July 1, 2009

By The AVweb Editorial Staff

Lightspeed Aviation Invites You to Celebrate Aviation ... at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2009 (July 27 - August 2, Oshkosh, WI). Come visit our tent outside Hanger B for demos, t-shirts, show specials, free refreshments, video presentations, and more. Click here to visit Lightspeed online. Top News: NBAA, AOPA Speak Out on Safety Regs back to top  GA Needs A Voice In Security Plans, Alphabets Say Both the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and AOPA said this week that current proposals now in play in Washington are good news for general aviation. One bill introduced in the House would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to create a rulemaking committee including GA industry stakeholders, which would have input into new security measures that affect the industry. "This legislation shows that Congress understands that we can accomplish more good if we work together rather than separately," said NBAA President Ed Bolen. The committee would address proposals such as the TSA's Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP), which has been widely opposed by GA operators and pilots. After receiving more than 7,000 comments on its proposed LASP rule, most of them in opposition, the TSA has said it will issue a new NPRM before issuing a final rule. AOPA also noted that a House funding bill that passed last week addresses several issues of interest to GA. The bill urges the TSA to work with GA stakeholders before issuing security mandates and provides $275,000 to train GA pilots regarding security measures. The House bill also includes funding for the Loran system, AOPA said, and directs the Coast Guard to provide a plan for upgrading the system to enhanced Loran, known as eLoran. The land-based navigation system is not used much anymore, but it could provide a backup in case of a GPS failure. Precisely Engineered for Fun: The Remos GX The Remos GX's legendary German engineering, quality and performance give you an affordable, proven airplane with competitive operating costs. The new full-carbon-fiber wing system combines low weight and high strength for an almost unlimited lifetime. The new slotted flaps allows steeper descent rates and safer short-field landings. Technically superior but uncomplicated and easy to fly, our best-in-class useful load handles all the equipment you need for a unique, fun flying experience for years to come. Click now for details (Remos.com) or call 1 (877) REMOS-88. Could All This Safety Be a Little Dangerous? back to top  Safety Rules Increasing Some Accidents: Study A 28-year study of helicopter sightseeing accidents in Hawaii suggests that rules enacted in 1994 to reduce accidents did reduce the overall number by 47 percent. However, the rules did nothing to address the main cause of accidents (mechanical failure) and may have inadvertently led to an increase in the deadliest type of accidents (weather-related CFIT). In fact, researchers with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Injury Research and Policy recommend the FAA rescind the section of the rule that sets minimum altitude for sightseeing operations at 1,500 feet AGL because it can force pilots to fly in clouds that they could easily and safely duck under. The Hawaii Helicopter Operators Association identified the potential risk and actually took the FAA to court to try and reverse the rule but lost, according to a report in Science Daily. Before the rules were enacted, only 5 percent of accidents were weather-related but in the 14 years since they've jumped to 32 percent of mishaps. Study co-author Dennis Shanahan told Science Daily that the 1994 rules dealt only with operations and should have included measures to address mechanical failures. "This is an oversight, as many of these problems could be prevented through better mechanic training, closer FAA oversight, and increased emphasis from management on proper and thorough maintenance procedures," he said. The most common mechanical fault is loss of power. The study looked at 59 accidents over 28 years and compared those that occurred before the rules were enacted against those that occurred after they were imposed. In those 28 years, 55 people died in helicopter sightseeing accidents. YES! Powered by AirFleet Aircraft financing available? Yes! Flexible financing programs for new and used aircraft are still readily available, and AirFleet Capital can fix today's low rate for up to 20 years. In this buyer's market with big tax incentives and historically low interest rates, now is a great time to buy and finance the aircraft you've been waiting for! Please call (800) 390-4324 or request a quote online at AirFleetCapital.com. Court Report back to top  Parts Fraud Case Revealed Jerry Comeaux, 69, the proprietor of Quality Aircraft Support in Greenville, S.C., pleaded no contest to fraudulently repairing aircraft parts without FAA credentials and is being forced to pay $403,000 to customers who paid more than $2.5 million for them. Before Comeaux copped the plea, prosecutors told a U.S. District Court in Greenville that some of the parts weren't airworthy. Other charges against Comeaux and his wife Vicky, which included money laundering, wire fraud and mail fraud, were dropped in exchange for the no-contest plea. Customers included firms that repaired commercial and military aircraft and centered on Comeaux's lack of credentials to certify the airworthiness of the repaired parts. Comeaux surrendered his air agency certificate number in 1996 but was repairing parts until authorities came in with a search warrant in late 2008. They found that he drew up his own forms that were similar to the FAA forms used to accompany parts to verify their airworthiness. His own forms omitted reference to the FAA but were "substantially similar" to the correct forms. That means everything that went out of the shop was an unapproved part in the eyes of the FAA. The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread: The $299 McMurdo FastFind! AeroMedix is pleased to present our latest find — the new McMurdo FastFind. Quickly revolutionizing the market and saving lives, this PLB is the size of most cell phones and fits easily into any pocket. Best of all — it's only $299! Visit AeroMedix.com and save today! "Now there is no excuse to fly without the security and peace of mind a PLB provides you and your family!" — Dr. Brent Blue. Greener Skies back to top  Alternative Fuels Move Closer, As Aviation Escapes Emissions Control The FAA said last week it has reached a "major milestone" in its efforts to help the aviation industry develop sustainable alternative fuels, and this week, the U.S. House exempted aircraft from a major bill that will impose greenhouse-gas emissions standards. The House bill, which was passed last Friday, still must be approved in the Senate and signed by the president before it