Q & A:
Question
of the Week Question for EAA Aviation
Information Services:
I am an EAA member who has been without a medical certificate for many years and have had some health issues in the past. I plan on flying under Sport Pilot but would like to know if the
third-class certificate I once held just expired or was denied. I have a vague memory of a website or procedure to determine if a medical was ever denied to a pilot. Can you help with
details?
Answer: You can check your FAA medical status by calling the FAA regional office that covers your area. Go to the following website to find the FAA office that has jurisdiction over your state or area. Call that office, and ask to verify your medical status. You'll need to give them your name, date of birth, and social security number. They'll then check your status and tell you whether it is simply expired, or if it was denied. Here's the link to the list:
How can we help you? To ask a question regarding government issues, e-mail govt@eaa.org. If you have a question
about registration, airmen, aircraft and medical certification, safety
records, performance, or any other matter, e-mail 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.
October
2004
EAA Desktop Calendar
William L. Skliar’s Explorer PG-1 Aqua Glider, or
Bayou Bird as it was nicknamed, first appeared in the May 1961 EAA Sport Aviation. The designer described the aircraft as a “boat-towed, two-winged, primary-class, water-ski seaplane glider.” Bayou Bird retired to EAA in 1970, where it was displayed at the museum. It now shares a cozy spot in EAA’s Attic, next to another rare bird—a 1930 Peel Glider Boat.
Visit the
EAA website and choose one of five different resolutions to best suit your screen.
'A Strong Ride' Makes for Successful Flight of SpaceShipOne EAA Member Melvill Completes
First Flight for $10 million X Prize The EAA spirit was everywhere in, around and above Mojave, Calif., on Wednesday, according to EAA president Tom Poberezny, as Burt Rutan’s SpaceShipOne homebuilt spacecraft successfully completed the first two of flights necessary to win the $10 million Ansari X Prize.
Poberezny and his wife, Sharon, were at Mojave for the flight by EAA member Mike Melvill, who had in June flown SpaceShipOne to 100 kilometers on its final test flight before Wednesday’s launch. (read
more)
SpaceShipOne Has Half the Equation One Down, One to Go. The
Only Question Now Is When?
In a spectacular second suborbital space flight, civilian
astronaut and EAA member Mike Melvill reached an unofficial altitude of
337,500 feet in SpaceShipOne on Wednesday morning after launching from
Mojave, Calif. That is well above the level needed to qualify as a valid
first flight for the $10 million Ansari X Prize, a fact verified by the
X Prize Foundation, based on Edwards Air Force Base radar data. (read more)
Reminder: Discovery Channel to
Feature SpaceShipOne The Discovery Channel will air a two-hour special “Black Sky: The Race For Space,” a documentary about Burt Rutan, Scaled Composites, and the White
Knight/ SpaceShipOne project on Sunday, October 3, at 8 p.m. ET. The program will feature extensive footage of the events leading up to and including the successful June 21, 2004, launch of the first privately funded space vehicle to reach 100 km altitude, or suborbital space with test pilot Mike Melvill at the controls. A repeat broadcast will air at 11 p.m. ET.
A second show, covering the X Prize September 29 flight and the anticipated October 4
flight, will air on October 7 at 8 p.m. on Discovery. Please check your local listings to confirm the times.
