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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. 
» Visit Teledyne-Continental Motors (TCM) in
booths 76-102 at AirVenture
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HONDA
TO BUILD VLJ ENGINES IN NORTH CAROLINA
Honda Aero (not to be
confused with sister subsidiary Honda Aircraft) announced on Tuesday that it will establish its
corporate headquarters and a state-of-the-art jet engine manufacturing
plant in Burlington, N.C., adjacent to the Burlington-Alamance Regional
Airport. The $27 million, 102,400-square-foot facility will include
office space, a production plant and an engine test cell. Production
will begin in late 2010 with the manufacture of the GE Honda HF120
turbofan engine, which will power both the HondaJet and Spectrum
Aeronautical's Freedom twinjet. The plant is expected to turn out about
200 engines per year. "This is a major step forward for our company, as
we move to establish the home of our jet engine manufacturing operations
here in Burlington," said Honda Aero President and CEO Fumitaka
Hasegawa. More... SCHUMER:
FAA'S BLAKEY SHOULD RESIGN
The nation's airspace system is a
mess, with airports overloaded and travelers plagued by delays, and
that's the fault of FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, says New York Sen.
Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. On Tuesday he called for Blakey to resign before
her term ends on Sept. 30, The Associated Press reports. "She has engaged in a
counterproductive fight with the air traffic controllers, cut the number
of controllers that are needed, and they sometimes lash back," Schumer
said. Delays have been particularly bad at New York's three major
airports -- Newark, Kennedy and LaGuardia -- with 38 percent of all
flights from January to April this year either late or canceled,
according to the AP. The blame "falls clearly in the lap of the FAA and
the FAA administrator," said Schumer. "The leadership at the FAA time
and again has failed. So now it is time for that leadership to change."
More... AVWEB
AT EAA AIRVENTURE
If you can't make it to EAA AirVenture in
Oshkosh, Wis., next week, then you'll be happy to know that AVweb will
bring the show to your desktop. We'll be publishing daily issues,
podcasts and video posted directly from the show grounds to keep you
up-to-date with the latest news from AirVenture. And for those lucky
enough to be going to the airshow, don't forget to stop by AVweb's booth
to meet the editors (schedule).
More... |
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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. 
» Visit LightSPEED Aviation in booths 2010, 2019, & 2023 at AirVenture
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FAA
CERTIFIES QUEST KODIAK TURBOPROP
Quest Aircraft
Company of Sandpoint, Idaho, on Wednesday announced that its Kodiak,
a 10-place single-engine turboprop utility airplane, received type
certification from the FAA. The rugged all-aluminum airplane is designed
for use on short and unimproved runways and is float-capable to optimize
its usefulness for backcountry operators. According to Quest, the Kodiak
can take off in less than 700 feet with a useful load of 3,450 pounds
and climb at more than 1,700 feet per minute. The Garmin G1000
integrated avionics suite is standard equipment on the Pratt & Whitney
Canada PT6-powered airplane. "The Kodiak was designed with and for
mission and humanitarian aviation organizations to perform under
extremely rigorous conditions in the most remote regions of the world,
so the bar was set high," said Quest Aircraft President and CEO Paul
Schaller. "During both Quest's and the FAA's testing, we pushed the
envelope and are pleased that the airplane successfully achieved the
desired performance." More... CONGRESS
EXAMINES PILOT MEDICAL RECORD FRAUD
Does the FAA need to do
more to ensure that pilots are not lying about dangerous medical
problems so they can keep their certification? That's the question that
was discussed in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday at a hearing before the House Subcommittee on Aviation.
Investigators with the DOT Office of Inspector General say they have
discovered thousands of "egregious cases" of airmen lying about
debilitating medical conditions on their applications for airman medical
certificates. The FAA said it would be too labor-intensive to
cross-check and verify every application, and the safety risk would not
justify the resources it would consume. The subcommittee said that
response was "unacceptable," and this week's hearing was part of the
continuing effort to address the issue. Among the witnesses was AOPA
President Phil Boyer, who proposed some simple steps to inform and educate
pilots and cross-check a random sample of applications.
More... |
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Visit Aircraft Spruce during AirVenture at
booths 1022-1029 for show specials and vendor demonstrations and a
complimentary copy of the new 2007–2008 catalog. Promotions will
apply to a vast selection of products including Bose, Flightcom, J.P.I.,
Tempest, LP Aero, Sennheiser, LightSPEED, Rosen Sunvisor, and Unison.
Complimentary shipping available on show orders (doesn't apply to
oversize or hazardous goods). Call 1-877-4-SPRUCE or
visit Aircraft Spruce
online. 
