AOPA Online Members Only -- -- AOPA ePilot Volume 2, Issue 9

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Air Safety Foundation

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Weekend Weather

Breakthrough deal reached on AIR-21 Fuel concern reported in Van Nuys, California GA enjoys another record year Fatal personal flying accidents down 11.1 percent

Volume 2, Issue 9 March 3, 2000

GA News

BREAKTHROUGH DEAL REACHED ON AIR-21 The Senate Budget Committee on Wednesday announced that after six months of stalled negotiations, House and Senate conferees have reached an agreement over the FAA reauthorization bill known as AIR-21. The agreement appears to ensure that the Airport and Airway Trust Fund is "unlocked" and that the money inside will be spent on aviation. Following a series of meetings between House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bud Shuster and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, a deal was reached that would spend $40 billion on FAA funding over the next three years: $33 billion would be spent out of the trust fund, and $6.7 billion would be available to be appropriated by Congress from the general fund on a year-by-year basis. If the deal is finalized as reported, Congress would be required to spend all of the money that the trust fund takes in each year, plus the interest on the money already in the fund. Next, Congress would be required to provide the full amount authorized for programs such as the Airport Improvement Program Fund (AIP) and Facilities and Equipment (F&E). In total, funding for the AIP would increase from its current annual level of $1.9 billion to $3.4 billion, and F&E would see an increase from $2.04 billion to $3 billion. Negotiations over other controversial items within the bill, such as passenger facility charges and airline slots at major airports, should be completed in the coming days. Negotiators hope to have the conference report before both bodies for approval by March 10. The bill will then be sent to President Clinton for his signature. Upon hearing the news, AOPA President Phil Boyer said, "Should this proposal be signed into law, it will have been the grassroots effort of the thousands of AOPA members across the nation that helped turn the tide and make AIR-21 a reality." For new details on this breaking story, see the AOPA Web site. FUEL CONCERN REPORTED IN VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA Million Air Van Nuys has drained and flushed its fuel tanks--both those underground and those on fuel trucks--to eliminate a possible source of mysterious black dirt particles found in the fuel by a few aircraft owners. Lab tests on the fuel by Phillips 66 indicate that it is clean and acceptable for use in aircraft. According to Million Air, field experience suggests that the existence of particulate matter can be established by sumping the aircraft fuel system, allowing the sample to settle over 10 to 15 minutes, and performing a visual inspection. Any aircraft owners who have performed a visual inspection and observed particulate matter in their fuel are asked to contact the AOPA Pilot Information Center at 800/USA-AOPA. For more information, and copies of Phillips 66 and Million Air statements, visit AOPA Online. DIAMOND STAR DEBUTS IN NORTH AMERICA In a ceremony at Diamond Aircraft Industries' Canadian factory in London, Ontario, the first conforming prototype four-place, DA40-180 aircraft made its first appearance in North America. The DA40-180 is an all-composite carbon- and glass-fiber aircraft, and is powered by a 180-horsepower Lycoming IO-360 engine. It has a claimed maximum cruise speed of 147 knots, and will cost US$185,000 in IFR configuration. Initial JAA certification of the Diamond Star in Europe is expected this summer, with FAA and Canadian Transport Canada certification to follow immediately thereafter. The Diamond Star begins a North American demonstration tour this month, and will be on display in April at Sun 'n Fun in Lakeland, Florida. GA ENJOYS ANOTHER RECORD YEAR The general aviation industry has seen annual increases in billings and shipments for five consecutive years. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported that 1999 billings climbed 35.1 percent to $7.9 billion, from $5.9 billion in 1998. Shipments of GA aircraft were up to 2,525, from 2,220 in 1998. All sectors except turboprops saw increases. Piston shipments climbed to 1,747, a 13.9 percent increase from 1,534 in 1998. Turboprop shipments declined slightly, from 271 to 264. Jets, meanwhile, saw a 23.9 percent increase, from 415 to 514. AOPA ADVISES PARK SERVICE ON TUSKEGEE AIRMEN TRIBUTE AOPA is assisting the National Park Service in planning the new Tuskegee Airmen National Center in Tuskegee, Alabama. AOPA Senior Vice President of Communications Drew Steketee attended a planning meeting in Alabama recently. Others at the Tuskegee University meeting included staff from the National Air and Space Museum, the Naval Aviation Museum, the Martin Luther King historical site in Atlanta, and surviving Tuskegee Airmen and family members. Congress has authorized (but not yet appropriated) $29.1 million to restore historic facilities at Moton Field, Alabama, where America's first black combat pilots were trained. The site--directly accessible by airplane--will be the nation's only re-creation of a WW II military training base. SOCATA CONTEST DRAWS 434 RESPONSES Many of you who received the text version of ePilot last week, and viewed it using an older version of Netscape, were not able to use the Web address provided to see details for the Socata paint scheme contest. Socata Aircraft is asking AOPA members to help design a new paint scheme for its new line of Generation Two TB models. So far, 434 of you have entered via e-mail for a chance to win a trip for two aboard an Air France Concorde SST to Paris. Check out the Socata paint scheme contest. DATES ANNOUNCED FOR CAYMAN ISLANDS ESCAPE The Cayman Islands will host its fourteenth annual International Aviation Week from June 14 through 19. The event includes two days of flying and safety seminars, as well as a beachfront airshow and aircraft static displays. International Aviation Week is enjoyed best, however, when the trip is made by GA aircraft. Daunted by the 330-nm flight from Key West, Florida, south across the middle of Cuba to Grand Cayman? Let the Cayman Caravan, an organized overflight, handle the details for you. For more information on International Aviation Week, call the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (800/346-3313) or visit the Web site. Or, review previous AOPA Pilot articles on the experience; see " Postcards: Island Escape" and " Postcards: Cayman Caravan." For daily news updates, see AOPA's Pilot Briefing.

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