AOPA Asks FAA to Keep 121.5 ELTs, Not Mandate Expensive New 406-MHz ELTs
The FAA is supporting an international plan to stop satellite monitoring of 121.5-MHz ELTs and mandate much more expensive 406-MHz beacons for international flights, and AOPA is objecting.
"The FAA's position will make current ELTs almost useless," said AOPA President Phil Boyer in a letter to FAA Administrator Jane Garvey. "It will force U.S. aircraft owners to eventually spend more than $3,000 each to replace their ELTs." A survey of AOPA members showed 82 percent opposing mandatory 406-MHz ELTs.
"GA activity in all the other ICAO countries combined does not equal the number of GA aircraft and flight hours in the United States," Boyer said. "The FAA should be representing the interests of U.S. aviators, not supporting policies that place an undue hardship on our industry."
Boyer also told Garvey that even the 406-MHz ELTs may become obsolete in the near future as the ATC radar/transponder system is replaced with more sophisticated GPS-based surveillance methods.
"The 406-MHz ELTs do not provide significant advantages over the current generation of 121.5 beacons," Boyer said. "And they certainly are not worth 10 times the cost."
AOPA to FAA: Read Our Lips - Stop the Ticket Program
"AOPA wants the FAA to clearly understand what we are saying," wrote AOPA President Phil Boyer in a July 29 letter to FAA Administrator Jane Garvey. "On behalf of our 340,000 members, immediately terminate the ticket program and concentrate on the real issues."
The FAA's "ticket program," proposed earlier this year, would allow FAA inspectors to issue "traffic tickets" for alleged regulatory infractions. Tickets would offer no means of appeal and remain on a pilot's record for two years, affecting a pilot's insurance, employment, and future FAA enforcement actions.
FAA officials claim safety and efficiency gains for the ticket program, but the aviation industry sees only enforcement. "More than three-quarters of the in-spectors favor the use of tickets with fines for minor violations," Boyer said, citing the same GAO study that the FAA used to justify the ticket program. He added that information from numerous voluntary safety reporting programs would dry up and safety deficiencies would be reported only by the small number of FAA inspectors.
Boyer said that the FAA should concentrate on better inspector training, more guidance to the inspector work force, and improved database tracking of safety deficiencies and alleged violations.
AOPA Legislative Action Asks Congress to Preserve Backcountry Airstrips
Backcountry airstrips must be preserved and GA should not be restricted from federal lands, AOPA Legislative Action told Congress on September 17.
In testimony before the House subcommittee on forests and forest health, AOPALA President Phil Boyer cited proposals to restrict or ban aviation in the Hell's Canyon National Recreation Area (Oregon), Desolation Wilderness Area (California), Glacier National Park (Montana), Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona), Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado), and Sedona National Forest (California).
He noted that four airstrips are targeted for closure in the 3,750-square-mile Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area in the rugged mountains of central Idaho.
Boyer said that backcountry airstrips are necessary for search-and-rescue operations, firefighting, and forest management and research, as well as for emergency landing areas.
Countering arguments by activists concerned about aircraft noise, Boyer played a videotape of an overflying GA aircraft barely audible above the natural noise of rushing water or rustling leaves. "Aircraft overflights do not leave litter, clog roads, or physically damage wilderness areas," he said. "Aviation provides access to those physically unable to enjoy this often rough terrain from the ground." Boyer called for a consistent national policy for dealing with aviation issues that leaves the FAA as the sole authority regulating aviation and airspace.
A copy of AOPA Legislative Action's testimony to Congress is available on AOPA Online ( www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/1998/980917backcountry.html).
60,000 Members Asked to Help Stop 'Order-to-Land' Threat in Congress
Some 60,000 "Legislative Alert" mailgrams are asking AOPA members in key legislative districts to contact their representatives to stop a new "order-to-land" provision that was quietly added to the Coast Guard reauthorization bill (S.1259).
The provision would allow law enforcement officers to force down randomly selected GA aircraft without reasonable suspicion and make it too easy to seize an aircraft and too difficult to reclaim it if the owner were innocent of wrongdoing. A pilot could be sent to prison for up to five years for not heeding the order.
