March 23, 2011

By The AVweb Editorial Staff

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I believe the industry's efforts are crucial to President Obama's goal of doubling exports within five years." The crowd also heard from industry leaders, and state and local officials. Cessna CEO Jack Pelton told The Associated Press that LaHood met privately with GA executives before the rally and expressed support for the industry. "You couldn't ask for a better outcome," Pelton said. LaHood also said he would lobby President Obama to visit Wichita to learn about the GA industry. Pelton and other industry executives asked LaHood to help them work more efficiently with the FAA to certify new aircraft and to streamline the regulations that govern the export of GA aircraft, the AP said. The rally was organized by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association in partnership with Cessna, Hawker Beechcraft, Bombardier Learjet and general aviation suppliers throughout Kansas. The general aviation industry supports 1.2 million jobs in the U.S. and contributes more than $150 billion to the nation's economy, according to GAMA. 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. AEA 2011 back to top  AEA Underway In Reno The curtain will rise on the latest in aircraft electronics technology this morning (March 23) as tech companies unveil the newest wonder boxes at the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) convention in Reno. Check AVweb through the day for updates on some of them. There are more than 30 new product announcements at the show, which formally began Tuesday (March 22) with some association business. Five directors were elected to serve three-year terms as members of the board of directors. They are: Gary Hapster, Duncan Aviation; Jeanne Rau-Flattery, Millennium International; Matt Fowle, Mid-Continent Instruments West; Rick Ochs, Spirit Avionics; Gary Picou, PS Engineering. Later in the week, the winners of the Member of the Year and Associate Member of the Year awards will be announced. Banks, Lease Companies and Operators to Attend the 4th Risk Management and Practical Solutions Conference Following the success of this event in London, Dublin and Dubai, the fourth Conference will focus mainly on legal issues for lessors and financiers as well as risk management. Distinguished expert speakers will offer again the opportunity to participate in high-level discussions and extensive networking opportunities. This is a must-attend event for banks, lease companies and operators with aviation assets. This event is hosted by Gates and Partners. Click here to learn more and register. Fight Over SMO Rages On back to top  L.A. City Council Seeks To Close Flight Schools Responding to complaints from residents about noise and fumes from the Santa Monica Airport, members of the Los Angeles City Council have asked lobbyists in Washington to pressure the FAA to close all five flight schools at the field, change a flight path, and ultimately shut down the airport. The airport is one of the oldest in the region, and over the years residential areas have encroached on the field. "They knew they were moving into a house near an airport, and it cost a little less," Stuart Cook, owner of Skyway Aviation, told the L.A. Business Journal. "It's kind of scary to think they're trying to close the flight schools. We train a lot of pilots that go on to work at airlines." The airport handles about 285 operations a day, and due to local congestion, private jets often spend a lot of time idling on the runway. The flight path changes aim to address that. FAA spokesman Ian Gregor says the agency is evaluating whether to change the departure procedures. "Preliminary results from a six-month test of the proposed heading [change] showed that assigning it to an average of just eight aircraft a day significantly reduced departure delays at both Santa Monica and LAX," Gregor told the local Argonaut newspaper. He also said the operators of the airport have accepted federal grants that would prevent them from evicting the flight schools "without just cause." Last July, a pilot who was practicing touch-and-goes died when his Cessna 152 crashed on a local golf course, adding to neighbors' concerns about airport safety. "It makes no sense to have training in an urban environment," said Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl. "My ultimate hope is that the flight path can be changed and this airport can eventually be shut down." Get Spidertracks Aviator, the Aircraft Location System That Survives Every Crash — So You Can, Too Spidertracks tracks you in real-time and automatically sends SOS alerts within minutes of an accident. Your flights are displayed on the Aviator web site, and your online logbook automatically fills in flight time and distance. You can upload photos, share your flights, "follow" other pilots, and talk flying with other aviators who love flying as much as you do. Get Aviator today — call 1 (800) 491‑2895 or visit Spidertracks.com. Paying the Piper — Or Pilatus, As the Case May Be back to top  Politics And Private Airplanes Collide In Missouri The use of private aviation by public figures is back in the spotlight, this time in Missouri where the state's former auditor and now Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill has admitted to some bookkeeping lapses of her own. Last week, she cut a check to the Department of the Treasury for $88,000 to reimburse the government for charter fees she'd billed while flying in the Pilatus PC-12 she owns with her husband, St Louis developer Joe Shepard. McCaskill said the whole thing was an "innocent mistake" but, as can happen when issues like this hit the public arena, there were some further complications for the senator and the checkbook got another workout. It turns out that even though the aircraft is registered with Shepard's Delaware company, Timesaver LLC, Missouri property taxes still apply and on Monday McCaskill paid four years worth of back taxes on the $3 million Pilatus, a total of $290,000. That revelation has prompted a call by her political opponents to make her personal income tax returns available for scrutiny, something she's not legally