November 2004

AOPA-Denmark Fights Airport Restrictions

Without any user consultations, the Roskilde Airport, the largest general aviation airport in Denmark, has imposed new regulations on weekend and holiday practice landings; pilots are no longer allowed to make landing circuits or repeated instrument approaches during these times. AOPA-Denmark President Claus Bak Petersen reports that they are fighting this new regulation because of its negative influence on flight safety, since most private pilots train, with or without an instructor, during weekends and holidays. AOPA-Denmark is seeking the most environmentally friendly solution to this problem, however, "No regulation must ever compromise flight safety," said Petersen.

ICAO Flight Crew Licensing and Training Panel Working Groups Meet

The multi-year effort to revise ICAO Annex 1 (Pilot Licensing) continued with a series of October working group meetings in Montreal to prepare for the full panel meeting in January 2005 to finalize its recommendations. IAOPA's ICAO Representative Frank Hofmann participated in discussions addressing:

• The definition of a cross-country flight was developed, one that does not necessarily include a landing away from the origin nor specify a minimum distance to be covered.
• The use of and credit for synthetic training devices. The feeling generally in the group is that expanded use and credit must be provided for in States where the technology is available.
• Medical requirements for glider, balloon, and small airship pilots and whether a commercial pilot license is required for advertising operations involving these aircraft.
• Requirements for pilots trained in the multi-crew concept who wish to exercise single-pilot privileges were discussed at length; resolutions are pending.
• Human performance threat and error management concepts will be required knowledge factors for all categories of licenses.

AOPA-Israel Activities

Yigal Merav, board member and Webmaster, reports that the Israeli General Aviation Association (acting both as AOPA-Israel and Israel Aero Club) is the biggest organization in Israel dealing with all aspects of general aviation, with more than 600 active members.

Association officials maintain a constant dialog with the national and local authorities regarding a variety of air traffic, security, and aircrew certification issues. The recent imposition of stringent security measures at airports has resulted in severe restrictions with little or no justification. Meetings with security officials are an ongoing effort.

Air traffic control is a major issue since the Israeli Air Force controls virtually all airspace. No VFR flights are possible, only CVFR is possible. Because of this there is a great gap between the military and civil point of view that must be continually resolved. Progress on this issue has resulted in a pilot project in which VFR is permitted in northern airspace using civilian controllers. This project was so successful after few months of operation that the CAA has decided to extend these procedures to the south as well. With continued success of these procedures the entire country should enjoy true VFR operations.

Members participate in a variety of aviation activities including:

• Precision landing contests
• Navigation rallies
• Local fly-ins
• Fly-outs to Greece and Turkey
• Police air patrols
• Environmental air watch flights
• Flights for disabled children
• Flights for schoolchildren

Closer ties to IAOPA Europe and general aviation interests in surrounding countries are current goals.

AOPA-Hellas to Host IAOPA European Regional Meeting and SES Conference

Yiouli Kalafati, President of AOPA-Hellas, has announced that their organization will host the first ever IAOPA European Regional Meeting to be held in south Eastern Europe, on Saturday, November 27th. Consequently, a substantial number of nearby Mediterranean AOPA's are expected to take part in this meeting for the first time. The meeting will take place at Sofitel Athens Airport Hotel. IAOPA President Phil Boyer is scheduled to participate in the two-day event.

On Friday, November 27, also at the Sofitel Athens Airport, AOPA-Hellas has organized a major gathering on the subject Single European Sky - General Aviation's Prospects in Greece. During this meeting well-known international speakers, together with high ranking Greek civil aviation officials, will discuss and predict the impact of the SES concept on the future of general aviation; the Greek Deputy Minister of Transport and Ministers for National Defence and Tourism will also participate. Attendance for AOPA delegates will be free of charge, provided that names and capacity of each one will be e-mailed to the organizing committee by Friday, November 19th at the latest. Email names of participants to and obtain further information from info@aopa.gr

AOPA-Hellas has obtained permission to reopen the recently closed Athens Hellinikon Airport from 21 to 29 November, to be known as "The First General Aviation Week in Athens." This is a significant event since the airport was officially closed to accommodate the recent Summer Olympic activities. The airport closure makes Athens the only European capital city without a single general aviation airport. This effort will also constitute a "Save Athens' Hellinikon Airport" move within the country.

COPA Opposes Canada's National Airports Policy

The Canadian National Airports Policy is abandoning smaller airports to associated communities that are not able to sustain them, primarily for financial reasons. Essentially, the government is divesting itself of all but the 26 major airports, leaving the others to local interests to sort them out as they see fit. The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association asserts that many communities do not appreciate the value of the airport or its importance as part of the national transportation infrastructure but they do understand that they can realize more return if the airport was ploughed under in favour of residential or industrial development. COPA has been fighting this shortsighted policy for over 10 years and is now working with a new Transport Minister, attempting to educate him on the importance of smaller airports to the national transportation infrastructure.

In a recent letter to Canada's Transport Minister, Kevin Psutka, COPA President stated, "The government urgently needs to re-examine the National Airports Policy with a view to strengthening smaller airports rather than walk away from them. I am at the coal face. I hear the laments almost on a daily basis from airports that are on the edge of extinction. Please understand that I am not simply arguing from the standpoint of 'those rich guys with their toys who are trying to get something for nothing', as so many government people seem to think. I am a Canadian who strongly believes that small aircraft transportation is vital to keeping this vast country together, and the infrastructure is crumbling from a misguided belief that either it will take care of itself and be self-financing, or that anything less than an airline is unimportant."

New Brazilian Shoot-Down Law

A law that allows the Brazilian air force to shoot down suspicious aircraft went into effect October 17. According to Houston-based Air Security International, "fighter pilots will only fire on suspicious aircraft if they refuse to identify themselves, do not land if requested, and fail to respond to warning shots." After all these steps are taken, the aircraft will be considered hostile and subject to destruction. Aircraft will only be shot down in unpopulated areas, where "routes presumably used by drug traffickers" exist. (Courtesy AIN Alerts)

AOPA-Colombia Works Closely With Government

AOPA-Colombia President Alfredo Gracia reports close ties with government agencies regulating general aviation activities, yet many problems with regulatory issues still exist. Among them:

Narcotics control - Since the war on drugs is now combined with the war on terrorism, police authorities tend to control general aviation as if it were guilty of all associated problems. Regardless of the good understanding of high-ranking officers and public authorities this issue has been a difficult one for a long time. "We often discuss our procedures and our ideas with the police, trying to facilitate solutions. We have very good goals but there is a need for an ongoing review of this subject," reports Gracia.

Landing fees - Some airports have been privatized and the new operators have significantly increased airport fees. With general aviation they disregard policies that have been traditionally applied within country, including that passengers were never subject to airline passenger tax, which is now the case. The association is working to correct this.

Emergency locator transmitters - Citing no need for the 406 mHz portion of the newly mandated ELTs, the association has sought to receive an exemption from having to equip with the expensive device. A ruling on this issue is expected momentarily.

General aviation regulations - Requests from the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority to study proposals for regulatory changes have been honored, resulting in a useful exchange of ideas. Some of the association's proposals have been accepted while others remain pending or have been rejected. Overall, the ongoing exhange of ideas is healthy and useful.

AOPA-Colombia aggressively seeks new members through air show exhibits and working with aviation schools. Excellent member services remain a central part of the association's work, featuring information regarding government activities, fuel prices, and airport issues. Information is delivered through a magazine and through special communications.

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