AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2014 - 96

SURVEY

47%

of AOPA members believe
the FAA is not fair-minded in
matters that affect GA.

News & Notes
MEMBERSHIP

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FAA eases approval for
angle-of-attack indicators
Could improve GA safety
SAFETY EXPERTS HAVE IDENTIFIED the angle-of-attack indicator-
a device on the instrument panel that tells the pilot he is about
to have an aerodynamic stall-as something that could greatly
improve general aviation safety. The FAA will simplify design
approval requirements for the device, and opened an intriguing
door to additional such systems at the same time. The FAA said
the action could lead to streamlined approval of other add-on systems in the future.
Angle-of-attack devices, common on military and large civil
aircraft, can be added to smaller airplanes to supplement airspeed
indicators and stall-warning systems, alerting pilots of a low-airspeed
condition before a dangerous aerodynamic stall occurs, especially
during takeoff and landing.
"We have eliminated major barriers so pilots can add another
valuable cockpit aid for safety," said FAA Administrator Michael
Huerta. "These indicators provide precise information to the pilot,
and could help many avoid needless accidents."
Under the new policy, manufacturers must build the indicators
according to standards from the American Society for Testing and
Materials (ATSM) and apply for FAA approval for the design via a
letter certifying that the equipment meets ATSM standards.
WEB

www.aopa.org/advocacy

96 | AOPA PILOT April 2014

WHAT AOPA IS DOING TO KEEP YOU FLYING

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AOPA OPPOSES RECOMMENDATION TO PHASE OUT
121.5 MHZ ELTS
AOPA vigorously opposes the Federal Communications Commission's on-again, off-again bid to
ban ELTs that transmit on 121.5 MHz, pointing out
that it amounts to a mandate for aircraft owners to switch over to another single technology,
rather than allowing pilots to choose equipment
that is best suited to the flying they do. The
ban would place FCC rules in conflict with laws
that allow use of 121.5 MHz units in aircraft. The
agency failed to include a cost/benefit analysis
in its proposal, or discuss the safety benefits it
believes the rule would provide.
General aviation aircraft are required by law to
carry ELTs. The 121.5 MHz units, although no longer monitored by satellites, do meet regulatory
requirements. Over the years, AOPA has educated members to the alternatives available to
121.5 MHz ELTs, including 406 MHz ELTs, personal
locator beacons, and other commercial services.
"AOPA maintains that pilots are the best in
determining the equipment that is best suited to
their location and type of flying," said Rob Hackman, AOPA vice president of regulatory affairs.
"Mandating a single technology, in this case 406
MHz ELTs, could freeze GA's use of technology at
the current level."

FAA/INDUSTRY SAFETY TALKS HIGHLIGHT
TECHNOLOGY
The FAA and general aviation leaders gathered
to discuss aviation safety and the need to bring
new technology into the existing fleet during a
meeting of the General Aviation Joint Steering
Committee (GAJSC), hosted by FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. The committee, which is
co-chaired by the FAA and the AOPA Foundation's Air Safety Institute, was created to bring a
data-driven approach to managing government
and industry efforts to reduce fatal GA accidents.
Much of the discussion centered on efforts to
allow new equipment into older cockpits, which
could bring enormous safety benefits to the GA
community. "We need to keep moving forward
with regulatory and policy reforms that support
safety," said AOPA President Mark Baker. "Pilots
want to be able to put the latest safety equipment in their aircraft, but we need to make it
easier and more affordable to do."
http://www.aopa.org/advocacy
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2014
