By Amelia Walsh
The Washington, D.C.-based publication The Hill named AOPA a top lobbying trade association for the fifth year in a row. AOPA and President Mark Baker were recognized for a “demonstrated ability to wield influence and deliver results on Capitol Hill on behalf of its members seeking a voice in Washington.”
Under the leadership of Baker, and with strong support from its membership, AOPA and GA won the fight against ATC “privatization.” The membership rallied with more than 200,000 emails, phone calls, and letters to lawmakers opposing the legislation. AOPA has seen other victories under Baker’s leadership. In 2016, third class medical reform, known as BasicMed, was passed in Congress and implemented by the FAA in 2017. The reform is a success with more than 43,000 pilots now flying under the medical qualification. AOPA has also been active protecting airports from egregious fixed-base operator pricing.
Changes to Part 61 of the federal aviation regulations also provided a huge win for GA pilots. The rule change reduces costs to pilots by leveraging advances in avionics, aircraft equipment, flight simulators, and aviation training devices. AOPA worked with the FAA on the change, which is expected to save the GA community more than $110 million in the next five years.
AOPA has been influential in efforts to grow the pilot population with its You Can Fly initiative. In 2018, the program helped form 35 new flying clubs, bringing the total since its inception to 100 clubs. Thanks to the Rusty Pilots program, approximately 1,354 pilots returned to flying this year, bringing the total number of pilots returned to active flying to 6,040. And through its high school aviation science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) curriculum, an estimated 2,205 ninth-grade students at 80 schools across the country are learning about what it takes to pursue a career in aerospace.
By David Tulis
Regional air carriers, major airlines, and other aviation businesses responded to Boeing Co.’s prediction for “significant” pilot demand through 2037 by creating pathway programs that coach, mentor, and empower career aviators toward full-time aviation careers. In July 2018, the airliner manufacturer’s 20-year Pilot and Technician Outlook called for 635,000 commercial pilots, 96,000 business pilots, and 59,000 helicopter pilots for an estimated 790,000 total pilot positions. Many air carriers are offering aviation students career pathway programs and other incentives to fill the expected vacancies. Here’s a look at several of the pathway programs that AOPA has highlighted recently:
By Bob Knill
How many times have you sat there, finger on the push-to-talk button, ready to go with your request to ATC—only to find no opening to talk? You’ve rehearsed what you’re going to say but can’t seem to squeeze in amongst all the other chatter out there. How do you get ATC’s attention when you’re fast approaching their airspace?
The AOPA Air Safety Institute sat down with controllers to ask them this question. As it turns out, there’s a simple, one-word announcement that’ll help move you to the front of their focus. In this Ask ATC episode, controllers reveal how to efficiently get their attention when the airwaves are buzzing.
As you know, in busy airspace with a lot of traffic, controllers are keeping track of a lot of information. If you’ve not been in contact with them previously, you have to introduce yourself and your intentions, thus adding to the workload. In certain airspace, it’s also a requirement that you be “in contact” with air traffic control before entering that airspace. Remember that having ATC simply reply back with your N number meets this requirement.
The simple introduction presented in this video opens the door to the legal communication requirement, but it also gives you the added benefit of relaxing a bit, knowing that ATC is aware of you and that you want to talk to them. You no longer need to be ready to blurt out everything you have to say as fast as you can, only to have them ask again for the same information because they weren’t ready for you. It works for you as a simple way of getting on ATC’s radar, both literally and figuratively.
For much of the country, flying season is coming upon us. It’s an opportunity to knock the rust off our flying skills, but also our radio skills. Both, like a muscle, diminish without regular exercise. If you want to fly like a professional, it often helps to sound like a professional, and breaking into busy ATC chatter like a professional pilot is a good way to start.
Web: www.airsafetyinstitute.org/askatc/busycontroller
Bob Knill is a writer on assignment with the AOPA Air Safety Institute.