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December
24, 2009 Volume 9,
Number 59 |
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM EAA
 Thanks
to all of you - EAA members, volunteers, sponsors, and countless others
- for making 2009 so special and one of the most exciting and memorable
years in the history of your organization. On behalf of the EAA staff,
Sharon, Lesley and I wish you and your families the happiest of holiday
seasons as well as a safe and prosperous 2010!
The next issue of e-Hotline
will be on Friday, January 8, 2010.
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HONOR FLIGHT
EAAers fly a hero home for the holidays
 On
a very special general aviation flight from Baltimore (BWI) to Wittman
Regional (OSH) late last week, an aircraft’s call sign was temporarily
changed from N700PW to “Hero Flight Zero Papa Whiskey.” That
well-suited identifier honored a wounded Marine who was being flown back
home to Wisconsin for the holidays from Walter Reed Army Medical Center
in Washington, D.C. The flight came courtesy of Veterans Airlift Command
(VAC), with EAA director David Lau and EAA Director of Flight Operations
Sean Elliott in the cockpit of Lau’s Socata TBM 700. Read
more
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SKILES BRINGS WRIGHT
BROS. BANQUET IN FOR A SMOOTH AND DRY LANDING
 “Let
me put you in the jump seat of our Airbus A320 on that fateful day in
January,” said U.S. Air Flight 1549 co-pilot Jeff Skiles, the featured
speaker at the 7th annual Wright Brothers Memorial Banquet on December
18. With those words, Skiles began to captivate the attention of the
approximately 370 attendees, holding them spellbound while at the same
time causing them to laugh uproariously during his in-depth description
of what the world now refers to as “The Miracle on the Hudson.” Read
more
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TWO-WEEK TFR PRESIDENT'S
VACATION MEANS GA DIFFICULTIES ON OAHU
 The
ongoing difficulties with Temporary Flight Restrictions nationwide came
into focus again this week, this time on the island of Oahu in Hawaii,
as general aviation faced more hurdles during President Obama’s
vacation in that state beginning Wednesday. Read
more
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EAA, MEMBERS CRITICAL OF
FAA'S NEW TTF POLICY
The general aviation community has responded strongly to the proposed
FAA policy on residential through the fence (TTF) agreements at
public-use airports. EAA has been collecting comments from members and
has compiled them in a letter to the FAA asking the agency to abandon
its proposed one-size-fits-all policy. Read
more
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FLIGHT 1549 VOTED MOST
EXCITING STORY OF THE YEAR
 Voters
in our poll this past week selected the Miracle on the Hudson as the
most exciting story of 2009. Forty-four percent of Oshkosh365 poll
participants chose the story of US Airways Flight 1549, in which Captain
Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles
performed a successful ditching of an Airbus A320 in the Hudson River
after losing power in both engines following a catastrophic bird strike.
All 155 people on board the flight were saved. Read
more
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR
NEXT EAA PRESIDENT NOW AVAILABLE
As EAA Chairman/President Tom Poberezny noted in last month’s wide-ranging
interview that discussed what the organization was seeking in its
next president, EAA members and those interested in suggesting a
possible candidate, or have an interest in the opportunity, would be
able to contact those involved with the search. The position description
for EAA president has now been posted through Korn/Ferry, the
international executive search firm that is assisting EAA with this
succession effort. Read
more
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SANTA RECEIVES WAIVER TO
OPERATE IN THE DC REGION
 Following
an urgent request received from “way up north,” EAA has helped
ensure that a certain Jolly Old Elf has proper authorization to operate
in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ)
on December 24-25. Just in the St. Nick of time, EAA received word on
Tuesday, December 22, from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
that it has granted a waiver for Santa Claus to operate in that
restricted airspace. Read
more
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NAFI SAYS PROPOSED ATP
REQUIREMENT MAY DEGRADE AIRLINE SAFETY
The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) is objecting to a
bill in congress that would require an Airline Transport Pilot
Certificate (ATP) as the minimum standard to act as a flight crew member
for operations under Federal Aviation Regulations, Part 121, which
applies to most scheduled airline services. NAFI contends that this
proposal does not address quality of experience; instead it addresses
only a quantity of experience that is not necessarily directly
applicable to the type of flight operations that the pilots will
encounter. Read
more
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YOU CAN STILL WIN THE ULTIMATE OSHKOSH EXPERIENCE
 What?!?
You haven't yet signed up for Oshkosh365? When you become part of the
world's largest aviation community - one of EAA's newest member
benefits-before December 31, 2009, you are automatically entered to win
the Ultimate Oshkosh Experience. One lucky winner will be flown to
Oshkosh to experience EAA AirVenture 2010 as a VIP - in addition to
airfare and weekly admission, the prize package includes exclusive
behind-the-scenes access, aircraft rides, and more! Offer ends December
31, 2009, so sign up now or find
out more about the Ultimate
Oshkosh Experience
here.
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ANNOUNCING
EAA'S NEW MEGAMALL AND DEAL OF THE WEEK WITH GREAT DISCOUNTS FOR
MEMBERS!
