Aircraft Spruce West Holds Their Annual Super Sale on October 7th Aircraft Spruce will be holding their annual Super Sale in Corona, CA on Saturday, October 7th from 7:00am – 3:00pm. Vendors will be on site demonstrating their products.
Raffle prizes will be given away hourly. Seminars will include Garmin, Zaon Flight, and the FAA. Numerous discounts, hot dogs, and lots of fun! Complimentary shuttle service available throughout
the day from the Corona Airport (AJO). For more information, please call 1-877-4-SPRUCE or visit online for
complete details.
Airports are getting more creative at finding ways to make money, USA Today reported this week. At Houston's Bush International Airport, for example, some empty
spaces are being put to work growing high-grade hay to sell to local ranchers. Other airports are developing golf courses, hotels, office parks, and residential developments. In Miami, the county shut
down the Opa Locka West GA airfield after it was damaged by hurricanes, and will mine limestone rocks at the site. The quarry is expected to generate $300 million to $600 million, which will go to the
aviation department. The advantages are that airport operators can keep costs low and thus more competitive, and also can supplement the sometimes volatile aviation revenues. Paula Hochstetler, an
airport consultant, told USA Today that assessing risk will be increasingly important as airport agencies begin to broaden their interests beyond traditional functions. "They have to be deliberate and
have good business sense that it doesn't place the airport in jeopardy," Hochstetler said.
Meanwhile, the FAA is under fire for wasting money in a project that was designed to fast-track its contracting
process by using pre-qualified vendors. The project has been shut down after costing the agency tens of millions of dollars in overruns, The Washington Post reported last weekend. The FAA awarded 114 contracts under the
system, with a potential value of about $543 million, according to a recent report by the
Transportation Department Office of Inspector General. The report found problems with the project's structure, its implementation, and its cost analysis. The investigation was requested by Iowa
Sen. Charles Grassley. "It's just outrageous how the FAA was not looking out for the taxpayers' dollars," Grassley told the Post. "Three words would sum this up: absolutely no accountability."
For years, pilots have complained that it's not the skies that are crowded -- it's the runways. The FAA is
catching up a bit with a slew of new airports and expansion projects. St. George, Utah, one of the nation's fastest-growing metro areas, will get a new $17-million airport, the FAA said this week. "Aviation is about more than just airplanes -- it's about
providing the kind of economic connections communities need to thrive," FAA Administrator Marion Blakey said.
On Tuesday, Blakey said the FAA will commission six airfield projects, including four new runways, a runway extension, and an airfield reconfiguration, by the fall of 2008. These projects will
accommodate almost 300,000 additional annual operations, decrease the average delay per operation by two minutes, and will cost the FAA about $2.4 billion. Since 1999, 12 new runways have opened among
the 35 busiest airports, Blakey said.
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Mooney Aerospace Group announced on Tuesday that CEO Gretchen Jahn is leaving to pursue other opportunities.
Jahn's resignation will be effective Oct. 1, but she will remain with the company as an advisor to oversee the (235-plus knot turbo) Acclaim certification. Jahn led during a dynamic time for Mooney,
when exciting new products hit the market and the company rebounded from a period of change and upheaval. "I have a passion for getting companies up and running. It has been exciting to participate in
this process at Mooney," Jahn said in a news release. "We have accomplished many goals over my two years here, including increasing deliveries from 36 deliveries in 2004 to 85 deliveries in 2005,
dramatically increasing brand recognition and order backlog, revitalizing customer support, and introducing two new aircraft." In April, the company unveiled the turbo-normalized Acclaim, which has a
maximum cruise speed of 237 knots. Less than 60 days later, Mooney also announced the Ovation3, a 310-horsepower variant of its popular M20 design that Mooney says is the fastest in its class.
"Gretchen has made a significant contribution to Mooney's revitalization and we wish her well," said Steven Karol, chairman of the board for Mooney Aerospace Group, Ltd.
