AOPA Action

AOPA Steps Up Efforts to Reduce Restrictions; Members Asked to Report TFR, ADIZ Problems

As President Bush hit the campaign trail over the summer, forcing airspace restrictions everywhere he went, AOPA stepped up pressure on the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for a dispassionate review of longstanding security-related flight restrictions, and called on general aviation pilots to help make the case.

AOPA asked members to share problems they had encountered while trying to operate in the Baltimore-Washington Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) or in any of the 30-nm-radius presidential-movement TFRs (temporary flight restrictions) that security officials were demanding and getting. AOPA developed an online form ( https://www.aopa.org/forms1/dc_adiz.cfm) for pilots to submit their input.

"We took these very real operational stories to the decision makers so they could feel our pain and respond," said AOPA President Phil Boyer.

For months, the federal agencies charged with homeland security stonewalled virtually all efforts by AOPA to find fixes for the horrendous operational problems plaguing the Baltimore-Washington ADIZ. With President Bush stumping outside of Washington, more of the country began to experience similar restrictions.

"It's time for the government to step back and assess whether there's a real need for these huge flight-restriction areas, or whether they're just 'feel-good' measures that only give the appearance of increased security," Boyer said. "AOPA offered suggestions that would improve operations in the ADIZ while addressing security concerns, but was rebuffed by both the FAA and the TSA."

In public statements, the TSA and the FAA emphasized that enhanced airspace control measures were put into place consistent with a heightened National Threat Level Orange. TSA Administrator Adm. James Loy said at the time, "We appreciate the cooperation of the general aviation community as we implement sound security measures and tighten our defenses during this period of heightened alert."

"General aviation pilots are every bit as loyal citizens as our ground-bound neighbors," said Boyer. "Of course we're going to cooperate. But we're also going to help security officials understand the impact of their decisions."

FAA Puts Graphical TFRs Online; Two Years of AOPA Pressure Pays Off

The FAA launched its graphical TFR (temporary flight restriction) Web site over the summer, giving pilots valid, government-issued information that shows what airspace is restricted ( http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr/list.jsp).

"AOPA worked on this for more than two years, since well before the September 11 terrorist attacks," AOPA President Phil Boyer said. "The attacks and subsequent national security flight restrictions just made the need all the more apparent."

"It's taken pressure from AOPA, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, her predecessor, Jane Garvey, two congressional mandates, and an investigation by the Department of Transportation's inspector general, but pilots finally have a twenty-first-century tool that can help them stay out of restricted airspace," said Andy Cebula, AOPA senior vice president of government and technical affairs.

AOPA lobbied long and hard for the graphical TFR program to provide the graphics in near-real time, and to make security-related flight restrictions available in a graphical format via the Internet. The association had also raised the issue in meetings with Kenneth Mead, DOT inspector general.

NATIONAL ACTION

AOPA Lobbies for GA Benefits in FAA Reauthorization Bill

The U.S. House and Senate have each approved FAA reauthorization bills that contain numerous AOPA-sponsored benefits for general aviation.

Perhaps most significantly, each bill contains language requiring that air traffic control (ATC) be returned to its "inherently governmental" classification. The White House Office of Management and Budget had declared ATC a commercial function eligible to be contracted out. AOPA believes that is the first step toward a privatized ATC system and user fees, and pushed hard to have Congress reclassify it. The House version would only reclassify the controllers' function, while the Senate version would include flight service station and equipment maintenance functions as well.

The White House has threatened to veto the entire FAA reauthorization bill if the reclassification measure remains in the final version.

Both versions also include a "Meigs Legacy" amendment, which imposes stiff fines on communities that fail to give adequate notice before closing an airport that's part of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Airport sponsors would have to pay $10,000 a day for every day short of the required notice that an airport is closed.

"The Meigs Legacy legislation will provide the FAA with a big enough stick that any community even contemplating closing such a crucial airport will be forced to think twice," said AOPA President Phil Boyer.

The House and Senate each approved an amendment that would require the FAA to regularly rejustify the need for the Baltimore-Washington Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), or any other ADIZ that may be imposed over the United States.

"AOPA staff worked closely with congressional members in both parties and both houses to ensure that general aviation's needs were addressed," said Boyer.

The FAA reauthorization bill is a multiyear spending blueprint that outlines what Congress believes the FAA's priorities need to be. The House and Senate versions differ in a number of respects, and need to be reconciled by a conference committee. At press time, no date had been set for the conference to start.

TSA Reexamines "Permanent" Security TFRs at AOPA's Request

The Transportation Security Administration began a "thorough audit" this summer of more than a dozen temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) set up over military installations in the name of national security shortly after the September 11 terrorist attacks. The audit follows a request by AOPA.

