AOPA Rebuts FAA Claim That GA is Driving FAA Workload
An FAA official's recent claim that general aviation is "driving the FAA workload" isn't true.
"That statement ignores what they said three weeks earlier at the FAA Commercial Aviation Forecast Conference," said AOPA President Phil Boyer at the FAA's General Aviation Forecast Conference in Phoenix on April 19. "Commercial aviation will grow at a much more rapid rate, and that's what is going to put the pressure on the ATC system."
Boyer reminded FAA officials that the majority of GA is VFR personal flying in single-engine, fixed-gear aircraft with little need for many ATC services. "But we are forced to use these services because of the proliferation of radar-intensive Class B and C airspace."
According to the agency's "Aerospace Forecasts — Fiscal Years 1999-2010" report, GA will actually represent a smaller percentage of IFR operations in the future, with a declining percentage of IFR departures. In addition, the number of airliners is expected to increase 89 percent by the year 2010, while the size of the GA fleet will grow only 25 percent.
Boyer also noted that the number of flight service station pilot contacts has declined steadily, because pilots are getting weather information from private services such as AOPA's Online Weather and from DUATS. "That's reducing the FAA's workload," he said.
"As the debate continues in Congress over long-term funding for the FAA, let's make sure that the record is clear," said Boyer. "GA is not the major consumer of FAA 'services' and should not be saddled with additional charges beyond what we already pay through the aviation fuel tax."
New FAA Interpretation Places Readback Responsibility Solely on Pilots
AOPA is imploring FAA Administrator Jane Garvey to put safety first and withdraw an "interpretive rule" that places blame solely on the pilot for any errors in air traffic control readbacks.
"Fix the problem, not the blame," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "Just as with the ticket program, the FAA is sending the message that enforcement is more important than safety."
The April interpretive rule in effect absolves ATC personnel from any legal responsibility to correct misunderstandings between pilot and controller. Simply put, if a pilot reads back an ATC instruction incorrectly, the controller has no legal obligation to correct the error. The FAA could then take enforcement action against the pilot for not complying with ATC instructions.
AOPA said that the interpretive rule (see "Pilot Counsel: Questioning Clearances," page 139) serves only the self-interests of the FAA's legal and air traffic divisions, is an abuse of the FAA's discretionary authority, and was "ill-conceived on many fronts."
"Most onerous, it will rupture the cooperative relationship between pilots and controllers to the detriment of aviation safety," said Boyer. "We implore you to withdraw this interpretive rule."
A copy of AOPA's letter to FAA Administrator Jane Garvey is available on AOPA Online ( www.aopa.org/whatsnew/regulatory/interpretiveletter.html).
AOPA Opposes Nighttime Lights-Out Air Force Flights in MOAs
An undocumented Air Force plan to fly unlighted aircraft at night in military operations areas (MOAs) has brought AOPA protest.
"It would be a safety hazard," said Melissa Bailey, AOPA director of air traffic services. "We also want to know why this proposal was withheld from the public."
Although the proposal has never been publicly announced — contrary to federal guidelines — AOPA is asking members to submit comments to the Office of the General Counsel, Attn: Rules Docket 29396, FAA, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20591.
The October 1998 Air Force petition asked the FAA for a blanket exemption to FAR 91.209, which requires lighted position lights when operating at night. The exemption would apply to operations in MOAs, where VFR pilots may freely roam.
Bailey added that even if the petition were granted, civilian pilots would have a difficult time finding out when to expect lights-out operations in specific MOAs, since MOA activity information is disseminated only within 100 nm and the pilot has to ask for it specifically.
FAA Rule Changes May Mean Less Expensive, More Capable Radios
The FAA has adopted an AOPA-advocated concept of multi-tiered airworthiness standards, a move that may presage more capable, reasonably priced avionics.