Dennis Ferguson was named on Tuesday as the new CEO. He was
previously president of Airshow Inc., an avionics manufacturing company. Prior to that, he was a vice president at Dynatech/Acterna Corporation. He introduced lean manufacturing practices that reduced
manufacturing costs and increased product quality, Mooney said in a news release. "Dennis brings a strong background in the aviation industry and experience in transitioning a small, entrepreneurial
company into a significant force in the marketplace," said Steven Karol, chairman of the board. "Mooney is ready to take the next step in its revitalization, having improved its market share,
operational efficiencies and brand recognition over the past three years."
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 Manufacturing. Discover what thousands of pilots already
have: the most comfortable headsets in the industry. The in-the-ear Mach 1 weighs less than 1 oz.; the full-size Thirty 3G, just under 16 oz. and uses soft conform-foam ear cushions.
Try a LightSPEED headset with a 30-day money-back guarantee. To order, contact a LightSPEED dealer or call (800) 332-2421 (PST, business hours). View the 60-second video clip!
The Honda Aircraft Company will start accepting orders for its HondaJet VLJ next month at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention, Oct. 17-19 in Orlando, Fla. A full-scale
interior mock-up will be on display in the exhibit hall. Honda created the aircraft subsidiary in August to handle the development, production and sales of HondaJet, and will pursue FAA type
certification and production certification in the U.S. Honda's goal is to complete certification of the jet in three to four years, and deliver the first customer copy in 2010. The jet's attributes
include fuel efficiency, large cabin and luggage space, and higher cruise speed than conventional aircraft in its class, says Honda. Innovations include a patented over-the-wing engine-mount, a
natural-laminar flow wing and fuselage nose, and an advanced all-composite fuselage structure. The jet is expected to sell for about $3 million.
Efforts to check on and monitor foreign students at U.S. flight schools have been marked by
"confusion and misinterpretations" among the various government agencies involved, according to an internal Homeland Security document obtained by ABC News. ABC says the FAA is investigating reports that "dozens" of foreign students at U.S. flight schools
have incomplete paperwork and/or background checks. The Transportation Security Administration says it's revising its vetting process. The FAA told ABC News it couldn't comment because of an open
investigation on the issue. AOPA spokesman Chris Dancy says flight instructors must be sure they're aware of and in compliance with the parts of the alien flight-training rule that apply to them.
"AOPA has used and continues to use every communications avenue available to the association to make sure flight instructors know what they need to know about the rule," he said. If you're due for a
refresher, go here to review.
Garmin 396 vs. Flight Cheetah with XM Weather Comparison
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Pilots who stumble into the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) above Washington, D.C., now will be
intercepted by helicopters flown by the U.S. Coast Guard, which takes over the job from Customs and Border Protection. The
change was made official on Monday. "The Coast Guard is fully ready to [provide] air defense in the National Capitol Region," said Rear Adm. David Pekoske at a ceremony. Coast Guard crews will fly
orange HH-65C Dolphin helicopters. The Dolphins will be equipped with civilian-frequency VHF radios plus electronic signboards so they can communicate with pilots who might be having radio problems,
AOPA said. "Our concern about any change is that the enforcement agency understand general aviation and not be
'trigger happy,'" said Andy Cebula, AOPA executive vice president of government affairs. "We worked with the Department of Homeland Security as this transfer was contemplated, and we strongly
expressed the need for Coast Guard pilots to have the training and experience to safely intercept GA aircraft that inadvertently violate the ADIZ and to escort them to an appropriate landing place."
The Coast Guard helicopters will be based at Reagan National Airport (DCA) in the center of the Washington, D.C., ADIZ.
Here's another new way to fly, not quite a flying club or fractional deal, but something else altogether.
