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Copyright � 2002 AOPA. | Protecting GA
| FAA ISSUES FLURRY OF FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS FOR HOLIDAY
The FAA has issued additional temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) over national landmarks in response to security warnings about possible terrorist activities during the July 4 holiday. The new TFRs cover the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. "The new TFRs, along with the 20-plus existing TFRs, must be taken seriously by pilots," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "The stakes are very high. General aviation cannot afford the fallout resulting from airspace violations." Pilots should specifically query the flight service briefer for notams when flying close to any monument or symbolic structure. To help pilots avoid TFRs, AOPA has updated its security notam page with TFRs broken down by geographic regions. See AOPA�Online.
…AND PILOTS SHOULD AVOID SENSITIVE FACILITIES, AOPA WARNS
AOPA also reminds pilots to comply with the FAA's advisory to avoid overflights or "loitering" near nuclear and conventional power plants, dams, refineries, industrial complexes, military facilities, and similar structures.
RUMORS FLY ABOUT CHANGES TO WASHINGTON TFR
Federal authorities tell AOPA that various agencies are considering changes to the TFR around Washington, D.C., in reaction to the GA aircraft incursion last week near the White House and perceived threats against the nation's capital for the Independence Day weekend. Unconfirmed rumors indicate that the TFR might be expanded from 15 nm up to 40 nm, ranging from IFR only operations to a total ban on all GA flights. Government sources contacted by AOPA will only confirm that discussions are under way. "The association strongly believes that continued GA access to airspace must be balanced against reasonable security concerns. We will continue to be the strongest advocate for the protection of general aviation activities," said AOPA President Phil Boyer.
FAA CANCELS WORLD TRADE CENTER TFR
The FAA has canceled the temporary flight restriction (TFR) over the World Trade Center site in New York City. The action restores most of the New York Class B airspace to its pre-September 11 configuration. The flight restriction prohibited aircraft from operating below 8,000 feet within a two-nautical-mile radius of Ground Zero. The TFR also blocked the Hudson and East River Class B exclusion areas–commonly known as the Hudson and East River corridors.
| | GA�News | COMPANY EXTENDS LIFE OF BELLANCAS
 Bellanca airplanes, known for their unique wood-wing designs, will be getting a new lease on life. Six aviation professionals have formed a company and bought the assets of Bellanca Inc. from the State of Minnesota. The new company, Alexandria Aircraft LLC, will provide parts for the 14-19 Cruisemaster through the 17-30A Super Viking after it receives FAA approval for a computer-based production and quality control system. Once the company is well established, it plans to refurbish old aircraft and build new ones. For more information, call 320/763-4088.
'FLYIN' TIGER' GOES FOR THREE WORLD RECORDS
Bruce Bohannon is once again setting his sights high, but this time he will be going after not one, but three world records in the same flight. He plans to establish a time to climb record to 12,000 meters (39,000 feet) in The Exxon Flyin' Tiger, a first for piston-engine aircraft. In doing so, he will blast through two of the Tiger's existing absolute (although the altitude has not yet been certified) and horizontal flight Class C-1.b records that were set at Sun 'n Fun. Bohannon will go for the records at this year's EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh next month.
ROCKET-POWERED LONG-EZ PERFORMS TOUCH-AND-GO
Rocket-powered airplanes are not known for making touch-and-go landings. But that's exactly what XCOR Aerospace's EZ-Rocket–basically, a Long-EZ with a kick–did on Monday. After flying over Mojave Airport, test pilot Dick Rutan shut down both liquid-fuel engines and did a dead-stick landing. He then relit the engines and took off for the aircraft's tenth flight to date. The company said that the flight demonstrated its goal of safe and routine rocket operation. The research aircraft is to soon fly for the public at Oshkosh.
COMPANY CERTIFIES SYNTHETIC VISION SYSTEM
Universal Avionics Systems Corporation has received FAA approval for its Vision-1 Synthetic Vision System. Company officials said that it's the first terrain-based synthetic vision system to receive certification. It provides the pilot with three-dimensional views of the aircraft with respect to the flight plan and surrounding terrain. Other companies are also working on similar systems that may eventually end up in smaller aircraft.
AIR RACERS FIGHT HEADWINDS TO FINISH
First-time winners Tookie Hensley and Anne Honer scraped every knot they could from a Cessna 172 to beat their handicap by nearly 30 knots to edge out competitors and win the twenty-sixth Air Race Classic. The all-women's race, which ran from June 18 to 21, covered 1,882.61 nm from Silver City, New Mexico, to Chesapeake, Virginia. Second-place racers Sophia Payton and Marilyn Patierno flew a Cessna 182S, and third place went to Judy Bolkema-Tokar and Esther Lowry. The race's route circled a high pressure system, creating a constant headwind on each leg, but good VFR conditions. Forty-one airplanes started the race, with 37 finishing. Next year's Air Race Classic runs from Kansas to Kill Devil Hill, North Carolina; the date is to be determined. For more, see the Web site.
