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| GA News
| AOPA STAFF TO OFFER VIRTUAL EXPO
Once again the AOPA Pilot staff will be covering AOPA Expo 2000 in Long Beach, California, and offering members a virtual experience on the Web. There will be stories, photos, and other unique postings throughout the weekend. A near-real-time display of traffic heading to Long Beach Airport and 360-degree panoramic photos are planned. Check it out on AOPA Online.
MISSOURI GOVERNOR DIES IN CRASH
Missouri Gov. Melvin E. Carnahan, 66, an avid private pilot and candidate for the U.S. Senate, died Monday in the crash of a 1980 Cessna 335 piloted by his son. The pilot, Roger Carnahan, and a campaign aide, Chris Sifford, also died in the crash. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch said the twin-engine aircraft was flying at 6,500 feet on an IFR flight plan when the pilot reported a gyro problem. The aircraft was flying from St. Louis Parks Airport in Cahokia, Illinois, to New Madrid, Missouri, at about 7 p.m. It crashed at 7:30 p.m. near Goldman, Missouri, about 25 miles south of St. Louis, the paper reported. Carnahan was campaigning for the Senate seat held by Republican Sen. John Ashcroft. The paper further reported that there was fog and rain at the time of the accident. The NTSB has sent a team to investigate the cause.
SAFIRE NOTES BRISK SALES FOR DEVELOPING JET
 Safire Aircraft Company announced that it has received deposits for more than 700 composite S-26 jets, representing about $560 million in sales since July 1999. "This is an impressive achievement in not only the aviation industry, but in any industry. It signifies the market demand for a safe, fast, reliable jet at an affordable price," Safire founder and CEO Michael Margaritoff said. The six-place jet has a target price of $800,000; it is estimated to have a cruise speed of 330 knots and a range of more than 1,400 nm. The maiden flight is scheduled for mid-2002. For more, see the Web site.
FLYING DOCTORS' AIRPLANE GOES DOWN IN MEXICO
Six doctors from the San Francisco area died last Saturday near the Baha California town of Ensenada after their Cessna 320 crashed. The group, members of the Flying Doctors organization, had gone to Mexico to help poor villagers. The pilot, Dr. Marvin Weinreb, reported to the Ensenada tower that the landing gear would not extend and made a pass down the runway so that controllers could check the gear. He then climbed and flew downwind, according to the Flying Doctors Web site, but crashed while turning to base. The Web site reported that he asked the tower several times if the gear was extended, but the tower controller replied only, "Clear for landing." The NTSB asked the Mexican government to participate in the investigation. A San Francisco Chronicle reporter was along on the trip aboard another aircraft, and reported on the accident. The doctors had completed their medical work at San Ignacio and were planning to attend a medical seminar near Ensenada. See the Chronicle's Web site for more details.
MOONEY OFFERS FREE ANTI-ICING SYSTEM
Mooney Aircraft is now offering a free TKS anti-icing system on all new 2000 Mooney Bravo aircraft purchased and delivered before November 30. The TKS system, certified for flight into known icing conditions, provides up to 2.5 hours of protection by preventing as well as removing ice from the airplane. The manufacturer's suggested retail price for the Bravo is $481,950. For more information, contact Mooney at 800/456-3033 or visit the special Web site established for the Bravo TKS sale.
For daily news updates, see AOPA Online.
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Inside AOPA
| AOPA WEIGHS IN ON VFR ROUTE SUSPENSION
The FAA on Monday temporarily suspended shoreline VFR transitions west of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) below 3,000 feet. This came after two airliners departing LAX to the west came too close to VFR traffic using the north-south Shoreline Transition Route. (It does not appear that the VFR aircraft were at fault.) ATC will continue to allow VFR traffic to use the route above 3,500 feet. The FAA will form a task force to study the problem for 90 days, and look for additional VFR transition routes or ways to reinstate the shoreline altitudes with additional safeguards. AOPA will participate on that task force and push to ensure that general aviation does not lose any access through the Los Angeles Class B airspace. The change should not affect aircraft arriving for AOPA Expo 2000 in Long Beach, California, through Sunday. For more, see AOPA's issue brief on AOPA Online.
