June 2005

IAOPA Presents CNS/ATM Needs to ICAO

ICAO is in the process of updating its Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management Policy document that will provide an implementation roadmap for years to come. This is an important document since it provides guidance to worldwide CNS/ATM providers and regulators, guidance that will harmonize the methods by which all civil aircraft will operate. The IAOPA Secretariat provided its input to the plan in May; its core statement follows:

"There are a number of guiding principles that form an essential structure when contemplating CNS/ATM features for GA/AW. While these are not our only concerns these issues are of critical importance for current and future operations:

• Safety of the air traffic system must be the principal concern. Safe operations for commercial air transport, State and GA/AW aviation communities takes precedence over any other consideration. To do less would invalidate any solution or system devised.
• The costs for general aviation users to access and operate in a global ATM system should be equal or less than it is today. With a single ATM system, duplicative infrastructure costs and service provider overhead are minimized, thus reducing operating costs in all regions of the world.
• With a new ATM system, general aviation aircraft operating under VFR should have increased access to all airspace areas. Because of the ATM system's efficiencies and performance gains, more airspace should be available for VFR general aviation operations. Increasing the access and flexibility of general aviation operations in all airspace areas generates incentives for acceptance of a global ATM system.
• A global ATM system should be capable of providing equal or better levels of service without expensive avionics upgrades or training. An ATM system should result in improved safety, access and efficiency without costly equipment and training mandates. Any proposed equipment, system or procedure must be subject to segmented cost-benefit analyses that adequately accommodate GA/AW operations.

"While a number of these principles may appear to conflict with features prized by air traffic service providers or other airspace users, these principles may be accommodated through the use of early coordination and planning. After safety, these principles may be further distilled to the dual concepts of access and equity - access to airspace and airports and equity in equipment requirements and sharing system resources."

The full text of the document is available online.   

IAOPA Discusses Safety Needs at ICAO Industry Meeting

IAOPA's ICAO Representative Frank Hofmann participated in the ICAO Air Navigation Commission's annual Consultation with Industry Meeting in Montreal, 19 to 20 May, 2005. The gathering was held to discuss safety issues and their implementation.

IAOPA's presentation used the input shown in the above article as a basis for telling delegates how important our core CNS/ATM principles are to the continuing safety of the GA/AW community. An excerpt from Hofmann's remarks appears below:

"Safety is an end unto itself, the central goal of all operations. But, the more subtle nuance is that all requirements, all designs and all systems must begin with the premise that operational risk will be minimized, regardless the form, function or fit. We must subordinate expediency to safety; we have shown that the reverse order yields disastrous results.

"While focusing on costs for operators seems a bit self-serving, it too has safety implications. If a GA operator cannot afford the price of entry to complex airspace in the form of fancy equipment there is a tendency to push the system and find a more "creative" means of getting to the destination. This false creativity may take the form of flying below closely controlled airspace where obstacles abound, pushing on in marginal weather because safer routes are not available or stretching one's fuel reserves because 'forbidden' airspace extends the route.

"Similarly, increasing airspace prohibitions in terminal or other obstacle laden areas denies pilots of light aircraft the options needed to be safe. When narrowly constrained to set routes, due to perceived heavy traffic flows or lack of controller capacity, pilots less able to cope with rapidly changing flight dynamics may quickly run out of options when weather, performance characteristics, or operational constraints present untenable obstacles.

"Finally, the concepts of equity and fairness must be designed into airspace and related procedures, not just for air carriers but for those with more modest but nonetheless real needs.

"Safety, or more accurately, the reduction of risk to a minimum, is provided by a series of options available to the operator. If a sufficient number of choices are available risk can be effectively mitigated. It is when the supply of time, fuel, weather, altitude and acceptable terrain become overly constrained that risk rises to unacceptable levels.

"CNS/ATM is an integral part of this equation, especially for GA/AW."

General Aviation Returns to Athens!

