The Aspiring Pilot

Proposal for photographs on pilot certificates

So the FAA today proposed to include photographs on pilot certificates.  Personally, I think this is a long time coming.  When I first started flying in early 2000's, my certificate was literally a piece of paper! Easily forged, and pretty much worthless for identification purposes.  

The FAA then moved to the current plastic license, which contained a little more information, a hologram image for anti-counterfeiting and a photo, well, a photo of the Wright brothers actually. 

In 2004, a law was passed to include a photo on the pilot certificate to ensure the person is truly a pilot as well as provide a more secure document. The FAA FINALLY just issued a press release that they are beginning the NPRM process, (notice of proposed rule making), so don't expect a new license anytime soon, but at least it's under way.  

There will be a cost unfortunately, albeit relatively minor.  It will cost $22 to obtain and will be valid for 8 years.  After 8 years, you will have to pay another $22 (unless the fee increases) and get a new picture in order to renew your license.  

Overall, not a bad idea.  It provides an additional government issued photo-id to utilize, makes the pilot certificate a little more official (you wouldn't believe how many people thought mine wasn't real since there was not picture of my on it!) and should help airport security as well.

For my examiner article with specific details on the FAA Press Release, please click here. 

EU postpones EASA vote

The EU commission has postponed the vote on the EASA new proposals that would have virtually restricted FAA certificated pilot's from flying in Europe or from EU airplane owners from registering aircraft in the US.  The vote is postponed until December at the earliest and hopefully, will provide ample time for AOPA and IAOPA to continue to fight the proposal.  

For the full story and article on this new development, visit my General Aviation examiner article. 

EU vote on new EASA aviation rules today or tomorrow

During a hearing beginning today through October 14th, the European Union Commission will vote on the adoption of a new set of EU-wide rules pertaining to pilot certification and airplane registrations.  The AOPA and the IAOPA have both been vocal with their opposition of the new rules and the negative worldwide impact they will have on the international aviation community.  

The new regulations being proposed were introduced in 2008 by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).  During the public comment period, ending February 28, 2009, the EASA received over 11,000 comments on the proposal.  After reviewing the comments, the EASA submitted the final proposal to the EU commission for a vote, which is taking place today and tomorrow.

The proposal, if a vote is successful, will lead to drastic changes in how general aviation and pilots operate within EU countries with the effects truly being felt globally.  Read the full details and the impact the proposal would have at my General Aviation column.

Runway incursions decline by 50% over last year

Excerpt from my General Aviation Examiner column:

During a press conference today, the FAA announced that serious runway incursions for the 2010 fiscal year, ending September 2010, were down 50% over the 2009 fiscal year. In total, 2010 had 6 reported runway incursions versus 12 in 2009. These figures do not include minor incursions and 3 of the 6 did not include commercial aircraft. As a comparison, in 2000, there were 67 serious runway incursions.  

The FAA has adopted the ICAO definition of a runway incursion. ICAO defines it as "Any occurrence at an aerodrome involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or person on the protected area of a surface designated for the landing and take-off of aircraft."

For more of the story, read the whole article at General Aviation Examiner.

Don't get caught on the runway when you shouldn't be.  Just because there were only six (6) 'SERIOUS' incursions, doesn't mean that all the rest not classified as serious mean any less.  Any runway incursion can become a serious incursion.  I've included FREE resources at the end of the examiner.com article offered by the FAA and AOPA's ASF.  One is an online safety course on runway operations and the other is a recording of a live webinar on taxi operations and conflicts/incursions. 

As pilot's let's keep out safety skills up and keep learning.  If you think you know everything, it may be time to re-analyze your thinking.  

FAA addressing recent EMS helicopter accidents and incidents

From my General Aviation Examiner column:

The FAA today released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), the first step in establishing new rules and regulations, regarding commercial and EMS helicopter operations.  The NPRM is the first step in addressing the concerns and recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board over the past few years after multiple, highly publicized helicopter accidents involving EMS services, most of them fatal.  