COMPANIES ADD LOC-DME TO GPS DATABASES
Two of the largest avionics manufacturers, Garmin and Honeywell Bendix/King, have added LOC-DMEs to their GPS databases following requests last year by AOPA. AOPA also lobbied the FAA to allow the use of GPS in lieu of DME. Pilots can now use their GPS units in lieu of DME on all localizer, localizer back course, ILS, or any other localizer-type procedures. It is important to stress that pilots must determine the method required to retrieve the waypoints from their receivers. Because of various receiver designs, the retrieval will be different for each model. Also, the GPS units and their installations must be certified for IFR. These new waypoints are available in Honeywell Bendix/King's KLN 89B, KLN 90B, and KLN 95, as well as Garmin's GPS 155, GPS 155XL, GPS 165, GNC 300, GNC 300XL, GPS 400, GNC 420, GNS 430, and GNS 530. UPS Aviation Technologies has also indicated that the company is updating its databases to take advantage of the new technology. Trimble, on the other hand, has not expressed any intent to add the information to its receivers. Members should contact manufacturers directly for more information on specific GPS models.
AOPA ASKS MEMBERS FOR INPUT ON UWB RULEMAKING
AOPA recently submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in a proposed rulemaking on ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. UWB may provide all of us with benefits in the future, but AOPA and other aviation organizations are not convinced that adequate safeguards are in place to protect aviation-critical frequencies, including the GPS spectrum, from UWB interference. The FCC has extended the comment period on this rulemaking and AOPA technical staff members are encouraging members to weigh in on the proposal.
| On Capitol Hill
| CONGRESS SEEKS FINAL RESOLUTION
Congressional leaders continue to work for final resolution of spending plans for fiscal year 2001. The transportation appropriations bill, which contains FAA funding, and the Interior appropriations bill, which contains backcountry airstrip protection measures, have already passed both houses of Congress. However, final resolution of a few appropriations bills still remains before members of Congress can leave town for the year. AOPA Legislative Affairs staff continues to monitor a measure to privatize the National Weather Service that passed the House earlier this year. Senate staff has indicated to AOPA that it is very unlikely the measure will move forward in the Senate, leaving the bill with no future in the 106th session of Congress. Meanwhile, reauthorization of the NTSB continues to move forward. This piece of legislation is of special interest because it contains a provision making technical changes recommended by AOPA to ease the transfer of aeronautical charting from NOAA to the FAA. Congress passed a continuing resolution funding the government through midnight on Saturday. While the president has indicated that any future continuing resolutions would be for no more than one or two days, many experts believe Congress should recess late Saturday night.
| Airport Support Network
| VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK–STEPHEN L. NASH
Recently, AOPA learned that the Deland (Florida) City Commission had given a motorcycle club permission to host drag races on a closed runway at the Deland Municipal-Sydney H. Taylor Field later this week. Stephen L. Nash, ASN volunteer at the airport, quickly investigated and found that the airport had not notified the FAA. AOPA contacted the FAA, and the agency immediately contacted the airport administration to solicit further information.
Click here to learn more about the Airport Support Network.
| Quiz Me!
| Here’s a question asked by an AOPA member last week of our AOPA technical specialists. Test your knowledge.
Question: How would I go about finding a METAR weather report for a specific airport on a previous date and time?
Answer: The Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS) is a service funded by the FAA Aviation Weather Research Program. You may access METAR information for a previous 12-hour time period from the Web site.
