GAMA Sees 'Signs Of Recovery'

Although delivery numbers for general aviation aircraft manufactured in the U.S. were down by 3.5 percent in 2011 over the year before, the numbers do show "reasons for optimism," Caroline Daniels, chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association said on Wednesday. At the annual news conference for the release of industry data, Daniels said the hoped-for turnaround did not take place last year, "but we did see signs of recovery." Total billings were up about 0.4 percent. Deliveries were down in all segments, Daniels said, but the declines generally were in the "single digits." A few companies did show their deliveries were flat and several showed improvement, Daniels said.

Nigeria Plans 'Aerotropolis'

In the U.S., airports generally are sited far beyond the outer edges of urban areas, but a new project in Nigeria aims to make the airport the very center of the city. The proposed Minna Airport City/Aerotropolis Project will consist of two runways that cross diagonally, with a control tower in the middle, and a city built in the areas between the runways, with hotels, shops, a conference center, a hospital, and a manufacturing district, according to a recent story in Miller-McCune. Currently there is a general aviation airport on the site, with an 11,000-foot runway, that handles fewer than 10 flights a day. The airport district would extend well beyond the airport boundary, and connect to other nearby urban areas. The country, which is the most populous state in Africa, is trying to diversify its economy and develop more agricultural and mineral exports.

Opponents Unite Against EU Carbon Tax

Government representatives from at least 26 countries are meeting in Moscow to discuss their opposition to the European Union's controversial aviation carbon tax. The group, which includes the U.S., China and Russia, says the carbon tax is really a trade barrier disguised as an environmental incentive and many, including the U.S., have passed legislation against participating in the scheme. But the EU says its plan, which sees airlines pay escalating taxes for going over diminishing allotments of emissions over the next eight years, is a necessary part of the global effort to fight climate change. Those opposed say Europe is welcome to carry that torch but airlines flying to and from European destinations shouldn't be subject to the tax. There are now signs the issue could blow up into a trade war.

Of Spitfires and Martial Music

Or how to waste an entire afternoon on YouTube looking for something you didn't know you wanted.

Boeing Hosts A Presidential Visit

Companies like Boeing that create jobs in the U.S. instead of shipping them overseas should be rewarded with tax breaks, President Obama said during a visit to the manufacturer in Everett, Wash., on Friday. Boeing has put "thousands of folks to work all over the country," Obama said. "We want to see more of this. We need to make it as easy as we can for our companies to create more jobs in America. And that starts with our tax code." He said he also wants to make it easier for companies like Boeing to export their products. Obama filmed his weekly address from the plant, with airplanes under construction in the background.

China And Russia Launch GA Venture

Companies from China and Russia have teamed up to build their own line of general aviation aircraft ranging from four to 12 seats, Xinhua reported this week. China Oriental Sciences Group, China-Russia International Investment Company and KB-SAT, a Russian aircraft design company, signed an agreement last week in Beijing, according to Xinhua. The consortium will invest $1.27 billion to build a manufacturing facility this year in China's Inner Mongolia region. The group expects to start producing airplanes early next year, and produce 400 airplanes a year by 2016. "China's general aviation industry is at its initial stage of development, and the market demand is huge," said Zhuang Zhong, president of China Oriental Sciences Group, which is based in Beijing.

Bonus Depreciation Stripped From Bill

An extension of 100-percent bonus depreciation was stripped from the bill to extend payroll tax relief. The bill was approved by both houses last week and is now ready for the president's signature. It's a derivative of the same legislation that caused a major political crisis before Christmas as the polarized Congress finally agreed to a short-term extension of the tax cut and put off consideration of the entire bill for two months. In its original form, 100-percent bonus depreciation for business purchases was extended for another year but the bill that was finally approved does not contain that language.

Chinese Pilot Wants To Form Aerobatic Team

Wei Chen, a Chinese citizen and Memphis resident who flew around the world in his TBM700 and became the first Chinese "earthrounder," says he wants to start the first civilian aerobatic team in his home country. Thanks to the growing number of airshows in China in recent years, aerobatic performance is in booming demand. Several western and Chinese military teams flew during different events last year and wowed crowds of spectators. Last month Wei inked a letter of intent with the Xi'An provincial government's aviation arm to jointly form an aerobatic team. The aircraft of choice are Nanchang CJ-6s and Extra 300s. Wei told AVweb in an interview that he plans to enlist all Chinese GA pilots for the team and borrow western experience and safety standards for its operation. Also in the plan is the formation of a GA exhibition company. "My goal is the same as always. I want to promote GA and the passion for flying in China," Wei said.

