AOPA Pressing Medical Reform

CalPilots

AOPA is hoping for some movement on the relaxation of third class aviation medical requirements “in the next few weeks,” according to a report recorded for AOPA Live. Jim Coon, AOPA’s senior vice president of government affairs, told the program that medical reform remains AOPA’s top priority. “This is an issue we are working on every day,” said Coon. “We know how important it is to members and to the future of general aviation, so we will keep pursuing reform through every means available to us.” Coon said there now bills before both the Senate and House to introduce the measure and it’s also possible it could be added to another bill or as part of the coming FAA reauthorization. FAA funding runs out Sept. 30.

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FAA Safety Briefing Departments

CalPilots

In this issue’s Aeromedical Advisory department (p. 5), Federal Air Surgeon Dr. James Fraser explains the importance of new sleep apnea guidance for AMEs, while Checklist (p 20) highlights a few common terminology misconceptions when it comes to airman certificates, ratings and endorsements. Also, Vertically Speaking (p 33) reviews some important summer safety tips for rotorcraft pilots.

 

Also be sure check out the Check Engine! advice from Editor Sabrina Woods in the Nuts, Bolts, and Electrons department (p. 30) on how to manage the maintenance on your power plant. And be sure to review Susan Parson’s Postflight column (p. 36) for a frank discussion on practical performance.

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The Father’s Day Fly-In at Columbia Airport

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This year, the Columbia Airport will be celebrating its 49th Annual Father’s Day Fly-In from June 19-21st, 2015. The event, sponsored by the airport, will celebrate the holiday weekend with live music, airplane rides, and family-friendly activities.

 The weekend-long event is dedicated to Cal Fire pilot, Geoffrey “Craig” Hunt, who died last year flying for the Dog Rock Fire in Yosemite. A small dedication will precede the National Anthem at 11:30 a.m. at the opening ceremony on Saturday.

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The Father's Day Fly-In at Columbia Airport

CalPilots

This year, the Columbia Airport will be celebrating its 49th Annual Father’s Day Fly-In from June 19-21st, 2015. The event, sponsored by the airport, will celebrate the holiday weekend with live music, airplane rides, and family-friendly activities.

 The weekend-long event is dedicated to Cal Fire pilot, Geoffrey “Craig” Hunt, who died last year flying for the Dog Rock Fire in Yosemite. A small dedication will precede the National Anthem at 11:30 a.m. at the opening ceremony on Saturday.

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Southern California Airspace Improvements

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FAA Releases Draft Environmental Assessment for Southern California Airspace Improvements

 

The U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is seeking public comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) for the Southern California Metroplex project, a comprehensive proposal to improve the flow of air traffic into and out of Southern California by making the airspace safer and more efficient.

 

The project proposes to replace dozens of existing conventional air traffic procedures with new satellite-based procedures, which are a key component of the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). The Metroplex proposal encompasses most of Southern California and includes six major airports.

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Thunderstorms

CalPilots

Fly safely around summer storms by getting to know them—and your resources—a little better.

Thunderstorms can be awesomely beautiful phenomena when viewed from the ground. They also contain almost every known aviation hazard—turbulence, icing, hail, lightning, microbursts, reduced visibility, and strong winds. So, when viewed from the air, thunderstorms can be terrifying. Understanding the how and why of the weather and your weather avoidance tools can increase your margin of safety when slipping the surly bonds this summer.

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Congress Drops Noise Amendment To Appropriations Bill

CalPilots

Eight Associations Successfully Lobby Congress Eliminate The Provision

A group of eight aviation associations recently sent a joint letter to the leaders of the House Appropriations Committee in a successful attempt to convince the committee not to regulate by legislation.

At issue was the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill, which contains an amendment to impose a noise curfew at Burbank, California’s Bob Hope Airport. The amendment was defeated on Tuesday.

The broad coalition had said the amendment circumvents existing federal law (the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990) intended to prevent a patchwork of inconsistent local requirements.

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97th edition Los Angeles Section Aeronautical Chart

CalPilots

Attached is a snapshot of the new 97th edition Los Angeles Section Aeronautical Chart’s depiction of the Ivanpah Solar Plant hazard alert. FYI, the boundary symbology the Aeronautical Charting Forum has identified for utilization is the international charting symbol for a radiation hazard. As previously shared, pilots should make reports of associated hazards via the…

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