AOPA Input Helps Shape Radically Updated Flight Service
The requirements for the flight service station contract won by Lockheed Martin on February 1 are the direct result of AOPA's involvement to protect the interests of general aviation pilots in the outsourcing study (see " President's Position: FS21," March Pilot).
AOPA asked for — and received — a role in the so-called "A-76" study, named for the government publication that outlines how outsourcing studies are to be done. That allowed the association to help shape the requirements prospective contractors would have to meet and to make clear that pilots would not accept user fees. In addition, AOPA staff members met with all of the prospective contractors, including a joint venture by FAA employees and the Harris Corporation, to make sure they understood what GA pilots need from flight service.
"Better service and no fees. That's the bottom line for pilots," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "We found that both the FAA and the contractors would tend to get bogged down in the details of the process and lose sight of the customers.
"And just to make sure the FAA and the prospective contractors got it, AOPA worked with Congress on legislation that required any change in delivery to provide service as good as or better than what FSS personnel currently provide." An early draft of the contract requirements had nothing about measuring customer satisfaction. AOPA told the FAA that the only way to know if the new system was in fact better than the old was to establish customer service and satisfaction measurements. As an example, AOPA explained the measurements the association uses to make sure its AOPA Pilot Information Center is meeting the needs of members.
During the evaluation period when the FAA was considering the different proposals, AOPA told the agency that it was too focused on the technical wizardry of the new systems, and not enough on how the flight service specialists would interact with pilots. AOPA also suggested that, while an orderly transition would be crucial to safety, the FAA was not looking hard enough at what the final system would look like.
Finally, AOPA won assurance that the ongoing review board that will make sure the contractor is meeting or exceeding the required performance standards will include representatives from the general aviation industry.
"AOPA has a mandate from its members to ensure that the federal government takes general aviation into account when making decisions," said Boyer. "Our participation in the A-76 process guarantees that the one service used most by GA pilots is designed specifically around their needs."
AOPA at Work Behind the Scenes
Whether the scope of the issue is global, such as flight service stations, or relatively narrow, such as wing-spar cracks in a particular make or model of aircraft, AOPA is actively involved to ensure regulators don't lose sight of real effects of their decisions.
One of the FAA's constant concerns is the aging of the general aviation fleet in the United States. In February, AOPA attended a conference in Kansas City, Missouri, on wing-spar cracks that had grounded the Beech Model 45 (T-34), not only to offer assistance on the issue itself but also to get a sense of how the FAA might deal with aging aircraft.
In a separate effort on Capitol Hill, the AOPA Legislative Affairs staff began poring over the White House budget proposal as soon as it was issued to make sure programs vital to general
aviation are preserved.
"GA pilots face enough issues as it is — temporary flight restrictions, airports threatened with closure, and lawmakers who don't understand general aviation, for example," said Andy Cebula, AOPA senior vice president of government and technical affairs. "Any 'issue' that we can keep from becoming a 'problem' is worth the effort."
NATIONAL ACTION
AOPA Welcomes Small Step Forward at the DC-3 Airports
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a rule that will finally allow some transient operations at the so-called "DC-3" — three general aviation airports that fall within the 15-nm flight restricted zone (FRZ) around Washington, D.C. Since College Park Airport, Potomac Airfield, and Washington Executive/Hyde Field were reopened in 2002 following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, only pilots who had been previously based at those airports and who underwent background security checks have been able to operate there. Under the new rule, pilots who are not based at one of the DC-3 will be allowed to use the airports once they've undergone the same background checks and if they follow the same rules that based pilots must.
"TSA has cracked open the door at the DC-3, but left the safety chain in place," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "GA pilots still have to jump through significant, burdensome security hoops, but for the first time in three and a half years, pilots with business in the nation's capital will be able to use the three closest GA airports."
The rule also makes permanent the FRZ — Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 94, which originally established the 15-nm radius no-fly zone around the nation's capital. However, the rule makes no mention of the much larger Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), originally established in the run-up to the Iraq War. AOPA argues that since there has been no specific and credible threat, the ADIZ has outlived its usefulness, and creates an undue burden on pilots and air traffic controllers alike.
"While reducing the size of the ADIZ to just the limits of the FRZ is AOPA's primary goal, permitting transient operations in the FRZ is a step in the right direction," said Boyer.
