Golden State Ercoupe Owners Club, Region 7

From the EAA

FAA ISSUES NEW ADVISORY CIRCULAR FOR VINTAGE AIRCRAFT
In a move intended to help keep vintage aircraft safely maintained, restored and flying, the FAA has issued new Advisory Circular AC 23-27, Parts and Materials Substitution for Vintage Aircraft, dated May 18, 2009. The AC, created by the FAA's Small Airplane Directorate in Kansas City, Missouri, was a joint effort by the FAA in consultation with industry representatives including EAA and EAA's Vintage Aircraft Association.  Read more

 Protecting And Growing General Aviation
AOPA and EAA collaborating on mutual issues
Two of the nation's largest aviation associations, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) will be collaborating on issues and programs that protect, support and grow general aviation as the result of a June 3 working session at the EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. EAA chairman/president Tom Poberezny and AOPA president Craig Fuller, along with senior staff from each organization, met to discuss how they can work more closely to support general aviation (GA). They agreed to a collaborative, three-pronged commitment to protect general aviation interests, promote GA safety, and grow the general aviation community in the United States.  |  Read more

HOUSE FAA REAUTHORIZATION PASSES, AGAIN WITHOUT USER FEES
The House has passed the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009 (H.R.915), which would continue funding the agency through 2012 using excise taxes on fuel and airline tickets and a general fund contribution, but no user fees. The bill would provide $70 billion for FAA programs, including NextGen funding, between fiscal years 2009-2012.  Read more

HOUSE VOTE WOULD LIMIT REACH OF TSA SECURITY DIRECTIVES
Amendment now part of TSA Authorization Act
Sometimes it's as much about how you go about doing business as it is about what business you do. In the case of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and its issuance of security directives, the general aviation community hasn't been happy with either the hows or the whats. The issue has recently come to a head in response to an outcry from the general aviation community in response to TSA Security Directive 08F and 08G, which require background checks and badges for general aviation pilots and aircraft owners operating at airports with any form of commercial service. Thursday, however, after an exhaustive and united advocacy effort by numerous general-aviation groups, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed (219-211) an amendment  to the Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act that would address the "how" concerns by reining in TSA's policymaking-by-decree practices.  Read more

NEW EPA PROGRAM COULD THREATEN AVGAS AVAILABILITY
EAA working to ensure current and future GA fuel supply
Announcements made by the Environmental Protection Agency today could further tighten the screws on our nation's general aviation fuel supply, making EAA's ongoing advocacy and work on fuel-related issues increasingly relevant and urgent.  The EPA announced a broad-sweeping program of air-quality testing and monitoring to enforce newly adopted, and considerably more stringent, standards for allowable levels of lead. This program entails EPA scrutiny of numerous industries and commercial activities involving lead emissions. As part of this effort, the EPA will direct state governments to examine whether general-aviation activity at certain airports contributes to unacceptable levels of lead in the air. The new standards lower the allowable amount of lead to one-tenth of previously accepted levels.  Read more

CLARIFICATION OF ELT REQUIREMENTS
This week the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) sent out notifications to U.S. aircraft owners regarding upcoming changes in emergency locator transmitter (ELT) services. NOAA reminds owners that after February 1, 2009, satellite coverage of 121.5 MHz ELTs will end and that only ground-based monitoring will take place. NOAA recommends that aircraft owners transition to the improved digital 406 MHz ELT systems. This has caused some confusion among aircraft owners, many of whom feel they are now required to upgrade to the 406 MHz units.  Read more

PLANE POWER'S GENERATOR-TO-ALTERNATOR CONVERSION KIT
Plane-Power, Ltd. has received STC/PMA approval for its new Gear Driven Generator to Alternator Conversion Kit. The ER14-50 replaces the existing generator and generator regulator on many small block Continental engine equipped aircraft such as those powered by C-85, C-90, C-125, C-145, and other engines. The Plane-Power ER14-50 alternator kit allows aircraft owners to replace old, heavy, poor-performing generators with a factory-new alternator that offers the benefits of high output at low engine RPMs, lighter weight (6.9 lbs.), and greater reliability. Learn more at www.plane-power.com or call 877-573-5700.

