September 27, 2007

By The AVweb Editorial Staff

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Our exclusive podcasts feature one-on-one interviews with DayJet's Ed Iacobucci on the future of air taxis, Cessna's Roger Whyte about how his company might integrate with Columbia aircraft, Piper's Bob Kromer on PiperJet's to-be or not-to-be G1000 avionics, Jeppesen's Andy McDowell on RNP, and L-3's Larry Riddle on the SmartDeck EFIS system. AVweb videos feature an overview of Cessna news, an update with Spectrum CEO Linden Blue on the progress of his company's development programs, and a special tour of an Airbus A318 cabin. Fresh Clues Revive Fossett Search Search crews looking for adventurer Steve Fossett, who vanished while on a pleasure flight more than three weeks ago, now are working with fresh leads provided by the U.S. Air Force, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday. An analysis of radar and satellite images has picked up what might be the track that Fossett flew. "It gives us an idea, if it's him, what direction he was going," Gary Derks, the state official in charge of the search, told the AP. Derks said the new search area stretches about 100 miles to the southeast from the Flying M Ranch, where Fossett took off on Sept. 3, crossing remote areas of Nevada and approaching Death Valley National Park in California. "There's nothing definite, nothing concrete," Derks said. "These are just some hits that we want to track." Ground crews are being sent to scour the area, and search planes will fly over this weekend, Derks said. "If he's there, he's going to be hard to see," Derks said. "That's why we're sending in the ground search-and-rescue crews, too." Fly Single-Pilot IFR with Confidence! 2004 CFI of the Year Doug Stewart shares over two hours of tips, tactics and strategies for IFR pilots in a new Pilot Workshops CD-ROM-based program. Doug's hands-on approach and entertaining style make this an enjoyable, memorable way to learn and refresh these vital IFR skills. Click here for more details. News Briefs back to top  AOPA: Federal Charts for Caribbean and Hawaii May Vanish Pilots flying in the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Central or South America will soon have to find a source for aeronautical information other than the U.S. government, AOPA said this week. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which now publishes charts for those regions, will stop publishing them in October. AOPA has been lobbying the FAA to take over that chore, but so far the FAA has not made any commitment. "The FAA has a legal responsibility for providing the navigation products to ensure safety and efficiency," said Melissa Rudinger, AOPA vice president of regulatory affairs. The existing NGA Caribbean chart is good until Oct. 25. Thierry Pouille, owner of Air Journey, who guides groups of pilots on flights in the Caribbean region, says the loss of these charts would have an impact. "Locally produced charts are usually available, but they are often more expensive and may not be updated very frequently," he told AVweb on Wednesday. The NGA also publishes en route charts, supplemental flight information, and instrument approach procedures. The loss of this public information will adversely affect security and safety and have a negative economic impact on civil aviation, AOPA says. Adam Aircraft Chooses Training Vendor All pilot and mechanic training for Adam Aircraft's A500 twin and the A700 very light jet will be provided by SAFERjett, Adam announced on Monday. SAFERjett is building a new training facility at Fort Worth Alliance Airport, set to open late next year. "Adam Aircraft chose SAFERjett because it was founded by aviation professionals with operational experience in developing and implementing complex training programs and they are on the ground floor in creating a center of excellence when it comes to very light jet (VLJ) training," said Adam Aircraft President Duncan Koerbel. The training center will feature a full-motion simulator and computer-based training programs. Besides training to fly the aircraft, owners will learn resource management for single-pilot flying and operations. Flight department and fleet operators will be trained in crew resource management. "SAFERjett is born and bred for the VLJ market and we're excited to bring their world-class training techniques for our innovative aircraft to our customers," said Koerbel. Introducing Zulu ... From Lightspeed Zulu is the world's quietest ANR headset. More quiet, more comfort, more features than any other previous headset. Zulu includes Bluetooth compatibility. For more information, call Lightspeed at (800) 332-2421, or go online for complete details. » Visit Lightspeed Aviation in booths 439 & 441 at the AOPA Expo Next Week! News Briefs back to top  Aviation Innovator Paul MacCready Remembered Hundreds of friends and relatives of Paul MacCready gathered last Saturday at the California Institute