Under previous certification guidelines, all new avionics would have been certificated to airliner standards that require a one-in-a-billion chance of failure. The new multi-tiered certification rules consider what effect that equipment failure would have on safety of flight, and the level of reliability needed. "Failure of a com radio, for example, is not going to lead to an immediate hazardous condition, so a one-in-10,000 chance of failure might be appropriate, " said Doug Macnair, AOPA director of certification and regulatory policy. AOPA noted that avionics failures are not a major factor in GA accidents.
The change could significantly reduce certification costs, as well as slightly reduce manufacturing costs, without a reduction in safety.
New Zealand Aviation User Fees Could be Omen, Boyer Tells California Aviators
New GA user fees in New Zealand are a horrible omen of what might happen in the United States, AOPA President Phil Boyer told California pilots at an April 6 Pilot Town Meeting.
"In New Zealand, they exempted GA from most fees when they first privatized ATC in 1987," Boyer told Fresno pilots. "Now they're going to start charging for everything from VFR flight plans to weather briefings. Do you really think that it can't happen here?"
Boyer said that the Clinton administration's FAA reauthorization bill proposes some $7 billion in new user fees over five years, although the user fee proposal applies just to the air-lines — for now. "But do you think that the airlines are going to be happy for long, if they're the only ones stuck for a new $7 billion tax bill?" he asked.
Among fees proposed in New Zealand (converted to U.S. dollars) are: $22.50 for a VFR flight plan $1.60 for the first minute of a weather briefing, then $0.27 for each additional minute $3.65 for an IFR approach $1.19 per 100 nm for en route IFR services.
"User fees would have a devastating impact on all of U.S. aviation," Boyer said. "We've fought the administration on this for five years. We have to continue the fight to prevent this user fee proposal from going through Congress."
AOPA Asks Teledyne Continental to 'Do The Right Thing' for Owners
AOPA is urging Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) to try harder to help aircraft owners affected by the April emergency crankshaft AD on Continental 470-, 520-, and 550-series engines that were new or remanufactured in 1998.
"Initially, there were to be only 10 TCM-trained inspectors to do the required ultrasonic crankshaft inspection on about 3,000 engines," said Douglas Macnair, AOPA director of regulatory and certification policy. "We calculated an owner wait time of as much as five months, based on 10 TCM inspectors taking a half day per inspection. That's not acceptable, and we've told them so."
TCM has announced it will double the number of inspectors and train more as quickly as it can. The company is also conducting inspections full time at its Fairhope, Alabama, engine installation center.
The latest information is available on AOPA Online ( www.aopa.org/whatsnew/regulatory/regtcmcrank.html).
Dot and Commerce Inaction Threatening Aviation Safety
AOPA has asked both the Department of Transportation and the Department of Commerce to fix a $5 million shortfall in this year's funding for aeronautical charts.
"There is a mounting crisis that could put the entire aviation community at risk," AOPA President Phil Boyer wrote in April 2 letters to Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater and Secretary of Commerce William M. Daley. "If the Office of Aeronautical Charting and Cartography exhausts its funding, pilots and air traffic controllers could be operating with erroneous information."
AOPA has been trying since February 1998 to get DOT and Commerce to resolve the funding shortfall. In January, NOAA decided to meet the $5 million deficit by discontinuing world aeronautical charts (WACs) and increasing prices for other charts — but withdrew that plan after immediate protests from AOPA and the FAA.
"Perhaps in comparison to the $44 billion budgeted for Commerce and Transportation, $5 million just seems too trifling to deal with," said Boyer. "For the pilots and air traffic controllers who depend on accurate data from the aeronautical charting office, however, there is nothing insignificant about this issue."
Cooperative AOPA/FAA Efforts Avert Expensive Lycoming Piston Pin Plug AD
Thousands of Lycoming engine owners have been spared an expensive piston pin plug airworthiness directive, thanks to an FAA-AOPA cooperative effort.
Instead of an AD, FAA has issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) — requested by AOPA — recommending that engines manufactured or overhauled within the past five years be checked for excessive wear.
