Love flying? Stay current on aviation news and special features by registering for a free AVweb account.

Registering gives you access to our massive archive of news and features and allows you subscribe to our general aviation, business aviation, and podcast newsletters. Click here to sign up.

HOME
REGISTER/LOGIN
FREE NEWSLETTER
XML|RSS
Advanced Search
PODCAST
VIDEO

Friday 21st November 2008

Top News
Jane Garvey, who served as FAA administrator from 1997 to 2002, will accept a position on the transition team for President-elect Barack Obama, it was announced on Wednesday. She will leave her current post as a board member for Bombardier, where she has served for about a year. "I would like to thank Jane Garvey for her sound advice and guidance during her tenure," said Bombardier Chairman Laurent Beaudoin. "We wish her great success." Garvey will take charge of reviewing transportation agencies' decisions and policies for the Obama transition team, according to the Montreal Gazette. She is also widely considered to be a top candidate for Secretary of Transportation in the new administration.
Nov 19, 7:28pm UTC

More News
The FAA has revised its rules that govern the operation of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) and has invited comment on the changes.
Nov 19, 3:58pm UTC
With many buyers putting their plans on hold in an uncertain economy, manufacturers are offering deals to tempt them into taking the plunge.
Nov 19, 4:01pm UTC
A final rule issued by the Dept. of Homeland Security is not as bad as it might have been for GA pilots, but it still will have an impact on all across-the-border operations.
Nov 18, 9:43pm UTC
A recent report from the fringe strikes us as something so simple that it might actually work. The Parajet Skycar is a variation on the powered parachute ... crossed with a dune buggy.
Nov 19, 10:17pm UTC
The first three quarters of 2008 showed 2,977 aircraft shipped compared to 2,918 shipped over the same period last year, but those 59 extra airplanes made a big difference.
Nov 15, 12:22am UTC
GE and NASA, with help from Snecma of France, have teamed to continue evaluation of counter-rotating fan blade systems for open rotor jet designs.
Nov 16, 6:15pm UTC
Northrop Grumman says 77.8% of teachers who participated in their Weightless Flights of Discovery Program report an increase in their students' interest in science and math careers.
Nov 15, 12:24am UTC
A lot of things will be happening in Washington, D.C., over the next two months, and one of those will probably be a final rule making the D.C. ADIZ a permanent fixture, says AOPA.
Nov 12, 9:52pm UTC
While many manufacturers are cutting back and laying off to cope with the economic downturn, China's Aviation Industry Corp (AVIC) is in the market to buy.
Nov 12, 9:55pm UTC
 
The NTSB on Wednesday issued an update on its investigation of a September incident when a Canadair CRJ-700 regional jet swerved to avoid a Cessna 172 on the runway.
Nov 19, 7:31pm UTC
President Bush on Tuesday signed an Executive Order to mandate that modernizing our national airspace system remains a leading priority for federal agencies.
Nov 18, 9:45pm UTC
Eclipse Aviation employees who have contacted AVweb b this week are back at work and say they've been paid for the first half of the month.
Nov 18, 8:02pm UTC
U.S. Office of Special Counsel has confirmed that local managers at DFW Airport's air traffic control center had hidden controller mistakes ... and that makes it twice in three years.
Nov 16, 11:24am UTC
Initial investigation of the Learjet crash in Mexico City that killed prominent government officials suggests pilot competence and wake turbulence may have contributed.
Nov 16, 11:33am UTC
The National Space Biomedical Research Institute is working on a tool that will help pilots overcome spatial disorientation in real time, and so help avert the root cause of 10% of GA accidents.
Nov 16, 11:28am UTC
All licensed and current pilots are invited to complete an online study seeking input about symbols for use on air traffic displays.
Nov 15, 12:30am UTC
The TSA will extend the time period for public comment on its proposed Large Aircraft Security Program by an additional 60 days, a change lobbied for by GA advocacy groups.
Nov 11, 6:48pm UTC
Jerry Smith, regional sales manager for the Garmin's aviation division in the south and central U.S., died on Tuesday in an accident, while piloting his personal airplane on business.
Nov 12, 9:59pm UTC

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

Columns
Stabilized approaches aren't just for the Jet-A club. AVweb's Thomas P. Turner suggests ways to make them work for piston-pounders.
AVweb's European correspondent Liz Moscrop pays a fond farewell to the Robin and the Kestrel manufacturers and tells why it is vital to speak up in Europe now.
 