"We know this legislation is well meaning, and we support antidrug efforts overall," said AOPA Legislative Action President Phil Boyer. "But the order-to-land provision could lead to tragic consequences for innocent pilots."
AOPALA has suggested that any order-to-land legislation include a requirement for reasonable suspicion. There should also be protections for "innocent owners," permitting aircraft owners to recover seized aircraft from the federal government through an expedited process.
Congress Agrees With AOPA: FAA Not Doing Enough to Protect Airports
Thanks to AOPA Legislative Action, it may not be so easy in the future for cities to close some public airports.
The House's FAA reauthorization bill, approved on August 4, requires public notification of potential airport property sales and DOT consideration of "current and future needs of users of the airport" before permitting such a sale.
"We told Congress that the FAA frequently makes it much too easy to sell off publicly funded airport property," said Bill Deere, AOPA Legislative Action executive director. "The sponsors then later claim they don't have room for new hangars or another FBO."
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee also heard from AOPALA about "revenue diversion," in which airport income is spent elsewhere. The committee asked the General Accounting Office to review the program and report to Congress by April 1, 1999.
"We believe GAO will discover what we already know," said AOPA's Deere. "The FAA is too lenient in allowing airport sponsors to back away from their promises to the aviation taxpayers."
Rep. Duncan Wins Hartranft Award
At the Expo '98 closing banquet in Palm Springs, California, U.S. Representative John J. Duncan of Tennessee was honored for exceptional support of general aviation.
Duncan, chairman of the House aviation subcommittee, was awarded AOPA's 1998 Hartranft Award. Named for AOPA's first president, Doc Hartranft, the award is given annually to a government official making the greatest contribution of the year to the advancement of GA.
"Rep. Duncan rejected the NCARC recommendation for a 'performance-based' FAA organization funded by user fees," declared AOPA President Phil Boyer, "and he challenged the FAA to explain why the agency is not already performance-based and how diminishing taxpayer accountability-as proposed by the administration-would make the FAA a better organization."
Duncan also helped to craft a reasonable congressional reaction to the crash of seven-year-old "pilot" Jessica Dubroff with a measured response that countered calls for drastic new age minimums for flight training and pilot licensing.
Washington Correspondent, GA Advocate Honored With Lifetime Award at Expo
Charlie Spence, Washington correspondent for the Tacoma, Washington-based Flyer newspaper, was awarded special lifetime achievement honors at the Max Karant Journalism Awards at AOPA Expo. The longtime newspaperman and public relations executive currently writes the "Capital Comments" column in GA's only biweekly newspaper, and takes on many other writing assignments.
"Charlie has always stood up for GA, usually in the 'no-holds-barred' tradition of his old friend Max Karant," declared AOPA President Phil Boyer.
Spence started a newspaper career at the Louisville (Kentucky) Courier-Journal, moving later to the Hearst organization. After he learned to fly, he focused on aviation, journalism, and advocacy. Following stints at Flying magazine and the Utility Airplane Council (predecessor to today's GAMA), he set up the original Communications Division for a growing AOPA, rising to senior vice president in his 15 years with the association.
His latest book, Max Karant: My Flights and Fights, is the story of AOPA's beloved old warrior, after whom the Karant Journalism Awards are named.
Action in the States
Alaska. A report on the proposed Golden Valley Electric power line from Healy to Fairbanks shows a "complete lack of understanding" of the line's impact on GA pilots. AOPA is pursuing the matter.
Arizona. Payson: A dispute over airport access and a mass resignation of the airport advisory board has led the Payson Town Council to consider disbanding the advisory board. Queen Creek: The Town of Queen Creek has given final approval for 225 aircraft to be based at the new Pegasus residential airpark. A proposed school site 1.5 miles from the airpark is still raising concerns. Scottsdale: New rules for Scottsdale Airport and Airpark infringe on FAA areas of responsibility. AOPA is working to help the city avoid preempting federal authority.
