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A pilot’s eye: EAA AirVenture 2010 |
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EAA AIRVENTURE 2010A pilot’s eye: EAA AirVenture 2010Torrential rains turned to sunny skies for EAA AirVenture 2010, drying up the soaked ground that once threatened to limit parking availability for the anticipated arrival of droves of aircraft. A cavalcade of DC-3s flew in to start the festivities at the world's largest airshow, and exhibits included warbirds, seaplanes, light sport aircraft, and large cargo jets of days past. Aviation legends and industry powerhouses talked about exciting flights, new products, and innovative aircraft, and supporting general aviation on AOPA Live, a live broadcast that continues on the AOPA home page through Friday at 2 p.m. central time. Take a look at the show from the eyes of an aviator in AOPA’s online photo gallery. View the editor’s top picks in this slide show >> EPA confirms: No lead ban deadline looms on avgasThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed July 27 that it has not set a deadline for the removal of lead from avgas—and that it will coordinate closely with industry stakeholders in the development of a solution to the issue. “EPA has not established or proposed any date by which lead emissions from aircraft operating on leaded avgas would need to be reduced,” wrote Margo Oge, director of the office of transportation and air quality for the EPA. “In fact EPA does not have authority to control aviation fuels.” Read more >> GA advocacy groups stand unitedThe general aviation community is on the path to finding a viable solution to the problem of leaded avgas—together—association heads assured type clubs and the press in a briefing at EAA AirVenture July 27. It’s a complicated issue, the association presidents acknowledged, but one they are committed to addressing as a united front. “We take this coalition very, very seriously,” said AOPA President Craig Fuller. Read more >> Cobalt unveils piston pusherCobalt Aircraft Industries, a French start-up, unveiled its new five-place composite pusher design at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., July 28. The all-composite Co50’s design features a wide, electrically actuated panoramic canopy and a canard for stall resistance and high-speed performance. It will be propelled by a 350-horsepower twin-turbocharged Continental TSIOF-550-D2B in a pusher configuration, with FADEC and its attendant single-lever power control. Projected maximum cruise speed is 245 KTAS; at a 75-percent cruise power setting at 8,000 feet, the Co50 is expected to cruise at 220 knots while burning 25 gph. Read more >>
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GA NewsRoush transferred to Mayo Clinic after crashNASCAR team owner and aviation enthusiast Jack Roush was transferred to the Mayo Clinic July 28 after a landing accident at EAA AirVenture the day before, according to a report on the Roush Fenway Racing website. Roush remained in serious but stable condition Wednesday after sustaining serious injuries in an accident on Runway 18 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis., July 27. He was landing his Hawker Beechcraft Premier jet when the accident occurred, according to a team report. Read more >> Airvan gets turbocharged, turbine version comingGippsAero received the FAA type certificate for the Airvan GA8 TC-320, a turbocharged version of its eight-seat utility aircraft, at AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., July 27. The airplane, powered by a Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A turning an 80-inch Hartzell three-blade scimitar prop, is proving popular with the Mission Aviation Fellowship in Papua New Guinea and other operators faced with hot and high conditions. The company said it also plans to offer two new Airvan models. The single-engine GA10 will be powered by a Rolls-Royce turboprop. Read more >> Belite offers bare-bones aircraft priceNow you can get in the air, in a Belite ultralight under FAA Part 103 regulations, for $28,655. The aircraft weighs just 254 pounds and is powered by a 50-horsepower Hirth engine. The Belite Superlite aircraft was named the 2010 Grand Champion Ultralight at Sun ‘n Fun earlier this year. Belite aircraft models are all designed to provide recreational flyers with economically priced, easy to build and operate aircraft that make flying affordable and accessible. Read more >> Embraer touts fly-by-wire system for Legacy 450, 500Embraer Executive Vice President of Executive Jets Luis Carlos Affonso unveiled more details of the fly-by-wire (FBW) systems that will control the company’s next airplanes—the Legacy 450 and Legacy 500. The 500, a mid-size jet, and the 450—a “mid light” jet, to use Embraer parlance—will be the smallest business jets to use FBW systems. Instead of the conventional cables and pulleys of a mechanical flight control system, the FBW system in the 450 and 500 uses digital commands from onboard computers to generate movements of the airplane’s ailerons, elevator, rudder, and thrust levers. Autothrottles will be standard in both models. Read more >>