Called an "exclusive transport club," V International is now open in the U.K., offering members access to a fleet
of luxury vehicles that includes the Diamond DA42 Twin Star, the Diamond DA40, and the Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter, plus a Bentley, a Lamborghini, a Ferrari and a Porsche, and a few
high-performance boats, too. Members pay about $66,000 for the first year, which gets up to 50 driving days and 6,000 miles plus 50 flying hours and 50 boat days. The company, started by a team of
managers from Diamond Aircraft, has plans to expand across Europe and around the world. All vehicles can be reserved via an online system. The pitch goes like this: "Wouldn't it be great not having to
think about annual insurance costs, maintenance, storage, cleaning, taxing, licensing and how much money we will lose when we sell? So -- we came up with the idea for V-International. All of the
things we want but without the hassle and cost of ownership."
Join AOPA: The Real-Time Flight Planner Is Worth the Dues Alone! AOPA membership can be an invaluable resource at an incredible value. Join AOPA for $39 a year, and take advantage of the benefits exclusive to members, including: a year subscription
to AOPA Pilot magazine; 24-hour access to the "members-only" section of the web site; and AOPA's Real-Time Flight Planner with up-to-the-minute flight restrictions,
routing images, weather info, and more! As the largest aviation organization in the world, AOPA is a tireless advocate for over 407,000 members, protecting their right to fly. Click here to become an AOPA member today.
The NTSB on Monday released a factual
report from its on-the-scene investigation into the Comair crash that killed 49 people in Lexington, Ky., last month. The Comair crew was cleared to 7,001-by-150-foot Runway 22. The flight data
recorder shows the crew stopped near the end of Runway 26 for about 45 seconds before the flight was cleared for takeoff. Six seconds later, the airplane started to taxi onto 3,500-by-75-foot Runway
26. It took about 36 seconds for the airplane to taxi onto the runway and complete the turn before power was increased to initiate the takeoff. The airplane accelerated to about 137 knots, ran off the
end of the shorter runway through the airport perimeter fence, and impacted trees on an adjacent horse farm. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire.
Toxicological tests
of both pilots found no illicit substances or alcohol, but an over-the-the counter decongestant, pseudoephedrine, was detected at a low level in the first officer's blood. Earlier reports said the
captain had taxied the airplane into position, then handed it over to First Officer James Polehinke for takeoff. Polehinke was the sole survivor of the crash. He remains hospitalized in serious
condition. His family says he has communicated with them but remembers nothing about the crash. His left leg has been amputated and he will require further surgeries, a hospital spokesman said.
Now you can take a step beyond your desktop flight simulator, and fly an actual remote-control aircraft equipped
with a head-movement-synchonized camera and a virtual-reality headset that makes you feel like you're right in the cockpit. At least, you can fly this way if you are willing to spend the time and
money tinkering with complicated and delicate gear to make it work. Denis Gratton, of Québec, Canada, has done just that, and has the videos to prove it. (You can watch them online here and here... they
are pretty great.) How much does it cost to build a system like this? "It's hard to tell how much it cost, I prefer not to know it," Gratton told AVweb in an e-mail. He says others are starting
to join in his hobby, and he expects the costs will come down within a year or so.
Putting the system together is complex, he said. "Transmitting video signal in the air from a moving plane is
hard, I will lose the video signal if I don't take care of many things ... the metallic parts on the planes will block the waves, so I replace them. The planes must be reliable. It's a real plane that
can hurt someone, so the planes must be safe." Gratton says what is unique about his system is that he doesn't just use the onboard camera to record video, but actually flies the airplane from takeoff
to landing with the VR headset. "Perhaps I'm the first to fly like this, so I invented a new way of flying, but I didn't invent new equipment," he said. He took existing components and modified and
integrated them into a compact unit. For more info about the system, check out this online discussion and Gratton's Web site.
AVweb's Flight Explorer Personal Edition® Now Integrated with ATCSimulator® 2
With this new edition of Flight Explorer, you can view air traffic for the entire U.S., Canada, or New Zealand or zoom in to one airport or a single aircraft; monitor and display real-time FAA
delay information; display TFRs and SUAs; and much more. Click here for more information and to subscribe.
