AOPA Action

Senator Stevens Leads Effort to Defeat User Fee Proposal

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee voted recently to impose substantial new user taxes on the aviation industry, despite the opposition of Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), committee chairman Senator Larry Pressler (R- SD), and other Republican senators.

Led by Stevens, a staunch general aviation ally, a majority of Republican senators serving on the committee voted November 9 against the new taxes. The user tax proposal is included in FAA reform legislation (S.1239) sponsored by aviation subcommittee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ). The bill is cosponsored by senators Wendell H. Ford (D-KY) and Ernest F. Hollings (D-SC). AOPA Legislative Action, which was established to foster and promote general aviation in the United States for the benefit of all citizens, strongly opposes the senate user tax proposal and supports the Duncan-Lightfoot FAA reform legislation (H.R.2276) currently pending in the House of Representatives.

During committee debate, Stevens argued that the FAA has failed to establish the need for a tax increase and that imposing new user fees on the aviation industry would have a devastating impact. Thanks to the nearly unanimous support of committee Democrats, however, the new user taxes were approved by the committee. Among Democrats, only Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) voted against imposing new aviation taxes.

AOPALA is continuing its vigorous opposition to the new taxes. The next stop for the bill containing this controversial matter is the Senate floor, and the timing of this action is uncertain. AOPA members are urged to write their senators and express their opposition to S.1239.

Voting against new user taxes in addition to Stevens, Pressler, and Inouye were senators Trent Lott (R-MS), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), John Ashcroft (R-MO), and Bill Frist (R- TN). Voting with McCain, Ford, and Hollings for new user taxes were Conrad Burns (R-MT), Slade Gorton (R-WA), Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME), J. James Exon (D-NE), John D. Rockefeller IV (D- WV), John F. Kerry (D-MA), John B. Breaux (D-LA), Richard H. Bryan (D-NV), and Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND).

AOPA Legislative Action Opposes Senate FAA Reform Bill

AOPA Legislative Action has told Congress that the best hope for FAA reform is the Duncan-Lightfoot bill in the House, not the Senate reform bill supported by the Clinton administration.

"The administration wants to give the FAA more money and make aviation pay new user fees, while discounting the value of the savings and efficiency from the genuine FAA reform contained in the Duncan-Lightfoot bill," said Phil Boyer, speaking for AOPALA before the House Public Works and Infrastructure aviation subcommittee September 28. The House bill would make the FAA independent of the Department of Transportation and give the agency relief from cumbersome government procurement and personnel procedures.

AOPALA questioned the FAA's claim that it will need $59 billion over the next seven years, $12 billion more than the administration assumes will be received from current funding sources.

"We are not confident the FAA — as currently organized — can make realistic cost predictions or manage programs to stay within its predictions," Boyer said. He pointed out that the administration-supported Senate bill would pay for the FAA's alleged $12-billion "shortfall" by imposing new user fees on the aviation industry and the military while eliminating the nearly $2 billion annual general-fund contribution to the FAA budget. The Senate bill would keep the FAA under control of the Department of Transportation.

AOPALA specifically opposed the cutoff of general taxpayer funding of FAA regulatory activities.

"FAA safety and regulatory operations benefit all Americans, not just those who operate aircraft or travel aboard the airlines," said Boyer. He also questioned the need for additional user fees with a $6-billion surplus in the aviation trust fund.

"The Duncan-Lightfoot bill does everything to make the FAA the first-class organization it must be," Boyer said. "And it does so without eliminating the appropriate general-fund contribution to the FAA's budget or imposing a gigantic $12- billion tax increase on the aviation industry at a time when there is a multi-billion-dollar surplus in the aviation trust fund."

Comment Deadline Nears for Part 61 NPRM

Rapidly approaching is the December 11 deadline for filing comments regarding the FAA's notice of proposed rulemaking that would significantly alter FAR parts 61, 141, and 143 (see " AOPA Action" and "Bye-Bye, CFI?," October Pilot, and " AOPA Action," November Pilot).

