Post by Major Destruction on Nov 4, 2005 16:37:25 GMT -5
MINETA ANNOUNCES ADIZ COMMENT EXTENSION, PUBLIC MEETINGS
Before a crowd of some 1,000 general aviation pilots and enthusiasts, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced Thursday that he has directed the FAA to extend the comment period by 90 days and hold an AOPA-requested public meeting on the plan to make the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) permanent. Mineta made the announcement during the opening general session of AOPA Expo 2005 in Tampa, Florida. Mineta also urged pilots to be accountable for their actions and follow the security requirements that are in place. And Mineta addressed an issue that's top-of-mind for many general aviation pilots—user fees. Answering a question from an audience member, Mineta said that solving the FAA's future funding problems is not going to be a one-size-fits-all fix. "I can tell you right now from my perspective [the solution] will not be user fees," Mineta added to resounding applause. Mineta also said that he would support AOPA's recommendation to continue using fuel taxes as the most effective and fair means of funding the FAA. But Mineta agreed that the battle over funding is not yet won and encouraged AOPA to maintain its vigilance. See AOPA Online to read more or see a video of Mineta's appearance.
AOPA: USER FEES WOULD LIMIT FAA OVERSIGHT, ACCOUNTABILITY
The FAA answers to a higher power—Congress—but user fees and privatization of air traffic control services could remove that important oversight function from the hands of elected officials, AOPA warned. AOPA made its comments in response to an FAA document on funding ATC and other critical components of the nation's aviation system. But loss of accountability isn't the only problem with user fees, which AOPA has repeatedly told the FAA are not an acceptable means of funding the agency in the future. "The FAA must be very careful not to advance funding policies that would dismantle the air transportation network," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "Virtually every citizen in the country benefits from this system that is so crucial to the nation's economy—whether or not they ever fly." That's why AOPA supports using contributions from the general fund to cover at least 25 percent of the FAA's budget—a method used to support the marine transportation infrastructure. AOPA also supports using excise taxes on fuel, like those already in place, to fund the FAA and ensure that it remains accountable to Congress and taxpayers. See AOPA Online.
Operation ADIZ
AOPA FILES ADIZ COMMENTS, URGES FAA TO REMOVE RESTRICTIONS
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 Wednesday (click to download) on the agency's proposal to make the ADIZ permanent. AOPA also expressed its opposition to the idea of making permanent a "temporary" security measure that was created with no analysis or public comment—a security measure that turns the same tactics used to protect U.S. borders during the Cold War against law-abiding citizens in the heart of the nation's capital. "It raises the very serious question for pilots across the country, 'Have the terrorists won when we apply security requirements internally that are designed to protect our borders?'" AOPA President Phil Boyer wrote on behalf of the association. 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 9/11. A better solution, AOPA suggests, would be to maintain the existing Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ) requirements and eliminate the ADIZ entirely or dramatically modify it. See AOPA Online.
POWERFUL HOUSE COMMITTEE WEIGHS IN AGAINST ADIZ
The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which has direct control over the FAA, has expressed its concern over the proposal to make the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) permanent. "There is a real concern about the need for and utility of such wide-sweeping flight restrictions," 40 committee members told FAA Administrator Marion Blakey in a letter. "As such, it seems very reasonable for the FAA and DHS to clearly identify the conditions that would allow the removal of the restrictions and a process for lifting the restrictions immediately." "Forty members of Congress came together under the bipartisan leadership of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young and Ranking Member Jim Oberstar as well as aviation subcommittee Chairman John Mica and Ranking Subcommittee Member Ray Costello to show their concerns about the rulemaking," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "That should send a strong, clear message to the FAA that pilots, aircraft owners, and members of Congress are opposed to making the ADIZ as it currently exists permanent. See AOPA Online.
AOPA-COMMISSIONED ECON STUDY REVEALS BIG IMPACT ON GA
Ten general aviation airports inside the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) that are dependent on providing services to pilots of light aircraft are losing nearly $43 million per year in wages, revenue, taxes, and local spending. That's what AOPA's independent economic study of 13 airports impacted by the ADIZ has revealed. "The study shows that those most affected by the ADIZ are GA aircraft owners and pilots, and the businesses that serve this group, even though they pose the least threat," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "If the ADIZ is not modified, it could permanently jeopardize the economic viability of GA operations in the Washington, D.C., area." Total revenue at the impacted airports has dropped $27.5 million since the ADIZ was created in 2003. And more than 130 jobs have been lost, sales of aviation gasoline are down by nearly 20 percent, a flight school has closed, and many pilots have either stopped flying or have moved out of the area. AOPA commissioned the study to find out just how much the ADIZ is negatively impacting those airports because the FAA failed to gather any data about the impact the ADIZ has on general aviation airports. See AOPA Online.