"Compliance with an SAIB is not legally mandatory," said Doug Macnair, AOPA director of certification and regulatory policy, "but AOPA strongly encourages owners of affected Textron Lycoming engines to follow the procedures outlined in the SAIB."
A copy of the Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin is available on the World Wide Web ( http://av-info.faa.gov/ad/saib/ane-99-18.htm).
Action in the States
AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer activity is italicized. For information on how you can help AOPA's efforts to save your local airport, visit www.aopa.org/asn/.
Alabama. H.B.236, which would more than double funding for airports in the state, is making its way slowly through the legislature. AOPA and the Aviation Council of Alabama are supporting this bill. Ft. Deposit: A $50,000 grant from the Alabama Aeronautics Commission will start the process of reopening the Ft. Deposit Airport, home to GA manufacturers Electrosystems, Inc. and JanAero. AOPA has long advocated reopening the field, which was closed because of runway damage by Air National Guard C-130s.
Arizona. Phoenix: AOPA is working with the FAA and officials at Williams Gateway Airport to lift a de facto ban on weekday morning practice ILS approaches. AOPA said that the ban — to accommodate Navy flight training — was "unacceptable." Also in the Phoenix area, AOPA is serving on a committee to minimize runway incursions at Sky Harbor and Deer Valley.
Florida. Dunnellon: Marion County Commissioners have leased 200 acres adjacent to a taxiway for a shooting range. AOPA is helping local pilots to form an airport support group. Fernandina Beach: An AOPA-opposed plan to race autos on Runway 18/36 at Fernandina Beach Airport on weekends has been scrapped. Naples: Advocates for the Naples Airport fear that a November election will upset a delicate pro-airport balance on the city council. AOPA is advising pilots on effective political activism.
Georgia. The Georgia legislature has added $1 million to the 1999 Georgia Aviation Programs budget, raising it to $3.24 million. AOPA applauded legislative recognition of the need for GA development in the state.
Idaho. New Transponder Landing Systems (TLS) are slated for both Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey and the Pullman-Moscow Airport near Moscow. TLS interprets an aircraft's Mode C transponder and radios back directional guidance similar to that of an ILS presentation, but the system is considerably less expensive than an ILS installation.
Illinois. Prospect Heights: ASN volunteer Michael Biewenga helped to defend Palwaukee Airport in a late March public meeting on noise issues. In addition to showing the AOPA-produced videos "Local Airports: Access to America" and "Flying Friendly," he participated in a panel discussion with the FAA and airport operators.
Iowa. AOPA will present information on the value of GA airports at three FAA educational seminars in Iowa this year. Also, ASN volunteer Scott Smith is a board member of the Iowa Aviation Promotion Group.
Kansas. AOPA supports H.B.2071, a major, multiyear transportation bill that would provide $24 million for state airports over eight years.
Louisiana. AOPA is opposing H.B.533, which would attempt to control and regulate noise around all airports in the state. Measures in the bill purport to preempt FAA authority.
Maryland. Ocean City: AOPA is opposing a petition to reverse the Ocean City Council's 4-3 decision to purchase additional land to protect the Ocean City Airport.
Minnesota. AOPA is monitoring H.B.1472, a helpful bill that would define antique and classic aircraft and set special registration fees. AOPA is opposing S.B.751 and H.B.849, both of which would make upgrading airports from "minor" to "intermediate" use more difficult. S.B.1511, also under AOPA review, would exempt agricultural aircraft from state registration taxes. Mora: ASN volunteer Dustin Paulson helped to prevent the immediate closing of the crosswind runway at Mora Municipal Airport.
Missouri. Kansas City: Plans to replace Richards-Gebaur Memorial Airport with a truck-train facility may be on hold, the result of a 14,000-signature petition asking for the issue to be placed on the ballot in August. AOPA has fought the closing. Lee's Summit: ASN volunteer Gary Fox discovered plans for new charges at Lee's Summit Municipal Airport, enabling AOPA to voice opposition quickly.
Montana. Great Falls: ASN volunteer John Seeberger is helping to ensure that GA is included in the new strategic plan under development for Great Falls International Airport.
