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United States Pilots Association |
It has become readily apparent that the FAA will use any tactic to escape from congressional scrutiny regarding annual funding. A recent speech by the President of Cessna Aircraft Company stated that contrary to what the FAA says, the aviation trust fund is not going broke. In fact, it is increasing in size. Secondly, the FAA states it cannot operate under present funding arrangements. Fact: The FAA has been given a hefty increase each year by congress. The Bush administration has suggested "User Fees" be applied to several areas in an attempt to increase revenues. Norman Mineta, Secretary of Transportation, has advocated user fees to be placed squarely on the backs of general aviation pilots, parroting Marion Blakey's constant bowing to the airlines in agreement. The same airlines will not even consider a $2.50 increase in ticket pricing (to be paid by passengers) to pay for increased security costs. Finally; a congressman sitting on the appropriations committee that funds the FAA has said NO to user fees. If we all continue to write and call our elected officials, we may defeat this onerous idea once and for all.
One of our members who lives in the Albuquerque, NM, area has written to us concerning the future elimination of the ISLETA NDB at Albuquerque International Airport. I personally have no objection to the FAA phasing out NDBs around the country. This one was kept operating because American Airlines used it infrequently for training. Now American has said they no longer have need for the facility. The FAA has said that general aviation should fly 50 miles further north to Santa Fe to practice NDB approaches at a non-existent facility. (There is no NDB at Santa Fe.) In other words, the existing NDB was kept operating because an airline used it for training. When GA requests the continuance of the facility, we are told to go to Santa Fe where there is no facility, or 100 miles north, into the mountains to Taos. This is absurd. What has prompted the FAA to consider eliminating the ISLETA NDB? A real estate developer is putting a new subdivision in, and the NDB has to go. Remember that ABQ has 8-10,000’ mountains directly east of the airport. Every operating navigation aide adds to the safety factor.
Many of you may not be aware of a new problem involving airspace usage in New Mexico. Homeland Security is operating unmanned aircraft patrolling the southern border of New Mexico and Arizona, seeking border incursions by drug smugglers and illegal aliens. I personally have no problem with the concept, but the first time a 172 and a drone meet up, we all know who is going to have a bad day. Those of you who regularly fly in the area from Las Cruces to Deming to Lordsburg need to be in contact with ABQ Center, especially along the I-10 corridor.
Recently, I succumbed to the exorbitant fuel prices being charged by the oil companies for Avgas. I sold my beloved 206 which burned 15.5 gallons per hour and purchased a 172XP II that seems very happy consuming 8 gallons hourly. I gave up about seven knots in cruise airspeed but save about $27 a flight hour in fuel costs, not to mention a two-thirds drop in insurance cost. If I fly 100 hours yearly, that equates to about a $22 savings per flight hour. A $49 per hour reduction in cost is nothing to sneeze at in these times. When I look at the asking price for a new 172 with 180hp (mine has 195) and realize that I bought a 2,300 hour airframe with a 300 hour engine and prop for about one fourth the price of the new plane, the deal made even more sense. The bird came with new paint and an immaculate interior, and I will upgrade the avionics as I go along. One thing that has impressed me is the difference between factory prices for trim parts and those available in the aftermarket. A company called Texas Aeroplastics sold me strut cuffs and brake covers for less than half of the price from Cessna. Something is driving the new plane prices to the moon. I can put my bird next to a new 172, and I defy anyone to tell the age difference except by looking at the radios.
I found this plane on a web site called iPilot.com/classified. There are several equally good web sites, such as E-Bay and ASO online, and I recommend anyone looking for a used airplane to at least consider these sites. Ebay usually has 150 airplanes listed, and ASO and iPilot many more. You can find those impossible to locate parts on Ebay. I found a tray and connectors for $35 for a King KN62 DME I owned. It is going in this airplane. The best buy was a Garmin 150 XL GPS for $500, including tray and connectors, that came from an Ebay seller. Next month I hope to do an article describing the transformation of this ugly duckling to the beautiful swan it has become, complete with color photos. Anyone can do this, and you will create many years of enjoyment from the fruits of your work. The best part comes when you go to sell your plane. Used plane buyers respond favorably to an airplane that looks nice, is well taken care of, and wants for nothing.
Be safe, be courteous, and above all fly with the wind at your six.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association