October 21, 2009

By The AVweb Editorial Staff

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During the opening general session of the National Business Aviation Association convention on Tuesday, NBAA President Ed Bolen and General Aviation Manufacturers Association President Pete Bunce gave an assessment of the battles fought in the past nine months and changing conditions that they hope will stem the damage and start healing the industry. Among the new tools that business aviation operators can tap is the Business Aircraft E-Valuation Toolkit, which is a system designed to prove the value of business aviation across the broad spectrum of companies that use it. As for the generally miserable year since the last NBAA convention, the two leaders contend they've gained some traction in public opinion and have been able to dampen the rhetoric from Washington that they say painted an inaccurate picture of business aviation. They showed some clips of media interviews done by themselves and by other industry leaders and sympathetic politicians trying to set the record straight. And they encouraged members to be available to local media to get the correct message out. There's Much Happening in Lightspeed Aviation's NBAA Booth This Week First, we're drawing each day for a no-cost Zulu or Mach 1 headset — your choice! And if your company or flight department has five or more pilots, we're also offering your organization a trial Zulu. Finally, if you're flying with any other premium headset, be sure to ask about our corporate pilot trade-in program. It's a great way to move up to a Zulu. Look for Booth #3818. Finding the Right Voices to Speak Up back to top  NBAA Tees Up Support From Arnold Palmer Golf legend Arnold Palmer has lent his support to the public relations campaign being waged by the National Business Aviation Association and General Aviation Manufacturers Association to try to change the perception of business aviation. Palmer stars in three television/online commercials in which he discusses the function, value and myths about business aviation. "For 50 years, the single most productive thing I've done is business aviation," Palmer says in one of the spots. He told the opening general session of the NBAA convention in Orlando on Tuesday that business aviation provided the competitive edge in golf and business that was largely responsible for his success in both. Palmer has owned 12 business aircraft over the past 50 years and currently flies a Citation X. He said he learned to fly because he was afraid of flying but quickly discovered the value of business aviation. Business Aviation Will Help Companies Not Only Survive But Prosper During the Current Financial Crisis To be your most productive, and your most efficient, you must keep flying. Because in so doing, you will emerge from these times even stronger than before. And you will replace the uncertainty that surrounds many, with the confidence and courage to light the way for all. Visit CessnaRise.com. User Fees Out of Sight, But Not Out of Mind back to top  User Fee Debate Simmers While the difficult economic and perception problems plaguing the business aviation industry have center stage at the National Business Aviation Association convention this week in Orlando, background work on the reauthorization of the FAA continues, and NBAA President Ed Bolen told today's opening session that there is strong opposition to the administration's apparent preference for user fees to fund the agency. Bolen noted the House and the Senate now both have general aviation caucuses opposed to the notion of user fees. Bolen noted FAA bills passed by the House and under consideration by the Senate don't mention user fees and that fees have been rejected in previous bills. As he was discussing the issue with members, there were some developments on Capitol Hill, according to AOPA. In a news release on Tuesday, AOPA said 118 members of Congress signed a letter (PDF) urging President Barack Obama to abandon user fees in favor of keeping the current system of fuel taxes. "[T]he House has opposed this approach in legislation to reauthorize the FAA in both the 110th and 111th Congresses," the letter reads. "Therefore, proposing user fees to finance the FAA would be a non-starter in the House." The letter also says pressing for user fees would become a distraction as the FAA tries to get the Next Generation Airspace System going. Precisely Engineered for Your Flying Experience: The Remos GX The Remos GX is changing aviation. The culmination of legendary German engineering, best-in-class performance, and industry-leading safety features, the Remos GX combines the best of tomorrow's aerospace technology with the simplicity of your love of flying. Innovative design and technically superior, yet uncomplicated and easy to fly, the Remos GX handles all the equipment you and your companion will need in an affordable, flexible, and fun flying experience. Click now for details (Remos.com) or call 1 (877) REMOS-88. Heavy Hitters Brace for Recession Aftershocks back to top  Tough Times Create Future Problems Although there have been hopeful signs in the past year that the downward slide of business aviation is slowing, if not stopped, the consensus of industry leaders at this year's National Business Aviation Association convention is that recovery will be slow and painful. "We expect 2010 to be a tough year," said Hawker Beechcraft CEO Bill Boisture. Cessna CEO Jack Pelton agreed, noting that recovery to the heady levels of 2007 and early 2008 could be years away. Meantime, both CEOs say they've done their best to put their companies in shape to weather the storm and emerge as strong companies. However, in doing so, they have most likely created some serious future problems. The effect of those measures could have some long-term effects. Cessna has laid off half its workforce, and that, in addition to the undeniable heartache it's caused those directly involved, ironically, will likely create a labor shortage as the