Monday's online version of your AVwebflash newsletter was originally published with video content that began to play when the page was opened -- whether readers wanted it to, or not. That presentation
was not how AVweb intends to present video content. Readers should expect future video content to play only when they "press play." (If you like the expanded content of the online version, don't be
afraid to click through.)
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.
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!
Audio news, plus a new in-depth interview are posted online each Monday and Friday. Check AVweb's audio news index to hear news
directly from the newsmakers.
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.
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.
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/ .
Award-Winning VFLITE™ Computer-Based GPS Training Just FAA-Adopted
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Featuring scenario-based, guided simulation. Get the most from your GPS the quick, easy, and safe way. Manufacturer-recommended, VFLITE™ programs are also available for popular
Garmin® and Lowrance® portables. Prices start at $49.95. Order online.
AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Henderson Executive at KHND in Henderson, Nevada.
AVweb reader Thomas Okerlund offered his praise for the
service and facilities.
"The Line and Customer Service staff are top notch and match the new facilites just opened at Henderson. On a recent after hours late night trip, the Line Staff came into assist with parking and
luggage. To accomodate the crew, they took everyone to their hotel and then turned down a tip when offered. Wow!"
AVweb is actively seeking out the best FBOs in the country and another one, submitted by you, will be spotlighted here next Monday!
Special Offer from Pilot Journey on New FlyUSA Club!
For a limited time, Pilot Journey is offering half off (regular price: $29.95) for all three of their presentations: Learn to Fly, Career Pilot, and
Pilot Training Financial Information. Pilot Journey provides resources for future pilots with podcasts, live seminars, pilot supply discounts, forums, articles, a browser Pilot
Dashboard toolbar, newsletters, and more — some at no cost. Passionate about flying? Check out Pilot
Journey's site.
Our most recent "Questions of the Week" have centered around airplane
shopping and buying. Last week, we asked which factor (from our
list) is the most important in your personal decision to by a new
aircraft.
Always responsible, AVweb readers named safety the most
important factor in their purchase, with nearly 25% of respondents
rating it at the top of their lists. The second most important
factor, getting 17% of respondents' votes, was economy — another
practical consideration we can't deny.
14% of you chose speed as the most important factor — one
which, we suppose, could be either a practical consideration or simply a
personal preference.
11% ranked comfort as the number one variable in making a
purchase.
And 12% of you told us that your top consideration was something we
hadn't listed.
Curious about the other factors we offered as choices — or what
the other 25% of respondents chose? Click here
for detailed results of last week's QOTW poll.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION ***
This week's Question comes from an AVweb reader, who writes:
Since de-regulation more than 25 years ago, the U.S. has seen
airlines soar and sink. Mostly sink. September 11 didn't help. Delays
caused by airport caused by airport capacity don't help. The
impending air traffic controller shortage surely won't help. The
legacy major air carriers haven't seen sustainable profit in a very
long time.
His question:
Would you like to see some form of government regulation for
the airlines in hopes of bringing a more stable path for them to
succeed?
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.
Separate Fact from Advertising Hype with Aviation Consumer
Because Aviation Consumer isn't supported by advertising like other aviation publications, Aviation Consumer's editors can tell you the unbiased truth about products and services. Be a
subscriber to the fearless aviation publication, Aviation Consumer. Order online and receive
unlimited no-cost use of Aviation Consumer's ratings-packed web archives!
"Stiff competition" is the order of the day in our latest installment
of "Picture of the Week." Not only do the number of
contributions continue to rise as we enter fall here in the U.S., but
the quality of photos seems to be on the rise, as well. Not
that quality has ever been a problem when it comes to picking "POTW"
contenders, but the last few weeks have been chock-full of great-looking
photos that we simply couldn't find a way to squeeze in. Rest
assured, we've saved plenty of them to our hard drives and turned them
into lovely wallpapers — so
keep sending 'em!
