EAA Sport Aviation - January 2010

EAA SURVEYED OWNERS AND builders of the Zodiac 601XL and 650 and learned that 87 percent of those polled have voluntarily grounded their aircraft. The 601XL/650 community is well aware of the FAA’s Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) and the Service Directive/Safety Alert issued by AMD; however, they are looking for additional information from the FAA before taking action.

IN EARLY DECEMBER, EAA Chairman and President Tom Poberezny visited Washington, D.C. Among his stops, he participated in a panel at the FAA’s International Runway Safety Summit and met with FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.

EAA POSTED COMMENTS TO the FAA NPRM that proposes changes to 14 CFR Parts 61, 91, and 141. Of the sixteen proposed changes, EAA was concerned specifically with 61. 58, which could unintentionally have an adverse impact on both the Warbird and the amateur-built communities. As they are written, the proposed changes would require PIC proficiency checks for experimental turbojet-powered aircraft.

THE FINAL WORD
Earl Lawrence, EAA Vice President of
Industry and Regulatory Affairs
THE FAA RELEASED A new Airport Compliance Manual, or FAA Order 5190.6, this past
October. The document went from an original 94 pages to 691 pages! This policy covers the
compliance items an airport must meet to qualify for federal funding of airport improve-
ments. This funding comes from fuel taxes paid by pilots and aircraft owners like you.

EAA contends FAA Order 5190.6B was issued without appropriate public input that would have helped facilitate broad community acceptance. Not only was there a lack of public input in the development of the vastly expanded policy, but the FAA also published the revision with an immediately effective date. Knowing the potential damage this policy change will have on thousands of airport managers, business operators, and pilots, EAA believes it’s only proper for the FAA to have a process for public review and comment.

Making the situation worse, the FAA made the statement “Under no circumstances is the FAA to support any ‘through-the-fence’ agreement associated with residential use….” It made that statement with the knowledge that thousands of pilots and aircraft owners live in homes with TTF access, and that the GA community is particularly passionate about the dream of living near or with their aircraft. The FAA listed many reasons why it believes you should not have clear access to a public airport, but EAA believes that each issue noted could be easily addressed. Instead of fighting T TF activities, I think the FAA should actively support such activity and work with communities to develop standardized criteria on how such agreements can be made while protecting the safety and viability of our nation’s public airports.