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United States Pilots Association |
This week a story appeared regarding your government at work (or play). American Eagle Airlines parks a number of their aircraft every night at various airports around the country. These planes sit, locked, in a secure area (behind the fence) in areas that are patrolled regularly by airport authorities or local police. One night, an employee of Homeland Security/TSA possessing official ID, got onto the airport and proceeded to the area where several of these aircraft were parked. The planes were locked and unattended. This fine, upstanding member of our government climbs up on several by stepping onto probes protruding from the airplane, and then commences trying to break in to the respective planes. He apparently was able to force entry into one or two aircraft. The next morning pilots and mechanics discovered damage caused by stepping on the probes, making the planes unairworthy. Result: The airline had to ground all until tests were performed to make sure all was working as it was supposed to and repairs made on those with obvious damage. The result was a number of these aircraft did not fly that day, inconveniencing the general public. Now just suppose a zealous guard employed by Homeland Security or airport security or whomever happened upon this individual while he was forcing his way into an airplane. Would the guard have been justified in assuming the worst, and pulling his gun, and ultimately shooting at the perpetrator? I just cannot understand the logic behind these kind of actions.
Now lets fast forward a few years. These idiots now have jurisdiction over GA airports and the same stunt is pulled. They break the lock into your hangar and force their way into your aircraft. They then claim your plane could have been accessed by terrorists.
HSA/TSA is trying to levy a huge fine against American Eagle. How would you like a $100,000 fine because they were able to break into your hangar? If I was an executive of American Eagle, I would file a lawsuit in federal court to prevent this kind of stupidity from occurring again.
One last thought. Where is the FAA in all of this? Why are we not hearing of action being taken by them against HSA/TSA to prevent this from happening again? This is what happens when an agency of the federal government is given carte blanche to go out and commit numerous felonies in the name of homeland security.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association
A USPA officer, who is also the Treasurer of the Missouri Pilots Association, has received the prestigious FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for 50 years of dedicated service to aviation safety. Charles Shipman, USPA Central Regional VP, Columbia, MO, has been flying since he was 22 and has over 8.700 hours logged. Charles flew both fixed wing and helicopters serving two tours in Vietnam, and provided transport for both President Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. He also flew for the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers, mapping the Andes in Central and South America.
Charles bases his Piper Lance at Fulton, MO, and finds many reasons to visit friends and family around the country.
Congratulations, Charles! We’re proud to have you in USPA and MPA.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
USPA will be gathering in San Jose on Saturday morning, November 8, at 10:00 a.m. in the Guadalupe Room in the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, CA. If you plan to attend the AOPA Expo, be sure to put this date and time on your calendar.
The AOPA Expo is a fantastic general aviation event, held twice each year on alternating coasts. USPA VP Bob Worthington will be presiding at the USPA meeting during Expo.
For more information, contact Dr. Bob Worthington at rworthin@zianet.com.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
USPA
If you are unable to attend the USPA meeting in Geneva, but would like to have an issue taken up, please send me your request, and I will put it on the agenda. Please also include your position on the issue.
Thank you!
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
USPA
August 12, 2008, The Forbes Report on the net. Headline: Air Transport Association spent $2.2 Million lobbying in second quarter. That folks, comes out to almost $10 Million annually. "The group lobbied on issues including airline passenger rights (my comment: they don't have any), air transportation financing reform, and FAA reauthorization…….. ATA supports measures that enhance aviation safety, security and the vitality of the U.S. Aviation system.” Yeah, sure they do.
That's why the FAA has been asked to investigate the complaints filed by airline captains stating the airlines are forcing them to fly with less fuel to lower the weight of the airplane. That little jewel is on today's i.pilot.com.
Then we have the FAA sending out a request to all airport owners requesting the name and address of all aircraft owners who base on that airport. Now why would the FAA want to know who bases their airplane on a particular airport? Let me see. Could it be because they want to make it easier to track down some miscreant who inadvertently violated an altitude restriction? Or could it be a friendly request from Homeland Security? Believe it or not most airports, including my home base of KODO, complied with the request and gave up the information immediately. There were several privately funded airports in Texas who told their customers of the request. The response was overwhelming against releasing this information. Have you ever filed a flight plan? One of the questions asked by the briefer is pilots name and home base. So why does the FAA need this info. You tell me. When I spoke to an individual in the Fort Worth region, he could not give me a straight answer. I was told I would be called back with the info. The call never came.
Do any of you know the FAA is on an enforcement kick and have requested the assistance of the air traffic controllers? Bust an altitude assignment or change heading to avoid weather and put your license on a rubber band. It just isn't going to get better.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association
In case you didn’t see it, the privately funded Branson Airport was mentioned in the August 2 edition of AVFlash. MPA and USPA will be there for the opening ceremonies and air show on May 9, 2009.
Branson's Private Commercial Airport On Track
The U.S.'s first private airport designed to accommodate airliners will open in May of next year and will be a new wrinkle in air transportation. The $155 million airport, with a 7,200-foot runway designed for aircraft weighing up to 700,000 lbs. is entirely privately funded, even though spokesman Gene Conrad told AVweb the project would likely have qualified for millions in FAA funding. But if the FAA had written even the smallest check for the development, that would have imposed right of access rules that are not part of Branson's business plan.
As a private airport, the investors can pick and choose which airlines serve Branson, who gets the rental car concession and every other commercial consideration at the facility. That means the airport can cut exclusive deals with airlines for specific routes. Conrad said the airport can even include fare caps in the deals it makes with airlines to prevent gouging. Despite the successful marketing of Branson as a tourism entertainment destination, the closest commercial airport is more than 60 miles away and airfares are high because of the connections required. Conrad said he expects the airport to be popular with business jets, too, and not just because of the celebrity traffic. "With our central location and the price of fuel, I can see how a lot of business aircraft will be based there," he said. The airport opens with an air show and concert in May.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
USPA