August 2006

Blended Fuels Raise Challenges for German General Aviation

AOPA-Germany reports that German general aviation operators will probably receive an exemption to retain leaded aviation fuels but may not be able to do so for motor fuels. This is important since many low-power general aviation engines use this fuel under a supplemental type certificate. The initiative to mix ethanol with automobile fuels is strong within the country, making an exemption for GA difficult.

However, making the case for retaining conventional fuels for general aviation gave AOPA-Germany an opportunity to educate its government officials. Michael Erb, AOPA-Germany Managing Director, reported, "What impressed our government's Department of Finance was our description of the value of the German aircraft being grounded by the fuel blending and the large number of international aircraft that would no longer be able to refuel in Germany. We also described the drastic reduction of flight numbers with the dramatic consequences it would have at all our regional airfields, still regarded as important for the nation's economy and therefore often financially supported by the State."

If other AOPAs are experiencing similar difficulties in obtaining exemptions to retain conventional fuels for GA, please notify the editor so that we may share ideas about this issue.  

Aviation Fuel Prices Soar in Europe

Lars Hjelmberg, AOPA-Sweden President, responding to comments regarding high aviation gasoline prices in Europe, noted, "The dramatic price increases on crude oil in recent time has also penetrated the world of aviation gasoline. This year, there is also an acute shortage of avgas in Europe, due to production problems in the UK, Holland, and France. Several large shipments from the US are working to the problem; without this assistance more than half the European GA fleet would have been grounded.

"Worldwide oil and European avgas shortages have raised the price of avgas to €2.50 per liter in some regions, however we pay just €1.05/l. in Sweden since we have no VAT or excise taxes on avgas regardless of flight purpose. Since 2004, the EU has permitted national parliaments to omit these taxes from avgas used for private flying-this provision expires on 31 December 2006. Therefore, each European AOPA should work with their State authorities to obtain and prolong this attractive provision. Sweden has already requested this within the European Commission.

"The main argument we have provided to our government is that if taxes are added to avgas, consumption will decrease dramatically and in Sweden by approximately 50 percent, based on experience in central Europe when taxes were added. With this dramatic decrease in consumption avgas use will be so small in certain areas that distribution will become economically infeasible. This would affect important work like forest-fire fighting, power and pipeline patrols, medical evacuation and flight schools; if the politicians want these essential services to be available countrywide then taxes may not be the correct option."  

Secretariat Provides GA Aerodrome Security Guidelines to ICAO

In July, the IAOPA Secretariat submitted its "Security Guidelines for General Aviation Aerodromes" to ICAO for use in its Security Manual. This document supplements ICAO Annex 17, Security, which provides the standards and recommended practices on the subject to world civil aviation. The Security Manual provides in-depth background information to States implementing their security program.

This submission is designed to provide guidance to States and operators in implementing security measures at their aerodromes. In December 2004, IAOPA submitted guidelines for general aviation and aerial work to ICAO for inclusion in its Security Manual (Document 8973). Both documents are available online.  

Strategic Review of UK General Aviation Published

Two reports published in July provide a comprehensive picture of the current state of UK general aviation and make a series of recommendations aimed at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), UK government, and the GA sector itself.

The reports were produced by review teams made up of representatives from GA, the CAA and Government. The Strategic Review considered the main economic, commercial, and policy developments in the sector; the Regulatory Review examined CAA safety regulatory processes. The reviews highlighted the diverse range of GA activities ranging from personal recreation to corporate jets.

Among the findings of the Strategic Review were:

• UK GA's economic contribution is estimated at around £1.4 billion through the employment of approximately 11,000 people; represents around 8 percent of the economic contribution of the State's commercial aviation sector.
• Many areas of GA are growing strongly and there is no evidence of serious decline, although access to key infrastructure has become more difficult.
• The UK government should consider making a statement on the value of maintaining a network of GA airfields.
• There is a need for a more effective dialogue between GA, CAA and government; all parties need to work better together to influence European legislative changes.
• GA needs to coordinate and better present itself.

See the reports on the Web site.  

Secretariat Works to Stop Transponder Specifications Modification

Altitude reporting transponders are currently required to report altitudes in 100 foot increments, however an obscure proposal within ICAO would require altitude reporting in 25 foot increments. Frank Hofmann, IAOPA Representative to ICAO, responding to the proposal made the case that this level of accuracy would do little to improve safety in the lower altitude stratum but would substantially raise the purchase price for altitude encoders. The proposal is under consideration by the ICAO Air Navigation Commission.  

ICAO Journal Features GA Status

Each year the ICAO Journal provides a status and forecast view of worldwide civil aviation. The August 2006 issue of the journal will include a brief update of world general aviation, provided by the IAOPA Secretariat and the International Business Aircraft Association. Items in the article include:

• Worldwide general aviation aeroplane production 2005 yielded 3,580 units, 21 percent above the previous year; piston-engine aeroplane production represents 70 percent of the total. These are record levels, with the piston-engine production topping annual production numbers for the previous two decades and turbine-powered production exceeding production figures over the past five years. Significantly, this production yielded billings of US$15 billion, a 27 percent increase over 2004.
• IAOPA estimates that there are 385,000 general aviation aeroplanes being operated by an estimated 1.3 million pilots worldwide. The general aviation fleet flew an estimated 34 million hours in 2005, down approximately 10 percent from 2004. This decreased activity is reportedly due to increased costs associated with flight training, fuel, maintenance and regulatory constraints.
• While difficult to sustain the current worldwide general aviation aeroplane production increases, growth rates on the order of 8-10 percent are commonly accepted.
• The Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association estimates there were 100,000 light aviation aircraft (ultralight/microlight through light sport aircraft) in service globally in 2005. More than 2,000 light aviation aircraft were produced in 2005. A 15 percent increase in worldwide production is expected for 2006 due to interest in the new light sport aircraft category and acceptance of the category by a growing number of States.

