AOPA Action

Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta directed the FAA in November 2005 to extend the comment period to February 6 and hold an AOPA-requested public meeting on its plan to make the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) permanent. So you can still submit your comments, if you haven't already.

"This is the perfect opportunity for flight instructors to give students a hands-on lesson about how the FAA works," said Andy Cebula, AOPA executive vice president of government affairs. "Instructors could take part of a ground lesson to teach students about ADIZ airspace and FAA rulemaking, and even help them submit their comments."

In November, Mineta urged pilots to be accountable for their actions in the air and do a better job of understanding and following security requirements that are in place-and that includes student pilots.

"Americans expect us to do a better job," Mineta said. "It is an issue of accountability and the general aviation community needs to work harder to police its members."

Get ready for 'parade of planes' at AOPA Expo 2006

More than 8,500 people attended AOPA Expo 2005 in sunny Tampa, Florida, with some 1,200 airplanes flying in for the event. Visitors from student pilots to ATPs attended more than 70 hours of educational seminars, got up close to more than 100 aircraft on display, and purchased everything from headsets to airplanes.

If you thought Expo 2005 was the best event yet, save the dates November 9 through 11 for Expo 2006 in Palm Springs, California. Not only will you get to enjoy great weather and dramatic scenery, you'll be treated to a real spectacle during the "parade of planes" when dozens of your favorite aircraft taxi through the streets en route to the convention center on November 8.

AOPA comments against permanent Washington, D.C., ADIZ

The Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) is ineffective, operationally and financially burdensome, a threat to aviation safety, and unnecessary in light of advances in security; it should be eliminated or dramatically modified, AOPA told the FAA in comments filed November 2, 2005.

"Making permanent a 'temporary' security measure that was created with no analysis or public comment raises the question: 'Have the terrorists won when we apply security requirements internally that are designed to protect our borders?'" said AOPA President Phil Boyer.

AOPA's formal comments present carefully reasoned, legally based arguments against making the ADIZ permanent, including: The ADIZ was intended to be temporary and was enacted with no public comment or review; it has never been subjected to rigorous analysis; it doesn't meet the legal requirements for review and analysis of alternatives; it creates significant safety hazards and operational concerns for pilots; it adversely affects the economic interests of airports and businesses that rely on light aircraft; there has never been a detailed analysis of the true threat level or consideration of appropriate responses; and there have been dramatic improvements in general aviation security since September 11, 2001.

AOPA suggests maintaining the existing flight restricted zone requirements and eliminating the ADIZ entirely or dramatically modifying it.

Air Safety Foundation internship available

The AOPA Air Safety Foundation seeks students for a full-time summer internship to help create safety programs and assist in developing safety education and research for the general aviation community. The position receives hourly pay plus a stipend to assist with moving, housing, or flying expenses. The application deadline is March 3. See AOPA Online.