obliged to do but, according to her critics, is morally compelled to do given her election platform and recent statements. McCaskill ran on a "transparency" ticket. Experience Trade-A-Plane in a Greater Way! Our all-new web site is better than ever. Advanced searches, more detailed results, expanded content. Clean, fresh design and easier navigation, too. Exclusive premium benefits for subscribers! Selling? Affordable, online-only listings are now available in many categories, and it's quick and easy to place one. Try it now to reach aviation's active buyers! Visit us today at Trade-A-Plane.com for everything that keeps you flying or call (800) 337‑5263. News Briefs back to top  Are You Flying with a Continental PowerLink System? If so, we would like to hear your impressions of the system for a follow-up article on this product, which Continental might be about to take another run at promoting. Drop us a line at pbertorelli@avweb.com, and we'll get back to you. ICAS Foundation's Kyle & Amanda Franklin Fund The aviation community is coming together to help Kyle and Amanda Franklin get back on their feet and eventually back in the air after their mishap at Air Fiesta at the Brownsville/South Padre Island Airport. If you'd like to contribute, click on the banner at right to visit the ICAS Foundation web site. 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. Opinion & Commentary back to top  AVweb Insider Blog: LaHood's Speech — How I'd Have Written It From AVweb Insider to Washington insider? Not quite. Paul Bertorelli may not hold the title of Secretary of Transportation, but after hearing Ray LaHood's speech in Wichita, he wanted to try his hand at making a few promises to the aviation community. And while he may not be headed to the Beltway anytime soon, you can read his speech and add your own comments here. AVweb Insider Blog: Is Potomac Airfield Our Tahrir Square? O.K., so it's a reach. Professional nudge (and Potomac Airfield owner and operator) David Wartofksy has asked the DOT to review the onerous security procedures that burden anyone flying into the District of Columbia. In the latest installment of our AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli asks the obvious (and, to some, unthinkable) question: Isn't it time we just stop doing this stuff? Read more and join the conversation. Trade Up to the Lightspeed Aviation Zulu Ranked #1 in Professional Pilot magazine's Annual Headset Preference Survey, Lightspeed Aviation is offering you a chance to trade up to Zulu. Setting the standard for all ANR headsets, Lightspeed Zulu features Full-Function Bluetooth™ connectivity, enhanced communications, a distinctive look, and unparalleled comfort. Visit LightspeedAviation.com, learn the value of your headset, and trade up to Zulu. The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is You! back to top  Associate Editor Opening One of our sister aviation publications is looking for an associate editor. If you are a savvy, motivated layout master and wordsmith, they would love to hear from you. (There's a link to contact them beneath the following job description.) Job Description: Associate Editor Associate Editor will provide primary editorial support to Editor of consumer aviation magazine, which may include rewriting press releases for publication, web postings, copy and substantive editing of articles, departments and columns, preparation of galleys for review, writing articles, sizing and color correction of photos, enterprise reporting, proofreading and packaging of layouts for offsite production staff. Qualifications Two years of magazine or similar experience Strong copy editing/substantive editing/fact-checking skills Skilled in using CS3 Suite/Mac, MS Office Interest in aviation Ability to work both independently and collaboratively from a home office Intellectual curiosity and willingness to learn Strong work ethic and self-motivation Clear written and verbal communication skills Solid organizational skills Excellent attention to detail Sensitivity to and ability to meet deadlines Ability to internalize and adhere to publication's style guide/style sheets Willingness to travel occasionally Desirable Skills Experience in building things Experience leveraging social networking/web to encourage product visibility and reader interaction Digital video/still photography, video editing Pilot's license This is a telecommute position. To apply, submit a cover letter, resume and three clips to BelvoirJobOpportunity@avweb.com. (Resume and cover letter should be Microsoft Word attachments; please attach clips as PDFs.) AVweb's Newstips Address ... 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. 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. Who's Where back to top  Jones, Lee Join Matrix Russell Jones Jeremy Lee Russell Jones has been named Director of Sales for Latin America, and Jeremy Lee is the new holder of that position for the Asia-Pacific Region for Matrix Aviation. Both will be based at the Wichita head office. 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. Advanced Flight Instruction Career instructors Anthony Cirincione and Scott Felton reveal the techniques world-class instructors use to stand out as the best of the best. Advanced Flight Instruction is organized by the various settings in which we teach, plus chapters on instructing in the classroom and simulator. The best instructors are always looking for opportunities to teach others and, in turn, develop themselves. This guide will help with both. Book | $21.95 eBook | $19.95 Call (800) 780-4115 or click here for more information. AVweb Media: Look, Listen, Laugh and Learn back to top  Video: Legend Cub vs. CubCrafters LSA Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos To look at an original Piper J-3 Cub, you'd have to say, "What's the big deal?" Tube and fabric construction and a cork for a gas gauge. Yet the Cub idea endures in the form of several LSA Cub clones. In this video, AVweb's Paul Bertorelli gets a flight demo in the Legend Cub and in CubCrafters' S2. 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. 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. 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.