ADIZ PUNISHES PILOTS BUT WON'T STOP TERRORISTS, PILOTS SAY
The frustration pilots and air traffic controllers feel with the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) came through loud and clear in the more than 18,200 comments filed to date in response to the FAA's proposal to make the restrictions permanent. One resounding theme: The ADIZ punishes law-abiding pilots but does nothing to protect against terrorism. "I am a member of the Army National Guard currently deployed in Iraq and I am civilian pilot," wrote one commenter. "Ostensibly, I am in Iraq to protect the freedom of the American people, and I find the imposition of regulations such as the D.C.-area ADIZ personally offensive because they abolish the very freedoms I have given up a year of my life defending, yet do nothing to enhance the public's safety." Other pilots pointed out the numerous measures already in place to protect the nation's capital—measures that make the ADIZ an unnecessary burden. "We already have the proper solution in place with the 15-mile no-fly zone around the Capitol, missile systems, and fighters flown by pilots such as my son (a USAF F-16 pilot) on alert," wrote one airline pilot. "Little slow Cessnas are not a viable terror threat to the Capitol, and have never been used as such." See AOPA Online.
ADIZ COMPROMISES SAFETY, CONTROLLERS UNION TELLS FAA
Pilots aren't the only ones worried about the safety implications of making the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) permanent. In comments filed with the FAA on Monday, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) said the ADIZ is dangerous, expensive, and unjustified. "The ADIZ is not only a burden to its users; it is an unsafe mixed bag of personal controller technique without even a veneer of procedure or common sense," wrote NATCA President John Carr, adding that the ADIZ has increased traffic by 30 percent for controllers at Potomac Tracon while staffing levels have not changed. In its comments, NATCA pointed out that it has repeatedly asked the FAA for guidelines for implementing the ADIZ—guidelines that have never come. As a result, every controller handles the ADIZ differently, causing confusion for pilots. See AOPA Online.
LEESBURG ASKS FAA TO WITHDRAW ADIZ PROPOSAL
As pilots around the nation urge the FAA not to make the Washington, D.C, Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) permanent, one community that has been directly affected by the restrictions is taking action of its own. The City of Leesburg, home to Leesburg Executive Airport, has passed a resolution strongly urging the FAA to withdraw the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would make the ADIZ permanent. And the local airport commission has sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta detailing the financial hardships the ADIZ has created and urging him to stop the hemorrhaging by eliminating the ADIZ. "If you want to know what kind of harm an ADIZ could cause in your community, you need look no further than the dramatic losses sustained by Leesburg," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "This is a community that was poised to grow its airport and its business infrastructure—and now it's just trying to hold on to the businesses that remain." See AOPA Online.
AOPA Expo 2005
PILOTS DESCEND ON TAMPA FOR AOPA EXPO
Clear skies, light winds, and 70-degree temperatures welcomed pilots as they flew in to Tampa, Florida, Thursday morning for the kick off to AOPA Expo 2005. By noon some 550 aircraft had flown in for the event. AOPA members arrived early so as to not waste any precious time. They were ready to check out the more than 90 aircraft on display, 540 exhibit booths, and more than 70 hours of educational seminars. "I want to look at Cessna and Lancair [now Columbia], and kick the tires of some of the aircraft," said AOPA Expo first-timer Russell Steiner of Fort Lauderdale who arrived in a Diamond Star. "And maybe get a better set of headphones." Pilots are receiving the red-carpet treatment from the time they touch down in Tampa. Leading Edge Aviation Services at Vandenberg, Raytheon Aircraft Services and Tampa International Jet Center at Tampa International, and Atlas Aviation at Peter O. Knight are treating AOPA members like royalty: Aircraft are marshaled to a special parking spot, and pilots are met with a shuttle, cold beverages, and friendly faces. AOPA members also are making pilots feel welcome by volunteering to marshal aircraft with the Hillsborough County Airport Authority. See AOPA Online.
AOPA AWARDS JOURNALISTS FOR ACCURATE COVERAGE OF GA
AOPA honored seven journalists Thursday at AOPA Expo's opening luncheon for their dedication to fair, accurate, and insightful coverage of general aviation. Richard Murphy Werry of KIMN-FM in Denver; Devon Hubbard Sorlie of Soundings, a weekly military publication in Norfolk, Virginia; Chris Dunn of KDVR-TV in Denver; Marissa Tejada and Jarrod Miller of WOFL-TV in Lake Mary, Florida; David Marshall of WPBS in Watertown, New York; and William Lang of WXXI in Rochester, New York, each received the association's prestigious 2005 Max Karant Journalism Award. The awards come with a $1,000 honorarium. "In an age of sensationalized news reports about aviation security and safety, this is an opportunity to recognize members of the media who instead provided the truth about general aviation to the nonflying public," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. This year's awards also included a Special Citation for Excellence "for promoting general aviation through the art of film making," presented to Brian Terwilliger for his documentary film One Six Right. Winning entries in the print, television, and radio categories covered topics ranging from aviation history, to learning how to fly, to sightseeing by airplane, to general aviation security. See AOPA Online.
ROD MACHADO OFFERS AVIATION HUMOR AT EXPO LUNCHEON
Aviation educator and humorist Rod Machado brought out the lighter side of flight instruction, air traffic controllers, and even military intercepts at AOPA Expo's opening luncheon on Thursday. Machado, a flight instructor since 1973, drew the first of many laughs from the audience when describing how some pilots "seem to have a hard time telling when they're intercepted." He recounted how a pilot of a Cherokee 140 who had penetrated restricted airspace was intercepted by a Cobra helicopter. "The pilot of the Cherokee 140 tried to peel away," Machado said. "That's why it's important to read the performance specs for your aircraft." His appearance followed a presentation of the Max Karant Awards.