Socata innovates toward 100th anniversarySocata is counting down: 365 days until the 100th anniversary celebration for the aircraft manufacturer. The manufacturer of the TBM 850 traces its roots to 1911 when the Morane-Saulnier company was born. Today Socata is a part of Daher-Socata, and it is planning a yearlong celebration in 2011 culminating at AirVenture 2011 when company officials hope some 100 aircraft from the varied product lines will converge on Oshkosh, Wis. Daher CEO Patrick Daher, grandson of the founder, started a countdown clock to next year’s party at a press conference on July 27. Read more >> Avidyne touts new autopilotsAvidyne founder Dan Schwinn said the pioneering avionics firm’s new DFC90 autopilot will be a technology foundation for a variety of upcoming safety features. The autopilot offers new “flight envelope protection” features that guard against critically high or low airspeeds and prevent autopilot-induced stalls, Schwinn said July 27 at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis. The DFC90 also has a “straight and level” button that automatically recovers aircraft from unusual attitudes. Read more >> Tempest starts it up with new startersTempest has expanded its product line to include new starters for a variety of Teledyne Continental Motors, company officials said July 27. The Gibsonville, N.C., company already makes spark plugs, oil filters, and carburetors. The new starters for TCM engines claim to draw less current, last longer, and operate more reliably than other starters. Tempest is launching a new “Products of Champions” marketing campaign with aerobatic performers Sean D. Tucker and Kirby Chambliss. Both pilots praised Tempest and its employees on July 27. “The people that build these products are humble, passionate, and they care about craftsmanship,” Tucker said. “That’s important to me when I’m flying 10 feet off the ground at 250 miles an hour.” Oma Sud offers utility twinOma Sud Sky Technologies, an aircraft manufacturer based in Capua, Italy, brought its twin-engine Skycar with rearward-facing Lycoming engines to EAA AirVenture. It also features a twin-boom tail that allows for a rear cargo door. The rear door can be opened in flight for air-dropping emergency supplies. It was designed for day/night/IFR operations, and can operate on unprepared grass or dirt strips. The aircraft has retractable gear and a useful load of 1,268 pounds and carries 95 gallons of useable fuel. Design work on the aircraft began in 1988. The company has a subsidiary operation at Opa-Locka Executive Airport in Miami. Two Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 engines rated at 200 horsepower power it. The company hopes to win FAA certification by December. New online weather site offered by BaronBaron, the company that brings you Baron WxWorx and XM Weather, now offers Baron QuikLink at prices ranging from $14.99 per month to $49.99 per month. The service offers graphical weather information over virtually any Internet connection. The website offers NEXRAD radar, lightning, storm tracking, METARs/TAFs, winds aloft, icing, and more. It enables pilots to view weather data by altitude, as well as to overlay multiple data products simultaneously. Baron QuikLink offers the following three service plans: Wings ($14.99 per month), Wings Plus ($24.99 per month), and Wings Elite ($49.99 per month). ‘The Aviators’ coming to PBSThe broadcast premiere of The Aviators, a new, weekly magazine-style television series, will take place this September on PBS; many of the 356 public television stations across the United States are expected to carry it this fall. But pilots attending EAA AirVenture can attend the world premiere of the first episode at the Theater in the Woods on July 30 and 31. The first episode features segments on the Tiger Moth biplane, “Miracle on the Hudson” co-pilot Jeff Skiles, flat spins, the Air Force’s mammoth C-5M transport, and AirVenture itself. Read more >> Hawker adds synthetic vision, aircraft certified in ChinaHawker Beechcraft now includes as standard equipment Garmin’s synthetic vision technology on its piston-engine Beechcraft Baron and Bonanza aircraft. The upgraded offerings will be introduced on production aircraft beginning in August. In other Hawker news, the company received certification for its Beechcraft Baron G58 and Beechcraft Bonanza G36 aircraft from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Read more >>
Reporting Points: Let the games begin…Ever wonder what it’s like during set up for EAA AirVenture? AOPA Pilot Senior Editor Dave Hirschman gives you a glimpse behind the scenes. “Everything from new concept aircraft such as the pre-prototype Cobalt are here along with a U.S. Air Force Global Hawk UAV and vintage airplanes dating back to the first decade of the 20th Century,” Hirschman writes. Read more and see the pictures >> More GA NewsAaron Tippin and ‘Fifi’ join forcesKansas State receives grant, expands UAS programNew system helps students learn communicationsRemos under the microscopeKings winner to get Alaskan pilot experienceOlivers win airshow performer awardDC-3 returns to the sky
