June 7, 2007

By The AVweb Editorial Staff

Portable Instant Armrest Now at Aircraft Spruce Introducing the 100% portable center armrest for airplanes. Professional pilots, renters, and student pilots can now own an affordable armrest that they can take with them on every flight, even when they change planes. Features include: Fits any aircraft, fits flat or bucket seats, fits in flight bag, made from lightweight aluminum, and is ready to use in one second. For more information, call Aircraft Spruce at 1-877-4-SPRUCE or click here to go online. Top News back to top  Lockheed Penalized For FSS Missteps The FAA said Tuesday that it withheld $3 million in payments to Flight Service Station contractor Lockheed Martin in the first quarter because of poor performance. "There's evidence of dropped calls and pilots not getting information," FAA Administrator Marion Blakey told Bloomberg. "There are penalties in the contract and we'll apply them." In October 2005 Lockheed took over the 58 previously FAA-run FSS facilities under a $1.7 billion award. Since the beginning of this year pilots have complained about being on hold for extended times while waiting for briefings -- in fact, several pilots recently told AVweb that they had to wait on hold for an hour or more to get a preflight weather briefing. FAA spokesman Paul Takemoto is unsure if more penalties are in store for Lockheed Martin in the second quarter, which is when pilot complaints have increased sharply. Lockheed spokesman Keith Mordoff told Bloomberg that Lockheed has taken steps to fix "intermittent service issues" while it is consolidating the FSS facilities. NTSB's Most Wanted Safety Improvements Aircraft icing, runway incursions and fatigue are among the "Most Wanted" aviation safety improvements for 2007 cited by the NTSB at a hearing Wednesday on Capitol Hill. NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker told the House Subcommittee on Aviation that items on the list tend to be those that are among the most complex and difficult to implement. However, he said, "While the FAA has made some progress, I am disappointed that there are so many recommendations on this list that are in an unacceptable status." The FAA's icing certification for aircraft is inadequate, the Board said, and the agency should conduct further research and revise its standards. Progress is being made to improve runway safety, but the FAA is moving much too slowly, according to the NTSB. The Safety Board also cited work rules and schedules imposed by airlines, charter operators and others that require pilots, air traffic controllers and mechanics to work without adequate time off to rest. Also on the "Most Wanted" list are improvements in audio and data recorders, fuel-tank flammability in transport-category aircraft and Part 135 crew resource management. The Board has issued the "Most Wanted" list since 1990 to focus attention on issues it believes would have the greatest impact on safety. A New Two-Seat Turboprop Kit Aircraft From Lancair? Lancair's calling it "an aircraft that will be faster and safer than any other single engine aircraft in existence today." And when we spoke Monday with Lancair CEO Joe Bartels, he sounded excited and only slightly less vague than his company's press release. He did say, however, that "it's not a jet; it's a turboprop," and that the company is now working with all-computer-generated components that will cause customers to "be amazed at the degree of sophistication" of the design and "marvel at how little work will be required" to finish the aircraft. But Bartels stopped short of telling us what the new aircraft would be and whether or not a flying example would make it to Oshkosh. The company already produces a four-seat pressurized propjet kit, but there currently is no two-place turboprop offering. Whatever is coming, expect to see a fully outfitted mockup of the design at AirVenture next month, and maybe (but not certainly) more. "We don't want to have the flying aircraft used as a display model," Bartels said. That would either compromise flight demonstrations or close-up viewing by a larger audience, he noted. As for the kit, Bartels told us that his engineers estimate a builder could see his or her fuselage ready for panel and engine installation after about 15 weeks of work. Customers will be able to choose between instrument panels (probably one of two, he said) and one engine choice that will give builders the quoted performance, while others powerplants may be fitted to allow for lower overall project costs and lower performance. Builders can expect to be involved mainly in sanding and the application of structural adhesive and involved in "very, very