|
February 9, 2011
By The AVweb Editorial Staff
|
|
Introducing: Our Best Pilot Headset Ever
NEW Bose A20™ Aviation Headset
Bose was the first to introduce active noise reducing headsets to aviation more than 20 years ago, forever changing the way pilots fly. Now the Bose A20™ Aviation Headset sets an entirely new
standard, providing significantly greater noise reduction than currently available. It also features an improved level of comfort, clear audio, Bluetooth ®
connectivity, auxiliary audio input and priority switching.
Learn more.
|
|
|
|
|
The Senate finance committee approved a plan to hike the taxes on general aviation jet fuel by 65 percent, from 21.8 cents per gallon to 35.9 cents, The Hill reported on Tuesday. The
change would raise $400 million per year, which the committee says will help fund NextGen, the FAA's plan to modernize the air traffic control system. The committee also approved a surcharge of 14.1
cents per gallon on jet fuel used by fractional aircraft. Fuel taxes have been supported as a better option than user fees by most aviation advocacy groups. "In the last two Congresses, AOPA and its
members agreed to 25 percent and 65 percent increases on aviation gasoline and non-commercial jet fuel, respectively," AOPA noted on Tuesday. "Our position really has not changed," AOPA spokesman
Chris Dancy told AVweb. "In 2007 and again in 2009, we and our members agreed to higher fuel excise taxes as a way to fund the FAA and NextGen in lieu of user fees."
NBAA agreed that the committee's plan is acceptable. "The business aviation community has long said that the best way for companies that rely on general aviation to help fund aviation system
modernization is by building upon the proven and efficient general aviation fuel tax," NBAA said in an e-mail to AVweb. "The bill approved by the Finance Committee today mirrors previous
Congressional FAA reauthorization proposals supported by NBAA and the rest of the general aviation community, in that it makes adjustments to the fuel tax in lieu of new user fees for general
aviation. The revenues raised through the fuel-tax increase will go to funding aviation system modernization; we welcome this legislation, and look forward to working with its supporters in Congress
to ensure its final passage." The full Senate is expected to continue its work on the FAA bill over the next week or so. The House Aviation Subcommittee also is holding hearings this week to hear from government officials and advocacy groups about FAA funding. After both the House and Senate have
completed their bills, a final bill will be worked out. The current funding bill has been extended 17 times, and may have to be extended at least once more before a final bill is worked out, with a
term of two to four years.
|
|
|
There's Nothing Light About This Jet
Meet the latest and greatest member of the world's most successful family of light jets, the Citation CJ4. It delivers more speed and greater range while retaining the pilot-friendly
— and single-pilot-certified — operations of the CJ family. The CJ4's cabin is larger, more comfortable, and outfitted with new entertainment and communication systems. All this equals an
aircraft that is flexible enough to meet the requirements of many mid-sized aircraft at light jet costs, plus the service reputation of Cessna to back up your decision. It's what every light jet
aspires to be.
Visit
Cessna.com.
|
|
|
|
|
NBAA has sent a letter to members warning that their ability to keep the movements of their
aircraft from being tracked and reported by any of a myriad of Internet-based aircraft trackers could be gone by Feb. 15. According to NBAA, the Department of Transportation is considering a rule
change that would make it much harder for GA aircraft owners to take part in the Blocked Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program. BARR was introduced in 2000 as a way for private aircraft owners
to stay that way and keep business competitors or others from knowing where the company aircraft (which most likely is carrying senior executives) is flying. "NBAA has long understood that in the
instant-information age of the Internet, with the flight-tracking software that web-based technology has made available, there are legitimate reasons why companies' flights should not be displayed on
a real-time basis," NBAA President Ed Bolen said in the letter.