Comments to the docket may be filed in writing to the FAA or electronically through AOPA Online. Written comments should be sent to FAA, Office of the Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket (AGC-10), Docket Number 25910, 800 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D. C. 20591. Electronic comments should be addressed to "AOPA Regulatory Comments" at 102475,1613 on CompuServe. Internet users may address comments to [email protected]. The complete text of the NPRM remains available through AOPA Online (library: Active Rulemaking; filename: NOT9511.ZIP).

AOPA Takes Issue with Two California Bills

AOPA has expressed concern to California state Senator Quentin Kopp to express concern over two bills he has sponsored as chairman of the transportation committee. S.B.196 would increase California's motor vehicle fuel tax from 18 to 36 cents a gallon, which would place an enormous economic burden on the state's pilots and aircraft owners, since aviation fuel is defined as a motor vehicle fuel in California. However, avgas is addressed separately at the federal level. Thus, under this proposal, pilots would be forced to pay a 36-cents-per-gallon tax in addition to the 19.4-cents-per-gallon tax assessed at the federal level.

AOPA also opposes S.B.160, which would substantially modify the way the California Department of Transportation operates — potentially jeopardizing the efficient disbursement of state and federal grants to aviation facilities.

Action on these measures is not expected until next year.

New Jersey Budget Proposal Would Cost Pilots $3 Million Annually

AOPA is opposing an item in New Jersey Governor Christie Todd Whitman's budget proposal that would remove the exemption on sales and use taxes on casual aircraft sales. While the budget has already been approved, as have most the items needed to meet fiscal projections, A.B.3305 is still pending in the state Senate. AOPA also alerted the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Coalition to this issue, and as a result, even more opposition to this bill has been generated. The governor's office has stated that removal of this exemption could generate up to $3 million a year.

AOPA Raises Issue of Residential Encroachment at Oregon Airport

In a letter to the Clackamus County (Oregon) Board of Commissioners, AOPA has opposed a proposed housing development to be located adjacent to runways at Valley View Airport in Estacada, Oregon. This project runs counter to land- use legislation recently signed into law by Governor John Kitzhaber that is designed to protect Oregon's 400 licensed airports from such residential encroachment.

IAOPA Condemns Balloon Downing

The International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations has condemned the killing of two U.S. sport balloonists and the detention of four others in Belarus in September after one balloon was shot down and others were forced down at gunpoint.

"We can't begin to express our outrage at this irresponsible and unjustified hostile action," said IAOPA President Phil Boyer. "A civilian balloon at the mercy of the winds could not possibly have been a threat to national security."

The balloonists were competing in the internationally known Gordon Bennett Balloon Race. Alan B. Fraenckel and John Stuart-Jervis were killed when their hydrogen-filled balloon exploded after a helicopter fired into it. Belarus did not notify the U.S. government of the incident for 24 hours. Belarus has since expressed "regret" and invited the United States to participate in the investigation of the incident.

The former Soviet republic claimed Fraenckel and Stuart- Jervis did not respond to radio calls or warning shots and their balloon was approaching a "sensitive" military area. Race organizers say Belarussian authorities had granted permission for balloons to enter their airspace.

"This was more than a tragic mistake," said Boyer. "This act exemplifies the kind of Cold War thinking that continues to menace international civil aviation." The IAOPA president asked that world nations reexamine defense policies that permit military action against unarmed civilian aircraft.

AOPA fought a long campaign in the late 1980s to defeat U.S. legislation that would have authorized U.S. Customs or other agencies to shoot down or force down civilian aircraft flying under "suspicious circumstances" towards the southern U.S. border.

"This Belarus incident proves there just isn't any situation that justifies such a policy, because the risk of killing innocent civilians is just too great," said Boyer.

The balloon race was started by newspaper magnate James Gordon Bennett in 1906. Competitors take off from the country of the previous winner, trying to fly as far as possible. This year's race started in Switzerland.

