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News You Can Use
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EAA Brings Together Industry Leaders For
Light-Sport Aircraft Conference
Building a consensus and mutual
support for light-sport aircraft manufacturing standards are essential to
the success of the sport pilot/light sport aircraft proposal,  according
to industry leaders of the light sport aircraft industry, as well as
aviation association representatives and government officials, as they
gathered at EAA Headquarters in Oshkosh on February 26.
The conference, which attracted more than 125
representatives from throughout the industry, was designed to help
manufacturers achieve a solid understanding of the requirements to build,
certificate and sell an aircraft under the provisions of the Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) earlier this month. The official NPRM name is “Certification
of Aircraft and Airmen for the Operation of Light-Sport Aircraft,” but
it is more commonly known as Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft.
(read more)
Education Plans Unveiled
in Advance of Chicago’s TFR Removal
A multi-faceted task force met February 28 at the FAA Regional Office in Des Plaines, Illinois, to discuss education plans leading to the April 2 removal of
Chicago’s large temporary flight restriction
(TFR).
The plan centers on a campaign to get the word out to the public about general aviation, what it is and where it flies. At the same time, area pilots will be given advisory information regarding recommended routes and flying etiquette, as well as asking them to spread the word among their own ranks.
Attendees at the meeting included representatives from FAA, City of Chicago, EAA, AOPA, Friends of Meigs Field, The Illinois DOT, Meigs Field, and Palwaukee Airport.
(read more)
Grassroots Gathering to be Held April 7 at Sun
'n Fun
EAA President Tom Poberezny will hold his first Grassroots Gathering of the year on opening day of the Sun ’n Fun EAA Fly-In, Sunday, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Sun ’n
Fun Museum Pavilion.
Main topics Tom will discuss are the sport pilot/light sport aircraft notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), flying after September 11, and a variety of other issues including:
* EAA’s Countdown to Kitty Hawk initiative;
* AirVenture plans for 2002 and future years;
* EAA’s relationship with FAA and other government agencies;
* Recent additions and improvements in EAA’s programs for
homebuilders
“The positive response we have received in the past proves to us that our members want to be kept informed on EAA’s activities – what the organization has done, and where it is going,” Poberezny said. “EAA has always been a member-driven organization, and it’s at meetings like this we get a chance to hear their comments or concerns.”
Two more “Grassroots Gatherings” are planned for later this year, in Columbus, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana. EAA will post times and locations on
www.eaa.org when they are confirmed.
Lawrence Speaks on Sport Pilot at Maintenance and Safety Seminar
EAA’s Vice President of Government and Industry Relations Earl Lawrence was
scheduled as a featured presenter at the Aviation Maintenance Technicians and Safety Seminar February
28 and March 1, 2002, in Buena Park, California. Lawrence’s presentation centered on the maintenance aspects of the recently published sport pilot/light sport aircraft proposal, whose notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) is currently available from EAA’s sport pilot website.
The annual AMTS seminar’s attendance exceeds 2,000 people and includes many informative educational programs presented jointly by the FAA (organized by the Long Beach FSDO) and Aerospace Products International.
NAA’s ‘Memorable’ Records Includes Several EAAers
The National Aeronautical Association designated six aviation achievements as its Most Memorable Aviation Records of 2001 and of those six, EAA members figured prominently in four of them:
Steve Fossett’s attempt to circle the globe solo in a hot-air balloon established a new longevity mark of 300 hours, 57 minutes aloft;
Helios, an unmanned, solar-powered aircraft, soared to a record altitude of 96,863 feet piloted by three
EAAers; Richard Keyt flew a new average speed record of 303 mph during AirVenture 2001 in the 200 hp Polen Special II;
Members Parker Johnstone and James Murphy flew a Beech Bonanza 36 to all 96 hard-surface public airports in the state of Oregon in one day, seven hours 16 minutes.
(read
more)
GA Relief Bill Receives Unanimous Committee Support
The U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure unanimously approved HR 3347, the General Aviation Relief Bill, on February 27. The bill would provide
$5 billion of much-needed financial relief for GA businesses that suffered financial losses due to airspace restrictions imposed after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Support would be in the form of grants and loans, plus the bill will cover healthcare premiums and expenses incurred by employees who were affected by company layoffs. Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-MI), an EAA member, and House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) have been instrumental in pressing this legislation forward. It will now be considered by the full House.