AOPA, NBAA announce Light Business Airplane ConferenceFrom “Why?” to “how to,” AOPA and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) will help pilots make the most of their light general aviation aircraft as business tools this fall at each group’s annual convention. Speaking on AOPA Live at EAA AirVenture, AOPA President Craig Fuller and NBAA President Ed Bolen unveiled the six forums that will be presented at the Light Business Airplane Conference at the annual conventions. “Business aviation involves the use of any general aviation airplane for business, and our jointly hosted conference really drives that point home,” said Bolen. Read more >> Behind the Kestrel projectKestrel Aircraft Chairman and CEO Alan Klapmeier discusses his current project, an all-composite, turboprop, single-engine airplane known as the Kestrel. The Kestrel accommodates six to eight passengers, with a cruising speed around 350 knots (up to 31,000 feet). Klapmeier headed the unveiling of the proof-of-concept aircraft during EAA AirVenture. Watch AOPA Live >> Lancair kitplanes revealedEver wondered what it takes to assemble a kitplane? Are they safe? Do you need mechanical expertise? In this video, Lancair Director of Marketing and Sales Doug Meyer explains the Lancair product line and sheds some light on what it takes to build a kitplane. Watch AOPA Live >> Remos steps up to cross-country challengeIs a light sport aircraft a practical cross-country flying machine? AOPA Pilot Senior Editor Dave Hirschman and AOPA Live Executive Producer Warren Morningstar loaded up the AOPA Fun to Fly Sweepstakes Remos GX for the 630-nautical-mile flight from Frederick, Md., to EAA AirVenture 2010 in Oshkosh, Wis. They put the little machine to the test. Watch AOPA Live >> Bose A20 headset debutsBose Product Manager Matt Ruwe explains the A20 headset’s cutting-edge technology and how it benefits pilots with an array of new features. Watch AOPA Live >> Model aviatorsDid you know that many pilots caught the passion for aviation by flying radio-controlled (RC) aircraft? The Academy of Model Aeronautics is at EAA AirVenture, bringing pilots and model pilots together. Academy of Model Aeronautics Director of Marketing Jeff Nance and Navy Capt. Tom Huff chat about the fun, growing hobby of RC flying. Watch AOPA Live >> Aspen’s geo-reference charts decodedAspen Avionics President and CEO John Uczekaj discusses the company’s new geo-reference charts and core technology, known as MEMS, which provides an electronic means of measuring motion. Watch AOPA Live >> Tune in to AOPA Live for live programming from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central time Wednesday and 9:40 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday during AirVenture. For daily news updates, see AOPA Online.
Safety & ProficiencyFAA warns GA accident rate needs improvementFAA Administrator Randy Babbitt warned that general aviation accident numbers are “…candidly, not where I or the folks in the FAA would like them to be.” Progress toward a lower accident rate has constantly improved, but the goal set by FAA officials has not been met, he said. He said AOPA and Experimental Aircraft Association officials are working to help reduce the accident rate through safety programs. This year so far there have been 120 fatal GA accidents. That’s down 8 percent, but Babbitt said he wants it down further than that. Read more >> Summer weather calls for thunderstorm awarenessIt’s simple: Airplanes and thunderstorms don’t mix. These convective beasts can produce airframe-shattering turbulence, damaging hail, sudden and dramatic wind shear, blinding downpours, and strong, gusty winds—sometimes as much as 20 miles from the edge of a cell. The good news: It’s not difficult to avoid these violent storms—if you know how to use the tools at your disposal. Enter the AOPA Air Safety Foundation’s Thunderstorm Awareness Safety Spotlight, which gathers in one place essential courses, quizzes, and publications associated with this topic so you don’t have to hunt for it. Planning an international escape this summer?Pay close attention if you have not used eAPIS (Electronic Advance Passenger Information System) before: You’re required to electronically submit passenger/crew manifests and flight information to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) if the flight departs or enters the United States. The AOPA Air Safety Foundation’s online course, Understanding eAPIS: A Pilot’s Guide to Online Customs Reporting , provides step-by-step guidance to familiarize you with the system. The course uses Microsoft flight simulator to provide a realistic view of arrival, departure, and diversion scenarios. With ample ammunition to tackle the e-forms, you should ace your eAPIS registration. Take the course >>