becomes law. The Senate, however, is not expected to push for limits on aviation emissions, according to Helicopter Association International. Meanwhile, the FAA said an international panel of experts is working to create new guidelines that will allow for the approval of alternative commercial jet fuels. A number of new alternative fuels could be approved within the next few years, according to FAA's Nancy LoBueand, acting assistant administrator for the environment. She said the approval of new fuels will help lower aviation's carbon footprint. New guidelines have been worked out by a subcommittee of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International that set out criteria for ensuring the quality of alternative fuels for use in aviation, the FAA said. Once approved by the full ASTM committee later this year, operators will be allowed to use synthetic fuels in combination with conventional jet fuel up to a 50 percent blend. The FAA said it will oversee the process to ensure that any new fuel specification meets or exceeds current standards for safety and performance. Become a Mooniac Now There has never been a better time to own the fastest single-engine piston plane available. Mooney Airplane Company is offering generous incentives, low interest rates, the best warranty in the industry, and immediate delivery from current inventory. In addition, you may qualify for significant tax advantages with 50% bonus depreciation this year. Click here for the top 10 reasons to buy a Mooney now. News Briefs back to top  Teen Survives Yemenia Crash Officials searching for an Yemenia Airways A310 that crashed near the archipelago of Comoros early Tuesday have found a 14-year-old girl who survived the accident. She was swimming amidst debris and bodies and is believed to be the only survivor. She is reported to be conscious and stable in hospital. The aircraft was carrying 142 passengers and 11 crew and reportedly went down after an aborted landing attempt at Moroni Airport. Two French military aircraft and a ship departed the Indian Ocean islands of Mayotte and Reunion early Tuesday to assist in search and recovery. Weather in the area at the time of the crash was stormy, with high seas. The aircraft was enroute from Sana'a in Yemen to the Comoros Islands, off the coast of Tanzania. Comoros is about halfway between Madagascar and Africa. Rediscover Jet City! Make King County International Airport/Boeing Field your flight destination! Conveniently located just 5 miles from downtown Seattle, KBFI is positioned in the center of the growing economy of the Puget Sound region, serving as a hub for business travel, private jets, and general aviation travel. Partner with aviation experts when you fly to Seattle. Make your destination King County International Airport/Boeing Field! For more information, visit online. Who's Where back to top  Becker Joins First Aviation Millie Becker Millie Becker is the new vice president for business development at First Aviation Services at Teterboro Airport. She was formerly a marketing executive at Landmark Aviation. Payne at Wilson Aircraft Mike Payne Mike Payne has joined Wilson Aircraft of Aurora, Ontario as vice president of aircraft sales. Payne has 30 years of experience in aircraft sales in Canada and was most recently the Canadian rep for Embraer Executive Aircraft. Who's Where? You Tell Us Get a promotion or a new job? Your colleagues want to know about it, and AVwebBiz can get the word out. Drop us a line about the staff appointment, with a nice recent photo, and we'll do our best to include it in our new section, "Who's Where." The items will be permanently archived on AVweb for future reference, too. Aircraft Ownership and Partnership Is the cost of flying keeping you on the ground? Explore your options with these money-saving books. Each offers expert guidance on prices, real-world operating expenses, cutting the costs of ownership, and renting vs. owning vs. partnerships vs. leasebacks — including pitfalls to avoid, paperwork, sample agreements, tax tips, financing and insurance, and updated owner maintenance procedures. Check out these and other books at AVwebBooks.com. New on AVweb back to top  Columns | Features | What's New | Calendar | Brainteasers AVweb Insider Blog: Air Shows and the $6 Hot Dog As every business struggles in the current economy — especially aviation businesses — it can no longer be business as usual at the big air shows. In the latest installmment of our AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli argues that the place to start is giving show goers a little break on the price of lunch at these shows. A little consideration could go a long way. Read more. Peter Drucker Says, "The Best Way to Predict the Future Is to Create It" It's easy for your company to be more proactive, flexible, and entrepreneurial with AVweb's cost-effective marketing programs. Discover the benefits of instant response, quick copy changes, monthly tracking reports, and interactive programs. To find out how simple it is to reach 255,000 qualified pilots, owners, and decision-makers weekly, click now for details. AVweb Media: Look, Listen, Laugh and Learn back to top  Exclusive Video: Yuneec E430 Electric Airplane Makes Its First Flight Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos The Yuneec E430, a 54hp two-seat Chinese electric airplane, gets put through its paces and undergoes its first flight in this video from Glenn Pew. 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. Video Marketplace Spotlight Bose® Aviation Headset X®: Intelligent Power Handling Intelligent Power Handling: See how AdaptiSense® headset circuitry helps preserve battery life. Click here to watch the video (and discover other great products) at AVweb's Video Marketplace. You Pay More for the Unbiased Truth — To Ultimately Save More Yes, Aviation Consumer costs more than other aviation magazines. Aviation Consumer is supported by you, the subscribing consumer, not by advertising. So the editors can be completely truthful to help you make the right decision on products and services. Order online and receive unlimited use of Aviation Consumer's ratings-packed web information database! The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is You! back to top  AVweb's Newstips Address ... Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something 200,000 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. Names Behind the News back to top  Meet the AVwebBiz Team AVwebBiz is a weekly summary of the latest business aviation news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the internet's aviation magazine and news service. The AVwebBiz 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 Webmaster Scott Simmons Contributors Jeff van West 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 AVwebBiz. For complete instructions on making the switch, click here. Aviate. Navigate. Communicate.