THREE EQUITY FIRMS IN THE BIDDING FOR RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT
A rejuvenated Raytheon Aircraft could have new owners in the next month, according to The Wichita Eagle. The newspaper reported Friday that the Carlyle Group of Washington, D.C., Cerberus Capital Management of New York and Onex Corp of Toronto are the three finalists in the bidding contest for the planemaker, which builds Hawker and Beechcraft business jets, turboprops and piston singles and twins, as well as military trainers at its Wichita plant. A recent surge in sales, particularly on the bizjet side, has put the company in a profit position and the forecast for continued strong sales in that sector has made the company an attractive acquisition target, according to various analysts. More...

ALL RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT BIDDERS HAVE DEEP POCKETS
One of the bidders, Onex Corp., is no stranger to Wichita. The Canadian company bought Boeing’s Wichita commercial operations last year and formed Spirit AeroSytems Holding. The new company is doing well building Boeing 737 fuselages and parts for the 787 Dreamliner, and analysts say the Raytheon acquisition would be a good fit. As a foreign-owned company, Onex would have to clear some security hurdles, however, because of Raytheon Aircraft’s military connections (mainly the Texan II trainer). Onex is also involved in a controversial bid to buy Qantas Airlines. The Carlyle Group and Cerberus are also considered strong contenders for Raytheon Aircraft. More...

ANOTHER LYCOMING CRANKSHAFT LAWSUIT FILED
A separate legal complaint recently filed in Illinois against Lycoming carries similar wording, and may be added to, original suits filed this September (see AVweb's prior coverage) seeking class action status representing owners ill-affected by a series of Lycoming Service Bulletins (SBs) ultimately calling for "early retirement" of nearly 4,000 Lycoming crankshafts within three years. Attorney Robert Mills, who filed the initial suits (two in Philadelphia covering 49 states, and one in California), this weekend told AVweb that six law firms are already working cooperatively on the case and the new filing may seek inclusion, or lead to wrangling for lead attorney status. The case has been stayed and awaits review -- either in January, or more likely March -- by a multi-district litigation panel that will determine its class certification and assignment, or throw it out altogether, Mills said. More...

IDENTITY THEFT UNLIKELY IN DOT LAPTOP THEFTS
The Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) says it’s unlikely that any of the personal information on 9,500 pilots stored in two laptops stolen from its agents earlier this year will be used for identity theft. And in determining that welcome news, the OIG may have helped bust up a laptop-theft ring in Miami. In July, a laptop containing the names, Social Security numbers and other personal information on the pilots was taken from a locked car outside a restaurant in Miami. Three months earlier, another OIG laptop went missing in Orlando. To date, according to the OIG, none of the information has been used to commit fraud. In fact, in the case of the Miami laptop, it’s more likely to have been used on a teenager’s term paper. More...

POINT2POINT GROWING EXPONENTIALLY
A North Dakota air taxi operator that uses Cirrus SR22 aircraft has doubled its business in each of the last two quarters. In an update to city of Bismarck officials, principal John Boehle says he expects to have 100 airplanes (not necessarily all Cirruses) and 134 pilots by 2010. The company started last January and flew about 30,000 miles in the first three months, Boehle told the civic officials (who fronted $1.25 million in public funds for the startup). Business almost doubled to 54,000 miles in the second quarter and it doubled again in the third quarter to 112,000 miles. A 600-mile round-trip flight costs about $500 per seat, according to a report in the Bismarck Tribune. More...

GAMA ELECTS OFFICERS
John J. Grisik, Executive Vice President of Operational Excellence and Technology at Goodrich Corp., has been elected chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association for 2007. Grisik is vice chairman for 2006 and Cirrus CEO Alan Klapmeier will move into that spot next year. GAMA also announced that it had accepted three new members, including Eclipse Aviation, Sino Swearingen and SMA. Eclipse and Sino Swearingen recently received type certification for their Model 500 and SJ30 jets, and GAMA CEO Pete Bunce said it’s the first time GAMA has simultaneously added two OEMs with freshly certified products to its ranks. SMA is developing diesel light aircraft engines and is based in France. More...

MARTINSBURG PICKED FOR CORPORATE FBO
Arcadia Aviation is building a $20 million corporate aviation center at Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport (MRB) in Martinsburg, W. Va., just outside the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) that surrounds Washington, D.C. The company announced last week that it will initially build a 20,000-sq.-ft. hangar and administrative offices, but future plans call for purpose-built facilities that can handle Boeing Business Jets, 757s and other airliners. Arcadia also operates the full-service FBO at the airport. The airport will have no problem accommodating the big iron Arcadia hopes to attract, thanks to the West Virginia Air National Guard. More...

PERSONAL JET ENGINE IN DEVELOPMENT
So-called personal jet manufacturers may soon have another power option for their aircraft. Price Induction, of Tarnos, France, has reportedly test run its DGEN380 turbofan engine, which is designed specifically for aircraft weighing as little as 1,650 lbs. Company President Bernard Etcheparre told AVweb Sunday the engine was run on the bench for the first time three weeks ago. We target a certification type CS-E for the end of 2008, meaning a first flight around the beginning of 2008," Etchebarre said in an email. "But this phase is a complex period and you have to be conscious of the difficulties [in following] this timing." The engine puts out about 600 lbs. of thrust (most current VLJ engines are 1,100 lbs. and up) and weighs just 150 lbs. (dry but including the accessories needed to run it). More...

