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| GA News
| PILOTS READY FOR LONDON-SYDNEY RACE
Two American women pilots who operate an aerial sightseeing business will compete in the historic London-Sydney Air Race 2001. Retired attorney Gwen Bloomingdale and licensed A&P mechanic Barbara J. Gard, who operate their seasonal business in Massachusetts and Florida, will be flying a twin Aero Commander in the race. Both women previously raced in the Air Race Classic, a cross-country event for women over American soil. "Barbara and I have competed five times and I think tearing about the countryside full throttle is the most fun we can have in a plane," Bloomingdale said. The contestants will leave Biggin Hill Aerodrome, near London, on March 11 and arrive in Sydney 28 days later. The event is part of Australia’s Centenary of Federation celebrations and marks only the fourth time such a race has taken place. In 1919, Ross Smith and his crew completed the 11,000-mile London-to-Darwin, Australia, journey in a Vickers Vimy bomber in, coincidentally, 28 days. To date, 44 entrants have signed up for the modern race. Six are from the United States, including California filmmaker Mark Wolper who will be flying a Piper Turbo Saratoga. For more information on the race, contact Air Race 2001, Project Office, Level 4, 77 Berry Street, North Sydney, Australia 2060; e-mail [email protected].
BOEING BUYS JEPPESEN
In an effort to continue the expansion of its services business, The Boeing Company announced Tuesday that it’s acquiring Jeppesen Sanderson from the Tribune Company for $1.5 billion in cash. Boeing intends to operate Jepp as a wholly owned subsidiary and to keep the current management team in place. Regulatory approval is pending. "We’ve made it clear that we are transforming Boeing into a global aerospace solutions provider, and growing our aviation services business is a major part of that transformation," Boeing Chairman and CEO Phil Condit said. For more information, see the Web site.
JUDGE DELAYS STODDARD-HAMILTON DECISION
 U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Thomas T. Glover will once again hear from potential buyers of Stoddard-Hamilton Aircraft Inc.'s assets today in Seattle after he ordered a continuance last Friday. Stoddard-Hamilton attorney Geoff Groshong said Monday that a creditors' committee and other parties wanted to see if they could get "higher and better bids" from other vendors, besides W.D. and Lonny Weitzel. The Weitzels had offered $750,000 for the assets to the Glasair and GlaStar lines. Groshong said there are at least two other potential bidders. But Lonny Weitzel said Wednesday that he and his father are still interested in acquiring the assets and resuming production of the kitplanes.
FAA UPGRADES ASOS WEB SITE
The FAA improved its ASOS Web site to allow visitors to get weather sensor information more efficiently. The site now includes an organized catalog of all ASOS/AWOS sites in the United States, Caribbean, and the Pacific Ocean areas. Information includes the site identification, frequency, telephone access number, type, and commission status. There are also individual state and island maps showing the location of the weather systems. See the improvements on the Web site.
AGENCIES OFFER WILDFIRE INFORMATION ON WEB
Pilots can obtain the latest information on wildfires in the western states on the Internet. For specific information about fires, see the National Interagency Fire Center’s site. For temporary flight restrictions, see the U.S. Notam Office and click on "center area notams." Most of the TFRs can be found under the Salt Lake link.
For daily news updates, see AOPA Online.
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Inside AOPA
| AOPA EXPANDS LEGAL SERVICES PLAN
AOPA has once again expanded the benefits under its Legal Services Plan. Moreover, the thousands of AOPA members who participate will see no increase in fees for the additional services. "We hope that these latest enhancements will convince more AOPA members to have at least an initial place to turn when they need some personal legal advice on an aviation-related matter," AOPA General Counsel John Yodice said. "In addition to its low cost, the AOPA Legal Services Plan now covers initial consultation on U.S. Customs enforcement and aircraft purchase/sale issues." Also, the plan's maximum rate for attorney fees has been increased from $120 to $140 per hour, and the number of attorney hours covered for the initial stages of FAA enforcement cases is up 25 percent to 10 hours of attorney time. For more information, see AOPA Online.
AOPA URGES FAA TO INSTALL ONLINE ‘WEATHER CAMS’
AOPA is urging the FAA to use the power of the Internet to provide better weather information to pilots. AOPA wants the FAA to install Internet-accessible cameras to provide real-time weather images to supplement automated ASOS/AWOS reports. In a letter to the FAA’s Aviation Weather Directorate, Dennis Roberts, AOPA vice president and executive director of the Government and Technical Affairs Division, said, "Video-imaging technology is an inexpensive and effective medium for giving pilots critical weather information." The idea has been successfully tested in Alaska, where video cameras have been placed at airports and remote locations. The cameras are aimed to provide the most relevant weather views for VFR pilots. The views permit pilots to identify distant weather phenomena and make better "go/no-go" decisions. "AOPA firmly supports this inexpensive technology to enhance weather observations and increase general aviation safety," Roberts said. "We ask the FAA to examine the results of the Alaska project and expand this program to the lower 48 states." For more information, see the FAA Web site.
| On Capitol Hill
| AOPA FIGHTS FOR GA AT DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
President Clinton brought the first night of the 2000 Democratic National Convention to a close Monday on a rousing partisan note by using a line from Ronald Reagan by asking, "Are you better off than you were eight years ago?" Once again AOPA is the only general aviation association participating in the convention’s busy schedule of briefings, fundraisers, and receptions. Just as they did at the Republican convention, the major airlines have committed formidable resources to a high-profile presence, including cohosting a reception Monday evening for pilot and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.). Official events in Los Angeles are spread throughout the city, creating security problems. On Sunday evening AOPA staffers had to work their way through screaming protesters with the help of a cordon of mounted police to get to a reception honoring conservative "Blue Dog" Democrats.
| Airport Support Network
| VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK–JEFF TAYLOR
To help bring positive publicity and more visitors to the Morehouse Memorial Airport in Bastrop, Louisiana (2F8), Airport Support Network volunteer Jeff Taylor, along with the airport manager, are serving as head advisers to an Aviation Exploring post. The program helps youth develop interests and explore careers in aviation.