little wet layup" work, according to Bartels. Of the numerous sources we contacted to gather the little information currently available about the project, one very clearly intended to lead us to believe we should be looking for a two-place turboprop kit design from Lancair. Announcing the Online MBA for Aviation Professionals from Daniel Webster College Did you know that professionals with an MBA earn an average of $10,000 to $30,000 more per year? Within 27 months, you can be one of them! Daniel Webster College MBA for Aviation Professionals is a fully-accredited, 100%-online program built for the busy schedule of the aviation professional. Being "on the road" is no longer a barrier to career advancement. Call (866) 458-7525 or click here for more information. News Briefs back to top  Piper Seneca Crashes Into Homes Near Los Angeles All three aboard a Piper PA-34-200 Seneca twin (N4463T) registered to a Van Nuys, Calif. business were injured when the aircraft, which departed Van Nuys at 9:47 a.m. on Monday, crashed about 15 minutes later into homes before coming to rest atop a garage not far from the approach end of Cable Airport, roughly 45 miles east of Los Angeles. Weather was clear, there was no post-crash fire, no one on the ground was injured and injuries suffered by those aboard were initially reported as minor. FAA spokesman Ian Gregor told local news that "they were on approach when the pilot reported engine problems." Flight track history depicted by FlightAware indicates an indirect flight path that heads just south of Cable, turning farther south within about 10 nm of the airport, then nearly reversing course and ending short of the airport. FlightAware listed two prior flights of the aircraft in the preceding two days, both from Van Nuys to Cable, both flying more direct routes and lasting 21 and 22 minutes Sunday and Saturday, respectively. Monday's accident flight was listed at 15 minutes in duration. N4483T was very active -- FlightAware listed more than 30 flights for the aircraft in the preceding 30 days. (Photo: ABC News) No Survivors In Medical Jet Crash A Cessna Citation 550 twinjet that was carrying donated organs and a medical transplant team crashed in Lake Michigan late Monday afternoon, killing all six people aboard the airplane. The crew had reported an emergency less than five minutes after taking off from Milwaukee and requested a return to the airport, FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro told the Associated Press. On Tuesday, the NTSB indicated that the pilot radioed that he was experiencing "trim runaway" before the jet dropped off the radar screen. Witnesses to Monday's crash said the airplane rolled inverted before it hit the water. "The condition of the aircraft debris and human remains found indicate a high-speed impact," Coast Guard Capt. Bruce Jones said at a news conference. "We believe this to have been a non-survivable crash." The jet was leased by the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, Mich., and there were six people on board -- two pilots for Marlin Air, two surgeons, and two transplant specialists. The team was returning from Milwaukee with lungs for transplant to a patient in critical condition in Michigan. It was scheduled to be a 42-minute flight. In a previous incident involving a Citation 525 in 2003, the crew reported that following the loss of elevator trim authority the airplane was "extremely difficult to control and the elevator control forces were extremely high," according to the NTSB. In that incident, the crew was able to ditch the airplane into a cove and they survived. The NTSB said runaway trim was the probable cause of that accident, and cited as contributing factors "the manufacturer's inadequate design of the pitch trim circuitry that allowed for a single-point failure mode, and the absence of an adequate failure warning system to clearly alert the pilot to the pitch trim runaway condition in sufficient time to respond in accordance with the manufacturer's checklist instructions." Fly in Ultra-Comfort with LightSPEED Headsets: Discover the most comfortable headsets in the industry. The in-the-ear Mach 1 weighs less than 1 oz., and 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). For more information and to view a video clip, click here. News Briefs back to top  NOTAM Upgrade Coming, Possibly In Your Lifetime Pilots have long been frustrated by the FAA's Notice-to-Airmen system, which conveys vital safety-of-flight information formatted for teletype machines, cluttered with archaic acronyms, distributed via hard copy and lacking graphics. Now the FAA says that by 2009, NOTAMs will be reorganized into a single federal system that is