According to the FAA press release, helicopters would be required to be outfitted with a Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System as well as a light-weight aircraft recording system (LARS).  The LARS would be similar to the flight recorders on commercial airliners but made specifically for small aircraft.  

For full story and FAA press release, click here. 

 

TFR's in Chicago and Madison tomorrow, 10/7

Chicago TFR was issued due to President Obama's visit for a fundraiser for Senate Candidate Alexi Giannoulias.  First Lady Michelle Obama will be in town next week so another NOTAM will most likely be issued for a TFR at that time as well. 

Also, a Madison TFR was issued as Vice-President Biden will be in town for a fundraiser for the Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett. 

The slew of TFR's going up as campaign season nears election time means pilot's need to pay even closer attention to current and pending TFR's.  It's important at all time, but even more so now that pilot's get a full briefing right before each flight as TFR's can be issued at any time.  

RIP: Position and Hold, now line up and wait!

For pilots, new terminology replacing 'Position and Hold' went into effect today.  The new ATC command issued in it's place is now 'line up and wait.'  This change was implemented to standardize communications between US pilots under FAA regulations and international pilots using ICAO terminology.  

With the FAA's emphasis on decreasing runway incursion incidents, a more uniform, easily understood phrase was chosen that should help prevent foreign pilots from misunderstanding a position and hold clearance. Using the phrase that they are already familiar with helps to ease any confusion and also limits misunderstanding a clearance as 'hold position' or other similar terms that may unintentionally cause a pilot to taxi onto an active runway when not cleared to do so. 

For more reading and links to FAA training, LiveATC, etc. see the National General Aviation Article. 

 

Fly near/in/around Chicago? New Class B airspace changes in effect 10/21/10

The FAA has finally publicized the final ruling to alter the class B airspace over Chicago. The change is based on a variety of reasons but is being made primarily to ensure that airplanes landing at O'Hare using instrument procedures are kept within the class B airspace throughout the approach. The new airspace goes into effect October 21, 2010 with the next batch of chart publications.

Previously, some of the instrument approaches were outside of the class B airspace which went counter to the FAA's new policy. The FAA states that all portions of an instrument approach into a class B airport be fully contained within that airports class B airspace. The final changes expand the airspace to the east and west of the current class B airspace to fully include all sections of instrument approaches into O'Hare Airport (ORD).  

Read more at Chicago General Aviation Examiner (with link to graphic showing changes). 

FAA seeking to ban new 'through the fence' agreements for public airports

The FAA has recently proposed modifications to it's 'through the fence' (TTF) policy pertaining to residential access to public airports. 'Through the fence' airport access is when an off airport property, residential or commercial has direct access for their airplane onto the airport. This is usually seen with private airparks where all the residences have hangers attached to the homes and provide direct access to the runway for all home owners.

FAA acting Assistant Administrator for Airports, Catherine Lang, on Wednesday, reiterated the FAA's position to the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee Wednesday seeking a ban on new through the fence agreements and seeking assurances for those agreements already in place.

 See National General Aviation Examiner for full story.

New TFR for 9/8 for Cleveland Ohio

President Barack Obama

Photo: Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The FAA has issued a temporary flight restriction (TFR) over Cleveland, Ohio for Wednesday, September 8, 2010 due to a visit by President Barrack Obama. The Notice to Airman (NOTAM) was issued today effective September 8th from 1:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. EDT. The restriction should not result in any delays or cancellations of any flights between any Chicago airports and Cleveland-Hopkins International Airports. General aviation pilots that may be flying from Chicago toward the Cleveland area should review the NOTAM and ensure their flight will not conflict with the restrictions.  Presidential TFR's encompass a diameter of 30 nautical miles.  Other airports affected include Burke Lakefront Airport and Cuyahoga County Airport.  (Click Here for additional information.)