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United States Pilots Association |
USPA Fly-In and weekend Mountain Flying Clinic (co-sponsored by the New Mexico Pilots Association), Santa Fe, NM, September 4-6, 2009. Join USPA and NMPA members for a delightful free Friday evening reception hosted by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney of Santa Fe, and then attend an FAA WINGS safety seminar on mountain flying. Mountain flying by experienced mountain flying CFIs is part of the clinic for an additional fee (see www.uspilots.org for details). Or just enjoy the beautiful fall foliage and the shops, museums, ad restaurants of Santa Fe.
USPA Fly-In at the AOPA Aviation Summit in Tamps, FL, November 5-7, 2009. On Saturday, November 7, at the Marriott Hotel (next to the Tampa Convention Center) USPA will host an informal get-together for all AOPA attendees who are members of USPA (or are interested in USPA).
Would you like to have a fall fly-in in a more centrally located area this fall? If so, when and where? Let me hear from you.
USPA Annual Meeting, May, 2010. Thursday evening safety seminar, Friday morning meeting, and then a fun weekend. In Branson? Let me or Bob Worthington (rworthin@zianet.com) know where you would like to go and what dates you are available.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
USPA
Today's (June 18th) edition of AOPA's AviationEbrief confirms the fact that the geniuses in Homeland Security have finally admitted that the concerns over GA airport security and small planes were "Mostly hypothetical.” Imagine that. So what we have here is a policy of badging pilots and others and filing of flight plans in advance for across the border flights being implemented based upon a hypothesis that we could be security risks. It seems to me that when pilots attempt to comply with these new regulations, they are hauled out of their aircraft at gunpoint. I'll just bet that President Obama will take credit for the creation of all the new jobs involved with businesses and airports hiring now required security directors. I am not making this up. It comes from the Inspector General of The Homeland Security Department. Read the article yourselves and you decide. I firmly believe that HSA/TSA is like a runaway locomotive. Nobody is at the controls.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association
USPA member Jim Carney is doing some wonderful work with a worthwhile organization—Pilots and Paws. They’re undertaking a special effort the week of September 12-20, to rescue at least 5,000 animals from kill shelters to safety.
Won’t you help? Please sign up and/or share the information with your local animal shelter and friends.
People who love animals are good people!
pilotsnpaws.org
Thanks!
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
USPA
NMPA and USPA are co-sponsoring a weekend mountain flying clinic in Santa Fe, NM, on September 4-6. Join USPA and NMPA members for a delightful free Friday evening reception and then attend an FAA safety seminar on mountain flying. Fly with experienced mountain flying CFIs for an additional fee, or just enjoy the beautiful fall foliage and the shops, museums, and restaurants of Santa Fe.
See attached flyer for more information.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
USPA
This email was sent to NMPA members by NMPA President Bob Worthington. He is urging NMPA members to keep the pressure on Congress, and all USPA members should do the same thing. We can’t stop now!
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
USPA
NMPA News Brief: Congress Defends GA against TSA and DHS
A few months ago NMPA started sending out email messages on how TSA was in a very quick rush to control all aspects of GA. The different methods of implementing TSA Security checks at various airports was reorted, specifically pointing out how it appeared that the TSA officials had no uniform method of how to apply their own restrictions.
NMPA also pointed out that the TSA Security Directive was one of the most confusing government documents ever written; and upon reading this hidden from GA document, it became very clear that TSA officials at the various airports had no idea of what the document really meant.
While reporting how TSA was plodding forward as organized as the Keystone Cops, some NMPA members emailed NMPA and chided us for reporting rumors and unfounded stories and in general bad mouthing TSA unfairly. So individual personal emails were sent to each and every one of the people who believed that TSA would not do what was being said. Each one was directed to various newspaper articles around the country and then to contact the various airport managers or FBO managers where TSA was creating a nightmare for aircraft owners and pilots. The president of USPA did, in fact, contact one airport and found that the airport officials said the newspaper articles were presenting the truth. What TSA was imposing was arbitrary, impractical, dubious, and very costly.
NMPA urged every pilot to contact his/her federal representatives in Washington and complain very loudly and very clearly about how TSA and the Dept. of Homeland Security had zero understanding of GA and thought that a Cessna 150 or 172 could be just as destructive as an airliner loaded with tons of explosives designed to go off on impact.
All the alphabet aviation organizations (to include NMPA and USPA) pleaded with all its members to cry out to Congress to halt the out of control ambitions of TSA and DHS in their quest for gaining sole control of the US under the guise of "National Security.”