When the Athens Marathon and Hellinikon airports were closed to accommodate the 2004 Olympics, general aviation was effectively excluded from the Greek capital city, since an alternative GA airport was not provided. After several years of effort, AOPA-Hellas has convinced the government to permit GA access to the Pahi Megara airport (LGMG), 20 km west of Athens.

In a ceremony held at the airport on 19 May, government officials, including the Minister of Defense, Director of the CAA, and general aviation representatives it was proclaimed that the former military-only airport would be shortly opened to general aviation traffic. On this occasion, Yiouli Kalafati, President AOPA-Hellas, said, "On behalf of the members of AOPA-Hellas, I would like to personally thank Phil Boyer and IAOPA affiliates who gave their support for this important project. Athens finally has a general aviation airport, one to which we welcome all European pilots."

The airport will officially be opened to GA traffic on June 23. An opening ceremony will be held at which the Greek Ministers of Defense and Transportation will be recognized for their work in opening the Megara airport to GA aircraft. Immediately following the ceremony aircraft will depart for a weekend fly-in to Mitilini on the legendary island of Lesvos. For more information see the Web site. 

Court Sides with COPA and Canadian Aerodrome Owners

The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) and the owners of a private Canadian west coast island aerodrome emerged victorious last month after the British Columbia Supreme Court ruled in favor of the aerodrome's existence. The municipal plaintiff who didn't want the aerodrome in their backyard was essentially told by the court they had no right meddling in Federal jurisdiction.

The long-fought case was actively supported by both local pilots and COPA through their special action fund, especially designed for cases such as this.

COPA President Kevin Psutka said, "COPA supported this case for two reasons. First, COPA is committed to help COPA members establish their own aerodromes, as the federal Aeronautics Act allows them to do. Secondly, there is a B.C. Court of Appeal case called Van Gool, dating back to 1987 that decided that municipalities could regulate the use of property for aerodromes in that province under certain circumstances. COPA has long believed the Van Gool case was wrongly decided and wanted to have it overturned in court in B.C."  

APPA-Brazil Activities

The new board at APPA-Brazil for 2005 - 2006 is, President George William de Araripe Sucupira and Vice President G. Allan Lowy, both long-time members and long-serving officers of the association.

On 3-4 May, the first Civil Aviation Forum took place in the capital city of Brazilia. The general coordinator of the meeting was the well-known former president of Embraer, Varig and Petrobras, Ozires Silva. This forum included participants from all segments of civil aviation, including airlines, air taxis, agricultural aviation, general aviation, gliders, experimental aviation, sport aviation, ultralights, airports, aircraft manufacturers, and aircraft maintenance organizations.

Mssrs. Sucupira and Lowy both made presentations on behalf of APPA-Brazil, emphasizing issues of importance to GA, particularly regarding medical certification of pilots.  

AOPA-Turkey Fly-In

Erdogan Menekse, Secretary General of AOPA-Turkey has announced a 30 August - 3 September fly-in originating in Istanbul and featuring visits to Capadocia, Antalya and Ephesus. The initial leg to Capadocia will feature a handicapped air race, following Arc en Ciel rules. State and commercial sponsors are planned to support the event. For more information see the Web site.  

AOPA-Malta Elects New President

Dr. Ivan X. Gatt recently assumed the office of president of AOPA-Malta, relieving the long-serving Ms. Elizabeth Micallef from this post.   

Mass French Flight to Oshkosh Planned

On 17 July, 25 light airplanes will leave the famous Le Bourget airfield destined for the Oshkosh USA fly-in. The French aviation magazine Aviation & Pilote and aircraft manufacturer Dassault have teamed up to organize this ambitious trip. Most of the pilots are not working pilots but rather private pilots; most are members of AOPA-France. The weeklong trip will follow the northern route across the Atlantic, stopping at nine places along the way. Participant Emmanuel Davidson, chief editor of Aviation & Pilote and executive vice-president of AOPA-France, said, "It is probably the first time since the second world war that so many airplanes will cross the Atlantic, not in a race, but as a team."   

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