Even those that don't make it into our weekly round-up are ogled and
appreciated by the AVwebbers who go through 'em.
Robbie Culver of Waukegan, Illinois
is a familiar name at "POTW" headquarters. Robbie's signature has
shown up on several contenders over the last year or so (most notably
last week), but he's never sent us the right photo on the right week to
win one of our coveted "Picture of the Week" AVweb hats. This
week, circumstance and an awesome photo come together to push
Robbie's latest submission to the top of our pile.
Congrats, Mr. Culver — it's always fun to see your name on the back of
our photo submissions, and it's about time you won an AVweb hat.
You've earned it!
(Oh, that's Brenda Culver and Kevin Hultsch jumping out of
a Bell 422 helicopter in the photo.)
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.
Someone's Treasured "Pot of Gold" at the End of the Rainbow
Ken Price of Muskegon, Michigan
snapped several shots of this incredible rainbow last week. "So
bright it almost hurt my eyes," writes Ken — and the photos came out
great. We had a hard time choosing just one, but we finally
settled on this one, which seemed to capture the spirit of "POTW" best.
This picture was taken Friday night, September 8, 2006 at the Oceana NAS, VA air show. The planes look like regular T-6 Texans but are different. They
are actually SNJ-2s. The SNJ-2 is the only model with the enlarged 180-gallon fuel tank, allowing the skytypers to operate for over four hours,
skytyping messages throughout the day.
Larry Portman of Garland, Texas
rented a C-206 with the intention of landing at this — um, somewhat
intimidating-looking airstrip on Milford Sound, New Zealand.
Weather let Larry and crew off the hook — "we were advised that the
winds were too dangerous," he writes, and "we had to settle for this
view from 2,500' instead!"
Iain Indian of Oak Park, Victoria
(Australia) snapped this from the radar tower near Melbourne
International Airport. (The muted colors look great in the
large-size version.)
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
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.
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.
Flying Takes a Sneak Peek at the New Cessnas in the October Issue Plus: an Oshkosh photo tour, a report on the roomy and hefty Pilatus PC-12, strategy and tactic tips to earn a pilot's license, and much more. Order your special savings subscription 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 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.
Airports are getting more creative at finding ways to make money, 
Meanwhile, the FAA is under fire for wasting money in a project that was designed to fast-track its contracting
process by using pre-qualified vendors. The project has been shut down after costing the agency tens of millions of dollars in overruns, 
For years, pilots have complained that it's not the skies that are crowded -- it's the runways. The FAA is
catching up a bit with a slew of new airports and expansion projects. St. George, Utah, one of the nation's fastest-growing metro areas, will get a 
Mooney Aerospace Group announced on Tuesday that 
The Honda Aircraft Company will start accepting orders for its 
Efforts to check on and monitor foreign students at U.S. flight schools have been marked by
"confusion and misinterpretations" among the various government agencies involved, according to an internal Homeland Security document obtained by 
Pilots who stumble into the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) above Washington, D.C., now will be
intercepted by helicopters flown by the 
Here's another new way to fly, not quite a flying club or fractional deal, but something else altogether.
Called an "exclusive transport club," 
The NTSB on Monday released a 
Now you can take a step beyond your desktop flight simulator, and fly an actual remote-control aircraft equipped
with a head-movement-synchonized camera and a virtual-reality headset that makes you feel like you're right in the cockpit. At least, you can fly this way if you are willing to spend the time and
money tinkering with complicated and delicate gear to make it work. Denis Gratton, of Québec, Canada, has done just that, and has the videos to prove it. (You can watch them online 
Drop us a line. If it caught your attention, it will probably interest someone else, too. Submit news tips via email to
Audio news, plus a new in-depth interview are posted online each Monday and Friday. Check AVweb's 
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 