SOCATA AND EAA OFFER OSHKOSH AND PARIS TO COLLEGE INTERNS
Two North American college students will get a chance to intern at EADS Socata in France next summer, under a new program developed by Socata and EAA. The students, who must be juniors or seniors pursuing an aviation career, will spend five weeks in France. They'll visit several Socata factories and tour the Paris Air Show. Then they’ll spend a week in Oshkosh at the EAA Advanced Air Academy, where they'll act as mentors to the youngsters at the camp and attend AirVenture. The internships, which include transportation and accommodation, will be awarded to one male and one female student. More...

GIVE THE GIFT OF FLIGHT VIA PROJECT PILOT
Most pilots know somebody who's shown an interest in learning to fly "someday," and you can help bring that day closer with the gift of a Project Pilot introductory flight. AOPA's new learn-to-fly initiative has an online database of over 3,500 flight schools, many offering first flights for $49 to $89. The Web site also has FAQs for beginners, an introductory video, tips for choosing a flight school and an instructor and advice on how to finance training. At the airport, the gift recipient will be shown how to preflight the aircraft, how to taxi and take off and go for a local flight. It’s a gift that’s more memorable than just another gift card or necktie. More...

INSURER ASKS VICTIM'S WIDOW TO PAY COURT COSTS
Ellen Dixon, of Brentwood, Calif., survived the helicopter crash that killed her husband, David, at a Livermore air show 11 years ago. She won a lawsuit against the helicopter company -- the pilot had run out of gas -- but there was little money there to collect. She also won a suit against the city, which sponsored the show, but it was overturned on appeal. Now the city's insurance company is demanding that Dixon come up with $41,000 to pay their legal bills -- money that Dixon, who still suffers pain from the injuries she suffered in the crash, doesn't have, reports the Tri-Valley Herald. The only way she could raise it is to sell the house that she bought with her husband, where she still lives. More...

FLIGHT TO CANADA BY "REFUGEE" RAISES SECURITY CONCERNS
A Colombian man living in the U.S. was refused permission to enter Canada when he tried to cross the border earlier this month. So he rented a Piper Cherokee in Illinois, flew across the border, landed at Windsor Airport in Ontario and claimed to be a refugee. Officials wouldn't release many details about the case, but said the man was returned to the U.S., according to Canada.com. The incident raised concerns about security. ''The broader question is a very important one,'' said Canadian Senator Colin Kenny, who chairs a committee on national defense. ''What protections are in place in the event the plane was larger and loaded with explosives?" More...

ON THE FLY
172 survives encounter with Boeing Large Cargo Freighter wake turbulence…
Lexington controllers redirect pilot to right runway…
FAA cool on plan to shorten Witham runway. More...

AVWEB'S NEWSTIPS ADDRESS...
Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something that 130,000 pilots might want to know about, tell us. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com. What have you heard? More...

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...

NEW ARTICLES AND FEATURES ON AVWEB
COLUMNS

Probable Cause #20: Switching Tanks
It's an article of faith that major maintenance work isn't complete until a full test of all components and systems can be made. Here's why.

More...

READER FEEDBACK ON AVWEB'S NEWS COVERAGE AND FEATURE ARTICLES
AVMAIL

AVmail: Nov. 27, 2006
Reader mail this week about single-engine IMC, quality of FSS and more. More...

AVWEB AUDIO NEWS
AVweb posts audio news on Mondays, plus a new in-depth interview each Friday. In Friday's podcast, you'll find an interview with Honda v-p Jeffrey Smith, who talked everything HondaJet with AVweb at Honda Aircraft's open house last Monday. And AVweb's podcast index includes interviews with Cirrus Design cofounder and CEO Alan Klapmeier; Cessna chairman, president and CEO Jack Pelton; Spectrum Aeronautical chairman Linden Blue; Adam Aircraft chairman Rick Adam; and New Piper CEO Jim Bass. In Today's news summary, hear about who's bidding for Raytheon Aircraft, another Lycoming crankshaft lawsuit, a smaller turbofan engine that could spawn more personal jets, Project Pilot gift-giving idea and more. Remember: In AVweb's podcasts, you'll hear things you won't find anywhere else. More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: MILLION AIR KLSC

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 Million Air at KSLC in Salt Lake City, Utah.

AVweb reader Harlan Ribnik said he was treated, well, just like a millionaire at the facility, even though he didn't pull up at the ramp in a jet aircraft.

"From the instant I taxied to their ramp, I was met with the friendliest line crew I've ever met. The atmosphere was incredibly friendly, service-oriented. I was made to feel an honored guest, rather than just somebody bringing business to the store. I have been at many FBOs who so clearly tailor their service to the type of aircraft being serviced, that it was a very welcome surprise to be treated as well as the G5 pilot, even though I flew a Mooney. Even when things did not go as smoothly as might be optimal, the staff made me feel comfortable and confident that I and my airplane would be well cared for. And we were!

Keep those nominations coming.For complete contest rules, click here.

AVweb is actively seeking out the best FBOs in the country and another one, submitted by you, will be spotlighted here next Monday!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: IMPRESSIVE LANDING
AVweb reader Brett Bohannon brought this amazing video to our attention over the Thanksgiving holiday. (Watch your mailbox for an official AVweb hat, Brett!) The video was originally posted to YouTube by user Gooney87. Click through to watch as an unidentified pilot brings his Cessna to a graceful landing with only one landing gear available. More...

SHORT FINAL
Overheard in the vicinity of Buchanan tower in Concord, Calif.:

Cessna: "Buchanan tower, this is Cessna One Two Three, seven south of Buchanan, 2000 feet, request transit, northbound."
Tower: "Cessna One Two Three, transition approved. Report clear."
Half minute pause, and then: "Tower, this is Cessna One Two Three; where is Clear?" 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 Contributing Editors Russ Niles (bio), Glenn Pew (bio) and Mary Grady (bio).

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