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United States Pilots Association |
So do you think they’re the only ones? I don’t think so.
http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper=adg§ion=News&storyid=99639
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
The FAA has issued a NOTAM of a TFR on Thursday, November 18, during a visit by President Bush, from 9:50 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. local.
Centered on the LIT VOR 320 degree radial at 3.8 miles, to FL 180, it will affect Adams Field (LIT), North Little Rock Municipal (1M1), Saline County/Watts Field (M99), Smith’s International (99A), Dennis F. Cantrell Field (CWS), Sheridan Municipal (9M8), Carlisle Municipal (4M3), and Hazen Municipal (6MO).
Please check with FSS prior to flight in this area on Thursday.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
You likely received a recent flyer from the FAA—without a notice of a safety seminar in it. The FAA announced it is discontinuing the mailing of safety seminar announcements, as all meeting announcements are now on the web, with more complete descriptions.
You are instructed to go to www.faasafety.gov and register your preferences, after which you will receive emails according to your selections. Eventually all notices will be delivered via the web. There is other information at the FAA website as well, so you may want to check it out.
The same notice also contains a reminder on TFRs, including the following: “If you are to enter or exit the 10-30 nautical mile radius of a presidential TFR, you must be on an active IFR or VFR flight plan. Under these circumstances, you will be issued a discrete code by an ATC facility and must be squawking that code prior to entering the TFR……….your transponder must be squawking the assigned code before your wheels leave the ground and while flying in the TFR, you must maintain two-way radio communication with air traffic control.”
Be careful, be safe.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
Following is an Aviation Security Advisory issued by the Transportation Security Administration on November 5, 2004, in response to the theft of an agricultural aircraft near Mexicali, Mexico.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
601 South 12th Street
Arlington, VA 22202
November 5, 2004
On November 1, 2004, a crop dusting aircraft was stolen from Ejido Queretaro, near Mexicali, Mexico. Although there is currently no indication that this has any connection to terrorist activity, the theft is cause for concern. Past information indicates that members of al-Qa’ida may have planned—or may still be planning—to disperse biological or chemical agents from crop dusting aircraft.
The stolen aircraft has been identified as a Piper PA 25, Pawnee, and is similar to one depicted below. It is registered in Mexico and bears the tail number XBCYP.
If you see the aircraft described above, you should immediately contact the TSA General Aviation Hotline at (866) 427-3287.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
Thursday morning, October 21, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey spoke via satellite to those assembled at the AOPA Expo in Long Beach, CA, answering questions directed to her. Among her comments were, “Our airports are a natural resource. When they’re gone, they’re gone.” Then she spoke to the need for keeping the airports we have, plus building more.
Regarding FSSs, she said the Trust Fund can’t continue to pay for them at the current price. It costs $25 for each call to a FSS, and $1/2 billion per year. The A-76 competitive sourcing is not privatization—it is not selling out to the highest bidder. But it allows private companies to bid on the work, and she feels that $500 million could be saved in seven years after the change. The decision will be made in January, and the FSS employees are bidding as well. She firmly stated, “The FAA doesn’t support a fee-based system.” “It helps to have a pilot in the White House.” She said the Trust Fund will continue to fund the FSSs, with no fee for service.
On the topic of WAAS, Blakey said the FAA commissioned WAAS in July, 2003, and it now covers most of the country. The FAA will continue to develop GPS approaches until all qualified airports have them. The Garmin 480 was just certified (under $10,000), and upgrades for 530s and 430s will be around $1,500. She encouraged the flying community to buy and use WAAS equipment to verify the value of the technology.
From a safety standpoint, Blakey said, “Things look good for GA.”
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association