Well-known Glasair III builder Terry Morris and his passenger, Erin Bartone, both of Tamarac, FL, survived a mishap at Sun-n-Fun without serious injuries. Nonetheless, it was a close call that left Ms Bartone slightly injured. Terry's award-winning Glasair, "Jawbreaker," wound up inverted and leaking fuel, "substantially damaged" according to the NTSB investigator.

Local Pilots Still Not Happy

In the battle over airspace near Detroit (MI), the Air National Guard has graciously blinked -- and yet, it may not be enough. The 127th Wing, based at Selfridge ANGB, wants to expand the Class D airspace around the base to protect aircraft making circling approaches. "It's mainly a safety issue," said Mike LaJoy, the base's air traffic control manager. He was quoted in the newspaper "Macomb Daily." The original ANG proposal, which drew the ire of the EAA and other advocates, called for increasing the entire Class D sector. But the outcry was so sharp that LaJoy and his colleagues quickly pulled back. That would have caused huge problems for pilots flying in and out of Ray Community Airport in nearby Ray Township.

AVEMCO Insurance Company is the newest sponsor of the industry-wide BE A PILOT education and outreach effort to increase consumer understanding of personal flying and help bring more new people into aviation. AVEMCO has undertaken a $25,000 "Bronze" major sponsorship for 2004 to increase educational resources for better understanding of renter's insurance in non-owned aircraft operations.

As more and more about gyroplane stability and control is understood more and more widely, an effective horizontal stabilizer and powerful rudder are important tools to counteract any pitch instability, and wind-induced yaw, respectively. Nobody takes stability and control more seriously than Jim Mayfield and the gang at American Autogyro Incorporated, of Buckeye, Arizona, and the AAI Sparrowhawk gyro has a large, cruciform tail - an empennage that means business.

Do It by Moonlight!!! With weather more reminiscent of a spring evening up north (that's cool, dry and clear for those who can't remember) the last glows of pinks and oranges faded in the west and the night air show at Lakeland was about to begin. A $5 bill was the fee to attend the dynamic light show. For that small payment four of the five categories of aircraft were represented during the hour plus show and even "Elvis" sang a few songs.

Klyde Takes On The Anti-Aviation Groundhogs

Administration Grants AOPA Petition For Public Meetings

The FAA on Friday finally agreed to hold public meetings to hear directly from pilots who will be hurt by a proposed charity/sightseeing rule and will extend the formal comment period on the rule. The agency granted AOPA's petition five months after it was filed on November 12, 2003.

Was Campaigning For Political Office

For Indian movie goers, it was as if a star the likes of Jodie Foster or Sigourney Weaver had been lost. The Telugu-language actress Soundarya was killed along with three others Saturday when their chartered Cessna 180 went down shortly after take-off.

The world’s best-selling mid-size business jet is about to get better in Brazil. The Hawker 800XP equipped with Collins Pro Line 21 avionics has received export approval from the Centro Tecnico Aeroespacial (CTA) and the follow-up certification is expected soon. The first delivery occurred in December to a customer in Sao Paulo.

Save Some Money In The Process

Approach Aviation has always been out to get pilots under the cowling. The idea is, the more we know about how the aircraft works, the more apt we are to save money in performing routine tasks like opening inspection plates and save a lot of billable mechanic time. That's the idea behind Approach's new emergency spark plug kit.

For Sale: Cessna 182 Fixed Gear TTAF 740 hrs, Engine/Prop TT 740 hrs. Annual Completed Jan. 2004. Maintenance performed by Cessna Approved Service Centers. King KX-155A Nav/Com 1&2, KLN-89B, KMA-26, KR-87, KT-76C, KAP-140, Very light hail damage. All spec’s are subject to inspection.  Used, will sell for $198,000.00 (or best offer)

NOTAM:  4/3276  Issued:  04/16/2004 15:19  Effective:  04/19/2004 11:00 - 04/19/2004 13:00  State:  OH  Facility:  ZOB - CLEVELAND (ARTCC),OH.  Type:  HAZARDS  Description:  AURORA, OH. 

NOTAM:  4/3283  Issued:  04/16/2004 16:31  Effective:  04/19/2004 15:10 - 04/19/2004 17:40  State:  VA  Facility:  ZDC - WASHINGTON (ARTCC),DC.  Type:  VIP  Description:  ROANOKE, VIRGINIA, APRIL 19, 2004 LOCAL. 

"This is an important step for the general aviation community. It allows us to respond to the threat the proposed rule poses to hundreds of small businesses." Source: AOPA President Phil Boyer, after the FAA on Friday finally agreed to hold public meetings to hear directly from pilots who will be hurt by a proposed charity/sightseeing rule. The agency granted AOPA's petition five months after it was filed on November 12, 2003.

NOTAM:  4/3269  Issued:  04/16/2004 13:17  Effective:  04/19/2004 20:45 - 04/20/2004 00:10  State:  PA  Facility:  ZOB - CLEVELAND (ARTCC),OH.  Type:  VIP  Description:  PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, APRIL 19, 2004 LOCAL. 

NOTAM:  4/3312  Issued:  04/17/2004 20:15  Effective:  Immediately - Until Further Notice  State:  MN  Facility:  ZMP - MINNEAPOLIS (ARTCC),MN.  Type:  HAZARDS  Description:  CROOKSTON, MN  

NOTAM:  4/3228  Issued:  04/15/2004 17:41  Effective:  04/22/2004 20:45 - 04/22/2004 21:30  State:  CA  Facility:  ZLA - LOS ANGELES (ARTCC)PALMDALE, CA.  Type:  AIR SHOWS/SPORTS  Description:  MARCH AFB, CA. 

NOTAM:  4/3284  Issued:  04/16/2004 16:34  Effective:  04/19/2004 18:20 - 04/19/2004 23:40  State:  TN  Facility:  ZTL - ATLANTA (ARTCC),HAMPTON,GA.  Type:  VIP  Description:  CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, APRIL 19, 2004 LOCAL. 

AD NUMBER: 2004-07-25

MANUFACTURER: Hartzell SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-07-25 SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Hartzell Propeller Inc. Model HC-B5MP-3C/M10876K propellers, installed on Short Brothers Model SD3-60 airplanes. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive removal, disassembly, inspection, and rework if necessary of Hartzell Propeller Inc. Model HC-B5MP-3C/M10876K propellers until blades are replaced with new design blades, no later than March 31, 1988.

AD NUMBER: 2004-08-02 MANUFACTURER: McDonnell Douglas SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-08-02