We're excited to offer EAA Members an exclusive shopping
destination: the EAA MegaMall, where you'll receive members-only
discounts on new products and services from the general aviation
marketplace and our own EAA Merchandise. Each week we'll feature a
selected product as our Deal of the Week discounted just for EAA
Members, plus we'll feature other discounts and rebates on other
products aviators need. Enjoy
your shopping!
Bring your Aircraft into the 21st
Century with a Plane Power Alternator
 Unequaled
in reliability and performance, EAA members can get rebates up to
$500 on alternators and generator conversion kits purchased from
authorized dealers during December and January. Plus - members can get
$500 off any Twin Conversion Kit, $200 off any Single Conversion Kit,
$100 off any PMA replacement alternator, and $50 off any experimental
alternator. Click here
for more info on this limited-time offer and other great deals.
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Can you help?
Join the Discussions
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If you have a suggestions and/or submission for EAA’s weekly AeroInnovations column, please send to
AeroInnovations editor Bob Waldron at aeroinnovations@eaa.org.
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| Space
Shuttle Jr.? |
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After
2010, when the Space Shuttle is retired from service, the only
spaceplane in the U.S. inventory will be the Air Force's mysterious
X-37. With a 15-ft wingspan and length of 27.5 feet, the Boeing-built
X-37 looks like a small version of the shuttle, but its mission is not
yet clear outside a select few in the Department of Defense. |
| Snakes
On A Plane? The Snake IS The Plane |
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Think
"airship" and most people would picture a blimp-shaped
vehicle. But the German company TAO (Trans-Atmospheric Operations)
Technologies GmbH, of Stuttgart, Germany, is out to change the
perception. In partnership with the University of Stuttgart and Ft.
Lauderdale, Florida-based Sanswire Corporation, they're developing the
Stratellite, a smaller, more flexible, unmanned, autonomous blimp that
may rewrite the books on the value of lighter-than-air vehicles. |
| Flying
Trailer, Towed by Planes, Lands Itself |
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It's
not quite like going down to the U-Haul dealer and outfitting your
aircraft with a tow rope and brake lights; but a North Dakota company
has combined UAV and autogyro technology to offer a trailer you can tow
behind your aircraft. The company claims it can double the payload a tow
airplane can pull and deliver the cargo in tight places. |
| Compact
Superconducting Power Systems Boost Power Save Weight |
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Researchers
are seeking ways to increase the power output of on-board power
generating systems in aircraft without increasing weight.
Superconducting wire that is already used in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
machines (MRI) could be used in concert with compact cooling systems to
provide additional power output aloft. |
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| AeroInnovations aims to highlight developments that have potential to impact the future of aviation. EAA does not necessarily endorse the ideas, products, services or views contained therein. |
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HERTZ HOLIDAY SEASON
SPECIAL
 Everyone
is looking to save some money this holiday season…and Hertz is
offering something very special for reservations made now through the
end of the year for pick up now through February 6, 2010. EAA members
can save $10/day, up to $30 booking a weekly or weekend Economy through
Premium rental using the EAA Customer Discount Program (CDP) number
70159 and PC #138622. Simply go to Hertz.com
to take advantage of this offer. Read
more
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HOMEBUILDING HINT OF THE
WEEK: EXHAUST HARDWARE
 Richard
Koehler reviews the types of exhaust hardware you'll run into when
installing your exhaust. Dick is a Technical Counselor for Chapter 186,
an A&P aircraft mechanic with Inspection Authorization (IA), and a
SportAir Workshop instructor. Watch
the video.
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EAA 'TIMELESS VOICE OF
THE WEEK': JOE ROGERS
 Joe
Rogers was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Force in August 1941. He was
sent to aircraft mechanic school and then assigned to the 61st Fighter
Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group, where he became a crew chief on P-47
Thunderbolts. The 56th was sent overseas to England in January 1943, and
Joe would spend the next three years with the group there, becoming a
friend of many of the group’s aces. Watch
the video.
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IRA
CHARITABLE ROLLOVER AVAILABLE THROUGH DECEMBER 31
If you are age 70 1/2 or older, there is still time to directly transfer
up to $100,000 tax-free to charity. The IRA Charitable Rollover
provision remains in effect through the end of the year. By not
including your IRA withdrawal in the income you report for the year, you
effectively receive a charitable deduction before calculating your
adjusted gross income for tax purposes. Read
more
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IN-FLIGHT
PHOTOS CAN BE DANGEROUS, MAY BE UNINSURED
By Bob Mackey, representative for the
EAA Aircraft Insurance Plan,
Administered by Falcon Insurance Agency
 Who
hasn't snapped a few pictures or shot a video while flying? Like when
you've taken friends for their first flight, they always enjoy seeing
the world from a new perspective. The problem is there are dangers if
you don't know what you are doing and you also may very well have
insurance issues. Let's talk about safety first, then look into the
insurance issues. Read
more
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HAVE
A HAPPY HOMEBUILT NEW YEAR!
 Get your New Year off to a great start and save 25 percent on select
"how-to" books. Need a certain book from the Bingelis
Collection to complete your set? There's no better time than right now!