Until the notorious hearing when car industry executives were questioned about their use of business jets to fly to Washington in 2008, not much attention was paid to the program. But in 2009, a
Web site called ProPublica won a court ruling allowing it access to the blocked N-numbers. Its investigation uncovered a lot of routine business travel and a television evangelist who used the flock's jet to go to
Hawaii. NBAA says it's fighting the rule change but doesn't appear to give its battle much hope. "We will keep you informed of our progress; however, as of now, it appears new limitations could go
into effect as early as February 15," Bolen wrote.
|
|
|
Regulatory Law in the Aviation Industry
Is Offered as a Legal Aviation Workshop in Washington, DC
The Legal Aviation Workshop (LAW) " Regulatory Law in the Aviation Industry" will be held in Washington, DC on March 11, 2011,
hosted by Cozen O'Connor. It will cover the following themes: Historical Background, Domestic and International Regulatory Agencies and Trade Association, Current Regulatory Issues. And it will
conclude with an Open Discussion. The speakers will be Mark Atwood of Cozen O'Connor and Jamie Baldwin, writer and consultant on air transportation.
Click here to learn
more and register.
|
|
|
|
|
An emerging trend in storm response by most airlines is creating opportunities in the business jet industry. Most of the majors now announce "preemptive cancellations" when particularly bad weather
is forecast. When the storm that lashed the midsection of the country last week was forecast to dump up to 30 inches of snow on Chicago, all airlines cancelled flights to O'Hare and Midway, more than
2,000 in total, on Wednesday. In the past, flights would launch but airports would close as they got overwhelmed by the combination of traffic and snow. The Chicago storm almost lived up to its
billing, but O'Hare and Midway never closed because the absence of traffic allowed crews to stay ahead of the snow clearing. Although there's no word on the level of business jet traffic during last
week's storm, charter companies have added up the figures from the late December storms that had a similar impact on the Northeast.
Nick Tarascio, CEO of Ventura Air Services on Long Island, told Time Magazine the late December storms
were money in the bank. "The blizzard was the best for our business," he said. According to Time, air charter requests peaked at 1,486 on Dec. 26, more than double that of the same day in 2009.
European charter companies also got in on the bonanza when uncharacteristically cold and snowy weather hit the U.K. and southern Europe in December.
|
|
|
JA Air Center — When It Comes to Garmin Avionics,
Go with a Name You Can Trust!
Since 1965, pilots have trusted the avionics experts at JA Air Center. Whether you're looking for ship-in repair, custom installation, or a mail order purchase, no one knows avionics better
than JA Air Center.
Call (800) 323-5966 or
click here. 
BUY, SELL, or TRADE your avionics
and GPS equipment at JA Air Center
|
|
|
|
|
The large-cabin business jet market has recovered to pre-recession levels, according to Gulfstream. At a news conference just before the opening of Aero India in Bangalore on Tuesday, Roger Sperry,
Gulfstream's VP of international sales, said the company will sell more than 100 airplanes this year, including 90 large-cabin and 15 to 20 small-to-medium aircraft. "The demand for long-range jets
remains robust because of the rapid expansion of global business ties," Sperry is quoted as saying by Reuters.
India is considered an emerging market and the Bangalore show is expected to be busy, largely because of India's massive military modernization effort. According to Bombardier, the number of
business jets in the country is expected to triple over the next 10 years to about 500.
|
|
|
AeroExpo UK
... is the dedicated General Aviation exhibition in 2011, showcasing everything from ultralights through to turboprops and jets. Whether you are interested in learning to fly or are already a
pilot and want to view the latest products available, AeroExpo UK has it covered!
Click here to learn
more.
|
|
|
|
|
In an "information for operators" advisory (PDF) released recently, the FAA reminded pilots that the conduct of visual approaches during marginal visual meteorological conditions requires "careful decision making." The
controller must not clear a pilot for the visual approach unless the ceiling is reported at or better than 1,000 feet with three miles visibility, the FAA said; and in accepting a visual approach, it
is the pilot's responsibility to have either the airport or the preceding aircraft in sight and to remain "clear of clouds" at all times. Since even a thin "scattered" or "isolated" layer could
prevent a pilot from remaining "clear of clouds," the pilot must advise ATC immediately if he or she is unable to continue following the preceding aircraft, cannot remain clear of clouds, needs to
climb, or loses sight of the airport.
In any of these cases, a go-around would be necessary, the FAA said. The requirement to remain "clear of clouds" extends to this go-around, since visual approaches lack missed-approach segments.
