EAA Sport Aviation - February 2009

406 MHz ELTs Required in
Canada by 2011

Transport Canada (TC) is moving forward with a rule requiring virtually all aircraft operating in Canadian airspace to have 406 MHz emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) on board within two years of February 1, 2009. Despite requests from general aviation pilots at home and abroad, TC will not make any exceptions other than gliders, balloons, ultralights, parachute aircraft, and a limited number of other operations.

The rule is inspired by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard requiring the newer digital units for commercial international flights.

Search and rescue satellites are scheduled to stop monitoring the current 121.5 MHz standard on February 1, 2009.

Denis Browne,
chairman of the
EAA Canadian
Council, feels the
requirement goes
beyond the ICAO standard. “Transport Canada seems
to be exceeding the requirements of other jurisdictions
by requiring virtually all aircraft to be so equipped,” he
said. “In effect they are going further than any other
jurisdiction regarding non-commercial flights.”
TC anticipates at least a two-year transition period in
which a blanket exemption would be in effect to allow
thousands of Canadian aircraft to comply with the rule.
The proposed exemption would allow flight in South-
ern Canada (below 50° latitude east of 80° longitude/be-
low 55° latitude west of 80° longitude) with an installed
121.5 MHz ELT.

In the United States, the FAA does not plan to adopt the 406 MHz ICAO standard for domestic-only flights. EAA therefore requested that U.S.-registered aircraft 12,500 pounds gross weight or less with a maximum five seats be exempted from the 406 MHz rule, claiming an equivalent level of safety under the U.S. ELT regulatory requirements.

Since most U.S. aircraft owners will likely choose not to spend the estimated $1,000 (plus installation) to equip their aircraft, a sharp decline in tourism and business flights by U.S.-registered aircraft into Canada is expected. TC also denied EAA requests to allow U.S. pilots to use less costly 406 MHz personal locator beacons instead of an installed 406 ELT, as well as exempting pilots who fly common/direct flight routes over Canada between the Northeastern U.S. area and the Midwest with no intention of landing at a Canadian airport.

Another Dynamite AirVenture
Air Show Lineup Forming

Many of the world’s top air show performers have already confirmed their participation at EAA Air- Venture Oshkosh 2009, July 27-August 2, including more than a dozen women who will participate in special “Women Fly” activities on Friday, July 31, and Sunday, August 2. Other invited performers include those with Canadian ties to honor 100 years of aviation in Canada; sec-ond-generation air show standouts Matt Younkin and Kyle Franklin; Chuck Aaron and the Red Bull aerobatic helicopter; plus annual favorites like Sean D. Tucker, Mike Goulian, the AeroShell Aerobatic Team, and the Warbird Spectacular.

“Each of these performers work as a headline act at air
shows throughout the country, but they come together
at AirVenture to make an all-star roster of the ‘best of the
best,’” said Tom Poberezny, EAA president and AirVenture
chairman. “Air show performers are eager to fly at Oshkosh
because it represents a major achievement in their careers,
flying in front of the most knowledgeable and appreciative
audiences on the air show circuit. Look for even more top
performers to be added to the list in early 2009.”
Exact daily performance schedules will be finalized in
the weeks prior to EAA AirVenture and will be announced
through the event’s extensive website at www.AirVenture.org.

Study: AirVenture Economic
Impact Exceeds $110 Million

An economic impact study on last summer’s AirVen- ture Oshkosh showed an estimated $110 million economic impact to Oshkosh-area counties. The study, conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Center for Community Partnerships, surveyed visitors from every U.S. state and 15 other nations about their length of stay, daily spending, overall impressions of the event, and other demographic information.

The study indicates a direct economic impact of $84 million, with $26 million in multiplier or “ripple” effects in secondary spending and job creation. More than 1,700 jobs were supported by last summer’s event, which drew an estimated attendance of 540,000 and more than 10,000 aircraft to the region. AirVenture also generated nearly $39 million in labor income in the region, which included Winnebago, Outagamie, and Fond du Lac counties.

Wendy Hielsberg, executive director of the Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau, said, “The economic scope of EAA AirVenture is so large that it not only benefits Oshkosh, but the surrounding area as well. EAA AirVenture earns Oshkosh a reputation as a destination.”