AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2015 - 100

NEWS & NOTES

AOPA ACTION

AOPA TO DOT:
TIME TO ACT ON
MEDICAL REFORM

ACTION IN THE STATES

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the Department of Transportation
began a planned 90-day review of the
FAA's proposed medical reform rule,
and AOPA members and the general
aviation community are frustrated by
the department's inaction. The standard, which would allow some pilots
to fly recreationally without obtaining a third class medical certificate, has
been in use since 2004 when the FAA
adopted the sport pilot rule.
"The evidence is clear: allowing
pilots to fly without going through the
third class medical process is safe,"
AOPA President Mark Baker said.
"The FAA's proposed rule would simply extend this standard to more pilots
flying more types of small aircraft."
Medical reform has the support
of more than 180 bipartisan members
of Congress, who co-sponsored legislation known as the General Aviation
Pilot Protection Act that would have
allowed thousands more pilots to fly
without obtaining a medical certificate.
Allowing reform to move forward
will save time and money for pilots
and the federal government, while bolstering GA-which contributes $150
billion to the economy and supports
more than 1.2 million jobs. AOPA estimates that medical reform, as proposed
under GAPPA, would save pilots $24.6
million every year. A conservative estimate also shows an annual savings of
$1.9 million to the FAA.
"Our members, the GA industry, members of Congress, and the
American people are frustrated with
our government's inability to move
efficiently and effectively on issues that
will improve safety, save money, and
help create jobs and support local economies," Baker said. "On behalf of our
members and the aviation community,
we must ask-when will the DOT allow
third class medical reform to move forward? The time to take action is now."
100 | AOPA PILOT March 2015

100th anniversary celebration. UTAH: AOPA

other GA groups are developing a new avia-

IT HAS BEEN nearly nine months since

of Transportation, FAA, airport managers, and

Regional Manager David Ulane briefed more

tion system plan in the state. NEW YORK:

than 100 participants in a Runway Safety

Preserving access to East Hampton Airport

Summit at Salt Lake Valley about tools to help

has been the topic of multiple meetings

reduce runway incursions, spoke at a Leading

between AOPA Regional Manager Sean

Edge Aviation pilot dinner, and met with

Collins and industry and aviation groups.

AOPA members at Ogden/Hinckley Airport.

NORTH CAROLINA: AOPA is offering to pro-

VIRGINIA: Chesterfield County Airport-

vide assistance to Gov. Pat McCrory's North

Richmond Executive Airport plans to increase

Carolina Aviation Development Task Force as

the length of its runway from 5,500 feet to

it works to develop recommendations that will

6,300 feet by 2019. VERMONT: Bennington

strengthen aviation programs. NORTH

has received a new Civil Air Patrol airplane to

DAKOTA: AOPA met with state legislative

be used in search and rescue operations and

leaders regarding a bill that would affect the

aerospace education. WASHINGTON: AOPA

state's aircraft registration fee. OHIO: When a
Cleveland-area flying club found itself caught
in a dispute over hangar space, it turned to
AOPA for help, and the association worked
with all parties to find a successful resolution.

OKLAHOMA: Gov. Mary Fallin signed the
Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission's emerg e n cy r u l e s to re g i ste r a n d m a r k
meteorological evaluation towers in the state.

OREGON: AOPA supports pending legislation
that would add aviation activities to the state's
recreational use statute. It would limit liability
for private airstrip owners who make their
facilities available for use by the public, giving
pilots access to new airstrips around the state.

RHODE ISLAND: The Rhode Island Aviation
Hall of Fame plans to develop a family attraction around the retired aircraft carrier USS
John F. Kennedy. SOUTH CAROLINA: AOPA is
working with the South Carolina Aviation

PENNSYLVANIA:
AOPA is working with
the Department of
Economic and Community
Development to share the
good news that the state
sales tax exemption on
aircraft maintenance
passed in 2013 has boosted
aviation activity and the
state's economy.

Association to introduce and support legislation that would provide a sales tax exemption

President Mark Baker provided the keynote

on aviation maintenance. SOUTH DAKOTA:

address at the Northwest Aviation Conference

AOPA's Bryan Budds is taking part in the 2015

in Puyallup. WEST VIRGINIA: AOPA is working

South Dakota Airports Conference in Sioux

with property owners and legislators to boost

Falls. TENNESSEE: AOPA and the Tennessee

support for a measure that would limit the lia-

Aviation Association will co-sponsor a legisla-

bility of landowners who allow recreational

tive event on Capitol Hill in Nashville. TEXAS:

aviation use of their property and private air-

Regional Manager Yasmina Platt gave presen-

strips. WISCONSIN: AOPA Regional Manager

tations to EAA Chapter 12 and the North

Bryan Budds will take part in the Wisconsin

Central Texas Council of Governments' Air

Aviation Conference in LaCrosse. WYOMING:

Transportation Technical Advisory Committee,

Rawlins native Glenn G. Larson is the latest

took part in an NBAA event in San Antonio,

inductee into the Wyoming Aviation Hall of

met with board members from the Alamo City

Fame. He earned four Distinguished Flying

Chapter of Women in Aviation, and met with

Crosses and nineteen Air Medals during his

the City of San Antonio's department of avia-

combat service as a fighter pilot in Vietnam,

tion to discuss plans for Stinson Airport's

and later was awarded the Legion of Merit.
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2015