Reduce the cost of flyingIs the expense of flying keeping you on the ground more than you’d like? Join AOPA Senior Aviation Technical Specialist Rodney Martz and Dave Hirschman, senior editor and author of AOPA Pilot’s popular “Frugal Flier” column, in a Webinar Aug. 11 as they share ways to trim flight costs, both short- and long term. The discussion will cover ownership options, aircraft maintenance, ways to put your aircraft to work, and more. Register for 3 or 9 p.m. Eastern time. Share your opinion on safety with new online pollHave you been itching for that opportunity to share your humble opinion with the AOPA Air Safety Foundation? You’re in luck: The foundation is launching a weekly pilot poll on its home page and looks forward to your steadfast participation. Each week, the foundation will post an interesting topic, giving you a chance to submit your view. Share your opinion >> Air Safety eJournal: Down in Lake MichiganA Cessna 206 flying a cancer patient from Michigan to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota went down in Lake Michigan. The volunteer pilot who had flown numerous medical assistance flights did not appear to be affiliated with any of the organized volunteer medical flight groups. Read more >> Helicopter CFIFlight instruction is some of the most demanding flying a helicopter pilot can do. A CFI must allow extremely inexperienced people to manipulate the flight controls, typically in a light, highly responsive, and unforgiving Robinson R22 (the most popular helicopter for primary flight instruction). As such, the briefest bit of inattention can turn a helicopter into a pile of twisted metal. Read more >>
ADVOCACYChanges to airline training hours in short-term FAA billHouse Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) and aviation subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) introduced a short-term FAA funding extension July 28 that also includes provisions for airline pilot training requirements. Once passed, the Airline Safety and FAA Extension Act of 2010 would continue the FAA’s aviation programs, taxes, and expenditure authority until Sept. 30. The House and Senate hope to have a long-term funding bill passed by then. The bill would require the airline transport pilot certificate in order to fly right seat on the airlines and additional training. It also addresses pilot fatigue, requiring the FAA to implement new pilot flight and duty time rules within a year after reviewing scientific research on fatigue. Read more >> Hundreds at EAA turn out to ‘Meet the Administrator’FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt put himself and his agency on the front line July 29 when he stood before hundreds who turned out for a “Meet the Administrator” forum at EAA AirVenture. With him was a surprise guest, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. LaHood stressed the importance his department and the Obama administration place on general aviation. “GA is a critical, absolutely important element of our aviation system in this country and in the world,” he said. Read more >> TSA, DHS open dialogue with GA community on securityDepartment of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Transportation Security Administration Administrator John Pistole got a glimpse at the heart of general aviation at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., this week. It was the first time that the two—and anyone in those positions—had been to the show, which brings together thousands of GA pilots from around the world. During their visit at Oshkosh, the two met with AOPA and other GA associations and industry leaders to reaffirm their commitment to solve GA security issues and maintain an open dialogue with the industry. Read more >> Individual California CFIs are not subject to costly regAs the Aug. 1 implementation deadline for California’s Private Postsecondary Act of 2009 looms, AOPA has been working with state legislators to delay the effective date and revise the law. The law was originally meant to protect students at postsecondary schools and provide more business accountability for those schools, but it has unnecessarily created confusion and difficulties for those engaged in providing flight training, including apparent requirements for flight schools to pay multiple new administrative fees and open their books to regulators. The association has been reviewing the current law and seeking clarification on who is actually affected by the new requirements. Read more >> Wisconsin Aviation Week celebrates AirVentureWisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle issued a proclamation dubbing July 26 through Aug. 1 “Wisconsin Aviation Week.” The move coincides with EAA AirVenture, where pilots converge on Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis., to camp out under aircraft wings, mingle with fellow aviators, attend safety and maintenance forums, and watch spectacular aerobatic performances. The proclamation recognizes that the state’s 132 public-use airports and 148 heliports are key to business and helped facilitate transportation of more than 94 million pounds of cargo in 2009. Read more >> FAA issues AD affecting 42,000 Piper aircraftAn airworthiness directive (AD) requiring the inspection and possible replacement of the pilot and copilot control wheel shafts on the Piper PA-28, PA-32, PA-34, and PA-44 could affect nearly 42,000 airplanes. AOPA had filed formal comments in January opposing the AD, stating that the FAA needed to refine the number of aircraft that would be impacted because the amount of work and cost involved would place a burden on aircraft owners. Read more >>