California. Hawthorne: City council concerns over noise and safety at Jack Northrop Field Airport are putting pilots on guard. AOPA is encouraging formation of an airport support group. La Verne: An unusually high rate of thefts at Brackett Field Airport has pilots clamoring for better security. AOPA provided information on security measures to airport management, and new lighting and electronic gates are being installed. San Jose: A 1,900 foot (msl) tower directly in line with Runway 31R at Reid-Hillview Airport has been proposed. Worse than that, the developer wants to paint the tower a flat color to better blend in with the landscape. AOPA is working to show the developer the aviation impact. Visalia: Lengthening the Visalia Airport runway from 6,000 to 8,000 feet is experiencing opposition from the city council. AOPA is working with the airport advisory committee.
Connecticut. Bridgeport: A possible increase in tiedown and other fees at Sikorsky Memorial Airport has pilots up in arms. Airport association leader and AOPA ASN volunteer David Faile is investigating.
Florida. Tallahassee: Constitutional Amend-ment 10 on the November ballot would allow the Florida legislature to designate airport businesses as tax-exempt for the public good. AOPA supports this amendment. Valkaria: County fathers have chosen Jim Shimkus as the eighth airport manager in 10 years at the embattled facility. Former manager Bill Plutte resigned after less than six months on the job. Vero Beach: Plans for a new control tower for the south side of Vero Beach Airport have been snagged by a local 35-foot height restriction. AOPA is working with the airport manager and city.
Montana. Limits on commercial air tours over Glacier National Park are being proposed by the National Park Service. AOPA is fighting to ensure that private, noncommercial sightseeing flights are not affected.
New Hampshire. A state agency is implement-ing a ban on seaplanes on a section of the Pemigewassett River, despite opposition by AOPA, the Seaplane Pilots Association, the New Hampshire Aviation Association, and local pilots. An appeal is under way.
North Carolina. Chapel Hill: Controversy over restrictions at Horace Williams Airport continues; AOPA is working with local pilots and with local and state officials to minimize restrictions. Charlotte: Charlotte ATC improvements are allowing faster, more direct routings for pilots to and from Greensboro and Fayetteville, North Carolina; Greer, South Carolina; and some Atlanta Center-controlled airports. AOPA had helped to engineer the improvements.
Oregon. Salem: Oregon Aeronautics Division Manager Betsy Johnson has resigned, citing micromanagement by the state Department of Transportation. She had been an effective pro-GA force in the state, often working closely with AOPA to improve airports and other facilities.
Rhode Island. North Kingstown: A developer planning a container facility may threaten the Quonset State Airport. AOPA is helping to organize opposition.
Texas. Conroe: AOPA is helping to mediate a dispute over placement of a new terminal building at Montgomery County Airport. Houston: Privately owned Andrau Airpark may be threatened by commercial and residential development. AOPA is investigating. Mineola: AOPA is supplying use projections and data for Mineola/Quitman Airport in an attempt to win $63,000 in county matching funds for runway improvements. A state grant has already been approved.
Utah. Morgan: Pilots at Morgan County Air-port were unconcerned about a planned residential community near the airport until bulldozers started pushing dirt right next to the runway. County commissioners are attempting to close the airport, but AOPA is helping the Morgan County Pilots Association to fight back.
Virginia. Quinton: The AOPA-encouraged New Kent County Airport Protection Association is fighting accusations of some county officials that the airport "serves only the rich."
Washington. Seattle: Neighbors of BoeingField have filed suit to stop a proposed 800-foot shift of Runway 31L to the northwest.
1999 Airport Directory Is in the Mail
The 1999 edition of AOPA's Airport Directory has been mailed to members who requested a copy on their most recent renewal forms and to all members enrolled in automatic annual renewal. The directory should be received in mid-November. Additional copies may be purchased by calling Sporty's Pilot Shop at 800/SPORTYS.
AIR SAFETY FOUNDATION
Local Action Will Help Curb Runway Incursions, ASF Says
There is no "silver bullet" for runway incursion problems, AOPA Air Safety Foundation Executive Director Bruce Landsberg declared after helping to formulate recommendations to reduce incursions at California's Long Beach and Orange County airports. Landsberg participated in an FAA Runway Incursion Action Team study of the two airports in July.
"Real solutions will come at the local level," he said. "National programs can provide support, but local users are the key to solving local runway incursions."
