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Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
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Frederick, MD 21701
Tel: 800/USA-AOPA or
301/695-2000
Copyright � 2002 AOPA. | | Protecting GA | FAA REVISES OPEN-AIR EVENTS NOTAM
Relieving more than a year's worth of uncertainty for general aviation pilots, the FAA has issued a new notam, significantly revising the infamous Notam 1/3353 governing flight restrictions near large open-air events. The new notam adopts almost every AOPA recommendation, including limiting the airspace restrictions to major-league baseball, NFL, and NCAA Division IA stadiums, and major speedways (Nascar) seating more than 30,000 people. It limits the effective time of the restrictions from one hour before the scheduled start time of the event to one hour after and provides for arrivals and departures at airports within TFR airspace. The TFR dimensions remain unchanged and prohibit operations within 3 nm and 3,000 feet. Under this new notam, aerial advertisers will be able to obtain a waiver after passing an expedited security clearance. See AOPA�Online.
AOPA EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT TFR TREND
Despite the fact that the terrorist threat level has been reduced in the United States, there is a troubling trend toward large temporary flight restrictions (TFRs), particularly around presidential retreats. This comes after the threat level was recently dropped from orange to yellow. Last week it was President Bush's Crawford, Texas, Ranch. This week it's the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine. "AOPA finds this new trend toward larger flight restrictions extremely disturbing," said Melissa Bailey, AOPA vice president of air traffic policy. "We seem to be moving backwards instead of forward in the area of airspace restrictions." See AOPA�Online.
| GA�News
| VINTAGE BIPLANE TO WING IT OVER EVEREST
 Calling it an "epic retro-flight to the Himalayas," a group of adventurers has issued an international plea for support to help them fly a 1930s biplane over Mount Everest. The flight was dreamed up to commemorate the 1933 flight where a Westland Wallace biplane photographed the mountain. Twenty years later, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay used the photos to help them scale the peak. By recreating the flight next year, the Wings over Everest team plans to celebrate three anniversaries: the Wright brothers' first powered flight in 1903, the biplane flight over Everest three decades later, and Hillary and Norgay's 1953 expedition. Rebecca Stephens, the first British woman to scale Everest, has been appointed expedition leader and will fly as chief observer in the airplane. The team is asking for donations from throughout the world. You can join the supporters' club for $28. See the Web site.
JUDGE BLOCKS NEW GLASTAR INJUNCTION ATTEMPT
A federal judge in Seattle has denied a motion by New GlaStar, manufacturer of the kitbuilt GlaStar, to block the sale and manufacture of the OMF Symphony 160, a certified production aircraft based on the GlaStar design. All that remains before the judge is a financial dispute over design details. OMF is headquartered in Germany while New GlaStar is located in Arlington, Washington. OMF contends it had to make significant changes to certify the aircraft–many more changes than New GlaStar had promised when it sold the rights to the certified aircraft.
CIRRUS PRODUCES FIRST SR22s WITH TKS
Cirrus Design has produced the first SR22s with TKS ice protection systems. Last week, six production SR22s rolled off the line at the company's facility in Duluth, Minnesota. These aircraft are destined for the demo fleet to replace older-model SR22s, and Cirrus has offered its customers the option to upgrade with TKS any existing orders for 2002-model SR22s scheduled to be completed through the end of the year. The company originally planned to debut the TKS-equipped SR22 by March 2003, but Aerospace Systems and Technologies (AS&T), the British company that produces TKS, was able to ramp up production and certification of the system well ahead of schedule. AOPA Pilot editors flew the TKS-equipped SR22–also fitted with Avidyne's Entegra primary flight display and multifunction display suite–this week at AOPA headquarters for an upcoming pilot report.
FAA ISSUES EMERGENCY AD FOR LYCOMING 540 ENGINES
The FAA has issued an emergency AD for most Lycoming 540 engines manufactured or overhauled between November 1996 and November 1998. These engines may have a defective crankshaft gear-retaining bolt. Failure of the bolt can lead to a total loss of engine power. The AD affects some 3,800 engines, including some 100 engines covered in the previous crankshaft AD. It affects aircraft built by some 23 different manufacturers. The AD requires that the bolt be replaced within seven days or 10 hours' time in service. "Lycoming assures AOPA that it has plenty of replacement bolts in stock," said Andy Werking, AOPA associate director of regulatory policy. "After aircraft owners have contacted Lycoming, they may contact the AOPA Pilot Information Center [800/872-2672] so we can monitor how the manufacturer handles and processes their parts requests and warranty claims." See AOPA�Online.
For daily news updates, see AOPA�Online.
| Inside AOPA
| FAA DENIES DRIVER'S LICENSE MEDICAL PETITION
The FAA recently denied AOPA's petition to allow pilots to use a driver's license as a medical certificate provided those pilots limit themselves to recreational pilot privileges. But the FAA hasn't closed the door on the idea. "We met with top FAA officials this week, and they made it clear the idea was not rejected on its merits," said Andrew Cebula, an AOPA senior vice president. "The FAA is already considering the idea of a driver's license medical for sport pilots. While we didn't like it, they said they had too many other rulemaking projects right now for them to consider this specific petition." See AOPA�Online.
FAA IMPROVES FIELD APPROVAL PROCESS
The FAA has given improved guidance to all of its FSDOs aimed at smoothing the field approval process for aircraft alternations and repairs. The FAA revised its order (8300.10) in response to AOPA's and other industry organizations' long-standing concerns that the process needed substantial improvement. In many cases, AOPA members had to wait months for approvals or had to shop around for a FSDO that was willing to do a field approval.
