Lead Balloon
5th Jun 2006, 00:29
Here's an extract of my subscription to the American AOPA organisation. I get a monthly mag and weekly emags, advise, discounts and access to financial and legal experts, as well as a chance to win an aircraft.
Note the Government ownership of GA airports.
Note the approach to Security at GA airports.
CONGRESSIONAL PANEL TAKES FIRST STEP TO HELP AIRPORTS
A House panel charged with funding the FAA (through the Department of Transportation) late last week made it clear where Congress stands, rejecting the Bush administration's proposed $1 billion budget cut for airport improvement spending. Under the leadership of Chairman Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.) and Ranking Member John Olver (D-Mass.), the Appropriations Committee's transportation subcommittee recommended the congressionally authorized funding level of $3.7 billion for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Under federal spending formulas, if AIP spending falls below $3.2 billion, entitlements for GA airports are eliminated. The subcommittee's actions preserve GA entitlements. "We are extremely encouraged by the subcommittee's action to recognize the importance of federal funding for general aviation airports," said Andy Cebula, AOPA executive vice president of government affairs. "However, this is only a first step in the lengthy process of approving federal spending, and we will continue pressing Congress to protect America's GA airports by passing full funding." The full Appropriations Committee is expected to take up the funding bill after Congress returns from its Memorial Day recess.
CARGO SECURITY RULE HAS LITTLE EFFECT ON GA, THANKS TO AOPA
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) heeded AOPA's concerns about its proposed cargo security rule and minimized the effect this new rule will have on general aviation. The rule, which was published last week, will take effect October 23 and will not require security identification display areas (SIDAs) at GA airports served by air cargo operators. Air cargo operators will be responsible for preventing unauthorized access to the operational areas of the aircraft. "It is good that the TSA took into account the concerns we voiced in our comments last year," said Rob Hackman, AOPA manager of regulatory and certification policy. "This mitigates the impact on GA at airports served by cargo operations and prevents an expensive and unnecessary cost for our members." Had the TSA not changed its rule to address personal aircraft near cargo handling operations at GA and commercial airports, AOPA members could have been required to comply with air carrier-type security requirements, including obtaining an FBI criminal history records check and credentials giving them access to the airport ramp.
AMERICAN LEGEND OFFERS AIRPLANE DRESSED FOR BATTLE
American Legend Aircraft is now offering a new paint scheme for its light sport airplane model. Called the Legend Combat, the airplane comes in military markings, reminiscent of the Piper L-4, L-18, and L-21 that were produced as liaison aircraft from 1942 to 1962. American Legend builds a redesigned and updated version of the Cub, featuring a 100-horsepower Continental O-200 engine and a 3-inch wider cabin. Earlier this year, the company unveiled a blue and yellow paint design.
COMPANY OFFERS ELECTRIC SELF-LAUNCHING GLIDER
It has been a dream for many glider pilots to be able to launch themselves under clean and quiet electric power then hear nothing but wind noise as they shut down the motor and soar. Thanks to a lightweight and powerful lithium-ion battery system, a German company, Lange Flugzeugbau, is now producing the Antares 20E. Designed by renowned sailplane guru Loek Boermans, the 20-meter wingspan glider can climb at 850 fpm up to 10,000 feet on one charge. The 57-horsepower motor and propeller, mounted behind the pilot, then folds beneath trap doors. The glider has an Open Class level glide ratio of 56 to 1. Unlike gas-powered self-launching ships, the Antares can develop full power at high-density altitudes. The current price is around $215,000, which includes instruments and a trailer. Dave Nadler, the North American dealer, said the glider is close to certification in Germany, but will be sold as an experimental aircraft in the United States and be available next spring. See Nadler's Antares blog.
PIAGGIO IMPROVES TWIN TURBOPROP
Piaggio Aero Industries has certified an updated version of its speedy Avanti twin pusher turboprop. The Avanti II features enhanced avionics and engines. The flight deck includes a Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite with the FMS 3000 flight management system and an AHS 3000 attitude heading reference system. Thanks to improved engine performance, the airplane has a higher maximum takeoff weight. The first U.S. delivery is expected this summer.
TIME FOR TSA RECURRENT SECURITY AWARENESS TRAINING
Flight instructors and flight school employees: Have you completed the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA's) recurrent security awareness training? If you waited until January 2005 to take your initial security training, you must complete the recurrent training this month. The TSA granted an exemption last December from its 12-month recurrent training requirement, allowing it to be extended to 18 months until January 1, 2007. You can access the TSA's free recurrent security awareness training module directly from AOPA Online, and you can self-certify that you completed the training. More information is available from AOPA's Guide to TSA's Alien Flight Training/Citizenship Validation Rule.