Update: AOPA Members' Generosity Helps Tsunami Relief Efforts
In mid-January, to answer member questions about how to help with tsunami relief in Southeast Asia, AOPA suggested members consider donations to Air Serv International, a non-profit relief organization that uses general aviation aircraft to support relief efforts, and pledged to match the first $25,000 donated by members.
AOPA members responded in dramatic fashion, and by early February, the combined individual donations and matching donation exceeded $100,000.
"The generosity of AOPA members has been phenomenal," said Stu Willcuts, president and chief executive officer of Air Serv International. "We are able to carry out our humanitarian work to help the victims of the tsunami, thanks to the help of the association."
Air Serv's efforts have been noted in high places. Don Cressman, the organization's vice president of international flight operations, returned from Sumatra to attend President Bush's State of the Union address at the invitation of the White House.
AOPA Urges Care as FAA Looks to Eliminate Some NDB Approaches
When the FAA announced plans to eliminate redundant nondirectional radio beacon (NDB) approaches, AOPA urged special care to make sure no airport loses an instrument approach that is still used frequently.
"The FAA has assured us they're only looking for underutilized NDB approaches that can be canceled without undue hardship on the users," said Melissa Rudinger, AOPA vice president of regulatory policy. "If the NDB is used for another approach, the other approach will not be affected by this action."
The FAA wants to reduce the number of redundant ground-based navigational aid (navaid) approaches to many runways so the agency can shift its resources to developing more satellite-based GPS-WAAS approaches, which deliver better all-weather access, vertical guidance, and lower minimums than conventional nonprecision approaches.
The FAA plans to publish its proposed list of NDB procedures to be canceled in the Federal Register. Pilots will be able to provide the FAA with input into which of the NDB approaches should be retained.
Deadline Approaching for Karant Award Entries
April 15 is the deadline for journalists in the general (nonaviation) news media to submit entries for AOPA's 2005 Max Karant Awards for Excellence in Aviation Journalism. Named for the founder and longtime editor of AOPA Pilot magazine, the Karant awards honor the best of "fair, accurate, and insightful" reporting about general aviation in the general media.
Journalists in the nonaviation trade media are invited to submit examples of reporting on general aviation, defined as all flight activity that is not either scheduled airline or military.
Awards of $1,000 will be presented in each of four categories: print, radio, television/cable news or short feature, and television/cable program length. The presentations will be made in front of 1,200 AOPA members and guests at the opening-day luncheon during AOPA Expo 2005 in Tampa, Florida, from November 3 through 5.
Submissions must have been published or broadcast from January 1 through December 31, 2004. Participants may submit up to three entries or series of entries, which will be judged by the Karant Awards Committee comprised of media and aviation experts. Previous cash award winners are ineligible. There is no entry fee. Entries must be postmarked by April 15, 2005.
Detailed rules and entry forms can be downloaded from the AOPA Web site ( www.aopa.org/special/karant/). They also may be requested from Patricia L. Rishel by mail at AOPA Communications Division, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701; by telephone at 301/695-2157; or by e-mail at [email protected].
MEMBERSHIP ACTION
15th Annual AOPA Fly-In and Open House Coming June 4
Saturday, June 4, AOPA will throw open its doors for the fifteenth annual AOPA Fly-In and Open House. The event at AOPA's headquarters at Frederick Municipal Airport in Maryland is the largest one-day event of its kind, and gives AOPA staff and members a chance to meet face to face.
"Most of the time, we only get to speak to members on the phone or exchange e-mails," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "The Fly-In and Open House gives us a chance to thank each one personally for their support."
Boyer will once again host his popular pilot Q&A session — one of nearly a dozen seminars that will be held that day on everything from aviation safety topics to aircraft ownership.
The fifteenth annual fly-in will boast a static display with between 30 and 40 aircraft, headlined by the grand prize in the 2005 AOPA Commander Countdown Sweepstakes, a 1974 Rockwell Commander 112A that's undergoing a complete restoration ( www.aopa.org/sweeps/). Any eligible individual who joins or renews membership in AOPA during 2005 is automatically entered in the sweepstakes. Complete rules, eligibility requirements, and alternate methods of entry are available online ( www.aopa.org/sweeps/officialrules.html).
Behind the headquarters building, more than 100 vendor exhibits will be set up under a big-top tent, offering everything from aviation souvenirs to the latest avionics to engines and propellers.
