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| GA News
| MORE CRANKSHAFT WOES, THIS TIME IT’S LYCOMING
Reminiscent of last year’s Teledyne Continental crankshaft problems, Textron Lycoming recently released Service Bulletin (SB) 549 highlighting a “potential metallurgical condition” on crankshafts installed in four-cylinder 360-series engines or shipped as spare parts. The suspect crankshafts were shipped from the Lycoming factory May 1, 1997, through April 30, 2000, and are listed by serial number in the SB. Lycoming requires that affected airplanes undergo nondestructive testing at one of several Lycoming-certified facilities listed in the SB, and will extend warranty coverage for cost of the required inspections through October 31 of this year. Lycoming has supplied AOPA with additional information not found in the SB, including the failure events leading up to this SB, the nature of the defect, and testing methods. For more, see AOPA Online.
HIGHWAY IN THE SKY NEARS COMPLETION
NASA plans to complete software for general aviation navigation this September called Highway in the Sky (HITS). The final HITS system is conceived to display an intuitive perspective graphic of the flight path guidance for terminal and certain en route procedures. A precertified version of HITS will be on display in the NASA general aviation exhibit area at EAA AirVenture in July. Under the Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) program, NASA plans to expand HITS research into graphical flight path guidance depiction for terrain and weather avoidance, as well as traffic separation. Learn all about the latest NASA research for yourself if you happen to be in the Hampton, Virginia, area, this weekend; the NASA Langley Research Center is having an open house April 28.
NEMESIS TEAM GETS READY TO SHIP KIT
 After nine years of dominating Formula I air racing, Nemesis Air Racing Inc. is ready to offer a superfast kit airplane this summer that grew out of the technology honed by competition. The two-place carbon fiber NXT utilizes a system called Perfect Fit Technology (PFT) to cut building time. It is powered by a turbocharged Continental TSIO-550 engine and has a Hartzell three-blade propeller. The maximum sea level speed based on computer modeling is estimated to be more than 300 knots. The complete kit–minus the engine, instruments, and propeller–will sell for $129,500. The price includes a builder-assist program from the manufacturer. First flight is expected in August. For more, see the Web site.
PILOT EDITORS TO COVER AEA
AOPA Pilot editors will be covering the Aircraft Electronics Association convention now under way in Dallas. AEA is comprised of avionics manufacturers, repair stations, academic institutions, operators, and regulatory agencies, all dedicated to the advancement of the general aviation industry. For the latest avionics news, see AOPA Online.
For daily news updates, see AOPA Online. |
Inside AOPA
| IAOPA CONDEMNS PERU SHOOT-DOWN
The International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA) has condemned the military for shooting down an unarmed civilian aircraft in Peru. "Nothing justifies a no-questions-asked destruction of civilian aircraft," said Phil Boyer, IAOPA and AOPA president. "We would have thought the nations of the world would have learned an important lesson from the downing of Korean Air Flight 007 in 1984." The Peruvian fighter jet attacked the aircraft–owned by the U.S.-based Association of Baptists for World Evangelism–last Friday, one hour after a U.S. surveillance plane said it might be ferrying illegal drugs. In 1994, AOPA opposed such surveillance or any U.S. activities that might encourage other countries to shoot down civilian aircraft. See AOPA Online.
AOPA FIGHTS TO KEEP OCEANSIDE AIRPORT OPEN
AOPA has warned the Southern California city of Oceanside that it will oppose any efforts to close Oceanside Municipal Airport. “The airport and the services it provides are vital,” wrote Bill Dunn, AOPA vice president of regional affairs, in a letter to Oceanside Mayor Terry Johnson. “Not only does the airport serve the local area, it is an integral part of a statewide and national transportation system.” Johnson and some city officials are reportedly considering closing the airport and using the property for other money-making operations. AOPA reminded the city that the airport has a community and regional economic benefit that far exceeds the direct revenue it generates for the city. “The airport creates jobs in the community,” said Dunn. “Airport tenants also pay personal property and possessory interest taxes that help support local schools.” For more, see AOPA Online.
AOPA RESPONDS TO MEDIA REPORTS
When the latest issue of Newsweek magazine carrying a story, “Seven Ways to Fix Air Travel,” misstated facts on general aviation, AOPA quickly responded. In a letter to the editor, AOPA President Phil Boyer pointed out that general aviation doesn’t cause airline delays. GA represents less than 5 percent of the traffic at the most delay-plagued airports. And when The Wall Street Journal editorialized recently in favor of a privatized air traffic control system, AOPA countered, showing why privatization would be a bad idea. AOPA recently sent Boyer’s March AOPA Pilot editorial, “It’s more runways, stupid,” to the publishers, editors, and editorial writers of the nation's major newspapers.
AOPA SURVEYS AVGAS PRICES
Ever mindful of the cost of flying, AOPA recently reviewed the change in the average U.S. retail price of avgas (100LL and 80/87) over a 15-month period. Beginning January 2000, the average price was about $2.39 including taxes and fees. By the end of March 2001, the average price was about $2.50, which reflects an average increase of about 5 percent. For that same period, the increase in the average U.S. price of auto gasoline (all grades) was about 22 percent. In January 2001, AOPA was able to increase the AOPA Credit Card FBO Rebate through MBNA America Bank from 3 percent to 5 percent, allowing members to receive rebates of up to $250 annually on aviation fuel and other purchases from FBOs. For more, see AOPA Online.