In a June 26 letter to AOPA President Phil Boyer, Admiral James Loy, head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), said his agency and the FAA would review the 16 TFRs AOPA asked be rescinded "to ensure that they are protecting the public in an efficient, cost-effective manner." AOPA had argued that, with the end of major hostilities in Iraq and the phase-out of Operation Liberty Shield, they were no longer necessary.

Two of the 16 TFRs had been rescinded by mid-summer. One covered Whiteman AFB, home of the B-2 stealth bombers, in Knob Noster, Mo. The other had been established over the Red River Army Depot near Texarkana, Texas.

"We look forward to TSA's findings," said Boyer. "But more than that, we look forward to the day when all of these near-permanent restrictions are finally rescinded."

GPS-WAAS Commissioned — New Future for ILS-Like Approaches to Many Airports

On July 10 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), the FAA officially turned on the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) for GPS, and AOPA staff were there to see it happen firsthand. WAAS will provide ILS-like precision approaches to thousands of general aviation airports that don't have them today.

AOPA has been a strong WAAS advocate since the program's inception in 1995. The association has lobbied for WAAS in Congress and was a key instigator of an independent review of the program in 2000 that determined WAAS was necessary and technically feasible.

"Everywhere I go, GA pilots ask, 'How can we get an ILS at our airport?'" said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "WAAS is the answer for providing precision approaches to all of those airports where an ILS just isn't possible."

Learn more about what WAAS is and how it benefits GA (see " GPS Goes Low," page 71).

REGIONAL ACTION

N.J. Senate Defers Action on Pilot Background Check Bill

New Jersey pilots won a reprieve from a proposed background check law when state senators adjourned for the summer without ever taking up the measure. AOPA representatives in Trenton lobbied hard to convince the state Senate's leadership not to bring the bill up for a vote.

AOPA urged its New Jersey members to contact their representatives and senators and urge them to oppose the bill. And AOPA members leapt to action. At least one senator acknowledged rethinking his position after hearing from members.

"This demonstrates once again the power of our membership," said AOPA Senior Vice President of Government and Technical Affairs Andy Cebula. "The bill resurfaced quietly at the very last minute, but the quick response of our members let New Jersey lawmakers know that they couldn't hide their actions in the rush to end the session."

Senators won't have a chance to vote on the bill until they return for a lame-duck session following elections in November.

"That's good news for pilots," said Cebula. "It gives AOPA and our members all summer to convince the senators that the background check would be bad law, since it would violate the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution."

AOPA representatives are making good use of the time, explaining to the senators all the steps the federal government has taken since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to enhance general aviation security, which make the proposed New Jersey law unnecessary as well as unconstitutional.

AOPA Engineers a Compromise at Pompano Beach, Florida, Airport

Pompano Beach Airpark in Pompano Beach, Florida, has been saved from new restrictions, procedures, and traffic patterns, thanks to efforts by AOPA and Airport Support Network volunteer Bill Bahlke (see " Volunteer of the Month," page 24). Those efforts also mean that a local developer will be able to move forward with two high-rise condominium projects without threatening the airport. It's all the result of a meeting arranged by AOPA between the developer and Pompano Beach Airpark business tenants, airport management, and air traffic control (ATC) tower operators.

"We had been at loggerheads with the city and developer for months over plans for the condo buildings and their suggestions for mitigating airport impact," said AOPA Vice President of Airports Bill Dunn. "Sitting down together gave us all the opportunity to search for alternatives that benefit everyone. Now we've found a solution in which everybody wins."

Pompano Beach City Manager C. William Hargett agreed to urge the city commissioners to accept the proposals. He also asked that AOPA support the proposals at public meetings and with testimony at public hearings.

MEMBERSHIP ACTION

Seminars Galore at AOPA Expo 2003 in Philadelphia

Visitors to AOPA Expo this year will have more than 80 opportunities to attend seminars on 69 different topics ranging from "Aerial Photography" to "Winter's Worst," and just about everything in between.

Speakers will include the inimitable Rod Machado, whose mix of humor and the kind of aviation wisdom that only comes from years of training student pilots is always tremendously popular; John and Martha King of King Schools fame; Paula Derks, president of the Aircraft Electronics Association, speaking about maintaining your investment in avionics; Mike Fizer, who takes so many of the spectacular aerial photographs in Pilot; and Greg Brown, a former CFI of the Year and columnist for AOPA Flight Training.

The AOPA Air Safety Foundation will offer a full slate of programs including an all-new program on low-level maneuvering, titled " Watch This!" (see page 22). The classic Pinch-Hitter program will be offered for nonflying companions.