The fifteenth annual AOPA Fly-In and Open House is so big and so busy that the FAA establishes a temporary tower for the day. In 2002, nearly 900 aircraft flew in for the day. More information is available online ( www.aopa.org/fly-in/).
AOPA Aircraft Tax Guide, Updated for 2005, Available Online
Tax day is fast approaching, and with that in mind, AOPA has updated its Pilot's Guide to Taxes for 2005 ( www.aopa.org/members/files/guides/tax_guide.html). The guide, written by attorney and certified public accountant Ray Speciale, has information on income tax, sales-and-use tax, and personal property tax.
The income tax section includes information on the deductibility of aircraft and flight-training expenses, the hobby-loss rule, and issues related to aircraft leasing. Questions and answers explore such topics as: When can you take a tax deduction for depreciation of your aircraft; what is bonus depreciation; and can you take a deduction for donation of your aircraft or services as a pilot?
There are suggestions for preventing or dealing with problems with the IRS. And there are summaries of relevant court cases and IRS rulings for pilots and tax advisors to review.
"It is important to keep in mind that the guide will only provide you with general information regarding tax issues that could affect you as an aircraft owner and pilot," said Woody Cahall, AOPA vice president of aviation services. "You should always consult with a tax professional regarding your specific tax questions. But the guide has resources to assist you and your tax professional to find the right answers."
AOPA AIR SAFETY FOUNDATION
Getting Home Safely — New ASF Seminar to Examine 'Last Five Miles'
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation is putting the finishing touches on its next live seminar, titled "The Last Five Miles." It will examine the myriad details that pilots need to consider, from the time they leave their cruise altitude until stopping clear of the runway.
"Remember the adage about never letting an airplane take you someplace your brain didn't get to five minutes earlier?" asked ASF Executive Director Bruce Landsberg. "Where else could that adage be more critical than the last five miles of any flight? Our newest seminar may not ease your workload, but it will offer tips to help you accomplish those last five miles in a smooth and orderly way," Landsberg concluded.
"The Last Five Miles" debuts in late April. Like all AOPA Air Safety Foundation live seminars, it will be free and open to all pilots. To see when it or any other ASF safety seminars are coming to your area, visit the Web site ( www.asf.org) and click on the Safety Seminars button.
ASF Safety Programs' Reach Expands Through Internet
The number of pilots benefiting from ASF safety presentations has nearly quadrupled in recent years, thanks to the addition of online courses to the ASF Web site ( www.asf.org).
"Just in the first quarter of this year, we're on track for almost 10,000 pilots a month successfully completing one or more ASF interactive online courses," said ASF Executive Director Bruce Landsberg. "That compares to just under 3,000 pilots a month who could benefit when live presentations were the only possibility."
As with all ASF safety courses, interactive online offerings are free and available to all pilots. Online courses now available include "Runway Safety," "Know Before You Go," "Single-Pilot IFR," and "Say Intentions — When You Need ATC's Help." All ASF interactive online courses feature a suitable-for-framing graduation certificate and qualify pilots for FAA Wings program credit.
Landsberg noted that ASF live presentations continue, with more than 200 scheduled in larger cities for 2005. The current program is "Weather Wise: Practical Tips and Tactical Tricks."
To view or take ASF online courses, visit the Web site ( www.asf.org) and click on the Free Online Courses button.
Seminar-In-A-Box — The Ultimate Road Show
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation reaches thousands of pilots every year with its widely acclaimed live seminars. But try as it might, it cannot be everywhere, every year.
"That's why we created Seminar-in-a-Box," said Kevin D. Murphy, ASF vice president of safety education. "They contain the same high-quality safety information as our premier live seminars, but can be used by local presenters any place, any time."
In addition to the program materials, each Seminar-in-a-Box kit includes a presenters guide, printed ASF Safety Advisors, additional resource materials, and door prizes.
Pilots attending any ASF Seminar-in-a-Box program may be eligible for FAA Wings program credit.
Some topics currently available include: "Maneuvering Flight — Hazardous to Your Health?"; "Mission Possible," a guide to special-use airspace; "Ups and Downs of Takeoffs and Landings"; "Weather Tactics"; and "Fuel Awareness." A complete list is available online ( www.asf.org); click the Safety Seminars button.