compliant with international standards. It will take another decade for the system to incorporate full digital and graphic capabilities, the FAA said on Monday. Those capabilities will be required for the Next Generation Air Transportation System, FAA officials said. According to the Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) unit, which is part of the FAA's Air Traffic Organization, NOTAM users have complained that the notices include too much data with not enough meaningful information, they should be easier to read and to find, they use too many data formats, local NOTAMs are not electronically distributed, and the messages are not always distributed in a timely manner. Barry Davis of the AIM unit said there is "a lot of work" to do, and appealed for continued customer feedback. He can be reached at (202) 267-9201. NTSB: Cameraman Who Died In Crash Was Tied To Seat A cinematographer who died when a Cessna 206 ditched off Key West, Fla., in August 2004 had tied himself to the seat with a rope, the NTSB reported last week. Neal Fredericks, 35, who previously filmed the cult hit "The Blair Witch Project," and his crew had chartered a Cessna 206 for aerial filming off the coast of the Florida Keys. Fredericks asked to have a rope tied around his waist and to the seat, even though there was a seatbelt available, according to the NTSB report. During the flight, the engine quit and the pilot ditched the airplane. The pilot and the other three passengers were able to escape, but Fredericks was unable to disentangle himself and drowned when the airplane sank. The assistant cameraman told the NTSB that when the airplane hit the water there was a rush of water into the airplane. He unfastened his seatbelt, took a gulp of air, and was soon outside the airplane. The cameraman said, "The rope," and he answered, "Cool dude, I got it," but the rope was ripped from his hand as the airplane submerged. He said he tried to dive for the rope and free the cameraman, but he could not reach it. The NTSB found the probable cause for the accident was the loss of engine power, but the reason that the engine quit was undetermined. IFR GPS Semantics Problem Resolved "The bottom line is pilots can continue using their IFR GPS units like before," according to Randy Kenagy, AOPA's senior director of strategic planning. Background: When the FAA revised policies that instruct pilots on how to use GPS units under instrument flight rules, AOPA saw in those changes reason to question IFR use for many GPS units. AOPA's aggressive action to defend against any potential (and apparently unintended) problem caused by a combination of changes to the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), an Advisory Circular on terminal and en route area navigation (RNAV) operations (AC 90-100A), and an associated list of compliant GPS units has borne fruit. The FAA has provided a letter that "makes clear that the current operational approvals will be in place for a long time to come," according to Kenagy. However, there is one caveat: "The letter makes clear that as [the] system evolves to RNAV and required navigational performance (RNP), certain older units will not be allowed to be used for RNAV standard instrument departure and arrival routes (SIDs and STARs)," Kenagy said. "AOPA will work with the FAA to ensure that members are not penalized for not having RNAV SID/STAR-capable equipment." Meanwhile, Honeywell said it is "actively involved in AC 90-100A with the FAA. Honeywell is confident that AOPA and the FAA will resolve their difference in interpretation of the navigation aid substitution section of AC 90-100A and that all currently certified Honeywell GPS/FMS systems will continue to have access to en route and terminal navigation procedures as they do today." Adam, Cirrus, Columbia, Diamond, Liberty ... The most respected new aircraft on the market all choose Continental engines. Bring your aircraft up to speed with a genuine Continental engine. Select from factory-new, factory-rebuilt, or factory-backed overhauls by Mattituck. Add value to your aircraft and the peace-of-mind that you're flying behind the best — Continental. Click here for further details. News Briefs back to top  Feds Get BRS Chute For Wildlife Monitoring Aircraft Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS) has installed its unique safety system on a piston single used by the U.S. Department of the Interior, the company announced on Tuesday. The Cessna 182 will be flown by pilots in the Fish and Wildlife division on low-altitude, long-duration missions over inhospitable terrain. "If the BRS system is used in an emergency, it will give the pilot another safety option in the event of any