AOPA Action

Mayor's Unannounced Effort to Dig Up BAder Pavement Stopped by AOPA, FAA Intervention

AOPA has interceded to stop unannounced work by Atlantic City, New Jersey, officials who began removing ramp pavement at beleaguered Bader Field, Atlantic City's longtime downtown airport that city officials have pledged to close.

Late last year the airport, site of AOPA's 1995 convention and trade show, was the beneficiary of $300,000 in pavement upgrades and other improvements funded by the State of New Jersey.

AOPA Regional Representative John Luce flew to the site and discovered that one aircraft had already been damaged after taxiing into an unmarked area of removed pavement.

AOPA President Phil Boyer appealed directly to FAA Administrator David R. Hinson to enforce federal airport grant assurances with Atlantic City that require the city to maintain Bader Field as an airport into the next century. Soon after, bulldozer activity stopped.

AOPA Challenges Chicago's Daley on Meigs Closure

AOPA has alerted citizens on Chicago's Southside that if Mayor Richard J. Daley closes lakeside Meigs Field, the majority of flights there will use the already busy Midway Airport, bringing more air traffic to their neighborhood.

"Daley Wants to Close Meigs Field and Send the Traffic to You" read a full-page advertisement in the June 9 Daily Southtown, the neighborhood newspaper for the city's Southside communities around Midway.

The AOPA ad predicted 40,000 more operations at Midway each year, despite the airport's already sizable 7,800 hours of air traffic delay annually.

AOPA cited survey results indicating that 75 to 80 percent of pilots would shift their Meigs operations to Midway if the convenient lakefront airport were closed.

AOPA's ad provided Southside residents with coupons to mail in to their four key elected officials: Mayor Daley, U.S. Representative William Lipinski, state senator Louis S. Viverito, and state representative Michael J. Madigan.

Besides representing the Illinois 3rd District around Midway, Lipinski serves as ranking minority member of the aviation subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives.

AOPA Asks Port of Portland, Oregon, to Reconsider Proposed GA Landing Fees

AOPA has asked the Port of Portland, Oregon, to reconsider proposed general aviation landing fees at Portland International, Hillsboro, and Troutsdale airports.

At Portland International, the landing fee would be $1.34 per 1,000 pounds. The Port of Portland is also proposing landing fees at Port-owned Hillsboro and Troutdale for aircraft weighing more than 10,000 pounds.

A typical single-engine airplane would be charged about $4 and the average twin-engine aircraft about $7 for each landing at Portland International.

AOPA said it appeared that Portland was attempting to discriminate against certain classes of airport users, implementing the landing fee to discourage light aircraft from accessing Portland International.

AOPALA Urges Pilots to Ask Congress to Reinstate Excise Taxes, Reject User Fees

AOPA Legislative Action has issued an alert via more than 48,000 Western Union mailgrams asking pilots in key states and districts to weigh in with Congress against proposed new aviation user fees and to reinstate expired aviation excise taxes.

User excise taxes, including a tax on aviation fuel and airline tickets, are the source of 70 percent of the FAA's funding. But those taxes expired at the end of last year, and Congress has so far failed to reinstate them.

FAA operations are draining the Airport and Airways Trust Fund at the rate of a half billion dollars a month. The fund will be bankrupt by the end of the year if Congress does not reinstate the aviation excise taxes.

"Certain key members of Congress want to choke the FAA so that Congress will ultimately feel pressured to impose user fees for safety services such as air traffic control," said Phil Boyer, speaking for AOPA Legislative Action.

Boyer said that user fees would amount to an uncontrolled tax increase. Because the FAA would determine how much it cost to provide a "service," the agency could determine how much to charge- -effectively handing the agency a blank check.

AOPA Legislative Action mailgrams were sent to pilots represented by the leaders of key congressional committees, including the House Ways and Means Committee, Senate Finance Committee, the transportation appropriations subcommittees, and the aviation subcommittees.

AOPA Stakes Out Position on Changing FAA's Charter

Regardless of the "dual mandate" in the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to both regulate and "promote" aviation, the FAA's primary duty is — and always has been — aviation safety, AOPA believes.