Note the Government ownership of GA airports.
Note the approach to Security at GA airports.
CONGRESSIONAL PANEL TAKES FIRST STEP TO HELP AIRPORTS
A House panel charged with funding the FAA (through the Department of Transportation) late last week made it clear where Congress stands, rejecting the Bush administration's proposed $1 billion budget cut for airport improvement spending. Under the leadership of Chairman Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.) and Ranking Member John Olver (D-Mass.), the Appropriations Committee's transportation subcommittee recommended the congressionally authorized funding level of $3.7 billion for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Under federal spending formulas, if AIP spending falls below $3.2 billion, entitlements for GA airports are eliminated. The subcommittee's actions preserve GA entitlements. "We are extremely encouraged by the subcommittee's action to recognize the importance of federal funding for general aviation airports," said Andy Cebula, AOPA executive vice president of government affairs. "However, this is only a first step in the lengthy process of approving federal spending, and we will continue pressing Congress to protect America's GA airports by passing full funding." The full Appropriations Committee is expected to take up the funding bill after Congress returns from its Memorial Day recess.
CARGO SECURITY RULE HAS LITTLE EFFECT ON GA, THANKS TO AOPA
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) heeded AOPA's concerns about its proposed cargo security rule and minimized the effect this new rule will have on general aviation. The rule, which was published last week, will take effect October 23 and will not require security identification display areas (SIDAs) at GA airports served by air cargo operators. Air cargo operators will be responsible for preventing unauthorized access to the operational areas of the aircraft. "It is good that the TSA took into account the concerns we voiced in our comments last year," said Rob Hackman, AOPA manager of regulatory and certification policy. "This mitigates the impact on GA at airports served by cargo operations and prevents an expensive and unnecessary cost for our members." Had the TSA not changed its rule to address personal aircraft near cargo handling operations at GA and commercial airports, AOPA members could have been required to comply with air carrier-type security requirements, including obtaining an FBI criminal history records check and credentials giving them access to the airport ramp.
AMERICAN LEGEND OFFERS AIRPLANE DRESSED FOR BATTLE
American Legend Aircraft is now offering a new paint scheme for its light sport airplane model. Called the Legend Combat, the airplane comes in military markings, reminiscent of the Piper L-4, L-18, and L-21 that were produced as liaison aircraft from 1942 to 1962. American Legend builds a redesigned and updated version of the Cub, featuring a 100-horsepower Continental O-200 engine and a 3-inch wider cabin. Earlier this year, the company unveiled a blue and yellow paint design.
COMPANY OFFERS ELECTRIC SELF-LAUNCHING GLIDER
It has been a dream for many glider pilots to be able to launch themselves under clean and quiet electric power then hear nothing but wind noise as they shut down the motor and soar. Thanks to a lightweight and powerful lithium-ion battery system, a German company, Lange Flugzeugbau, is now producing the Antares 20E. Designed by renowned sailplane guru Loek Boermans, the 20-meter wingspan glider can climb at 850 fpm up to 10,000 feet on one charge. The 57-horsepower motor and propeller, mounted behind the pilot, then folds beneath trap doors. The glider has an Open Class level glide ratio of 56 to 1. Unlike gas-powered self-launching ships, the Antares can develop full power at high-density altitudes. The current price is around $215,000, which includes instruments and a trailer. Dave Nadler, the North American dealer, said the glider is close to certification in Germany, but will be sold as an experimental aircraft in the United States and be available next spring. See Nadler's Antares blog.
PIAGGIO IMPROVES TWIN TURBOPROP
Piaggio Aero Industries has certified an updated version of its speedy Avanti twin pusher turboprop. The Avanti II features enhanced avionics and engines. The flight deck includes a Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite with the FMS 3000 flight management system and an AHS 3000 attitude heading reference system. Thanks to improved engine performance, the airplane has a higher maximum takeoff weight. The first U.S. delivery is expected this summer.
TIME FOR TSA RECURRENT SECURITY AWARENESS TRAINING
Flight instructors and flight school employees: Have you completed the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA's) recurrent security awareness training? If you waited until January 2005 to take your initial security training, you must complete the recurrent training this month. The TSA granted an exemption last December from its 12-month recurrent training requirement, allowing it to be extended to 18 months until January 1, 2007. You can access the TSA's free recurrent security awareness training module directly from AOPA Online, and you can self-certify that you completed the training. More information is available from AOPA's Guide to TSA's Alien Flight Training/Citizenship Validation Rule.