Just two days after being named the winning service provider for the contract to run the flight service station (FSS) system (see "AOPA Action," April 2005 AOPA Flight Training), Lockheed Martin officials came to AOPA headquarters in Frederick, Maryland, to outline the details of their plan. Here's what's in store: new interactive online briefings that allow you to look at the same information as your FSS briefer, online flight planning, and alerts sent to your e-mail address or personal digital assistant when conditions affecting your flight change.
You still will be able to receive telephone and in-flight briefings, but now your telephone call will be answered much more quickly -- within 20 seconds; your radio call will be acknowledged within five seconds; and your flight plan will be filed within three minutes. You can tour the facilities and get a walk-in weather briefing -- just as you have been able to do in the past.
"Better service and no user fees. That's the bottom line for pilots," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "And as the advocate for general aviation pilots, AOPA fought in the halls of Congress and the FAA to make sure that FSS customers are going to get the service they need."
The FAA decided to outsource the FSS system as a cost-cutting measure, and AOPA worked closely with all the bidders to ensure that they understood the needs of general aviation pilots and would keep customers' needs central in modernization.
You won't see any changes immediately. Lockheed will officially take control of the system October 1 and said it won't make changes for six months. The company plans to have its system operational in April 2006.
Pilot certificate microtext mystery solved
When you receive your private pilot certificate, take a look at the fine print -- the really fine print. In an effort to prevent counterfeiting, new plastic certificates share something in common with the $20 bill.
On the FAA's new pilot certificate, microtext forms the struts of the Wright Flyer on the front, and on the back you can find microtext on the Wright brothers' collars and the Flyer's leading edges. (It's hidden in two places on the $20.)
"Some members have called our Pilot Information Center wondering what was going on with the tiny type," said Woody Cahall, AOPA vice president of aviation services. "The FAA tells us it's not a secret code. But it is very hard to copy. It's just one of several security features on the new, more durable certificate that makes it very difficult to counterfeit."
The text is actually portions of a Wright anniversary speech. The plastic certificates are an interim step toward pilot certificates with photos. AOPA has supported the idea of a more durable and attractive pilot certificate for years.
Air Safety Foundation Safety Hot Spot: the 'hot spot' for resources on spring and summer flying
It's that time of year again when pilots take to the skies after a long winter of hibernation. Whether you are just learning how to operate in the airspace system or need a little refresher, the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Safety Hot Spot topics deliver what you need to know for safe spring and summer flying.
Featured through the end of May is Operations at Nontowered Airports, which includes the Operations at Nontowered Airports Safety Advisor, a checklist of what to look for while operating at nontowered airports, and a highly educational list of midair collisions and runway incursions at nontowered airports from 1999 to 2003.
The Safety Hot Spot button offers one-click simplicity for safety- issue resources, including AOPA and ASF publications, video clips, interactive online courses, Sporty's Safety Quizzes, related Web sites, and a checklist of pertinent safety items. The choice of Hot Spot topics is influenced by seasonal factors and accident trends in the general aviation community. If you missed a topic, visit the Hot Spot archive page.
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