From the AOPA;
GA pilots could influence security measure

Members of Congress are calling on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to formally work with the general aviation community to modify its controversial Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP). Since the TSA issued its notice of proposed rulemaking on the program in October, lawmakers have been objecting to the measures in letters, hearings, and proposed legislation. Now Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) has introduced a bill, the General Aviation Security Enhancement Act of 2009, that would require the agency to engage in negotiated rulemaking in order to find a solution for the LASP that does not impose costly security regulations on GA without justification. He introduced the bill, which AOPA supports, on June 26. Read more >>

AOPA works on aviation fuel specs
As the industry explores new fuels for general aviation aircraft, AOPA continues to be actively involved in fuel issues. The association participated in meetings this week with ASTM International, the organization that sets consensus standards for fuel used in FAA type-certificated aircraft. The meetings, held in Norfolk, Va., included discussions on leaded, unleaded, and diesel fuel specifications. Read more >>

House Homeland Security funding bill addresses LASP

The House passed an appropriations bill on June 24 to fund the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2010. A committee report accompanying the bill, H.R.2892, addresses several issues relevant to general aviation pilots, including the Transportation Security Administration’s proposed Large Aircraft Security Program. Read more >>

AOPA and EAA team to protect, grow GA
Two of the nation’s largest aviation associations, AOPA and EAA, will be collaborating on issues and programs that protect, support, and grow general aviation as the result of a June 3 working session at the EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh, Wis. EAA Chairman and President Tom Poberezny and AOPA President Craig Fuller, along with senior staff from each organization, met to discuss how they can work more closely to support GA. They agreed to a collaborative, three-pronged commitment to protect GA interests, promote GA safety, and grow the GA community in the United States. “This is a logical collaboration that makes sense for the greater good of general aviation,” Fuller said. Read more >>

GUIDANCE FOR VINTAGE AIRCRAFT PARTS, MATERIALS SUBSTITUTION
The FAA has issued a draft advisory circular (AC), providing guidance on parts and materials substitutions needed to maintain the safety of old or out-of-production aircraft. AOPA supports the FAA's efforts to keep vintage aircraft flying and has requested that the agency regularly review and expand the AC. AOPA also asked the FAA to consider creating an online database for vintage aircraft owners that would have real-time information on acceptable parts substitutions. The association offered to work with the vintage aircraft community and the FAA "to provide the data needed to populate the database and develop new approvals to benefit the safety and viability of the vintage fleet." To learn more about caring for these aircraft, take the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Aging Aircraft online course. 

COST OF FLYING A HINDRANCE TO NEW PILOTS, MEMBERS SAY
When AOPA recently asked members for ideas about boosting the pilot population, many responded that rising costs in aviation are a significant barrier. "We recognize that rising costs are a factor in the declining pilot population," said Greg Romano, AOPA vice president of public relations. "That's why AOPA is working to reduce the cost of flying on several fronts: on Capitol Hill, through discounted pilot products and services, and by offering flight training scholarships." Cost has always been a factor, but it's not the only one. AOPA wants to know your creative ideas for getting more people interested in flying. In the 5,000-plus responses we've received so far, we've heard clever ideas ranging from new ways to develop communities among local pilots to opportunities to enhance the flight training experience. Share your ideas now!

AOPA WORKING ON FUTURE AVGAS
100LL—its rising cost, future availability, and environmental impact—is on the minds of everyone in the aviation industry. AOPA is working to help find a viable fuel replacement that would have a minimal impact on our members and general aviation aircraft. On March 17, AOPA responded to the Environmental Protection Agency's publication of a rulemaking petition to limit lead emissions from general aviation aircraft. The EPA's move stems from a petition from the environmental group Friends of the Earth. Removing lead from avgas without having a suitable alternative would have a catastrophic impact on 30 percent of the GA fleet. Read more on AOPA Online

TIPS FOR FACING DOWN FUEL COSTS
With the increasing price of avgas, many pilots are looking for ways to conserve fuel and reduce the cost of flying. "Unfortunately, many of the habits we formed in operating airplanes when fuel was one-quarter or even one-half of what it costs today are not optimal given the current fuel prices," explained Peter A. Bedell in "Facing down fuel costs: How to ease the high price of avgas" in the September 2006 AOPA Pilot. Read Bedell's article for 11 techniques to help you save fuel, plus several products to help reduce fuel costs. Use the AOPA Airport Directory Online to look up FBO fuel prices at airports along your route of flight and plan your fuel stops accordingly.

HAVE YOU SWITCHED FROM PAPER TO PLASTIC?
The FAA is reviewing comments on a proposal that would require pilots to replace their paper pilot certificates with tamper-resistant plastic certificates. The final rule is expected to be released early next year, and it's anticipated that pilots will have two years to make the change. Beat the rush by requesting a plastic pilot certificate online. You should keep your paper certificate, with your original issuance date, for your records, because your plastic certificate will have a new issue date. Ordering a new certificate costs $2, but if you want the FAA to remove your Social Security number from the certificate or its records, you can get a plastic certificate for free.

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Last modified: 11/13/09