April 13, 2011

By The AVweb Editorial Staff

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The likely focus of the investigation will be the position of the RJ and who decided it should be there. Judging by the departing A380's brisk pace down the taxiway, the crew evidently didn't anticipate any interference on the way to the runway. The Comair flight had just arrived from Boston and was stationary. What happened next is one of the reasons passengers are supposed to keep their seatbelts on until the ground crew person crosses his or her arms. The A380 looked to be traveling at least 20 mph when the left wing tip hit the tail of the RJ. The impact spun the smaller jet nearly 90 degrees and rocked the plane from side to side. No major injuries were reported due to the collision. Photos show a torn up wing tip on the A380 but the RJ is likely in for a thorough inspection. Click for video, audio, and photos. GPS Coalition Addresses House Committee The Coalition To Save Our GPS has added members and is taking its fight to prevent the potential jamming of GPS signals by a proposed wireless broadband network to Washington. The coalition, which now counts all major aviation groups and GPS manufacturers along with marine and agriculture interests among its members, submitted a statement to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology on the widely feared impact of LightSquared's plan to erect 40,000 transmission towers to distribute wireless broadband to rural areas. As we reported in February, it's not the service itself that has the GPS group worried, it's the frequency band that's been allocated. The frequencies allocated by the Federal Communications Commission (1525-1559 Mhz) to LightSquared are adjacent to those (1559-1610 MHz) used by satellites to send timing signals to GPS receivers. LightSquared has been granted the use of the frequencies with the condition that its signals don't stray into the GPS band but the coalition says the sheer power of the broadband transmitters will overwhelm the weak signals that reach the ground from space. "LightSquared's proposal to build 40,000 terrestrial base stations operating at one billion times the power levels of GPS signals as received on Earth represents a tectonic change in the use of the L band," the coalition said in its statement. The FCC has made rural broadband a priority and LightSquared's service is a major component of a plan to ensure virtually universal access to fast Internet throughout the country. The coalition says that while everyone wants fast Internet, it shouldn't come at the expense of GPS, which has become an industry (not mention a strategic military necessity) unto its own in the last 30 years. Owners and Operators Meet in California to Debate Taxation in Business Aviation Following the success of previous Legal Aviation Workshops (LAWs), the new event on Legal Aspects of Taxation in Business Aviation will take place in San Francisco, California. This is a unique opportunity to debate taxation-related issues for business aircraft operators and owners. The expert speakers are from Aero & Marine Tax Professionals, Aero Law Group, and Allen Matkins. Alumni and students of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University receive a 10% discount for registrations. Click here to learn more and register. Europe Gathers in Friedrichshafen back to top  Aero Opens April 13 Aero Friedrichshafen, Europe's largest general aviation show and one of the largest in the world, opens April 13 in the picturesque town on the German shore of Lake Constance. Organizers say there are more than 550 exhibitors from 26 countries filling more than 800,000 square feet of exhibit space in 11 halls. The show runs through April 16. The world's major light aircraft OEMs will all be there and the show is always a showcase of the latest in Light Sport type aircraft and gliders. Aero was one of the first shows to embrace electric aircraft and that tradition continues this year. Erik Lindbergh will be on hand to give out the first Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prize and there are expected to be a lot of component manufacturers showing electric motors, batteries, panels and fuel cells at the show. Prince Albert of Monaco is involved with the electric aircraft area and Aero will also host descendants of aviation dynasties like the Sikorskys, Piccards, Dorniers and Dassaults to encourage the pioneering spirit of aviation in innovation and technology. 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. Did You Buy a Pilatus in 2010? You Weren't Alone ... back to top  Pilatus Has Best Year Ever There are exceptions to every rule and while most of the aviation industry endured a brutal year in 2010, Swiss-based Pilatus says it had it's best year ever. The company said revenues and profits were up by 11 percent over the previous year ($730 million and $98 million respectively) and it took $400 million in new orders. It also delivered its 1,000th PC-12; the year's deliveries included repeat orders from early customers like Australia's Royal Flying Doctor Service, which took its 33rd PC-12, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which added three PC-12s to its fleet. The new deliveries are all the NG model with Honeywell glass panels and other improvements. Although the PC-12 is the aircraft normally associated with Pilatus, it's big in the military training market (the Hawker Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is actually a modified Pilatus design) and the Swiss company's PC-21 is the latest trainer to hit the market. The United Arab Emirates bought 25 in late 2009, which was the largest order in the company's history, and the Swiss air force is also flying the type. To keep up with demand, the company grew its workforce by 5 percent in 2010 to 1395 employees and everyone got a bonus equal to 150 percent of their monthly salary. 