AOPA PARADE OF PLANES HEADS EAST
The AOPA Parade of Planes will come to the East for the first time in more than 20 years. Join in the fun November 7 as 50-plus aircraft taxi down the streets of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to the convention center, just in time to kick off the best and biggest AOPA Expo yet. AOPA Expo 2001 runs from November 8 through 10. See AOPA Online.
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| On Capitol Hill
| AOPA FIGHTS FOR AERIAL FISH SPOTTERS
Responding to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s proposal that would place restrictions on aerial fish spotters, AOPA sent a letter last Wednesday to Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans, requesting that the administration review its position. The department wants to continue to prohibit the use of its funds for the issuance or renewal of Harpoon category permits for aircraft involved in Atlantic bluefin tuna fishing. “Aerial fish spotters have been a safe and beneficial segment of the fishing industry for more than 30 years,” AOPA President Phil Boyer wrote. “However, as the numbers of fisherman have increased and the fishing has become more competitive, so has the push to eliminate this element of the industry.” In fact, spotter aircraft play a crucial environmental role by directing fisherman away from undersized tuna. See AOPA Online.
| Airport Support Network
| VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK–GLENN SIEMER
Glenn Siemer encouraged a letter-writing campaign to urge the Port Authority of Vancouver, Washington, to buy endangered Evergreen Field (59S). Almost 60 letters from local pilots, along with a letter from AOPA, have been sent in support of the proposed purchase. The Port Authority has responded with a request for more statistics. Siemer is continuing to collect data to support the airport's cause. But Siemer reports that contamination of underground fuel storage may doom continued operation of the popular two-runway airport.
To learn more about the Airport Support Network, visit AOPA Online. | AOPA Air Safety Foundation News
| ASF, NTSB CONTINUE RUNWAY SAFETY EFFORT
AOPA Air Safety Foundation Executive Director Bruce Landsberg met with acting NTSB Chairwoman Carol Carmody this week in Washington to discuss general aviation safety and ASF's role in promoting safer skies. ASF has had a long relationship with the NTSB and uses NTSB accident data as the foundation for its database. Landsberg demonstrated ASF's new online runway safety course for Carmody and asked what more ASF could do to help improve the safety record. The NTSB is highly concerned about runway safety. ASF has taken the industry lead in this area by producing a seminar, videotape, Safety Advisor publication, Internet information, online taxi diagrams, and the first online course that satisfies the ground requirement for the FAA’s Wings program. For more, see AOPA Online.
| Quiz Me!
| Here’s a question asked by an AOPA member last week of our AOPA technical specialists. Test your knowledge.
Question: Do I have to carry my logbook when I fly?
Answer: According to FAR 61.51 (i)(2) and (3), only student and recreational pilots are required to do so. For more, see AOPA Online.
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 Sweepstakes Bonanza Update
|  SWEEPS BONANZA PROJECT CONTINUES
The effort to turn the 2001 AOPA Sweepstakes Bonanza into a cross-country rocket continues at a shop in West Chicago,Illinois. Read about how the latest avionics from Garmin will keep this bird right on course. See AOPA Online.
| What's New At AOPA Online
| More than 4,200 members are enjoying their free AOPA.net e-mail accounts. Are you? Sign up today. See AOPA Online.
| ePilot Calendar
| WEEKEND FLYING DESTINATIONS
Long Beach, California. The National Air Transportation Association and Professional Aircraft Maintenance Association Convention takes place May 1 through 3. Call 703/845-9000 for event information, or visit the Web site
Weatherford, Oklahoma. The Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) Expo 2001 will take place May 4 and 5 at General Thomas P. Stafford Airport (F91). Call 800/725-7744 for event information..
Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The 2001 Air and Sea Airshow takes place on Fort Lauderdale Beach between Oakland Park and Las Olas boulevards May 5 and 6. Call 954/527-5600 for event information, or visit the Web site.
For more airport details, see AOPA's Airport Directory Online . For more events, see Aviation Calendar of Events
UPCOMING AOPA EVENTS
Frederick, Maryland. The eleventh annual AOPA Fly-In and Open House will take place June 2, 2001 at AOPA headquarters.
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 Sacramento, California, and Pensacola, Florida, May 5 and 6. For the Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic schedule, see AOPA Online.
ASF PINCH-HITTER GROUND-SCHOOL COURSES
(Pinch-Hitter courses start at 9:30 a.m.)
The next Pinch-Hitter� Ground School will take place May 6 in Pensacola. For more Pinch-Hitter courses, see AOPA Online.
For comments on calendar items or to make submissions, contact Julie S. Walker at [email protected].
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Contacting ePilot
Got news tips? Contact ePilot editor Nathan A. Ferguson at [email protected]. Having difficulty using this service? Visit the ePilot Frequently Asked Questions now at AOPA Online or write to [email protected]. Changing your mailing or e-mail addresses? Click here to update.
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