By Jim Timm 
August 2015
This month’s report may be a bit brief because it was put together during the beginning of the EAA AirVenture event in Oshkosh. I flew in commercially and it appeared to be pretty much IFR all the way here. I hope that those of you who flew your own planes to OSH had suitable weather for the trip. However, it’s good to be here, and it certainly is nice to have the cooler days and nice cool evenings for sleeping.
Last month I commented on the reauthorization legislation for the continued operation of the FAA and possible legislation being considered that would privatize ATC. Privatizing the Air Traffic Control system would most certainly usher in user fees that would be devastating for general aviation. We must make every effort possible to head off this type of legislation. Your help as a pilot and aircraft owner is imperative, we can’t do it alone! Elsewhere in this newsletter is an APA letter that was sent to our legislators outlining APA’s position on the privatization issue. Use this letter or any portion of its contents to prepare a personal letter to your congressman. Please do it now, and don’t delay! (See below for a smaple letter.)
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
Glendale Airport manager Walt Fix retired the end of July and the new manager will be Ken Potts. Ken had been with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Aeronautics Group and he assumed his new position with the City of Glendale on July 27. APA will look forward to working with Ken in his new position.
Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport (IFP) is having an event on Saturday, August 22, honoring National Aviation Day. The event is open to all aviation enthusiasts to celebrate the anniversary of Orville Wright’s birthday. Pilots and aircraft owners interested in flying in to the event are encouraged to contact the Airport Administration (928-754-2134) to add your name and aircraft tail number to the guest list to enjoy a free breakfast. The event is scheduled to run from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Click here for more info…
I suspect that most of you have heard that the FAA has published a “notice of policy” to discontinue the publication of the World Aeronautical Charts (WACs) without providing a public comment period. The pilots need to be heard on any charting changes that would have an impact on flight safety, and it’s surprising that the FAA has circumvented the normal process for taking public comment before making the decision to discontinue these charts that are used in long range flight planning. The FAA needs to answer questions pilots may have and provide a public comment period before initiating any changes to the WAC series of charts. In the West, and also other parts of the country, WAC charts are routinely used for long-range flight planning and their elimination could pose a significant hazard to flight safety. We would encourage members to contact Mr. Eric Freed, Aeronautical Information Services, Enroute and Visual Charting Group, Manager, Air Traffic Organization, AJV– 5200, Federal Aviation Administration, 1305 East-West HWY, Silver Spring, MD 20910; or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and request continuance of the WAC charts, or at least provide a public comment period before considering discontinuance.
If you take a careful look at the sectional charts for Arizona you will see numerous military routes all over our state. Make a careful note of them and avoid flying a close parallel and attempt to cross them near perpendicular if possible so you can get clear of them quickly, and keep a close lookout when operating near them. You can expect to encounter jet fighters or even jet bombers at any altitude along or near these routes. With the intensive military activity and busy general aviation activity we have, we don’t need to have a military - general aviation collision like they had last month in South Carolina. No one comes out a winner in an encounter like that. Please fly safe.
The past reporting period from mid-June thru late July has continued to be rather good from a flight safety standpoint in that the NTSB has only reported three accidents occurring in Arizona during this period and all have been minor in nature. See my August Accident Summary for the details.
A lot of airport construction is continuing around the state, including the Phoenix area this summer, so be sure to check for NOTAMS before departing so you don’t have a nasty surprise upon your arrival at your destination. Don’t forget to check for TFRs! The forest fire season is here, and if you see smoke or something suspicious, report it to ATC or FSS and avoid getting near any fires.
APA is still working with various airports around the state, providing the pilot and aircraft owner perspective in the process of updating their Airport Master Plans. The Deer Valley Airport (DVT) master plan update is still in process.
THINGS TO DO - PLACES TO GO FOR BREAKFAST:
The first Saturday of the month fly in breakfast at Coolidge Municipal Airport (P08) has stopped until next October.
The second Saturday of the month, Ryan Field (RYN) fly in buffet breakfast has also stopped for the summer. Breakfast is available at the restaurant however.