EVERYTHING FOR GA IS ON DISPLAY AT EXPO
Opening day in the exhibit hall at AOPA Expo 2005 resembles the opening of a Broadway play: Just before the doors open, exhibitors are rushing back and forth making last-minute adjustments to elaborate displays. When the curtain goes up—when the exhibit hall opens to Expo attendees at 10 a.m.—the players are ready as the excited audience streams through the doors. This year's exhibit hall in the Tampa Convention Center features a cast of more than 1,700 exhibit personnel staffing 540 booths with thousands of products to display. Everything for the pilot and aircraft is available to try on for size, including headsets and GPS receivers, sunglasses and sun shields, flight bags and tires. There's even a healthy selection of thingypits available for the crowds to investigate, including Liberty Aircraft's newly certified IFR version of the XL. Expo Platinum Sponsor DTC DUAT offered visitors an Internet café for the second year in a row. Strategically located in the center of the exhibit hall, the kiosks allow users to check weather, file flight plans, and view their e-mail—some even took advantage of the opportunity to file their ADIZ comments after Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced a 90-day deadline extension during the morning general session.
AVIDYNE, RYAN INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCE MERGER
Avidyne and Ryan International have announced the merger of the two companies. Under the merger agreement, Ryan's active traffic display and alerting technologies will be added to Avidyne's product lines, extending Avidyne's product offerings for both the original equipment and retrofit avionics markets. Avidyne will maintain Ryan's Columbus, Ohio, headquarters as the Safety Systems Group. Ryan International, renowned as an innovator in avionics to improve aviation safety, was founded in 1981 by CEO Paul Ryan. Ryan, a 40-year industry veteran, also invented the Stormscope weather system, in addition to Ryan's line of collision avoidance systems. Paul Ryan will continue with the company as a consultant. "In addition to the many positive technical and market reasons for the merger of Ryan and Avidyne, our corporate backgrounds and cultures are remarkably complementary," he said. Ryan makes the 9900BX Traffic Advisory System installed on the AOPA Sweepstakes Commander Countdown airplane.
COLUMBIA ANNOUNCES MORE OPTIONS, PRICE REDUCTION
Columbia Aircraft is now offering six new variants of its 2006 Columbia 350 and 400 airplane models to give owners more choices as far as avionics and options. The 350i and 400i models will come equipped with the Garmin G1000 integrated fight deck system along with READY Pad, a data entry keypad interface, and satellite weather/radio and an autopilot. In addition, the 350i and 400i models will have redesigned instrument panels and center consoles. The 350SL and 400SL add more options like thermal ice protection or a climate control system. The 350SLX and 400SLX combine all the features of the other models and provide both ice protection and climate control. Prices range from $398,900 for the 350i to $593,900 for the 400SLX. Columbia also announced a price reduction of $20,100 for the Columbia 350. The base model comes standard with the Avidyne Entegra integrated flight deck and now costs $378,900. Columbia officials said they were able to reduce prices thanks to an increase in the production rate.
NO VLJ FOR CIRRUS, BUT DON'T COUNT THEM OUT OF JET MARKET
When Cirrus Design CEO Alan Klapmeier stood before reporters at AOPA Expo, he wanted to dispel the rumors that have been circulating in the general aviation industry. "Cirrus is not going to build a VLJ [very light jet]," Klapmeier said. So, no jet for Cirrus? Not so fast. Cirrus is considering a "personal" jet. "I can imagine something like a two-seat fixed-gear jet trainer," Klapmeier said. But it will be some time before Cirrus is actually ready to announce such a product. Even so, the company has clearly been examining the potential market—a market Klapmeier believes has room for both VLJs and smaller, simpler personal jets. During the same news conference Cirrus announced a foray into the world of air taxi with the purchase of SATSair, which now offers air taxi services using 13 Cirrus aircraft, primarily in the Southeast. Cirrus expects to expand the SATSair fleet and coverage area over the coming year. SATSair will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Cirrus Design.
ECLIPSE ACHIEVES HIGH-SPEED MILESTONE
Eclipse Aviation President and CEO Vern Raburn arrived at AOPA Expo Wednesday behind the controls of his dream machine: N506EA. Raburn landed the Eclipse 500 jet in Tampa after a 1,300-nautical-mile flight at 33,000 feet from the company's home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. "This aircraft is a complete pleasure to fly," he said. Eclipse revealed that a test aircraft, N502EA, recently reached a true airspeed of 452 knots, achieving the maximum speed required for FAA certification (16 percent past redline). Raburn said the jet performed well and didn't experience any flutter or other aerodynamic challenges at that speed.
CESSNA LOOKS AT NEW PISTON AIRCRAFT MODELS
Cessna Aircraft President and CEO Jack Pelton reconfirmed at AOPA Expo that Cessna is looking at building new piston aircraft models. "We have been conducting market studies and assessing new technologies to ensure our next generation piston family is responsive to market requirements and provides significant improvements in safety, performance, comfort, and economics. We are currently in the process of listening to what our stakeholders have to say about our possible designs," he said. To date, no decisions have been made regarding configuration, specifications, or timetable. "We plan to make an announcement once those decisions are made," Pelton said. In the meantime, Cessna continues to add capability to the aircraft it presently builds.
