By Jim TimmJimTimm

JULY 2013


Well, summer is here and fun flying is grinding to a halt. Some how it seems a bit strange because just as the folks in the northern part of the country are getting their airplanes out for the start of the flying season we are going into a summer hibernation of sorts. Anyway, when heading for the north country, please be sure to check the density altitude and fly safe and have fun.


There has been a continuing concern about the “aging pilot” issue and it seems very few young people are getting into aviation and becoming pilots. The EAA is trying to reverse the trend with their “Young Eagles” program where they introduce young people under the age of 18 to the thrill of flying by giving them a free airplane ride. Hoping the experience will spark an interest and encourage them to want to learn to fly. Once this interest is sparked, learning to fly can also be a daunting financial experience for a young person. That is where, on a local level, APA is trying to step in and assist future pilots by making some scholarships available to young deserving student pilots. The last couple of years APA has made scholarships available to East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) flight students. The EVIT’s aviation program is based out of the school’s east campus near ASU Polytechnic at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. The EVIT program gives high school students a look at different aviation careers, from pilots and mechanics to air traffic controllers and flight attendants. For those who choose, it provides a way to gain both a pilot’s license and college credit. Most EVIT students start the school’s career and technical classes during their high school junior or senior years, spending part of their day in classes at their high school and part of the day in EVIT classes or flight training. With EVIT’s partner program, a student can transfer to the University of North Dakota to complete their college degree. In presenting these scholarships, it’s great to see the tremendous enthusiasm and intense interest some of these young students have for flying. If you would like to help provide additional support for these scholarships, please send donations to: APA Flight Scholarships, Arizona Pilots Association, P.O. Box 61242, Phoenix, AZ 85082-1242. Remember, APA is a 501-c3 nonprofit organization and the donations are tax deductible. Your additional support would be greatly appreciated and a young future pilot would also thank you!


When the government sequestering issue first started, the military demonstration teams canceled their air show schedule stating a loss of funding, and I noted at the time, an FAA comment about also cutting back on some of their involvement in air shows. I’m sure almost everyone has heard that because of the sequestering cutbacks the FAA charged Sun and Fun for providing air traffic controllers for their event, and Sun and Fun paid the bill. As you may know, in spite of all the protests, they are pressing the EAA to pay for the controllers at this summer’s AirVenture and it appears that the EAA will be paying the bill, but again, under protest. The precedent has been established I fear. From comments being made, apparently the FAA will not be providing air traffic controllers for the EAA Copperstate Fly In this fall unless they are paid for it. It appears that the way is being paved for user fees. If the Obama administration gets their way and places fees on the business aircraft operations, we will also be facing operational fees much sooner than we would like to think. For the Copperstate Fly In this fall, they will be moving on as planned without the benefit of controllers. They believe that, like the Cactus Fly In, they are small enough and not having an air show requiring airspace restrictions, that they can safely operate with a carefully planned arrival NOTAM as they have in years past.


MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

AOPA is seeking sport pilot data for their third class medical petition. AOPA is trying to gain a better understanding of the number of pilots exercising sport pilot privileges, and an approximate number of hours this group flies each year. This information will be used in support of the AOPA/EAA third class medical exemption request made to the FAA. Currently, the FAA and the general aviation industry have no way to quantify the amount of time flown by those pilots holding private pilot certificates or higher who choose to allow their medical to lapse and exercise sport pilot privileges. No personally identifiable information will be gathered. Take the survey >>


From a meeting to discuss the Williams Gateway Airport (IWA) airspace issues, it appears that the voluntary measures that were published in a letter to airmen have been sufficiently effective in reducing the number of TCAS alerts that the air carriers had been getting that operate out of IWA. Based on comments from FAA representatives, it is hoped that the recommendations will remain effective enough to avoid consideration of a regulatory airspace change for the time being. It is possible that implementation of Class C airspace over IWA may be pushed by the airport management. It should be noted that the airport would qualify for Class C airspace based on available inplanement numbers.


I hope APA pilots are taking advantage of the Luke AFB Aux. Field 1 ILS for practice instrument approaches. The latest word from the Luke AFB TRACON is that, from their perspective, it is working well. The approach plate is available from our web site or the the LAFB website. We are waiting on a determination from the Scottsdale FSDO if the Luke ILS can be used for an airman check ride ILS approach that would not require a landing.

Aviation safety needs to be a concern for all of us. From the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) records, there were ten accidents in the last reporting period with one of the accidents involving two aircraft. Unfortunately, we had far too many fatalities happening this past reporting period. Of the reported accidents, two resulted in fatalities, one accident resulted in a serious injury, the remaining accidents resulted in no injuries. I wish we could identify a definite trend in these accidents and initiate a corrective action program to reduce the accident rate. See my July Aviation Accident Report for details.

A significant number of airports around the state are having runway repair/upgrade projects scheduled for this summer, so be sure to check for NOTAMS before you depart. You don’t need to have a surprise when you arrive at your destination and discover something like the runway is closed for resurfacing. We will advise you when we receive specific notices of projects being started.


We are continuing to work with airports around the state providing a general aviation user perspective in the process of updating their Airport Master Plans. We are presently working on the up dating of both the Gila Bend Municipal Airport and the Nogales International Airport Master plans and an update of the Phoenix Sky Harbor FAA Part 150 Noise Study.

 

THINGS TO DO - PLACES TO GO FOR BREAKFAST:


The first Saturday of the month fly in breakfast at Coolidge Airport (P08) has been halted until this fall.

The last Saturday of the month there is still a Fly in breakfast at Casa Grande Airport (CGZ)
Time: 7:00 to 10:00 am. The Casa Grande breakfast will continue through the summer as it is held in the air conditioned airport terminal.

(Both of these fly in breakfasts are put on by a service group in their respective communities to raise funds for community service projects.)

The third Saturday of the month there is a fly in breakfast at Benson (E95) @ Southwest Aviation
(Rumor has it that there may be special fuel prices for breakfast attendees.)

 

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