Your aircraft is undergoing its annual inspection, and your IA tells you that he has to perform some costly maintenance task because the manufacturer says it's required. But is it really?
Student pilots don't have to prove they can recover from a spin, but Rick Durden knows the training advantages that come from near-spins.

FULL INDEX OF COLUMNS Find All Columns Of Interest

AVweb Insider Blog
Wouldn't you think at least someone at Ford would see the folly of flying to Washington in a corporate jet to ask for the government for money? You'd think that. But, you'd be wrong.
 

AVweb Insider Home

Podcasts and Video
Tough economic times are providing great opportunities for many AVweb readers who are looking to buy an airplane. One of the most popular ownership options, of course, is a partnership. But how do you find compatible partners — people who have the right budgets, flying schedules, maintenance needs, and resources to complement you? The Aircraft Partnership Association can help, with a bevy of online resources ranging from a partnership matching service (think online dating) to spreadsheets and industry data. The APA's David Kruger gave us the low-down on their no-cost, membership-based web site when we met with him at AOPA Expo 2008.
Putting together a new panel can be a painstaking process, involving hours' worth of research, measuring, and comparison shopping — but Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Company hopes to make that a thing of the past. Avionics specialist Ryan Deck explains how their new Panel Planner software suite can help you design the perfect panel for your layout, find the right intruments, and order the parts directly from Aircraft Spruce.
Thinking of buying an airplane but feeling a little scared by the current credit crisis? AirFleet Capital's Jim Blessing sat down with us at AOPA Expo in San Jose to explain why aircraft loans have been somewhat insulated from the credit crunch. With fewer people applying, this might even be a good time to take the plunge.
Diamond Aircraft is bringing affordable glass to the venerable DA20, great news for flight schools everywhere. The new avionics system is the Aspen EFD1000 (Pilot or Pro), and it makes Diamond's DA20 the least-expensive glass-cockpit certified airplane available. Director of Marketing & Sales Mark Lee explains how the company is servicing both the high and low ends of the airplane market.
Kitplanes Editor-in-Chief Marc Cook checks in with JPI vice president Larry Elbert. As it turns out, the company has a lot going on, especially for those of you running lean of peak.
How are those much-touted Light Sport Aircraft faring in this tough economic climate? Flight Design CT distributor Tom Peghiny says that while there has been some scaling back, they're beginning to rebound.
Vendors at AOPA Expo are moving Garmin's new GPSMap 696 nearly as fast as they can get them and Garmin's booth is jammed with would-be buyers. One question that we've heard from several readers is why the 696's approach plates aren't geo-referenced. Does Garmin have plans to do that? Not immediately, says Garmin's Jim Alpiser, who explained that the NACO charts Garmin used in the 696 don't have the necessary geographical data for geo-referencing. AVweb spoke to him after the show opened Thursday morning, and you can here the details of that interview in this podcast.
FlightAware isn't just for tracking any more — now you can plan and file your IFR flight online. CEO Daniel Baker explains the benefits of using FlightAware.com as your one-stop destination for flight-planning.
Eager to stay on the cutting edge of cockpit information systems, Avidyne Corp. has come to this year's AOPA Expo with an incredibly comprehensive suite of weather tools. The Entegra WX Series combines the power of Sirius-based datalink weather, Iridium-based satellite info, an onboard weather radar, and Avidyne's TWX670 lightning-detection system. On top of all those features, it's cost-conscious and useful for pilots outside the U.S., too. Avidyne President Dan Schwinn explains how that's possible.
We've all seen GA stories reported on the local news and in the hometown paper that made us cringe. Aviation stories in the lay media are often inaccurate or unintentionally misleading, and we (specialists, professionals, and aficionados) have a hard time understanding why the media can't get it right. In this podcast, we put the question to someone who knows — Paul Moses, a CBS journalist attending this year's AOPA Expo to receive the Max Karant Award.
Bob Baron is godfather of datalink weather. Not content with putting wx reports in the cockpits and pockets of pilots across the globe, his company (WxWorx) is developing a host of new products to make flying easier in the busy modern skies.
Got a medical issue you're worried about? If you're attending AOPA Expo in San Jose, California, bring your records. Dr. Warren Silberman and air surgeon Fred Tifton will be there to help fast track special issuances. AOPA's Chris Dancy told AVweb that they won't be able to process cases on the spot, but getting your records into the FAA workflow will fast-track your application. Plus: Meet the new president (Craig Fuller, not Barack Obama), the popular "Let's Go Flying" outreach seminars, and a chance to win a Piper Archer II — all at this year's Expo.
 