While visitors may choose from any of the seminar offerings, they are conveniently grouped into six tracks. So aircraft owners or pilots interested in owning, for instance, could follow the Owner track to learn how to protect their investment in avionics or about the importance of a prepurchase inspection. The other tracks are Proficient Pilot, Safety, Medical, All Pilot, and Aviation General Interest.

AOPA Online has a convenient "Design My Own Expo" feature. By going online ( www.aopa.org/expo/), selecting "Seminars and Events," and clicking on "Design My Own Expo Schedule," Expo visitors can pick and choose from among the Expo offerings and print out a personalized schedule.

AOPA Expo 2003 takes place from October 30 through November 1 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center with the static display of aircraft a short, free shuttle bus-ride away at Philadelphia International Airport.

The AOPA Insurance Agency Turns 10

The AOPA Insurance Agency is celebrating 10 years of providing pilots with the best aircraft insurance policies at exceptional value.

In that time, the AOPA Insurance Agency has become the largest light-aircraft insurance agency in the world. It offers policies from "A-rated" insurance companies so pilots can find the one that best fits their needs.

Earlier this year, the AOPA Insurance Agency introduced special AOPA member-only discounts for owners, renters, and CFIs. AOPA members may qualify for a 5-percent AOPA-member-only discount when their owner's policy is placed with AIG Aviation.

AOPA members with renter and CFI policies through AIG Aviation may qualify for a 10-percent AOPA-member-only discount at renewal if the pilot has maintained a good flying record during the policy year.

"Our goal has always been to offer the best possible policy at the best price," said AOPA Insurance Agency Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Sterling. "Over the course of 10 years, we've built a reputation for helping pilots keep their costs down."

For more information, contact the AOPA Insurance Agency at 800/622-AOPA (800/622-2672).

AOPA AIR SAFETY FOUNDATION

Shevers Hosts Air Safety Foundation Benefit

Hal Shevers, founder and chairman of Sporty's Pilot Shop, conceived and spearheaded a first-of-its-kind fund-raiser to continue the research and educational activities of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. Drawing on a highly successful model from the political world, Shevers contacted potential ASF donors, inviting them to a dinner with AOPA President Phil Boyer and obtaining their commitment for a $5,000 tax-deductible contribution.

"Through Hal Shevers' efforts and the generosity of these donors, ASF is now assured funding to be able to conduct its popular safety seminars in at least a dozen more cities in the coming months," said ASF Executive Director Bruce Landsberg.

Shevers, a member of the ASF board of visitors, has now challenged other board members to use his first effort as a prototype and hold similar events to support general aviation safety. The ASF board of visitors is a national cadre of pilot philanthropists and GA industry leaders dedicated to making the skies safer through research and education. Board members give their time and expertise to help guide the activities of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation.

'Watch This!' to Debut in New York

AOPA Air Safety Foundation's second major new aviation safety seminar for 2003, called "Watch This! How Maneuvering Flight Can Be Hazardous to Your Health," will debut from September 22 through 25 in the New York City area. A nationwide tour of more than 75 cities will follow during the remainder the year and the first half of next year.

"'Watch this!' is the phrase often heard just before a pilot does something stupid at a low altitude," said Bruce Landsberg, ASF executive director. "Pilots will come away with great insights on ways to avoid being such pilots, but more than that, they'll learn about parts of the flight envelope that everyone operates in during every flight."

The dramatic two-hour free seminar demolishes popular myths and misconceptions about maneuvering flight, which includes such dangerous and illegal activities as buzzing, as well as aerobatics, aerial work, and formation flying. Maneuvering flight has been the leading cause of fatal accidents for general aviation pilots in recent years.

The New York debut tour, which includes presentations in Brookhaven, East Elmhurst, and Poughkeepsie, is sponsored by the New York Department of Transportation. As with all ASF live seminars, all pilots are welcome and no admission is charged. Participants are eligible for FAA Wings program credit.

The full, searchable schedule of all ASF seminars is available online ( www.aopa.org/asf/seminars/).

ASF Holiday Cards Now Available

It may still be sweltering outside, but now is the time to order your holiday cards from the AOPA Air Safety Foundation card collection.

Once again, ASF is offering a wide variety of aviation-theme cards, from humorous to thoughtful to patriotic. Some of the cards are embossed. Many have decorative gold edging.

The cards come in boxes of 25, and include free return address labels and decorative seals.

A portion of the proceeds from each box sold will go to fund ASF's mission of researching, supporting, and improving general aviation safety.