“EAA and NAFI are very pleased that this much needed legislation is moving forward,” said Bob Warner, EAA Executive Vice President. “We’ve supported this relief proposal since it was first discussed during the Committee’s hearings on September 25 and now urge its full passage by the House.”
On The Flight Line ---
Jeppesen, FAA Working on Graphical NOTAMs
for FAA Flight Service
Jeppesen and the FAA announced this week plans to work together on a graphical Notice-to-Airmen (NOTAM) information system for creating, maintaining, and distributing NOTAMs to Flight Service Station (FSS) specialists, making it easier to brief pilots.
Working with AeroPlanner.com, EAA began offering pilots online graphical maps of TFRs immediately following September 11 through its web-based EAA FlightPlanner service. "We're a small company, but our people have experience building national-level mapping and navigation database systems for NOAA and NIMA," said AeroPlanner President Mark Munsell. "The ability to take NOTAMs and graphically plot them over charts has evolved over time and is something we've built upon with our experience."
FAA eventually intends to do away with lengthy text-only NOTAMs in favor of graphical ones.
Cirrus Warns of Potential CAPS Problem, Asks FAA
To Issue AD
Cirrus Design and Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS) mailed Service Bulletins this week to owners of SR-20 and SR-22 aircraft to correct a potential problem in the activation cable assembly that may render the Cirrus Aircraft Parachute System (CAPS) inoperable. Cirrus also requested that the FAA issue an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for this condition to ensure that all 321 aircraft in the Cirrus fleet comply with the referenced Service Bulletins. The problem is corrected by adding a clamp to the cable at the base of the rocket cone adapter. Parts have been sent to all Cirrus service centers and are available to customers who need to have the work accomplished at non-Cirrus service
centers at no cost. The fix takes about an hour to complete. www.cirrusdesign.com.
Bellanca-Champion Club Fly-In May 31-June 2
Bellanca Cruisair, Cruisemaster, Viking, Aeronca, Champion, Citabria, Decathlon, Scout and AviaBellanca Skyrocket IIs will gather May 31 to June 2 at Columbia Airport (O22), California, for the third Bellanca-Champion Club West Coast Fly-In. Event Chairman Chuck Sandford says activities will be geared toward a mix of flying, eating, education, and lots of time for socializing. Our aim is maximize the fun and minimize the formalities. “We hope to attract lots of interesting airplanes - from Champs to Bellancas to whatever our guests fly in.” Presentations are planned on maintenance, modifications, and flying of the various high- and low- wing models. Several exciting airplanes are expected, including the newly-West Coast-based Bellanca T14-14 military trainer; a hoped-for surprise appearance by another unique Bellanca aircraft, and several new Citabrias/Decathlons/Scouts on display. An early bird barbecue on Friday and a steak dinner/meeting Saturday evening are planned, as well as spot landing and flour bombing contests during the day Saturday. For advance registration visit
www.bellanca-championclub.com
or call
Chuck Sandford, 510-490-2865 or Robert Szego, 518-731-6800.
Military Aircraft Nose Art Feature’s Nation’s Marching Orders
America's two-word marching order in the fight against terrorism is being displayed on various aircraft throughout the Air Force as a way of recognizing the heroes and victims of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. Todd Beamer, one of the heroic
 passengers on Flight 93, made the words famous when he and other passengers fought terrorists for control of Flight 93 before it crashed into a field in western Pennsylvania. He was overheard on a cellular phone reciting the Lord's Prayer and saying, "Let's roll!" as passengers charged the terrorists. “Let's roll!' has served as a rallying cry for this nation as we go forward in our war on terrorism," said Air Force Chief of Staff
Gen. John P. Jumper. "We are proud to display this new nose art on our aircraft." The nose art design depicts an eagle soaring in front of the U.S. flag, with the words "Spirit of 9-11" on the top and "Let's roll!" on the bottom. Senior Airman Duane White, a journeyman from Air Combat Command’s multimedia center at Langley Air Force Base,
Virginia, created the design.
