair Flight 5191, first officer James Polehinke, 44, remains in serious condition but has improved. Polehinke suffered "facial fractures, a complex fracture of the
pelvis, two fractures of the spine, and broken bones in his left leg, right foot and right hand," according to The Courier-Journal. He no longer requires life support, and continues to make
progress...
Delta Air Lines can terminate its pilots' pension plan, a
bankruptcy-court judge said on Tuesday...
Aviation Technology Group (ATG) will install integrated avionics by Op Technologies in its Javelin Jet, ATG announced this week. The
avionics system comprises three 5" x 7" display units in both the forward and aft cockpits...
Boeing named Scott Carson as CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes on Tuesday, replacing Alan Mulally, who
this week was named CEO of Ford Motor Co....
The Airbus A380 prototypeflew with 474 company employees on board
Monday, the first full load of passengers for the super-jumbo jet. The company also announced management changes to head the troubled program...
A German entrepreneur plans to launch an all-smokers' airline with service to
Japan. But will security allow matches and lighters on board?...
The NTSB's final report on the fatal crash of a P-3 firefighting aircraft found that it didn't break up
in flight as was thought at first, but caught a wingtip on the ground and crashed. The reason for the collision with terrain couldn't be determined, according to the report...
Pressure to change the age-60 rule is intensifying as the deadline approaches for a change in
ICAO rules that will allow foreign pilots older than 60 to fly in U.S. airspace. That rule takes effect in November...
A new type of diode laser called the quantum cascade laser could be used to develop inexpensive
missile-defense systems for aircraft, according to researchers at Northwestern University...
Qantas will offer in-flight wireless access and cellphone service starting next year. The system depends on new
technology that is currently being reviewed to ensure it meets all regulations.
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.
Use the Best — ASA's 2007 FAR/AIMs and FAA Exam Prep Now Available ASA's 2007 FAR/AIMs, Test Preps for pilots, and Fast-Track Test Guides for AMTs are now available. Prepware combines all the information in the Test Prep and Fast-Track Test Guide series in
computer-based training. Contains all FAA Knowledge Exam questions. Virtual Test Prep lets students study from their TVs or computer DVD players. For complete details about these products, visit ASA's web site.
Quiz #111: Flapped, Foiled and Dragged
The Earth's atmosphere is composed of 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen, leaving only one percent for airplanes. Let's see what we can force into that airspace with a few aerodynamic questions
and controversies.
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.
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 "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Aitkin Aviation at KAIT, Aitkin, MN.
Offering up Aitkin, Helen Woods told us, " My boyfriend and I stopped in for fuel during a long cross country trip to find a beautiful little country airport -- the type with a cub in every hanger
and folding chairs in the hanger doorways gazing out onto the runway. The FBO manager came out and topped us off with reasonably priced fuel. They offered three grades including MoGas, which saved
us a good deal of money. We then discovered that they had a beautiful grassy and tree lined campsite, complete with fire ring, grill, picnic table, and a huge mountain of firewood. They also had a
24hr pilot lounge complete with a shower, clean restroom, and weather computer, which they offered to us for indoor camping if we preferred. As the weather had deteriorated, we took them up on their
hospitality decided to camp in their beautiful campsite. No sooner had we unrolled our tents than the FBO manager drove a car over to us and handed us the keys, maps of town, and directions to good
food and enjoyable places to visit. We spent two nights at this airport and left on a Saturday morning when we found the FBO manager making huge pots of chilli for a vibrant volunteer airport
community that had come out to repaint the runway markings. We said our good-byes and were handed two bags of locally grown wild rice as parting gifts from the FBO manager as we left. All of this,
except the fuel and charts we purchased, was free of charge. If this FBO isn't worthy of an AVweb award, I don't know what is!"
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!
If You Think "Bargains" Are Something Alien to Aviation — Think Again!
Spending hard-earned money on your aircraft and its avionics can be expensive. But don't think good deals aren't available in today's marketplace. Bennett Avionics provides pilots with
quality avionics to meet their needs and maintain their budget. Before you buy anywhere else, check out Bennett Avionics at (860) 653-7295 or online. You'll be glad you did!
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/ .
Join NAA and Help Shape the Next Century of Flight
It's a great time to join the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), the nation's oldest aviation organization. At $39 a year, NAA membership is a terrific value for any aviation
enthusiast! Members receive the Smithsonian's Air & Space and NAA's Aero magazines, plus access to aviation records, product discounts, and much more. Call (703) 527-0226 to
become an NAA member, or sign up online.
"Runway responsibility" has been a common phrase in the wake of the
recent
Comair crash. Last week, AVweb asked who ultimately shoulders
the burden of responsibility for such mistakes.
Not surprisingly, a whopping 69% of AVweb readers who answered our
poll said the burden rests squarely on the shoulders of the pilot in
command.
Other respondents chose to take a different view of the situation.
Click here for real-time results of last week's question.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION ***
"Runway responsibility" has been a common phrase in the wake of the
recent
Comair crash. Last week, AVweb asked who (ultimat
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.
The Best Tool in Your Toolbox Is Information!
Save money and time with helpful articles from Light Plane Maintenance magazine. Light Plane Maintenance brings you tips and techniques for maintenance procedures you can perform
legally and easily on your aircraft. Order your subscription online for savings from the regular rate.
