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Thursday 23rd May 2013

Top News
Cessna's first production Turbo Skylane JT-A, running behind a Jet-A fueled diesel engine Tuesday flew for 2.3 hours, the company announced Wednesday. The Safran-made 227-hp SMA engine is expected to use up to 40 percent less fuel than a comparable avgas engine, according to Cessna, burning 11 gallons per hour at 156 knots and delivering an estimated range of 1,025 nautical miles on 87 gallons. Certification and deliveries are expected, soon.
May 23, 2:58am UTC

More News
An Arizona-based company Wednesday said that it plans this year to produce and distribute a 93-octane premium unleaded, ethanol-free fuel as an avgas alternative for aircraft that do not require 100LL.
May 23, 3:06am UTC
Sky Hope Network, a nonprofit organization, is raising money through June 1 to support members of the aviation community affected by the destructive tornado that hit near Oklahoma City on Monday.
May 22, 8:23pm UTC
Nextant Aerospace, which has been producing the 400XT remanufactured business jet since 2011, announced a major upgrade to the airplane this week at EBACE.
May 21, 5:24pm UTC
Cirrus Aircraft has sent an investigative team to Addison, Texas, to look into a report that a repacked Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) failed to deploy when a pilot pulled the handle late last week.
May 20, 12:07am UTC
A trip around the patch at a controlled airport in New Zealand will soon carry a $1 NZD charge under a user fee schedule announced by the Airways Corporation of New Zealand, the "state-owned enterprise" that runs the country's airspace system.
May 20, 3:02am UTC
A documentary based on the insights of individuals who became sole survivors of commercial aviation disasters appears set for release in August.
May 18, 7:12am UTC
Earlier this month, a Robinson R22 helicopter flying a photo flight successfully auto-rotated onto a downtown Honolulu street and, now, the owner of the company that inspected the helicopter says he will pay to have it replaced.
May 17, 8:30am UTC
 
At this week's European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition, in Geneva, Switzerland, representatives from HondaJet, Embraer, and Bombardier provided updates on their newest airplanes.
May 22, 9:24pm UTC
St. Louis University's Parks College has conferred the first-ever Ph.D. in Aviation in the U.S. to Damon Lercel.
May 21, 6:04pm UTC
Business aviation leaders say there is a "fragile" recovery under way and urged governments all over the world to amend or establish policies to shore up the industry.
May 21, 3:44pm UTC
Cessna's new Latitude and Longitude jets are in the works and making progress, company officials said this week at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, in Geneva, Switzerland.
May 20, 5:54pm UTC
Avidyne Corporation announced the STC certification of the DFC90 plug-and-play retrofit autopilot system for Beechcraft Bonanza applications.
May 19, 7:17pm UTC
The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology said earlier this month that students there had created and flown a small remote control aircraft made of concrete, but their level of success may be open to interpretation.
May 17, 11:41pm UTC
A retired Air Force Lt. Colonel and a former NASA space shuttle commander have been hired to fly space tourists in Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo, the company has announced.
May 17, 8:25am UTC

COMPLETE NEWS Read the Latest Issue of AVwebFlash
NEWS ARCHIVES Past News Stories on AVweb

 

AVweb Insider Blog
It's been clear for a long time that the pilot population is in decline, but the reasons why and the ways to change the trajectory seem to be somewhat less clear.
 

FULL INDEX OF BLOGS View Past Posts Made to the AVweb Insider Blog

Features & Columns
On the flight training line, ancient 152s can still be more profitable, chiefly because LSAs lack a mature parts chain and repair support infrastructure.
The economic downturn continues to depress used aircraft prices so if you've managed to escape significant and sustained financial peril you could be well positioned to pick up a good used aircraft at a very good price. Unfortunately, not all bargains are what they seem. The old phrase "buyer beware" is as true as it's ever been. The course most pilots take to avert the potential heartache and financial headache created by a bad aircraft purchase is the prebuy inspection. But not all inspections are equal. And if you think a recently logged annual is good enough, you may want to reconsider.
Yes, say engine overhaulers, and Lycoming's four-cylinder models own the category. Owning one substantially reduces the cost of flying.
 
Our latest winning photo comes from Dale Morris of Woodland, CA. Click here for the rest of this week's submissions.
Our latest winning photo comes from Steve Nelson of Westminster, CO. Click here for the rest of this week's submissions.