Home at Last! Aluminum Overcast Back in Oshkosh After spending nearly five months in California following its landing-gear incident, EAA’s B-17
Aluminum Overcast returned home late Friday afternoon, where it will undergo further restoration. The vintage WWII bomber departed Van Nuys, California, on September 23, and flew to El Paso, Texas, for an overnight stay. Friday morning’s six-hour ferry flight time included a fuel stop at Wichita, Kansas. Pilots Sam Bass and Bob Davis
were in the cockpit, with Gerard Putzer and Ted Mosman of the EAA aircraft maintenance staff also on board. (read more)
EAA Reviewing New TSA Flight Training Security Document
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its new pilot candidate security background check requirements on Monday, September 20, 2004. The new requirements are in response to the mandates of Public Law 108-176, called "Vision 100 - Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act." In Vision 100, the Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) takes over responsibility for managing this aviation security background check from the Department of Justice. EAA is reviewing the new rule (49 CFR Part 1552) to determine how all the new training categories will affect all of our members. While conducting this review, EAA felt it critical to provide our members with an outline on the new rule and
its effect on all pilots. (read more)
EAA Helps Create New Wiring Standards
On behalf of EAA’s Government Programs office and EAA’s Vintage Aircraft Association, VAA Executive Director H.G. Frautschy joined nearly two-dozen other members of ASTM Committee F39 for their first official meeting. The committee, composed of representatives of manufacturers, end users, aviation technicians, and other interested aviation organizations including the EAA, VAA, AOPA and Aircraft Electronics Association, has been convened to help create, under the auspices of ASTM International, a set of new standards for general aviation electrical wiring system design, fabrication, modification, inspection, and maintenance procedures and processes. Continued airworthiness standards will also be addressed, as standard F39 will become “acceptable data” to the FAA. It will be a manual accepted by the FAA for use by aviation technicians to maintain general aviation aircraft. (read
more)
Young Eagles Volunteers to Rally for Make A Difference Day
On Saturday, October 23, 2004, hundreds of EAA Young Eagles volunteers will participate in the annual Make A Difference Day doing what they do all yearlong—helping young aviation enthusiasts discover flight. Created by USA Weekend magazine and sponsored by the Paul Newman Foundation, Make A Difference Day began 13 years ago to encourage people to help others through
volunteerism. (read
more)
Hurricane Jeanne Takes a Swipe at Sebring/Lakeland Sun 'n Fun Grounds Suffer Damage
Lockwood Aviation Okay Hurricane Jeanne, the fourth hurricane to menace Florida this fall, took direct aim at Sebring and Lakeland, Florida, this past weekend.
In Sebring, while various hangars and other facilities on the airport suffered damage, Lockwood Aviation and the Sebring Regional Airport terminal, which will serve as headquarters for the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo to be held October 28-31, escaped significant damage.
Using his cell phone, Phillip Lockwood, president of Lockwood Aviation Supply, called EAA headquarters on Monday afternoon to report that while their buildings suffered some water damage, they expect to be in full operation as soon as power is restored. Phil estimated it may be a day or two before that happens.
"We'd like our customers to know we're okay; we're just cleaning up some water damage, and waiting for power. But, until power and phone service are restored, anyone calling us will simply get a busy signal." (read more)
EAA Reminds Pilots Not to Loiter Over Sensitive Areas
EAA is reminding all pilots that they should adhere to existing NOTAMs and not loiter over sensitive locations such as
powerplants, dams, bridges, petroleum and chemical facilities, or other critical infrastructure during their flights. (read more)
Southwest and Golden West EAA Regionals Change Fly-in Dates The Southwest Regional EAA Fly-In (SWRFI), which has welcomed aviation enthusiasts to Texas for more than 40 years, will be expanding to a three-day event in 2005, including an air show. The event has been scheduled for May 13-15, 2005. The expanded date was approved in response to EAA members and other participants who enjoyed the festivities and wanted additional activities on Sunday. More information on the event will be available at its website
www.swrfi.org.
The Golden West EAA Regional Fly-In, held annually at the Yuba County Airport in Marysville, California, has new dates for its future fly-in. Scheduled the weekend after Memorial Day (observed), the gatherings for the next three years will be held on June 3-5, 2005; June 2-4, 2006; and June 1-3, 2007. John Gibson, president of Golden West, stated the new dates will significantly lower the cost to provide green grass for exhibitors and aircraft camping. Also the new dates will no longer conflict with the well-established local fly-in at Columbia Airport, supported by EAA Chapter 1337. Visit
www.goldenwestflyin.org for more details on next year’s event.