HUSKY INTRODUCES TWO NEW AIRCRAFT
Two new Husky models, one with a bigger engine for greater performance and another with a smaller engine for economical operation, have been introduced by Aviat Aircraft. The Husky A-1B200, priced at $184,680, has a Lycoming IO-360 engine rated at 200 horsepower and has been certified for tundra tires up to 31 inches in diameter. It will soon complete testing for floats and skis. The speed range is expected to be 45 mph to 145 mph. The company says it can climb at 1,700 fpm at sea level. Flight tests on tundra tires begin soon for the new Husky A-1B160 powered by a 160-hp Lycoming O-320 priced at $124,525. It will also be certified on floats and skis. The airplane features dynamically balanced ailerons, and the owner has the option of ordering extended flaps. "There is no question that some people are perfectly satisfied with the lower horsepower and lower operating costs of a 160-hp Husky," said Aviat President Stu Horn. "There have been a number of STOL [short takeoff and landing] aircraft that performed very well on less than half the horsepower of the A-1B160, and we're responding to that segment of the market with this model."
NEW PIPER ADDS ENTEGRA FLIGHT DECK TO SENECA V
The Avidyne Entegra integrated flight deck has been added by The New Piper Aircraft as standard equipment to a tenth Piper model, the Seneca V. "With the introduction of the Entegra system, the Seneca V sets a new standard by providing an integrated flight deck as standard equipment and the first multiengine version of Avidyne's EMax electronic engine instrumentation," said New Piper President James K. Bass. The system comprises two 10.4-inch displays, including the EXP5000 primary flight display with an integrated air data and attitude/heading reference system (ADAHRS) and primary flight instruments.
For complete Expo coverage, see Virtual Expo on AOPA Online.
GA News
CESSNA, CIRRUS REMAIN LEADERS IN GA AIRCRAFT SHIPMENTS
Third-quarter results from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) show Cessna Aircraft shipped the most piston-engine aircraft in the third quarter, while Cirrus Design had the best-selling single—the SR22. Cirrus shipped a total of 152 aircraft counting all models, while Cessna shipped 198 piston-engine aircraft. For the first three quarters of 2005, Cessna has shipped 499 piston-engine aircraft, while Cirrus has shipped 447. For the year so far, all United States piston-engine manufacturers reporting to GAMA (Aviat Aircraft does not report) total 1,411 single- and multiengine aircraft. Third-quarter shipping totals for other piston-engine companies are: American Champion, 25; Columbia Aircraft, 40; Diamond Aircraft, 81; Maule Air, 10; Mooney Aircraft, 23; New Piper Aircraft, 62; Raytheon Aircraft, 8; Socata Aircraft, 10; Symphony Aircraft, 3; and Tiger Aircraft, 4. The best-selling business jet was the Cessna Citation XLS with 16 delivered. The highest billings honor (including sales of all models including piston-engine, turboprops, and jets) goes to Bombardier with $935 million in the third quarter, followed by Gulfstream with $906 million, Cessna with $679 million, and Raytheon Aircraft with $365 million.
FAA CERTIFIES SWEARINGEN SJ30-2 JET
Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corporation has received type certification for its SJ30-2 business jet. The twin-engine airplane is now approved for VFR, IFR, and single-pilot operations. There were no restrictions placed on performance, but the company still has to get FAA approvals on flight into known icing and the cabin interior. Customer deliveries are planned for the first quarter of 2006. The jet can operate at altitudes of up to 49,000 feet, has a cruise speed of Mach 0.83, and has a range of 2,500 nautical miles. "We have been developing and certifying the SJ30-2 for quite some time. We are now preparing ourselves to become a complete aircraft company, delivering airplanes to customers and supporting them as they operate their aircraft around the world," said Sino Swearingen President Carl Chen.
'GLACIER GIRL' OWNER DIES
J. Roy Shoffner, owner of Glacier Girl, the Lockheed P-38 Lightning recovered from 268 feet beneath the ice in Greenland in 1992, died September 24. He was a resident of Harrogate, Tennessee, a half mile from where Glacier Girl is on display at The Lost Squadron Museum in Middlesboro, Kentucky. Unrelated to his death, the museum's board had decided not to fly Glacier Girl before spring of 2006 and had suspended flight insurance, which was costing $20,000 a year. Although the possibility remains open that it might fly next year, there are currently no plans to do so. The museum was able to insure only $2 million of the $10 million value of the aircraft due to refusal of the insurance industry to insure the full amount. The aircraft is Shoffner's tribute to the veterans of World War II. Shoffner made his fortune in plastic pipe, real estate, and Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises.
LIBERTY DELIVERS FIRST IFR AIRCRAFT
Liberty Aerospace, manufacturer of the FAA-certified two-place XL2 single-engine aircraft, has delivered its first certified IFR model. "The first IFR delivery marks a significant milestone for Liberty Aerospace," said Tony Tiarks, president and CEO. "We know of no other aircraft manufacturer that has achieved initial certification for a new two-seat aircraft in the United States to the latest Part 23 IFR standards, let alone actually delivered a production aircraft." The XL2 features a carbon-fiber composite fuselage and a 48-inch cabin, and the company claims a cruise speed of 132 knots while burning five gallons of fuel per hour.
AOPA Air Safety Foundation News
SUPPORT GA SAFETY BY PURCHASING HOLIDAY CARDS
AOPA Air Safety Foundation holiday cards are now available. Choose your favorite card design, address labels, and decorative seals. A portion of the proceeds from each box will help the foundation's mission to improve general aviation safety. To view the cards, or place an order, see the Web site or call 800/308-4285.
