AOPA Prepares for Battle Over User Fees
AOPA is once again girding to fight off any attempt to impose user fees on the National Airspace System. It's a battle the association has been preparing for since efforts to have air traffic control declared an inherently governmental function in the FAA reauthorization bill of 2003, known as Vision 100, failed.
Two events this spring renewed AOPA's concerns.
At the FAA Forecast Conference in mid-March, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey said, "I'm not at this point advocating user fees." The administrator had said unequivocally during last year's AOPA Expo that her agency does not support a fee-based flight service station system. But her use this spring of the qualifier "at this point" heightened AOPA's concerns about fees for other air traffic services in the future.
Not two weeks later, a senior official of the Air Transport Association, the airlines trade organization, fired a shot across general aviation's bow, saying ATA will be looking for major changes in the aviation tax structure when the next FAA reauthorization bill comes up in 2006.
"AOPA will not stand for a user-fee-based or privatized system because it shifts the burden of paying for air traffic control unfairly onto general aviation," said AOPA President Phil Boyer.
"The entire federal ATC system was developed for the benefit of the airlines," he said. "Many of our members make use of personal aviation, flying under visual flight rules, and so may not need to speak with a controller at any point during the flight. The aviation fuel taxes that they already pay are appropriate compensation for the services they use."
Members have made clear they consider preventing user fees one of AOPA's two top priorities (see " Our Members Are Saying...The Key to AOPA's Advocacy," below) because, they say, imposing them would spell the end of general aviation as we know it in the United States.
AOPA's Legislative Affairs staff is already at work on Capitol Hill to head off any move to enact user fees. "This is the earliest we've ever seen the FAA reauthorization fight start — nearly two full years before any vote," said Andy Cebula, AOPA's senior vice president of government and technical affairs. "The airlines are hurting and obviously plan to play hardball. But we're already talking to friends of GA in Congress to shore up opposition to user fees."
Boyer pledged to work with the FAA to help the agency work more efficiently and ensure "sufficient and equitable" federal funding. But he said any such funding must not be based on user fees.
Our Members Are Saying...The Key to AOPA's Advocacy
When AOPA President Phil Boyer told the annual FAA Forecast Conference what's on the minds of GA pilots, he knew exactly what he was talking about.
How? AOPA regularly polls its membership, that's how. The association's more than 404,000 members represent roughly two of every three pilots in the United States.
Boyer told the conference that nearly two-thirds of AOPA members are generally optimistic about GA's future, but slightly more than half think economic turbulence lies ahead, and 69 percent think the current political climate is having a negative impact on GA.
"When we say we represent the interests of general aviation, we want to be sure we know what those interests are," said Boyer. "So we ask. Then we share that information so the government really gets what's on pilots' minds."
NATIONAL ACTION
AOPA Renews Call for 'Driver's License Medical' for Recreational Pilots
AOPA has renewed its call for the FAA to accept a "driver's license medical" standard for recreational pilots. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has asked for industry input on outdated, unnecessary regulations. In a formal recommendation to the DOT, AOPA requested that the agency direct the FAA to allow the use of a valid U.S. driver's license in lieu of an FAA medical when exercising recreational pilot privileges. And in a recent survey, a majority of AOPA members supported that change as well.
"An analysis of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation Accident and Incident database reveals [that] an extremely low number — 1.9 percent — of accidents have any medical factors contributing to the accident," AOPA said in comments to the DOT. "Medical incapacitation is not a significant cause of accidents, whether or not a medical certificate is required."
AOPA's support of the driver's license medical standard dates back nearly 30 years, when the recreational pilot certificate was first under consideration.
In its sport pilot final rule approved last year, the FAA said that "medical conditions are not a significant cause of accidents in aircraft that are used for sport and recreational purposes," so AOPA suggested the federal government take the next logical step and extend the driver's license medical to pilots exercising sport and recreational pilot privileges.
AOPA Offers Leadership on UAV Integration
As the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security continue to press for increased use of unmanned aircraft (UAs) within U.S. airspace, AOPA continues to lead efforts to make sure any effort to integrate UAs puts pilot safety first.
