AOPA would like to see laws enacted in every state to provide zoning protection for airports and universal real estate disclosures, where potential homebuyers would have to be told that there is an existing airport nearby. Staff members are monitoring more than 380 bills that may have some interest to AOPA members. More than 150 bills in the various state legislatures would have a direct impact on general aviation.
Are you ready to instruct?
If you are a flight instructor getting ready to return to the right seat, are you "current" on everything you need before your student advances the throttle?
"There's a new wrinkle to getting back into the instruction business," said Woody Cahall, AOPA vice president of aviation services.
You must complete an approved Transportation Security Administration initial security awareness training course before instructing. Spend about 45 minutes (on a high-speed connection) with the TSA's online course and print the certificate of completion (or endorse your logbook if you have problems printing the certificate). If you are just doing flight reviews or skill brush-ups, that's it.
But if you are starting a new student for a recreational, sport, private, instrument, multiengine, or type rating, you also must verify that your student is a U.S. citizen and sign both his and your logbooks to show that you have made that check. If your student is an alien, you must register with the TSA and verify that your student also has registered with the TSA to learn to fly or learn advanced skills and has received the TSA's security "blessing."
AOPA's Online Guide to the TSA's Alien Flight Training/Citizenship Validation Rule tells you what you need to know. The AOPA Air Safety Foundation includes the initial security training in its Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics.
It's here! AOPA's Fly-In and Open House
Mark your calendars -- AOPA's fifteenth annual Fly-In and Open House is Saturday, June 4. And if you plan to fly in, now's the time to perfect your landings. The AOPA Air Safety Foundation will have multiple video cameras set up to capture your best (and worst) touchdown efforts for use in future safety programs.
Bring along a friend who wants to learn how to fly, and he or she can enter a drawing for a chance to win a free introductory flight lesson. At the event you also can attend a Q-and-A session with AOPA President Phil Boyer, sit in on AOPA Air Safety Foundation safety seminars, browse through 100 aviation exhibits, and listen to speakers like AOPA Flight Training columnist Rod Machado.
Stroll through the aircraft display and stop by the AOPA Commander Countdown Sweepstakes airplane. Also learn what AOPA has to offer by visiting the AOPA Member Products booth in the main lobby of AOPA's headquarters.
Admission is free. Learn more about the event and find arrival procedures for flying in on AOPA Online.
AOPA concerned about shortsighted VOR decommissioning
Will FAA cost-cutting on VORs harm the national air navigation system?
The agency is considering decommissioning the Providence (PVD) Vortac at T.F. Green Airport in Rhode Island and Bradley (BDL) Vortac at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. In both cases, the VORs have to be shut down because of airport construction. Apparently the FAA would prefer to save money by not relocating and reactivating the navaids.
The VOR decommissioning shouldn't be confused with the FAA's effort to identify no-longer-needed NDB approaches. "There is no logic to decommissioning two VORs that define heavily traveled airways and instrument approaches into busy airports with little notice and comment from the user community," said Andy Cebula, AOPA senior vice president of government and technical affairs.
Large presidential TFRs put AOPA on the offensive
AOPA has dramatically stepped up efforts to reduce the impact of temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) imposed whenever President Bush travels outside Washington, D.C.
"They're disastrous for student pilots and flight schools," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "The restricted areas are 60 nautical miles across, and all flight training operations are banned for the duration of the TFR."
AOPA is urging any pilot who is affected by the large presidential movement TFRs to write to President Bush and let him know how his security arrangements have affected your flight. The White House address is 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 20500.
Pilots are encouraged to let AOPA know about any problems that they have encountered. There is an easy-to-use form available on AOPA Online.
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