|
October 6, 2007
By The AVweb Editorial Staff
|
|
Fly with Bose® Aviation Headset X™
Enjoy an unmatched combination of full-spectrum noise reduction, clearer audio, and comfortable fit. Voted the #1 headset for the sixth consecutive year in Professional Pilot's 2006 Headset
Preference Survey. Also rated "Best ANR Headset — The Aviation Consumer Product of the Year" by Aviation Consumer.
Purchase today and receive a complimentary pair of Bose in-ear headphones (a $99.95 value).
Learn more and
order. 
Quotes reprinted with permission. Aviation Consumer, August 2007.
» Visit Bose Corporation in booths 538 & 540 at the AOPA Expo
|
|
|
|
|
Right up front, we'll say we've heard the same complaints about Lockheed Martin's handling of the Flight Service Station contract as everyone else: Long wait times, dropped calls, lost flight plans
and briefers lacking local knowledge of the areas they cover. Lockheed Martin's Dan Courain, the company's VP of aviation services, says he has gotten a similar earful and at AOPA Expo on Thursday,
Courain told AVweb that LockMart is doing something about. Specifically, it has rewired the call waiting system to delay bumping of calls from their origination area to other parts of the system,
where briefers may be umfamiliar with local landmarks, airspace and conditions.
Further, says Courain, briefers are being given more generalized training on airspace issues such as TFRs and the Washington ADIZ, into which many pilots they brief may fly. What about call delays?
Courain acknowledges that the company had early problems with delays but has now reduced average answer times to under two minutes. If pilots have complaints, says Courain, they can call (888)
358-7782. For direct information on the Washington area ADIZ, call (866) 225-7410.
Related Content:
For more of Courain's comments, listen to our exclusive podcast
|
|
|
Legendary Aircraft, Revolutionary Engine
In a diesel-equipped Skyhawk, you'll burn 30% less fuel per hour. And because the power plant burns Jet A instead of pricier avgas, you'll save even more on direct operating costs. What's
more, this remarkable Thielert engine operates at 2,300 rpm (vs. 2,400 in a standard model), significantly reducing cabin noise levels.
Go online for more
information. 
» Visit Cessna Aircraft in booth 803 at the AOPA Expo
|
|
|
|
|
O.K., so we guessed wrong. When Mooney announced the new Type-S Acclaim last week, we guessed that some of its additional 5-knot speed gains over the Acclaim came from reducing the size of the cooling
inlets. No, says Mooney CEO Dennis Ferguson, the Acclaim's speed was inched up entirely through subtle drag reduction on the airframe itself. If Mooney's claims pan out in the real world, dumping that
much drag is no mean feat; our hats are off to the Kerrville team. Ferguson also hinted that the airplane has a slightly different prop, but he declined to provide any details.
Whatever the case, Mooney is claiming a top speed of a blistering 242 knots for the Acclaim Type-S and also a bag full of orders. No surprise there, since owners have typically proven more than
willing to pay a slight price premium for additional speed. The Type-S is priced at $599,000 and deliveries are expected to commence early in 2008. If you're on the show grounds at Expo, Mooney has
the Type-S prototype on display.
|
|
|
Inspiring Daydreams Daily, BoeingStore.com
The one-stop shop for the aviation enthusiast, BoeingStore.com has everything you're looking for: Apparel, travel gear, aviation posters, photographs, models, books, toys, novelties, and more.
Now just a click away, take your passion to a higher altitude at
BoeingStore.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
After the Expo — Places to Go, People to
See |
|
back to top |
 |
|
If aircraft owners and pilots come to AOPA Expo looking for ideas about how to have more fun with their airplanes, they have plenty of options. ParkWest Air Tours, based in Grand Junction, Colo., will train pilots in mountain flying and then take them and their families on a guided tour to some of the most spectacular
regions in the American West. Expert guides and experienced pilots will take care of all the planning, including rental aircraft, lodging, ground activities, and meals. Pilots and their passengers can
explore National Parks like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone, and spectacular regions like Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, and Mexico's Copper Canyon. Most tours are in groups of just five to seven
airplanes and last about 10 days.
Ground activities include horseback riding, river trips, star gazing, wildlife watching, and visits to beaches, volcanoes, and historic sites.
For pilots who want to explore the Caribbean region, loaded with beautiful beaches and resorts, AOPA Expo offers several options. The folks at Caribbean Flying Adventures help you plan your own flight via their web site. Features include pre-departure checklists, online access to required documents, step-by-step arrival
and departure procedures, and approach videos to each of the island airports. For those who prefer a full-service escorted tour, Air Journey
offers many options, from short hops to the Bahamas, to extended tours in Central America, featuring stops in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama City, and Guatemala.
Air Journey also offers escorted flying tours in the Canadian Maritimes, Alaska, and many other sites; or they will custom-design a flight and provide ground support and concierge services.
Australia's remote outback is best explored from the air, and with help from Air Safaris International, based in Toronto, U.S. pilots can get
the full Aussie experience. Guided self-fly tours last 11 to 21 days, with stops at Ayers Rock, tropical beaches, offshore islands, and the Great Barrier Reef. Custom tours also can be designed. In
southern Africa, Hanks Aero Adventures has been offering fly-yourself tours for 10 years. They can help you rent an airplane and get your
local certification to fly. Hanks also offers escorted tours or ground support for your solo adventure. African Aero Safaris offers similar services. For the ultimate flying adventure, Air Journey also offers tours across the North Atlantic and around South America, to Europe and the Galapagos, and will launch its first-ever
round-the-world flight in May 2008.
