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| Restoring GA
| AOPA EXPO SPREADS ITS WINGS
AOPA Expo 2001 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will celebrate general aviation's return to flight. "This is just what general aviation needs right now," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "After six weeks of keeping our heads down, it's time to spread our wings again." This week, VFR flight restrictions were lifted in 12 more major metropolitan areas, including the Miami Class B airspace, just south of Fort Lauderdale. GA flight has returned to near normal conditions in most areas of the country. "Come share our enthusiasm for flight with each other and the residents of the Greater Fort Lauderdale area," said Boyer. AOPA's annual trade show and convention will run from November 8 through 10 in the Greater Fort Lauderdale-Broward County Convention Center.
...AND GARVEY WILL PROVIDE KEYNOTE ADDRESS
FAA Administrator Jane Garvey will keynote the opening Expo general session on November 8. Garvey will take questions from the audience. Then at the Expo luncheon, Boyer will give the inside "scoop" as to what really has happened since September 11—and what the future holds for general aviation. Other general sessions will also look at where GA goes from here. AOPA Expo 2001 features more than 90 safety and information seminars, some 500 aviation exhibits, and a record-setting 80 static display aircraft. Expo will kick off with the exciting "Parade of Planes" at 10 a.m. on November 7 as the static display aircraft taxi from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, down U.S. Route 1 and 17th Street, all the way to the convention center. For more, see AOPA Online. If you're flying to AOPA Expo, be sure to check out the arrival and departure procedures by clicking on "Fly to Expo."
FAA CONSIDERS RESTORING GA IN DCA, JFK
The FAA met with national security officials Tuesday afternoon to consider ways to restore some general aviation operations within the Washington, D.C., and New York City temporary flight restriction (TFR) areas. This is a follow-up to last week's meeting in which industry representatives, including AOPA, offered security and airspace procedures that could be used to reopen airports and heliports within these exclusionary areas. Meanwhile, AOPA has again contacted high-ranking FAA officials to press for the resumption of news and traffic reporting, advertising, and sightseeing operations. They remain prohibited in all 30 enhanced Class B airspace areas.
FAA OPENS CHICAGO'S MEIGS, MIDWAY TO VFR
Late Wednesday morning, the FAA lifted its ban on VFR operations at Meigs Field and Chicago Midway Airport. The City of Chicago requested the ban shortly after the tragedies of September 11. Local FAA officials issued the VFR ban via notam, despite the fact that this kind of directive can only come from FAA headquarters. After repeated requests from AOPA, the FAA corrected its earlier action by removing the VFR restrictions at Meigs and Midway. Regional FAA officials also informed the city that any future requests for airspace restrictions should be directed to the FAA in Washington, D.C.
For the latest on the air traffic situation, see AOPA Online.
| GA News
| MOONEY CONTINUES TO OPERATE AS BUYER IS SOUGHT
Mooney Aircraft has received more loan money from its bank to continue operating into at least part of next month. Since it is a debtor in possession under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the management team remains in place while a buyer is being sought. Mike McConnell, senior vice president of strategic planning, said that a parts production plan has been talked about but as of last Thursday had not been approved by the judge or the bank. Mooney has been delivering parts to owners by using its existing inventory. The financial woes, however, have not stopped people from buying airplanes. Last week the company delivered three new aircraft even though production has ceased.
PISTON SALES DECLINE FOR THIRD QUARTER
Compared to third quarter last year, piston-engine airplane sales decreased 8.5 percent, from 1,336 to 1,222 units. But turbofan sales were up slightly from 433 to 436 units for the quarter ending September 30, according to figures compiled by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Overall, the industry saw a drop of 6.2 percent in shipments. The decline may be partially attributed to the terrorist attacks.
SCHWEIZER OFFERS SALES INCENTIVES
 In an effort to stimulate the small helicopter market, Schweizer Aircraft is offering sales incentives on new 300C and 300CB helicopters. The package includes a price freeze, a rebate of up to $4,000, and a comprehensive 24-month extended warranty on both the engine and airframe. The program applies to helicopters ordered by this November 15 and delivered by March 31, 2002. In addition, the Schweizer Insurance Program will continue to provide hull and liability insurance quotes for new and existing Schweizer helicopters at the pre-September 11 rate. See the Web site.
RUNWAY INCURSION SYSTEM SCORES A SAVE
The Airport Movement Area Safety System (AMASS), a new technology at San Francisco International Airport, alerted air traffic controllers to a potentially hazardous situation on one of their runways. AMASS, first commissioned in June, provides controllers with visual and audible alerts to assist in preventing runway collisions. The situation earlier this month involved a departing business jet and an arriving commuter turboprop aircraft. Controllers were able to instruct the commuter to execute a missed approach well before the runway. The aircraft returned to land safely. The save comes on the heels of critics calling the project "AMESS" for being millions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule. AOPA, meanwhile, has been heavily involved in curbing runway incursions and has been advocating low-tech solutions. Also, the AOPA Air Safety Foundation launched an online runway safety course for pilots. See AOPA Online.