ASF Hosts Flight Instructor, Maintenance Technician Awards at Expo '95

Under the auspices of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation, the 1995 General Aviation Flight Instructor of the Year and the General Aviation Maintenance Technician of the Year were honored during AOPA Expo '95 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. FAA Administrator David Hinson presented the awards during an October 20 luncheon.

The General Aviation Awards Program committee selected Lyn Carlson of Costa Mesa, California, as Flight Instructor of the Year. The Maintenance Technician of the Year award went to David Thissell of Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Carlson, a CFI since 1981, told the audience of more than 1,200 that general aviation safety depends on the quality of its CFIs. She is an owner of and chief flight and ground instructor for Sunrise Aviation at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California. According to her students and fellow flight instructors, Carlson is always working to improve the teaching process.

The maintenance technician award recipient has been an A&P mechanic for more than 30 years. Thissell has owned and operated Northeast Aircraft Maintenance Corporation at Plymouth Municipal Airport, Massachusetts, since 1989. Thissell's colleagues and customers call him the consummate professional, skilled in his craft, dedicated to general aviation, and always willing to do whatever is needed to keep an aircraft flying.

The thirty-second annual awards were presented during Expo '95 to increase the awareness of this honor to the aviation industry. Convention attendees had an opportunity to question both winners during a session following the awards. The winners received honorariums from a cross-section of the aviation industry at a special ASF reception. Past winners had been recognized at a luncheon attended by industry people in Washington, D.C.

"We felt it was time that these individuals be recognized before pilots and aircraft owners, not just a few people in Washington, D.C.," said Bruce Landsberg, executive director of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. The annual award is sponsored by the FAA, AOPA Air Safety Foundation, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, National Business Aircraft Association, National Air Transportation Association, National Association of Flight Instructors, and the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association.

Expo '95 Attendance Breaks All-Time Record Despite Saturday Storm

AOPA Expo '95 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, attracted a record attendance of nearly 9,000, despite violent weather that deterred weekend one-day visitors.

"Despite horrendous East Coast weather on our big weekend day and the effects of an early hotel-room sellout, our first AOPA Expo in the Northeast since 1969 was an immense success," said AOPA President Phil Boyer.

Attendance totaled 8,921 for the three-day event, eclipsing 8,358 last year in Palm Springs, California.

Flying in for the event were more than 1,000 aircraft, handled primarily at Atlantic City International Airport and Bader Field. Johnson Controls supervised ground handling and fueling at both airports.

Paid attendance at the October 20 Expo luncheon was the largest ever — exceeding 1,200 — for AOPA's tribute to "The CAP Subchasers of World War II" and presentation of the general aviation CFI and Maintenance Technician of the Year awards by FAA Administrator David Hinson.

Expo '95 attendance might have exceeded 10,000 without two waves of severe weather on Friday night and Saturday, associated with a violent cold front that swept through the Mid-Atlantic region.

AOPA Expo '96 will be held October 17 to 19 in San Jose, California.

At AOPA Expo '95 in Atlantic City, AOPA President Phil Boyer presents CAP General Richard L. Anderson (right) with a plaque honoring the CAP Subchasers of World War II. Also on hand for the ceremony were some of the original Subchasers. They are (from left) pilots Bill (Pappy) Madsen and Eddie Edwards, and mechanic Rudy Chalow.

Bill Leavens Wins AOPA's 1995 Sharples Award for GA Advocacy

Bill Leavens, president of the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Coalition, has won the 1995 AOPA Sharples Award for the year's greatest contribution to the defense and preservation of general aviation. The award was presented before the membership on October 21 at AOPA Expo '95 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Leavens, a resident of Middle Valley, New Jersey, was recognized for his leadership in defending general aviation airports, his stewardship of one of the nation's most effective regional pilot organizations, and his use of modern media and media relations to communicate with the public on aviation issues.

"Bill Leavens and the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Coalition stand as a national example of what pilots can do — and must do — to be successful in protecting their own interests," said AOPA President Phil Boyer.

"It's important that you do something," Leavens told Expo '95 attendees. "Raise your voices; put your pen to paper; get involved in the issues you've heard about from me and AOPA. We have to keep pushing to keep general aviation going."

