EAA e-Hotline



	March 14, 2008 Volume 8, Number 12
ADIZ INCURSIONS HURT ALL RECREATIONAL FLYING Use EAA AeroPlanner online tools to stay vigilant On Wednesday, March 12, air defenses were scrambled around Washington, D.C., when the pilot of a single-engine private aircraft strayed into the region's Air Defense Identification Zone and came to within six miles of downtown Washington. Major ADIZ incursions such as these, and a number of minor ones, make it difficult for the general aviation community to maintain that extra security measures are not necessary for sensitive airspace throughout the country. This particular flight, which originated at Carroll County Regional Airport in Westminster. Md., ended without incident when the intruding airplane was escorted out of the ADIZ by F-16 fighter jets and diverted to Leesburg, Va. Read more
PERSPECTIVE: What is EAA's position on amateur-built aircraft and the "51 percent Rule"? Earl Lawrence, EAA Vice President of Industry and Regulatory Affairs For the past several months, EAA's print and online publications have included articles regarding the regulations and policies governing the construction of aircraft by amateurs. The issues surrounding the Experimental Amateur-Built Regulations, which speak to the very core of EAA's essence, are commanding the spotlight as the FAA is developing a new amateur-built aircraft certification policy to appear in a notice to the Federal Register. As the FAA finalizes its new policy, this is an important time to review the EAA community's core position on these issues. The well being of the amateur-building movement matters not only to EAAers who build, but to all of general aviation, which has benefited enormously from the innovations that the movement has engendered. Read more
EAA, WOMEN IN AVIATION, INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCE 'WOMENVENTURE 2008' EAA and Women in Aviation, International (WAI) will host a number of special events and activities for women at this summer's EAA AirVenture Oshkosh under the banner of WomenVenture 2008. The two organizations were to announce the joint effort on Friday morning, March 14, at the WAI convention being held this week in in San Diego, California. "WomenVenture 2008" could easily draw the largest gathering of women pilots in history, but the main goal of the program to recognize and encourage women aviators, who are less than 10 percent of the nation's pilot population. There will be programs and activities throughout AirVenture week (July 28-August 3) for longtime women pilots, those women interested in learning to fly, and encouragement for younger girls to explore the worlds of flight and the sciences. Read more CONFERENCE ATTENDEES TOUR NORTH ISLAND, USS MIDWAY Attendees to the 19th annual International Women in Aviation (WAI) Conference in San Diego, California, got an up-close look at military aviation Wednesday at Naval Air Station North Island and the USS Midway aircraft carrier museum. The three-day conference begins today for members of the organization, which encourages women to seek careers in all aviation fields. Approximately 350 people attended the pre-conference Military Day tours provided by the U.S. Navy. North Island is part of the largest aerospace-industrial complex in the Navy with 23 squadrons and 80 tenant commands and activities based there. Ten active Navy aircraft were available for tours and crewmembers were on hand to talk about their roles. The USS Midway is the longest serving aircraft carrier, with 47 years of service. It was decommissioned in 1992, and opened for permanent display as a museum in 2004. Editor's Note: EAA is an exhibitor at this week's International Women in Aviation (WAI) Conference in San Diego. Staff will be filing daily reports from the conference, including the educational and training seminars, and announcements from exhibitors.
HOMEBUILDING HINT OF THE WEEK How to 'Fishmouth' Tubing Using Aviation Snips In this week's homebuilding hint, instructor Earl Luce shows how to make a "fishmouth" with 4130 tubing in preparation for welding using just a regular pair of aviation snips. Earl is an EAA SportAir Workshop instructor and a volunteer EAA Technical Counselor. He also offers plan sets for the Wittman Buttercup. To submit an idea for future Hints for Homebuilders, please send an e-mail to Info@EAA.org, including "Hints" in the subject line.
JON SHARP TO ATTEMPT SPEED RECORD AT EAA AIRVENTURE 2008 Jon Sharp, EAA 239592, and Nemesis Air Racing hope to claim another speed record this summer while dazzling crowds at EAA AirVenture 2008. Sharp aims to break the current 3 km record of 331 mph in the C1-b category with his NemesisNXT. "It's going to be really exciting having the NemesisNXT screaming back and forth on runway 18-36 at full song and then some," Sharp said in a press release. "And what a treat for us to be back on the 3 km course at AirVenture." Read more
