PILOTS PROPOSE ANTI-COLLISION DEVICE FOR FORMATION FLYING
Two pilots have filed a patent for a device that they say could help to prevent mid-air collisions like the one that killed two helicopter pilots and two videographers in Phoenix, Ariz., in July. The crews were covering a police pursuit for television news. Inventors Chris Morrison and Ralph Gannarelli knew two of the men who died and said the crash convinced them to move forward with their efforts. “We both were deeply affected by the crash, and thought there could be a better way for news pilots to see where each helicopter is located in relation to one another while so many are in the air at one time,” Morrison told the East Valley Tribune. The two have developed a wireless GPS device that could issue voice announcements to keep pilots apprised of the location of other aircraft within a one-mile radius. The system would also sound a warning if another helicopter comes within 300 feet. More...

HOUSE COMMITTEE REJECTS USER FEES
The House Ways and Means Committee passed an FAA reauthorization bill on Tuesday that has no user fees for general aviation. The legislation still must pass through the Rules Committee before heading to the House floor, but that could happen within a week. If the bill passes as is, fuel taxes would increase -- from 19.3 cents per gallon for avgas to 24.1 cents, and from 21.8 cents per gallon to 35.9 cents for Jet-A -- but all of that increase would go to pay for airspace modernization. AOPA and NBAA both were pleased with Tuesday's vote, and hopeful that it's the beginning of the end for user fees. But the end is still some distance away, since the Senate version of the FAA bill remains in play. The Senate bill contains a $25 per flight fee that GA groups say would open a Pandora's box of future user fees. Once passed, the two bills must be reconciled before a final version is sent to the White House for approval. More...

FOSSETT SEARCH SCALED BACK
After two weeks of searching and no sign of Steve Fossett or his airplane, the rescue effort will be scaled back, officials said on Monday. Fossett took off on Sept. 3 from a private airfield in Nevada for what was supposed to be a three-hour flight, but he never returned. The Civil Air Patrol has searched 98 percent of the 20,000 square mile region where Fossett was last seen, according to spokeswoman Maj. Cynthia Ryan. She said two CAP aircraft will remain on standby at Minden-Tahoe Airport in support of ground searchers. Any new tips that are received will be followed up with ground and aerial searches, officials said. The Nevada National Guard will continue to deploy helicopters as needed, and a fleet of privately funded aircraft based at the Flying M Ranch will continue to methodically cover a search grid, flying as low as possible. More...

FAA NAMES UAL CAPTAIN AS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR ATO
Henry (Hank) Krakowski, vice president of flight operations for United Air Lines, has been named chief operating officer (COO) of the FAA's Air Traffic Organization. He will lead the 35,000 controllers, technicians, engineers and support personnel who run the National Airspace System. As COO, he will oversee operations and finances as well as research and acquisition programs. “Hank is the right person to help implement the next generation of aviation technology,” said Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters. “His commitment to safety, outstanding operational experience, and leadership abilities will advance our efforts to modernize our nation’s air transportation system.” More...

POGO TO LAUNCH WITH ECLIPSE 500 FLEET
As the first air-charter companies flying very light jets line up along the starting gate, Pogo, led by former American Airlines CEO Robert Crandall, has been closely watched. At first the company said it would fly Adam 700 jets, then revised that, saying none of the new VLJs nearing certification quite fit its needs. Back in May, Pogo President Cameron Burr confirmed to AVweb that Eclipse 500 jets would make up its fleet. Recently, the company filed papers for an Initial Public Offering that said operations will begin in early 2009 with a fleet of 25 Eclipse jets, which will grow to 100 by 2011. The company Web site says it will offer charter services at about $2,000 per hour block time, along with jet-card and lease-back options. All trips will be flown with a two-pilot crew. The jets initially will be based in Western Massachusetts and offer service within a 600-mile radius of New York City, a region that includes over 700 GA airports. More...

CURTISS SEAPLANE REPLICA STAYS ON THE WATER
Two years of painstaking work was not enough to get a replica of a 1914 Glenn Curtiss Rodman Wannamaker America flying boat airborne in time for the annual Seaplane Homecoming in upstate New York last weekend -- a result that shows how amazing it was that the original aircraft was successful. The flight crew was able to start both of the vintage 90-hp OX-5 engines and taxied the replica across Keuka Lake, to the cheers of hundreds of spectators on shore. But the trick seems to be to get both engines to run at top RPM at the same time. The volunteers working on the project have changed the elevator dihedral and added weight in the front of the hull, and plan to continue testing and achieve first flight soon. A video of the America taxiing at the Homecoming is posted online. More...

HELP WANTED: ASTRONAUTS
Think you have the right stuff? Here's your chance to give it a try. NASA is recruiting its next class of astronauts, for 2009. The agency says it is looking for "a few men and women who want to fulfill their dreams and be a part of the next generation of explorers." Candidates must be willing to travel extensively on Earth and in space, NASA says: "Possible destinations may include, but are not limited to, Texas, Florida, California, Russia, Kazakhstan, the International Space Station and the moon." But it's not all fun and adventure. When not exploring the final frontier, astronauts are assigned duties such as scientific research, mission control communication with on-orbit crews, robotic training, spacewalk training, aircraft operations, technical design and engineering, and wilderness training. More...

