October 11, 2007

By The AVweb Editorial Staff

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The Times also identifies seven of nine members of the Snohomish Skydive Club, all but one in their 20s, as Andy Smith, 20; Casey Craig, 30; Hollie Rasberry, 24; Michelle Barker, 22; Landon Atkin, 20; Cecil Elsner, 20; and Jeff Ross, 28, all of Washington State. Bill Kibler said his brother Phil, the pilot, was an accomplished microbiologist who changed careers to become a full-time pilot. "But we also knew his desire to fly was a life-affirming event," said Bill Kibler. "Flying was Phil's thing." Kibler was described as a safety-conscious pilot. This was to be his last trip of the skydiving season before he returned home to New York. 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. Aviation Safety back to top  Cessna To Offer BRS Parachutes In Skycatcher, All Piston Singles The folks at Ballistic Recovery Systems have been hinting since this summer, when Cessna introduced its Skycatcher Light Sport Aircraft at EAA AirVenture, that the new airplane would be equipped with a BRS parachute. This week, Cessna finally made it official. The BRS system will be offered as a factory-installed option not only for the Skycatcher, but for all of Cessna's piston singles. "We've been working with Cessna since the beginning on their remarkable new design and we are pleased that they see the value in having leading-edge safety features like the BRS system on board," said BRS CEO Larry Williams. The Skycatcher parachute will sit aft of the seats, similar to the current installations available for the Cessna Skyhawk and Skylane models. Under the new agreement, Cessna service stations across the world will begin offering BRS whole-airframe parachute system installations and service for the 172 Skyhawk and 182 Skylane later this year. BRS will begin immediately developing an STC for the parachutes to be installed in the C-206. 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. Health Concerns back to top  Mold and Fungus Found in Atlanta Center At Atlanta's Air Route Traffic Control Center, the busiest air traffic control facility in the country, officials have confirmed that various kinds of fungus and mold have been found growing in the building. About half of the 300 staffers have complained of headaches and recurring sinus infections. A fungus called Scopulariopsis has been found in the control room, under the floor, and in ductwork, and spores are being dispersed through the air. "The FAA is trying to minimize the damages and rush a cleanup," said Calvin Phillips, the facility's representative to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. "We are deeply troubled to learn that we are basically surrounded by this highly toxic fungus. For several years, we have been complaining of health issues and have long suspected that our sick building was to blame." A contractor that had been cleaning air ducts at the center told all of its workers to leave the building. "We were never given any warning that the possibility of mold and fungus could be present," said Richard Denney, of Peachtree Mechanical Inc. "We have not been notified of the ongoing issues at the FAA by anyone." FAA officials told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that they have taken steps to control the fungus and are now working on a long-term clean-up plan. "We would not put our employees' health at risk," regional FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen told the newspaper. "It is an issue, but we think we've resolved it from an interim standpoint." Organic-Food Advocates Consider Ban on Air Freight A British group that certifies most of the organic produce that is sold in the U.K. may change its rules to deny an "organic" label to food that is flown into the country via air freight, FoodProductionDaily.com reported on Wednesday. The measure is meant to reduce carbon emissions. However, a recent report from the International Trade Centre says if the ban were imposed, it would harm poor farmers in Africa, who produce most of the exports. The demand for organic fruits and vegetables has been an economic boon to more than 20,000 farmers in Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia and Morocco. The ITC report points out that the proposed ban is meant to encourage local production of food to avert carbon emissions during transport, but African farmers, who would be most harmed by the change, use hardly any fossil fuels. A decision whether or not to recommend the ban on air freight is expected next week. Aircraft Spruce Is a Proud Sponsor of the Great Georgia Air Show Come join Aircraft Spruce & Specialty on October 13th & 14th 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, 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. For more information, call 1-877-4-SPRUCE or visit Aircraft Spruce online. Old-School Aircraft, High-Tech Airspace back to top  Antique Aircraft Intercepted In TFR The FAA says 12 aircraft on their way to an antique aircraft fly-in in Hagerstown, Md., violated a temporary flight restriction (TFR) and at least four were escorted out by F-16s. FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown told The Washington Post the lack of radios on some of the aircraft led to the interceptions. The Post said those attending the fly-in witnessed an F-16 circling a single-engine plane. The TFR was put in place in its final form on Friday to make way for President Bush's attendance at a memorial service nearby. Brown said it's up to pilots to ensure they know where they can fly. Brown said pilots checking NOTAMs would have known the TFR was there and been able to avoid it. It appears many pilots did check the NOTAMs and decided to avoid the TFR by avoiding the fly-in. Organizers said only 20 aircraft showed up, compared to the 100 or so they were expecting. 