Post by Major Destruction on Feb 10, 2006 8:56:08 GMT -5
AOPA: SPACEPORT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NEGLECTS GA
The FAA this week released a draft environmental assessment of its intentions to convert Clinton-Sherman Municipal Airport in Clinton, Oklahoma, into a spaceport. AOPA is concerned because the assessment is vague and does not address the potentially huge impact on general aviation. "What we have been able to glean from the assessment, though, is a potential impact on airways," said Heidi Williams, AOPA director of air traffic services. "For three hours during each launch from Clinton, it is possible that 16 Victor airways could be closed. When combined with the two nearby military operations areas, a launch could severely limit the options for GA transiting Oklahoma." AOPA wants to ensure that temporary flight restrictions will not be issued for each flight. The FAA has developed an internal working group to find a way that these flights could occur with air traffic control separation. The FAA will have a public hearing on March 9 in Burns Flat, Oklahoma. See AOPA Online.
FOSSETT ALOFT IN PURSUIT OF LATEST RECORD
Steve Fossett, AOPA 4797027, will hold 110 world records if his flight around the world plus a second crossing of the Atlantic Ocean goes as planned. His Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer could become the farthest flying airplane in history. Fossett's aircraft hit and killed a couple of birds Wednesday as it lifted off the 15,000-foot Kennedy Space Center runway after a ground roll of 11,500 feet. Apparently, there was no damage. Fossett would have needed another 7,000 feet of runway, which he didn't have, to abort the takeoff. His aircraft leaked 750 pounds of fuel, or enough for 1,000 miles of flight, during the climb. A fuel leak had also delayed his departure by one day, but was thought to be fixed when fuel vents were repaired. His airspeeds, with weaker tailwinds than hoped for Wednesday, averaged between 325 and 375 knots. Team controllers asked Fossett late Wednesday night to slow down to conserve fuel. His indicated airspeed was 115 knots Thursday morning. If he makes it past the goal of 26,000 miles, he will land in Kent, England, near London. He must first circle the globe back to Florida. You can track the flight live on the GlobalFlyer Web site.
'AOPA PILOT' LOOKING FOR CESSNA 172 MEMORIES
Send us your memories or experiences flying the venerable Cessna 172 Skyhawk. We may use them in AOPA Pilot magazine or on AOPA Online. E-mail your story to c172@aopa.org.
The FAA this week released a draft environmental assessment of its intentions to convert Clinton-Sherman Municipal Airport in Clinton, Oklahoma, into a spaceport. AOPA is concerned because the assessment is vague and does not address the potentially huge impact on general aviation. "What we have been able to glean from the assessment, though, is a potential impact on airways," said Heidi Williams, AOPA director of air traffic services. "For three hours during each launch from Clinton, it is possible that 16 Victor airways could be closed. When combined with the two nearby military operations areas, a launch could severely limit the options for GA transiting Oklahoma." AOPA wants to ensure that temporary flight restrictions will not be issued for each flight. The FAA has developed an internal working group to find a way that these flights could occur with air traffic control separation. The FAA will have a public hearing on March 9 in Burns Flat, Oklahoma. See AOPA Online.
FOSSETT ALOFT IN PURSUIT OF LATEST RECORD
Steve Fossett, AOPA 4797027, will hold 110 world records if his flight around the world plus a second crossing of the Atlantic Ocean goes as planned. His Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer could become the farthest flying airplane in history. Fossett's aircraft hit and killed a couple of birds Wednesday as it lifted off the 15,000-foot Kennedy Space Center runway after a ground roll of 11,500 feet. Apparently, there was no damage. Fossett would have needed another 7,000 feet of runway, which he didn't have, to abort the takeoff. His aircraft leaked 750 pounds of fuel, or enough for 1,000 miles of flight, during the climb. A fuel leak had also delayed his departure by one day, but was thought to be fixed when fuel vents were repaired. His airspeeds, with weaker tailwinds than hoped for Wednesday, averaged between 325 and 375 knots. Team controllers asked Fossett late Wednesday night to slow down to conserve fuel. His indicated airspeed was 115 knots Thursday morning. If he makes it past the goal of 26,000 miles, he will land in Kent, England, near London. He must first circle the globe back to Florida. You can track the flight live on the GlobalFlyer Web site.
'AOPA PILOT' LOOKING FOR CESSNA 172 MEMORIES
Send us your memories or experiences flying the venerable Cessna 172 Skyhawk. We may use them in AOPA Pilot magazine or on AOPA Online. E-mail your story to c172@aopa.org.