Before a crowd of some 1,000 general aviation pilots and enthusiasts, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced Thursday that he has directed the FAA to extend the comment period by 90 days and hold an AOPA-requested public meeting on the plan to make the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) permanent. Mineta made the announcement during the opening general session of AOPA Expo 2005 in Tampa, Florida. Mineta also urged pilots to be accountable for their actions and follow the security requirements that are in place. And Mineta addressed an issue that's top-of-mind for many general aviation pilots—user fees. Answering a question from an audience member, Mineta said that solving the FAA's future funding problems is not going to be a one-size-fits-all fix. "I can tell you right now from my perspective [the solution] will not be user fees," Mineta added to resounding applause. Mineta also said that he would support AOPA's recommendation to continue using fuel taxes as the most effective and fair means of funding the FAA. But Mineta agreed that the battle over funding is not yet won and encouraged AOPA to maintain its vigilance. See AOPA Online to read more or see a video of Mineta's appearance.
AOPA: USER FEES WOULD LIMIT FAA OVERSIGHT, ACCOUNTABILITY
The FAA answers to a higher power—Congress—but user fees and privatization of air traffic control services could remove that important oversight function from the hands of elected officials, AOPA warned. AOPA made its comments in response to an FAA document on funding ATC and other critical components of the nation's aviation system. But loss of accountability isn't the only problem with user fees, which AOPA has repeatedly told the FAA are not an acceptable means of funding the agency in the future. "The FAA must be very careful not to advance funding policies that would dismantle the air transportation network," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "Virtually every citizen in the country benefits from this system that is so crucial to the nation's economy—whether or not they ever fly." That's why AOPA supports using contributions from the general fund to cover at least 25 percent of the FAA's budget—a method used to support the marine transportation infrastructure. AOPA also supports using excise taxes on fuel, like those already in place, to fund the FAA and ensure that it remains accountable to Congress and taxpayers. See AOPA Online.
Operation ADIZ
AOPA FILES ADIZ COMMENTS, URGES FAA TO REMOVE RESTRICTIONS
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 Wednesday (click to download) on the agency's proposal to make the ADIZ permanent. AOPA also expressed its opposition to the idea of making permanent a "temporary" security measure that was created with no analysis or public comment—a security measure that turns the same tactics used to protect U.S. borders during the Cold War against law-abiding citizens in the heart of the nation's capital. "It raises the very serious question for pilots across the country, 'Have the terrorists won when we apply security requirements internally that are designed to protect our borders?'" AOPA President Phil Boyer wrote on behalf of the association. 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 9/11. A better solution, AOPA suggests, would be to maintain the existing Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ) requirements and eliminate the ADIZ entirely or dramatically modify it. See AOPA Online.
POWERFUL HOUSE COMMITTEE WEIGHS IN AGAINST ADIZ
The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which has direct control over the FAA, has expressed its concern over the proposal to make the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) permanent. "There is a real concern about the need for and utility of such wide-sweeping flight restrictions," 40 committee members told FAA Administrator Marion Blakey in a letter. "As such, it seems very reasonable for the FAA and DHS to clearly identify the conditions that would allow the removal of the restrictions and a process for lifting the restrictions immediately." "Forty members of Congress came together under the bipartisan leadership of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young and Ranking Member Jim Oberstar as well as aviation subcommittee Chairman John Mica and Ranking Subcommittee Member Ray Costello to show their concerns about the rulemaking," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "That should send a strong, clear message to the FAA that pilots, aircraft owners, and members of Congress are opposed to making the ADIZ as it currently exists permanent. See AOPA Online.
AOPA-COMMISSIONED ECON STUDY REVEALS BIG IMPACT ON GA
Ten general aviation airports inside the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) that are dependent on providing services to pilots of light aircraft are losing nearly $43 million per year in wages, revenue, taxes, and local spending. That's what AOPA's independent economic study of 13 airports impacted by the ADIZ has revealed. "The study shows that those most affected by the ADIZ are GA aircraft owners and pilots, and the businesses that serve this group, even though they pose the least threat," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "If the ADIZ is not modified, it could permanently jeopardize the economic viability of GA operations in the Washington, D.C., area." Total revenue at the impacted airports has dropped $27.5 million since the ADIZ was created in 2003. And more than 130 jobs have been lost, sales of aviation gasoline are down by nearly 20 percent, a flight school has closed, and many pilots have either stopped flying or have moved out of the area. AOPA commissioned the study to find out just how much the ADIZ is negatively impacting those airports because the FAA failed to gather any data about the impact the ADIZ has on general aviation airports. See AOPA Online.
ADIZ PUNISHES PILOTS BUT WON'T STOP TERRORISTS, PILOTS SAY
The frustration pilots and air traffic controllers feel with the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) came through loud and clear in the more than 18,200 comments filed to date in response to the FAA's proposal to make the restrictions permanent. One resounding theme: The ADIZ punishes law-abiding pilots but does nothing to protect against terrorism. "I am a member of the Army National Guard currently deployed in Iraq and I am civilian pilot," wrote one commenter. "Ostensibly, I am in Iraq to protect the freedom of the American people, and I find the imposition of regulations such as the D.C.-area ADIZ personally offensive because they abolish the very freedoms I have given up a year of my life defending, yet do nothing to enhance the public's safety." Other pilots pointed out the numerous measures already in place to protect the nation's capital—measures that make the ADIZ an unnecessary burden. "We already have the proper solution in place with the 15-mile no-fly zone around the Capitol, missile systems, and fighters flown by pilots such as my son (a USAF F-16 pilot) on alert," wrote one airline pilot. "Little slow Cessnas are not a viable terror threat to the Capitol, and have never been used as such." See AOPA Online.