EAA SPORTAIR WORKSHOPS TEACH HOW TO ACHIEVE YOUR DREAM EAA SportAir Workshops help aspiring homebuilders discover and develop the necessary skills to build their own aircraft or earn FAA certificates. Upcoming courses: Composite Construction, Fabric Covering, Sheet Metal, and Test Flying Your Project in Detroit, Michigan, at Willow Run Airport, April 5-6. SportAir Workshops will also hold the FAA-approved E-LSA inspection course Flabob Airport, Riverside, California, March 28-30. Successful completion of this course earns you the Repairman (LSA) Inspection rating, allowing you to perform the annual condition inspection on any experimental light sport airplane you own. This weekend (March 15-16), there are some limited openings in the Fabric and Composites courses being held at Watsonville California. For complete information on these and other courses offered, visit www.sportair.com or call 800-967-5746.
LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE TO ATTEND THIRD EAA CHAPTER LEADERS ACADEMY The EAA Chapter Leaders Academy is a two-day conference at EAA's Oshkosh headquarters where chapter representatives learn about a wide range of activities designed to bolster their local efforts. The purpose of the workshops and smaller group sessions is to help leaders strengthen their chapters and provide tools to assist with recruitment, volunteer involvement and program development. Other topics of discussion are determined by input from participants. Past sessions have covered youth engagement, hangars/clubhouses, dealing with the media and fundraising. Feedback from the first two academies was very positive and preparations are currently under way for the third session, slated for April 18-20. Due to some recent cancellations, there are nine spaces available to attend. Those interested should promptly contact EAA Chapters at Chapters@EAA.org, or 888-322-4636, ext. 4876.
EAA SEEKS VP-HUMAN RESOURCES EAA is searching for a strategic minded Human Resources leader to join EAA's executive team at its headquarters located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Vice President of Human Resources will have the overall responsibility for ensuring proactive and progressive planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of HR and people strategies that align with the organization's priorities, mission, culture and structure. This position will also provide overall direction and guidance to HR staff responsible for various Human Resources functions and programs including total compensation management, training and development, employee relations, organizational development, performance management, recruiting and staffing, and payroll administration. Read more
VOLUNTEER WITH EAA AT SUN 'N FUN 2008! EAA is seeking volunteers for the annual Sun 'n Fun Fly-In at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Florida. The event runs from April 8-13, but any commitment of time from April 4-14 would be appreciated for setup and takedown of display materials. There are several duties we need help with, some of which include setting up tents and displays; ticket sales; assisting members and prospective members; distribution of materials; and takedown/pack-up at the end of the fly-in. Eligible volunteers will receive a free weekly admission pass to the event courtesy of EAA. Those interested in helping out or with questions, please contact EAA Membership Benefits Manager Tammy Maus at tmaus@eaa.org, or call 920-426-6821 (toll-free at 800-JOIN-EAA, ext. 6821) by Friday, March 28, 2008.
EAA 'TIMELESS VOICE OF THE WEEK': JESSIE WOODS Jessie Woods and her husband, Jimmy, co-founded of the Flying Aces Air Circus in 1929. She was a wingwalker, also performing parachute drops and rope-ladder stunts. Jessie was a pilot, too, and often ferried one of the group's airplanes between tour stops. The Flying Aces were one of the nation's longest running air circus acts, but stricter regulations from the Commerce Department and Civil Aviation Authority forced them to shut down permanently in 1938. Jessie continued flying with her husband for many years while operating various commercial aviation ventures. She passed away in 2001 at the age of 92. In this 1986 interview recorded by EAA's Antique/Classic Division (now the Vintage Aircraft Association), Jessie shared some of her memorable experiences from the early days of barnstorming.
THINK SPRING (AND SAVE $15) WITH EAA MEMBER SPECIAL! With winter's icy grip loosening more every day, thoughts are definitely turning to spring. What better time to augment your wardrobe with this great, 100 percent polyester microfiber jacket. Emblazoned with the EAA logo, it features a mesh lining, two front slash pockets, and a semi-elastic waistband. The special EAA member price is $44.99 - that's $15 off the regular, non-member price! (2X price is $48.99.) Order online today or call our toll-free number, 800-564-6322.