Nevada. Las Vegas: AOPA is working with the Las Vegas Aviation Users Group to alleviate IFR delays at the Henderson Airport.
New Jersey. AOPA is opposing A.2127, an amendment to allow establishment of noise-free zones. The measure could impact GA airports.
North Carolina. Concord: AOPA is working with Concord Airport pilots and airport management to resolve a dispute over owner-performed aircraft maintenance.
North Dakota. A North Dakota Aeronautics Commission proposal to eliminate pilot registration passed the legislature. Also passed was an additional $250,000 for airport construction. AOPA had supported both measures.
Ohio. AOPA is monitoring legislative hearings on aviation fuel taxes and establishment of a dedicated aviation trust fund for Ohio airports. The $2.7 million aviation budget now comes from the state's general revenue fund.
Oregon. H.B.2358, which would ease rules on pilots self-fueling their aircraft, passed the legislature and is awaiting the signature of Gov. John Kitzhaber. Cottage Grove: AOPA and a committee of Oregon airport users are working with state Aeronautics Division interim chief Ann Crook to resolve issues precipitated by revision of the state leasing policy. AOPA has contributed videos and other information.
South Carolina. Two bills that would reduce or eliminate the state personal property tax on aircraft are under study by AOPA.
Utah. Salt Lake City: Changes asked by AOPA in the new design for the Salt Lake City Class B area include improved radar coverage in the Provo area, higher floors, redesigned approaches to satellite airports, better radio communications, and a 10,000-foot (MSL) ceiling.
AOPA Fly-In Procedures on Web Site
A temporary FAA control tower will operate from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 5, for the ninth annual AOPA Fly-In and Open House at the Frederick (Maryland) Municipal Airport.
The free rain-or-shine event at AOPA headquarters allows members to visit with their association staff on a weekend. Activities include exhibits, static displays, and seminars. A special 1:30 p.m. seminar by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University faculty member Richard Shook will give participants a peek into the future of flight training. Noted aviation educator and humorist Rod Machado also is scheduled to appear.
Fly-In procedures are available on AOPA Online ( www.aopa.org/special/fly-in/).
AOPA Life Insurance Now Online
AOPA members can now evaluate their life insurance needs and request free AOPA Term Life Insurance Program quotes on the AOPA Web site ( www.aopa.org/info/certified/termlife/). Coverage is provided by Minnesota Life.
An instant online quote and easy enrollment with no aviation questions is available for coverage amounts up to $250,000. For higher amounts, up to $10 million, a personalized quote based on your health and flying activity can be requested.
The AOPA Term Life Insurance Program is also available through Minnesota Life by calling 888/TRY-AOPA (888/879-2672).
Alaska Members Asked to Weigh in on Issues
In preparation for AOPA Pilot Town Meetings in Alaska July 12 to 14, pilots in Alaska are being surveyed on aviation issues in the state. AOPA members will receive a poll by mail in June. The poll will also appear in May and June in two issues of the Flyer newspaper. The poll can also be completed on AOPA Online. Results will be announced at the July Pilot Town Meetings and in the Flyer.
AOPA-Sponsored IRA CDs Available
Individual retirement account certificates of deposit offering special interest rates to AOPA members are now available as either traditional or Roth IRA accounts through the AOPA-sponsored Deposit Program provided by MBNA America Bank.
Depending on the IRA chosen, earnings or contributions may be eligible for special tax benefits. AOPA Products and Services Program Specialist Craig Conway suggests consulting a tax advisor on the relative merits of traditional or Roth IRAs.
Current interest rates on AOPA-sponsored certificates of deposit and money market accounts are even higher than MBNA's already aggressively priced deposit accounts offered to the general public. Updated weekly rates are available on the Web ( www.aopa.org/info/certified/).
MBNA Investor Services representatives may be reached at 800/900-6653, extension 6257, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Be sure to mention code 6257.
