briefs

A Canadian coroner’s jury is recommending tougher standards for northern pilots (particularly inexperienced ones) and better emergency equipment in its assessment of a crash that resulted in four deaths in the Northwest Territories Dec. 31, 2001. The jurors found that 23-year-old pilot Dana Wentzell took off in bad weather despite warnings from more experienced pilots, […]

While many of us are somewhat familiar with TCAS (Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System) and GPWS (Ground Proximity Warning System) some new high-tech in-cockpit technology promises to go a step beyond the current level of safety-conscious warnings. Honeywell Aerospace is studying whether to produce a product that would take over the aircraft’s flight controls […]

EAA and AOPA have both launched campaigns to save a Florida airport from the condo crowd. A powerful lobby of local developers has forced a vote on the future of St. Petersburg’s Albert Whitted Airport (SPG) and as the plebiscite looms on Tuesday, both sides are firing salvos of advertising and direct mail at the […]

Well, any midair collision you walk away from is a good one, right? The folks at Extra Aircraft are counting their lucky stars after the prototype of the company’s entry to the high-performance touring/business market very nearly became a tragic NTSB statistic, taking the celebrated founder of the company, Walter Extra, with it. Extra, whose […]

Automated weather systems have greatly enhanced our weather data collection but a new system is proving to outdo humans and other forecast models as well. Last week, Harris Corporation unveiled a fuzzy logic-based system for automated, short-term ceiling and visibility forecasts. The announcement was part of the product demonstrations during the Air Traffic Control Association’s […]

As enormous political pressure bears down on a handful of senators holding the key to the future of the FAA reauthorization bill, forces opposing the bill’s handling of air traffic control privatization welcomed a powerful ally. AOPA President Phil Boyer said in a statement Friday that while the 400,000-strong organization supports many of the provisions […]

Congratulations and an AVweb hat go out to Skip Howe, this week’s AVscoop winner. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com. Rules and information are at https://avweb.com/contact/newstips.html.

____________BIZAV BIZAVAVweb’s expanded coverage of business/corporate aviation continues with extensive coverage of NBAA’s annual convention in Orlando.

Nathaniel Heatwole shook the TSA and airline community last week after allegedly placing box cutters, bleach and clay in the lavatories of two Southwest Airlines jets. Now, hes back hitting the books at Guilford College. A news release from the Quaker school confirmed the junior “has returned to his normal academic and campus life routines.” […]

Those who are regularly shoehorned into airliners may enjoy Ira Goldmans new invention. Called the Knee Defender, the beeper-size block of plastic supposedly allows passengers to prevent the seat in front of them from reclining. Although the device has only been for sale about a month now, some debate has arisen in online chat rooms […]