Glasair's "Two Weeks To Taxi" program has been approved by the FAA. Pilots can now build their own experimental category "homebuilt" aircraft with the help of Glasair technicians inside of two weeks' vacation time. Kitplanes Editor-in-Chief Marc Cook (himself a veteran of the program) talked to Glasair's Harry DeLong at AOPA Expo about the current state of "Two Weeks to Taxi." (Click through to watch.)
A 300+ hp (flat-rated) turbine that weighs well under 300 pounds designed for small general aviation aircraft — is this what the high-end piston market has been waiting for? Pilots may be asking, and Mooney may have an answer, via Rolls Royce. (Click through to watch.)
Over the past couple of days, we've brought your our exclusive interview with outgoing AOPA president Phil Boyer. Now, after 17 years, the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association will have a new chief. Meet Craig Fuller. (Click through to watch.)
Departing Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association president Phil Boyer talks to AVweb and Aviation Consumer's Paul Bertorelli about his 17 years working on behalf of pilots. (Part 1 of 3.) (Click through to watch.)
Departing Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association president Phil Boyer talks to AVweb and Aviation Consumer's Paul Bertorelli about his 17 years working on behalf of pilots. (Part 2 of 3.) (Click through to watch.)
Departing Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association president Phil Boyer talks to AVweb and Aviation Consumer's Paul Bertorelli about his 17 years working on behalf of pilots. (Part 3 of 3.) (Click through to watch.)
You can now own a state-of-the-art Maxviz forward-looking infrared enhanced vision system in your Cirrus G3 — and that sounded so appealing to us that we had to make time to fly with one during the AOPA Expo in San Jose, California. Join us for a quick introduction to the system and its benefits. (Click through to watch.)
Meet Garmin's 696 portable GPS, making its debut at the AOPA Expo in San Jose this week. AVweb and Aviation Consumer's Paul Bertorelli walks you through the basic functionality of the unit and helps you get acquainted with it. (Click through to watch.)

FULL INDEX OF PODCASTS Find All Podcasts Of Interest

Features
It doesn't get much more essential for getting rated engine performance than a properly functioning set of spark plugs.
As winter approaches, days get shorter ... well, not shorter; they're still 24 hours each, but they do get darker. To master nighttime's dark side, shed light on the following questions.
 
Reader mail this week about the TSA, ADS-B, ATC, FSS, NTSB, and more acronyms.
It can best the ILS for minimums and requires no fancy equipment, yet this approach is becoming a thing of the past.

FULL INDEX OF FEATURES Find All Features Of Interest

Top Bizav News
Thanks to the credit crunch and a burgeoning inventory of used business jets, financial analysts are busily rewriting the fairy-tale forecast for business aviation and are predicting a steep decline in orders and deliveries over the next three years. As little as six weeks ago, the predictions were that business aviation would continue to grow through 2010 and then level out or decline modestly. But now the Montreal Gazette is reporting that independent reports by two UBS analysts, Fadi Chamoun and David Strauss, point to the market's peaking this year at 1,080 business jet deliveries followed by declining sales and order books through 2011.
Nov 18, 9:22pm UTC