Following calls by Secretary of Transportation Federico Pena to remove language regarding promotion of aviation from the agency's charter, AOPA pointed out that the mandate to "promote aviation" was always seen by the industry as subordinate and actually deals with encouraging the development of air commerce, not its promotion or marketing. The charter reads "to encourage and foster the development of civil aeronautics and air commerce in the United States and abroad."

The FAA's air safety role is primary not only because it satisfies the FAA's regulatory duty, but because safety is fundamental to aviation's public acceptance, and thus its development and viability.

There is no evidence, AOPA maintains, that the FAA's mandate to "encourage and foster" has ever conflicted with the agency's duty to regulate general aviation. In fact, today's FAA has done very little to "encourage and foster" general aviation beyond safety regulation, safety education efforts, and its increasingly wavering support of general aviation airport infrastructure and land use issues.

To remove the FAA's mandate to "encourage and foster" aviation, AOPA believes, would also remove the only requirement on the FAA to consider the full impact of its decisions on the flying public. It would also reduce the incentive to improve the capacity, efficiency, and utility of the air transportation system.

AOPALA Praises Bill That Calls for FAA Study, Rejects User Fees

There's good news for general aviation in the Fiscal 1997 DOT Appropriations Bill approved by the House Appropriations Committee on June 19. The bill will now be considered by the full U.S. House of Representatives.

"There are three items critical to general aviation in this budget bill," said Phil Boyer, speaking for AOPALA. "Most important, the Appropriations Committee rejected the administration's request for aviation user fees."

Second, the committee called for a review of FAA management and operations, as well as its long-range financial needs and financing alternatives. Third, the committee recommended the expenditure of $5.6 million to upgrade the loran navigation system.

The House DOT Appropriations Bill provided for a total FAA budget of $8.115 billion for fiscal year 1997, increasing air traffic control operations and maintenance funding by five percent. The bill reduced FAA airport grant authority, providing just $1.3 billion for the Airport Improvement Program.

AOPA Says FAA Should Withdraw Lycoming Crankshaft AD

AOPA has urged the FAA to withdraw its proposed airworthiness directive affecting some 46,000 Textron Lycoming engines, because the agency has failed to prove that it is needed.

The extraordinarily costly AD, NPRM 94-ANE-44, covers inspection — and possible replacement — of crankshafts in Lycoming engines. Affecting O-235, O-290, O-320, and O-360 series Lycomings with fixed-pitch propellers, the AD would require replacement within five years of all crankshafts that have inner diameter corrosion pits.

The proposed AD would affect nearly one quarter of the U.S. piston-powered fleet, costing most owners more than $10,000. Total cost to all owners is estimated to be more than $1 billion.

AOPA said that the AD's economic impact would be 24 times greater than the FAA's $42 million estimate because of underestimation of parts and labor costs. The FAA's estimate also failed to consider the number of likely repetitive inspections before actual crankshaft replacement.

On January 11, AOPA filed a Freedom of Information Act request for all technical data supporting the AD, including accident and failure data, and manufacturer and repair shop maintenance reports. AOPA also petitioned the FAA to extend the NPRM comment period to permit study of the requested data.

While the FAA extended the comment period to June 7, it failed to provide any of the requested supporting data.

AOPA noted that the NPRM cites 10 reports of crankshaft cracks or failures and only a single accident, which occurred outside the United States. But despite repeated examinations of accident/incident databases, FAA Service and Difficulty data, and the FAA Malfunction and Defect database, AOPA could find no supporting documentation of the 10 crankshaft cracks or failures.

FCC Agrees to Refund Radio License Fees

Following AOPA requests, the Federal Communications Commission has agreed to issue refunds to aircraft owners who filed for aircraft radio station licenses in 1996.

"FCC will return the fee automatically," said Melissa K. Bailey, AOPA director of airspace and system standards. "But FCC has yet to say when they'll do it. AOPA will continue to push FCC to expedite refunds."

AOPA and AOPA Legislative Action worked for years to get FCC registration and fees waived for aviation radio transmitters.

FCC recently adopted a final rule removing licensing requirements for domestic aircraft radios. However, because of international treaty agreements, aircraft flying outside of the United States will still need a radio station license.

AOPA Title and Escrow Gets Buyer Protection Plan

The AOPA Title and Escrow Service is introducing a new Buyer Protection Plan that protects you during your aircraft purchase/sale transactions.

