December 2005

AOPA-Germany Successfully Opposes Pilot Background Checks in Federal Court

The administrative courts in Braunschweig and Minden independently supported AOPA-Germany's members who refused to undergo the mandatory security background screenings introduced according to the new Luftsicherheitsgesetz/Air Security Law. The security authorities intended to revoke the pilots' licenses, who immediately appealed this action in federal court. AOPA-Germany's Vice-President and attorney Ms. Sibylle Glässing-Deiss accompanied the two members giving them legal advice.

The courts acknowledged the rights of obviously innocent pilots to have their personal data and privacy protected. The courts also acknowledged the states effort to make aviation secure. The German security authorities protested against the court's judgment and appealed to the next higher court.

AOPA-Germany Managing Director Michael Erb noted, "The Luftsicherheitsgesetz obviously doesn't respect German data protection laws. Obvious and serious mistakes were made in the law-making procedure, a position AOPA-Germany has taken since the publication of the new regulation.

"The courts consequently respected the pilots rights to continue with their flying over the states' right to investigate with its intelligence services in an uncontrolled and obviously illegal manner. AOPA-Germany supports a secure general aviation and good cooperation between security agencies and pilots, but it will continue to oppose any unnecessary overreaction of security agencies that conflict with pilots' individual rights."  

AOPA-Spain Works to Save Endangered Airport

An unfortunate light aircraft accident occurring near the principal general aviation airport serving Barcelona, Spain prompted local and national officials to summarily close the airport for safety reasons. While the airport had been under scrutiny by local officials for safety and noise concerns for some time, the closure of the airport came as a surprise to general aviation operators in the area. AOPA-Spain and other aviation groups are working hard to reopen the airport.

The IAOPA Secretariat sent a letter to local and national officials supporting the reopening of the airport. Excerpts from the letter follow:

Ladies and Gentlemen: "Recent aircraft accidents at the Sabadell Airport are indeed unfortunate but these do not represent normal operations at this fine airport. These accidents represent a very small fraction of the thousands or yearly operations conducted at this airport and therefore should be considered in the context of the greater good provided by the airport and its users.

"The airport and its users provide essential transportation and emergency services to local communities and the region. Moreover, operations and businesses at the airport generate hundreds of thousands of Euros in income, jobs, and taxes for the local communities.

"Importantly, the strategic location and advanced facilities offered by this airport provide an attractive focal point for international general aviation flights visiting the Catalonian region. Denying international flights the use of this facility denies the region essential international commerce and tourism. I recently had the privilege of visiting this excellent airport and found it to be a very high quality facility, serving the needs of international operators and local citizens.

"Sabadell Airport represents an essential economic and travel portal to Spain and the Catalonian region. Please reconsider the decision to close this important facility. Rather, through a risk assessment and mitigation, seek to make the airport safer and more productive. AOPA-Spain and IAOPA will be pleased to work with you on these important issues."

ICAO ELT Update

As previously reported, ICAO is considering changes to existing standards requiring 406 mHz automatic fixed ELT in all civil aircraft. IAOPA's Frank Hofmann has been fully engaged with this issue for some time, advocating, among other things, a delay in the effective date for this requirement to coincide with the cessation of 12.15 mHz satellite signal processing, scheduled for 2009. Recent discussions indicate that some relief from the existing standard may soon be announced.   << Back to top

Peru Becomes 62nd IAOPA Affiliate

In November, AOPA-Peru came into being as a permanent affiliate of IAOPA with Gaston Garreaud serving as President of the new organization. The association, headquartered in Lima, Peru, also lists Jose Enrique Maldonado, Djordje Mateo Velickovich and Jose Guido Fernandez as officers.

AOPA-Peru is constituted as a technological, scientific, and humanistic institution with the following objectives.

• Promote, preserve and represent the interests of general aviation, taking into consideration that the international organization of civil aviation defines general aviation as all operations of civil aviation that are not regular or non regular air services of remunerated air transit operations.
• Promote the economy, security and use of the aircraft of general aviation for personal transport or for business purposes and those not related to business, which include recreational purposes.
• Promote the creation and maintenance of a system of airports, navigational assistance, communications, meteorological reports and other appropriate installations for the general use of aviation.
• Work with the Director General of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) and other competent authorities towards the development of aeronautic norms and regulations, as well as special procedures concurrent to the interests of an adequate development of general aviation.
• Provide its members consulting, assistance, and information related to its aeronautic development and personal flying experience.

AOPA-Bermuda Formed

IAOPA permits affiliation with one general aviation organization from each state that is a member of ICAO. In rare circumstances conditional affiliation is permitted with organizations in states and territories not meeting these criteria. This type of affiliation provides full privileges except for voting authority as a board member. However, this status permits full input and discussion on all issues coming before the full association. Therefore, with the approval and encouragement of AOPA-UK, AOPA-Bermuda was granted conditional affiliate status in November.

The officers of the new affiliate include:
Chairman and President: Lester Nelson
Vice Chairman and Vice President: Gary Venning
Director and Treasurer: Jack Durner
Director and Secretary: Richard (Willie) Forbes
Director and Legal Advisor: Kerri Viera
Director and Safety officer: Peter Wilson
Directors: G. Scott Powell, James Thigpen

Mr. Nelson paints the following picture of general aviation in Bermuda: "We have no light general aviation of any description at present. Avgas cannot be purchased here. Neither is there any helicopter or aerial search and rescue capability here. The only aviation is airline and corporate jet traffic.

"AOPA-Bermuda is still very small, only 13 full members. We estimate there are 40 pilot residents in Bermuda. Since our formation early this year, we have been edging closer to achieving our goal of working closely with the Department of Civil Aviation to build a policy around us for light GA. Our first aircraft (belonging to several members of AOPA) will be a diesel powered Cessna conversion that burns jet fuel, which is available here. AOPA's early goal is to see an aircraft established and flying locally, to have the authorities build a GA policy around it and then be able to publish a "how to" document for our members that if reliably followed should lead to successful importation of an aircraft for each applicant concerned. I realize this must sound very modest, but it will be a major milestone in GA in Bermuda.""   << Back to top

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