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November
14, 2008 Volume 8,
Number 58 |
RESPOND TO TSA'S OMINOUS
PROPOSAL
60 days added for public input
 As
initially reported last month, the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) has proposed sweeping security rules for the
operation of aircraft that weigh more than 12,500 pounds. The proposed
regulation, the Large Aircraft Security Program, would require owners of
those aircraft to obtain permission from TSA to operate their own
personal aircraft every time they carry passengers. Additionally, all
flight crews would be required to undergo fingerprinting and a
background check, all passengers would have to be vetted against the
government’s terrorist watch lists, and numerous security requirements
would be imposed on airports serving these “large” aircraft. EAA
adamantly opposes this regulation and urges all members to respond to
TSA. Read
more
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FIRST IN LINE TO
PURCHASE AIRVENTURE TICKETS ONLINE
EAAer to mark 20 years of flight at Oshkosh
 Twenty
years ago next year, Mac Swindell, EAA 618280, earned his Private Pilot
Certificate and he plans to celebrate that milestone in style - he's
bringing the family to Oshkosh next July 27-August 2 for EAA AirVenture
2009. This happens to be Swindell's turn to pick the family vacation
destination, so he decided they'd make their first trip to AirVenture
Oshkosh. That decision was made even easier when he read about advance
tickets becoming available online in the October 30 edition of
e-Hotline. Swindell wasted little time logging on and buying five
tickets for he and his wife, Taylora, and their three sons ages 7, 10,
and 12. In fact, he was first in line at the AirVenture cyber
window. Read
more
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'EARNING HIS
WINGS' UPDATE:
Ground reference maneuvers
 Flight
05 - "This week I was introduced to ground reference maneuvers.
Flying various patterns at a low altitude (600-1000 ft. AGL) is a blast!
If  it
weren't for the wind, these patterns would be a breeze, but the wind
adds an interesting challenge that must be adjusted for. We brought
along a GPS data logger so you can see exactly how good/bad we did.
Check it out on the blog."
- BradyBrady Lane, EAA
multimedia journalist,
is taking flight lessons in pursuit of his sport pilot certificate, and
he's sharing the experience in real time on EAA's website, "Earning
My Wings: A Video Blog About Learning to Fly."
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APOLLO 8 COMMANDER FRANK
BORMAN TO SPEAK AT EAA WRIGHT BROTHERS BANQUET
 Frank
Borman, whose unique aviation career included his role of the Apollo 8
mission that in December 1968 became the first manned craft to orbit the
moon, will be the featured speaker at EAA’s annual Wright Brothers
Memorial Banquet on Wednesday, Dec. 17. The banquet, held in the EAA
AirVenture Museum’s Eagle Hangar in Oshkosh, will commemorate the
105th anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first powered flight at
Kitty Hawk, N.C. Read
more
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HOMEBUILDING HINT OF THE
WEEK
Composite Propeller Repair
 Brian
Carpenter of Rainbow Aviation Services demonstrates how to make
a minor repair to a carbon fiber propeller. Brian is an A&P
aircraft mechanic with an Inspection Authorization rating (IA), a
designated airworthiness representative for light-sport aircraft and
amateur-builts, a Sport Pilot Instructor-Examiner, an FAA Certified
Flight Instructor, and an EAA Technical Counselor/Flight Advisor.
If you have a hint to share with your
fellow EAAers, we'd love to hear from you! Drop us a note at Info@EAA.org,
and please put "Hints" in the subject line.
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EAA AIRCRAFT INSURANCE
PLAN: AEROBATIC MISCONCEPTIONS…
By Bob Mackey, representative for
the EAA Aircraft Insurance Plan,
Administered by Falcon Insurance Agency
 Ever
since we started the EAA Aircraft Insurance Plan, there have been some
misconceptions as to what types of aircraft and flying the plan was
meant to serve. In fact, the EAA Aircraft Insurance Plan is as diverse
as the EAA membership. Regardless of the aircraft and/or the nature of
one's flying, the plan tries to provide an insurance option that meets
the individual needs each EAA member. Now, before I go any further, I
have to admit that there are certain situations where it's tough to
obtain coverage…but we never stop trying regardless of the
circumstances. Are there times when we simply cannot get an insurance
company to offer coverage? Yes, but I'm proud to say that this doesn't
happen very often.
One particular area for which the EAA
Aircraft Insurance Plan offers very special coverage options is
aerobatics. Read
more
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ALUMINUM OVERCAST
'MILE-HIGH' BOUND
 This
week Redstone College in Denver, Colorado, hosts EAA's B-17 Aluminum
Overcast, November 14-16, on the "Keep It Flying" tour.
The Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum welcomes the tour November 18-19,
then it's on to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for a November 21-23 tour stop
hosted by EAA Chapter 179.
For more information on the B-17 tour or
to book flights, please call 800-359-6217 or visit www.b17.org.
Pre-book prices are $359 for EAA members and $399 for non-EAA members.
Walk-up prices are $385 for EAA members and $425 for non-EAA members.
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EAA CANADIAN NEWSLETTER
GROWS RAPIDLY
Canadian Council members being sought
 This
week marked the sixth monthly issue of EAA's Bits and Pieces, an
e-newsletter for our Canadian members. Since its first issue,
subscriptions have grown more than 60 percent - from 3,800 to about
6,200 - and we've received many great comments so far. (View
the newsletter.) EAA is also reconstituting the EAA Canadian Council
and is in the process of seeking volunteers to serve on that body. The
new council will help EAA build on its traditional strengths in Canada,
such as homebuilding, EAA Chapters, the Young Eagles program, and the
operation of historic aircraft, and will also aim to increase the
government lobbying power of EAA in Canada. Canadian EAA members
interested in being considered should complete
the online application form. Questions are welcome at jsmith@eaa.org.
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SIGN UP TODAY! EAA B-17
FANTASY FLIGHT CAMP
 It's
a fantasy come true! At the weekend B-17 Fantasy Flight Camp, you will
get up close and personal with one of the most famous airplanes of World
War II. Immerse yourself in the stories of the aircraft's history as you
examine EAA's Aluminum Overcast, one of the few flying B-17s left in the
world. Top off the weekend with a once-in-a-lifetime, 20-minute flight
experience! Every effort is made to make this a true "fantasy"
experience for the aviation enthusiast - including privileged access to
various EAA facilities and specialists. Click
here for more information.
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WHERE ARE YOU FLYING THIS
WEEKEND?
 EAA
Chapter 908 Young Eagles Rally
St. Lucie County International Airport, Fort Pierce, Florida
Come check out the Young Eagles rally at the St. Lucie County
International Airport (FPR) Open House. The event will be at the airport
terminal, three miles north of downtown Fort Pierce, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Pre-register online at www.eaa908.org. EAA
Chapter 282 Young Eagles Rally, Clearwater Airpark, Florida
Free flights for youth ranging in age from 8 to 17. Registration begins
at Clearwater Airpark at 8 a.m.; event runs from 9 a.m. - 12 noon. Come
early and enjoy a pancake breakfast with all the trimmings in support of
the Young Eagles Program. Rain date is Saturday, November 15th. For more
information visit www.eaa282.org or
call Edward Dolezal at 727-647-2661.
And for more information about these events,
or to find/submit others, visit www.EAAcalendar.org.
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EAA 'TIMELESS VOICE OF
THE WEEK': GLENN MARTIN
 As
a boy, New Zealander Glenn Martin would dream of flying the skies with
his own personal jetpack. While attending the university and studying
biochemistry, Martin learned to fly hang gliders, but he always yearned
for more. As a break from biochemistry, Glenn began studying aircraft
engines and ducted-fan technology in the university library. His studies
led to a 27-year development of a 200-hp, ducted-fan powered personal
flying machine called the Martin Jetpack, which made its public debut
during EAA AirVenture 2008. Watch
the video.
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EAA MEMBERS SAVE ON
VINTAGE WOODEN PROPELLERS
 Wooden
propellers used to be replaced as often as old tires, and the old ones
were often taken home and hung over the mantel by pilots, mechanics, and
flight crews. Made of Kamchatka birch wood, these propellers are
expertly aged like the originals. Now through November 30, EAA members
save up to $18 off the regular, non-member price. Get the 6-foot wood
propeller with red tips for only $125.99, or the 4-footer for $71.99. Order
online or by calling our toll-free number, 800-564-6322.
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Q
& A:
Question of
the Week
I was reading an FAA
document yesterday that used the terms "CGAS,"
"GLFCAL," and "FFLT." What do
they stand for and where can I look them up?
Answer:
How
the FAA determines its acronyms, what the agency
calls "term contractions," is one of the
world's eight mysteries. The contractions you
mentioned are decoded as follows: "CGAS" -
Coast Guard Air Station; "GLFCAL" - Gulf
of California; and "FFLT" -
Familiarization Flight.
Contraction
definitions can be found in many sources, such as
the FAR/AIM manual, but the best single source that
we've found is FAA
Order 7340.2, Chapter 2, Section 1 (Decode).
This FAA document contains thousands of such
contractions that the FAA uses on a daily basis and
is updated quarterly, so it will always contain a
relatively current list.
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.