Apparently GA responded, loud and clear. A couple of weeks ago the Investigative arm of DHS reported that both DHS and TSA had erred in their constant harangue on how much a threat GA was to our nation's security, and if TSA had its way, the only means to be secure would be to kill off GA, totally. Well, the DHS report very clearly pointed out that GA was not even close to the predicted threat that TSA and DHS always spouted.
Now Congress has jumped into the fray with both feet. Three US Representatives have told TSA and DHS to back off of GA. Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) has proposed a bill directing TSA to get GA involved in the Large Aircraft Security Program where TSA sees larger GA aircraft as constituting the same security risk as our airlines. Rep. Pete Olsen (R-TX) has added an amendment to the TSA Authorization Act of 2009 directing TSA to include GA in its creation of security regulations. Lastly, Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) has introduced a resolution praising GA for everything it does for the US.
Congress is telling TSA and DHS that GA must be included in exploring less costly ways and less intrusive means of enhancing aviation security. Pilots, do not let up now. Keep the pressure on your elected officials back east to continue to protect GA from the endless impractical impositions forced on us by TSA and DHS, all under the nebulous cloak of "national security.”
The United States has the greatest and most productive General Aviation fleet in the world and it adds to the economic development and financial security of our country. Do not allow some mindless bureaucrats in DC, who have no understanding of GA, dictate us out of the air.
Bob Worthington, President
NMPA
Bob Worthington, President of the New Mexico Pilots Association has sent the following email to all NMPA members, asking them to join the AAAA. USPA as an organization is already a member, and I have just signed up as an individual myself. I encourage you to visit their website and sign up also. There is no cost to membership in AAAA.
NMPA MEMBERS
NMPA is a member of the Alliance but this message is a request to urge all NMPA members to also join as individuals. There is no cost associated with joining because it is free. The goal is to increase the number of members of this organization because it fights on our behalf. More members means more strength and more clout with the politicians. So please join as an individual member.
Thanks, Bob Worthington, President NMPA ___________________________________________________________
Formed in 2007, the Alliance for Aviation Across America is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition of over 4,000 aviation enthusiasts and professionals including businesses, agricultural groups, FBO's, small airports, elected officials, charitable organizations, and leading business and aviation groups that represent the interest of the general aviation community across various public policy issues.
General aviation is an economic lifeline to rural and small communities, serving as a crucial resource to businesses, medical care, and disaster relief. Small businesses nationwide rely on general aviation to connect to necessary business tools, resources, and customers. General aviation is also a key form of transportation to residents in isolated areas. Any legislation that could harm general aviation can also affect small businesses and the economies of small and rural communities. It is the goal of the Alliance for Aviation Across America to protect general aviation from legislative proposals that would decimate small businesses and communities that depend on small planes, and to educate the public on the importance of general aviation to small communities.
Our specific initiatives in an attempt to strengthen general aviation and protect businesses and communities that rely on general aviation include modernizing the air traffic control system, rejecting the "user fee" proposal in the FAA Reauthorization Bill, opposing the Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) proposed by the TSA, supporting the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) in the economic stimulus that would invest in aviation infrastructure.
Modernizing the Air Traffic Control System with Satellite Technology The Alliance for Aviation Across America supports transitioning to the Next Generation Air Transportation System that is satellite-based rather than today's ground-based navigation system.
Rejecting "User Fees" in any Form
User fees would impose an unfair regulatory and financial burden on the millions of Americans who depend on small planes for their livelihood, and have the potential to ground small aircraft. The AAAA opposes this tax structure and thus is in favor of the current "pay at the pump" fuel tax system, as it the simplest, most efficient way to fund FAA operations.
Opposing "Large Aircraft Security Program" (LASP) Unnecessary and inefficient security measures, such the "Large Aircraft Security Program" proposed by the TSA, would have dire consequences on the general aviation community. These new and arbitrary rules by TSA would create a huge new bureaucracy that would do little to prevent terrorist activity relating to the use of a small aircraft, and would unfortunately decimate businesses, farmers, and organizations with new administrative burden and bureaucracy.
Supporting the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) The Alliance for Aviation Across America encourages investment in the aviation infrastructure by supporting the Airport Improvement Program. Small airports across the country are dependent upon FAA funding for upgrades, renovation, and improvements. Such projects boost local economies by creating jobs and ensuring the viability of small communities.
For more information, feel free to contact the Alliance at (202) 223-9523 or email us at:
info@aviationacrossamerica.org.
To join the Alliance, feel free to visit our website at www.aviationacrossamerica.org
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association