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. Next-Gen Repair Tech for Composites back to top  New Technology Could Detect And Fix Cracks In Composites A simple new technique could help to identify and repair small, potentially dangerous cracks in high-performance aircraft wings made of composite materials, researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in Troy, N.Y., have reported. The scientists added a small amount of carbon nanotubes to the mix when forming composite materials from epoxy resin and carbon fiber. The tubes can electronically detect even the tiniest cracks and then release materials that will repair the problem, with a 70-percent recovery in strength. The process would improve the life span, integrity and safety of composites, the researchers said. "What's novel about this application is that we're using carbon nanotubes not just to detect the crack, but also to heal the crack," said principal scientist Nikhil Koratkar. "We use the nanotubes to create localized heat, which melts the healing agent, and that's what cures the crack." Koratkar said he envisions the new system for detecting cracks to eventually be integrated into the built-in computer system of a fighter jet or other composite aircraft. He also said there is some evidence that the nanotube structures help to prevent cracks in the first place. He plans further studies. Philip Irving, an expert in damage tolerance at Cranfield University in the U.K., told New Scientist that heating could weaken a composite. "The top surface of a wing may buckle," he warned. 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. Airborne Annoyances back to top  Giant Ads Aimed At Passengers Aloft If part of what you enjoy about flying is the view out the window, prepare for that small pleasure to be infringed upon by the marketing mavens. A company called Ad-Air, based in London, is creating what it calls the "first global aerial advertising network," selling five-acre inflatable ads that lie across the landscape like giant billboards, strategically placed beneath flight paths into major airports. "What an incredible marketing opportunity - all these passengers with nothing else to do, staring down at the ground below," Paul Jenkins, managing director of Ad-Air, told the International Herald-Tribune. Ad-Air said it has official okays to set up the ads near more than a dozen major airports in the U.K., France, Asia, and several in the U.S., including Atlanta, Denver, and Los Angeles International. Ad-Air has spent about $10 million to buy or lease sites below flight paths. The first site is to be unveiled later this month in Dubai. Europe's Airline Pax Protest Cellphones Aloft Forget security and safety-of-flight concerns -- airline passengers in the U.K. are worried about their sanity if cellphones are allowed in the cabin in flight. "It would drive me absolutely mad if the person next to me was using his phone," Gwyneth Dunwoody told the London Telegraph. The newspaper has been spearheading a campaign to keep cellphones out of airline cabins. So far, over 3,000 people have signed an online petition to protest the proposal. In the U.S., the FAA has dropped any plans to consider allowing cellphone use aloft. But the European Aviation Safety Agency has given the OK to new in-flight mobile technology that allows devices to operate with less power and avoid possible interference. Britain's Civil Aviation Authority has identified up to 20 incidents of aircraft malfunction linked to the use of mobile phones, according to the Telegraph. Airlines planning to allow mobile use include Ryanair, Tap Air Portugal and Air France, as well as Emirates, AirAsia and Kingfisher (India) airlines. Related Content: Reader Poll: Should Cell Phone Use Be Allowed on Airliners? In-Flight Emergency Maneuvers: Are You Prepared? Pilots learn to recognize, avoid, and recover from any upset scenario. Courses directly address Loss of Control In-Flight, one of the leading causes of aviation accidents worldwide. All instruction provided by expert military instructor pilots in a friendly, success-oriented environment. Courses ideally suited to any General Aviation pilot concerned with improving safety of flight. Call (866) 359-4273 or get Upset Recovery Training information online. Help Us Make the News back to top  AVweb Video Makes Top 10 List — You Can Vote! Those of us who love to fly might be fascinated by a video of air show pilot Mike Goulian explaining what it takes to fly a Red Bull air race -- but it turns out that the wide-open masses of people enjoy it, too. The interview, shot by AVweb videographer Glenn Pew in San Diego a few weeks ago, has risen to No. 3 in the WeShow sports-video rankings. Visitors to the site vote for their favorite video-casts from thousands of choices all over the Internet, and to reach No. 3, Goulian had to compete with the likes of the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Knicks, the Tour de France doping scandal, and a spectacular race-car crash. You can help move Goulian even higher in the rankings, by visiting the site and voting for your favorite. If AVweb's video reaches No. 1, we have nothing to gain -- just the satisfaction of knowing that more people are learning why we find aviation so interesting! 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. 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. New on AVweb back to top  Across the Pond #9: Crises and Promises in Europe AVweb's Liz Moscrop has the latest aero news from Europe including challenges for U.K. PPL pilots, microlights and more. Click here for the full story. AOPA Expo 2007 Podcast Round-Up: Complete Audio Coverage from Hartford, CT Last week, we managed to record a bumper crop of podcasts with the aviation industry's leading figures — covering topics that ranged from inside the cockpit (synthetic vision) to new airplanes (from Diamond and Cessna) to Lockheed Martin's embattled perspective on the newly-privatized AFSS system. In case you missed any, here's a complete recap of our exclusive audio coverge from the show: Piper CEO Jim Bass introduces the Piper Matrix, a non-pressurized variant of the company's popular Mirage. Heike Larson from Diamond Aircraft rolls out the welcome mat again — this time for two new builds based on the venerable DA40, the high-end XLS and the introductory CS. Dan Courain of Lockheed Martin answers