For daily news updates, see AOPA Online.
| Inside AOPA
| DEMISE OF AIRLINE MAY SHADOW CLASS B PLAN
AOPA wants to make sure that the demise of Midway Airlines is factored into any further FAA plans to create Class B airspace over Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) in North Carolina, which was the bankrupt carrier's hub airport. "RDU at one time did meet the operational numbers necessary to establish Class B," said Melissa K. Bailey, AOPA vice president of air traffic services. "However, our concerns now are that with the shutdown of Midway, the airport might not meet the criteria needed to continue with the establishment of the Class B airspace. At the very least, AOPA feels a complete reassessment is necessary if the FAA is to continue with this rulemaking process." AOPA representatives will carry their message to public meetings at the airport in December. For more information and a meeting schedule, see AOPA Online.
AOPA SEEKS CHANGE IN FAA MEDICAL POLICY
As a follow-up to meetings earlier this summer with the FAA administrator and federal air surgeon addressing the long delays in issuing special issuance authorization medical certificates, AOPA formally submitted a recommendation revising the FAA's policy regarding the duration and continuance of an authorization. AOPA proposes that the duration of an authorization be the same as any other corresponding class of medical certificate. In addition, AOPA proposes that an FAA-designated aviation medical examiner (AME) be authorized to approve the continuance of an authorization should a required interim medical report indicating no adverse change be presented to the AME. "This recommendation should help reduce the long delays in the issuance of authorizations, and reduce or eliminate the unnecessary grounding of pilots who have certain medical conditions," said Lance Nuckolls, AOPA director of regulatory and certification policy. For more, see AOPA Online.
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| On Capitol Hill
| AOPA SEEKS SUPPORT OF GA RELIEF LEGISLATION
Last week House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) introduced the House Republicans' version of aviation security legislation (H.R.3150). The full House will consider the bill on Wednesday. The bill includes two GA provisions, one requiring any restriction on Part 91 aircraft to conduct operations in enhanced Class B airspace shall cease to be in effect 10 days after the bill is passed, the other requiring background checks for those seeking flight instruction in aircraft with a minimum certified takeoff weight of more than 12,500 pounds. To see how the House bill compares with the Senate bill see AOPA Online. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) is seeking to have the General Aviation Small Business Relief Act (H.R.3007) attached to the bill as an amendment. If your business is affected, AOPA encourages you to call your Congressmen and ask them to add H.R.3007 as an amendment to the security bill (H.R.3150). This fast action could help those GA small businesses that have received severe economic damage as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
| Airport Support Network
| VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK—RICHARD STEERE
AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Richard Steere notified AOPA about a proposed residential housing development near Fallbrook Community Airpark (L18) in California. Using information gathered by Steere, AOPA sent a letter expressing concern about the proposed construction of 15 single-family homes. They would be located just off the approach end of Runway 18 and partially in the area used for the base-to-final turn in the traffic pattern. He continues to keep AOPA headquarters informed on this issue.
To learn more about the Airport Support Network, visit AOPA Online.
| Quiz Me!
| Here’s a question asked by an AOPA member last week of our AOPA technical specialists. Test your knowledge.
Question: An IFR pilot and airplane have just left a major U.S. airport, say Hartsfield Atlanta. It is IMC and the tower tells the pilot to contact departure. The pilot tries to do so, but is unable. He goes back to the tower and can't raise anyone. What does departure control expect this pilot to do, since he has apparently lost his ability to communicate?
Answer: ATC is expecting the pilot to fly to his destination airport, but an exception does exist here as noted in paragraph (b) below in 14 CFR 91.185. (a) General. Unless otherwise authorized by ATC, each pilot who has two-way radio communications failure when operating under IFR shall comply with the rules of this section. (b) VFR conditions. If the failure occurs in VFR conditions, or if VFR conditions are encountered after the failure, each pilot shall continue the flight under VFR and land as soon as practicable. (Note that “shall” is the operative word here; remember that shall is an imperative and must be done.) (c) IFR conditions. If the failure occurs in IFR conditions, or if paragraph (b) of this section cannot be complied with, each pilot shall continue the flight by the route assigned in the last ATC clearance received. For the rest of the regulation, 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
|  The 2001 AOPA Sweepstakes Bonanza is being readied to lead the pack during the Parade of Planes at AOPA Expo 2001 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. See our latest project update on AOPA Online.
| Picture Perfect
| | Jump to the AOPA Online Gallery to see the featured airplane of the day. Click on the link for details on how to capture wallpaper for your work area. See AOPA Online. | On The Road To Expo
| If you can't attend AOPA Expo 2001 in person, be sure and check out Virtual Expo on AOPA Online. There will be stories, photos, and a lot of surprises as AOPA Pilot editors use the latest technology to cover this event in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It kicks off with the Parade of Planes on November 7 and wraps up on November 10. Virtual Expo is being sponsored by Avidyne. See AOPA Online.
| ePilot Calendar
| WEEKEND FLYING DESTINATIONS
Washington, D.C. The forty-sixth annual meeting of the Air Traffic Control Association takes place November 4 through 8 at the Washington, D.C., Convention Center. Call 703/522-5717 for event information.
Daytona Beach, Florida. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University presents its 2001 Industry/Career Expo November 7 and 8. Call 386/226-6054 for event information.
Riverside, California. Veteran's Day fly-in takes place November 11 at Flabob Airport (RIR). Call 909/683-2389 for event information.
For more airport details, see AOPA's Airport Directory Online . For more events, see Aviation Calendar of Events
ASF FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REFRESHER CLINICS
(All clinics start at 7:30 a.m.)
The next ASF Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics are scheduled in Anchorage and San Diego November 10 and 11. 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 Schools will take place November 18 in Cincinnati and Albuquerque. 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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Copyright � 2001. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
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