Airport master plan updates finally approved for VeniceAfter three years of debate, the Venice City Council passed a motion to approve and file an updated airport layout plan with the FAA for Venice Municipal Airport on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The approved plan is geared to increase the safety at the airport and bring it into compliance with current airport design standards for a facility of Venice Municipal’s size. Read more >> Seaplane pilots seek continued access to Ross LakeThe National Park Service is creating a management plan for Ross Lake National Recreation Area in Washington that would affect a wide variety of activities and could impact seaplane operations on the lake. AOPA is working with local pilots and the Washington Seaplane Pilots Association to ensure that seaplanes will still have access to the lake and is calling on individual pilots to register their concerns. Read more >> Backcountry airstrip resolution passesThe House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed a backcountry airstrip resolution July 29 by voice vote. The resolution “recognizes the value of recreational aviation and backcountry airstrips located on the Nation’s public lands and commends aviators and the various private organizations that maintain these airstrips for public use.” Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.), House GA Caucus co-chairs Allen Boyd (D-Fla.) and Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.), Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), and Rep. Walt Minnick (D-Idaho), introduced the resolution in June and gathered support through a Dear Colleague letter. Recreational aviation and backcountry airstrips serve a vital role for emergency flight operations, fire fighting, wildlife management, and tourism.
Time running out to participate in GA surveyAircraft owners who received a postcard invitation or survey by mail for the FAA’s annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey have until Aug. 31 to complete it and return it to the FAA or fill it out online. AOPA encourages those who received a survey to complete it because the information gathered helps the FAA to determine funding for infrastructure and service needs, assess the impact of regulatory changes, and measure aviation safety. The confidential survey is being conducted by the PA Consulting Group. AOPA Now: FAA administrator on safety, avgas, and the value of GAOne of the best things about coming to events like EAA AirVenture and AOPA’s Aviation Summit is the opportunity for the general aviation community to hear directly from top-level officials, like FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. Read more >>
Member BenefitsLapsed medical problem eased by AOPAWhen Lance Anderson of Waterville, Maine, developed some fears over whether he could pass his FAA medical, he let his medical lapse. He started flying an X-Air, an 85-horsepower light sport aircraft which he describes as “a good little airplane.” He was happy flying low and slow around his home base early in the morning. But then, he became a grandfather for the first time and started thinking how nice it would be to jump in an airplane to visit his grandson. That’s when he started thinking in earnest about getting his medical back. Read more >> Your new partner: AOPA Business Card with WorldPointsLike any good business partner, the AOPA Business Card with WorldPoints works with you by helping to keep your small business running smoothly. What’s better, the enhanced WorldPoints Rewards program now allows you to transfer rewards points between your AOPA business and consumer WorldPoints cards. That, coupled with more than 700 redemption options including cash, merchandise, and travel options, makes the AOPA Business Card a great value. Read more >>
Hertz offers special savings to AOPA membersAs an AOPA member, renting your next vehicle from Hertz not only gives you up to 25 percent off and free enrollment in the #1 Club Gold Program, but you’ll also receive special bonus savings. Save up to $35 off a weekly or weekend rental when PC#142564 is included in your reservation of an economy or higher class car. Just book your vehicle before Aug. 15. The offer is valid for pickup through Sept. 30. Reserve your car today. A portion of all revenue generated will be returned to AOPA and reinvested to support the association’s daily efforts to maintain the freedom, safety, and affordability of general aviation. Learn how to keep young and fly longer at SummitMaintaining good health is a goal shared by all. But for a pilot it’s not just a goal; it’s a necessity. This year at AOPA Aviation Summit you can choose from a variety of health forums designed to help you stay healthy and keep your medical. Attend “Keep Young and Fly Forever” and learn how to keep your brain fit to fly by practicing the top five brain skills needed to stay at peak at any age. Also, be sure to stop by “What's So Special about Special Issuances?” Read more>> Community
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