of Technology, in Pasadena, for a memorial to the inventor, who died last month at age 81. MacCready, a CalTech graduate, founded AeroVironment Inc. and was an innovator in human-powered and solar-powered flight. He designed the "Gossamer Condor," the first successful human-powered airplane, which now hangs in the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. A later version of the aircraft flew 22 miles across the English Channel. In recent years, AeroVironment developed high-altitude, solar-powered autonomous aircraft. In 2001, the 247-foot wingspan Helios reached 96,863 feet, over two miles higher than any airplane had ever sustained level flight. The aircraft could theoretically fly in the thin atmosphere of Mars. Memphis Airspace Closed During Equipment Failure The failure of a telephone line to Memphis Center on Tuesday morning crippled the facility, grounded dozens of flights and caused widespread delays in air traffic across the country. Without the phone line, controllers were unable to use most of their radio frequencies and some of their radar feeds as well, according to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA). They were also unable to make automated “handoffs” of flights to adjacent airspace sectors. Controllers, according to NATCA, "were thrust into an immensely chaotic situation in which they had to use personal cell phones to talk to other air traffic control facilities." By 1:30 p.m., the Center's 100,000 square miles of airspace had been completely cleared, the FAA said. Displays of airborne traffic for a time this afternoon showed a giant hole with Memphis at the epicenter. It was a "bizarre sight," said NATCA spokesman Doug Church. Operations were back to normal by about 3:30, the FAA said. 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  Mustangs & Legends Gather in Ohio Photo by Leslie Hicks While the suit-and-tie segment of general aviation is busy wheeling and dealing this week in Atlanta — see AVweb's extensive NBAA coverage for all those details — another big event is preparing to launch in Columbus, Ohio, as warbird pilots and admirers from around the world gather to celebrate history and honor those who made it. The unique Gathering of Mustangs & Legends starts Friday with open rehearsal flights by 100 P-51 Mustangs. Over the weekend, the organizers promise nonstop action, from the opening ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. until gates close at 6 each day. In addition to meeting an incredible number of Mustangs, the pilots and crew who flew and maintained them, and the USAF Demo Teams and performers, visitors can explore historical exhibits from the Tuskegee Airmen, Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), Rickenbacker International Airport and the USAF. Forecasters predict perfect weather for the weekend, with sunny skies and cool breezes, so a big crowd is expected. Premium seats are sold out, but general admission tickets can still be bought online or at the gate. Russia Unveils First New Airliner Since Soviet Era Sukhoi rolled out the first copy of its Superjet 100 on Wednesday, the first aircraft designed and produced in post-Soviet Russia. The regional jet can carry up to 103 passengers, and the company promises it will deliver comfort and efficiency. France and Italy also participated in the project. "Sukhoi Superjet 100 is a child of thousands of people around the globe, committed to the project's success with their hearts and souls," said Sukhoi CEO Mikhail Pogosyan. "It took us all six and a half years to get here, overcoming skepticism and finding our way ... Have a look at the aircraft -- I'm sure it was worth it." The aircraft will now begin flight tests. Sukhoi is based in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, near Russia's eastern coast. Sukhoi said it has 73 firm orders in hand for the aircraft, most of them going to replace aging aircraft flown by Russian airlines. The company hopes to compete with Embraer and Bombardier in the global market for regional jets. Aircraft Spruce Is Proud Sponsor of the Georgia Air Show on October 13th & 14th Come join Aircraft Spruce in Peachtree City, GA at Falcon Field beginning at 9:00am. Enjoy an aviation experience in a festival setting. In addition to breathtaking aerial performances, you'll enjoy arts, crafts, a kids' zone, food, and beverages at family-friendly prices. Adult admission: $13.00; child: $5.00. Purchase your tickets at the "will call" store in Peachtree or visit Aircraft Spruce online. For more information, call 1-877-4-SPRUCE. » Visit Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. in booth 520 at the AOPA Expo Next Week! News Briefs back to top  An Epic Day for Epic Aircraft Epic Aircraft will partner with Indian billionaire Dr. Vijay Mallya, CEO Rick Schrameck announced at the National Business Aviation Association expo in Atlanta, Ga., on Wednesday morning. The deal provides Epic with plenty of cash to accelerate the