Sporty's SP-200 NAV/COM	EAA Aircraft Sweepstakes	EAA Aircraft Insurance Plan

Q & A:
Question of the Week
Your story last week about the Red Bull Helicopter said the pilot was "the only pilot licensed in the United States to fly aerobatics in a helicopter." Since when does the FAA license aerobatic pilots (helicopter or otherwise)? Pilots are licensed to pilot helicopters, airships, airplanes, etc. The FAA doesn’t license people to perform aerobatics, does it?

Answer:
Well, you're right and wrong. There is no pilot certificate rating in FAR 61 for an “aerobatic pilot” – so you're right in that there is no “license.”

However, to ensure the safety of persons and property on the ground and of pilots performing aerobatic maneuvers, the FAA requires pilots performing aerobatics at a public event to hold an FAA “authorization” (not a license) - FAA Form 8710-7, Statement of Aerobatic Competency.

The FAA has been issuing aerobatic authorizations for well over 10 years.

Have a question?
To ask a question regarding government issues, e-mail govt@eaa.org. For questions about registration, airmen, aircraft and medical certification, safety records, performance, or any other matter, e-mail infoserv@eaa.org.

March 2008
EAA Desktop Calendar

The Collaborators, performing during their 2007 AirVenture debut, will return to Oshkosh this summer. Team pilots include Sean Tucker, his son, Eric, Ben Freelove, and Bill Stein. (Photo by Ken Cravillion)

Download the image at the EAA website, where you can choose among six resolutions to suit your screen...or select an image from the archive.

PREVIOUS TAYLORCRAFT OWNER REPOSSESSES TC, ASSETS
Taylorcraft 2000 LLC, which owned the Taylorcraft type certificates from May 2000-August 2003, sent a notice to T-Craft owners last week announcing it had repossessed the company's Brownsville, Texas, factory and assets. This development affects an undetermined number of customers who, in response to a recent airworthiness directive (AD), paid Taylorcraft Aviation LLC approximately $3,500 for new OEM lift struts that have not been delivered. Installation of the new, sealed struts eliminates the August 2007 AD's inspection requirements to address corrosion issues in the original struts. Read more

CESSNA SKYCATCHER PROTOTYPE MAKES MAIDEN FLIGHT
Cessna's SkyCatcher website is announcing that its Model 162 prototype made its first flight on Saturday, March 10. The one-hour flight departed Cessna Aircraft Field Airport in Wichita, Kansas, shortly after 7 a.m. and consisted of flight maneuvers to evaluate the controllability and stability of the aircraft. "The first flight of the SkyCatcher is a significant step ahead toward our goal of bringing an affordable training aircraft to market," said Jack Pelton, Cessna's chairman, president and CEO. "There is a lot of excitement at Cessna as we progress through our many developmental programs and I'm very proud of our teams for continuing to stay on track." Read more

AD REQUIRES FUEL SYSTEM INSPECTION ON CERTAIN NAVIONS
The FAA has issued airworthiness directive (AD) AD 2008-05-14 requiring owners and operators of select Sierra Hotel Aero, Inc. (formerly Navion Aircraft LLC) airplane models to do a one-time inspection of the entire fuel system and repetitive functional tests of certain fuel selector valves. Models affected include the Navion (L-17A), Navion A (L-17B), (L-17C), Navion B, Navion D, Navion E, Navion F, Navion G, and Navion H airplanes.

The AD comes in response to reports of airplane accidents associated with leaking or improperly operating fuel selector valves. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct fuel system leaks or improperly operating fuel selector valves, which could result in the disruption of fuel flow to the engine. This failure could lead to engine power loss. This AD becomes effective on April 16, 2008. (Read the AD.)

SONEX MARKS 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN 2008
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Sonex design and Sonex Aircraft, LLC. February 28 was the official start of the anniversary celebration, signifying the 10th anniversary of the first flight of the Sonex prototype in 1998. Sonex Aircraft, LLC (originally established as Sonex-Ltd.) was established soon thereafter and sale of the first set of Sonex plans quickly followed in August of 1998. Read more

REMOS AIRCRAFT PASSES COMPLIANCE TEST
REMOS Aircraft has successfully completed the first phase of a stringent ASTM Compliance Audit administered by the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (LAMA). LAMA President Tom Gunnarson recently conducted the voluntary test, which involves an on-site inspection of the manufacturing process. FAA asked LAMA to develop and process the audit program to ensure compliance by manufacturers to ASTM standards for light-sport aircraft. Production lines are inspected to verify that the aircraft being assembled comply with the manufacturing and quality assurance system. REMOS Aircraft has become a leader in the Light-Sport Aircraft class, proving itself highly popular with sport pilots and flight training operations across North America. For more information visit www.remos.com or call 888-838-9879.

DIAMOND D-JET UPGRADES POWERPLANT
Diamond Aircraft announced it has selected the Williams FJ33-4A-19a for the D-JET, which is more powerful (1,900-lb nominal thrust versus 1,564 lbs) than the originally planned FJ33-4A-15 engine. Diamond will deliver the FJ33-19-equipped aircraft to current position holders at the contracted price; however, the company announced that a price increase for future orders is expected shortly, and first deliveries will not take place until second quarter of 2009. For more information, visit www.diamondair.com.

AERO-TECH SCHEDULES SPORT PILOT-CENTERED FIRC IN MAY
Aero-Tech will offer several sessions of its FAA-approved Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic (FIRC) specific to the light-sport category. The first is May 17 and 18 in Lexington, Kentucky, with future FIRCs slated for September 2008 in Lexington and January 2009 in Sebring, Florida, following the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo. For more information, visit the AeroTech website.

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