As an AOPA Certified partner, MBNA makes a contribution to AOPA, helping to keep GA strong and your AOPA membership dues low — at no additional cost to you.
AOPA AIR SAFETY FOUNDATION
New ASF Seminar to Include Local Controllers
Participants in a new AOPA Air Safety Foundation seminar titled "Operations at Towered Airports" will get more than just a fast-paced, multimedia presentation on safe and efficient operations at their local airport. They'll also get face-to-face time with an air traffic controller from their local towered airport.
"Who better to discuss safety at towered airports than a controller who actually works traffic at your airport?" asked ASF Vice President of Training Dick Hiner. "It's your chance for answers to those towered-airport questions that you didn't want to ask over the radio."
Inclusion of local ATC personnel is part of an ASF initiative to help the FAA reduce runway incursions at towered airports. The first hour of the new seminar includes videotape and a live discussion with an ASF instructor on more professional operations at towered fields, while the second hour features local controllers. A question-and-answer session will be included in each seminar.
The new "Operations at Towered Airports" seminar is free and open to all pilots. It will be presented in more than 50 locations through the end of the year. The complete schedule is available on the AOPA Web page ( www.aopa.org/asf/seminars/).
Forestry Specialists Become Pinch-Hitters
Long considered a "reluctant flying spouse" course, an expanded ASF Pinch-Hitter course is now being offered to government natural resource specialists and other outdoor professionals who regularly ride in light airplanes as part of their jobs. The two-day course focuses on the basics of aircraft control and safe landings for nonpilots and includes ground school, practice time on ASF PC simulators and optional flight time at a local FBO. The first class — sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service northeastern region and including federal and state forestry specialists — completed training in mid-April at ASF headquarters in Frederick, Maryland. The special Pinch-Hitter course is available to any federal or state agency with scientists, engineers, or resource specialists who fly as part of their regular job. For more information, call the ASF at 301/695-2237.
Piedmont Airlines Founder Tom Davis, ASF Advisor and Benefactor, Dead at 81
Thomas H. Davis, AOPA 000106, founder and retired chairman of Piedmont Airlines and charter member of the Air Safety Foundation Board of Visitors, died on April 22. He was 81.
"Tom Davis was a legend in the airline business, but his roots were in general aviation where he remained active throughout his life," said ASF Executive Director Bruce Landsberg. "Among his many, many good works, his involvement with the Air Safety Foundation will be remembered for a long time."
Davis remained an active pilot until 1998, amassing some 16,000 flight hours in the 64 years after soloing a Taylor E-2 Cub in 1934. He joined AOPA on August 1, 1939, shortly after the association's founding.
After his retirement as Piedmont chairman in 1983, Davis participated in the Air Safety Foundation's advisory board, which guides development of ASF safety programs for pilots. Davis was also ASF's first Lifetime Hat-in-the-Ring Society member, supporting the foundation's work with a regular major contribution.
Davis' Piedmont Airlines grew from Piedmont Aviation (originally Camel City Flying Service, a Piper and Stinson dealer). The aircraft dealership and repair facility chain dominated the North Carolina market. During World War II, Piedmont's flight schools in Winston-Salem and Greensboro provided extensive flight training programs for the U.S. military, and for military flight students from Central and South America.
Piedmont Airlines began flying in 1948, was the southeast's dominant carrier for decades, and grew aggressively after airline deregulation. When it merged with USAir (now US Airways) in 1989, Piedmont had 21,500 employees and annual revenues of $2.5 billion.
In addition to AOPA, Davis was a member of the OX-5 Aviation Pioneers, the Soaring Society of America, and the Quiet Birdmen, among other organizations. Among many honors, Davis received the Tony Jannus Award for airline pioneers and the coveted Guggenheim Medal, whose laureates included Orville Wright, William E. Boeing, Donald Douglas, and Charles Lindbergh.
In 1972, Piedmont employees restored the Taylor E-2 in which Davis first soloed. He flew his Taylor Cub for many years thereafter, in addition to sailplanes and more modern GA aircraft.
