AOPA News

West Coast sanctuary overflight now a dangerous gamble

Pilots could face stiff fines - up to six figures - for violating new overflight regulations that place the National Airspace System on a slippery slope The FAA has ceded to another federal agency - the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - authority to enforce what amount to new airspace restrictions

Airway access during military training urged

AOPA has requested that the Air Force which plans to establish a temporary military operations area during military exercises scheduled for June from Volk Field Air National Guard base in Wisconsin assure unimpeded airway access for general aviation flights Members are encouraged to submit comments on the plan by Feb 3

No user fees tax hikes in long-term FAA bill

No user fees No increase in avgas or jet fuel taxes General aviation pilots can celebrate what wasnt included in the long-term FAA reauthorization bill The House and Senate ironed out details on a four-year FAA reauthorization bill Jan 31 paving the way for a full vote in both houses before the latest short-term funding extension expires Feb 17 Highlights of the bill indicate that GA fared well

Bank of America helps member buy LSA

After achieving his dream of learning to fly AOPA member Carl Houghton wanted an airplane of his own When it came time to investigate financing he made some inquiries into AOPAs Aircraft Financing Program

LightSquared tests offer no practical solution

AOPA is calling for the Federal Communications Commission to revoke LightSquareds conditional approval to develop a mobile-satellite network A technical committee has concluded that the transmissions pose intractable interference problems for aviation navigation and other uses of GPS

AVWEB

Air Force Plan Would Cut 10000 Airmen

Nearly 10000 of the Air Forces active National Guard and Reserve airmen would be cut next year if plans detailed Friday by the Air Force go into effect Cuts will reportedly target the National Guard for more than half of the total personnel aircraft and other equipment to be trimmed Specific numbers trim 5100 guardsmen 3900 active-duty members and 899 reservistsThe Air Force Times has reported that the Air Force does not intend to employ involuntary cuts in the active force to reach that goal Changes will come to forces in all 50 states and cuts may not stop there The plan brought immediate push-back

American Airlines Bankruptcy May Cost You

As part of its bankruptcy reorganization American Airlines could announce plans next week to lay off more than 13000 workers and eliminate pension plans or warns one analyst the end of the airline could be near American made promises to pilots about pay benefits retirement and employment that in many cases are not going to be kept according to Glenn MacDonald an economics professor at Olin Business School at Washington University St Louis MacDonald believes the airline is not positioned to compete and generate sufficient profits to sustain operations without significant reduction in what it provides to employees According to MacDonald without those reductions American will soon be gone not just reorganized with pieces bought up by competitors Whether that proves prescient or propagandist pilots pensions appear to be in the crosshairs and you the taxpayer may be on the hook for something

Kestrel Collecting Resumes

Production may be about two years off and the facility has yet to be built but Kestrel Aircraft Co hopes to create 600 jobs in Superior Wisconsin over the next few years and resumes are already coming in The company currently employs about 50 engineers who are working to transform the Kestrel prototype single-engine six to eight seat turboprop into an FAA-certified production aircraft Successful completion of that task precludes any mass hiring New hires will also need a physical workplace and Kestrel will break ground on a 35000-square foot production facility this spring likely by April Wisconsins Indianhead Technical College of Superior hopes to work with Kestrel to develop training courses that would address specific needs at Kestrel

Wheres My Flying Car

Back in 2003 the SEC filed a complaint against Moller International and Paul S Moller for the development and marketing of a Skycar -- on January 30 2012 Moller International began promoting two new Skycar designs for the LSA category The SECs complaint cited false and misleading statements Moller used in promotional releases and to solicit approximately 51 million from more than 500 investors Moller settled by paying a 50000 fine and agreeing to a permanent injunction The latest LSA offerings from Moller International are currently available in brochure form Specifications for one include a cruise speed of 237 mph -- about twice the Light Sport categorys current cruise speed restriction A practical flying car with every-man usability has so far eluded the public but we may have already been introduced to a design that shows promise aside from the Terrafugia Transition roadable aircraft AVwebs Glenn Pew takes a look in this weeks video Click through to view