Need all the Bingelis books? Take 25 percent off the whole set! Click
here to see other books available that will give your project a
jumpstart. And…it's that time again. Don't forget to get your copy of
EAA's World of Flight 2010
Calendar, now only $9.99 (Reg. $12.99). Order
online or call toll-free 800-564-6322.
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Q
& A:
Question of
the Week
For EAA
Information Services
In earlier issues of e-Hotline you've mentioned that
the revised Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft rules
would be issued in mid-December. I haven't seen them
yet. Do you know when they'll be out?
Answer: No,
but we have been informed that the revised rule
package is on the FAA Administrator's desk for final
approval. Once Administrator Babbitt signs the
approval, the revised rules should be published in
the Federal Register within 4 days. We hope
that will occur within a week or two.
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.
January
2010
EAA
Desktop Calendar
The
site of an Aeronca 7AC on skis is a reminder to mark
your calendars - for the annual EAA Skiplane Fly-In,
scheduled this year on Saturday, January 23. This
traditional winter event actually brings EAAers
together for three reasons: the fly-in, the
celebration of EAA’s founding; and Audrey
Poberezny’s birthday.
Download
this wallpaper image from the EAA
website, where you can choose among several different
resolutions to suit
your screen - including three wide-screen
sizes...or select an image from the archive. |
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SPORTY'S
SPOTS FLIGHT TRENDS
Michael J. Wolf, president and chief operating officer at Sporty's has a
feel for how general aviation as a whole is faring. By studying their
sales history, Wolf says the company can spot trends early. Below are
some of the observations they've made for 2009 and what you might expect
to see going into 2010.
Wolf says that pilots are flying
"smarter" - which means less. But they still want to stay
current, so they're getting more interested in continuous home learning.
Wolf also says that touch screen GPSs are here and for real. The move to
aviation touch screens has been welcomed with open arms, as evidenced by
the Garmin aera and Bendix/King AV8OR lines. Sporty's records also show
that Personal Locator Beacons are becoming mainstream items. As prices
have dropped 40 percent in the past few years, more pilots are
appreciating their value and are including them as basic survival
equipment.
Visit Sporty's for the full
report.
INJURED DEPUTY SHERIFF
IS BOMBARDIER-ABLE FLIGHT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
Deputy Sheriff Dan Hodess was off duty and on his way to work on April
5, 1998 when he spotted a stranded motorist on I-95 in Ft. Lauderdale,
Florida. When he stopped to help, another car hit him, pinning him
between the two vehicles, and the 61 mph impact instantly cost Hodess
both legs. Heis the first person to be awarded the Bombardier-Able
Flight Scholarship, recognizing Bombardier's continued support of Able
Flight's mission and Hodess's ability to fulfill his long-held ambition
of becoming a pilot. Learn more at www.AbleFlight.org.
CESSNA DELIVERS FIRST
SKYCATCHER
Cessna Aircraft Company this week delivered its first Model 162
Skycatcher light-sport aircraft during a ceremony at Yingling Aircraft
in Wichita, Kansas. Rose Pelton, wife of Cessna Chairman, President, and
CEO Jack J. Pelton, received the first Skycatcher, a two-place,
single-engine piston, high-wing aircraft. Cessna, in association with
King Schools, has also developed a new Web-based training system for
sport and private pilot certificates that will be available through the
Cessna Pilot Center network of flight schools. Learn more at www.Cessna.com.
MYSKY AIRCRAFT TAKING
ORDERS
MySky Aircraft, Inc., developer of the MS-1 light-sport aircraft, says
that orders are now being accepted. The first deliveries of production
models are expected in November 2010. The MS-1 Mentor model comes
equipped with front panel flight and engine instruments, Emergency
Locator Transmitter, nav lights and wing tip strobes, and has a base
price of $124,500. The MS-1 Elite is equipped with the MySky Flight
Information Center in both front and back panel, back up analog airspeed
and altimeter indicators, magnetic compass, Garmin VHF com with
intercom, and GTX-327 encoding transponder. The base price of the MS-1
Elite is $132,500. Learn more at www.MySky.aero.
PURDUE UNIVERSITY GETS
A PHENOM 100 JET
Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, has purchased a Phenom 100
as part of the Department of Aviation Technology's fleet replacement
program. The jet was chosen after an extensive evaluation and selection
process. The university's Department of Aviation Technology's current
fleet is more than 10 years old and is expected to be replaced by
mid-2010. Purdue's partnership with Embraer, through the acquisition of
the Phenom 100 entry-level jet, will allow the university's students the
ability to graduate with an FAA jet type rating. Learn more at www.Tech.Purdue.edu/at/
or www.Embraer.com.
WEARABLE FUN FROM
SPORTY'S
Sporty's new t-shirts help show your aviation enthusiasm even when
you're not at the airport. It only takes two things to fly: airspeed and
money is the message of one shirt. Another charts the four forces of
flight: dreams (up); reality (down); money (forward), and the FAA
(backward). A third shirt explains the FAA's "mission" - we're
not happy until you're not happy. Then there's the dictionary definition
of pilot - the highest form of life on earth. All four t-shirts are made
from 100 percent cotton and are available in sizes M - XXL. Visit www.Sportys.com
or call 800-776-7897 to order.
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