BLAKEY TO HEAD AEROSPACE ASSOCIATION
A new job is literally waiting in the wings for Marion Blakey when her term as FAA Administrator ends next month. It was announced on Tuesday that Blakey will be the next president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, the trade association representing the nation's manufacturers of aerospace equipment. The appointment officially takes effect on Nov. 12. Blakey succeeds the John Douglass, who has been president and CEO of AIA since September 1998 and will remain with AIA through Dec. 31 to provide counsel and ensure a smooth transition. More...

CHARTERX DISPUTES ARG/US ACCUSATIONS
As AVweb reported last week, charter auditor ARG/US has taken online charter broker CharterX to task for incorrect ARG/US audit ratings in some operator listings. CharterX CEO Jim Betlyon said that charter operators are responsible for the accuracy of their own information on the "online marketplace for the buyers and sellers of air charter." This includes fleet types, staff and charter audit ratings, he noted. In fact, the following disclaimer is displayed on CharterX's Web pages: "ARG/US, Q-Star, IS-BAO and DoD information supplied by the charter operator. CharterX makes no claims as to the accuracy or veracity of this information." Betlyon said it "sounds like ARG/US has more of an issue with operators," not CharterX. More...

EMBRAER TO UNVEIL MIDSIZE CONCEPT JET AT NBAA
During an investor conference call last Wednesday, Embraer President and CEO Frederico Fleury Curado confirmed that his company will unveil a full-scale cabin mock-up of a "concept aircraft" that would fill the gap between the Phenom 300 light jet and super-midsize Legacy 600 at the NBAA Convention later next month in Atlanta. Curado stressed that this is not an actual aircraft program launch, but is instead "one of the last stages of market analysis." At EAA AirVenture late last month, Embraer said it was exploring two aircraft in this market segment – a "mid-light" and midsize jet based on the same platform. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office public database, Embraer has reserved the names Legacy 400 and 500, which could very well be the model names given to the two planned aircraft. Curado said a launch decision for the midsize jets "will be made sometime in the future, but not now." More...

ECLIPSE SPEAKS ON FIRST COMMERCIAL 500 FLIGHT
Eclipse Aviation on Monday told AVweb that "we are excited to see the aircraft being used in the way we have always envisioned," referring to the first Part 135 charter flight of an Eclipse 500 last Friday. North American Jet Charter flew two passengers round trip from Chicago to Baltimore on one of the very light jets. Eclipse, which in 2005 won the Collier Trophy for "the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America" for the small jet, congratulated North American Jet "for their historic first commercial flight using the Eclipse 500," adding that the charter operator "is the first of a large group of customers who will benefit from this great aircraft." More...

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES WATCH
Garmin GSM 85 servos are the target of a notice of proposed rulemaking Airworthiness Directive that would require you to inspect the GSM 85 servo gearbox for foreign object debris. If debris is found, the unit would then go back to the manufacturer for replacement. Jamming the gearbox could cause the aircraft's controls to respond only to excessive manual force. Aircraft that may carry the GSM 85 include Cessna certain turbo-182 and 206 aircraft, Hawker Beechcraft G36 and G58 models, Diamond DA40 and DA40F aircraft as well as Columbia 350 and 400 aircraft as well as Mooney M20M and M20R aircraft. Find more information, here. The Mitsubishi MU-2 is the target of of an Airworthiness Directive that requires a reduction in the maximum deflection of the elevator nose-down trim to a 1-degree to 3-degree range. Find the MU-2 AD, here. The Sikorsky S-92-A helicopter is the target of an AD that requires borescope inspection of a specific part-numbered tail rotor pitch change shaft and bearing assembly to prevent loss of tailrotor control. Find it, here. More...

FAA ENCOURAGES CVR USE
The FAA this month issued an Information for Operators (InFO) to encourage use of cockpit voice recorders (CVRs) during engine run-ups and certain ground functional tests. The idea here is that if maintenance personnel experience an incident the CVR could be used to preserve and explore audible disturbances and aid in any subsequent investigation. The FAA says it has no intent to create a regulation that would require operators to activate the CVR under circumstances when a qualified crewmember has the intent of taking flight. Similarly, the FAA says it will not require the CVR be made accessible to the NTSB for "reasons other than post-incident or accident investigation" in those instances when the aircraft is operating under its own power and controlled by a qualified flight crewmember with the intent of taking flight. More...