The FAA recommended that directors of operations, directors of safety, and pilots should review the guidance provided in the AIM regarding visual approaches. Pilots should be aware of the
responsibilities of accepting and flying visual approaches, particularly during marginal VMC. The FAA said it was issuing the advisory due to several recent instances when pilots accepted and flew
visual approaches in marginal VMC, "raising questions as to their compliance with regulations."
|
|
|
Don't Let This Opportunity Pass You By!
The Lightspeed Aviation Foundation Has Extended the Deadline
For Aviation-Related Charities to Apply for 2011
Grants
Twenty charities were awarded over $100,000 in grants for 2010. Your favorite charity could be on that list this year. To fill out the application,
simply go to
LightspeedAviationFoundation.org. 
Make sure you submit it by midnight, February 11. Once the 20 finalists are chosen, the pilot community will decide how the funds will be distributed.
|
|
|
|
|
NASA and Mark Kelly say the safest thing for everyone is for Kelly to command the last flight of Space Shuttle Endeavor — but with Kelly's wife Gabrielle Giffords recovering from a
high-profile brain injury, AVweb Insider blogger Russ Niles isn't convinced the agency is making the right call.
Read more and join the conversation.
That's the prevailing wisdom, anyway. In his latest post to the AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli explains how years of research for Aviation Consumer have convinced him the little
airplanes are priced just about right. He's clearing out space on his hard drive for your disagreements.
Read more and join the conversation.
|
|
|
Fly More for Less
Visit the AVbuys page for discounts, rebates, incentives, bargains, special offers, bonus depreciation, or tax benefits to help stretch your budget. We're helping you to locate and view
current offers instantly, with a direct link to sponsors' web sites for details.
Click for the
resource page.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Michael Lederer |
Michael Lederer is the new Director of Aircraft Sales and Acquisition for TWC Aviation. He was formerly in sales at Bombardier.
 |
| John Burnum |
John Burnum has been named Director of Business Development at Business Jet Access. He was formerly a regional sales manager for King Aerospace.
 |
| Klaus Tritschler |
Klaus Tritschler is joining ICON Aircraft as the VP of Design. He was formerly creative director for BMW Group DesignworksUSA.
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.
|
|
|
Aeronautical Inspection & Pre-Purchase
If you are a prospective aircraft owner, here is information about airworthiness, maintenance, inspections, and rules. Denny Pollard, an FAA Safety Inspector, will walk you through a
pre-purchase inspection step by step without worrying if you are buying a hangar queen. Know where to find the tools to research the aircraft history, specifications, and changes made, including
Type-Certificate Date Sheets, ADs, STCs, and Maintenance Alerts.
|
|
|
|
|
Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb
|
Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos
Friday, Feb. 4, 2011, the tailless, strike-fighter-sized unmanned system, the X-47B, under development by Northrop Grumman, completed its first flight at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB),
California. The flying wing took off at 2:09 p.m. PST and flew for 29 minutes. The UAV climbed to an altitude of 5,000 feet, flew several racetrack-type patterns, and landed safely at 2:38 p.m.
Northrop says the flight provided test data to verify and validate system software for guidance and navigation and the aerodynamic control of the tailless design. The aircraft will remain at Edwards
AFB for flight envelope expansion before moving its test program to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., later in 2011. There, the system will undergo tests to validate its readiness to begin
testing in the maritime and carrier environment. The X-47 is being prepared for carrier trials in 2013.
Related Content:
Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb
|
Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos
Ever wish you could replay a flight and analyze what really happened? Aviation Consumer's Jeff Van West reviewed three different cockpit recording systems that target three
significantly different needs. Here's the video recap.
|
|
|
Looking for Low-Cost, Yet Effective, Marketing Options?
Let AVweb assist your company in creating effective direct-response marketing campaigns to generate leads. No other digital aviation news media reaches more qualified subscribers more
often. Text messages in newsletters combined with online banners reach over 255,000 readers monthly and deliver more new users to sponsor sites weekly than most print publications do monthly.
Click now for
details. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is
You! |
|
back to top |
 |
|
Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something 255,000 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.
|
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.
|
|
|