market recovers. It's reasonable to expect that many of those thrown out of work, most of them highly skilled, will find other ways to make a living and won't come back to aviation. The cutbacks have also rippled to suppliers, some of whom might not survive the reduction in business. That could result in serious supply chain issues as the demand for aircraft returns. Cutter Aviation Wants to See YOU at NBAA 2009 This Week! Visit Cutter Aviation at the NBAA 2009 Convention in Orlando this week and "turn yourself in" for a reward! Stop by our booths at ConocoPhillips Booth #2613 or AvFuel Booth #2100 and learn more about the wide range of services Cutter Aviation provides and get a Cutter Reward card redeemable for 20,000 WingPoints or 2,500 AvTrip Points on your next visit — no purchase necessary! Not attending NBAA? Visit our site and sign up to have one mailed to you! Visit CutterAviation.com for details. News Briefs back to top  Sean Tucker Scheduled For Oprah Thursday Click for a video of Tucker from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008 Those of you who don't regularly tune into the Oprah Winfrey show in the middle of your work day might want to set the DVR for whatever time it is she's on Thursday. AVweb has learned that aerobatic master Sean D. Tucker is appearing on a show Winfrey has dedicated to the "best" of various aspects of society. Tucker has some competition for airtime, though. One of the items she's featuring is a pair of jeans she says fits her well. ... Big South Fork Airpark is located 50 miles north of Knoxville, Tennessee, and boasts an asphalt runway 5,500 feet in length, with four instrument approaches. The airpark grounds, totaling 450 acres, offer 1-to-3+ acre home sites starting at $89,000. Personal hangars are also available and start at $95,000. Each home has convenient runway access and is in the immediate vicinity of the 125,000-acre Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. For more information, visit BSFAirpark.com. Tell Your Friends: Read AVweb, Win a Handheld MFD back to top  It's the Final AV8OR Prize This Year ... And Your Chance to Win! Bendix/King by Honeywell is helping us give away one last AV8OR handheld MFD unit this year! All you have to do is click the image at right to enter your name and e-mail address. And no, we're not going to rent or sell your name, but Bendix/King by Honeywell may send you information on the AV8OR. You may also forward this newsletter to friends and invite them to sign up for AVweb so they can qualify for the AV8OR prize drawing, too. (We won't spam them, either, but we hope they will sign up for our AVwebFlash and AVwebBiz newsletters.) Deadline for entries is midnight EST on Wednesday, November 4, 2009. Click here to read the contest rules and enter. (There's nothing to buy. All you need to do is be registered with AVweb.) Get Flying with Affordable Monthly Payments With today's low rates and terms to 20 years, flying the aircraft of your dreams is made easy with AirFleet Capital. From new and used light-sport to light jet with private and commercial-use terms, we have financing programs to fit your needs. Call (800) 390-4324 to speak with a financing specialist, or request a quote online at AirFleetCapital.com. AVweb Media: Look, Listen, Laugh and Learn back to top  NBAA 2009 Video Series: Broadband Options for Biz Aircraft Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos To be truly useful, a business airplane needs to have ready and reliable access to broadband internet. As explained in this video, there are a number of sources to pick from. This video is brought to you by WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather. 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. NBAA 2009 Video Series: Hawker Beechcraft's Turboprop Attack Aircraft Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos Would any air force actually buy a turboprop attack aircraft in an age of jets? Hawker Beechcraft thinks so and is pitching the T-6 trainer as a candidate. This video is brought to you by Lightspeed Aviation. 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. Jeppesen Pilot Training Smart pilots never truly fly solo. For 75 years, pilots have taken their aviation partner along for the journey — Jeppesen. Pilots (and future pilots) look to us for the tools and training they need to fly safely and effectively. Throughout your career flight path, you can count on Jeppesen. Choose the learning tools best for you with our integrated system. Learn more at Jeppesen.com/pilottraining. AVweb Audio —? Are You Listening? back to top  NBAA 2009 Podcast Series: Software Proves Your Plane Pays Its Way File Size 6.7 MB / Running Time 7:20 Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS Guardian Jet has come up with a software package that puts the value of your business aircraft in neat columns and rows. CEO Mike Dwyer talks with AVweb's Russ Niles. This podcast is brought to you by WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather. Click here to listen. (6.7 MB, 7:20) NBAA 2009 Podcast Series: Call the White House, Protect GA File Size 3.2 MB / Running Time 3:26 Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS Union Leader Tom Buffenbarger has an idea to convince President Obama to visit Wichita: Call his Chief of Staff at (202) 456-1414. This podcast is brought to you by Lightspeed Aviation. Click here to listen. (3.2 MB, 3:26) Ho, Ho Holiday Gift Guide Offer It's time to promote your gift items and stocking stuffers to AVweb's 255,000 readers worldwide. Display your items starting now for one low price to generate instant orders until 12/31. We'll promote the Holiday Marketplace in every newsletter. Click here to visit the Gift Guide and have your product featured on AVweb. Opinion & Commentary 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 Webmaster Scott Simmons Contributors Jeff van West Mariano Rosales 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. 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.