American Flyers and Envoy Air have partnered on a pilot mentoring and hiring program. The new effort will provide American Flyers' aviation students a defined career to help them transition to a first officer position with the airline. The program includes a $10,000 scholarship once the graduate is hired and commits them for a two-year period as a first officer. "American Flyers is extremely excited to form this partnership with Envoy. The pilot pipeline program offers unique advancement opportunities to our aviation students at a premier regional airline," said Andrew Henley, Director of American Flyers. "This agreement with Envoy will continue to keep American Flyers placed at the forefront of professional aviation educational institutions." Visit www.americanflyers.net.

Continental Motors has announced that the IO-360-AF (alternative fuel) engine model received type certification from the FAA in January 2015. The six-cylinder IO360-AF is certified for standard 100LL, as well as unleaded 91UL avgas now available in several countries. Flight Design is expected to take delivery of the first certified engine in Quarter 2, 2015. The IO-360-AF is the first in its class to be certified for alternative fuels, benefitting certain markets where 100LL avgas is relatively expensive and with the expanding availability of 91UL. Beyond the alternative fuel advantage, the IO-360 series has an excellent reputation for reliability, long life and smooth operation. "We are very pleased with the close cooperation we have received from Continental Motors on the C4 project," said Matthias Betsch, CEO, Flight Design GmbH. "The IO-360-AF Type Certification brings us another step closer to realizing our vision for the C4 light-sport aircraft." Visit www.continentalmotors.aero.

Honda Aircraft announced that the first HondaJet flight simulator has been delivered and is being installed at the company's world headquarters in Greensboro, N.C. The full- motion Level D simulator was developed in partnership with FlightSafety International and will be located at the HondaJet Training Center on the campus of Honda Aircraft. "Pilot training is an important factor for safety, and we are putting significant effort and investment into flight training for all of our customers," said Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino. "The HondaJet flight simulator will be an invaluable training tool in preparing pilots to operate the world's most advanced light jet. It is part of a customized training program that will use the latest technologies to create a learning experience that is engaging and real to life." Visit www.hondajet.com.

A bill adding aircraft operations to its definition of noncommercial recreational use has passed in West Virginia. This Recreation Use Statute (RUS) protects landowners from liability for allowing recreation on their lands. The bill was signed by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and will take effect on May 12. Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) member Jim Newton said, "My state of West Virginia has wonderful scenery. There are many private airstrips. Obviously, liability is a big concern for many of the landowners. With this new layer of liability protection, landowners are more likely to grant permission for the use of these airstrips." Visit www.theraf.org.

Continental Motors has partnered with Diamond Aircraft Industries (DAI) to provide the 155 hp Continental Jet-A diesel engine option, now EASA type certificated for installation, on its twin-engine DA42 TDI. FAA validation is pending. More than 500 Continental diesel-powered DA42 owners have the option to upgrade from their 135 hp Centurion 1.7 and CD-135 engines. "For Diamond Aircraft, it is very important to offer our customers possibilities to maintain the value of their aircraft, particularly for those who purchased their Diamond plane before 2009," said Christian Dries, CEO Diamond Aircraft Austria. Owners who wish to upgrade to the CD-155 should email upgrade42@diamond-air.at or visit www.diamond-air.at/services/continental-cd-155-upgrade.html.

A Micro Vortex Generators kit has received FAA STC approval for the GippsAero Airvan GA8 and GA8-TC320. Micro AeroDynamics worked closely with manufacturer GippsAero to develop a kit designed to meet the needs of Airvan operators around the globe. Micro Aero has begun shipping kits that are designed to reduce stall and takeoff speeds, improve elevator authority and enhance controllability. The kit includes aluminum vortex generators that are glued across the entire wingspan, including the area over the cockpit. Additional vortex generators are mounted on the underside of the horizontal stabilizer. The VGs are effective in keeping the boundary layer attached at higher angles of attack. The complete package can be installed in one day. Visit www.microaero.com.

Croatia has been added to the calendar of the 2015 Red Bull Air Race World Championship. The third race of this year's air racing World Championship will be staged in Rovinj, Croatia. The stop in Rovinj will replace Sochi, Russia, which unfortunately cannot be conducted due to financial and organizational challenges. "It would have been great to host the first Red Bull Air Race in Russia this year, but due to the current situation with the international capital markets, our partners in Russia are facing extremely high exchange rates. This makes it impossible to set up an infrastructure fulfilling our high standards and also to provide our fans with tickets at affordable prices," said Erich Wolf, General Manager, Red Bull Air Race. The eight-stop 2015 Red Bull Air Race World Championship began in Abu Dhabi in February and is now preparing for the first ever stop in Chiba, Japan. Visit www.redbullairrace.com.

Veteran glider instructor and Designated Pilot Examiner Dick Eckels shares a lifetime of knowledge in A Soaring Pilot's Handbook, a comprehensive new book on mastering glider flying. The handbook delves into the intricacies of learning to fly a glider while maintaining an easy-to-read style. The book includes nearly 200 pictures and diagrams to help explain the important concepts and is organized by the Areas of Operation found in the FAA Glider Practical Test Standards. It's a great resource for students starting their flying pursuits in a glider, as well as for existing pilots with an interest in powerless flight. Contact: www.sportys.com.

BrightLine Bags has released two new components to extend the versatility of "The FLEX System," its modular gear-bag product line. The Pack Cap Rear is a new modular End Cap that has Backpack Straps built into it. It can be zipped onto the back of any other FLEX System module, transforming any smaller BrightLine Bags configuration into a backpack. The Side Pocket Echo is an adjustable, insulated, specialized side pocket for any size water bottle from 0.5L to 1.5L. Contact: www.brightlinebags.com.

Pilots taking King Schools courses can now take lessons on their iPad and iPhone even when they're offline, and two-way synchronization allows them to move seamlessly among their iPad, iPhone and computer. The latest version of the KING Companion App allows pilots to download lessons from any of their courses to their iPad or iPhone. They can then watch the video lessons and answer the associated FAA example questions. The next time they connect to their King iLearn account, their progress will be synced. Then, when they resume their course, either offline or online, all the progress they made offline will be displayed on their menu, and when they restart a video, it will pick up right where they left off. Contact: www.kingschools.com/mobile.

The latest edition of ASA's Aviation Weather Services includes full-color illustrations and details on the interpretation and application of advisories, coded weather reports, forecasts, observed and prognostic weather charts, and radar and satellite imagery. Produced jointly by the National Weather Service and the Federal Aviation Administration, this Advisory Circular (AC) 00-45G explains the U.S. aviation weather products and services available to pilots. The softcover book is also available as an eBook PDF or eBundle. Contact: www.asa2fly.com.