März 03


March 2003
		AOPA-Thailand Encourages Neighboring Countries to Drop Fees Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam all charge navigation and overnight security fees for transient aircraft. These fees are $100 each in the first two countries and a combined $700 in Vietnam. AOPA-Thailand is actively encouraging its neighboring countries to rescind or reduce their fees for transient aircraft. Fortunately, Thailand does not charge these fees since it actively encourages the growth of general aviation. The Thai Department of Aviation has recently changed the regulations and now single engine aircraft can be used for commercial purposes. Previously there has been a restriction on this, so there was very little light single engine "charter aviation" activity in the Kingdom. AOPA-Thailand has also been acting as a counsel to the newly forming Cambodia Flying Club -- www.cambodiaflyingclub.com. The Crown Prince of Cambodia is a very active pilot with three personal piston aircraft, and he is very supportive of the 30 Cambodian and expatriate individuals trying to get general aviation off the ground in Cambodia. AOPA-Ireland Fights Flight Training Restriction The Irish Aviation Authority recently released a proposal to prohibit the use of non-Irish registered aircraft for flight training. AOPA-Ireland has protested this move to the IAA Personnel Licensing Standards Consultative Committee, stating that they have significant problems with the move. AOPA-Ireland made the points that not only does the proposal appear to contravene JAR FCL but there is no legal ground for the exclusion. As a consequence of these comments, a review of the proposal is underway. AOPA-Germany Works With Media on Aircraft Theft The theft of a motor glider near Frankfurt by a mentally disturbed pilot in January became world news when the pilot stated that he would use the aircraft to crash into government buildings. AOPA-Germany Managing Director Michael Erb rapidly contacted media outlets to downplay the possible effects a motor glider could have on ground structures. Government authorities were able to talk the errant pilot down with no damage to persons or property. Erb used the incident to explain the low level of threat from light aircraft and to defuse public fears about terrorist threats connected with these aircraft. He explained that the low kinetic energy available in a motor glider make it unsuitable as a weapon. Most important, he made the point to both media and government officials that crew and passenger screening and other extraordinary security measures at general aviation airfields are unnecessary. Mr. Erb said that, "The lessons from this incident for our members are to: - Be vigilant at their airfields - Keep their airplanes locked - Look out for strangers with a suspicious behavior - Not carry unknown people for a flight with uncontrolled luggage - Contact the police if there is any doubt - Consider a general security concept for their airfield as well as a strategy on how to handle media attention." IAOPA Europe Obtains Insurance Concession The European Commission recently proposed high liability insurance requirements for all civil aircraft. Light aircraft would have been required to purchase insurance providing an equivalent minimum of € 60 million; the premiums for such insurance would have been higher than most owner/operators would have been able to pay. IAOPA Europe insurance representative Guy Broddin has convinced the European Parliament and Commission working groups to modify the requirement to include additional aircraft weight categories that will lower the requirement to as little as €2.7 million for aircraft of less than 2,000 kgs. The proposal must be approved by the European Commission. AOPA Groups to Advise New European Aviation Group Europe is in the process of forming a number of new agencies one of which is the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The regulation that gave birth to EASA came into effect on 28 September 2002 and in essence, because it is a treaty, it means that the European Community acts as the legislator and member States act as co-legislators through the application of common community law-which is directly applicable. The treaty also provides the Commission with delegated executive powers which includes the setting of binding standards. IAOPA Europe has been invited to send a representative to future meetings of an advisory body, The Advisory Body of Interested Parties (ABIP). Martin Robinson, AOPA-UK CEO and Technical Assistance Team coordinator will represent IAOPA Europe's interests at this new body; Michael Erb, Managing Director of AOPA-Germany, will act as his deputy. This committee is very important as all future EASA Regulations will be considered by this committee. ICAO News Frank Hoffman, IAOPA Representative to ICAO reports the following on the Air Navigation Commission activities: - Human Factors were approved as a required subject in training aircraft mechanics. - The previously proposed English language proficiency 2008 applicability date for flight crew members is under attack. The proposal now includes balloon and glider pilots and flight engineers. - Proposed recommended pilot Class 2 medical certificate duration is one year over 50 years of age; current recommendation for the shift from two to one year is 40 years of age. - The introduction of a proposed NOTAM numbering system has been delayed due to the expense of implementing the system. - A number of States report that they lack adequate resources to comply with ICAO standards, an ongoing problem. - The perennial debate over the meanings of words and phrases to be used in both the standards and recommended practices and ATC phraseology continues - a healthy debate that attempts to keep the international aviation system safe and understandable. World Radio Conference Issues Approach ITU World Radio Conference-2003 (WRC) (Geneva, 9th June-4th July 2003). Many of the issues to be considered at this meeting appear to be somewhat esoteric, but they will have a major impact on worldwide civil aviation. Included: - Frequency sharing between the European next-generation GNSS system, Galileo, and DME in the band 1164 MHz-1215 MHz - Sharing of the next generation of GNSS and primary radar in the band 1215-1300 MHz - Preservation of current allocations for the Microwave Landing System (MLS) at 5091-5150 MHz - Harmonization of the frequencies in the band 5150-5725 MHz for Radio LANs (RLANs) to support airborne weather radar. Contact your aviation and telecommunications regulatory authorities and indicate your support for preserving the limited and dwindling frequencies to be used by aviation for safety of flight purposes. 21st World Assembly Report Available Through the good offices of Pamela Campbell, AOPA-UK and IAOPA Europe, the 21st World Assembly Report is now available for viewing at www.iaopa.org. This method of delivery is being used in an effort to reduce costs associated with production of a paper report. However, if an affiliate would like a single paper copy of the report, please address your request to info@iaopa.org. PLAN TO ATTEND 2004 WORLD ASSEMBLY IN TOULOUSE, FRANCE
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