Sat, Sep 11, 2004
FAA will be processing paperwork for LOA conversions to airman
certificates during air races
Efforts by the
Experimental Aircraft Association and its EAA Warbirds of America
Division will help warbird aircraft owners get on-site assistance
to complete their new operating authorization paperwork during this
year's National Championship Air Races at Reno, Nev., on Sept.
16-18.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be present at the
Balzeout Aviation Hangar (11165 Osage Road) at Stead Airport during
the races. FAA will have a designated area to register
warbird owners, flying in the experimental exhibition category, who
need to complete the mandatory conversion of their current Letter
of Authorization (LOA) or Letter of Operational Authority (LOOA) to
an airman certificate. That mandatory conversion must be
completed by July 31, 2005. EAA had succeeded in getting the
FAA to extend the deadline this summer because lengthy processing
times by FAA had created a backlog of conversion requests.
Without that extension, much of the current warbird fleet would
have been grounded.
"The National
Championship Air Races are a favorite gathering place for warbird
aircraft," said Bill Fischer, executive director of EAA Warbirds of
America. "That's why EAA and the Warbirds of America urged
the FAA to be present at a location where they could work directly
with warbird owners. We heartily encourage any warbird owners who
are bringing their airplanes to Reno, and who have not completed
the conversion application, to do so while they're here enjoying
the air races. We want to make sure that all necessary
paperwork is completed to 'keep 'em flying.'"
Fischer cautioned warbird owners affected by this new policy not
to delay in seeking the required conversion of their LOAs and LOOAs
to the appropriate airman-certificate ratings. "The deadline of
July 31, 2005, for the completion of the conversions is inflexible
and all LOA and LOOA privileges cease after that date," he said.
"With the high demand and lengthy processing times to carry out
these conversions, Warbirds operators should submit their
conversion application packages immediately if they haven't done so
already."
EAA's web site and the Warbirds of America web site each include
a link to the FAA/DOT Notice. EAA is also working closely
with senior Flight Standards staff at FAA Headquarters to develop
new policies designed to increase the number of available pilot
examiners for Warbirds operators and other experimental exhibition
aircraft. That policy is in development and should be completed
within the next several months.
"We're talking to FAA
about reexamining some of the operational restrictions on
experimental exhibition aircraft. The regulations don't allow these
pilots sufficient flexibility to use their airplanes outside of the
context of an exhibition or air show," said Doug Macnair, EAA vice
president of government relations. "With the implementation of the
new airman certification process, which ensures that the agency
knows who is operating experimental exhibition aircraft and how
they were trained and evaluated, we believe FAA can expand the
operating envelope for these aircraft without compromising
safety."
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