Got a technical question for AOPA specialists? Call 800/872-2672 or e-mail to [email protected]. Send comments on our Quiz Me! questions to [email protected].
| AOPA Air Safety Foundation News
| GA SAFETY RECORD CONTINUES TO IMPROVE
General aviation is maintaining its continuously improving safety record. In fact, 1999 was the safest year since record keeping began in 1939. The trend in 2000 is even more positive. Despite a substantial increase in GA flight hours and number of flights this year, the year-to-date number of GA accidents is down 5.5 percent and the number of fatal accidents is down 6.9 percent. Last year, there were more than 40 million flights, 342 fatal accidents, and 1,908 total accidents of all types. Since the end of World War II, the GA fatal accident rate has been cut fivefold, and the total accident rate has decreased by a factor of 10. Since 1970, the GA fatal accident rate has been cut in half. However, instructional accidents are on the rise, according to the AOPA Air Safety Foundation, which analyzes data from the NTSB, FAA, and other sources. A large increase in instructional activity may contribute to the increase. Another area of concern is an increase in midair collisions, a number of which have involved CFIs.
| On The Road To Expo
| It's here. It's now. It's big! AOPA Expo 2000 in Long Beach, California. Register on site for the biggest and best AOPA Expo ever! Expo begins today and continues through Sunday. Daily exhibit hall passes (only $30 a day) and seminar/exhibit hall passes (only $45 a day) give you access to more than 500 exhibits, 80 aircraft on static display, 82 seminar topics, and 70 product demonstrations you won't want to miss. Plus, you can still get tickets for exciting social events once you're there. Arrive by 9 a.m. each morning for the day's general session--absolutely free! Hear the FAA administrator discuss hot topics with AOPA executives. Listen as the AOPA Air Safety Foundation addresses key general aviation safety issues. And meet AOPA staff! Check out the entire Expo program on AOPA Online or call 888/GO2-EXPO for full details.
| ePilot Calendar
| WEEKEND FLYING DESTINATIONS
In response to member requests, some destinations will be posted one week in advance.
Abilene, Texas. The Big Country Fly-In, EAA's Southwest Regional Fly-In, takes place October 20 and 21. Abilene Regional Airport (ABI), 915/676-6367, is the host airport. Call 915/698-4921 for event information or visit the Web site.
Edwards Air Force Base, California. Edwards Air Force Base holds its annual open house and airshow October 21. Call 661/277-3510 for event information or visit the Web site.
Watsonville, California. The Wings of History Harvest Moon Fly-In takes place October 21. Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI), 831/728-6075, is the host airport. Call 831/425-1234 for event information, or visit the Web site.
New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The New Smyrna Beach Air Show takes place October 28 and 29 at New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport (EVB), 904/424-2199. Call 407/574-1872 for event information.
New Bern, North Carolina. AOPA members are invited to New Bern for the local historical society's Ghost Walk Pageant October 27 and 28. Members who fly in for the event will receive discounts at area hotels. Craven County Regional Airport (EWN), 252/633-1400, serves the area. Call 252/638-8558 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 Indianapolis, Nashville, and Reston, Virginia, on October 28 and 29. Clinics are scheduled in Anchorage, Atlanta, and Dallas on November 4 and 5. For complete details, visit the Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic schedule.
ASF SAFETY SEMINARS
The next AOPA ASF Safety Seminars are scheduled in Long Beach, California, today through October 22. Seminars are scheduled in New Orleans and Eugene, Oregon, October 23; in Mobile, Alabama, and Portland, Oregon, October 24; in Albany, New York, Birmingham, Alabama, and Everett, Washington, October 25; and in Atlanta and Seattle on October 26. For more information see Web site.
ASF PINCH HITTER GROUND-SCHOOL COURSES
(Pinch Hitter courses start at 9:30 a.m.)
The next Pinch-Hitter� Ground School will take place November 5 in Anchorage, Alaska. 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 Baltimore, November 13; Las Vegas, November 28; Prescott, Arizona, November 29; and Phoenix, November 30. Click for more information on Pilot Town Meetings.
For comments on calendar items or to make submissions, contact Julie Walker at [email protected].
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Contacting ePilot
Got news tips? Contact ePilot editor Nathan A. Ferguson at [email protected].
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