unscheduled off-airport landing,” said BRS spokesman John Gilmore. This installation was the 55th by BRS in a Cessna aircraft, the first in a federally operated aircraft and the first in a Garmin G1000-equipped airplane. BRS says its parachute recovery systems have been credited with saving the lives of 201 pilots and passengers. Czech Aircraft Works Expands, Gets LAMA Audit Czech Aircraft Works (CZAW) has added a new 120,000-square-foot facility to its manufacturing site in the Czech Republic, the company announced on Monday. The plant increases CZAW's production capacity to more than 500 light sport aircraft (LSA) per year, it said. “This new capacity also increases our efficiency," noted CZAW President Chip Erwin. "Nearly a million dollars worth of new state-of-the-art [machinery] significantly reduces assembly time while simultaneously improving quality." The company has also added more trained workers to staff the facility. Meanwhile, CZAW invited representatives from the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (LAMA) to visit the plant last week and conduct an audit. The audit process ensures that the company is in compliance with light sport aircraft standards. "The audit doesn't guarantee an aircraft is a 'good' aircraft," says LAMA Chairman Dan Johnson, "but it can assure buyers that the airplane is what the manufacturer says it is. LSA pilots should be pleased this occurs and should start looking for the LAMA decal on the airplane of their choice." XM WX Satellite Weather Uses a Continuous Satellite Broadcast to Deliver Graphical Weather Data to the Cockpit Pilots view and interact with the data — including radar, winds, METARs, lightning, and more — on compatible MFDs, EFBs, and PDAs from a wide range of industry partners, as well as on laptop PCs. The situational awareness afforded by XM WX Satellite Weather allows pilots to enjoy their journeys with more confidence and comfort than ever before. For more information, please visit XMWXweather.com. News Briefs back to top  Linear Air Adds Another Route Linear Air, which calls itself "the leading very light jet (VLJ) air-taxi operator" -- although so far it is flying only Cessna Grand Caravans while awaiting delivery of 30 Eclipse 500 jets -- on Wednesday announced it is expanding its route structure again. The air-taxi firm is adding a new scheduled by-the-seat private air service between Manassas, Va., and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Manassas Airport is about 15 miles south of Washington Dulles International Airport. Linear Air has successfully run similar routes from its original base near Boston to nearby popular weekend destinations. The new service aims to attract vacationers and second-homeowners in the metro D.C. area who prefer a 90-minute flight to six to eight hours of driving. The new service will launch June 29 and continue through Labor Day weekend. Introductory pricing has been set at $219 per person each way. Airlines Set Goal Of Zero Emissions Responding to pressures to curb pollution from airliners, especially in Europe, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Monday set a goal to develop an emissions-free airplane within 50 years. "The first target is to replace 10 percent of fuel with low-carbon alternatives in the next 10 years," said IATA CEO Giovanni Bisignani. "The second is to begin developing a carbon-free fuel from renewable energy sources. The final challenge is for airlines to implement green strategies across the business. It’s time for governments and the oil industry to make some serious investments.” Bisignani said some of the potential "building blocks" for a carbon-free future include fuel-cell technology, solar-powered aircraft and fuel made from biomass. Meridian. Mirage. Pressurized Comfort. Pure Performance. Turboprop or piston, your choice in pressurized comfort. Meridian: 500 hp turboprop; maximum cruise speed - 260 ktas; range - 1,000 nm; useful load - 1,720 pounds; maximum altitude - 30,000 feet. Mirage: Turbocharged 350 hp piston engine; maximum cruise speed - 213 ktas; range - 1,345 nm; useful load - 1,245 pounds; maximum altitude - 25,000 feet. Excitement Level: Off the charts! Up to $150,000 in factory incentives on your way to PiperJet ownership. Call Piper at (866) FLY-PIPER for a dealer near you, or go online. News In Brief back to top  On The Fly A rare Carvair modified DC-4 crashed in Alaska last week, the crew was unhurt but the airplane broke apart... Plans to expand a runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida will go forward, airport commissioners said this week, despite local opposition... Brian Kissinger, a brain-cancer survivor, has launched a cross-country flight in a vintage 1942 L-4 Cub to raise money to fight the disease... FAA's Wings pilot-proficiency program has changed to an Internet-based system, go to the Web site for more info... Brian Terwilliger, who produced and directed the aviation documentary One Six Right, will host the annual dinner for the National Aviation Hall of Fame in July. He replaces actor and pilot Michael Dorn, who was previously announced as the emcee but withdrew due to a schedule conflict... EAA AirVenture has listed the aviation film classics to be shown at Oshkosh next month. 