Runway incursions - airplanes, other vehicles, or people on runways when they're not supposed to be - are a growing problem. A February 1998 report of the FAA's Research, Engineering, and Development Advisory Committee showed that GA aircraft account for 59 percent of operations at towered airports but cause 72 percent of aircraft-related runway incursions. Landsberg noted, however, that only one GA runway incursion led to an accident in the last 10 years and that was at an airport with a complex layout.
Long Beach and Orange County airports, both heavily GA, rank high in runway incursions.
At both airports, hot spots for runway incursions were identified by the Action Team working with local pilots, FBOs, FAA Flight Standards inspectors, air traffic controllers, airport management, and others.
At Long Beach Airport, recommendations included:
- communications changes to allow ATC ground control more time to monitor ground traffic movements;
- painting projects to make non-movement areas more obvious;
- shorter ATIS announcements, concentrating on essential information and avoiding boilerplate announcements;
- training changes encouraging CFIs to work closely with both students and local pilots on proper ground operations.
At Orange County Airport, hold-short lines originally painted near the runway were moved to accommodate large aircraft not able to use midfield taxiways. Some additional painting may help to identify the new position of the lines for light aircraft.
In addition, a practical "board game" using the Long Beach Airport layout, developed by FAA Aviation Safety Program Manager Kathleen O'Brien, is being used to help educate local pilots.
ASF 1999 Calendar Features Fizer Photos, Safety Hints, Seminar Info
Thirteen breathtakingly beautiful GA airplane pictures adorn the 1999 ASF Safety Calendar, recently mailed to AOPA members and other ASF supporters. All photos are by AOPA Pilot photographer Mike Fizer.
The wall-type calendar includes a safety tip for each month, tailored to the time of year. In windy March, for instance, pilots are reminded that gusts and crosswinds cause 80 percent of wind-related accidents. Historic aviation dates are noted, such as the April 3, 1933, first flight over Mt. Everest and issuance of the first airmail stamp on May 13, 1918. Information on various ASF safety programs and products includes discount coupons and other opportunities for supporting ASF projects.
More information about the calendar, including the aircraft photo of the month, is available on the ASF Web site ( www.aopa.org/asf/).
Weather Tactics Seminar Premiers
ASF's brand-new premier program Weather Tactics debuted to critical acclaim at AOPA Expo '98 in Palm Springs in October. It will be presented in more than 140 cities during 1999.
"1998's Weather Strategies showed how to scour the system for weather information during preflight," declared ASF Vice President of Operations John Steuernagle. "1999's Weather Tactics adds weather-gathering expertise in the cockpit for the real-time best decisions."
The new program includes a "tour" of approach and center radar control facilities and recreates an actual flight from Washington Dulles International to Bradford, Pennsylvania, with thunderstorms prowling the area. The videotape includes simultaneous views of weather as seen from the cockpit and as shown on ATC radar.
The variety of inflight weather information available may surprise some pilots. "Centers, towers, and FSS facilities all have more to offer than most pilots know," said Steuernagle. "This program tells not only how to get the information, but also how to use it."
ASF safety seminars are free to all pilots. A complete listing of seminars and locations is available on the ASF Web site ( www.aopa.org/asf/seminars/) Pilots may also call ASF at 800/638-3101.
Silent Auction Posts Record Bidding; Ends November 30
Bidding for items on the 1998 ASF Online Silent Auction has surpassed previous years both in activity and in dollar value. The silent auction closes for the year on November 30.
"It's been a remarkable season," declared ASF Vice President for Development Art Keefe. "As of late September, pilots had submitted nearly 1,500 bids worth more than $40,000, and bidding is still active." Last year 1,164 bids worth $33,270 helped to support the Foundation's 535 national safety seminars, reaching more than 45,180 pilots. Safety programs are free of charge to boost pilot education and GA safety.
Among the top ASF Online Silent Auction bid items donated this year were six pairs of tickets to the NAPA 500, the final race of the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The tickets, valued at $600 per pair, were donated by MBNA America Bank.
New items available for bids until November 30 include two Wittnauer watches, smoke hoods, a Mike Fizer framed aviation print, a Peltor 7005 aviation headset, PC games and software, a seven-day Caribbean cruise for two, and a one-hour scenic helicopter ride over Los Angeles and South Bay.
