What's New -- Products and Services

This month AVweb's survey of the latest products and services for pilots, mechanics and aircraft owners brings you a Swiss army knife with altimeter, windscreen treatment, classic aircraft skill training, tools, TAWs and more.

If you know of a new product or service other AVweb readers should hear about, please send us a note.

Test Prep Software with Flashcards

Sporty's Test Prep Guides from Batavia Aviation Products are now available on CD-ROM with an exclusive flashcard function. This learning tool allows you to take randomly generated, timed practice tests just like the real exam. Take an unlimited number of unique practice tests on your computer and track your scoring progress with detailed reports to make sure you're ready for the real thing.

The unique flashcard function allows you to answer questions without looking at the answers to truly test your knowledge. One click on the screen will let you know if you were correct. Tables, charts and figures can be viewed on screen or printed out ahead of time to help you study more effectively.

Sporty's Test Prep software also allows you to create individual study sessions in which you can choose only the topics you need to review. Detailed scoring breakdowns and exam history are provided to make your study sessions more effective. Choose individual topics and the number of questions you'd like to review and a customized training session is created in seconds.

The Private/Recreational Test Prep on CD-ROM, the Instrument Test Prep and the Commercial Test Prep are each available for about $40 at Sporty's Web site.

AvMap/Navigation's PRO Version of EKP-IV

AvMap/Navigation has introduced the EKP-IV PRO portable-GPS moving-map system, specifically designed for law enforcement, search and rescue (SAR) and homeland security customers. The EKP-IV PRO is an upgraded version of the EKP-IIIC PRO system that has been available to customers in the law enforcement sector for the past few years.

The enhancements added to the PRO include: SAR patterns (expanding square, rectangle & circle) with user-definable planning; regional detailed TeleAtlas street/city data (included with the purchase of the EKP-IV PRO), street/city address search capability, pilot configurable alarms and compatibility with a special NVG screen film (that can be removed when not needed). New items for 2006 include TAWS, victor airways and private airports.

Another improvement with the EKP-IV PRO over the previous version is the capability to switch the screen orientation from horizontal to vertical. This allows the unit to be used in the traditional kneeboard mode or mounted either on the yoke, floor, chair rail, panel or airframe.

The 7-inch-diagonal color display, sunlight-viewable EKP-IV PRO is available for a suggested list price of about $2000 and is available direct from AvMap's dealers nationwide. Additional product information can be found on the AvMap Web site.

Pilot Journey Flight Seminars

Pilot Journey has released online & CD versions of their Career Pilot Seminar. This seminar includes discussions of many topics for prospective career pilots including various career options, how to get experience, medical certificate issues and more.

The Pilot Journey seminar called Learn to Fly is also now available online and on CD. Topics include what will happen during training, costs, pitfalls to avoid, insurance, picking a flight school and a flight instructor and more.

Both the Career Pilot seminar and the Learn to Fly seminar are available for about $15, which includes the seminar emailed to you as well as a CD-ROM that will be delivered by regular mail. More information on these seminars is available from the Pilot Journey Web site.

Swiss Army Altimeter Knife

Swiss Army knives are the original multi-tool. And now you can get one with a digital altimeter.

This latest version of the Swiss Army knife is 3-1/2 inches long (91 mm) and includes all the usual tools:

• Large Blade
• Small Blade
• Bottle Opener w/Large Screwdriver
• Wire Stripper
• Corkscrew
• Can Opener w/Small Screwdriver
• Reamer w/Sewing Eye
• Key Ring
• Toothpick
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Hook

Plus this knife has a digital altimeter (-300 ft to +15,000 ft; -100 m to +5,000 m) and a digital thermometer (0 F to +110 F; -20 C to +40 C). The knife comes with a lifetime warranty. List price is about $80 from online stores such as Trans-Plata.

ATIS Wheel

Pilots and aircrews can to reduce their pre-landing and pre-takeoff workload through the use of the new ATIS Wheel.

The ATIS Wheel is a mechanical device designed to help the airplane pilot record all ATIS information and present the data as a graphic depiction. The ATIS Wheel is a 5-1/2 inch x 8-1/2 inch, rectangular format, with seven, individual, 1.5-inch wheels positioned about the perimeter of the device along with two 3-inch, concentric wheels positioned in the center. Each wheel's topic coincides with the sequential information reported in the airport terminal area's ATIS broadcast.

Once the information is entered onto the ATIS Wheel, this displayed information is available for reference without the possibility of transcription error or forgetting the pertinent ATIS data.

Additionally ATIS Wheel has a place to display the airport field elevation, critical for instrument approaches. The ATIS Wheel also displays clearly the visual relationship between the wind direction and the active runway, informing the pilot as to the pending crosswind takeoff and landing situation. Retail price is about $30 from the manufacturer's Web site.

Scheyden Reader X Lenses

Scheyden Precision Eyewear has introduced the Scheyden Reader X Lens. By combining the Scheyden Classic Flip-Up Frame with a magnified reading area, pilots can now easily read charts, maps, approach plates, gauges, instruments and displays.

