ADIZ Violations, FSS Modernization Lead List Of Topics At AOPA
Town Hall Meetings
General aviation pilots in the Midwest last week said that while
additional punishment for violating Washington, DC's restricted
airspace (ADIZ) is probably necessary, the sanctions proposed in
some congressional legislation are way too tough. These pilots also
expressed extreme disappointment over the pending roadblocks to
flight service station modernization.
AOPA President Phil Boyer led three Pilot Town Meetings this
week, exchanging views with GA fliers in Detroit and Grand Rapids,
Michigan, and Indianapolis.
Pilots also saw a special message from Rep. Vernon Ehlers
(R-MI), who had some very pointed words on Congress and GA
security. "The biggest security issue facing Congress is not
aviation," he said. "I know that's heresy around here, but I'm much
more worried about port security and central city security."
Boyer presented recent survey data showing that 65 percent of
AOPA members believe that recent ADIZ violations have threatened
their freedom to fly. Not surprisingly, 96 percent of pilots in
Washington, D.C., and the adjoining states of Maryland and Virginia
think the actions of a very few have seriously threatened the
rights of many.
Nationwide, about half of all AOPA members think organization
should support strict penalties, including criminal charges and
substantial fines, for pilots who recklessly fly too close to the
Capitol and the White House.
But the Midwestern pilots told Boyer that they think the current
legislative proposals go too far. Some of those laws would impose
$100,000 fines, confiscate the aircraft, and suspend a pilot's
certificate for five years.
Many pilots have pointed out that because many aircraft are
leaseback rentals or club-owned, confiscation would penalize people
who had nothing to do with the incursion or the pilot flying the
airplane.
A fine of $5,000 to $10,000 and loss of certificate for one to
two years was a better fit for the crime, in the opinion of many
pilots attending the Midwest Pilot Town Meetings.
These pilots also expressed disappointment that FSS
modernization could be delayed because of legislation that would
block the outsourcing contract with Lockheed-Martin, or because of
the appeal filed by one of the losing bidders, FAA employees teamed
with Harris Corp.
"Pilots understand the
need for a twenty-first-century FSS system and the need to
significantly reduce the costs of providing that service," said
Boyer. "They understand that ultimately a few hundred people might
lose jobs but have a hard time trading that off for the needs of
more than 600,000 pilots."
Boyer also struck down a rumor that apparently is being spread
by a few disgruntled FSS employees. "I don't personally have any
stock in Lockheed-Martin. The only reason AOPA supports this
contract is because after more than five years of study, including
our own detailed investigations into the FSS system, we are
convinced that this is the right thing at the right time for the
benefit of GA pilots." (In fact, AOPA's ethics code prohibits any
association employee from having an interest in a company with
activities in the general aviation sector.)
More than 400 pilots attended the Midwest meetings. The next
meetings are scheduled for September 14 and 15 in New Orleans,
Louisiana, and San Antonio, Texas.