2004 U.S. National Aerobatic Championships
Wind Down
The International Aerobatic Club's 2004 U.S. National Aerobatic Championships in Denison, Texas,
wrap-up Friday, 0ctober 1. The weeklong championships determine the top three U.S. competitors in four categories of competition. Also selected will be the 2005 Unlimited Aerobatic Team comprised of up to five men and five women who will compete in the 23rd World Aerobatic Championships
held July12–July 23, 2005, in Burgos, Spain. In the lead in the Unlimited category at the time of this writing is three-time National champ and well-known air show performer Kirby Chambliss, followed by Debbie Rihn-Harvey who has been the highest scoring U.S. female pilot 7 years running. For complete results and competition photos go to
www.usnationals.net/htmlfile/results2004.php.
Micro Aerodynamics Gets STC Approval for Cessna 120/140 Vortex Generator Kits
Vortex generator supplier Micro Aerodynamics recently earned FAA STC approval for its Micro Vortex Generator Kit for the Cessna 120 and 140. The kit consists of 96 paintable vortex
generators—68 for the wings and 28 for the horizontal stabilizer—spare vortex generators, templates, and illustrated instructions to help you complete the job in one day. After installing the vortex generators, pilots can expect up to a 9 percent reduction in stall speed, shorter takeoff and landing rolls, and improved aileron response. Complete kits run for $695, plus shipping and handling. For an additional $100, the vortex generators
can be painted to match the aircraft’s base color. Visit www.microaero.com
or call 800/677-2370 or 360/293-8082 for more details.
The Gift of Flight
Sporty's Gift of Flight contains everything an aspiring pilot needs to begin the path to
flying. Specifically, the package includes Finding the Best Flight Instruction and Choosing the Right Flight School DVDs and Sporty's Complete Recreational Pilot Course on four interactive DVDs. The Integrated Course Outline & Study Guide cross-references to the DVDs and more information is packed into the Airport Signs and Markings Guide. Students can record their flying time in the Pilot Logbook and use the Cessna 182 cockpit poster as a study aid. And to look the part, an A-2 Flight Jacket completes the package. The Gift of Flight is available for $298 already gift-wrapped at
www.sportys.com or by calling 800/SPORTYS.
Bonanza Metalcrafters Offers Help to Kit Builders
Bonanza Metalcrafters Enterprises Inc., a builder of aircraft kits and parts, announced that they also services individuals with their aircraft building needs. Located in the Philippines, the company has been building aircraft for companies such as
Van's Aircraft and New GlaStar since 2002. For more information about the company and its services, visit
www.bonanzametalcrafters.com.
High Cockpit Technology Available for Cessna 425
Meggitt/S-TEC, a provider of glass cockpit technology for the twin turboprop aftermarket, recently received STC approval for installation of the Magic Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) and Magic Engine Instrument Display System, (EIDS) combined with a Magic 2100 Digital Flight Control System (DFCS) on Cessna 425 turboprop aircraft. Creating a functional, digital, electronic instrument panel with high cockpit technology, the EFIS and EIDS are contained in a set of LCD flat-panel displays that are only 4.5 inches high and 5.6 inches wide. They provide a high-definition presentation that is easily readable in all light conditions. The Magic 2100 DFCS is a three-axis, fully digital, attitude-based system with a clear, easily understood LCD display. Its integrated altitude pre-selector and indicated airspeed hold function
offer flight control in all conditions. Visit www.MAGIC.aero
or www.S-TEC.com for dealer and additional product information.
To ensure that you continue to receive EAA e-hotline, please add ehotline@eaa.org
The Discovery Channel will air a two-hour special “Black Sky: The Race For Space,” a documentary about Burt Rutan, Scaled Composites, and the White
Knight/ SpaceShipOne project on Sunday, October 3, at 8 p.m. ET. The program will feature extensive footage of the events leading up to and including the successful June 21, 2004, launch of the first privately funded space vehicle to reach 100 km altitude, or suborbital space with test pilot Mike Melvill at the controls. A repeat broadcast will air at 11 p.m. ET.
