PRIVATE JET OPERATORS OFFER CARBON OFFSETS
Creating sustainable technologies that will lessen the human impact on the natural environment is becoming more and more of a concern, especially in Europe, where public pressure to clean up the atmosphere is intense and growing. In response, companies are offering "carbon offsets" that, for a price, will neutralize the carbon emissions from aircraft in various ways, either planting trees to absorb carbon dioxide or investing in alternative forms of energy to prevent more emissions. Whether or not this is actually effective is open to debate, but the concept has caught fire, and now the offsets are being offered not just to airline passengers but also to those who use private jets. “The issue of climate change has arrived in the aviation sector,” Jonathan Shopley, CEO of The CarbonNeutral Company, told the London Times. “Every company is thinking about what they are going to do about it." More...

U.K. CONSORTIUM WORKING ON EFFICIENT WING TECHNOLOGY
Cleaning up emissions is one approach, but another way to get cleaner air is to be more efficient in the first place. Toward that end, a consortium of 17 leading U.K. organizations is working on a slate of new technologies related to development of wings, wing systems, landing gear and fuel systems. After completing their assessment, the intention is to go on and develop a large-scale technology demonstrator for a test program. The research aims to cut in half aircraft fuel burn, emissions and noise by 2020. The effort is not just a do-good project, though. The goal is also to improve efficiency and enhance the bottom line of the companies involved. More...

FAA: DEACTIVATE THERMAWING DEICERS
Some owners of Columbia aircraft who were looking forward to flying through the winter with heated wings will have to put those plans on ice, at least for now. The FAA says all Thermawing (aka E-Vade) systems on Columbia airplanes must be deactivated and a placard must be installed in the cockpit that clearly says the deicer is offline. The compulsory Airworthiness Directive (AD) follows up on a recent Service Bulletin issued by Kelly Aerospace, which builds the wing deicing system. The deicer, which has been STC'd for some Columbia models, can short circuit if it's not installed correctly, says the FAA, causing possible burning of the wings and horizontal stabilizer, as well as a possible reduction in structural integrity. More...

NTSB: CREWS SHOULD CHECK RUNWAY HEADING BEFORE DEPARTURE
When a Comair CRJ-100 crashed in August while trying to depart from the wrong runway at Lexington (Ky.) Airport, killing 49 people, it was one of those error chains that gave pause to many pilots. While most aviators will say that checking the runway heading is part of their pre-takeoff routine, many admit they don't always do it, and many checklists don't include it. Now the NTSB wants that to change, at least for airline crews. In recommendations issued on Tuesday, the safety board asks the FAA to require all Part 121 operators to establish procedures for flight crews to positively confirm and cross-check the airplane's location before crossing the hold-short line for takeoff. The NTSB also wants those operators to provide specific guidance to pilots regarding the runway lighting requirements for takeoff operations at night. More...

END OF THE LINE FOR EAA SPORT PILOT TOUR
The last scheduled event of the EAA's Sport Pilot Tour took place this past weekend at Brown Field in sport-pilot-friendly San Diego and capped a 13-stop run that began in 2005. AVweb was there to collect a summation from industry advocate Dan Johnson, who told us enthusiasm for the category (mostly from an estimated 100,000 pilots nearing or already enjoying their golden years) currently has demand outpacing supply. Deliveries for aircraft ordered today have, for many manufacturers, backed up until next March or April, said Johnson, and the small, local events that often included less than 20 static display aircraft seduced about 500 to 800 enthusiasts per stop.

Click here for a gallery of AVweb photos from the event.

FORGET FLYING CARS -- PERSONAL BLIMP IS FLYING TODAY
It might not be the perfect vehicle for everyone -- and its usefulness is yet to be proved -- but for the pilot who yearns to simply launch from the backyard and tool around for fun, the personal hot-air blimp could fit the bill. Dan Nachbar of Amherst, Mass., launched his homebuilt airship for the first time in late October, and recently completed its first 10 hours of test flights. Unlike other hot-air blimps, Nachbar's design has a rigid internal frame. And unlike helium blimps, it can be deflated and stored between flights, without the need for a hangar. The internal frame also can be folded for storage. "Our team's mission has been clear -- to create a unique aircraft capable of quiet, steerable, safe and affordable flight," Nachbar said Tuesday. "We have succeeded beyond our wildest imagination." More...

REPORT: RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT MAY SELL FOR $3 BILLION
An offer to buy Raytheon Aircraft Company may reach $3 billion, Bloomberg reported on Monday. Citing an unnamed source "with knowledge of the agreement," Bloomberg said Onex Corp., a buyout firm based in Toronto, and Goldman Sachs Group would each acquire stakes of under 50 percent in the company, with the rest being held by the current management team. The deal is expected to be publicly announced by the end of the month. Raytheon Aircraft, based in Wichita, Kan., manufactures the Beechcraft Bonanza G36, Baron G58, King Air series and Premier IA and Hawker 400XP, 850XP and 4000, as well as the T-6A/B military trainer. More...

LEARJET LOSES PART OF TAIL, LANDS SAFELY
A Learjet 36 was flying off the coast of San Diego on Friday, Dec.1, when it sustained "an in-flight loss of the right elevator," the NTSB says. In its preliminary report, the Safety Board said the flight had departed from the North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego at about 9:30 a.m. On board were an ATP-rated pilot, a commercial-rated second pilot and one passenger. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. "The operator reported that the airplane joined up with another airplane, and was doing a cross-under maneuver," says the report. More...

WSJ: FAA LIKELY TO RETIRE AGE-60 RULE
Citing unnamed sources in government and industry, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that the FAA is likely to propose a rule change to raise the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots to 65 early next year. The report said FAA Administrator Marion Blakey "is crafting the new position slowly but steadily." Pressure for a change has grown since the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recently implemented a rule for airline crews that allows one pilot to be over age 60, but not more than 65, as long as the other pilot is under 60. The WSJ also cited a tight labor market and the lack of data to substantiate safety concerns as adding to the impetus for change. More...