ADIZ COMPROMISES SAFETY, CONTROLLERS UNION TELLS FAA
Pilots aren't the only ones worried about the safety implications of making the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) permanent. In comments filed with the FAA on Monday, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) said the ADIZ is dangerous, expensive, and unjustified. "The ADIZ is not only a burden to its users; it is an unsafe mixed bag of personal controller technique without even a veneer of procedure or common sense," wrote NATCA President John Carr, adding that the ADIZ has increased traffic by 30 percent for controllers at Potomac Tracon while staffing levels have not changed. In its comments, NATCA pointed out that it has repeatedly asked the FAA for guidelines for implementing the ADIZ—guidelines that have never come. As a result, every controller handles the ADIZ differently, causing confusion for pilots. See AOPA Online.
LEESBURG ASKS FAA TO WITHDRAW ADIZ PROPOSAL
As pilots around the nation urge the FAA not to make the Washington, D.C, Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) permanent, one community that has been directly affected by the restrictions is taking action of its own. The City of Leesburg, home to Leesburg Executive Airport, has passed a resolution strongly urging the FAA to withdraw the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would make the ADIZ permanent. And the local airport commission has sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta detailing the financial hardships the ADIZ has created and urging him to stop the hemorrhaging by eliminating the ADIZ. "If you want to know what kind of harm an ADIZ could cause in your community, you need look no further than the dramatic losses sustained by Leesburg," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "This is a community that was poised to grow its airport and its business infrastructure—and now it's just trying to hold on to the businesses that remain." See AOPA Online.
AOPA Expo 2005
PILOTS DESCEND ON TAMPA FOR AOPA EXPO
Clear skies, light winds, and 70-degree temperatures welcomed pilots as they flew in to Tampa, Florida, Thursday morning for the kick off to AOPA Expo 2005. By noon some 550 aircraft had flown in for the event. AOPA members arrived early so as to not waste any precious time. They were ready to check out the more than 90 aircraft on display, 540 exhibit booths, and more than 70 hours of educational seminars. "I want to look at Cessna and Lancair [now Columbia], and kick the tires of some of the aircraft," said AOPA Expo first-timer Russell Steiner of Fort Lauderdale who arrived in a Diamond Star. "And maybe get a better set of headphones." Pilots are receiving the red-carpet treatment from the time they touch down in Tampa. Leading Edge Aviation Services at Vandenberg, Raytheon Aircraft Services and Tampa International Jet Center at Tampa International, and Atlas Aviation at Peter O. Knight are treating AOPA members like royalty: Aircraft are marshaled to a special parking spot, and pilots are met with a shuttle, cold beverages, and friendly faces. AOPA members also are making pilots feel welcome by volunteering to marshal aircraft with the Hillsborough County Airport Authority. See AOPA Online.
AOPA AWARDS JOURNALISTS FOR ACCURATE COVERAGE OF GA
AOPA honored seven journalists Thursday at AOPA Expo's opening luncheon for their dedication to fair, accurate, and insightful coverage of general aviation. Richard Murphy Werry of KIMN-FM in Denver; Devon Hubbard Sorlie of Soundings, a weekly military publication in Norfolk, Virginia; Chris Dunn of KDVR-TV in Denver; Marissa Tejada and Jarrod Miller of WOFL-TV in Lake Mary, Florida; David Marshall of WPBS in Watertown, New York; and William Lang of WXXI in Rochester, New York, each received the association's prestigious 2005 Max Karant Journalism Award. The awards come with a $1,000 honorarium. "In an age of sensationalized news reports about aviation security and safety, this is an opportunity to recognize members of the media who instead provided the truth about general aviation to the nonflying public," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. This year's awards also included a Special Citation for Excellence "for promoting general aviation through the art of film making," presented to Brian Terwilliger for his documentary film One Six Right. Winning entries in the print, television, and radio categories covered topics ranging from aviation history, to learning how to fly, to sightseeing by airplane, to general aviation security. See AOPA Online.
ROD MACHADO OFFERS AVIATION HUMOR AT EXPO LUNCHEON
Aviation educator and humorist Rod Machado brought out the lighter side of flight instruction, air traffic controllers, and even military intercepts at AOPA Expo's opening luncheon on Thursday. Machado, a flight instructor since 1973, drew the first of many laughs from the audience when describing how some pilots "seem to have a hard time telling when they're intercepted." He recounted how a pilot of a Cherokee 140 who had penetrated restricted airspace was intercepted by a Cobra helicopter. "The pilot of the Cherokee 140 tried to peel away," Machado said. "That's why it's important to read the performance specs for your aircraft." His appearance followed a presentation of the Max Karant Awards.