At a cost savings ranging from 12 to 25 percent, the new Buyer Protection Plan offers AOPA members several levels of protection based on our experience and your individual need. In addition, AOPA members receive a discount on individual Title and Escrow services.

For information on the Title and Escrow Service Buyer Protection Plans and services available, call 800/654-4700 and request code #T608.

AOPA Tent at Oshkosh Will Highlight Pilot Editors, Cessna 182, and Aopa Project Pilot

The editors of AOPA Pilot will be featured in the AOPA Tent at Oshkosh this year. All who visit the AOPA Tent during the EAA International Fly-in and Convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, from August 1 through 7 are eligible for daily prize drawings.

AOPA's "Flying Blueprint" Cessna 182 will be on display right in the tent. Dubbed The Spirit of Revitalization, its blueprint paint scheme symbolizes the rebuilding of American general aviation and the rejuvenated output of new production aircraft. Pilots who join AOPA or renew membership at Oshkosh will receive the King METAR/TAF video course, which explains the new weather reporting formats.

Computer terminals will be available so that pilots can try AOPA Online on CompuServe while being guided by experts. Attendees can also pick up free AOPA Online software.

AOPA's Project Pilot program also will be there to help pilots to share the experience of flying with others. Flight instructors will want to meet Project Pilot's CFI marketing mentor, Ralph Hood, and learn about the exciting Project Pilot Instructor Program designed especially for CFIs.

The AOPA Insurance Agency will offer immediate insurance quotes on aircraft hull and liability insurance. MBNA and NationsBank representatives will be on hand with information on AOPA credit cards and AOPA AirPower loans for aircraft buyers.

Amateur aviation photographers will want to meet AOPA Pilot's award-winning photographer, Mike Fizer, who will be offering tips on photographing airplanes.

The AOPA tent at Oshkosh will be at its traditional spot two rows from the flight line, south of the Warbird Cafe between Stone Road and Eide Avenue.

AOPA Online has scheduled the following conference for August:

Tuesday, August 20: Meet Doug Smith, director of sales/marketing for Cessna Aircraft Corporation's single engine operations. Doug will bring us the latest on Cessna's production of the Cessna 172, 182, and 206 in Independence, Kansas.

The conference will take place in Conference Room 1 of AOPA Online on CompuServe from 9 to 10 p.m. Eastern time.

AOPA Fly-In Illustrates Momentum for Industry Revitalization

The Sixth Annual Fly-In to AOPA Headquarters on June 15 illustrated the pace of industry revitalization as both established and new manufacturers displayed new aircraft offerings for some 4,000 attendees.

On display were the new Grob 115C, Zenith CH 2000, Diamond Katana, American Champion Aurora, Cadmus Koliber, the prototype New Meyers SP20, and Raytheon's 3,000th Beech A36 Bonanza. Manufacturers flew in 11 new aircraft for the event, including the New Piper Saratoga II HP, Beech Baron, Mooney MSE and TLS, Commander 114B, and Socata Trinidad TC. A total of 70 aircraft were on static display.

Despite fog and thunderstorm conditions limiting attendance from surrounding states, more than 400 aircraft flew in for the day.

The next fly-in to AOPA headquarters is scheduled for June 7, 1997.

Members Save 80 Percent on Aircraft Data Storage with EMI

EMI Aerocorp, a computer flight planning company, is now offering AOPA members a $20 discount from its aircraft data entry fee (normally $25).

Available on CompuServe since 1982, EMI's pilot services include flight plans with automatic wind correction, custom briefing, and IFR flight plan filing with air route traffic control center acceptance confirmation. Using pilot-submitted information stored by aircraft tail number, members get added convenience, even better fuel burn and ETE accuracy, and more information in the flight log. With stored data, members can also use Pilot-Directed Profile Optimization, a feature that allows selection of the best cruise altitude at a glance. Members are also able to save Personal Preferred Routes for fast retrieval.

The aircraft data entry fee applies only once per airplane, and members may revise data at any time. EMI's flight log/briefing/filing packages range from 99 cents to $10. The en route briefing, Aerobrief, is free to CompuServe subscribers within their monthly free time. For more information, call 800/951-0006; on CompuServe, GO EMI and push the "Talk to EMI" button.