FAA Announces Operational Flight Information Services Data Link
Pilots can now receive the latest weather information in the cockpit on new FAA-approved VHF Data Link Mode 2 (VDL-2) avionics to support Flight Information Services Broadcast. Pilots can receive text messages, including routine and special weather reports, Terminal Area Forecasts, and Pilot Reports issued by the FAA or the National Weather Service at no cost in a properly equipped airplane.
Graphic products such as NEXRAD maps and other flight information services products will also be available through a subscription service.
The FAA is providing Flight Information Services Data Link service under a government-industry agreement with two vendors, Honeywell, Olathe, Kn., which made its system available in January and ARNAV, Puyallup, Wash., whose system is scheduled to come on line later this year.
To receive the service, users need to purchase two pieces of equipment, a radio receiver that costs about $5,500, and a cockpit multi-function display, about $7,400. To learn more, visit:
www.faa.gov/aua/ipt_prod/FISDL/
Nimbus Jets Presents Plan To Key Congressmen
Nimbus Group Inc., which plans to create an air taxi service with Eclipse 500 Jets, presented its plans to key members of Congress on March 1 as part of a NASA presentation on the Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) program. Nimbus was invited by Rep. Virgil Goode,
(I-VA). "Alternatives (to the hub-and spoke system) are being developed more rapidly than many appreciate, as evidenced by the Nimbus Jet Taxi service and the progress being made toward the certification and delivery of the Eclipse 500 jet as well as the NASA investments in enabling technologies," said Ilia Lekach, CEO of Nimbus Group. Interest in SATS stems from the potential for SATS technologies to expand the initial efforts at Nimbus’ jet taxi service to a broader base of consumers. SATS technologies would enable point-to-point, on-demand, safe, near all-weather, affordable air transportation for communities not currently served by scheduled air service providers. For more information about the NASA SATS program, visit the SATS web site at
http://sats.nasa.gov/. For more on Nimbus, visit
http://nimbusjets.com or write info@nimbusjets.com.
Aero Supercharger
Unveiling New System at Sun 'n Fun
Aero Supercharger Solutions, LLC, has developed its first Supercharger kit – the LKA-1 - for use on Continental IO 550 Experimental engines. The system was developed for use on the Lancair Legacy, ES, IV and IV-P aircraft. The same system can be used on any Experimental aircraft using the IO 550-B and later engines. Installation can be completed in as little as 10 to 15 hours with no internal engine modifications. The LKA-1 kit is available in normalized, boosted and competition
versions. The system will be available at Sun-n-Fun, April 2002. Pricing will be announced at that time. For more information, contact Rick Schrameck at 702-682-2389 or
rickschrameck@lvcm.com.
Q & A:
Question of the Week
Question For EAA
Aviation Information Services:
Regarding the proposed light-sport aircraft category: If I place a qualifying vintage certificated aircraft (e.g., an Aeronca 7AC Champ) in the Light-Sport Aircraft category and fly/maintain it in accordance with the light-sport aircraft criteria, can I later "convert" that aircraft back to its original certificated status?
Answer:
Another very timely question. There is no method for converting standard category aircraft to the proposed experimental/light-sport aircraft category. The aircraft will remain in standard category and must be maintained accordingly. A sport pilot will be allowed to operate any aircraft that meets the definition of a light-sport aircraft (LSA), regardless of what type of airworthiness certificate the aircraft holds. This includes (but is not necessarily limited to) standard category, experimental/amateur-built, and the new LSA category aircraft.
How can we help you?
To
ask a question regarding government issues, email govt@eaa.org. If you have a question
about registration, airmen, aircraft and medical certification,
safety records, performance or any other matter, email infoserv@eaa.org.
We are pleased to provide this info to EAA members
as a membership benefit. To ensure that this service continues, renew your membership or join EAA today by calling 800-843-3612 or 920-426-5912.
 AirVenture
Oshkosh 2002 ... A Red, White, & Blue ... and GOLDEN Event!
CELEBRATE THE FREEDOM OF FLIGHT It's
EAA'S 50th! Make it your first!
www.airventure.org
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