Click here to learn more about the Airport Support Network.
| AOPA Air Safety Foundation News
| ASF STUDY HIGHLIGHTS PIPER SAFETY RECORD
The second in a series of four AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Highlights studies validates that fixed-gear Piper Cherokees and retractable-gear Piper Arrows are reliable, sturdy favorites among aircraft owners. The new safety review, scheduled for release in early September, will be mailed free to all FAA-registered owners of Piper PA-28 aircraft. The series is sponsored by the United States Aircraft Insurance Group (USAIG). Single copies will be available by request by calling 800/USA-AOPA (800/872-2672). Information will also be available on the Web site.
| Quiz me!
| Here’s a question asked by an AOPA member last week of our AOPA technical specialists. Test your knowledge.
Question: The airport identifier has changed for an airport that I fly into occasionally. Is there a listing or Web site from the FAA that gives new airport identifiers?
Answer: FAA Order 7350.7A lists the location identifiers authorized by the FAA and Transport Canada. It lists airports, navigation aids, weather stations, and Flight Service Stations, as well as some ICAO identifiers. You can find a new identifier in the appendix, which lists identifier deletions, additions, and corrections. The order itself is updated and republished every 112 days and is available online.
Got a technical question? Call our technical specialists at 800/872-2672 or e-mail to [email protected]. Send comments on our Quiz Me! questions to [email protected].
| The Road to Expo
| A number of events will take place to make the AOPA Expo 2000, from October 20 through 22 in Long Beach, Califonia, special. Sunday’s highlights include a Team AOPA General Session, starting at 9 a.m., where you’ll hear what’s going on inside AOPA, learn about new programs, and find out what’s ahead for the coming year. Laugh and learn at Rod Machado’s A Wacky Look at Aviation Humor and aviation experts John and Martha King's top-rated How to Avoid Unwanted Adventure seminars. Pose your medical questions to a medical examiner and aviation pharmacist from noon to 3 p.m. Get a look at the sweepstakes Millennium Mooney. Enjoy the closing banquet where The Capitol Steps comedy troupe will perform. And, join AOPA President Phil Boyer who is sponsoring the pre-banquet reception. For more information, call 888/GO2-Expo or visit the Web site.
| ePilot Calendar
| WEEKEND FLYING DESTINATIONS
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The John G. Diefenbaker Airport (CYXE), 306/975-4274, plays host to the Canada Remembers International Air Show, August 19 and 20. Call 306/975-3155 for event information.
Chicago, Illinois. The oldest and largest free admission air and water exhibition in the United States takes place August 19 and 20 on Chicago’s lakefront, centered at North Avenue Beach. For information on the Chicago Air and Water Show, call 312/744-3315.
Santa Rosa, California. The Pacific Coast Air Museum Air Show takes place August 19 and 20. Sonoma County Airport (STS), 707/524-7243, is the host airport. Call 707/575-7900 for event information.
Frederick, Maryland. The Wings of Freedom Air Show, presented by the Confederate Air Force, takes place August 19 and 20 at the Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK), 301/846-2201. Call 301/631-5357 for event information.
For more airport details, see AOPA’s Airport Directory Online. For more events, see the Aviation Calendar of Events.
ASF FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REFRESHER CLINICS
(All clinics start at 7:30 a.m.)
The next AOPA Air Safety Foundation Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics are scheduled in Champaign, Illinois; Long Beach, California; Newark, New Jersey; and Vero Beach, Florida, August 19 and 20. Clinics are scheduled in Boulder, Colorado; Reno, Nevada; and Reston, Virginia, August 26 and 27. For complete details, visit the Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic schedule.
ASF SAFETY SEMINARS
The next AOPA ASF Safety Seminars are scheduled in Pittsburgh (West Mifflin), Pennsylvania, September 11; Harrisburg (New Cumberland), Pennsylvania, September 12; Middletown, New Jersey, September 14. The seminar topic is "GPS for VFR Operations." Familiarity with GPS is essential because it is the navigation system of the future. You will learn rules for survival in an electronic environment as well as advantages and disadvantages of using GPS; GPS capabilities; how to navigate using GPS; and traps and tricks of GPS navigation. Pilots of all skill levels and experience will benefit from this thorough review of GPS in VFR conditions. For more information about ASF Safety Seminars, visit the Web site.
ASF PINCH HITTER GROUND-SCHOOL COURSES
(Pinch Hitter courses start at 9:30 a.m.)
The next Pinch-Hitter(R) Ground School will take place September 24 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. For details and a complete schedule, see the Pinch Hitter Ground School Schedule.
AOPA PILOT TOWN MEETINGS
Featuring AOPA President Phil Boyer
(7:30 p.m.; admission is free)
The next Pilot Town Meetings are in Omaha, Nebraska, August 28; Des Moines, Iowa, August 29; and Lansing, Michigan, September 11. Click for more information on Pilot Town Meetings.
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Contacting ePilot
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