"UAs can be as small as four pounds, or as big as a Gulfstream G-V business jet," said Randy Kenagy, AOPA's senior director of advanced technology and co-chairman of a national special committee on allowing unmanned aircraft to operate in the same airspace as manned aircraft. "If they're to share airspace with aircraft carrying people, they must have no negative impact on existing users. For the VFR pilot, for instance, he must have confidence that an unmanned aircraft can sense and avoid him in the same way that he's required to see and avoid other aircraft."
Before it can determine if and how to integrate unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System, the committee Kenagy co-chairs must first determine exactly what constitutes a UA. UAs (commonly known as unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs) are aircraft with no humans aboard piloted by either remote or autonomous (preprogrammed) control. They are part of an unmanned aircraft system, or UAS, that includes the aircraft, an operator, and the transceiver for sending and receiving instructions and information to and from the aircraft.
The Department of Homeland Security is said to be very interested in using UAs to patrol the U.S. border with Mexico and some of the overwater approaches to the country from the Atlantic and Pacific. The Pentagon wants to give its operators as much real-world experience as possible.
Currently, UAs must operate in special-use airspace such as military operations areas or restricted areas. The FAA will occasionally issue a "certificate of authorization" allowing a UA to operate outside of special-use airspace, but only if there is a ground spotter and/or chase plane to maintain visual contact with the UA and ensure separation from other aircraft.
AOPA's Government and Technical Affairs Division has prepared an issue brief on unmanned aircraft ( www.aopa.org/whatsnew/air_traffic/unmanned.html).
AOPA President Presents Be A Pilot Award to Sporty's Founder
Sporty's Pilot Shop founder and Chief Executive Officer Hal Shevers received special recognition this spring for his role as a founding member of another organization — Be A Pilot. AOPA President Phil Boyer presented Shevers with Be A Pilot's Legacy Sponsor Award for industry leadership in strengthening general aviation's future. The award was signed by Be A Pilot Chairman John W. Olcott and President and Chief Executive Officer Drew Steketee. Boyer, a member of Be A Pilot's board, made the presentation at an AOPA Pilot Town Meeting in Cincinnati.
When AOPA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) first created Be A Pilot (then called General Aviation Team 2000) in 1996 to stimulate interest in learning to fly, Shevers signed on as a founding member, and he has been an enthusiastic supporter ever since, contributing some $875,000 to Be A Pilot, making him the third largest contributor to the program.
NTSB Confirms ASF Analysis — 2004 Safest Year Yet for GA
The NTSB has confirmed an initial report by the AOPA Air Safety Foundation — 2004 was general aviation's safest year yet.
The NTSB's preliminary numbers show that GA accidents decreased from 1,741 in 2003 to 1,614 in 2004. There were 312 fatal general aviation accidents, down from 352 the previous year. The accident rate decreased from 6.71 per 100,000 flight hours in 2003 to 6.22 in 2004. The fatal accident rate decreased from 1.36 to 1.20.
"According to our analysis of the AOPA online safety center database, that's the lowest number of accidents and the lowest accident rate since 1938," said Bruce Landsberg, Air Safety Foundation executive director. "Clearly we're doing something right, but when it comes to safety, we can always do better."
ASF is currently putting the finishing touches on its annual Nall Report on general aviation safety. It's GA's most comprehensive look at air safety. This year's report focuses on 2003, the most recent year for which complete records exist.
MEMBERSHIP ACTION
Help GA Grow: Bring a Friend to AOPA's Fly-In and Open House
Does your neighbor always say, "I wish I could do that!" when you talk about flying? Maybe your coworker gets jealous when you rave about that weekend getaway you flew to.
If so, bring 'em to the fifteenth annual AOPA Fly-In and Open House.
On Saturday, June 4, AOPA will welcome members, guests, and anyone interested in GA to its headquarters at Frederick Municipal Airport in Maryland.