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. Meanwhile, in California ... back to top  Santa Monica Amendment In Reauthorization Bill While many would accept a U.S. Court of Appeals decision as the final word on most issues, the friction between Santa Monica Airport and its tightly packed neighbors seems to find new ways to flare up. Two months ago the court affirmed the contract between the city of Santa Monica and the FAA which prevents the city from banning any type of "aeronautical use" from SMO because of the grant money it's accepted from the FAA. The latest wrinkle is an amendment to the FAA Reauthorization bill inserted just before House passage of its version a couple of weeks ago by Rep. Henry Waxman. The amendment would require the FAA to enter "good faith" negotiations with Santa Monica to address safety concerns the city and some residents feel are raised by business jet traffic at the airport. "The amendment I offer today is simple and straightforward," Waxman is quoted by the Lookout News as saying in his address to the House. "It urges the FAA to continue its discussion with the City of Santa Monica to identify a meaningful solution to address serious safety concerns at the Santa Monica Airport." The amendment will have to make it through the Senate/House negotiations on a final form for the reauthorization bill and even then it's not a certainty. The White House has said it will veto the combined bill if it contains any language restricting union organization or bargaining rights, which are contained in other amendments. Even if the bill survives with the Santa Monica amendment, that won't be enough for at least one anti-airport group in the city. In a letter to the editor in the Santa Monica Dispatch, Martin Rubin, Director of Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution, called the amendment "weak" and says it fails to address the broad range of concerns about the airport, including environmental impact. Van Nuys In Decline Van Nuys Airport, the generally accepted "busiest" GA airport in the U.S. has fallen on hard times. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, not only did VNY lose the title for the the most general aviation operations to Phoenix's Deer Valley more than three years ago, there now seems to be concern about the future viability of the iconic airport. There were 337,000 operations at VNY last year, a 40 percent reduction from the high of 607,000 in 1999. "If I was a doctor and Van Nuys was a patient, I'd be calling the family over, and calling for a priest," said Cessna 210 owner George Hulett. "But if better management can come in soon, it could survive." In fact everyone interviewed for the story, including 50-year lessee Clay Lacy, said airport owner/operator Los Angeles World Airports is to blame for mismanaging the facility into its current state. Lacy said LAWA's answer to declining revenues has been to raise rents and that's forcing more businesses to look elsewhere. "We're talking with them now, but there's no real effort to resolve it," said Lacy, founder of Clay Lacy Aviation. "They want to raise rents 50 percent or more, but it doesn't make sense, because nobody is really making it." Others point to LAWA's lack of attendance at major trade shows to promote the airport and a bias toward jets when light aircraft have historically been the airport's mainstay. At one time there were six flight schools on the field but the last one closed last year. Lacy said that from an economic point of view, the jets are more lucrative but others argue that the bottom end of the market is where new people and money are attracted to aviation. WingX Pro7 Version 5 for iPad — Includes In-Flight Weather The new WingX Pro7 Version 5 Moving Map adds ADS-B In-Flight Weather, Terrain-Enhanced VFR Sectionals, IFR Low/High Enroute charts, ADS-B NEXRAD, TFRs, SUAs, and a lot more. All moving map views can be displayed fullscreen or side-by-side. Also included: Animated weather images, DUATS, A/FD, AOPA Directory with Yelp integration, Route Planning, FARs, E6B, and more. WingX is also available for Windows Mobile, Blackberry, and Android. Click here for more information. Who's Where back to top  Wooten to Cutter R. D. Wooten R. D. Wooten is Cutter Aviation's new regional aircraft sales manager for the Southwest. He was previously at TBM. Lewis Joins Jet Source Cal Lewis Cal Lewis is the new Maintenance Manager 145 for Jet Source and responsible for the company's FAA-approved airframe and engine maintenance business. 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. Blood, Sweat & Years Avemco Insurance Company's rock-solid financial strength has earned them an A+ (Superior) rating from A.M. Best for over 30 years. That means you can get the protection you want at a time when you need it more than ever! Learn more. Opinion & Commentary back to top  AVweb Insider Blog: A New York State of Reality The young pilot who landed his Warrior on Rockaway Beach in New York said he got the idea from a television program about flying in Alaska. On the AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli takes a quick look at why that's wrong on so many levels. Read more and join the conversation. 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. AVweb Media: Look, Listen, Laugh and Learn back to top  Video: Martin Jetpack — Latest Tests Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos Development of the Martin Jetpack is continuing in New Zealand, and the latest publicly released video shows it reaching new heights. However, that's a mannequin onboard and not a human pilot. 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. Aviation English A complete course for pilots and air traffic controllers who wish to reach ICAO level 4 proficiency and develop the skills needed to function effectively and safely in an aviation environment, plus an additional focus on communication skills in non-routine flight situations. Package includes book plus two CDs with interactive practice and pronounciation exercises. eBook buyers receive CD content as a second download. Book | $46.95 eBook | $42.25 Call (800) 780-4115 or click here for more information. The Franklins: How to Help back to top  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. 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.