AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2012 - I1

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IAOPA briefs Chinese ATM personnel
IAOPA was invited, along with the International Business Aviation Council and World Bank representatives, to provide a 15-member delegation of the Chinese Air Traffic Control Commission Office an overview of airspace design and usage practices around the world. The group apparently has been charged with creating a low-level airspace system suitable for general aviation operations. China has little general aviation activity, principally flight training and ultralight operations. Most civilian airspace is used by airline, charter, and aerial work operations and comprises only 20 percent of its airspace. IAOPA Representative to ICAO, Frank Hofmann, emphasized the need for China to realize that general aviation requires access to airspace and the freedom to fly, not only to prearranged city-pairs or under IFR. A strong case was made for the Chinese authorities to envision how general aviation will operate within the next 10 years. On the basis of that vision it could apply ICAO airspace and operations standards and recommended practices (SARPS) that have served the world civil aviation community well. The meeting was useful, judging by the questions asked. Hofmann encouraged opening a dialog with Chinese general aviation groups to work with AOPA-China and other user groups to develop the vision of how general will evolve in China.

General aviation provides Thailand flood relief
Tom Claytor, AOPA-Thailand secretary, sends, “We have been flying flood relief missions in Thailand, primarily from a

AOPA-New Zealand awards program
AOPA-New Zealand has introduced a series of annual awards to members and related aviation service organizations in recognition of the effort and appreciation of the service and support provided over the past year. A sample of the classifications include: Most helpful control tower, maintenance shop, aviation watering hole, and GA champion. See www.aopa.

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Canada proposes airspace restrictions for UAS

AOPA-Thailand flood relief pilots

Cessna 206. I just returned from a 2.5 hour flight with three successful food drops to stranded families in Ayutthaya and Bangkok. The entire Don Muang Airport in Bangkok is underwater. There are literally millions of people whose homes are completely underwater.General aviation aircraft have also been flying missions to report what roads are still navigable for transporting in boats to rescue people at homes and hospitals going underwater. Finally, some good news for general aviation in Thailand!”

Transport Canada (TC) has provided notice that it plans to impose Class F restricted airspace in the low-altitude structure to accommodate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations. TC cites increasing pressure from the UAS community for airspace access and the following as the primary rationale for this measure: “Currently, unmanned aircraft are unable to present a level of compliance with air traffic management (ATM) communications, navigation, and surveillance requirements equivalent to that for manned aircraft.” This move will materially affect GA operations given that large parcels of airspace could be affected. It has been

IAOPA’s position in ICAO forums that remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) not be permitted to operate in civil airspace until they are able to meet the basic requirements of all aircraft, especially the requirement to incorporate technology that would permit their ability to senseand-avoid other aircraft. Restricting manned aircraft from the freedom to use the airspace to accommodate RPAs is not only a bad precedent but a safety hazard. Kevin Psutka, COPA president, said, “UAV operators are pushing hard for airspace to test their aircraft and they want it to be conveniently located so that they do not have to travel too far from their development facilities. This airspace typically is located near where we live and fly. For example, there are two existing restricted areas in Alberta and there is a desire to connect them with a corridor, which would cut across several eastwest flyways for GA traffic going across Canada. Our antiquated notam system cannot be relied upon for ensuring that all pilots are informed of temporary restricted airspace activation. Until such time as sense and avoid has been developed, these operations should, as a minimum, be conducted in airspace that is in very remote parts of our country.”

www.iaopa.org

JANUARY 2012

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AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2012