"This year, in addition to greeting members, we're making a special effort to welcome would-be pilots," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "We're planning special activities for anyone who's dreamed of learning to fly but needs a little more information and maybe a little more encouragement to get started."
As always, AOPA and the AOPA Air Safety Foundation will offer a number of informative seminars. The AOPA Commander Countdown Sweepstakes aircraft, a Rockwell Commander 112A that's getting a major facelift, will headline the aircraft display on AOPA's ramp, and there will be some 100 vendor displays under the big top behind the AOPA building.
More information about the AOPA Fly-In and Open House, including arrival procedures, is available online ( www.aopa.org/fly-in/).
Add AOPA's Legal Services Plan to Your Minimum Equipment List
It's one of those things no pilot should fly without — like a flashlight or current charts. The AOPA Legal Services Plan not only protects pilots in the event of an accident, incident, or enforcement action, but also it provides a variety of free legal services, such as reviewing a hangar lease or an aircraft tiedown agreement.
For only $26 per year (slightly higher for professional pilots), pilots have access to a panel of hundreds of attorneys all across the United States. And if a pilot does run into trouble, enrollment in the plan can take the financial sting out of defending against the allegations. If the pilot is a member of the AOPA Legal Services Plan prior to the covered infraction, and a panel attorney is able to resolve a case without appeal, most, if not all, of the pilot's costs will be covered.
"The AOPA Legal Services Plan has always been a great value we offer our members," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "But in these security-conscious times, it's really something no member should do without."
For more information on the legal services plan, including what it covers and how it works, visit AOPA Online ( www.aopa.org/legalservices.html).
AOPA AIR SAFETY FOUNDATION
Arriving Safely: ASF Offers How-To for Crowded Fly-In Skies
With the fifteenth annual AOPA Fly-In and Open House fast approaching and EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh a few short weeks afterward, pilots should take advantage of the latest addition to the Online Safety Center ( www.aopa.org/safetycenter/) — the Now Featuring: Fly-In Safety button. ASF has compiled essential information pilots need for safe arrivals at and departures from major fly-ins and airshows.
"Even for seasoned GA pilots used to operating from towered airports, the extremely crowded environment of a busy fly-in can be unnerving," said Bruce Landsberg, executive director of the Air Safety Foundation. "The information available in the Now Featuring section can help a pilot prepare and stay ahead of both the plane and the situation."
The centerpiece is the Fly-In Safety Checkup, which contains such helpful reminders as boning up on slow-flight procedures since there will be a wide variety of aircraft in the traffic pattern, making efficient use of passengers to help watch for other traffic, and practicing sterile cockpit procedures as the aircraft approaches the busy airport environment. The checkup page is also available in PDF for easy printing.
There's also an audio clip (a broadband connection is recommended) that will give pilots a taste of what the radio congestion will be like.
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation plans to post the Now Featuring: Fly-In Safety information in the days leading up to major general aviation airshows or fly-ins. At other times it will contain other important safety information from ASF. Be sure to check back often.
Updated Safety Advisor on Propellers Now Available Online, in Print
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation's updated Propeller Safety Safety Advisor is now available both in print and online ( www.aopa.org/asf/publications/sa06.pdf).
Although often taken for granted, properly maintained propellers are absolutely essential to safe flight.
"Propellers undergo tremendous stresses every time an aircraft's engine is running," said AOPA Air Safety Foundation Executive Director Bruce Landsberg. "The blade tips are moving near supersonic speed. The blades are shaken unmercifully by the engine and pounded by the air stream. Damage to or loss of a prop blade can be catastrophic. Proper care and maintenance are key to safe, successful flight."
PDF versions of all ASF Safety Advisors and other publications are available to all pilots by clicking on the Publications button in the Online Safety Center ( www.aopa.org/safetycenter/).
New ASF Study Examines Benefits, Risks of Technically Advanced Aircraft
As GA cockpits have gone more high-tech with moving-map displays and all-glass instruments, some have raised concerns about complexity and training issues.
A new study, Technically Advanced Aircraft by the AOPA Air Safety Foundation, funded by movie director Robert Zemeckis, finds that technically advanced aircraft are fundamentally sound, but will require some different piloting approaches.