Pilots Walk Away From R22/Bonanza Midair

Both pilots walked away after a Beech Bonanza and Robinson R22 touched in midair near Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday. The R22 lost its tail rotor in the collision but the pilot was apparently uninjured, and was sitting in the car of a bystander when rescue crews arrived. "She was a little shaken up, but she was completely with it," Capt. Brandon Wilson of the Rio Vista Fire Department told CNN. "Initially, she didn't want to go to the hospital." The Bonanza continued flying for about 20 miles before the pilot made either a forced or precautionary landing in a field near Byron. He was uninjured.

FBO of the Week: Baxley Air (KBHC, Baxley, Georgia)

>>> AVWEB FUEL FINDERCURRENT PRICE FOR 100LL: $5.76 (up 3¢ from last week)CURRENT PRICE FOR JET A: $5.51 (up 5¢ from last week)Fuel prices provided weekly by AirNav, based on prices from the past 2 weeks. Changes are relative to last week's prices. /TEXT_ONLY-->AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Baxley Air at Baxley Municipal Airport (KBHC) in (you guessed it) Baxley, Georgia.AVweb reader Krista Miller recommended the FBO after making an unscheduled stop last month:These guys are lifesavers! My friend John talked me into a 400-nm January ultralight trip from South Carolina to Florida. By mid-Georgia, my feet were frozen! [The staff at Baxley] recognized a damsel in distress and went to work with plastic bags and gorilla tape to cover my sneakers. Thanks to them, the rest of the flight was in comfort! Friendly, helpful, excellent!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!

Podcast: This Year's Collier Nominees

Every year since 1910, the National Aeronautics Association has awarded the Collier Trophy for the "greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America." This year's nominees were recently announced, and AVweb's Mary Grady spoke with Jonathan Gaffney, the president of NAA, about the choices and the selection process.This podcast is brought to you by Bose Corporation.

Short Final

Overheard while listening to an area radar center in England during the early '80s. Two United States Air Force Europe fast jets climbing out of a low flying area were trying to locate each other to join formation."Ratch 13":"Ratch 12, where are you?""Ratch 12":"Ratch 13, one mile south of Chester.""Ratch 13":"Ratch 12, say again.""Ratch 12":"Chester! Chester!"An undentified voice, in a strong Western Drawl:"I'm a-comin', Marshall Dillon!"Readers of a certain age will remember "Gunsmoke"!Gary Brindlevia e-mail

Video: Gippsland Airvan Flight Trial

Australian-based Gippsland has sold its GA8 Airvan all over the world, and now it's got a follow-on model, the GA8TC, with a turbocharged Lycoming TIO-540. AVweb got a crack at trialing the airplane recently, and here's our video report on the model.

GAO: FAA Behind Schedule, Over Budget On NextGen

The FAA needs to improve its management practices to ensure that the NextGen air traffic system is implemented without further cost overruns and delays, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released this week. The GAO reviewed 30 major programs involved in NextGen and found that half of them were behind schedule and costs had increased from initial estimates by a total of $4.2 billion. The delays ranged from two months to more than 14 years behind schedule, and averaged four years. The FAA didn't comment on whether or not it agreed with the GAO analysis, the GAO said, but the FAA did send a statement to AVweb. "The GAO report includes air traffic programs that are not part of the NextGen portfolio," FAA Public Affairs wrote in an email. "However, from 2004 - 2011, the FAA was 0.8 percent under budget across all major system acquisitions."

Video: P-51C Mustang Flight Demo and Cockpit Tour

There's only one P-51C Mustang in the world with dual controls, although a couple of D-models have the spare stick, too. In this video, AVweb's Paul Bertorelli takes a hop in the back seat of the Collings Foundation's Betty Jane, and pilot Mark Murphy gives us an in-depth cockpit tour.

Collings Bomber Tour Comes to Town

You really ought to see these airplanes while you still can.

Icon A5 Meets Elusive Spin-Resistant Standard

The Icon A5 amphibious light sport aircraft has met a spin-resistant standard beyond what is required for its certification, the company said on Thursday. Under the LSA standards, aircraft must be either "spin recoverable" or "spin resistant." The A5 has met the criteria for "spin resistant," which are spelled out in Part 23, the rules that apply to certified aircraft. "This milestone will make the A5 the first production aircraft in history to be designed to and completely comply with the FAA's full-envelope Part 23 spin-resistance standards, developed from NASA's work on the topic," the company said. Icon engineers met the standard by creating a cuffed wing design that uses multiple proprietary airfoils across the span of the wing.

