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Report to Homebuilders Now Online
This year's edition of EAA's Report to Homebuilders is now available on the EAA website. This four-page report is a summary of amateur-built aircraft activity and accidents during 2010. It also highlights some of EAA's efforts to enhance homebuilt safety and resources available for aircraft builders. This is a great resource for chapters, especially when talking to local media or citizens about homebuilt aircraft. In a related note, the latest FAA figures indicate that Experimental-category fatal accidents have been fewer than anticipated over the first five months of the FAA's fiscal year (Oct.-Feb.). That total includes 11 amateur-built aircraft. While one fatal accident is always too many, this is encouraging news, with the caveat that spring and summer season usually have the highest number of accidents. Let's all keep working to push the accident rate down.
Supporting FAA Reauthorization Bill in Congress
EAA Vice President of Government Relations Doug Macnair reports from Washington, D.C., that EAA and other GA organizations have sent letters to the U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee, expressing support for the FAA reauthorization bill that is scheduled to come before the House very soon. The bill excludes the addition of any GA user fees, instead relying on the current fuel-tax model that EAA supports. The subcommittee is chaired by Rep. Tom Petri of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, who represents the district that includes Oshkosh.
Additions to Grassroots Tour Schedule
My Grassroots Pilot Tour has certainly proven to be popular, with a number of additions finalized in recent days. The next group of stops will immediately follow Sun 'n Fun, as I'll be in Jacksonville, Florida, on April 4; the Atlanta, Georgia, area on April 5; and Charlotte, North Carolina, on April 6. Other travels in the immediate future include EAA Chapter 33's 50th anniversary dinner in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on April 15; the B-17 tour stop in Van Nuys, California, on April 16; and a Grassroots Tour stop in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on April 18. I can tell you my 2011 schedule is filling up fast, and we're looking toward 2012. To RSVP for a stop near you, visit the Grassroots Tour Stop website.
Get-Well Wishes for Franklin Air Show Team
We were saddened to hear of the tragic accident in Texas that injured air show performers Kyle and Amanda Franklin, who have previously flown at AirVenture. The couple, who are each children of legendary air show performers, suffered injuries after a forced off-runway landing during a performance. Updates to their conditions are being posted to the Caring Bridge website, and the International Council of Air Shows has started a fund to assist with medical expenses.
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Chapter Helps Prep Aluminum Overcast for Tour
Members of EAA Chapter 992 (Marshfield, Wisconsin) recently volunteered their time at Weeks Hangar, helping get EAA's B-17 Aluminum Overcast ready for the 2011 national tour season. They helped replace floor-mat material, as well as cleaned the brake frames and the hardware that holds them together. Click here to see photos and find how your chapter can help out at Weeks Hangar.
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