EAA Sport Aviation - April 2009

briefly noted...

Tony Bingelis Scholarship Applications Available The Tony Bingelis Scholarship Fund—formerly The Texas Fly-In—is accepting applications for scholarships of up to $2,000 available to Texas’ youth ages 16-22 to pursue flight training or the expenses involved with college tuition. Application forms can be downloaded online at www.TonyBingelisScholarshipFund.org, and the deadline for submission is June 1.

FAA Funding Bill Introduced in House

A new FAA funding bill, nearly identical to the 2007 House version, was introduced by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The previous bill was backed by EAA and most of GA because it retained the current funding method of fuel and passenger seat excise taxes and did not impose user fees.

The Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2009 authorizes nearly $70 billion for the FAA for the next four years (fiscal years 2009-2012), including $38.9 billion for FAA operations, $16.2 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, nearly $13.4 billion for FAA Facilities and Equipment, and $1.35 billion for Research, Engineering, and Development.

FAA Releases LSA Assessment Project Update The FAA recently provided a status report for its ongoing light-sport aircraft assessment project with an open letter to the light-sport aircraft industry. Assessment teams have visited 23 of 29 randomly selected U.S. facilities thus far, and FAA evaluators expressed confidence that LSA manufacturers’ compliance can match that of commercial aviation manufacturers, further validating the use of industry consensus standards and compliance self-declarations for the LSA industry. The complete letter can be read online at www.EAA.org/news/2009/2009-02-19_FAA_letter.pdf.

AeroShell Pilot Continues Recovery

AeroShell Aerobatic Team Lead Alan Henley continues to recover from an accident last summer. Henley was injured while playing with his children. A chin-up bar gave way, resulting in a fall that caused severe injuries to his neck.

According to the AeroShell Aerobatic Team’s website, www. NAAT.net, “…after more than three months at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s trauma unit, including several surgeries, Alan is home. He is paralyzed from the chest down and will undergo extensive rehabilitation to an uncertain recovery. Insurance has helped cover the tremendous costs of his treatment, but those benefits may be soon cut off….”

To assist Alan and his family, friends have organized two upcoming auctions. The first will be held at the Cecil Field Air Show in Jacksonville, Florida, April 18- 19 ( www.CecilField.aero). Items to be auctioned include wheel chocks, and more. A second auction is being planned during the Sun ’n Fun Fly-In at Lakeland, Florida, April 21-26; organizers hope to have a Pedal Plane T- 6 painted in the colors of Alan’s AeroShell T- 6.

You also can learn more about Alan’s condition and contribute to the family at www.NAAT.net.

Upcoming Events

Aero Friedrichshafen

Messe Friedrichshafen, Friedrichshafen, Germany April 2-5, 2009

www.Aero-Friedrichshafen.com/html/en

Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (LAL), Lakeland, Florida
April 21-26, 2009
www.Sun-N-Fun.org

Virginia Regional Festival of Flight
Suffolk Executive Airport (SFQ), Suffolk, Virginia
May 30-31, 2009
www.VirginiaFlyIn.org

Golden West Regional Fly-In
Yuba County Airport (MYV), Marysville, California
June 12-14, 2009
www.GoldenWestFlyIn.org

Arlington Fly-In
Arlington Municipal Airport (AWO), Arlington, Washington
July 8-12, 2009
www.NWEAA.org

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
Wittman Regional Airport (OSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin
July 27-August 2, 2009
www.AirVenture.org

Colorado Sport International Air Show
and Rocky Mountain Regional Fly-In
Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC),
Denver, Colorado
August 22-23, 2009
www.COSportAviation.org