AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2015 - 32

PILOT BRIEFING
AOPA ACTION |

Baker

Notam jam
AOPA pushes FAA for more useful notices
THE FAA HAS RESCINDED a sweeping notam regarding the reliability of

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) surveillance and traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) after AOPA raised concerns about the
ambiguous language, short notice, and month-long duration. It also issued new
notams that provided greater detail and shortened the time periods of concern from a month to, in some cases, hours. The new notams also clarify the
nature of the potential reliability issues and which systems could be affected.
"We appreciate the FAA's willingness to step back from the original
notam, which was causing considerable alarm for pilots, and work with us
to provide more accurate and useful data to the aviation community," said
Rune Duke, AOPA director of air traffic and airspace.
The original notam, issued September 1, announced that, from September
2 through October 1, both ADS-B surveillance and TCAS could be unreliable in
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and airspace extending approximately 200 nautical miles offshore, as a result of military exercises
in the area. The wording of the notam led many pilots to believe that traffic
information might not be available. But a new notam valid on September 5 and
6 made it clear that during the affected hours, ADS-B might be "less sensitive"
than usual and that only 1090 MHz ADS-B systems would be affected. Another
notam valid for several hours on September 9 provided a specific radius and
altitudes of concern. According to the new notams, the military activity would
not generate false TCAS targets and pilots should treat traffic or resolution
advisories as valid. "This is the kind of solid information pilots need to make
informed decisions when they're planning and conducting flights," said Duke.
WEB

www.aopa.org/advocacy

HEADLINES THAT AFFECT YOU |

Recent news from the aviation world

MOVE TO ICAO FLIGHT PLAN
DELAYED UNTIL 2016
The FAA announced it will delay
plans to require all flights use the
ICAO form until October 2016.
-AOPA Online
VOTERS OPPOSE PRIVATIZING ATC
Survey shows 55 percent are
against "taking it away from the
FAA and turning it over to a nonprofit organization." -AOPA Online
TEXTRON TO ANNOUNCE TWO
BIZJETS AT NBAA
The National Business Aviation
Association convenes November
17 to 19 in Las Vegas, where the

32 | AOPA PILOT November 2015

number of exhibitors "underscores
the strength of the business aviation industry."
-Aviation Week
NASA, FAA DISCUSS FORMAL
COLLABORATION ON DRONES
RTCA to develop performance
standards for small commercial
drones.
-AIN Online
FAA MAKES UPGRADING ATTITUDE
INDICATORS EASIER
A change in FAA policy now
makes replacing vacuum-driven
attitude indicators with electrically
driven models a minor alteration.
-AOPA Online

on the move

AOPA President Mark Baker travels
more than 60 percent of his time, visiting airports and aviation enthusiasts
throughout the country.
LAST MONTH

OCTOBER 7-NextGen Conference,

Memphis

OCTOBER 9-11-AOPA Fly-In, Tullahoma,

Tennessee

OCTOBER 15-Wichita Aero Club, Kansas
OCTOBER 19-21-GA in Cuba
OCTOBER 23-General Aviation Manufac-

turers Association meeting, Key West,
Florida

THIS MONTH

NOVEMBER 9-High School Leadership

Alliance, Lakeland, Florida
NOVEMBER 17-19-National Business
Aviation Association, Las Vegas

SEPTEMBER 12, 2015

"It was great to be part of the
Triple Tree Aerodrome Fly-In.
There's no better way to
spend a weekend than at an
event like this where we can
celebrate and share general
aviation. Whether you're new
to GA or you've been flying for
many years, seeing these
historic aircraft take to the sky
is a thrill that brings
the past alive."
Third class medical reform update

67

U.S. senators are now co-sponsors of the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2
(reform third class medical and
provide legal protections for
pilots facing FAA enforcement actions).
"This is certainly significant progress but it
does not mean we are done," said Jim Coon,
AOPA senior vice president of government
affairs. "Having more than 60 co-sponsors can
help ensure that if PBR2 makes it to the floor,
there are enough votes to stop a filibuster and
keep the process moving." There are 67 Senate
and 136 House co-sponsors in support of third
class medical reform.
http://www.aopa.org/advocacy
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2015
