AOPA Action: AOPA honors World War II vet
Hero is feted on his 100th birthday at headquarters
But McGee wasn’t just along for the ride.
“He flew us,” said Boni Caldeira, executive director of aircraft sales for Cirrus. Caldeira sat right seat for McGee’s birthday trip, which launched from AOPA headquarters at the Frederick Municipal Airport in Frederick, Maryland. “I was basically there to talk to air traffic control,” Caldeira said.
Saturday’s flight with Baker confirmed McGee’s skill. “He’s in charge, that was for sure,” said Baker (see “Waypoints: A Century of Perseverance,” p. 18).
McGee flew Friday to Delaware, where he was greeted by more than 100 U.S. Air Force personnel at Dover Air Force Base, and then back to Frederick. Saturday an honor guard of re-enactors helped launch the flight in the Citation. Both events were highlighted by parties in the AOPA National Aviation Community Center hangar. The birthday recognition was organized by Vince Mickens of Private Air Media Group, who served as master of ceremonies.
In a video message, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson called McGee “a national treasure and an American icon. Because you prevailed, we in the aviation community have the benefit of your wisdom,” Dickson said.
Pete Bunce, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, invited McGee to be part of the seventy-fifth commemoration of the end of World War II in Europe, to be held in May 2020. “We are letting the country know the dedication of your generation,” Bunce said, adding that McGee is invited to fly in the airplane of his choice in the Arsenal of Democracy flyover of Washington, D.C.
McGee received proclamations from Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, among other tributes.
McGee became an Army Air Corps aviation cadet in 1942, arriving at Tuskegee Army Airfield in November of that year. He earned his wings and commission as a second lieutenant in 1943, and eventually was stationed in Italy, where he performed harbor and coastal patrols, strafed targets on the ground, protected bombers in the air, and performed fighter sweeps against German targets. In addition to the P–51 Mustang, McGee also flew the Bell P–39Q Airacobra and the Republic P–47D Thunderbolt. He completed 138 combat missions.
McGee was on active duty with the U.S. Air Force until 1973. He flew combat missions in the Korean and Vietnam wars, and logged more than 6,000 flight hours. Since retirement, he has worked in real estate and airport management, and he remains active with volunteer service. He is featured in the Red Tails Rise Above traveling exhibit, a mobile movie theater that tours the nation to educate and inspire people with the history and lessons of the Tuskegee Airmen. At press time, McGee was set to be presented with an honorary promotion to brigadier general.
Web: aopa.org/pilot/mcgee
Advice for the unequipped
AOPA has answers for those who did not meet ADS-B deadline
Flying in ADS-B rule airspace without operating ADS-B equipment will subject pilots to potential FAA enforcement action, if they have not received an authorization to do so. This can be done through the FAA’s ADS-B Deviation Authorization Preflight Tool (ADAPT), an online portal that allows operators to request an airspace authorization for an individual flight. AOPA has been actively involved in its development, from defining its functionality to helping test the software. It went live in December 2019.
In 2010, the FAA published a final rule that established the airspace where certain aircraft operators are required to have ADS-B Out equipment installed in order to operate after January 1, 2020. The ADS-B rule, FAR 91.225, describes the applicability of ADS-B to certain airspace and what aircraft must equip, and FAR 91.227 defines how the installed ADS-B system must perform. The FAA estimates more than 140,000 general aviation aircraft will be affected by the ADS-B mandate. However, some aircraft owners who did not equip in advance of the mandate will still need access to this airspace.
The FAA will permit aircraft owners and operators flying aircraft without ADS-B Out equipment, or with ADS-B Out that is installed but not working, to seek an authorization to access ADS-B rule airspace through the ADAPT portal. In a webinar (youtu.be/U4ETtuRPcn4) AOPA provides an overview of the system. AOPA also prepared a step-by-step ADAPT user guide (aopa.org/advocacy/ads-b-adapt), and additional information is available from the FAA. Applications may be submitted in ADAPT no earlier than 24 hours in advance of a proposed flight—and must be submitted at least one hour before.
“We have worked extensively with the FAA to ensure pilots of unequipped aircraft could still be reasonably accommodated in rule airspace, such as to get in or out of rule airspace to get to an avionics shop,” said Rune Duke, AOPA senior director of airspace, air traffic, and security. “The FAA’s policies surrounding ATC authorizations via ADAPT consider numerous factors but, bottom line, if you need regular access to rule airspace, you will need to equip.”
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