Business up at GMU

Air traffic and fuel sales are up at Greenville Downtown Airport (GMU), the busiest general aviation airport in South Carolina, signaling expectations of a turnaround.

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The Valve Seat Recession Conundrum

In a recent blog posted on General Aviation News by Ben Visser, he made a point that poses a serious conundrum for the conversion to unleaded avgas: “The big problem here is that almost all of the aircraft piston engines out there need to be broken-in on 100LL, then they can be switched over to auto gas. But if they are started on auto gas when new, they will probably have exhaust valve problems.” The exhaust valve problems that Ben is alluding to is commonly known as “valve seat recession.”

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We’ve hit the ethanol blending wall, government reports

As forecast by your bloggers for the past year, it looked likely that the mandated production of ethanol in the US would exceed consumption sometime this winter.  According to a new report from the U.S. Energy Information Agency, it appears that this situation, known as “the blending wall” actually occurred this past summer!  The report states:

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Landmark Aviation opens FBO at OAK

Landmark Aviation has opened its FBO at Oakland International Airport. Landmark’s FBO at OAK is its first in the San Francisco Bay Area and the 12th location added to the network in 2011.

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Baer Air joins Avfuel network

The Avfuel-branded network of FBOs has expanded with the addition of Baer Air FBO Services, operating at Florida’s Melbourne International Airport (MLB). A division of Baer Air, Inc., an FAA-certified charter service, Baer Air FBO will now offer Avfuel products and solutions in addition to the range of services already provided.

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Oil giant pulls out of 100LL business

UPDATE: Calls from AOPA and EAA Tuesday morning inform us Ben’s column is incorrect. Exxon-Mobil will continue the manufacture of unbranded 100LL fuel. Exxon-Mobil will discontinue branded fuel sales under the Exxon Avitat flag. We are awaiting confirmation from Exxon’s public relations people.

I recently read that Exxon-Mobil stopped manufacturing and selling 100LL. (I tried to contact them but did not receive a confirmation by press time.) What does this mean for you and your plane?

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Island City Flying Service joins Avfuel network

Island City Flying Service, the FBO at Florida’s Key West International Airport (EYW) has joined the Avfuel network of FBOs, offering Avfuel products including AVTRIP rewards, Avfuel Contract Fuel and more.

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Tecnam launches discount deposit program for P2010

Richmond, Virginia-based Tecnam North America has launched a discounted deposit program for the Tecnam P2010, a four-seat single expected to have its first test flight early next month.

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GA’s ‘five Ts’ for 2011

In the spirit of the aviation mnemonic that uses “the five Ts” to remember what comes next on an instrument approach, a report at AOPA.org noted that taxes, technology, training, tetraethyl lead, and tracking of aircraft by Internet users highlighted a checklist of issues facing general aviation in 2011. Check it out here.