AEROSONIC PURCHASES OP TECHNOLOGIES
Clearwater, Fla.-based Aerosonic Corporation, a supplier of precision flight products for commercial, business and military aircraft, on Wednesday announced that it acquired avionics maker Op Technologies. Oregon-based Op Technologies currently makes cockpit avionics for experimental aircraft, including the Pegasus Integrated Avionics System. In June, Op said it is developing an avionics system for certified aircraft. "The addition of Op Technologies' expertise and products to our company will allow us to compete on a larger scale across a wider number of aircraft models, and this transaction creates a path for meaningful revenue growth and reduces our cost and time to market for a family of products that addresses a significant component of our strategic plan," said Aerosonic Chairman, President and CEO David Baldini. More...

GARMIN RESOLVES G1000 ISSUE, MANUFACTURERS RELIEVED
A problem that stalled shipments of Garmin G1000 avionics last week, affecting deliveries of some piston aircraft, has been resolved, Garmin said on Monday. Garmin has resumed shipments of the GRS 77 AHRS (Attitude Heading Reference System) units, which were the cause of the snafu, used in G1000 installations. "All affected aircraft manufacturers will begin receiving GRS 77 units immediately so that they can resume aircraft deliveries," Garmin said. Production of the GRS 77 will increase incrementally as Garmin ramps up the production line. The AHRS problem was caused by a production process change by a component supplier, Garmin said. More...

WANTED: AVIATION WRITER, EDITOR AND WEB PERSON
AVweb has an opening for an able and experienced aviation writer and editor with proven experience in both print and web publishing, although we're willing to train the right person in the finer points of massaging content for the web. This position requires relocation to our Sarasota, Florida office. If this decription fits you, contact aviationeditorial@comcast.net. More...

BLAKEY TO HEAD AEROSPACE ASSOCIATION
A new job is literally waiting in the wings for Marion Blakey when her term as FAA Administrator ends next month. It was announced on Tuesday that Blakey will be the next president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, the trade association representing the nation's manufacturers of aerospace equipment. The appointment officially takes effect on Nov. 12. Blakey succeeds John Douglass, who has been president and CEO of AIA since September 1998 and will remain with AIA through Dec. 31 to provide counsel and ensure a smooth transition. More...

ALPHABETS ASK FOR QUICK FOLLOW TO BLAKEY EXIT
With FAA Administrator Marion Blakey's term about to expire in just over two weeks, aviation leaders are urging President Bush to quickly appoint a new leader for the agency. "General aviation and the airlines don’t agree on the FAA funding issue, but when it comes to choosing an FAA administrator, all of aviation is flying in formation," AOPA said on Wednesday. "Aviation leaders across the board have joined in a letter to President Bush, urging him to quickly appoint a new individual to run the FAA for five years when Marion Blakey’s term expires on September 13." The letter is signed by the leaders of some 18 organizations, including AOPA, the Air Transport Association, EAA, NBAA, and many more. The letter says there is a "vital need to nominate a strong individual" as the next administrator as soon as possible. "Our nation cannot afford a recess appointee as we face the time-critical challenge of modernizing our nation’s aviation infrastructure." More...

UNION HOPES TO REPRESENT LOCKHEED FLIGHT SERVICE SPECIALISTS
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers has announced a campaign to organize the 1,200 Flight Service Specialists employed by Lockheed Martin Corporation. The specialists, who work at 18 sites in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, were employed by the FAA until last year when the work was contracted to Lockheed Martin. "With our 119 years of union history and our 720,000 members in the private, federal and transportation sectors, we see the important work of Flight Service Specialists in air traffic control as a natural fit," said union spokesman Rich Michalski. "After all, the IAM is already the largest union in air transport and aerospace manufacturing." The union currently has 35 contracts with Lockheed Martin covering more than 15,000 workers. More...

ECLIPSE SPEAKS ON FIRST CHARTER E500 FLIGHT
Eclipse Aviation on Monday told AVweb that "we are excited to see the aircraft being used in the way we have always envisioned," referring to the first Part 135 charter flight of an Eclipse 500 last Friday. North American Jet Charter flew two passengers round trip from Chicago to Baltimore on one of the very light jets. Eclipse, which in 2005 won the Collier Trophy for "the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America" for the small jet, congratulated North American Jet "for their historic first commercial flight using the Eclipse 500," adding that the charter operator "is the first of a large group of customers who will benefit from this great aircraft." The flight is the culmination of eight years of work by start-up Eclipse. More...

EAA: CLOCK IS TICKING ON "FAT" ULTRALIGHTS
Next January is the absolute deadline for converting overweight and two-seat ultralights to experimental light sport aircraft (E-LSA) status, and EAA is reminding owners that they better get started now if they want to be ready by that date. Aug. 15 was the first of a series of three dates set by the FAA to help owners complete the transition process, but it is not a "firm" deadline -- there is still time to catch up, EAA says, but no time to waste. Owners need to apply for an N-number, get their aircraft inspected and allow time in case fixes must be made and a second inspection is required. The FAA has made clear that there will be no extensions to the absolute deadline of Jan. 31, 2008. More...