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. You're a part of our team ... often, the best part. AVwebBiz: AVweb's Business Aviation Newsletter HAVE YOU SIGNED UP yet for AVweb's NO-COST weekly 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/. Need AFSS Information? Click here. Lockheed Martin New On AVweb back to top  The Savvy Aviator #45: How Risky Is Going Past TBO? Although it's legal to operate engines past TBO, many owners and mechanics consider it risky. Let's examine the risks. Click here for the full story. Learn From Other Pilots' Mistakes! Check out the AOPA Air Safety Foundation Accident Database, a no-cost online database that can help improve your flying skills. By reading about other pilots' accidents, you can focus your training to improve on those areas. Search the database by aircraft make and model, keyword, state, or weather and light conditions at the time of the accident. Visit the no-cost ASF Accident Database now. AVweb-Exclusive Audio And Video News back to top  AVweb Audio News AVweb posts audio news on Mondays, plus a new in-depth interview each Friday. In last Friday's podcast, you'll hear Eclipse Aviation president and CEO Vern Raburn. And AVweb's podcast index includes interviews with Xwind's Brad Whitsitt; BoGo Light's Mark Bent; DayJet's Ed Iacobucci; Pogo Jet's Cameron Burr; Teal Group's Richard Aboulafia; Air Journey's Thierry Pouille; Epic Aircraft's Rick Schrameck; Cessna's Jack Pelton; Embraer's Ernest Edwards; LAMA's Dan Johnson; Piper's Jim Bass; AOPA's Andrew Cebula; Hawker Beechcraft's Jim Schuster; and Avfuel's Craig Sincock. In Monday's podcast, hear Ed Shipley talk about the P-38 called Glacier Girl. Remember: In AVweb's podcasts, you'll hear things you won't find anywhere else. Exclusive Video: Our Sun 'n Fun Ride-Along in the Incredible Adventures DC-3 Recommend a Video | VOTW Archive At the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In a few weeks ago, AVweb's Russ Niles got to left-seat in Herpa's DC-3, courtesy of Incredible Adventures. Join us for what some would call the experience of a lifetime, as Dan Gryder guides us (carefully) through the flight. Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. It's Not What You Know, but Who You Know that Can Save You Money! Avionics. Next to your airframe and engine(s), avionics are the most expensive items you will purchase for your aircraft. Don't spend more than you need to! Before you buy anywhere else, call Bennett Avionics at (800) 653-7295, or visit online. It's not rocket science, just good business! Question Of The Week back to top  Question of the Week: FAA WINGS 2.0 This Week's Question | Previous Week's Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, we asked AVweb readers which outside factors (i.e., things aside from price and feature set) are the most important to them when buying a new headset. 34% of those who responded said that actual demonstrations, such as seeing a product demo at an air show or testing it out in the cockpit, made the biggest impression on them.  Previous experience with the same-model headset or its manufacturer was the second most popular factor, pulling in 30% of the vote in our poll. A complete breakdown of the responses can be viewed here. (You may be asked to register an answer, if you haven't already.) THIS WEEK'S QUESTION *** The FAA this week introduced its "all-new" internet-based WINGS pilot proficiency program. AVweb is curious to know whether you'll be participating in the new 'net-based training initiative. Click here to answer. Have an idea for a new "Question of the Week"? Send your suggestions to . 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. Attention, LSA Builders & ROTAX 912 Engine Operators BASA, the industry's leader in aviation supplies, software, and publications, offers the ROTAX Engine Introduction DVD with tips and techniques for trouble-free operation of Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) with the ROTAX engine. This DVD also provides an introduction to the specific concepts important to maintaining the ROTAX 912. Go online for complete details and bonus features! FBO Of The Week back to top  FBO Of The Week: Aurora Jet Center Nominate an FBO | Rules | Tips | Questions | Winning FBOs AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Aurora Jet Center at KUAO in Aurora, Ore. AVweb reader Dennis Conner said the FBO has great service -- and cookies, too. "Every time we stop in there, there is always a person to greet you and take care of all your needs quickly and efficiently. Fresh cookies and coffee as well." 