AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2022 - 14

AOPA ACTION
TOP STOR IES /
AOPA
Toward an unleaded future
AOPA, stakeholders meet to find avgas alternatives by 2030
IN I TS FIRST gathering since pledging to
remove all lead from the fuel consumed by
general aviation piston aircraft by 2030, an
array of stakeholders under the Eliminate
Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions
(EAGLE) banner met in Washington, D.C.,
to chart the path forward.
The meeting brought together more
than 170 participants, representing all
facets of the GA industry: GA associations,
the FAA, airframe and engine manufacturers,
fuel manufacturers and distributors,
the Environmental Protection Agency,
airport groups, and community organizations.
EAGLE was
formal ly
introduced by FAA Administrator Steve
IN THE NEWS
AOPA URGES EAST HAMPTON AIRPORT TO CONSIDER FEEDBACK
After receiving the green light from the FAA, the town of East
Hampton, New York, is moving forward with its plans to close
East Hampton Airport and reopen it as a private facility. Months of
discordance between East Hampton officials and the FAA, along
with three lawsuits and much media attention, forced the town to
postpone the airport's closure until May 17. The town planned to
reopen the airport 33 hours later as a private airport with a prior
permission required (PPR) framework. However, several questions
remain concerning the town's proposals.
AOPA and industry groups have said: " We advise caution by
the town in its consideration of the various PPR proposals that
have been put forward. For all of them, virtually no detail has
been provided, and thus significant questions remain about
exactly how they would be put into effect and whether they
would be effective in addressing the town's concerns. Generally,
we strongly recommend that the town carefully consider the
feedback that is expected to be provided in this proceeding, and
further engage with HTO tenants and aviation users. "
Although nothing specific has been enacted, the town proposals
include setting mandatory curfews; limiting commercial
14
AOPA PILOT / June 2022
operations to one daily round trip per aircraft; prohibiting touchand-go
landings; and phasing out aircraft that use leaded fuel.
aopa.org/pilot/newyork
AOPA WELCOMES NEXT GENERATION OF
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS
Undergraduates from the University of North Dakota Student Air
Traffic Controllers Association (SATCA) had the opportunity for
some real-world learning during a visit to AOPA's Washington,
D.C., offices. AOPA welcomed the opportunity to host the student
group as part of its outreach efforts to connect with the next
generation of aviation professionals. For several years, AOPA has
been working to introduce more people to flying through the You
Can Fly program, while also supporting initiatives that introduce
more students to well-paying careers in aviation. " It's exciting to
see the next generation of controllers being exposed to various
aspects of the national airspace system. Giving some of them a
glimpse into the priorities of general aviation is an integral part
of that, " said Jim McClay, AOPA director of airspace, air traffic,
and security.
aopa.org/pilot/nextATC
Dickson during the General Aviation
Manufacturers Association State of the
Industry event in February. EAGLE reinforces
the general aviation community's
commitment to an unleaded future, and in
a safe and smart way that works for all the
200,000 aircraft in the GA fleet.
" I've often said that if this was an
easy thing to do, it would have been done
already, " said AOPA President Mark Baker.
" I am heartened that we have many people
present and participating who represent
virtually every aspect of the issue. "
The conference produced a consensus
that aviation stakeholders need to improve
communication with the public and help
created a special
web page with the
latest updates on the
avgas issue
aopa.org/100UL
people understand the safety implications
and other complex issues involved
(see " Unleaded Fuels: Devil in the Details "
p. 85) . Baker said EAGLE aims to build
on years of study of various formulations
of fuel and emphasized that the deadline
is " no later than 2030, " and unleaded fuel
replacements will be introduced as soon as
they are proven safe and available.
" We understand the urgency, "
Baker said.
" This meeting is doing exactly what it
should be doing-getting different opinions
and perspectives, to stay engaged and
move forward, " said Avfuel's president and
CEO Craig Sincock.
http://www.aopa.org/100UL http://www.aopa.org/pilot/newyork http://www.aopa.org/pilot/nextATC
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2022

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