EVERYTHING FOR GA IS ON DISPLAY AT EXPO
Opening day in the exhibit hall at AOPA Expo 2005 resembles the opening of a Broadway play: Just before the doors open, exhibitors are rushing back and forth making last-minute adjustments to elaborate displays. When the curtain goes up—when the exhibit hall opens to Expo attendees at 10 a.m.—the players are ready as the excited audience streams through the doors. This year's exhibit hall in the Tampa Convention Center features a cast of more than 1,700 exhibit personnel staffing 540 booths with thousands of products to display. Everything for the pilot and aircraft is available to try on for size, including headsets and GPS receivers, sunglasses and sun shields, flight bags and tires. There's even a healthy selection of thingypits available for the crowds to investigate, including Liberty Aircraft's newly certified IFR version of the XL. Expo Platinum Sponsor DTC DUAT offered visitors an Internet café for the second year in a row. Strategically located in the center of the exhibit hall, the kiosks allow users to check weather, file flight plans, and view their e-mail—some even took advantage of the opportunity to file their ADIZ comments after Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced a 90-day deadline extension during the morning general session.
AVIDYNE, RYAN INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCE MERGER
Avidyne and Ryan International have announced the merger of the two companies. Under the merger agreement, Ryan's active traffic display and alerting technologies will be added to Avidyne's product lines, extending Avidyne's product offerings for both the original equipment and retrofit avionics markets. Avidyne will maintain Ryan's Columbus, Ohio, headquarters as the Safety Systems Group. Ryan International, renowned as an innovator in avionics to improve aviation safety, was founded in 1981 by CEO Paul Ryan. Ryan, a 40-year industry veteran, also invented the Stormscope weather system, in addition to Ryan's line of collision avoidance systems. Paul Ryan will continue with the company as a consultant. "In addition to the many positive technical and market reasons for the merger of Ryan and Avidyne, our corporate backgrounds and cultures are remarkably complementary," he said. Ryan makes the 9900BX Traffic Advisory System installed on the AOPA Sweepstakes Commander Countdown airplane.
COLUMBIA ANNOUNCES MORE OPTIONS, PRICE REDUCTION
Columbia Aircraft is now offering six new variants of its 2006 Columbia 350 and 400 airplane models to give owners more choices as far as avionics and options. The 350i and 400i models will come equipped with the Garmin G1000 integrated fight deck system along with READY Pad, a data entry keypad interface, and satellite weather/radio and an autopilot. In addition, the 350i and 400i models will have redesigned instrument panels and center consoles. The 350SL and 400SL add more options like thermal ice protection or a climate control system. The 350SLX and 400SLX combine all the features of the other models and provide both ice protection and climate control. Prices range from $398,900 for the 350i to $593,900 for the 400SLX. Columbia also announced a price reduction of $20,100 for the Columbia 350. The base model comes standard with the Avidyne Entegra integrated flight deck and now costs $378,900. Columbia officials said they were able to reduce prices thanks to an increase in the production rate.
NO VLJ FOR CIRRUS, BUT DON'T COUNT THEM OUT OF JET MARKET
When Cirrus Design CEO Alan Klapmeier stood before reporters at AOPA Expo, he wanted to dispel the rumors that have been circulating in the general aviation industry. "Cirrus is not going to build a VLJ [very light jet]," Klapmeier said. So, no jet for Cirrus? Not so fast. Cirrus is considering a "personal" jet. "I can imagine something like a two-seat fixed-gear jet trainer," Klapmeier said. But it will be some time before Cirrus is actually ready to announce such a product. Even so, the company has clearly been examining the potential market—a market Klapmeier believes has room for both VLJs and smaller, simpler personal jets. During the same news conference Cirrus announced a foray into the world of air taxi with the purchase of SATSair, which now offers air taxi services using 13 Cirrus aircraft, primarily in the Southeast. Cirrus expects to expand the SATSair fleet and coverage area over the coming year. SATSair will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Cirrus Design.
ECLIPSE ACHIEVES HIGH-SPEED MILESTONE
Eclipse Aviation President and CEO Vern Raburn arrived at AOPA Expo Wednesday behind the controls of his dream machine: N506EA. Raburn landed the Eclipse 500 jet in Tampa after a 1,300-nautical-mile flight at 33,000 feet from the company's home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. "This aircraft is a complete pleasure to fly," he said. Eclipse revealed that a test aircraft, N502EA, recently reached a true airspeed of 452 knots, achieving the maximum speed required for FAA certification (16 percent past redline). Raburn said the jet performed well and didn't experience any flutter or other aerodynamic challenges at that speed.
CESSNA LOOKS AT NEW PISTON AIRCRAFT MODELS
Cessna Aircraft President and CEO Jack Pelton reconfirmed at AOPA Expo that Cessna is looking at building new piston aircraft models. "We have been conducting market studies and assessing new technologies to ensure our next generation piston family is responsive to market requirements and provides significant improvements in safety, performance, comfort, and economics. We are currently in the process of listening to what our stakeholders have to say about our possible designs," he said. To date, no decisions have been made regarding configuration, specifications, or timetable. "We plan to make an announcement once those decisions are made," Pelton said. In the meantime, Cessna continues to add capability to the aircraft it presently builds.