NOVEMBER
2008
EAA
Desktop Calendar
North American T-28s fly in formation during the
Warbird Spectacular air show at EAA AirVenture 2008.
Photo by Mark Forman.
Download
this wallpaper image at the EAA
website, where you can choose among several different
resolutions to suit
your screen...or select an image from the archive.
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ECLIPSE EMPLOYEES NOT
PAID FOR PAST TWO WEEKS
Eclipse Aviation
officials informed company employees early Thursday morning that they
would not be receiving paychecks for their last two weeks of labor, the
Associated Press reported on November 13. Employees at the Albuquerque,
New Mexico, manufacturing facility said they were called into a meeting
and told of the decision, then were handed a toll-free phone number to
call later to see if they would be paid. No reason was given for the
action, and EAA's calls to an Eclipse spokesperson for comments were not
immediately returned. The
AP reported that employees were told that they could come and go from
the workplace throughout the day. Many immediately emptied their desks
and left the facility.
NEW PANEL BUILDER
WEBSITE FROM AIRCRAFT SPRUCE
Planning a new panel for your aircraft? With the Aircraft Spruce and
Specialty Panel Builder website, you can plan your panel without having
to search the Internet and keep track of all your findings. Using drop
down menus, you can search a large inventory of avionics and instruments
by category, and then save your findings. This tool displays every piece
of equipment you will need for your panel, enabling you to get quotes
quickly and simplify the ordering process. Visit the Aircraft
Spruce website to learn more.
ECONOMY FORCES 500
LAYOFFS AT CESSNA
Cessna Aircraft will lay off 500 workers, the Wichita Eagle reported
this week. Laid-off employees will be given 60-day notices in the next
few weeks, according to a company e-mail. In addition to the layoffs in
Wichita, Kansas, the company will lay off 165 employees at its Bend,
Oregon, plant. The cuts will come through involuntary and voluntary
layoffs. "These actions are regrettable but necessary to ensure our
long-term stability and success," said Jim Walters, Cessna's senior
vice president for human resources. Cessna said it has adjusted its 2009
production schedules amid a softening global economy. The Eagle
also reported that Hawker Beechcraft cut 5 percent of its work force,
about 490 people, last Friday. For more information, visit www.cessna.com.
ANYWHERE MAP AND
FORWARD VISION TO COLLABORATE
AnywhereMap and Forward Vision Systems, Inc. will collaborate on a
project to integrate Forward Vision's Enhanced Visibility System (EVS)
with AnywhereMap electronic flight bag product. EVS provides real time
imaging to aid the pilot in reduced visibility situations, such as
smoke, dust, haze, and for ground operations at night. "This
technological breakthrough allows us to display the output of the EVS
live in a window of the Pilot's Electronic Flight bag computer system.
By eliminating an extra display, cockpit clutter is reduced," said
Jay Humbard, Anywhere Map CEO. To learn more, visit www.forward-vision.net
or www.anywheremap.com.
DIAMOND'S
'LOWEST-PRICE CERTIFIED GLASS COCKPIT TRAINER'
Diamond Aircraft's optional factory-equipped Aspen Avionics glass
cockpit solution for the DA20 two-seat trainer creates the industry's
lowest purchase price for a certified glass cockpit-equipped aircraft,
according to a company news release. The option price is $7,995 for the
Aspen EFD1000 Pilot Primary Flight Display (PFD). New DA20s equipped
with the Aspen PFD will support retrofit of the Aspen EFD1000
Multi-Function Display (MFD) upon its certification, expected in
mid-2009, and are pre-equipped with much of the hardware necessary for
the retrofit.
For more information, visit www.diamondaircraft.com.
GARMIN RECEIVES ODA
APPROVAL FROM FAA
Garmin International Inc., has received FAA Organization Designation
Authorization (ODA) permitting the company to conduct certain activities
on behalf of the FAA, such as the authority to issue Supplemental Type
Certificates (STCs) approving installations of Garmin avionics in
aircraft. This delegation converts the existing Garmin Organization
Designated Airworthiness Representative (ODAR) and Designated Alteration
Station (DAS) organizations to ODA and extends the authority to include
Garmin's Salem, Oregon, facility. For more information, visit www.Garmin.com.
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Want
to get the inside scoop on the exciting transformation under way
at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh convention grounds? Check out a
new blog that was launched this week on the AirVenture website,
featuring Steve Taylor (left), EAA's director of grounds and
maintenance. Steve will provide an insider's perspective on the
project as it progresses in the weeks and months leading up
to AirVenture Oshkosh 2009. Look for regular updates about the
project's progress. You can even subscribe to an RSS feed that
will alert you to new posts.
SportAir Fabric Workshop