EAA HOPES NONPILOTS WILL "REACH FOR THE SKY"
With the U.S. pilot population aging, and new starts in decline over the last 30 years, EAA has launched a new effort to recruit more students. The "Reach For The Sky" monthly e-newsletter, available free to all who sign up via EAA's Web site, aims to inspire people to learn to fly and answer their questions about how to do it. "The newsletter focuses on giving those interested in learning to fly the confidence to take that first step," said EAA President Tom Poberezny. The idea for the newsletter evolved from EAA's interaction with potential pilots at the Learn-to-Fly pavilion at this summer's EAA AirVenture fly-in at Oshkosh. The event gave EAA insight into the questions and doubts people have about aviation, which will guide the newsletter content. More...

PILOT ON CRASH PLANE "VERY EXPERIENCED"
The chairman of One-Two-Go Airline, Kajit Hapananont, told reporters on Monday the pilot of the MD-82 that crashed at Phuket on Sunday was one of his airline’s best. Wind shear has been speculated as the cause of the accident, which killed 89 people, including the captain, 56-year-old Arief Mulyadi. Forty-one people survived. The aircraft went off a runway and caught fire. “The pilot who flew the doomed aircraft was one of our best. He was very experienced, patient and very decisive,” Hapananont said. He was apparently countering media reports that referred to a pilot shortage in Asia in the midst of rapid expansion of air travel. More...

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

PELICAN'S PERCH #88: PRESSURIZATION PROBLEMS AT FL430
There's nothing like a relatively ''safe'' emergency to get you out of your complacent, know-it-all attitude. More...

PROBABLE CAUSE #41: SCUD RUN
Did a pilot break off an approach with the hopes of finding another airport? If he did, all he found was trouble. More...

ON THE FLY ...
FAA rule change will let warbird pilots fly farther ...
Environmental impact is the focus of this week's ICAO meeting ...
The new control tower at Dulles Airport opened Monday. More...

FBO OF THE WEEK:
LANCASTER AVIATION (KLKR, MCWHIRTER FIELD, LANCASTER, SC)

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Lancaster Aviation at McWhirter Field (KLKR) in Lancaster, South Carolina.

AVweb reader Alex McDowell recommended Lancaster for the usual reasons — "down-home hospitality, excellent service, and very reasonable rates" — but like many pilots, Alex discovered the true value of good service during an unscheduled stop for emergency maintenance. Alex writes:

Suffering complete electrical failure upon takeoff from a military base, I diverted 95 miles out of my way because I knew I could count on them really taking care of me. I wasn't disappointed. Gary's team jumped right in, troubleshooting my problem while I enjoyed reading all the heartfelt notes to parts manager Carrie from deployed service men and women in appreciation for the many care packages she has sent to these overseas troops. Sandy loaned me the crew car overnight, and the gang had a fix in the works by the time I arrived back at the airport. Fred the pooch was even keeping my parking spot on the ramp warm! Neil, Mark and Justin had me repaired, refueled, and ready to go before lunch, but I couldn't pass up the invitation to stay for the barbecue chicken and fixin's Mike had been grilling up all morning. I had been anxious to get back home for meetings the next day, and the gang made sure I made it on time, but I sure hated to leave the wonderful family atmosphere.

Alex will definitely return to Lancaster Aviation and recommends any other pilots in the area check them out.

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!

AVWEBBIZ (AVWEB'S BUSINESS AVIATION NEWSLETTER) REPORTS FROM NBAA
AVweb's award-winning editors will be at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention and Trade Show September 25-27 to cover all the business and commercial aviation news. Enjoy daily show news, podcasts and videos delivered to your inbox in the AVwebBiz newsletter. If you don't already get our AVwebBiz newsletter, click here to subscribe at no cost. 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 description fits you, contact aviationeditorial@comcast.net. 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...

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: SHOULD 'THE RIGHT STUFF' NECESSARILY INCLUDE A PILOT'S LICENSE?
With NASA aggressively recruiting astronauts for their 2009 graduating class, we thought it might be a good time to ask AVweb readers what constitutes "the right stuff" these days — and whether it should always include a pilot's license. Plus: What did AVweb readers have to say about the massive search for missing aviator Steve Fossett? More...

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." Things have quieted down on the "Picture of the Week" front over the last couple of weeks, but the competition heats up this week, with nearly 100 top-notch submissions vying for the coveted title — and the nifty baseball cap that goes along with it! This week's top spot could've gone to any one of the five photos we'll be featuring today, but when all was said and done, this incredible aerial view of NYC — from Suyapa Villalobos of Teaneck, New Jersey — barely edged out the competition. "Flying south over the Hudson River in New York City at 2,000 feet, we spotted EAA's Aluminum Overcast flying northbound 500 feet below us," writes Suyapa. More...

MEET THE AVWEBFLASH TEAM

AVwebFlash is a weekly summary of the latest news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the internet's aviation magazine and news service.

The AVwebFlash team is:

Publisher
Timothy Cole

Editorial Director, Aviation Publications
Paul Bertorelli

Editor-in-Chief
Russ Niles

Contributing Editors
Mary Grady
Glenn Pew

Features Editor
Kevin Lane-Cummings

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