Question of the Week Crash Pilots as Criminals

A New Hampshire pilot is facing manslaughter charges in the death of his daughter after the twin he was flying without a multi-endorsement crashed in Massachusetts Are there circumstances where pilots should face criminal actionPlus Last week we asked AVweb readers about the proposed weight limit increases for light sport aircraft click through to see the breakdown of answers

Aero-News

HAI Applauds Defeat Of Schumer Noise Amendment

NY Senator Tried To Add Altitude Restrictions To FAA Reauthorization A provision to regulate helicopter routes and address noise issues over populated areas in Long Island New York championed by New York Democratic Senator Charles Schumer and inserted at the eleventh hour in the Senate FAA bill was dropped in final negotiations with senior lawmakers HAI is thanking leaders from both parties for blocking the amendment

Florida Senator Speaks Out Against User Fees

Senator Bill Nelson D Sends Letter To President Obama Supporting GA Position Floridas senior Senator Democrat Bill Nelson recently sent a letter to the White House opposing President Barack Obamas proposal for a 100 per-flight user fee on general aviation I know were facing difficult economic times in our country Nelson wrote but weve got to get our financial house in order without hindering high-growth industries such as general aviation

Micron CEO Lost In Lancair Turbo-Prop Accident In Boise

Steve Appleton Had A Love For Fast Airplanes Aerobatics ANN Real-Time Update 020312 1711 ET NTSB personnel are now reporting that Appletons fatal flight last but a few minutes According to an investigator on site preliminary details suggest that his Lancair departed at approximately 0854 LocalMountain Time and climbed to an altitude estimated at between 100-200 feet before he requested a return to the field Appleton provided no reason for his request but in the process of recovering back to KBOI the aircraft reportedly banked and may have stalled before rolling into the ground at 0856 LocalMountain Time Initial Report ANN is working the details that are coming in from a fatal accident report that involved the CEO of Micron Steve Appleton 51 at 1557 UTC The most recent details indicate that Appleton went down in Boise at the Boise International Airport in a Lancair IVP-Turboprop N321LC and was killed on impact The NTSB has been dispatched to the accident site Current reports indicate that the aircraft went down between runways at the Boise International Airport KBOI and that a fire ensued post-impact The wreckage appears to have been fully consumed in the fire

Sierra Nevada Corporation Speaks Out On LAS Program

Accuses HBC Of Misinformation And Legal Wrangling Delaying A-29 Super Tucano Program As the winner of the US Air Force Light Air Support LAS competition Sparks NV-Based Sierra Nevada Corporation SNC on Thursday issued a point-by-point rebuttal of what it says is misinformation being spread by the disqualified contender for the contract

FAA Industry Avionics Rotorcraft Forum Concludes At AEA HQ

Presentations From The Forum Now Available Online On Thursday Feb 2 more than 70 general aviation industry leaders and regulatory executives concluded a successful 2 12-day avionics rotorcraft forum at the Aircraft Electronics Association International Headquarters

	Cessna Service Center - Wichita	Tracy Forrest	Sun Feb 05, 2012 12:08 am
	CJP Insurance Program bonus and credits......	Ed Turley	Sat Feb 04, 2012 8:35 pm
	Checkride Flight Plan KASE Departure	John Clark	Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:59 pm
	compressor rinse	John Clark	Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:29 pm
	Updating to waas economically	Howard Tobin	Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:47 pm

	EBACE Convention and Exhibition	Geneva, Switzerland	May 14-16, 2012
	Airventure Oshkosh	Oshkosh, WI	Jul 22-29, 2012
	CJP 2012 Convention	Coeur d'Alene, ID	Sep 12-16, 2012
	AOPA Aviation Summit	Palm Springs, CA	Oct 11-13, 2012
	NBAA 2012	Orlando, FL	Oct 30-Nov 1, 2012