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United States Pilots Association |
Happy Thanksgiving! Below are a few brief notes from the Alliance for Aviation Across America.
Post-Election Update from the Alliance
Now that the election is behind us, the Alliance is continuing the push to modernize our air traffic control system so that we can keep America’s skies the safest in the world. As a result, we are working hard to urge the Obama Administration to support a bipartisan, comprehensive FAA Reauthorization bill as soon as possible and before funding expires on March 31.
Please take a moment to write to the Obama transition team and tell them how important this issue is to you. Click here http://capwiz.com/aviationacrossamerica/home/ and ask President-elect Obama to support FAA Reauthorization.
Aviation Events: What’s Happening In Your Neighborhood?
If you hear about aviation events in your area that other members of the Alliance might want to attend, let us know! Whether it’s a fly-in, a convention, or local fundraiser, please email us at info@aviationacrossamerica.org so we can spread the word.
News Update: San Antonio Express-News Calls for Immediate Passage of FAA Reauthorization
A recent editorial published by the San Antonio Express-News highlights our country’s urgent need for a modernized ATC system: “President-elect Barack Obama and Congress are facing a mountain of well-publicized problems when they get to work next year….When lawmakers and the next administration consider economic stimulus, they should include smart spending such as air traffic modernization, which offers on many levels. The Obama administration should take advantage of its expected honeymoon by pushing hard and fast for an FAA Reauthorization that gets air traffic modernization moving forward without further delay.”
Click here to read the full story: http://www.aviationacrossamerica.org/pubs/Air_traffic_contro.cfm
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association
USPA member Gene Conrad send out this inviting email. Sign up today! Go to: www.flybranson.com.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
USPA
Now, let us see. It is two weeks after the Presidential election, and look who has just been appointed to President Elect Obama's team. Why, it is none other than Jane (universally despised by the FAA, pilots, and aircraft owners) Garvey. We all fondly remember Ms. Garvey as the first woman Administrator of the FAA, who was appointed by Bill Clinton. She lasted five years--well into George Bush's presidency. She could do nothing right. She is an advocate of user fees (contrary to Obama's stated position in AOPA's magazine). Rumor has it she will be appointed Secretary of Transportation (over the FAA Administrator) as soon as the new president is inaugurated. I am beginning to see how this will all work. Promise everybody what they want to hear and then ignore those promises and forge ahead with the same old tried and proven worthless ideas of the past. What a great combination to look forward to. Jane Garvey, failing aircraft manufacturers, still high fuel prices, nobody lending on airplanes, and the loss of even more equity in our existing planes as the used market shrinks even further.
Here is another tip for you all. Watch what the insurance industry does to renewal prices after the first of the new year. Insurers have lost their investment income. You can guess how they will try to compensate for that income reduction.
Now that's change we can all live with!
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association
MPA member Jerry L. Smith, who was also the son of MPA Past President Mickey Pinkston, died in his Cessna 177 last Tuesday while flying near Mena, Arkansas. Here is the report as presented by AVwebFlash:
Jerry Smith, regional sales manager for the Garmin's aviation division in the south and central U.S., died on Tuesday in an accident, while piloting his personal airplane on business. Smith was flying his Cessna Cardinal 177 when he crashed near Rich Mountain, in Mena, Ark. He was a commercial pilot with instrument, multi-engine and instructor (CFII and MEI) ratings, and over 20,000 hours of flight time. He was well-known in the industry, with over 40 years of experience. He had been with Garmin since 1994, where he was one of the first aviation sales managers hired by the company. Previously, he worked at BF Goodrich Aerospace, where he did research flying for Stormscope, as well as TCAS, King Radio, and others. "Beyond his professional contributions, even more sorely missed will be his zest for life and sense of humor, which everyone will remember," Garmin said in a news release. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Jerry's family, friends, co-workers and customers as their lives have been changed forever by this tragic event." The cause is still unknown, Garmin said on Wednesday, but the NTSB and FAA are investigating and Garmin has offered its full support.
Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the Smith and Pinkston families. I had the privilege of calling Jerry a friend, and I, too, will miss him.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
Because so many of us met Mickey at our MPA/USPA annual meeting in Branson last May, I thought you might like to see that he's going gangbusters! Our fellow pilot Mickey was obviously not well when he spoke to us this spring.
But being the "show must go on" trooper that he is, he kept his commitment to us nevertheless. I don't know if he'll ever be flying again. But I do know that he made a lot of new pilot friends at our meeting in May.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
USPA