This 10-week fully escorted luxury tour will include stops in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
|
|
|
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. 
|
|
|
|
|
Access to one of aviation's most exclusive clubs just got easier. The United Flying Octogenarians (UFO) has voted to allow those holding
Sport Pilot certificates to join the more than 600 members of the group, which is restricted to those 80 years of age and older. "You have to be able to prove that you've flown solo since your 80th
birthday," Secretary-Treasurer Bart Bratko told AVweb. The club held a lunch and business meeting at AOPA Expo in Hartford and the Sport Pilot issue was on the agenda.
Prior to Friday's motion, maintenance of a current medical certificate was one of UFO's requirements but the Sport Pilot certificate only requires a valid driver's license. UFO's membership
requirements have been amended to require operation of an aircraft in compliance with FAA regulations and holding a Sport Pilot certificate satisfies that. While there's naturally a lot of history
within its ranks (Bratko served under Jimmy Stewart in the Second World War), most members are relatively active pilots. "I've flown to every state," Bratko bragged.
The latest aircraft cockpits use electronics for virtually all functions but when the flight is over, most pilots have to haul out the books. Greg Ratcliff and Doug Stewart created AircraftLogs.com three years ago to take aviation from the quill-and-inkwell era to the digital age. Stewart told a news conference at AOPA Expo
that the system they've developed not only takes some of the drudgery out of the mandatory record keeping associated with an airplane, it may enhance its value. "Often records don't receive the proper
care and it makes compliance difficult," he said. An aircraft with incomplete logs is worth substantially less and the owner risks enforcement action from the FAA.
As with any conversion from a paper-based system to electronics, there is a data conversion process and Stewart said that so far every log that has been transcribed into the system has been found
deficient in some way by the automatic compliance tracking functions. Stewart and Ratcliff had relatively modest goals for the system when they started but ideas to improve and automate it even
further have naturally flowed. They're now working on fully integrating the system into aircraft so the plane itself keeps the logs.
|
|
|
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. 
|
|
|
|
|
Aviation students at the University of North Dakota will have the chance to train in a Diamond D-Jet, thanks to the UND Aerospace Foundation. Their purchase of a jet was announced Friday at AOPA Expo
in Hartford, Conn. "Diamond Aircraft and UND have a long-standing relationship, and we are very excited that UND will now be using the D-Jet for their advanced training programs," said Diamond
Aircraft President Peter Maurer. UND official Bruce Smith said the D-Jet will provide a transition aircraft for students training to fly regional jets, and will be used in conjunction with the
school's CRJ 200 flight-training simulator. "We are excited to add the D-Jet to our training fleet," he said.
The five-seat, single-engine D-Jet is not yet certified. UND's School of Aerospace Sciences has more than 2,000 students.
|
|
|
Enter to Win a Cessna Cardinal — See It at the Expo!
Become a member of AOPA or renew your membership for only $39, and you're automatically entered for a chance to win a refurbished 1977 Cessna Cardinal! Stop by the Aircraft Display at the Expo
to inspect the Cardinal up close. Renew or join at the Expo, or
enter online
now. 
» See the Cardinal in person in the Aircraft Display at AOPA Expo Today!
|
|
|
|
|
Sportsplanes.com said they will introduce the Breezer II LSA this fall, featuring a bigger baggage compartment and heavy-duty toe
brakes to replace the handbrake lever on the current model. The Breezers are built in Germany ... .
Powerful Learning has released two new software products, the VFR Pilot Review System and The Private Pilot Study System. The
packages use a new design, the company says, that is easy to customize, and they come bundled with an aviation reference library ... .
L-3 Communications announced on Thursday that its SkyWatch collision-avoidance system will now feature Verbal Intruder Positioning.
Users will hear warnings such as "Traffic, traffic, 12 o'clock, three miles," in addition to the visual display. Current owners can add the function via a software upgrade ... .
The Wolf Aviation Fund is seeking grant proposals for projects such as education, public service, outreach, and research that
promote GA. Deadline is Nov. 15 ... .
WxWorx announced on Thursday the release of its next-generation plug-and-play data receiver for XM WX satellite weather. The portable unit
can be configured as wireless or connected ... .
AircraftLogs is adding fleet management service to its line of recordkeeping software for pilots. The company offers computer-based
records for flight time, aircraft maintenance, expenses, and more ... .
Airguide Publications has published a new Flight Guide Online, a searchable database with airport and other info for pilots that
can be accessed via the Web, a tablet PC, or PDA. The data is available by subscription for $89 per year for the entire U.S., or $35 per region.
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
File Size 16.2 MB / Running Time 8:50
Podcast Index
|
How to Listen
|
Subscribe Via RSS
Anyone who's gotten a telephone preflight briefing during the past year knows that Lockheed Martin has had its troubles in delivering this important service to pilots. At AOPA Expo this week, AVweb's Paul
Bertorelli asked Lockheed Martin Dan Courain what the company has done to improve its service. Here's his report.
Click here to listen. (16.2 MB, 8:50)
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
 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.
 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/.
|
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.
|
|
|