Scheyden Reader X Lenses can be installed in any of the company's frames. All Scheyden frames are manufactured from titanium, providing strength and durability in a lightweight package. The heaviest model weighs in at 1.3 oz. Magnification is available from 1.25X to 3.5X. Lens colors are high contrast bronze or neutral gray and are available in solid or gradient tint.

For more information, go to the Scheyden Web site. Pricing was not yet available at press time.

Center for Classic Aircraft Skills

A flight school in Maine is now making great use of the light sport aircraft rules and airplanes.

The Center for Classic Aircraft Skills (CCAS) offers a range of resort-based flight adventures and training in Piper Cubs and modern replicas of aircraft from the 1940s. Instructor guides put you in charge of your flight amongst the exhilarating scenery of the Maine highlands.

CCAS has assembled our light sport aircraft experiences and excursions that can be conducted as a light sport aircraft flight or Part 91 flight lesson. Basic experiences start at about $80. CCAS is now booking for the summer of 2006 -- information and reservations at the CCAS Web site.

Klein Tools Large-Gauge Wire Stripper/Cutter

Klein Tools has expanded its Klein-Kurve product line with the introduction of a new, large-gauge wire stripper/cutter. The new wire stripper/cutter strips 6-12 AWG stranded wire and eliminates the need for a skinning knife.

This multifunctional, lightweight wire stripper/cutter cleanly shears 6-32 and 8-32 screws and has a serrated pliers nose, which allows the user to pull, grip and twist wire with minimal pressure. The curved handle design and double-dipped textured grips provide control and comfort while stripping and cutting.

The wire stripper/cutter is made of heat-treated steel for durability and has a black oxide finish for corrosion resistance. The large gauge wire stripper/cutter features a coil spring for fast self-opening action and a handy closure lock for convenient storage.

For more information on the Klein-Kurve large gauge wire stripper/cutter, visit their Web site.

Long-Reach Compound Joint Pliers

There are times when nuts or wires require attachment or connection in tight locations that cannot be reached with normal tools. That has prompted Aircraft Spruce & Specialty to stock a new line of long reach pliers. They take the frustration out of trying to access hardware that can only be worked on through long, narrow openings. The three new sets of pliers have different heads for servicing a wide range of jobs.

The pliers have a compound joint, permitting access in narrow spaces with a minimal of handle movement. Flush riveted joints contribute to each tool's narrow profile and red vinyl grips provide comfort and control.

The pliers sell for about $50 each and can be ordered through the Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Web site.

Chelton EFIS/TAWS For Helicopter EMS

Fatal accidents involving helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) can be avoided by utilizing the Chelton Flight Systems EFIS/TAWS (Terrain Awareness and Warning System).

The combination has already satisfied the TAWS requirement for all categories of fixed wing aircraft and includes Class A and B helicopter TAWS (H-TAWS) as well.

The forward-looking terrain awareness (FLTA) benefit of the Chelton EFIS utilizes databases for terrain, obstruction, helipads, airport and runway depictions that integrate with helicopter positioning, ground track, groundspeed, bank angle, altitude and VSI to alert the pilot to hazardous terrain or obstructions. If the helicopter performs a turn, the protection envelope of the FLTA expands to provide additional alerts about the terrain and obstructions that the rotorcraft is turning toward. The system also provides alerts for excessive rate of descent, premature descent, and excessive glideslope deviation. Other alerts include higher-than-expected sink rate right after takeoff or on the first leg of a missed approach, and excessive closure rate with terrain. These alerts take the form of visual and audible cues. For helicopters, Class B H-TAWS is built into the system as a standard feature and Class A is available as an option. For more information, visit the Chelton Web site.

Avidyne TAS600-Series Active Surveillance Traffic Systems For Helicopters

Avidyne Corporation has introduced the TAS600 series of active surveillance traffic systems for helicopters.

Using the Ryan Active Surveillance (RAS) technology from the popular Ryan 9900BX system, the three new TAS600 series systems have a range of features that allow helicopter owners to select the price-performance level that best fits their aircraft and mission. The systems are certified for installation on most helicopters and are available as an option on new Eurocopter EC135, EC145, and EC155 aircraft as well as the Agusta A119.

The TAS600 series' Heads Up Audible Position Alerting allows pilots to visually acquire traffic more quickly by listening to the target position and range ("Traffic! One o'clock! High! Two miles!"). In addition, dual, small-footprint antennas provide improved target acquisition and tracking compared to single-antenna systems and allow greater flexibility for installation. The TAS600 series systems also provide intruder squawk codes and N-numbers of Mode S-equipped aircraft.

The Avidyne TAS600 series traffic advisory systems show standard TCAS symbology on display systems from 15 different manufacturers including Avidyne, Garmin, Honeywell, Collins, Chelton, Sandel, and others.

Capabilities of the systems range from 3,500-foot vertical separation maximum and 7-nm range (for under $10,000) to an almost 10,000-foot vertical separation maximum an 21-nm range for about $21,000.

Avidyne TAS600 Series active surveillance traffic systems are available now by visiting Avidyne or from an Avidyne dealer.