"AOPA Expo is the general aviation convention," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "It's the one place where pilots can see the vast array of general aviation products and planes; learn to be safer, better pilots; and hear directly from top government officials whose decisions affect GA."
Perhaps the single most important event for student pilots was the appearance at the October 22 general session of Adm. David Stone, head of the Transportation Security Administration. His agency's alien flight training rule requires all pilots to prove their nationality and non-U.S. citizens to undergo a background check. Stone acknowledged that there are concerns about the rule and pledged to work with AOPA to address those concerns.
FAA Administrator Marion Blakey kicked off AOPA Expo with an appearance via satellite on October 21, vowing to protect the nation's airports and calling them a natural resource. "Like the forests, once they're gone, they're gone," she said.
At the opening luncheon, AOPA honored members of the nonaviation media with the Max Karant Journalism Awards for fair, accurate, and insightful reporting on general aviation. San Mateo County Times Managing Editor John Bowman and Copy Editor Eric Simons put together a special pull-out section, "100 Years of Human Flight," on the centennial of powered flight that highlighted general aviation airports and aircraft. In "Restoring Planes, Rebuilding Dreams," KING-TV reporter John Miller and videographer Tom Bishop captured the joy of restoring old aircraft. And using recordings of the Wright family, friends, and co-workers, reporter Hal Cannon and producer Taki Telonidis gave National Public Radio listeners an intimate portrayal of Orville and Wilbur Wright in "First Flight, First Hand." Also at the luncheon, Mike Melvill, pilot of SpaceShipOne and the world's first GA astronaut, held his audience in awe as he described, pilot to pilot, what it was like to fly the craft beyond Earth's atmosphere.
At the grand finale banquet on October 23, Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) was awarded the J.B. "Doc" Hartranft award, given annually to the federal, state, or local government official who has done the greatest good on behalf of general aviation. AOPA presented the Laurence P. Sharples Perpetual Award to Jack Tunstill of St. Petersburg, Florida, for his efforts to save Albert Whitted Airport.
AOPA Expo 2005 will be held on the East Coast in Tampa, Florida, November 3-5.
FAA renews runway incursion program
The FAA has renewed its Runway Incursion Information and Evaluation Program (RIIEP) that allows investigators to gather information from pilots involved in runway incursions and surface incidents. This helps the FAA to determine the best way to educate pilots and reduce the number of incursions. Pilots who participate in the program often avoid legal action from the FAA.
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation is the FAA's link to educating pilots. The agency endorses ASF's Runway Safety Program, which means the agency will consider a pilot's program completion certificate when determining what course of action to take after a runway incursion or surface incident.
Congress orders reporton reopening DC 3
Congress and President Bush have ordered the Department of Homeland Security to report on steps for allowing general aviation access to the so-called DC 3 airports (College Park Airport, Washington Executive/Hyde Field, and Potomac Airport), as well as Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The report is required as part of the Homeland Security Appropriations Act.
AOPA has continually emphasized the need for improving access to the three GA airports ever since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. All three are located within the 15-nm no-fly zone around the nation's capital. "Just having the report ordered to study the DC 3 as well as Reagan National is helpful, but it's only one step," said AOPA President Phil Boyer.
"AOPA is not done with this fight. The DC 3 are important airports for the Mid-Atlantic region and the nation. Pilots deserve access to all airports in the National Airspace System."
Win-a-Twin deadline nears
Time is running out to enter AOPA's Win-A-Twin Sweepstakes for a chance to win a better-than-new 1965 Piper Twin Comanche. Even if you're not ready to move up to a twin, the grand prize can be your entry into the world of aircraft ownership. Many past winners have sold the sweepstakes aircraft, paid any taxes owed, and used the proceeds to buy an aircraft suitable for the flying that they do.
Anyone who joins or renews membership in AOPA by December 31, 2004, is automatically entered. Complete rules, eligibility requirements, and alternate methods of entry are available online. The winner will be selected in January. Watch for details about the 2005 AOPA sweepstakes in upcoming issues of AOPA Flight Training and AOPA Pilot.
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