» Visit Aircraft Spruce & Specialty in booths
1022-1029 at AirVenture
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BRAZILIAN
CONGRESS BLAMES LEGACY PILOTS FOR MIDAIR
An inquiry conducted
by the lower house in Brazil's Congress just concluded U.S. pilots Jean
Paul Paladino and Joseph Lepore, who were flying the Embraer Legacy
operated by U.S.-based ExcelAire during a midair collision last
September with a Gol Transportes Aereos Boeing 737-800, are partially to
blame for the fatal accident. Meanwhile, another congressional inquiry,
along with an investigation by Brazil's accident investigation team,
continues. The completed report found Paladino and Lepore were
insufficiently trained in operating the Legacy and negligently
disregarded ICAO and Brazilian aviation regulations, engaged in
"imprudent handling of the aircraft" and had "poor situational
awareness." The inquiry concluded the two pilots should be charged with
involuntary manslaughter by having placed an aircraft or vessel at risk.
Additionally, the inquiry determined three air traffic controllers had
committed the same crime, while one controller should be indicted on
voluntary manslaughter. The two pilots and three controllers could face
sentences of up to 12 years; the lone controller faces up to 20 years.
More... ARE
THREE CHUTES BETTER THAN ONE?
The usefulness of a
whole-airplane parachute has been well-proven by the folks at Ballistic Recovery
Systems (203 lives saved at last count), but an upstart company in
New Jersey thinks there might be a better way. Aviation
Safety Resources said this week it has formed "a distinguished team
of aviation experts" to bring to market a three-chute emergency landing
system for small aircraft. The system aims to lower the aircraft safely
to the ground in three sections, separating the wings (and their fuel)
from the cabin. An early version of the system was tested successfully
in 1967, according to the company. More... |
| |
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. 
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A320
CRASH IN BRAZIL PROMPTS CALLS FOR CHANGE
Thousands of runways
around the world have inadequate overrun safety areas, the International Federation
of Air Line Pilots' Associations said on Wednesday, a day after a
TAM Airlines Airbus A320 crashed in Brazil, killing at least 189 people.
The crew had been trying to land on a wet runway at Sao Paulo Cagonhas
Airport, and took off again when they were unable to stop. The airplane
cleared the airport fence and a highway but crashed into a gas station
and a building before exploding into flames. The 6,362-foot runway has
often been criticized as too short. Runway-end safety areas should be
established at all airports with airline operations, IFALPA said, with
an overrun space at least 800 feet long or an arrestor system that could
halt an errant aircraft. More... P-51
OWNER KILLED IN FIRST NON-SUPERVISED FLIGHT
John McKittrick,
42, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., was killed Sunday morning as he practiced
takeoffs and landings on his own for the first time in his vintage P-51D
Mustang. McKittrick, an experienced pilot, had been flying with an
instructor and landed at Camarillo Airport. The instructor had just
gotten out of the aircraft and told tower controllers that McKittrick
would be soloing the airplane and would stay in the pattern, an FAA
spokesman told the Ventura County Star. According to the FAA, the airplane bounced on
landing, ran off the side of the runway and flipped. The vintage Mustang
broke apart in the accident, but there was no post-crash fire.
More... |
| |
Don't Trust Your Fairy
Godmother
If you think your piloting instincts are going to save your life in an
unexpected stall/spin scenario, statistics DO NOT support that
assumption. Dealing with Loss of Control In-Flight, the leading
cause of aviation accidents worldwide, is a Trained Response. Be
prepared.
Integrate 10,000 hours of specialized upset recovery expertise into your
safety training today. Call (866) 359-4273 or
get Upset Recovery Training info
online. 
| | |
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JETS,
CUBS, LOTS MORE, COMING TO OSHKOSH NEXT WEEK
Here at
AVweb, we're packing our bags and checking our NOTAMs to fly into
Oshkosh, Wis., for the start of EAA AirVenture on Monday. We'll be there
every day to bring you all the news, in addition to photos, podcasts and
video, direct to your e-mail inbox. Among the new aircraft we'll be
looking at are the two new light jets from Epic Aircraft,
the single-engine Victory and the twin-engine Elite, which will make
their world debut at the show on Monday morning. Both jets made their
first flights this summer and will be available for sale as owner-built
experimentals later this year and eventually as FAA-certified copies. At
the other end of the complexity scale, CubCrafters will debut what it calls "an all-new,
second-generation light sport airplane" on Tuesday. That model will be
"stronger, lighter, newer, and better," the company says.
More... NO
ROOM FOR AN AIRPORT? IT'S A BIG OCEAN
OceanWorks, of Encinitas, Calif., says it has a solution for the San Diego Airport Authority, which
has tried for years to find a site for a new airfield in crowded
Southern California. The company is proposing to build an airport 10
miles off the coast. "The offshore option is the best and apparently the
only viable one for San Diego," says OceanWorks CEO Adam Englund. "We
aim to make it the most secure, self-sustaining, economically vibrant,
and greenest airport ever built." On Monday, OceanWorks sent a notice of
claim to federal, state and local agencies to gain exclusive rights to
40,000 square miles of ocean for the purpose of developing, building and
operating an international airport. Proposals for getting passengers to
the airport include fast ferries, a floating bridge, and underground or
underwater tunnels. Advantages to the offshore site include eliminating
noise complaints and enabling aircraft to land safely even in foggy
conditions, the company said. More... |
| |
When It Comes to Aircraft Insurance, the Choice
Is Easy
The AOPA Insurance Agency is the only agency offering the
built-in expertise of AOPA's 66+ years' commitment to general aviation
and the only agency qualified to carry the AOPA name. 411,000+ pilots
trust AOPA, so why call anyone else? One call to the AOPA Insurance
Agency and you'll have multiple quotes from major A-rated
underwriters in minutes. Call AOPA Insurance Agency for a
complimentary quote at (800) 622-2672, or
go online. 
