"You're entering an exciting time in aviation--the general aviation and airline industries are looking up, and new technologies and categories of aircraft are entering the market," Boyer told the groups. "But you don't have to be a pilot to be involved in aviation. You could be the engineer developing technology to make aviation even safer. Or you could manage an airport, investigate accidents, or even protect a pilot's right to fly with AOPA. You have more options now than aviation students at any other time in history."
To help students decide what aviation career might interest them, AOPA offers a new brochure with an Aviation Career Finder card that shows more than 60 career titles along with each position's education requirements and the type of employer. Request the brochure on AOPA Online.
FAA honors AOPA Air Safety Foundation
The FAA honored the AOPA Air Safety Foundation in November for its continuing and dedicated work in advancing the cause of air safety. FAA Administrator Marion Blakey presented ASF Executive Director Bruce Landsberg with the first Thomas H. Wardleigh Award at AOPA Expo.
Blakey noted that in fiscal year 2006, the United States had the lowest number of fatal aviation accidents since records have been kept and that most of the improvement was in the personal flying segment, a major focus area for the foundation.
The Wardleigh Award honors an individual or organization for making a significant impact on aviation safety; creating innovative training, equipment, or other improvements to safety; and for showing leadership in aviation safety, all over a long period of time.
Training devices exempt from costly regulation
All Level 1 through 3 flight training devices are now classified as advanced aviation training devices (ATDs); PC-ATDs are now basic ATDs. These changes come because the FAA has created FAR Part 60 to regulate flight simulation training devices.
AOPA worked to keep the basic and advanced ATDs exempt from this regulation, which will govern Level 4 flight training devices and above, along with all airline simulators. This means these devices will still be affordable to use, and the way you use them to log time toward a certificate or rating will stay the same.
"AOPA is pleased that the FAA listened to our argument," said Luis Gutierrez, AOPA director of regulatory and certification policy. "These devices already have established safety records. Applying airline-style maintenance and record-keeping requirements would have only increased costs, with no safety benefit."
To see the new rule, visit AOPA Online.
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.
ASF offers breakdown on braking
Ever tuned in the ATIS at the airport only to hear "...braking action fair" and wondered exactly what it meant?
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Braking Action Reports Safety Brief highlights one of the hazards of winter flying--taxiways and runways covered in snow, ice, and slush. In this Safety Brief, learn about braking action and listen to actual recorded examples of ATIS braking action reports.
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