More Bizav News
About $1.5 billion worth of deals were announced at the Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) show in Dubai this week. The show wrapped up Tuesday with the announcement that Cessna had concluded $90 million in deals that included the sale of three Columbus large-cabin bizjets and four other aircraft to undisclosed buyers.
Nov 18, 8:56pm UTC
Well, while everyone in business aviation seems to be looking at their bottom line, the folks at Emivest (formerly Sino Swearingen) found a brief diversion in monitoring the ground speed of their SJ30 business jet between London and Dubai last week. The speedy little jet covered the 3,470 miles at an average speed of 488 mph to claim the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) record for aircraft weighing less than 20,000 pounds.
Nov 18, 9:58pm UTC
 
Eclipse Aviation employees who have contacted AVweb this week are back at work and say they've been paid for the first half of the month. There has been the inevitable speculation about what will happen on the next payday, but Eclipse's usual spokesperson has not responded to repeated e-mail and phone requests for comment on the current situation.
Nov 18, 8:02pm UTC

FULL INDEX OF BIZ STORIES Find Past Biz Stories Of Interest

JavaScript Menus and DHTML Menus Powered by Milonic


Who's Where
Mike Turner
Mike Turner is the new Marketing and Corporate Communications Director at StandardAero. He was formerly Corporate Communications Manager.

Nov 19, 1:40am UTC

FULL INDEX OF WHO'S WHERE STORIES Find Past Who's Where Stories Of Interest

VIDEO


USAF Monday Blues

No video? Direct link here.

No video? Direct link here.

More Video from AOPA Expo 2008

2 Weeks to Taxi
Rolls Royce Engine

Craig Fuller
Phil Boyer 1

Cirrus EVS
Phil Boyer 2

Garmin 696
Phil Boyer 3

READER-SUBMITTED PHOTOS
previous pauseplay next
Submit a Photo »
QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Who should be the next FAA Administrator?

With the new administration preparing to take office in the U.S., appointments and high-profile positions are on everyone's mind. This week, we'd like to hear what you think of aviation's top office.


Share your Opinion »

FUEL FINDER

FBO OF THE WEEK

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Triangle Aviation at KLEE in Leesburg, Florida.

AVweb reader Dave Wilson had a top-notch experience there recently and wrote to share the details:

[Owner] Neil Fisher was on the ramp to assist in parking my Bonanza; his friendly and courteous attitude was a welcome change for some of the FBOs, where, if you are not a turbine-powered aircraft, you are treated with indifference. The lineman, D. J. Alexander displayed the same courteous, helpful attitude in helping with a courteousy car and local telephone business numbers, along with topping off the fuel tanks with 100LL; the price of the fuel was the lowest I have seen in the Southeast U.S. at $2.95 (for both full service and self-service) with an additional discount for Angel Flight pilots. Receptionist Bristy Jones, while being very busy, was also extremely efficient and courteous; her being there assisted in making this stop a very enjoyable experience.

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...

Overheard in IFR Magazine's 'On the Air' Section
Overheard in IFR Magazine's "On the Air"

Some years ago at Des Moines, Iowa, I was holding in the run-up area when I heard the tower call an airliner:

Tower:
"Airliner 1234, cleared for takeoff. Runway 30 right."

Airliner:
"Tower, we're still waiting for our numbers."

Tower:
"Roger, Airliner 1234. Cancel departure clearance; hold short of the runway."

Airliner:
"Airliner 1234, holding short."/p>

Several seconds later, the pilot's voice came over the frequency, sounding both apologetic and put out:

Airliner Captain:
"Ladies and gentlemen, we're experiencing an air traffic control delay, but we should be on our way shortly, as soon as the tower releases us."

[pause]

Tower:
"Nice speech, Captain, but ATC is not delaying you. Suggest you misinform the passengers on the PA, not my frequency."

Ralph Lund
Mal Paso Creek, California

Submit your story »

Copyright Aviation Publishing Group. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy | Advertise | Contact Us | XMLRSS | Site Map | Top