AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 13

REGUL ATORY AFFA IRS /
REGIONAL NEWS /
Share what you know
By Jim McClay
AOPA director, airspace,
air traffic, and security
IF THE SAYING " knowledge
is power " is true,
then we as pilots should
want to have and share
as much knowledge
as possible, especially
about the weather.
We all know our
responsibilities to
gather as much weather information as possible
before conducting a flight. However, many
don't consider weather information that we can,
and should, share with those around us during
our flights.
Although modern pilots can summon an
immense amount of weather information
through the technology at our fingertips, there
are still information gaps. One of the most effective
tools for filling those gaps is the pilot report
(pirep), something that many of us only vaguely
remember from our early ground school training.
According to the 2021 AOPA Weather
Survey, only 47 percent of respondents " provided
unsolicited pireps at least sometimes, "
with the remainder rarely or never doing so.
The survey indicated a variety of reasons why
this might be true, but an alarming number
responded that they were not comfortable doing
so, did not think they had helpful information to
share, or simply did not think about it.
Remember that pireps reporting good conditions
are just as important as reports of bad
conditions. And filing pireps is relatively easy
and quick.
AOPA is involved with FAA and industry
efforts designed to make pirep submission both
easier and more common. However, without a
paradigm shift in pilots' willingness to issue
pireps, the goal of increasing their frequency is
likely to remain elusive.
So, before you take your next trip, consider
brushing up on how to file a pirep. Then, go fly
and, as you do, share what you know with those
around you. james.mcclay@aopa.org
airsafetyinstitute.org/spotlight/
pirepsmadeeasy
ON THE FRONT LINES /
Is your
airport getting
squeezed?
By Josh Pruzek, AOPA
Northwest Regional Manager
IF YOU ARE like most aircraft owners,
you have a hangar or tiedown
space at a public-use airport. And
if you live in a major metropolitan
area, it may feel like general aviation
capacity is being squeezed off the airport.
Real estate at these airports is
scarce, and GA competes with commercial
and cargo operations, and
large aviation-related businesses.
Federally funded airports adhere to
grant assurances that prevent them
from discriminating against different
classes of aeronautical users, but that
doesn't mean they have to provide
space for GA hangars and tiedowns.
AOPA works with its Airport
Support Network volunteers, airport
support groups, and tenant
organizations to ensure that GA
has a voice in how the land is used
at these busy airports. Recently,
AOPA worked with the Washington
Seaplane Pilots Association, the
Renton Airport Owners and Pilots
Association, and the Friends of
Boeing Field to protect GA hangar
and tiedown capacity at several busy
Seattle-area airports.
Learn more about becoming the
ASN volunteer at your local airport
at aopa.org/advocacy. It's a great
grassroots way to support your local
airports. josh.pruzek@aopa.org
NORTHWEST MOUNTA IN REGION
Protected airspace around Shady Acres
Airpark in Spanaway, Washington,
near McChord Air Force Base. The U.S.
Air Force and the FAA had announced
intentions to increase the size of the
existing Class D airspace.
WESTERN PACIFIC REGION
Advocated for the future of GA airports
during the Arizona Airports Association's
annual fall meeting.
CENTR AL SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHERN
REGIONS
Presented best practices to accelerate
development of GA hangars to airport
leaders at the Louisiana Airport Managers
Association and General Aviation Alliance
of Alabama annual conferences.
EASTERN REGION
Advanced general aviation legislative
initiatives during the Massachusetts
Airport Management Association annual
conference.
AL ASKA REGION
Delivered results of the 2021 AOPA
Weather Survey to the Alaska Pirep
Improvement Workgroup; although pilots
flying in Alaska provide more unsolicited
reports than elsewhere in the country,
more participation is needed.
GREAT L AKES REGION
Advanced GA advocacy at Aviation
Indiana, Wisconsin Airport Managers
Association, and Minnesota Seaplane
Pilots Association conferences. AOPA is
supporting Ohio H.B. 490 to update the
Ohio Airport Protection Act.
aopa.org/advocacy/state-advocacy
AOPA PILOT / February 2022
13
209 million.
The number of gallons of avgas
consumed by GA aircraft
in one year.
http://www.aopa.org/advocacy https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/online-learning/safety-spotlights/pireps-made-easy http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/state-advocacy https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/online-learning/safety-spotlights/pireps-made-easy
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022

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