A380 GETS JOINT FAA-EASA CERTIFICATION
The world's largest commercial airliner, the 555-seat Airbus A380, received joint European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and FAA Type Certification on Tuesday in a ceremony held at the Airbus facilities in Toulouse, France. FAA Administrator Marion Blakey was there, and said it was "a great day for aviation." It was the first-ever concurrent certification between EASA and FAA, Blakey said. The A380 is also the first aircraft to which 21st century certification standards were applied, according to Airbus. The company said it has 166 orders for the A380, with the first copy due to be delivered to first operator Singapore Airlines next October. More...

ON THE FLY
Liberty's XL2 now certified in Australia...
FAA says parts serviced by Crankcase Services should be checked...
Two European airlines told crews to fly defensively in Brazilian airspace...
Sporty's in-flight icing CD plus a NASA DVD is just $10...
Bill passed to address the shortage of skilled aerospace workers...
"One Six Right" filmmakers gave $15,395 to Young Eagles...
Jan. 23 is deadline to have a passport for Western Hemisphere travel...
Banyan Air Service has opened a big new FBO facility at FXE. 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...

NEW ARTICLES AND FEATURES ON AVWEB

COLUMNS

Probable Cause #21: No Pulling Over
When the tanks run dry, there's no stopping on the side of the road. Yet some pilots are willing to push the limits, even when they had ample warning.
More...

AVWEB AUDIO NEWS
AVweb posts audio news on Mondays, plus a new in-depth interview each Friday. In last Friday's podcast, you'll find an interview with NATA President Jim Coyne. And AVweb's podcast index includes interviews with Eclipse Aviation's Vern Raburn; Honda Aircraft's Jeffrey Smith; Cirrus Design cofounder and CEO Alan Klapmeier; Cessna chairman, president and CEO Jack Pelton; and Spectrum Aeronautical chairman Linden Blue. In Monday's news summary, hear about what's next for the Legacy midair pilots now that they're back home, the possible acquisition if Raytheon Aircraft by Onex, safer ATC in Europe, China's proposed GPS system and more. Remember: In AVweb's podcasts, you'll hear things you won't find anywhere else.

Brought to you by Bose Corporation. More...

AVWEB DAILY NEWS COVERAGE
You can now get the latest general aviation news from AVweb -- the world's premier independent aviation news source -- as it happens at AVweb.com. Or sign up for our news feed and have the most recent headlines pushed directly to your RSS-based news reader. Either way, you'll be able to read the same concise, but comprehensive, news stories that you've come to expect from AVweb. And for major breaking general aviation news, AVweb will send out news alerts via e-mail to keep subscribers informed. Don’t worry -- you'll also continue to receive AVwebFlash every Monday and Thursday. More...

AVWEB'S BUSINESS AVFLASH
HAVE YOU SIGNED UP yet for AVweb's NO-COST twice monthly business newsletter, AVwebBiz? 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. Sign up today at http://www.avweb.com/profile/. More...

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: PAYING AT THE PUMP
This week, we're thinking about a story on aviation credit cards that will run in the next issue of our sister publication, Aviation Consumer — and we'd like to know how AVweb readers pay for their avgas. (The full story will appear in the next issue of Aviation Consumer. If you don't want to miss it, click here to subscribe.)

PLUS: Results of last week's question on local government officials and their attitudes toward community airports.

FBO OF THE WEEK: HUTCHINSON COUNTY AIRPORT

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Hutchinson County Airport at KBGD in Borger, Texas.

AVweb reader Mack Secord said he received real Southwestern hospitality at the county-run facility.

"After more than nine hours of flying in our Skylane, we were ready to call it a day when we selected Borger, Texas, as our overnight stop. Almost before the prop stopped turning, Ronnie Wood and his crew had chocked and tied down the airplane, unloaded our baggage and positioned the fuel truck for a load of 100LL at $3.05 per gallon. When we asked about a place to stay, they promptly made us reservations at a new nearby motel, suggested three local restaurants and gave us the keys to a Crown Victoria sedan (at no charge). On departure the next morning, they arranged for a simply stunning sunrise as they wished us farewell. (I'll be submitting the photo of that sunrise for 'Picture of the Week!') This was Southwestern hospitality at its finest."

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!

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Welcome back to AVweb's "Picture of the Week" — the feature wherein we share the best reader-submitted photos from the past week with all our fellow AVwebbers.  This week, you'll notice a few changes in the "POTW" — most notably, that we're going to back to our old habit of sharing only the top three reader photos. But don't panic!  This is actually part of a clever scheme on our part to share more photos with you.  (Read on!)

Over the past couple of years, we've been sneaking in extra photos here and there whenever we could.  (To be honest, we were mostly doing this because there were too many cool photos that went unseen when we featured only the top three.)  But the more photos we show, the more photos our readers submit.  Lately we've been running 8 to 10 pictures each week and feeling that we could easily keep going to another 8 or 10!  So, in an effort to get more photos out there, we're trimming the feature down to the Top Three photos once again — and posting a dozen or so bonus pics on the AVweb home page every week!

Feel free to browse through our top photos while you glance at the day's headlines — and don't be surprised if we sneak a couple of extra images in there throughout the week.  (We're devilish that way.) And while you're gawking at your fellow readers' photos, why not send us one of your own?

A quick note for submitters:  We're going to try to limit it to one photo per reader per week, so if you've got several photos that you feel are "POTW" material, your best bet is to submit them one-a-week!  ;)

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 Mary Grady (bio) and Glenn Pew (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.

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