This year's Labor Day holiday may have been more eventful than usual,
but it still signals the end of summer for many. (Say it ain't
so!) But don't let that discourage you — with extended Daylight
Saving Time this year and just a little bit of luck with regard to the
weather, we may still have a few good weeks of short-sleeve shirts and
airport afternoons in store. While you're enjoying the last rays
of summer, remember to keep a roll of film (or an extra memory card)
handy. Make AVweb a part of your end-of-summer adventures by
submitting your
aviation photos to our "POTW" contest every week.
Thomas Clough of Wauconda,
Illinois did — and his bush flying photos climbed all the way up the
ranks to take the top spot in this week's contest. As our "POTW"
winner, Thomas will receive an official AVweb hat in the mail, along
with a few thousand oohs and ahhs from fellow AVweb
readers. Thanks for taking time to submit, Thomas!
Thomas L. Clough of Wauconda,
Illinois kicks off the festivities this week. In his shot, two
Super Cub pilots strut their stuff at a bush flying demonstration on the
Chena River near Fairbanks, Alaska.
"This photo was taken through the window of the stern wheeler
Discovery II," writes Thomas. (And we were grateful for the
explanation, after 20 minutes of trying to figure out if that was a
watermark or a window reflection seen beneath the Cub's right wing.)
(Don't think we didn't notice that Thomas is yet another Illinois
native staking his claim on "POTW" territory. We swear we're not
playing favorites — but Illinois is stuffing the submission box
full of great pictures lately.)
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.
We've seen some terrific pics of the Spruce Goose — perhaps more than
usual this summer, since a couple of AVwebbers have trekked out to see
her — but this one from Kelly Andersson
of Missoula, Montana takes the cake. Kelly was kind enough
to submit several photos from the trip, allowing us to pick this as our
favorite.
Sorry to say, the thumbnail doesn't do it justice, so be sure to click
through to the
full-size version.
Lots of skydiving pics this week, but we gritted our teeth and chose
only one to share with you. Luckily for you, it's this one from
Robert Rhoades of Powhatan,
Virginia.
To everyone else who sent sky-diving photos: Hang on to them
for a few weeks and try
re-submitting.
Remember Dale Gardner's float plane tow from
last week? Ray Montagne of
Cupertino, California shows us one in action this week — towing a plane
in Anchorage, Alaska.
Michel Charette of Bois-de-Filion,
Québec (Canada) writes, "We took cover under this beautifully restored DC-3 in Oshkosh this year during one of the traditional afternoon thunderstorms, while listening to the Beach Boys
playing their famous hit song on stage, right next to us."
We have to admit, it looks slightly more cozy than milling around in
AVweb-issue plastic ponchos ... .
This pic is from my buddy, who was on vacation in San Diego.
[H]e and his wife were out for a nice sunset evening and caught the launch of the Delta IV rocket. When he e-mailed me the pic the next day, "you will be so jealous" was the subject
line.
A Reminder About Copyrights: Please take a moment to consider the
source of your image before submitting to our "Picture of the Week" contest.
If you did not take the photo yourself, ask yourself if you are indeed
authorized to release publication rights to AVweb. If you're uncertain,
consult the
POTW
Rules or
send us an e-mail.
AVWEB APPRECIATES YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR SPONSORS,
WHO BRING YOU TODAY'S NEWS AND FEATURES AT NO COST TO YOU
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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
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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).
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.
Although conflict over staffing levels for air traffic control has been simmering for years between the FAA and
the controllers union, last week's fatal crash in Lexington, Ky., has upped the rhetoric. The 
"It isn't just about one-person midnight shifts and airports like LEX," Ruth Marlin, executive vice president for
the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), told 
The senator from New York is not the only voice in Washington calling for change. Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., and
Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Ill., who are both on the House transportation committee, have demanded an investigation by the Transportation Department's inspector general, 
Mary Peters has been 
Within hours, AOPA, NBAA, EAA, and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) had issued statements
reacting to the announcement. Their main concern -- what will be Peters' position on user fees for GA? 
Boyer is not the only GA leader ready to give Peters an earful about the needs of GA pilots. NBAA President Ed Bolen
said, "I look forward to working with Mary and ensuring that she is fully aware of the concerns of business aviation." GAMA President Pete Bunce said, "We congratulate Ms. Peters and look forward to
continuing the same great working relationship on aviation issues that we had with Mr. Mineta." 
Transportation Security Administration officials have asked airport managers, flight schools, flight-training
providers, and aircraft operators to remain vigilant for suspicious behavior and activities. The notice was prompted by a recent undisclosed incident involving suspicious activities at flight schools,
the TSA said. The 
A source of complication for many GA pilots has always been that once you land, you still have to get to
your destination, and it's not always easy. One car-rental company is trying to solve that problem, with a program aimed directly at GA pilots. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the biggest car-rental company in
North America, has an easy-to-use 
When pilots Steve Fossett and Einar Enevoldson 
A paraglider was flying along above Utah last Friday, about 75 feet high, when he encountered an airplane at his
altitude ... which quickly became an unpleasant surprise. The remote-controlled airplane, with a 21-inch wingspan, dispensed enough force to disrupt the parafoil. The paraglider pilot, Wade
Hutchinson, 31, of Wyoming, crashed on the side of a slope, but was spared serious injury. "That mountain helped break his fall," local police officer Clint Fackrell told the 
Two Mitsubishi MU-2 aircraft that crashed in the last two weeks in Florida have successfully raised additional concern
over the safety of the twin turboprop. The MU-2 accident record prompted the FAA to undertake a 
Jim Carlaccini and John Long plan to fly from Florida to California next month to 
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 
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