process of bringing its growing line of aircraft, including several light-jet models, to the certified market. "Epic was really looking for a strategic partner, not just an investor," Schrameck said. "Dr. Mallya now has a significant interest in our company, and we will immediately benefit from his relationships with a variety of companies, including Airbus and Pratt & Whitney." Mallya owns and operates Kingfisher Airlines, which is one of Airbus's biggest customers. For more details and analysis on this story, see AVweb's on-site report from Atlanta, by business-aviation editor Jeb Burnside. On the Fly ... The U.S. District Court in Philadelphia certified a 49-state class action suit against Lycoming concerning a mandatory retirement on crankshafts in certain engines. A California court earlier approved a class action in that state ... . The National Air Transportation Association has published a report on the recent federal proposal to require passenger and crew manifests for international GA flights ... . Boeing on Monday delivered the first production EA-18G Growler to the U.S. Navy ... . First-time author Jane Gardner Birch was chosen by the National Aviation Hall of Fame for a $20,000 award for her book about her father's flying experiences in World War II ... . Do you hate to fly the airlines? A look at the West African version could change your perspective. Download No-Cost Runway Flash Cards Now! Landing a plane is tough. Flying into unfamiliar runways makes it even tougher — and more dangerous. Ensure you and your crew's safety by downloading these no-cost flash cards today. Each of the 23 flash cards displays an airport sign or pavement marking as well as the required pilot action. Use them as a quick reference before your departure or during your flight. Download the Runway Safety Flash Cards now. » Visit the AOPA Air Safety Foundation in booths 739 & 741 at the AOPA Expo Next Week! New on AVweb back to top  The Savvy Aviator #49: Reliability-Centered Maintenance Q&A Mike Busch's recent columns about reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) have elicited some interesting questions from readers. Click here for the full story. NBAA 2007 Video Round-Up: Complete Video Reporting from the Atlanta Convention Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos If there's one thing we cay with certainty about the 2007 NBAA Convention and Trade Show, it's this: Business aviation is healthy and keeping (very) busy. If you don't believe us, check out these three exclusive videos we put together while gathering news reports for AVweb at the show. 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. AFSS Is Up to Speed. And Gaining Altitude. The new automated flight services system is here. Revolutionizing flight service operations. Reducing legacy sites. Bringing 15 upgraded sites and three hubs online. Retaining 1,200 specialists. Marrying local needs with national information sources. The result: ever-improving levels of performance. And a future of efficient, effective service that give general aviation pilots more flexibility than they've ever thought possible. To see for yourself, visit AFSS.com. » Visit Lockheed Martin in booth 203 at the AOPA Expo Next Week! Tell Us What You Think back to top  Question of the Week: Technology Made Microchips Smaller — Are Bizjets Next? This Week's Question | Previous Week's Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, we asked whether aviation experience should be such a big factor in becoming a NASA astronaut. Our question sparked a couple of e-mails about the NASA qualifications, but it also taught us that most AVweb readers think brains and ability rank higher than a pilot's license when it comes to landing every 7-year-old's dream job. For the actual breakdown of responses, click here. (You may be asked to register and answer, if you haven't already participated in this poll.) THIS WEEK'S QUESTION *** With NBAA's annual convention wrapping up, there's no denying that very light jets are the hottest segment of business aviation growth. With this in mind, many say it's only a matter of time before the big jet makers start offering scaled-back aircraft for the VLJ and mid-size markets. Is it inevitable that Airbus and Boeing will enter the small- and medium-sized business jet market? 