Note To Drug Runners - Check TFRs Before Flight

A Cessna 182 that violated a presidential TFR in southern California on Thursday morning posed no threat to President Obama, officials said, but the pilot faces prosecution because authorities discovered 40 pounds of marijuana inside the airplane. Two Air Force F-16s scrambled to intercept the Cessna after it strayed into a eight-mile-wide TFR where Marine One was carrying the president. The 182 landed at Long Beach Airport, where the pilot was questioned by Homeland Security and Secret Service investigators. They determined that he intended no harm to the president, and turned him over to local police. Investigators declined to say how close the 182 was to the Marine One helicopter.

Podcast: Preserving Aviation's Historical Record

The nuts-and-bolts history of early aviation is in the drawings, technical descriptions and test reports of the airplanes of the era, and that information is now preserved and accessible thanks to Greg Herrick. AVweb's Russ Niles spoke with Herrick about his 15-year effort to ensure the FAA keeps that information permanently and about the Herrick Amendment that's in the latest FAA reauthorization bill.This podcast is brought to you by Bose Corporation.

Reno Races IMAX Film Coming To U.S.

Air Racers 3D, a 40-minute-long IMAX film about the Reno National Championship Air Races, will be coming to U.S. theaters in April, the filmmakers said recently. It's the first film about the races ever shot completely in 3D, and "unprecedented access" to the course was granted, according to the filmmakers. The film will be shown at the National Infantry Museum in Columbus, Ga., and the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla., starting April 5, with other theaters to follow. The Reno footage was shot in 2009 and 2010, and has been in production for two years. The film also features many airshow performers, including Canada's Snowbirds, the late Greg Poe flying his MX2, and Kent Pietsch, known for landing his Interstate Cadet on top of a moving truck (Click here for an exclusive AVweb video of this stunt.)

Pipistrel Pilot Lands In Antarctica

It's not every day that a light sport aircraft lands in Antarctica, but on Thursday, Matevz Lenarcic touched down there in a Virus SW 914 Turbo, marking the first time a Pipistrel has landed on the continent. His aircraft has been modified with an Intercooler unit to be able to withstand temperatures as low as minus-60 degrees Fahrenheit, Pipistrel said in a news release. Lenarcic is about one-third of the way through a round-the-world flight that launched on Jan. 7 from Slovenia. He plans to fly over all seven continents and take photographs of more than 120 national parks. He'll also fly above some of the planet's tallest mountains, including Mount Everest. Lenarcic also is collecting atmospheric data for research during his flight.

Question of the Week: Pilot Confidence and Competence

This week's question comes from an AVweb reader who wants to know about your confidence as a pilot. Dave Coriaty asks, "At what point in your flying career did you honestly feel to be at your peak of competence in all piloting situtations?"Plus: Last week, we asked AVweb readers which aviation innovation should take home this year's Robert J. Collier Trophy; click through to read what AVweb readers had to say on the subject.

British Spitfire Builders Attract Support

A group of aviation enthusiasts in the U.K. is steadily moving ahead with an ambitious plan to build a fleet of 90-percent-scale Spitfires, and the interest sparked by the project may have helped to save their local airport. Paul Fowler, owner of The Enstone Flying Club, attracted a lot of publicity with his plan to build a squadron of Spitfire replicas. The project drew visitors to the airport, and the local support to keep the field active seems to have been a factor in thwarting a proposal to build a solar powerplant on the field that would have interfered with flying. "It would be a tragedy if we lost this airfield, as it's one of the few places left like this in the country, and the chances of finding a place like this again are zero," Fowler told the Banbury Guardian.

Heli-Expo Draws Crowds And Buyers To Dallas

Heli-Expo, the annual event for vertical aviators, closed out on Tuesday with record attendance, reporting more than 19,000 visitors to the four-day show in Dallas. More than 650 exhibitors filled the show floor, and 60 helicopters were on display. Eurocopter announced sales of 191 aircraft at the show, valued at $1.44 billion. "For the whole of last year we sold 170 helicopters," Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling told Agence France Presse. "This year, we sold 191 in just three days." Of those sales, the newly upgraded EC130 T2, designed for tourism and transport, counted for 105. Russian Helicopters showed its new medium-lift aircraft, the Mi-171A2, a heavily upgraded version of the popular Soviet-era Mi-8. The new design features modern avionics, new engines, composite rotor blades, and seats for up to 26 passengers. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2014.

Coming Soon: Era Of UAS?

The new FAA reauthorization bill that was signed into law this week by President Obama (PDF) creates a fast track for the integration of civil unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace. The legislation states that the FAA and the UAS industry must work together to develop a "comprehensive plan" by mid-November that will safely achieve the full integration of UAS by Sept. 30, 2015. Deadlines for certain smaller systems are set even sooner. For example, first responders will be allowed to fly small UAS weighing 4.4 pounds or less within 90 days. And within six months, the FAA must designate six test ranges where the UAS can fly to develop their sense-and-avoid capabilities.