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FeaturedSmall-airplane revitalization bill soars in HouseThe U. S. House of Representatives has unanimously passed a bill to revitalize the general aviation industry by setting the ground rules—and a deadline—for the FAA as it updates small-aircraft certification regulations. The regulatory modernization, guided by industry recommendations, could speed the aircraft certification process, lowering the cost of bringing new aircraft designs to market and upgrading older aircraft. The measure, now headed for Senate consideration, imposes a deadline of Dec. 31, 2015, for the FAA to develop the new certification standards based on worldwide industry experts' recommendations made to an aviation rulemaking committee. Read more >> GA NewsAttention New Jersey-area pilots: AOPA President Craig Fuller will hold a Pilot Town Hall Meeting at Lincoln Park Airport July 23. During the presentation, you'll find out about the state of GA and what's happening on Capitol Hill, and engage with fellow pilots. The meeting will take place at noon in the hangar next to Aero Safety Training. Is it a record?Unofficially, Jack Wiegand, at 21 years, seven days of age at flight's end, figures that he broke the record set earlier this year by James Anthony Tan of Malaysia to become the youngest pilot to fly around the world solo. Read more >> AeroVelo human-powered helicopter wins Sikorsky prizeAfter a 33-year wait, a winner was declared in AHS International's Igor I. Sikorsky Human Powered Helicopter Competition. Toronto-based AeroVelo takes home a $250,000 prize. Read more >> Catalina airshow returns backed by ScheydenAfter thrilling audiences with a water-powered jet pack, DC-3, Grumman Albatross, and more in 2012, the Catalina Air Show and Festival appeared to be a one-time event—until Scheyden Precision Eyewear stepped in to sponsor the show for its second year. While the setting over Avalon Bay gave spectators breathtaking views of the action from restaurants, boats, and swimming areas along the shoreline of the island off the coast of Los Angeles, it also meant organizers had no ticket sales and were reliant on sponsorships. Read more >> Lisa Aircraft leaves receivership, prepares for OshkoshFrance's Lisa Airplanes has emerged from receivership and will restart work on the Akoya aircraft program. The company is moving forward with production preparation on the multi-access airplane and its certification program. Representatives will attend this year's EAA AirVenture airshow and fly-in, but will not bring the Akoya in order to continue testing on the aircraft. Officials will offer the latest information on the Akoya's innovations and assets at Booth 446. Endangered cranes learn to form on ultralightsOperation Migration, on behalf of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership, announced July 16 that the class of 2013 is ready for formation flight training in Wisconsin. Ultralight pilots dressed in costumes need not teach the birds to fly—that comes naturally. What they do need to teach is how to follow the tiny aircraft south, and navigate to the endangered birds' winter grounds. The nonprofit organization is also raising money for new aircraft that the FAA requires. Read more >> Deadline approaching for Flight Training awards pollAOPA's Center to Advance the Pilot Community is asking members to take a poll to discuss their training experiences by the Aug. 9 deadline. Read more >> New avionics approved for Piper SaratogaAvidyne and NexAir Avionics have received a supplemental type certificate from the FAA to install the Avidyne Entegra Release 9 Integrated Flight Deck in the Piper Saratoga. Read more >> Members asked to take GA pollA new survey is seeking information from certificated pilots—especially in general aviation—who operate in the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS). The transition from ground-based air traffic control to satellite-based air traffic management using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast presents a number of opportunities and choices. The survey is asking pilots to identify their preferences; their responses will help guide efforts to design and manufacture certified avionics that they would like to see in NextGen. One randomly chosen survey taker will win a $50 Visa gift card. Sound pioneer Amar Bose dies at age 83Amar G. Bose, inventor of noise-canceling headsets used by pilots worldwide, has died at the age of 83. Read more >> Fleming, glider pilot who spoke on unfair arrest, diesRobin Fleming, the glider pilot who shared the story of his unwarranted arrest and detention after a legal overflight of a nuclear power plant, has died. Read more >> New pilot credits AOPA gastric bypass surgery for passing checkrideGastric bypass surgery and AOPA's resources are what new pilot Michael Prevost said helped him pass his checkride after three years of training. Read more >> Building a better chartStarting July 1, the FAA stopped selling sectional chart subscriptions, requiring any pilot who wants to ensure uninterrupted access to current charts to search elsewhere. Duracharts thinks it has the answer with its beefed-up charts that are now available by subscription. Read more >> Main Van Nuys runway to close for 10 daysVan Nuys Airport's 8,000-foot primary runway, 16R/34L, will be closed beginning July 16 for the final phase of a $20.5 million improvement project. The project will end on July 26 at 11:59 p.m. Work being done on the runway includes asphalt milling and paving of more than 4,000 feet of the runway's center section. Significant work on the runway's north and south sections has been completed. Following work on the runway's center section, the project will conclude with final shoulder work, edge light installation, and new pavement markings and runway striping. Van Nuys' Runway 16L/34R will operate normally and continue to close nightly between the hours of 10:45 p.m. to 6 a.m. Buttonville Flying Club: Safety, mentorship, and having funUltra low dues and access to the members' fleet are among the benefits of joining Canada's Buttonville Flying Club. Read more >> EAA, CAF to hold heavy bomber weekendThe B-29 Superfortress Fifi, the B-17 Aluminum Overcast; and the B-24 Diamond Lil will be the featured aircraft at a Heavy Bomber Weekend being held by the Experimental Aircraft Association and Commemorative Air Force July 26 through 28. Read more >> Jury faults tower controllers in banner tow crashA Florida jury has apportioned to a contract air traffic control tower operator 68 percent of the blame for a 2007 