IAOPA Secretariat Engages Israeli Minister of Transport on GA Fees

The Israeli Minister of Transport has been exploring the possibility of increasing fees for general aviation services by up to 400 percent. While AOPA-Israel has protested these increases, there has been little movement within the ministry to reconsider these proposed increases. Therefore the IAOPA Secretariat wrote to the Minister of Transport in June, making the following points:

• With each new regulation and increased fee imposed on pilots and owners there will be a tendency to fly less to conserve discretionary funds, money that would normally be applied to actual flying. With decreased flying hours will come reduced pilot proficiency, thereby narrowing safety margins.
• At the recent ICAO Directors General of Civil Aviation Conference on a Global Strategy for Aviation Safety (DGCA/06), IAOPA presented a working paper making the point that excessive regulation which does not consider all aspects of their impact may have negative safety consequences. After some discussion the conference concluded, "Where further initiatives result in additional regulation, proposed regulations should be subjected to risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis to establish full validity".
• General aviation operations are the foundation of all aviation activity; the majority of all pilots receive their start as general aviation pilots. Further, general aviation provides significant economic value to the State and should be supported to the greatest extent possible. Please work to foster general aviation operations, not stifle them.

AOPA-Romania Revived

In 2004 activity in AOPA-Romania dropped to low levels, providing only caretaker status. But, as with many general aviation enthusiasts around the world, a small aviation organization, the Romanian Association of Private Aviation Operators, stepped in to revive the AOPA in that country.

Over a one-year period Gabi Iosif, Andrei Zincenco, Bogdan Stanciu, and Liviu Ionescu worked to clear the title to AOPA Romania, rewrite the bylaws, and established the initial membership for the organization. They have now received provisional affiliate status, pending board approval. Their contact points are, mailing address: Grigore Alexandrescu nr. 10, sector 1, Bucuresti, Romania. Telephone: +40-72-224.0001. Fax: +40-21-222.2554. ilg@livius.net.

Mr. Ionescu notes, "Traditionally in Romania all sport and recreation flying activities were coordinated by the Romanian Aeroclub, as delegated authority for issuing aircraft and pilot licenses. True PPLs were only recently made available to the public by the Aviation Academy, so most of what is generally considered GA activity is done here by very light aircrafts, operated through the Romanian Aeroclub. Therefore, we have much to accomplish. However, as a general consideration on past expectations from AOPA and voluntarily work, we would rephrase JFK and say that the point is not what AOPA can do for us, but what we can do for general aviation, so that we all fly more, fly safer, and have more fun in the process."   << Back to top

IAOPA Europe eNewsletter

Interested in any of the following?

• Europe advocates criminal background checks for all pilots
• EASA to change aircraft certification and pilot licensing rules
• Comparative costs of flying in Europe

If so, see the latest issue of IAOPA Europe eNewsletter on the IAOPA Europe Web site or here.  

Economic Impact of General Aviation

The ability to provide the economic value of general aviation operations in a country or region never fails to impress the public, government agencies, and politicians. The US General Aviation Manufacturers Association recently released an economic impact report that provides a simple methodology for computing the value of general aviation, regardless of location. See the Web site.  

AOPA-US Challenges Everyone in Aviation to Find One New Pilot

AOPA-US is challenging all pilots to seek out interested and qualified individuals and help them become new pilots. In the first few weeks of the program nearly 1,000 AOPA members have answered the call to action. "It's frightening to know that the US pilot population has shrunk 25 percent in the last 25 years," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "Every one of us with a passion for flying has an obligation to help reverse this trend. For AOPA that means putting all we have behind the new Project Pilot."

The online resources of AOPA Project Pilot can be found at online. Originally launched in 1994, this program links student pilots with AOPA members as mentors to help support them throughout their flight training. The new Project Pilot program introduces dynamic web tools and DVD-based multimedia resources to help facilitate a mentor-student relationship that lasts from first flight to the new pilot's first passenger and beyond.  

Aviation Impact on Wildlife

The FAI Environmental Commission has published a series of articles describing the effects of aviation activities on wildlife and how to find solutions to manage the issues. See the Web site. 

Note: John Yodice, IAOPA Counsel, is attempting to find a Buhl Pup airplane for sale. If you know of one that is available please contact him with details at john.yodice@aopa.org or +1 202 737 3030.

The International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations represents the interests of more than 470,000 pilots and aircraft owners in 63 countries. Formed in 1962, IAOPA is dedicated to promoting the peaceful uses of general aviation and aerial work worldwide.

IAOPA eNews is published monthly by the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations for the use of its affiliate members in representing and advocating general aviation and aerial work interests worldwide.

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