NBAA: EXPECT MORE SECURITY REGS?
NBAA warns that the TSA might this year release new security programs in the form of "regulatory mandates and advisory guidance" that target business aviation. The Department of Homeland Security, along with the TSA, is reviewing new security measures for general aviation, and GA security remains a top priority for these security agencies, according to the association. NBAA and other agencies will have an opportunity to provide feedback on any such measures before they are finalized and aims to ensure that operators receive ample notice to provide their own feedback before any rules become final. More...

AVIALL PICKS DOLANSKI
Aviall on Monday announced that Ed Dolanski, formerly vice president of mission support for Raytheon's $4 billion Network Centric Systems (NCS), will serve as senior vice president of operations for Aviall. Dolanski has also served as vice president of aftermarket businesses and customer support for Raytheon Aircraft. Dolanski's new role at Aviall was previously held by Charley Kienzle, who was promoted to senior vice president of business development and Boeing integration for Aviall. "Both Ed and Charley have crucial roles," said Aviall President and COO Dan Kommenovich. Aviall markets and distributes products for more than 225 manufacturers and offers approximately one million catalog items from 39 service centers in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. More...

ELLIOTT AVIATION SELECTS HARRISON
Wynn Elliott will remain as chairman and CEO of Elliott Aviation, but Mick Harrison will serve as the company's new president and CEO. Harrison is the first non-family member to hold the position in the company's 71-year history. He has served as director of service facilities for all of Bombardier's Canadair service centers and the authorized service facility program and later transferred to Learjet Wichita, serving as regional vice president when the Learjet and Challenger networks were combined. He holds a commercial pilot certificate with instrument, multi-engine and glider ratings. More...

WMU DEAN MOVES TO PENTASTAR
Rick Maloney is moving from dean of the College of Aviation at Western Michigan University to take the role of heading Pentastar Aviation, based at the Oakland County International airport. Maloney will now help plan the future of the privately held aviation firm. Pentastar currently manages a combined fleet of 41 aircraft that last year logged 7,600 hours with both domestic and international service. The company currently operates up to 10 flights per day and manages assets for more than 15 client companies, including NetJets. Pentastar holds the distinction as the only independently-owned authorized warranty and repair center in the U.S. for Gulfstream business jets. The company has rated in the top five for similar operations as ranked by the Professional Pilot PRASE survey. More...

VIDEO: LIGHTSPEED ZULU ANR HEADSET PREVIEW

Lightspeed's latest headset, "is noticeably quieter than any other model available for comparison," according to the company, and is quite simply "the quietest, lightest, and most comfortable headset the company has ever made." Video produced by Glenn Pew.

AVWEB AUDIO NEWS

AVweb posts audio news on Mondays, plus a new in-depth interview each Friday. In last Friday's podcast, you'll hear Spectrum Aeronautical's Linden Blue talk about changes in the company's aircraft programs. And AVweb's podcast index includes interviews with EADS Socata's Jean-Michel Léonard; ConocoPhillips' Gabe Giordano; Lycoming's Ian Walsh; Avidyne's Paul Hathaway; Aerion Corp's Brian Barents; BusinessJetSEATS Alfred Rapetti; EAA's Dick Knapinski; AOPA's Andrew Cebula; Cirrus Design's Alan Klapmeier; NBAA's Harry Houkes; Reason Foundation's Robert Poole; SATSair's Sheldon Early; Epic Aircraft's Rick Schrameck; AOPA's Randy Kenagy; Eclipse Aviation's Vern Raburn; Xwind's Brad Whitsitt; BoGo Light's Mark Bent; DayJet's Ed Iacobucci; and Pogo Jet's Cameron Burr. In today's podcast, hear FAA Administrator on the highs and lows of her term. Remember: In AVweb's podcasts, you'll hear things you won't find anywhere else.

More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: MEDFORD AIR SERVICE

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Medford Air Service at KMFR in Medford, Ore.

AVweb reader Jim Boeckl said the FBO staff took great care of him after his airplane limped into their facility.

"Our engine broke flying near MFR, and we landed and taxied to Medford Air Service trailing oil. We stepped out onto red carpet, and soon found out that the engine needed overhauled. They put Champ in their hangar for two months at no charge -- line manager Bobby Croll said the FBO didn't want to benefit from our misfortune. The entire staff was friendly and helpful, and the facility is immaculate. It is clear Medford Air Service recognizes and promotes the miracle of flight, even in its simplest form. This is not something I would have expected from an executive flight center."

Keep those nominations coming. For complete contest rules, click here.

AVweb is actively seeking out the best FBOs in the country and another one, submitted by you, will be spotlighted here next Monday!

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.

Today's issue was written by Contributing Editors Glenn Pew and Mary Grady and Editor In Chief Chad Trautvetter.

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