MASSACHUSETTS FLIGHT SCHOOL CLOSES
Aviation students at Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts are scrambling to find flight instruction after a flight school at the New Bedford Regional Airport unexpectedly shut down, The Associated Press reported. The Delta Connection Academy, a Florida-based operation, has trained hundreds of students from the New Bedford flight school, but told employees early this month it would be closing the program because it expected low enrollments. A spokesman for Bridgewater State College, Bryan Baldwin, told the AP the school had no reason to believe there were any problems, and enrollment at the school had increased by 25 percent during the five years Delta provided flight training to the college. [more] "This is unfortunate for the college and the city, because it had been such a win-win for everyone involved," Baldwin said. "The timing, obviously, is not ideal," since classes begin in two weeks. The college is scrambling to find slots at other area flight schools, the AP said. More...

REPORT: FATAL SNOWBIRD CRASH CAUSED BY SEATBELT
A Snowbird pilot who was killed during a practice in Montana last May fell from his seat when his lap belt became unfastened during a roll, according to a preliminary report from the Canadian Air Force Directorate of Flight Safety. The Tutor CT-114 jet was rolling inverted for an inverted photo pass in a four-ship formation when the aircraft was seen to dip low, waver and depart the formation. Still inverted, the aircraft climbed and then rolled upright. Upon reaching a nearly wings-level attitude, at about 750 feet above ground level, the aircraft nosed over. The aircraft hit the ground at approximately 45 degrees nose down. The pilot, Capt. Shawn McCaughey, 31, a two-year veteran of the team, did not eject and was killed on impact. More...

GULFSTREAMS FOR SCIENCE
Two Gulfstream GV business jets will undertake an unusual mission in the early morning hours of Sept. 1, when the two jets, privately owned by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, will carry scientists aloft to view an extremely rare Aurigid meteor shower. A brief shower of tens of meteors will radiate from the constellation of Auriga, many as bright as the brighter stars in the sky, according to NASA. The shower will be visible from the western U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Astronomers believe the whole event will last no longer than one-and-a-half hours and will not be seen again in our lifetimes. The Gulfstreams will launch from Moffett Field in California and carry scientists from NASA, the SETI Institute, Utah State University and other organizations to a location high above the Pacific Ocean. The jets will provide a total of 21 windows to view the meteors from altitudes up to 45,000 feet. More...

ON THE FLY
Police arrested 10 environmental protesters at English airport…
FAA upgrading avionics and system checking equipment on its King Airs…
Brunswick Naval Air Station to be retained as GA airport.
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...

AVWEBBIZ: AVWEB'S BUSINESS AVIATION NEWSLETTER
HAVE YOU SIGNED UP yet for AVweb's NO-COST weekly business aviation newsletter, AVwebBiz? Reporting on breaking news, Business AVflash focuses on the companies, the products and the industry leaders that make headlines in the business aviation industry. Business AVflash is a must read. Sign up today at http://www.avweb.com/profile/. More...

Columns | Features | What's New | Calendar | Brainteasers

PROBABLE CAUSE #39: ALMOST HOME
A Baron slams into the ground just short of the runway. Did lights from a nearby parking lot and store help bring down the airplane? 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 hear Spectrum Aeronautical's Linden Blue talk about changes in the company's aircraft programs. And AVweb's podcast index includes interviews with EADS Socata's Jean-Michel Léonard; ConocoPhillips' Gabe Giordano; Lycoming's Ian Walsh; Avidyne's Paul Hathaway; Aerion Corp's Brian Barents; 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; and Pogo Jet's Cameron Burr. In Monday's podcast, hear FAA Administrator on the highs and lows of her term. Remember: In AVweb's podcasts, you'll hear things you won't find anywhere else.

More...

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: WHAT WILL SPARK INTEREST AMONG TOMORROW'S PILOTS-TO-BE?
With more and more pilots hanging up their aviator goggles, there are plenty of efforts underway to attract a new generation of people to flying. These days, it seems like everyone's pet initiative doubles as a recruitment tool for young pilots — but which holds the most promise for getting more young people into aviation? (Click through to answer.)

Plus: What did AVweb readers think of NASA's quarter-million-dollar prize for the first Personal Air Vehicle Challenge. More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: MEDFORD AIR SERVICE

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Medford Air Service at KMFR in Medford, Ore.

AVweb reader Jim Boeckl said the FBO staff took great care of him after his airplane limped into their facility.

"Our engine broke flying near MFR, and we landed and taxied to Medford Air Service trailing oil. We stepped out onto red carpet, and soon found out that the engine needed overhauled. They put Champ in their hangar for two months at no charge -- line manager Bobby Croll said the FBO didn't want to benefit from our misfortune. The entire staff was friendly and helpful, and the facility is immaculate. It is clear Medford Air Service recognizes and promotes the miracle of flight, even in its simplest form. This is not something I would have expected from an executive flight center."

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: 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." This week's top spot goes to John English of Lawrence, Kansas, who doesn't want anyone besmirching his whirlybird, so he fights off the predators and stainmakers with another bird — a plastic owl!

Last week's server burp behind us, we found ourselves staring down the barrel of a good hundred "POTW" submissions this week. Good thing we started ogling early! Of course, we're never satisfied with the dozens of incredible airplane pictures you submit each and every week. Like the Cookie Monster on Sesame Street, we demand more (more!) photos each and every week. We won't rest until we've seen each and every one of you — plus your aunts, uncles, and that shifty-looking guy who cleans up around the hangar — having fun in or around your favorite airplane. Please: Send us your pics! 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).

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