AOPA Airport Support Network

Volunteer of the Month: Bill Bahlke

Encroachment is one of the greatest hazards facing any airport today. When that encroachment involves a residential high-rise, it's more than just a hazard: It's a prelude to a slow death. Pompano Beach Airpark in Pompano Beach, Florida, has been spared that fate, thanks to the vigilance of AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Bill Bahlke.

Bahlke has been the ASN volunteer at Pompano Beach Airpark since January 1998 and has seen the airport beset by encroachment and noise complaints. Last fall, when the developer of a high-rise condominium project hired two ex-FAA officials to help push the project through the FAA approval process (see " AOPA Engineers a Compromise at Pompano Beach, Florida, Airport," page 20), Bahlke provided AOPA with the historical documents, zoning ordinances, and meeting minutes that gave the association critical ammunition to protect the airport. And he kept local pilots informed about AOPA's efforts and facilitated meetings when needed.

Bahlke's dedication to laying the groundwork made it easier for AOPA to bring all the different factions together.

The Airport Support Network Army

By Mark Lowdermilk, AOPA ASN program manager

When I look at Bill Bahlke's story (above), or any of the reports we receive from our nearly 1,500 AOPA Airport Support Network volunteers, I'm reminded of the U.S. Army's current ad campaign — "An Army of One."

The campaign stresses individual effort, and there was certainly a lot of that at Pompano Beach Airpark. Through Bahlke's diligent legwork, AOPA was able to show city officials that they had not only a responsibility to protect the airport, but also a legal obligation to do so.

But the Army's campaign also makes clear that the soldier is not alone; he's part of a team. Nowhere is that more true than in the Airport Support Network. First, there's the local pilot community. An active ASN volunteer enlists fellow pilots and draws them into problem solving. Then there's AOPA. We provide intensive support and extensive resources to help protect your local airport. Finally, there are the volunteers' nearly 400,000 fellow AOPA members. When we come together and rise to action, we're a formidable force.

So what exactly does an ASN volunteer do? Well, it depends on the airport and what's going on there. If things are going smoothly, then the volunteer might only need to attend airport commission meetings and keep us here at AOPA up on the latest developments. But if the airport's in jeopardy, the way Pompano Beach Airpark was, then the volunteer may need to start making phone calls to officials and checking whether the airport sponsor has any grant obligations. If airport neighbors are complaining about noise, the volunteer may need to start reaching out to the neighbors and educating them about the benefits a vibrant GA airport brings to a community.

It may sound like a daunting task, but it's not. As I said, AOPA stands firmly behind ASN volunteers. Mostly, it's a fun way to get more involved in your local airport community.

If your airport has a volunteer, find out who it is and offer your help and your support. If there is no volunteer, nominate someone. Or better yet, nominate yourself. You'll not only help your local airport, but also you'll help protect general aviation nationwide. Just go online ( www.aopa.org/asn/) to learn more. Sign up and become your own army of one.

Public-use airports in the United States are closing at the rate of about one every two weeks. The AOPA Airport Support Network designates one volunteer per airport to watch for threats and encourage favorable public perception of general aviation. For more information on how you can help support your airport, visit AOPA Online ( www.aopa.org/asn/).

Action in the States

Connecticut. Bridgeport: Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport is facing a crisis over a road that the FAA wants moved. The State of Connecticut refuses to accept responsibility for the road if it's moved, so the FAA has proposed shortening Runway 6/24 by some 200 feet and significantly reducing the runway safety areas at each end instead. AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer David Faile says several corporations have said they will be unable to use the shorter runway, and the resulting loss of revenue will likely mean higher fees for smaller GA users. He has been working with other pilots, government officials, and AOPA to find an acceptable solution.

Florida. West Palm Beach: AOPA and ASN volunteer Robert Johnston have begun efforts to head off development of a 108-unit two-story residential complex close to the extended centerline of Palm Beach County Park Airport's Runway 15/33. Johnston is working with AOPA to encourage the airport sponsor to permit only compatible development of the land.

Maryland. Westminster: Carroll County Regional/Jack B. Poage Field's long-awaited ramp resurfacing project is under way, after months of funding and weather delays. ASN volunteer Jon Buck and local pilots are planning a safety seminar for this month and will gauge interest in a new airport-users organization at the same time.

Vermont. Lyndonville: Caledonia County Airport ASN volunteer Tim Peters and other Vermont Pilot's Association members have joined with area business leaders, urging local zoning board members to approve new airport beacon and obstruction lighting for safety reasons. A local group calling itself Citizens for Common Sense has begun a public fight against the lighting project, claiming the it will create "light pollution" and encourage takeoffs and landings "any hour of the night." The airport manager is coordinating a demonstration for the zoning board and interested residents of lighting similar to the proposed lighting.