HUSKY INTRODUCES TWO NEW AIRCRAFT
Two new Husky models, one with a bigger engine for greater performance and another with a smaller engine for economical operation, have been introduced by Aviat Aircraft. The Husky A-1B200, priced at $184,680, has a Lycoming IO-360 engine rated at 200 horsepower and has been certified for tundra tires up to 31 inches in diameter. It will soon complete testing for floats and skis. The speed range is expected to be 45 mph to 145 mph. The company says it can climb at 1,700 fpm at sea level. Flight tests on tundra tires begin soon for the new Husky A-1B160 powered by a 160-hp Lycoming O-320 priced at $124,525. It will also be certified on floats and skis. The airplane features dynamically balanced ailerons, and the owner has the option of ordering extended flaps. "There is no question that some people are perfectly satisfied with the lower horsepower and lower operating costs of a 160-hp Husky," said Aviat President Stu Horn. "There have been a number of STOL [short takeoff and landing] aircraft that performed very well on less than half the horsepower of the A-1B160, and we're responding to that segment of the market with this model."
NEW PIPER ADDS ENTEGRA FLIGHT DECK TO SENECA V
The Avidyne Entegra integrated flight deck has been added by The New Piper Aircraft as standard equipment to a tenth Piper model, the Seneca V. "With the introduction of the Entegra system, the Seneca V sets a new standard by providing an integrated flight deck as standard equipment and the first multiengine version of Avidyne's EMax electronic engine instrumentation," said New Piper President James K. Bass. The system comprises two 10.4-inch displays, including the EXP5000 primary flight display with an integrated air data and attitude/heading reference system (ADAHRS) and primary flight instruments.
For complete Expo coverage, see Virtual Expo on AOPA Online.
GA News
CESSNA, CIRRUS REMAIN LEADERS IN GA AIRCRAFT SHIPMENTS
Third-quarter results from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) show Cessna Aircraft shipped the most piston-engine aircraft in the third quarter, while Cirrus Design had the best-selling single—the SR22. Cirrus shipped a total of 152 aircraft counting all models, while Cessna shipped 198 piston-engine aircraft. For the first three quarters of 2005, Cessna has shipped 499 piston-engine aircraft, while Cirrus has shipped 447. For the year so far, all United States piston-engine manufacturers reporting to GAMA (Aviat Aircraft does not report) total 1,411 single- and multiengine aircraft. Third-quarter shipping totals for other piston-engine companies are: American Champion, 25; Columbia Aircraft, 40; Diamond Aircraft, 81; Maule Air, 10; Mooney Aircraft, 23; New Piper Aircraft, 62; Raytheon Aircraft, 8; Socata Aircraft, 10; Symphony Aircraft, 3; and Tiger Aircraft, 4. The best-selling business jet was the Cessna Citation XLS with 16 delivered. The highest billings honor (including sales of all models including piston-engine, turboprops, and jets) goes to Bombardier with $935 million in the third quarter, followed by Gulfstream with $906 million, Cessna with $679 million, and Raytheon Aircraft with $365 million.
FAA CERTIFIES SWEARINGEN SJ30-2 JET
Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corporation has received type certification for its SJ30-2 business jet. The twin-engine airplane is now approved for VFR, IFR, and single-pilot operations. There were no restrictions placed on performance, but the company still has to get FAA approvals on flight into known icing and the cabin interior. Customer deliveries are planned for the first quarter of 2006. The jet can operate at altitudes of up to 49,000 feet, has a cruise speed of Mach 0.83, and has a range of 2,500 nautical miles. "We have been developing and certifying the SJ30-2 for quite some time. We are now preparing ourselves to become a complete aircraft company, delivering airplanes to customers and supporting them as they operate their aircraft around the world," said Sino Swearingen President Carl Chen.
'GLACIER GIRL' OWNER DIES
J. Roy Shoffner, owner of Glacier Girl, the Lockheed P-38 Lightning recovered from 268 feet beneath the ice in Greenland in 1992, died September 24. He was a resident of Harrogate, Tennessee, a half mile from where Glacier Girl is on display at The Lost Squadron Museum in Middlesboro, Kentucky. Unrelated to his death, the museum's board had decided not to fly Glacier Girl before spring of 2006 and had suspended flight insurance, which was costing $20,000 a year. Although the possibility remains open that it might fly next year, there are currently no plans to do so. The museum was able to insure only $2 million of the $10 million value of the aircraft due to refusal of the insurance industry to insure the full amount. The aircraft is Shoffner's tribute to the veterans of World War II. Shoffner made his fortune in plastic pipe, real estate, and Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises.
LIBERTY DELIVERS FIRST IFR AIRCRAFT
Liberty Aerospace, manufacturer of the FAA-certified two-place XL2 single-engine aircraft, has delivered its first certified IFR model. "The first IFR delivery marks a significant milestone for Liberty Aerospace," said Tony Tiarks, president and CEO. "We know of no other aircraft manufacturer that has achieved initial certification for a new two-seat aircraft in the United States to the latest Part 23 IFR standards, let alone actually delivered a production aircraft." The XL2 features a carbon-fiber composite fuselage and a 48-inch cabin, and the company claims a cruise speed of 132 knots while burning five gallons of fuel per hour.
AOPA Air Safety Foundation News
SUPPORT GA SAFETY BY PURCHASING HOLIDAY CARDS
AOPA Air Safety Foundation holiday cards are now available. Choose your favorite card design, address labels, and decorative seals. A portion of the proceeds from each box will help the foundation's mission to improve general aviation safety. To view the cards, or place an order, see the Web site or call 800/308-4285.