FULL INDEX OF FEATURES Browse Our Features Archive
FULL INDEX OF COLUMNS Browse Our Columns Archive

Podcasts and Video
The AOPA Foundation has launched a new initiative that aims to give away money to non-profit aviation groups and student pilots, as well as offering free AOPA memberships to teenagers and members of the armed forces. AVweb's Mary Grady spoke with Stephanie Kenyon, a vice president of the foundation, to learn more about it.
It's not an easy road from first solo to an airline left seat, and new rules now in the works are making that journey even bumpier. Kent Lovelace, chair of the aviation department at the University of North Dakota, talks with AVweb's Mary Grady about the impact of new rules that raise the bar for that first job, how airlines and students are adapting, and some new programs that aim to address some of these issues.
The $100 hamburger can be a pleasant quest for pilots, but there's nothing like planning a flight to a specific event to get the prop turning. That's the theory behind Social Flight, an app that lists more than 3,500 flying-related events all over the U.S. with customized features that let pilots know where they can fly -- but, more importantly, why they should. AVweb's Russ Niles spoke with Social Flight's Jeff Simon.
Terrafugia announced plans this week to proceed with development of a four-seat VTOL hybrid electric semi-autonomous flying car with a 500-mile range. Even with a time frame of 10 years or more, the regulatory, technological, and funding challenges are steep. Terrafugia CEO Carl Dietrich spoke with AVweb's Mary Grady about the company's plans.
Russ Niles interviewed EAA interim president Jack Pelton about the direction of the association following the resignation of Rod Hightower. According to Pelton, EAA is "the only true association out there that truly represents all aspects of general aviation and recreational flying." This is how he thinks that association should behave.
 
At the European Business Aircraft Conference & Exhibition in Geneva this week, Pilatus unveiled its design for a new twin-engine jet that can operate from short and unpaved runways.
The Sam light sport aircraft, which first flew in March, was on display at Sun 'n Fun in Lakeland, Florida.
Eclipse Aerospace is touring the country with a Total Eclipse jet, using it as a demo for the soon-to-be-delivered Eclipse 550. In this AVweb video, Paul Bertorelli offers a quick product overview.
At Aero in Friedrichshafen, Germany two weeks ago, Rotax revealed some flight test data that shows that their new 912iS engine is much more fuel efficient than originally claimed.
Angel Flight West arranges free flights for people with chronic medical conditions are urgent needs when traditional forms of transportation are unavailable or cost prohibitive. This specific organization is active in the western United States. They're always looking for volunteer pilots to fill the ranks because there is always a need.

FULL INDEX OF PODCASTS Browse Our Podcast Archive
FULL INDEX OF VIDEOS Browse Our Video Archive

AVwebBiz: AVweb's Business Aviation Newsletter
Delivered every Wednesday morning, AVwebBiz focuses on the companies, the products and the industry leaders that make headlines in the business aviation industry, making it a must-read.

Add AVwebBiz to your free subscriptions today by clicking here and choosing "Update E-mail Subscriptions."
Jan 1, 10:14pm UTC

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Who's Where
Jalil Jatip
Jalil Jatip is the new director of quality assurance at Superior Air Parts. He was previously the quality fabrication department manager for Lockheed Martin on the F-16, F-22, and F-35 platforms.

May 8, 12:44am UTC
FULL INDEX OF WHO'S WHERE STORIES Browse Our Career Archive

Refurb of the Month
click for photos
Do all of us harbor the fantasy of finding that perfect vintage aircraft stored in a barn somewhere, only awaiting the tender hands of restoration? Well, it's no fantasy. Those airplanes are out there. In 2004, Ron Tanner found this 1946 Champ in a Massachusetts barn, where it sat unmoved since 1952. He bought it from Mike Ricard. Incredibly, it has the original engine, fabric, glass and logbooks.
Apr 26, 4:09am UTC
FULL INDEX OF REFURB STORIES Browse Our Refurbished Airplane Archive

VIDEO


QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What type of fuel do you think you'll be buying in 10 years?

Everyone agrees that 100LL is or should be on the way out, but the way ahead is less clear.


Share your Opinion »

PILOT RESOURCES

FBO OF THE WEEK

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to St. Clair County Airport (KPLR) in Pell City, Alabama.

AVweb reader Mike Grossberg got the royal treatment there recently:

The service is "over the top" at this beautiful country airport. The airport manager, Larry, answered my airport advisory request and offered to meet me on the ramp with the rental car as I taxied in from landing. Larry escorted us to the transient hangar, helped push the plane in, and gave us directions. This lovely airport even has a shady gazebo for watching the airplanes come and go. Real Southern hospitality at its best.

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!

Nominate an FBO »

SHORT FINAL...

This gave me a little chuckle because it rhymed so well. The pilot knew too, as he said it with pauses:

Line up and wait...
Runway 28...
Cirrus 188

Shawn Byers
via e-mail

Submit your story »

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