The Mid-Atlantic Aviation Coalition is a powerful and respected group defending general aviation in a region where expanding urbanization threatens many airports.

AOPA's Laurence P. Sharples Award honors a private individual, not employed full time in aviation, who unselfishly devotes himself or herself to the betterment of general aviation. The award memorializes AOPA's founding chairman, who gave 35 years of leadership and inspiration to AOPA and general aviation, while neither expecting nor allowing compensation or recognition for himself.

Lightfoot Receives 1995 AOPA Hartranft Award for Public Service

AOPA presented its 1995 Hartranft Award for outstanding government service to Representative Jim Lightfoot (R-IA) on October 21 during AOPA Expo '95 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

"Representative Lightfoot has been the strongest congressional advocate for both a better FAA within the federal government and a fair deal for general aviation," said AOPA President Phil Boyer.

Lightfoot has led the battle in the House for FAA reform. He strongly opposed proposals to put air traffic control in the hands of a private or government corporation. Lightfoot helped to defeat aviation user fees in conference committee as the House and Senate reconciled differences in the fiscal 1996 DOT appropriations bills.

In April he introduced H.R. 1392, which became the legislative model for FAA reform. That bill quickly attracted widespread industry support and became the focus of Capitol Hill debate on this issue. All subsequent reform proposals were based heavily on the concepts first established in the Lightfoot bill, including reforms in FAA management structure, regulatory procedures, financing, and procurement and personnel management. The conference committee adopted Lightfoot's language on FAA procurement and personnel reform in the 1996 DOT appropriations bill.

Lightfoot is an aircraft owner, active flight instructor, and 25-year AOPA member.

The Hartranft Award is named for AOPA's first employee, long-time president and former chairman of the board of trustees Joseph B. (Doc) Hartranft, Jr. The award recognizes the year's most significant support of general aviation by a public official.

Bob Hoover Addresses AOPA Expo '95 After FAA Restores Medical

Aviation legend Bob Hoover addressed AOPA's Expo luncheon on October 20 — just two days after the FAA restored his medical certificate, allowing him to perform in the United States. FAA Administrator David Hinson was among those in attendance.

"This is a terrific day for Bob Hoover," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "But the FAA has not solved these problems [that resulted in the revocation of Hoover's medical certificate]. The ordinary general aviation pilot doesn't have the resources to battle the FAA for two years to obtain justice."

Hoover addressed the luncheon via satellite from Los Angeles on the giant television projection screens used at all major AOPA Expo events. He began by speaking directly to Hinson, offering thanks for the FAA administrator's willingness to reconsider the protracted and controversial procedure revoking Hoover's right to fly.

"I'd like to give special thanks to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and all its members. Their encouragement, support, and assistance helped me wage this long two-year battle," Hoover told the luncheon audience of more than 1,200. He said that he fought the medical revocation not only for himself, but for all general aviation pilots.

The FAA revoked Hoover's medical certificate in December 1993 after two FAA inspectors criticized his flying at an Oklahoma airshow. Attorneys F. Lee Bailey and John S. Yodice, AOPA's general counsel, sought judicial appeal of Hoover's case through the federal courts all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Earlier this year, the FAA agreed to have independent medical specialists reexamine Hoover. According to the FAA, Hoover's condition now "has stabilized," permitting the agency to issue a restricted second-class medical certificate. Under the special issuance, Hoover must submit to comprehensive medical tests annually to continue flying.

Did You Know...

...that Jeppesen full-color weather maps are now available through AOPA Online? Available are radar, surface analysis, weather depiction, winds and temperatures aloft forecasts, low-level weather forecast, stability/convective/tropicals, and high-level significant weather forecast maps, and archived maps of all these that show weather trends. The cost is 20 cents per map.

