ANN Inaugurates New Investigative Reporting Program

ANN is embarking on yet another in a series of new features enhancing its position as a leader in aviation and aerospace news... and more importantly, in producing content that is of importance to its vast worldwide audience.

"Aero-News Special Reports" are in-depth investigations into specific problems, programs, subjects, aircraft or equipment critical to the interests of the flying community. A number of investigative programs are currently underway and the first is expected to be published this August, after an extensive research program.

ANN Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell (pictured below left, interviewing AOPA Prez Phil Boyer), noted that "...we've worked hard to develop a strong DAILY news presence in both the online and audio worlds, but one of the things we've really looked forward to was having the chance to get beyond the normal news cycle and get truly in-depth on a number of topics that we feel are pivotal to the people we are responsible to... the hundreds of thousands of people who read or listen to Aero-News."

Aero-News Special Reports are primarily staff-produced, though outside consultants with exceptional expertise are being consulted in order that these reports are not only comprehensive, but represent the full gamut of view-points and opinions that may arise.

The inaugural Special Report will be supervised by ANN's Tom Turner, already well-known for his DAILY Aero-Tips features and for his weekly 'Aero-Craft' Aero-Cast audio-programs. Tom is one of THE people to talk to on matters of aircraft systems and operation... in fact, Tom is the Manager of Technical Services for the American Bonanza Society. In addition to his duties with ABS, Tom (pictured below) also operates Mastery Flight Training in Wichita... so he knows a little something about flight instruction, too.

GA Frax Programs Selected As First Topic

ANN's first special report is sure to raise some eye-brows... Professionally flown turbine fractional ownership has, for years, been a bright spot in general aviation growth-but does it make sense for an owner-pilot to enter a fractional relationship in a piston-powered airplane? The Aero-News Network (www.aero-news.net) is looking into fractional ownership of owner-flown, piston airplanes. What's available? Does it make financial sense? How does fractional ownership differ operationally from straight ownership, co-ownership, flying clubs and airplane rentals? How can an individual decide whether fractional ownership is right for him or her?

ANN's CFI Tom Turner will answer these questions through research, interviews with leaders of fractional ownership programs, and discussion with pilots who have gone the fractional route-or thought about it and have chosen not to. The result will be an in-depth ANN Special Report published in the Autumn of 2006, and a Buyer's Guide to Piston Fractional Ownership that contains a checklist pilots can use to determine if fractional ownership is right for them. Watch for further announcements, and an invitation to be surveyed, as publication draws near. These Special Reports will be available both online and through ANN's Aero-Cast audio programming.

Suggestions for future ANN Special Report investigations are strongly encouraged...

FMI: Aero-News Special Reports