crash that nearly killed the 25-year-old commercial pilot. The jury's verdict assigns the balance of the blame to pilot Pedro Amieiro, who suffered traumatic brain injury and permanent disability in the November accident, a low-altitude stall that occurred as Amieiro attempted to negotiate a nonstandard traffic pattern after dropping his banner. The case is likely to be appealed by the contract tower operator. Read more >> AOPA staff pilots recommend five appsThis week's five apps were recommended by pilots on AOPA's staff: SocialFlight; Aviation Weather from NOAA/NWS; AOPA FlyQ Pocket; ForeFlight Checklist Pro for iPhone; and Xavion. Read more >> Sweepstakes Logbook: Paint shop home stretchThe Sweepstakes Debonair will be on display at EAA AirVenture with an all-white paint scheme before it goes on to the second stage: stripes. Read more >> Reporting Points: Strange but true general aviation newsA private jet for prisoners, a grounded lawn chair balloon flight, and Justin Bieber's flight delay. Read more >> WebinarsGovernment Searches of GA Aircraft, July 23, 8 p.m. Eastern (PPS participants only) AOPA/EAA petition update, DHS leadership vacuumAOPA President Craig Fuller wonders why a straightforward request that would save pilots and the government millions has taken more than a year (and counting) to draw any FAA response: The joint AOPA/Experimental Aircraft Association petition to allow pilots to fly many common four-seat aircraft with a driver's license in lieu of a third class medical remains in limbo, and Fuller checks in with the latest. AOPA Live This Week also looks at how a leadership vacuum at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is complicating efforts to correct a heavy-handed approach by federal agents searching GA aircraft; Rod Machado offers tips on how to eyeball a glidepath; and AOPA Live® will take you for a ride in a Diamond twin that just sips fuel. As of publication time, AOPA Live producers were finalizing this week's episode. Check back on the AOPA Live page for the latest edition that will be available July 19.
For daily news updates, see AOPA Online. Safety & ProficiencyMore than meets the eyeEven when the cause of an aircraft accident seems straightforward, the reasons it happened can be difficult to untangle. Shortly after 6 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2012, a Cessna 320 Skyknight took off from the San Marcos, Texas, Municipal Airport under a 400-foot overcast. Maintenance shop owners who spoke to the pilot the day before said he had assured them that "leaving in bad weather was not an option" and lamented "the bad judgment used by pilots who were in a hurry to get home." Read more in this special report from the Air Safety Institute. Be SAFE, get accident forgiveness at EAA AirVenturePilots and Starr Aviation policyholders who are planning to attend EAA AirVenture in late July can now get accident forgiveness while going through training with some of the best in the business. Read more >> IFR Fix: 'I have your request'The radio is crackling. You need to get through, but your calls have been stepped on multiple times. It's so bad that the harried controller has just called, "Blocked!" and appealed for everyone to settle down. Read more >> Leading Edge: Rabbit rules and the FAAMost aviation regulations started off as a commonsense approach to address areas that were known to cause accidents. But sometimes overzealousness overshadows a reasonable idea. AOPA Foundation President Bruce Landsberg discusses the state of regulations in the U.S. and the case of Marty Hahne, a professional magician who was busted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for not having a license for his one-bunny show. Read more >>
AdvocacyLetter to pilots urges caution, education on medication useThe FAA, AOPA, and 10 other industry associations recently signed a letter asking pilots to ensure their personal awareness of the effects of some nonprescription medications when flying. Read more >> AOPA Now: Why is simple so hard?More than a year ago, AOPA and the Experimental Aircraft Association jointly filed a petition for a third-class medical exemption that would spare some pilots who fly recreationally the cost of a third-class medical. The driver's license medical standard already exists and has been used safely by sport pilots for a decade. Extending the exemption would save pilots, and the government, a significant amount of money. So why are we still waiting for an answer from the FAA more than a year after we submitted the proposal? Read more >> Prepare for firefighting TFRs, says AOPAAs the current fire season continues, members are being reminded to be aware of firefighting temporary flight restrictions. Read more >> Leadership vacuum complicates correcting CBP excessesGovernment departments with a leadership void confront an array of organizational problems, but of all the management functions likely to deteriorate, oversight suffers the most, said Craig Spence, AOPA vice president of operations and international affairs, and a former official of the Department of Homeland Security. Read more >> Join the Airport Support Network todayEnsuring the health and vitality of your airport is up to you—incompatible development and economic and political pressures can restrict your flying. Every day, close to 2,500 Airport Support Network (ASN) volunteers work with AOPA headquarters to help save their airports, but we need more. Below is a link to a list of the airports where an ASN volunteer could make a difference. To nominate yourself or an associate to be a volunteer, visit AOPA Online. To learn more about the Airport Support Network, visit ASN Online. Member BenefitsWhat you should know about purchasing AD&D coverageWith AOPA Accidental Death & Dismemberment Protection Plan, you're protected anywhere, 24/7 coverage with aviation included. The guaranteed benefits cover general aviation pilots at all levels of flying, even student pilots. Read more >> Aviate, navigate … don't ever stop aviatingYour first duty is to fly the airplane, and that is codified in the federal aviation regulations. This not only has legal ramifications, but safety ones as well. Read more >> AOPA Career OpportunitiesEver dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We're looking for a marketing specialist, member services representative, human resources assistant, software test and quality assurance analyst, and AOPA Live editor/graphic artist. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities, visit AOPA Online.
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