AOPA's Boyer Flies Left Seat With South Dakota Senator
The leader of the Democratic Party
in the US Senate, Tom Daschle (D-SD), joined AOPA President Phil
Boyer in the cockpit this week. During a three-hour flight, the two
discussed a wide range of issues important to general aviation
pilots, such as privatization of the air traffic control system,
post-9/11 security restrictions like the Baltimore-Washington Air
Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and the "rolling" TFRs
(temporary flight restrictions) that cover Presidential campaign
swings, and GA's own efforts to make local airports more
secure.
"Senator Daschle is a longtime GA pilot and AOPA member," said
Boyer. "He truly understands the impact of government actions and
regulations from a pilot's perspective and pledged to assist the
association as we develop agreed-upon legislative remedies."
Daschle has been a vocal opponent of efforts to privatize air
traffic control. During their flight, Boyer outlined the renewed
interest in learning to fly, with a two-percent increase in student
pilots from 2002 to 2003. The increase is all the more dramatic
because many foreign pilots have been unable to take flight
training in the United States since 9/11.
Daschle expressed interest in the delivery of new GA piston
airplanes and was pleased to learn 2004 continues to match the
successes of the previous year. Using the panel in AOPA's plane,
Boyer demonstrated the on-board datalink, explained AOPA's position
on ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast), and showed
the enhanced situational awareness now available for
lightplanes.
The two discussed AOPA's efforts to keep pilots informed of
constantly shifting TFRs that have become part of the "new normal"
since the September 11 terrorist attacks. Boyer noted that the
association has sent literally millions of e-mail airspace alerts
to pilots affected by security-related TFRs since the attacks. In
addition he described AOPA Online's depiction of "anticipated"
Presidential movements and the Real-Time Flight Planner developed
with Jeppesen to assist pilots with planning around constantly
changing airspace restrictions.
The two discussed the government enforcement actions against
innocent pilots with inadvertent airspace violations and the
tremendous work load it was placing on controllers and the FAA
enforcement staff. During the heavy IFR portion of the flight into
Washington's Dulles airport, Daschle heard firsthand the busy air
traffic controllers working IFR airline traffic and trying to
handle lower level ADIZ clearances.
He also explained general aviation's own efforts to enhance
security at GA airports. Recommendations from a GA working group
convened by the Transportation Security Administration form the
heart of TSA guidelines for GA airport security. AOPA's Airport
Watch and the toll-free nationwide hotline that TSA set up in
support of the program are an integral part of those
recommendations.
Boyer asked Daschle to press the FAA for the report it is
required by law to file with Congress on whether there is a
continuing need for the Baltimore-Washington ADIZ — now
nearly five months overdue. He told the senator that AOPA has tried
to do its part, developing an online course to help pilots
understand how to operate in and near the ADIZ. The two also
discussed the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Know Before You Go
online airspace course and other free online offerings. Daschle
said he had taken, enjoyed, and learned from several. He said he'd
also attended a live ASF safety seminar early in his flying career
and found it very informative.
Daschle joined Boyer on a flight from Aberdeen (SD), where the
senator had been to vote in both a special election to fill a
vacant congressional seat and a primary to fill the seat
permanently in November, to the nation's capital. Daschle's
reelection campaign reimbursed AOPA for the flight in accordance
with federal election law.
"Having the undivided attention of the de facto leader of the
Democratic Party to discuss important aviation issues was a real
benefit for our members and for GA," said Boyer. "Having the
discussion while doing something we both love to do was icing on
the cake."