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. Diamond DA40 A Fleet Favorite Airline Transport Professionals, Beijing PanAm, Empire Aviation, European-American Aviation, Middle Tennessee State University, Sabena Airline Training Academy, Utah Valley State College, and Utah State University have all selected the G1000-equipped Diamond DA40. For value, efficiency, and safety, the Diamond Aircraft DA40 is the fleet favorite. Go online for information on all Diamond Aircraft. » Visit Diamond Aircraft in booth 121 at the AOPA Expo Next Week! Your Favorite FBOs back to top  FBO of the Week: Hutt Aviation/Soar Minden (KMEV, Minden-Tahoe Airport, Minden, NV) Nominate an FBO | Rules | Tips | Questions | Winning FBOs AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Hutt Aviation & Soar Minden at Tahoe-Minden Airport (KMEV) in Minden, Nevada. The Civil Air Patrol's Brent Ludlow spent quite a few hours there during the last two weeks as part of the search for missing aviator Steve Fossett. Ludlow spoke highly of both FBO operators and the airport's Taildragger Restaurant: You all made us welcome and promptly responded to anything we needed. You helped all of us in the Civil Air Patrol to do our job, and I hope everyone flying through there stops to enjoy the hospitality that we have seen. Congratulations to the folks at Minden-Tahoe — and Brent, watch your e-mail. We'll be in touch about sending you an official AVweb ball cap. 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! Bennett Avionics: Used Avionics Guidance You Can Trust Used avionics is Bennett Avionics' only business! Bennett Avionics has served general aviation worldwide with reliable and quality used avionics for over 30 years. Bennett Avionics can help you meet your avionics needs, improve the capability of your aircraft, and maintain your budget. Call Bennett Avionics at (860) 653-7295, or go online for a complete list of available products. » Visit Bennett Avionics in booth 1246 at the AOPA Expo Next Week! Reader-Submitted Photos 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 *** With the 2007 NBAA Convention in full swing as we type this, we were a little worried that "Picture of the Week" submissions would drop off this week — but, much to our delight, they actually picked up while we've been at the show!  And since we're a bit crunched for time, let's dive right in. But first, a quick update on last week's "POTW":  Eagle-eyed AVweb reader Kevin Kearney points out that the "Aluminum Overcast" in last week's top photo was actually the Yankee Air Museum's B-17 Yankee Lady "participating in an event at TEB on 9/15 and 9/16."  Good call, Kevin — and thanks for the correction! medium | large Used with permission of Tolga Ercan Pylon Down! We start off with a Red Bull Air Racer doing the very thing we asking Michael Goulian about in this week's exclusive AVweb video — namely, hitting one of those hard-to-miss pylons at the air race — courtesy of Tolga Ercan from Santa Monica, California.       medium | large Used with permission of Matthew Walker Survival Training Matthew Walker of Tallahassee, Florida shot this week's close-runner-up "during multijurisdictional law enforcement aviation open-water survival training." Think about that for a second: The man almost won our weekly "POTW" contest while he was completing a grueling survival training course.   medium | large Used with permission of Barry Blumquist Half-Critical to Flying Safety?! Apologies to the U.S. Post Office, but how could we not run this image?  Barry Blumquist of Winston-Salem, North Carolina writes, "I sure am glad we have electronic notification means for ADs!"   medium | large Used with permission of Earl MacPherson Reflection After Flight Earl MacPherson of Pennsville, New Jersey serves up the one images we can't take our eyes off of this week ... .   medium | large Used with permission of Gerald Benson Oklahoma Sunset Our almost-obligatory sunset sign-off comes from Gerald Benson of Alva, Oklahoma this week and features pilot Kyle Franklin calling it a day after practicing routines for the Oklahoma Festival of Flight. Big thanks to everyone who made time to submit pictures this week.  There'll be more to see in the "POTW" slideshow on AVweb's home page late in the day Thursday. We'll see you back here next week.  In the meantime, please remember to submit your photos! — 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 or send us an e-mail. Attention, LSA Builders & ROTAX 912 Engine Operators ASA, 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 512, 514, & 516 at the AOPA Expo Next Week! Be Part of the AVweb Team back to top  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. 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. Avidyne's New MLB700 Broadcast Datalink Receiver Really Delivers! Avidyne's MLB700 Broadcast Datalink Receiver delivers aviation-quality datalink graphical weather from WSI InFlight® and audio entertainment from SIRIUS® Satellite Radio. With the MLB700, you get WSI's industry-leading NOWrad® radar mosaic displayed on your EX500 or EX5000 MFD for the most up-to-date and highest-quality aviation weather available and over 130 channels of music, sports, news, and talk radio right through your aircraft's audio system. Click for more information online. » Visit Avidyne in booths 838, 840, & 842 at the AOPA Expo Next Week! AVweb's Business Aviation Newsletter back to top  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/. Names Behind the News back to top  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 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.