For daily news updates, see AOPA Online.
| Inside AOPA
| FAA TO ADD VFR WAYPOINTS NATIONWIDE
Charts nationwide will soon sport something new: the four-pointed stars of VFR waypoints. The FAA has officially established a VFR waypoints program. The AOPA Air Safety Foundation pioneered the idea of VFR waypoints, and AOPA first requested that VFR waypoints be added to sectional and terminal charts four years ago. Since that time, the FAA has tested the program in the Los Angeles/San Diego area and along the Gulf Coast, from Louisiana around to Florida's eastern shore. The waypoints make it easier for pilots to navigate through complex airspace and to find and identify visual landmarks used by controllers as location reporting points. They can also be used to identify military operations areas (MOAs), restricted areas, and prohibited areas. See AOPA�Online.
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| On Capitol Hill
| INHOFE PUSHES NEW AOPA-SUPPORTED RELIEF BILL
AOPA member Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) plans to introduce new legislation in the Senate next week that would pay reparations to general aviation businesses that suffered losses as a result of the FAA's post-September 11 GA shutdown. This bill is a scaled down version of House aviation subcommittee Chairman Mica's legislation (H.R. 3347) and Inhofe's companion legislation (S. 2007) previously introduced. That $5.5-billion bill is being opposed by the Bush administration and stands little chance of passage. Inhofe's new bill would total $25 million and is more directly targeted to the FBOs, flight schools, and GA manufacturers most affected by the government's airspace closure.
HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES CHICAGO AIRPORTS BILL
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has approved a bill that would keep Chicago's Meigs Field open through 2025. The product of a historic agreement between Illinois Gov. George Ryan and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, the National Aviation Capacity Expansion Act of 2002 (H.R. 3479) would also expand O'Hare International, and expedite the creation of a new airport at Peotone. "This is excellent news for everyone in the general aviation community," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "I hope the House leadership will bring this much needed bill to the floor as soon as possible." In the Senate, Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) has indicated that he will comply with the request of 61 senators who have asked that its version of the bill (S. 2039), be brought to the Senate floor for a vote. Bill supporters in the Senate hope the 60-plus senators who support the bill will be enough to dissuade Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (R-Ill.) from attempting a filibuster.
| Airport Support Network
| VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK–TOM McGAW
A little over a year ago, AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Tom McGaw and other airport users created a business model to justify building 49 new hangars at Petaluma Municipal Airport (O69) in California. On June 4, they received approval. These will be airport-owned and the revenue generated will support the retirement of past debt and build, within a few years, an operations and capital project reserve fund.
To learn more about the Airport Support Network, visit AOPA�Online.
| AOPA�Air Safety Foundation News
| ASF UNVEILS NEW RUNWAY INCURSION TEACHING TOOL
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation and the FAA's Office of Runway Safety are teaming up again to bring pilots a new teaching tool: actual runway incursion reports. They are available online to show what not to do. "Runway incursions remain a critical safety concern," said ASF Executive Director Bruce Landsberg. "For most of the past year, the number of incidents per month has been going down. But the fact that incursions occur proportionally among general aviation, air taxi, and air carrier operations makes this a continuing safety issue for all who fly." The runway incursion reports on the runway safety page are not representative of typical GA incursions. They are more extreme examples intended as teaching tools for what to avoid, with commentary from ASF on how to stay out of these situations. 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: What does the dot indicate on a yellow runway sign?
Answer: Direction signs have a yellow background with a black inscription. They always have an arrow showing the direction of the taxi route to that destination. When a sign gives two or more destinations that have a common taxi route, the designations are separated by a dot and one arrow is used. When the sign contains two or more destinations that have different taxi routes, an arrow will accompany each destination and a vertical black divider will separate each destination. Airport signage is explained in Section 2 of the Aeronautical Information Manual.
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].
| Picture Perfect
| | Did you know you can create a personal e-card using the images from the AOPA Online Gallery? Send one to a friend today. See AOPA Online.
| What's New At AOPA�Online
| Getting ready to take an FAA written exam? AOPA Online has updated its bank of Airman Knowledge Test questions for most certificates and ratings. See AOPA�Online.
| Weekend Weather
| See the current weather on AOPA�Online, provided by Meteorlogix.
| ePilot Calendar
| WEEKEND FLYING DESTINATIONS
Homestead, Florida. The Light Aircraft Flyers Association Sixth Annual Air Fair takes place July 6 and 7 at Homestead General Aviation Airport (X51). Displays, exhibits, aircraft rides, food, and fun for everyone. Contact Ron Andersen, 954/721-2373.
Grass Valley, California. Nevada County AirFest 2002 takes place July 6 at Nevada County Air Park (O17). All-day event, featuring antique, classic, and experimental aircraft. Contact Tim O'Brien, 530/273-1972, or visit the Web site.
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 AOPA Air Safety Foundation Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics are scheduled in Portland, Maine and Memphis, Tennessee, July 13 and 14. 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 in Jacksonville, Florida, and San Diego on July 28. For more Pinch-Hitter courses, see AOPA Online.
ASF SAFETY SEMINARS
AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Seminars are scheduled in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 24 through 27. The topics vary. For the complete schedule, see AOPA�Online.
To make submissions to the calendar, visit AOPA Online. For comments on calendar items, e-mail [email protected].
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