IAOPA WORLD ASSEMBLY GETS UNDER WAY
The twenty-first World Assembly of the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA) is now under way in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Delegates from some 36 countries have gathered to discuss general aviation/aerial work (GA/AW) issues ranging from security to aviation fuel to the very future of GA/AW in the world. "As IAOPA celebrates its fortieth anniversary, it's important to recognize that today's freedom of mobility and full exchange of general aviation information across national boundaries is IAOPA's legacy," said Phil Boyer, IAOPA president. See AOPA�Online.
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| On Capitol Hill
| SENATORS FIGHT FOR GA RELIEF
Some members of the U.S. Senate jumped to the defense of general aviation this week. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) highlighted "the big hit" suffered by the general aviation industry during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing examining the financial status of the airlines. Brownback reminded the aviation subcommittee that GA received no benefit from last year's $15 billion airline bailout. Pointing out that a staggering 23 percent of aircraft industry workers have lost their jobs in his home state of Kansas alone, Brownback expressed his dissatisfaction with the subcommittee's neglect of general aviation. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) shared Brownback's concerns in his opening statement, asserting that Congress "has done nothing for general aviation" and that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has gone in the wrong direction from what Congress intended with respect to security regulation. Both senators demanded that something be done for general aviation's staggering losses. See AOPA�Online.
MAGAZINE RATES AOPA HIGH IN 'CLOUT' ON CAPITOL HILL
AOPA was ranked among the most effective organizations on Capitol Hill in a recent issue of Fortune magazine. The publication surveyed members of Congress and congressional staffers, senior White House aides, and professional lobbyists and asked them to rate the political "clout" of various associations and interest groups. AOPA was the only aviation organization to make the list. "Defending the interests of general aviation before Congress is one of the most important things we do," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "And the reason we do have clout on the Hill is because of our membership. When we talk to senators and congressmen, they know AOPA represents more than 385,000 committed pilots who are important members of their communities and who vote. That's power in Washington."
| Airport Support Network
| ASN SNAPSHOT: WHAT VOLUNTEERS ARE UP TO
AOPA Airport Support Network volunteers are working hard to improve airports throughout the country. Dale Evans (Bend Municipal, Oregon) was successful in a six-year effort to get the airport manager's job turned from a part-time to a full-time position. Randall Henderson (Seaside Municipal, Oregon) has been working nearly a year on changing the city's perception of the airport. He has met with local business leaders, politicians, the flying community, and has spoken at numerous pilot group meetings. Murray Seals (Slidell Airport, Louisiana) and a group of pilots asked the city to reject the previous airport manager's "minimum requirements" which would have essentially shut down all training, maintenance, and FBOs on the airport. The city rewrote the requirements and the new mayor appointed a new airport manager. And Ray Lewis (Bradford Regional, Pennsylvania) started working last year on "Adopt an Airport" program. Finalized in August, the program helps to make improvements at the airport.
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: Is there any difference between airport identifiers that are all letters instead of letters and numbers?
Answer: According to FAA Order 7350.7A "Location Identifiers," there is a difference in the identifiers. It states that "three-letter identifiers are assigned as radio call signs to aeronautical navigation aids; to airports with a manned air traffic control facility or navigational aid within airport boundary; to airports that receive scheduled route air carrier or military airlift service, and to airports designated by the U.S. Customs Service as Airports of Entry." Some of these identifiers are assigned to certain aviation weather reporting stations. Public-use or private-use landing facilities that do not meet the requirements for identifiers in the three-letter series are usually assigned a letter/number combination identifier. 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].
| On The Road To Expo
| AOPA EXPO PREREGISTRATION DEADLINE NEARS
There's only one week left to preregister for AOPA Expo 2002 in Palm Springs, California. Join 10,000 of your fellow pilots and find out what the future holds for general aviation, October 24 through 26. If you attend Expo on October 25 (Friday), be sure to attend the General Session at 9 a.m. titled "GA Report: 409 Days After 9/11." For more information, see AOPA�Online.
| Attention Pilots
| EVER THOUGHT ABOUT WORKING FOR AOPA?
There are currently part-time (evening) openings at AOPA headquarters in Frederick, Maryland. Please call Human Resources at 301/695-2000. There are also openings for Vice President of Safety Education – AOPA�Air Safety Foundation, and Aviation Technical Specialist. Please visit our Web site to learn more about these exciting employment opportunities.
| 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.
| Weekend Weather
| See the current weather on AOPA�Online, provided by Meteorlogix.
| ePilot Calendar
| WEEKEND FLYING DESTINATIONS
Fort Worth, Texas. International Airshow 2002 takes place October 12 and 13 at Alliance Airport (AFW), featuring the Air Force Thunderbirds. For more information call 817/491-1092, or visit the Web site.
New Bern, North Carolina. MUMfest 2002 Air Expo takes place October 12 at Craven County Regional Airport (EWN). "The Sound Of Freedom–A Tribute To Our Military" features a day-long extravaganza of aerial activity and static display of most of our military's current inventory. Contact Susan Moffat-Thomas, 252/638-5781, 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 San Jose, California; Indianapolis; and Wichita, Kansas, on October 12 and 13. Clinics are also scheduled in Ontario, California, and Nashville, Tennessee, on October 19 and 20. 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 in San Jose, California, October 13. For more Pinch-Hitter courses, see AOPA Online.
ASF SAFETY SEMINARS
AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Seminars are scheduled in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Manassas, Virginia, October 7; North Glenn, Colorado; Naples, Florida; and Sandston, Virginia, October 8; Colorado Springs, Colorado; St. Petersburg, Florida; and Newport News, Virginia, October 9; and Sarasota, Florida, and Wise, Virginia, October 10. Topics vary, check AOPA�Online for the complete schedule and topic listing.
To make submissions to the calendar, visit AOPA Online. For comments on calendar items, e-mail [email protected].
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