The full study is available in PDF format from the AOPA ASF's Online Safety Center ( www.aopa.org/safetycenter/) and printed copies will be available.
AOPA AIRPORT SUPPORT NETWORK
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
Colorado. Boulder: Phil Ecklund, the Airport Support Network volunteer at Boulder Municipal Airport, and airport manager Ray Grundy continue to meet with city officials to address concerns over noise that have plagued the airport. Backed by material supplied by AOPA, Ecklund and Grundy have stressed the positive economic impact of the airport. Erie: AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Jack Horn and fellow pilots at Erie Municipal Airport are making some inroads in fighting an all-too-familiar threat to local airports — encroachment. Horn and others have attended city government meetings on proposed new-home construction near the airport, and report "major headway" after meetings with the developer's engineer.
Georgia. Columbus: Sherry Barber Goodrum, the ASN volunteer at Columbus Metro Airport, and fellow pilots are working to iron out some rough spots with local Transportation Security Administration officials. The airport has a security plan, but agency officials refuse to share it with pilots because of what they call its "sensitive" nature. Goodrum and others are working with the agency to ensure that what GA pilots need to know is communicated efficiently and consistently.
Volunteer of the Month: RON DEARBORN
Time and time again, the AOPA Airport Support Network (ASN) staff sees the results of local advocacy groups' extraordinary efforts to protect their airports through the formation of pilots and users associations. These relationships among airport users, local elected leaders, and AOPA often produce the most positive and lasting impacts on an airport's future.
This month, the ASN staff recognizes Ron Dearborn, the ASN volunteer at Fairbanks International Airport in Alaska, as our Volunteer of the Month. His grass-roots activism led to the creation of the Fairbanks International Airport General Aviation Association.
In March, Dearborn kicked off its first meeting, during which members began listing topics of mutual concern at the airport such as operational, security, and airport planning issues. Most significant, the group works side by side with managers of various airport programs. By creating positive relationships from the beginning, all parties can cooperatively develop pivotal goals they wish to achieve and hopefully form solutions with win-win results.
Tom George, AOPA's regional representative for Alaska, also had a hand in helping to form the new association, supporting Dearborn's efforts. In his capacity as the ASN volunteer and an airport user, Dearborn was able to draw parties together under the umbrella of mutual interest and devise an initial plan on which to build the future of the association and general aviation at Fairbanks International Airport.
Hats off to Dearborn and his fellow pilots at the airport for recognizing the need to organize early and work collaboratively with their local leaders, neighbors, and airport officials.
AOPA ASN VOLUNTEER UPDATE
Does your airport have a local pilots association?
Pilots associations. Airport user groups. Call them what you may — when members of an airport community join together, all AOPA members benefit. They're able to share ideas and take unified action to protect the rights and safety of general aviation.
As Ron Dearborn from Fairbanks International Airport knows, coordinating all those interests and creating a pilots association that protects and promotes the viability of the local airport requires political savvy, perseverance, and people skills.
While not all airports face the challenges of Fairbanks in terms of dealing with complex Part 139 issues for air-carrier-certificated facilities, most do have several interest groups, often with conflicting points of view. The ability to work in concert with all interested parties to develop solutions as opposed to fighting from opposite corners certainly increases the odds of achieving success.
But the catalyst for forming a pilots association and users group does not have to be opposition or threats to the airport. In fact, many pilots associations actually enhance their airports with the support and appreciation of the local government.
Take the Boone County Pilots Association (BCPA) at Boone County Airport in Harrison, Arkansas, as an example. When the airport needed new lights installed at its refueling tanks, ASN volunteer Andy Anderson and his fellow BCPA members answered the call by donating nearly a week's worth of labor, so the entire project only cost the airport $721.
If you don't have a pilots association at your airport, contact the ASN staff and we can help volunteers start one.
To learn more about the ASN program or to find out if your airport has a volunteer, visit our Web site ( www.aopa.org/asn/) or call 301/695-2200.
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