The Falcon Field EAA Warbirds Squadron Breakfast on the third Saturday of the month has stopped until October.
The third Saturday of the month there is a fly in breakfast at Benson (E95) at Southwest Aviation. (There are special fuel prices for breakfast attendees.)
The last Saturday of the month there is still a fly in breakfast at Casa Grande Municipal Airport (CGZ). The Airport has a new restaurant, Foxtrot Cafe, operating in the Terminal Building. They are open 6:30am to 2:00pm Monday thru Saturday, but on the last Saturday of the month they have a “fly in breakfast special” on the menu; the price for adults is $7 and kids $5.
Check the APA Calendar for our Getaway Flights program for weekend places to fly.
Sample Letters to Our Senators
The Honorable Senator John McCain
218 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
To The Honorable Senator McCain,
I am sending this letter to request that you oppose any attempt by Congress to privatize our nation’s air traffic control (ATC) system and fund it with user fees levied against any segment of general aviation (GA).
Legislation for reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now being considered that would implement user fees, while at the same time stripping Congress of its traditional oversight role for funding and governance of the FAA.
These proposals call for turning that authority over to a self-interested "board" with the power to determine when companies using business aviation can fly, how much it will cost to do so, and what type of payment – including user fees – will be demanded of operators.
We have already seen the negative effects from similarly privatized systems in several foreign countries. These entities receive funding through user fees, which in turn require a new bureaucracy of billing agents, collectors and auditors that impose a huge administrative burden on those required to pay the fees. I personally just returned from a multi-nation visit in Europe, and found GA almost non-existent. One of the reasons for this was the costs imposed by their user fee based systems.
Only 500 or so cities in the United States have scheduled airline service, but there are over 5,000 small towns in the U.S. with airports that provide access to general aviation, including business aviation.
Access to airports, and to the nation's airspace, creates jobs, generates economic activity, and helps make America's aviation system work for all Americans. In fact, general aviation supports more than a million jobs and generates more than $200 billion in economic activity each year.
Congressional oversight of the nation’s aviation system ensures that the public interest – including the people and companies that rely on aviation in small towns and communities – is served. Privatizing our aviation system could jeopardize these jobs and economic activity by threatening GA access to airports and airspace.
The members of the Arizona Pilot’s Association ask you to protect the public interest by saying no user fees and privatizing our air traffic control system.
Sincerely,
July 27, 2015
The Honorable Senator Jeff Flake
413 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
To The Honorable Senator Flake,
I am sending this letter to request that you oppose any attempt by Congress to privatize our nation’s air traffic control (ATC) system and fund it with user fees levied against any segment of general aviation (GA).
Legislation for reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now being considered that would implement user fees, while at the same time stripping Congress of its traditional oversight role for funding and governance of the FAA.
These proposals call for turning that authority over to a self-interested "board" with the power to determine when companies using business aviation can fly, how much it will cost to do so, and what type of payment – including user fees – will be demanded of operators.
We have already seen the negative effects from similarly privatized systems in several foreign countries. These entities receive funding through user fees, which in turn require a new bureaucracy of billing agents, collectors and auditors that impose a huge administrative burden on those required to pay the fees. I personally just returned from a multi-nation visit in Europe, and found GA almost non-existent. One of the reasons for this was the costs imposed by their user fee based systems.
Only 500 or so cities in the United States have scheduled airline service, but there are over 5,000 small towns in the U.S. with airports that provide access to general aviation, including business aviation.
Access to airports, and to the nation's airspace, creates jobs, generates economic activity, and helps make America's aviation system work for all Americans. In fact, general aviation supports more than a million jobs and generates more than $200 billion in economic activity each year.
Congressional oversight of the nation’s aviation system ensures that the public interest – including the people and companies that rely on aviation in small towns and communities – is served. Privatizing our aviation system could jeopardize these jobs and economic activity by threatening GA access to airports and airspace.
The members of the Arizona Pilot’s Association ask you to protect the public interest by saying no user fees and privatizing our air traffic control system.
Sincerely,