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! Stuck on the Freeway? Put That "Down Time" to Good Use with Pilot's Audio Update Subscribe to Pilot's Audio Update and receive monthly CDs with topics from "Expediting an IFR Approach" and "Airplane Trim Systems" to "Carburetor Ice" and "Low Workload Maneuvering." Subscribe now to receive the Acing the Flight Review CD as a gift with your order. Pictures Of The Week back to top  Picture of the Week: AVweb's Flying Photography Showcase Submit a Photo | Rules | Tips | Questions | Past Winners Each week, we go through dozens (and sometimes hundreds) of reader-submitted photos and pick the very best to share with you on Thursday mornings.  The top photos are featured on AVweb's home page, and one photo that stands above the others is awarded an AVweb baseball cap as our "Picture of the Week."  Want to see your photo on AVweb.com?  Click here to submit it to our weekly contest. *** THIS WEEK'S WINNERS *** As the days continue to lengthen across North America, "POTW" contest submissions are starting to dip a bit.  Not to worry, though — the AVweb readers who are making time to contribute when they could be out flying are submitting some terrific images.  Case in point:  Ken Wilson, whose submission is the first powered 'chute (that we can recall, at least) to be named "Picture of the Week"! medium | large Used with permission of Ken Wilson Summer Breezes over Galveston What better way to celebrate summer than an afternoon flight over the coast?  Texan Ken Wilson enjoys some "low and slow, fun flying" with his son over Galveston. (Great.  Now we've got that old Jimmy Webb/Glen Campbell song in our heads.)   medium | large Used with permission of Kenneth Jones Springtime in Alaska Ever find yourself wondering how to lift an AVwebber's spirits on a stressful day?  Flying just about anything on floats up to Alaska and take a picture of it. Ken Jones of Eagle River, Alaska goes us one better and includes a breathtaking skyline in this photo, which has already become our desktop wallpaper. (For those squinting at the thumbnail, that's Ken's DHC2 at Moser Bay on Kodiak Island.)   medium | large copyright © Donald Reid Used with permission Flagship Detroit If our breath weren't already taken away, this entry from Donald Reid of Bumpass, Virginia would have done the trick.  Fresh from the Lumberton Fly-In, Mr. Reid brings us a spectacular fireworks display dwarfing the DC-3 Flagship Detroit.   medium | large Used with permission of Jon Marshall Low Approach Not enough excitement this week, you say? O.K., wiseguy, here's a little treat from Jon Marshall of Arana, Arizona — a C-130 on low approach at Tucson International Airport.   medium | large copyright © Michael S. Whaley Used with permission Skycrane Sunset And we sign off this week with a reminder of the darker side of summer — wild fires. Michael S. Whaley of Melbourne, Florida writes: Evergreen's Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane (N6979R) air tanker has been based at the Melbourne, FL airport (KMLB) for a couple of weeks to help out with our brush fire situation. Here, it is returning from a local fire shortly before dark. The S-64 is a truly MASSIVE helicopter... watching one land is much like witnessing the arrival of a gigantic mechanical insect from another world... you almost expect to see little green men jump out! (Or would that be little Evergreen men?) My wife and I both agreed that this was well worth the nearly two-hour wait for the Skycrane to arrive home. Want more?  As always, there are a dozen (or more) bonus photos online at AVweb's home page as part of our POTW slide show. To enter next week's contest, click here. A quick note for submitters:  If you've got several photos that you feel are "POTW" material, your best bet is to submit them one-a-week!  That gives your photos a greater chance of seeing print on AVweb, and it makes the selection process a little easier on us, too.  ;) 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. Names Behind The News back to top  Meet the AVwebFlash Team 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) and Editor In Chief Chad Trautvetter. 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. Aviate, navigate, communicate.