ASF Will Feature Latest PC-Based Simulators and New 'Never Again' Seminar at Oshkosh

The AOPA Air Safety Foundation will offer pilots a chance to "fly" the latest PC-based instrument simulators at Oshkosh this year.

The personal computer-based devices, representative of equipment for next-generation instrument instruction, will be available in the AOPA tent at Oshkosh until 5 p.m. each day. Experienced ASF instructors will be on hand to work with pilots who want to experience the capabilities of this new, lower-cost simulator equipment.

The Air Safety Foundation has been campaigning for integration of PC-based simulation into the FAA-approved flight training curriculum.

At 4 p.m. on August 2, ASF will also offer its exciting new "Never Again" weather safety seminar in the FAA building at Oshkosh. Other ASF seminars will include "Airspace Refresher," "Aerodynamics," and "Safe Navigation with GPS."

ASF's New Safety Advisor Helps Pilots Visualize Airspace With '3-D' Graphics

The AOPA The Air Safety Foundation has released Airspace for Everyone, the newest in its "Safety Advisor" series, explaining the nation's airspace structure with colorful "three-dimensional" graphics and easy-to-understand text.

A unique series of icons organizes the text, helping pilots of varying experience levels to select the sections they should read. For example, a triplane icon indicates sections relating the "old" airspace names to the new classification system.

Other icons help the reader to quickly find needed information such as weather minimums or limited/prohibited activities in each class. Special icons clearly mark items that a pilot needs to know for a checkride or additional information for those who want to know it all.

Colorful graphics help pilots to visualize airspace shapes in three dimensions. Airspace for Everyone first shows how each airspace class is marked on a sectional chart, then "translates" that symbol to a full-color "3-D" image.

Airspace for Everyone is sponsored by Sporty's Pilot Shop. For a free copy, write: Airspace for Everyone, AOPA Air Safety Foundation, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701. Enclose a large (9" 2 12") self-addressed envelope with $1.25 postage affixed.

Silent 'Online' Auction Passes $10,000 Mark

The AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Silent Auction has netted $10,000 so far for the nonprofit organization. The funds help to support ASF's national safety seminar program.

Among the auction items available for bidding are a three- night stay at a Paris hotel, a seven-day Caribbean cruise, an IFR training course at FlightSafety International, an air-to-air photo shoot by AOPA Pilot Staff Photographer Mike Fizer, avionics, aviation artwork and videos, a watch, a headset, a Classic Polo by Ralph Lauren blazer, and four Cleveland/Oakland baseball tickets. Bids will be accepted through September 30.

Auction rules and item descriptions are posted on AOPA Online on CompuServe. Bids are accepted by E-mail (76702,2542 or [email protected]), U.S. mail, or telephone (800/955-9115).

SPA Will Assist in Supreme Court Filing on Water Operating Rights in Michigan

The Seaplane Pilots Association will back SPA member Robert Gustafson in his request for review by the U.S. Supreme Court against the right of a municipality to ban seaplane operations on a Michigan lake.

Gustafson was successful in his original suit against the city of Lake Angelus, Michigan, reversing the city's ban on seaplane operations. However, the city was successful in its appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

The matter is potentially precedent-setting since it involves the primacy of federal, not local or state, jurisdiction over aircraft operations. Gustafson's original legal victory relied heavily on the precedent of Burbank v. Lockheed Air Terminal, a key 1972 case reinforcing federal jurisdiction over aviation matters.

In the city's successful appeal, Gustafson says that appeals judges did not properly take into account principles of Burbank when reversing the lower court's decision for federal preemption.

A difficulty in the Gustafson case is that very few precedent cases involve seaplane operations. A successful reversal of the original Gustafson decision is significant to all of aviation, however, because of its potential harm to federal preemption of local regulation.

So far, the Sixth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals has granted a stay pending appeal, allowing Lake Angelus seaplane operations to continue for the moment.

Did You Know...

...that June 1 was the deadline by which the FAA had promised to release a final rule on its revision of FAR Part 61? When the new regulations will be published is unknown.

AOPA Expo '96 October 17-19 in San Jose, California Schedule of Events