criticisms of the newly-privatized AFSS system (and there are many) and shares a few of LockMart's strategies for stabilizing and growing the new system. University of North Dakota flight operations director Don Dubuque tells us what they're going to do with the brand-new Diamond D-Jet acquired by their training department. (It didn't involve flying us home from the show.) Tecnam's Lynne Birmingham says the LSA manufacturer is ready to move into making Part 23-certified aircraft, including a retractable-gear trainer and a new light twin. VistaNav's Jeff Simon knows there are a lot of synthetic vision products on the market competing for your cockpit spending; in this interview, he shares a few of the reasons why VistaNav continues to be an industry leader in a tight market. Question of the Week: Cell Phones on Airliners This Week's Question | Previous Week's Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** ADS-B is on the way, and the FAA wants you to upgrade your avionics to an ADS-B-compatible package by 2020.  That's a long way off, but it's still going to cost money.  Last week, we asked AVweb readers how much they'd be willing to spend to equip their airplanes for ADS-B. The plurality of responses fell into the $1,000 range (accounting for 47% of those who answered), while only 9% fell at the extremes of the sky's the limit and the government should pay me to install it. 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 *** We've probably asked this before, but it's come up again, and we're wondering if you've changed your mind on it: This time, there's actually a petition against allowing cell phone use on airliners.  What do you think?  Should their use be allowed on commercial flight? 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. 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! Your Favorite FBOs back to top  FBO of the Week: Zenith Flight Support (KRAL, Riverside, CA) Nominate an FBO | Rules | Tips | Questions | Winning FBOs AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Zenith Flight Support at KRAL in Riverside, California. AVweb reader Bob Spidell quot;didn't know a thing about local FBOs ... [and] picked one out of Pilot's Guide," but he was surprised at how well he'd picked when he arrived at Riverside: [T]he young lady who took my reservation had my rental car parked out front, running, with the air conditioner on as it was a hot day. ... Friendly staff, efficient and well-run outfit--a credit to the business. 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! Mike Busch Is Coming to a Town Near You! If you live near or in one of these states — California, New Mexico, or Oklahoma — Mike Busch will be offering his acclaimed Savvy Owner Seminar. In one information-packed weekend, you will learn how to have a safer, more reliable aircraft while saving thousands of dollars on maintenance costs, year after year. For complete details (and to reserve your space), click here. 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 *** We're dancing a jig at "POTW" HQ this week, as reader submissions have topped well over 100 for the third week in a row.  But, since we've got a lot of ground to cover, it has a to be a fast jig! medium | large copyright © Lee Hogan Used with permission Flying and Football Lee Hogan of Addison, Wisconsin scores the winning field goal by combining two great tastes that go great together — at least during autumn in the U.S.  Lee tells us this was part of a 3-plane fly-over of T-34s from Lima Lima during the halftime show at Marmion Academy's homecoming game.  Now that's what we call a show! Lee, watch your mailbox for a well-earned AVweb cap — winging its way to you in the next couple of days!     medium | large copyright © Don Thun Used with permission GML Sunblocker Speaking of fun, air demonstrations, and professional aerobatics, here's the Aeroshell Team doing their "blowing stuff up" magic at the recent Gathering of Mustangs and Legends in Columbus, Ohio. Don Thun of Topeka, Kansas was on hand to capture the magic.  (As were some of us, Don — and the rest wish we could've gone!)     medium | large Used with permission of Andrew Edgerton Two of a Kind Andrew Edgerton (of Arlington, Virginia) thought it might be fun to photograph two tenants of Maryland's Gortner Airport hangars together.  The li'l fella is an RC model that regularly flies the strip, and his brother is a 1946 Piper Cub belonging to Andrew's father than "looks like it just rolled off the assembly line in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania ... and flies even better."   medium | large Used with permission of Bernie Reed All Iced Up and Nowhere to Go! No airplane too large or too small, too next-gen or too low-tech, to be affected by icy conditions.  Bernie Reed of Holdredge, Nebraska took this photo during a weeklong power outage caused by the ice. (A whole week without AVweb access, Bernie?  Yikes!)   medium | large Used with permission of Norm Frakes Starting Young Norm Frakes of Mazomanie, Wisconsin (already on the list of places we should learn how to officially pronounce before we embarrass ourselves publicly one day) writes, "My son started flying with me at five years old; now his son is beginning at 16 months — and already seems to love flying." 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. Aviation Consumer — The Only Magazine with the Guts to Tell You the Truth about the gear you buy and the planes you fly. Aviation Consumer is packed with in-depth and uncompromising ratings of equipment, avionics, accessories, mods, services, aircraft, and much more. Order online and receive unlimited access to Aviation Consumer's ratings-packed web information database! More AVweb for Your Inbox 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/. Featured AVweb Classified Ad: Protection for Your Aircraft Aircraft corrosion treatments at your aircraft's U.S. location. Being proactive is the best way to protect your investment. For contact information regarding this ad, to view more ads, and to post your no-cost ad, click here. 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.