The Seminar-in-a-Box is free. Anyone requesting one will be asked to pay only $24.95 for shipping and handling.
AOPA AIRPORT SUPPORT NETWORK
Volunteer of the Month: Chip Gibbons
"What better way to communicate that a city lacks vision than to close its airport?" That's the in-your-face challenge AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Chip Gibbons issued to citizens and officials of Bentonville, Arkansas, after the City Council announced it was considering closing Bentonville Municipal/Louise M. Thaden Field. Gibbons even went so far as to post the challenge on an extremely well-organized, persuasive Web site ( www.savevbt.org).
During budget talks this past December, the mayor of Bentonville and members of the City Council publicly announced they were evaluating the cost-to-benefit ratio of the airport and considering closing it in favor of road and other land development projects. Proponents of the airport, led by Gibbons, went to work educating the public and elected leaders about the value of the airport to the community and what it would take to close the airport.
Aware that Louise M. Thaden Field is obligated by federal grants through at least 2023, Gibbons informed the Bentonville community that closing the airport is not only shortsighted from a community leadership perspective, but also the FAA is reluctant to close airports that have grant obligations.
Working with AOPA's Southwest Regional Representative, Shelly Lesikar, and the ASN staff at headquarters, Gibbons, through his impressive Web site, provided Bentonville residents with a vast amount of data and resources detailing the airport's legacy and impact on the community. As a result of his efforts, the vote to close the airport has now been tabled, and both AOPA and the FAA are watching to ensure Gibbons and his airport support network in Bentonville do indeed "Save VBT."
AOPA ASN Volunteer Update
Things are great! Now what?
For years you've been reading about the tremendous work AOPA's cadre of 1,700-plus Airport Support Network volunteers has being doing across the country to keep airports safe, open, and affordable for all general aviation pilots. But the fact is volunteers work in many ways to protect and preserve their airports — even those not under an immediate threat — through community-friendly activities and initiatives.
Often we will hear from members who say, "My airport is doing well; it's not in danger, so do you really need me?" Our answer is: "Yes! Now's the time to make your community airport-friendly." It's easier to help others — neighbors, city council members, developers — see the value and significance of the airport to a community in good times than in bad. Many of our ASN volunteers act as goodwill ambassadors in their community, providing assistance with airport open houses, serving on good-neighbor policy committees, participating in local airshows, and promoting positive images of the airport at local community events.
Remember, your airport is not just a recreation site — it is a business opportunity for your community, and educating our local elected leaders and neighbors is an ongoing effort all of us can do! As the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." We can help keep GA airports thriving in our communities by telling everyone about the benefits and hopefully staving off future threats.
To learn more about the AOPA ASN program or find out if your airport has a volunteer, visit our Web site ( www.aopa.org/asn/) or call 301/695-2200.
Public-use airports in the United States are closing at the rate of about one every two weeks. The AOPA Airport Support Network designates one volunteer per airport to watch for threats and encourage favorable public perception of general aviation. For more information on how you can help support your airport, visit AOPA Online ( www.aopa.org/asn/).
Action in the States
Alaska. Fairbanks: Ron Dearborn, the AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer at Fairbanks International Airport, is part of a select group that continually revisits all aspects of security at the airport. The group, which includes the airport's chief of police and fire, the airport's head of operations, and a representative from the Transportation Security Administration, reviews overlapping issues such as continued access for and security of private aircraft, vehicle and pedestrian activity to prevent runway incursions, and national security issues. These meetings will form the basis of open dialogue at meetings of local pilots and the airport community.
Georgia. Pine Mountain: Greg Hadley has stepped up to the plate and become the ASN volunteer for Callaway Gardens-Harris County Airport. It was Hadley who first contacted AOPA about efforts to close the airport so the Callaway Gardens Resort could build a new hotel. When he learned that there was no Airport Support Network representative there, he volunteered. His call prompted a visit by AOPA staff members to help convince county officials to preserve the airport.
Missouri. Lee's Summit: Lee's Summit Municipal Airport ASN volunteer Gary Fox helped coordinate efforts by local airport advocates and AOPA to beat a flawed, ill-conceived city charter amendment that would have required residents to vote on almost any expenditure at the airport. The Friends of Lee's Summit Airport and AOPA each mounted individual voter-education advertising campaigns that helped convince residents to reject the amendment.