» Visit Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association
(AOPA) in booths 164-166 at AirVenture
| | |
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ON
THE FLY
Thielert says it will double the size of its
Altenburg plant...
Sun 'n Fun shortens 2008 Fly-In by one
day...
PlaneSmart will upgrade its shared-ownership Cirrus SR22s to
G3s...
Users lobby the Pentagon to preserve the accuracy of GPS
satellites...
British pilot Paul Bonhomme won the latest Red Bull Air
Race...
The national hot-air balloon championships are underway this
week. More... |
| |
Need AFSS Information?
Click here. 
Lockheed Martin
| | |
| |
AVWEB'S
AIRVENTURE SURVIVAL GUIDE — PART ONE
AVweb columnist
Rick Durden provides you the benefit of his years of Oshkosh experience
with tips you won't find anywhere else. This first part of a two-part
series covers how to prepare for your pilgrimage to aviation Mecca, what
to bring, where to stay, when to go and what you need to know before you
get there. More... |
| |
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. 
» Visit Piper Aircraft in booths 72-75 & 79-82 at AirVenture
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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 you'll hear David Billings on the enduring
allure of the Amelia Earhart mystery. And AVweb's podcast index includes interviews
with BusinessJetSEATS Alfred Rapetti; EAA's Dick Knapinski; AOPA's
Andrew Cebula; Cirrus Design's Alan Klapmeier; NBAA's Harry Houkes;
Reason Foundation's Robert Poole; SATSair's Sheldon Early; Epic
Aircraft's Rick Schrameck; AOPA's Randy Kenagy; Eclipse Aviation's Vern
Raburn; 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 and LAMA's Dan Johnson. In Monday's
podcast, Aerion vice chairman Brian Barents talks about his
company's supersonic business jet design. Remember: In AVweb's podcasts,
you'll hear things you won't find anywhere else.
More... |
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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!
| | |
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QUESTION
OF THE WEEK: MARION BLAKEY'S FAA ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
CARD
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) this week called for the
resignation of FAA Administrator Marion Blakey due to continued air
traffic congestion in the New York metro area. Taking a bigger picture
view near the end of her five-year term, what grade would you give
Blakey for her management of the FAA? (We'll put Sen. Schumer down for
an F.) Plus: When polled, what did AVweb readers
say to the notion of retiring FSS altogether and relying on DUATS for
briefings? More... |
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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!
» Visit Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA)
in booths 2075-2078 at
AirVenture
| | |
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FBO
OF THE WEEK: ELLIOTT AVIATION
AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Elliott
Aviation at KMLI in Moline, Ill. AVweb reader Jim
Grady likes how they treat the "liitle guy." "Our Sunday
evening arrival was literally as the staff was out the door and off
duty. They returned, parked us, took the fuel order and even took us to
town in the van. All this was for a couple in a little taildragger, not
a jet-A customer!" More... |
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Tired of the High Cost of Fuel? GAMIjectors Are
the Answer!
Don't be grounded by sky-high gas prices. Install GAMIjectors,
and you could see up to a 20% cut in your aircraft's fuel bill. Balanced
fuel/air ratios make your aircraft's engine run smoother, cooler, and
more efficiently. Call 888-FLY-GAMI, or
order a kit online for your Continental
or Lycoming engine. 
» Visit General Aviation Modifications, Inc.
(GAMI) in booths 3005-3006 at AirVenture
| | |
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PICTURE
OF THE WEEK: AVWEB'S FLYING PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWCASE
 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."
We're
feeling the love this week, with nearly 100 submitters taking our plea
for pictures to heart and sending in their best amateur aviation shots
to our "Picture of the Week" contest. Before we dive in, we'd like to
thanks for the outpouring of submissions — and remind you
that "POTW" will be on hiatus next week while we're up to our ears in
AirVenture. Please continue to send in those
photos, and we'll resume the "POTW" fun in two weeks.
The
Thunderbirds and Blue Angels have been well-represented in "POTW" during
the 2007 summer air show season, but the Canadian Air Forces' Snowbirds
have been keeping a low profile in our submission box. Edwin Cheng of Nepean, Ontario fixes
that little oversight with a dazzling display by the Snowbirds
over Ottawa's Parliament Hill on Canada Day (July 1). More... |
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 Editor 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. Aviate, navigate, communicate.
More... |
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