AOPA Aircraft Insurance Program Selects New Strategic Partner

AOPA has selected American Eagle Group of Dallas as the new underwriter for the AOPA Aircraft Insurance Program. The underwriting change expands coverage and availability of the AOPA program's hull and liability insurance to more of the 110,000 aircraft owned by individuals. A wider range of aircraft types will now be eligible for the AOPA Aircraft Insurance Program.

"Selection of the American Eagle Group, America's largest independent general aviation insurance company, puts additional horsepower behind the AOPA Aircraft Insurance Program," said AOPA President Phil Boyer.

This new aviation insurance product will be available to all AOPA members through the AOPA Insurance Agency located in Wichita, where its staff can provide immediate information and instant insurance quotes. Members can receive information by calling 800/622-AOPA (800/622-2672).

New policies will be written immediately for coverage effective January 1, 1996. Current policyholders will receive written notice of the underwriting change in advance of their policy expiration date.

In addition, the AOPA-endorsed policy will now be available through some 1,600 independent American Eagle insurance agents — many of them AOPA members.

"We are most enthusiastic and excited about our new relationship, and we are proud to have American Eagle's aviation expertise recognized by AOPA," said American Eagle Chairman and CEO M. Philip Guthrie. "We believe this long-term strategic alliance will benefit the entire general aviation community."

AOPA Online Sets December Conferences

Tuesday night interactive conferences on AOPA Online on CompuServe this month will feature:

• December 5 — "Aviation Weather: The Cyberspace Alternative Is Good for Pilots," with Scott Breit, president of American Weather Concepts.
• December 12 — AOPA Pilot, with Thomas B. Haines, senior vice president of AOPA's Publications Division and editor-in-chief of the magazine.

All conferences run from 9 to 10 p.m. Eastern time in Conference Room 1 on AOPA Online on CompuServe. To participate in these conferences, sign on to CompuServe and GO AOPA. If you are not a CompuServe subscriber, call 800/GO2- AOPA for free software and a month's free usage.

Did You Know...

...that this may be the best time ever to finance, refinance, or refurbish a new or used aircraft by using the AOPA Air Power Loan Program? Interest rates have fallen, resulting in lower monthly payments, and new extended terms allow the financing of as much as 90 percent of an aircraft's purchase price on loans of less than $100,000. For more information, call 1-800-62PLANE.

Four members of AOPA-Japan, flying around the world in a light aircraft, visited the world headquarters of the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations at AOPA's home base in Frederick, Maryland, in September. The four left Japan on August 27, flying a Cessna 310. Their route took them through Malaysia, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Scotland, Iceland, and Canada. They planned to continue across the United States and return to Japan via San Francisco. Toshimitsu Onodera, captain and secretary general of AOPA-Japan; Kozo Takita, president of AOPA-Japan; Masami Yokoyama; and Masakatsu Aoki are evaluating an around-the-world route for light aircraft and visiting IAOPA member countries.

AOPA's Aviation USA Available Online

AOPA's Aviation USA, the nation's most comprehensive airports and services directory, is now available through AOPA Online on CompuServe.

AOPA's Aviation USA Online is an indexed, field- searchable database of some 7,380 public- and private-use landing facilities in the United States. The list is updated throughout the year as AOPA mails some 22,000 questionnaires to airport managers and businesses.

"Pilots can search the database for airports that meet their needs," said AOPA Online system manager Mark Phaneuf, "and then print out the list to include in-flight planning materials."

Aviation USA Online permits pilots to search for airports using any combination of six criteria: location, airport identifier, runway length, fuel types, restaurants on or near the airport, and lodging near the airport.

AOPA members simply log on to AOPA Online, then click on the Databases Services button. AOPA's Aviation USA is one of 18 aviation-related databases available to Online users, including pilot schools, aircraft registration (N numbers), and aviation medical examiners.

Current CompuServe subscribers can access AOPA Online by typing GO AOPA. Others can sign on to CompuServe and AOPA Online by calling 800/GO2-AOPA. New subscribers receive a free CompuServe Information Manager software kit (Windows or Macintosh) customized for AOPA Online, plus a 30-day free trial on CompuServe with a 10-hour usage credit.