PENNSYLVANIA PILOT Vol 15 No 3, Fall 2004 Published quarterly by the Aero Club of Pennsylvania for those interested in aviation in the Greater Delaware Valley AERO CLUB NEWS... New Sport Pilot rule is finally here... Scholarships Awarded... AVIATION NEWS The annual scholarship dinner took place on June 17 at Wings FAA unveils Sport Pilot... FAA Administrator Jane Garvey Field. The Aero Club awarded Effective September, the FAA explains, “The big difference comes three scholarships, the Bob Shan- begins to certify sport pilots and in the cost. The typical private pilot’s non Memorial. Fund awarded their aircraft. Already, there are license costs nearly $9,000. With the two, and the 99’s awarded two. about 15,000 airplanes being flown new sport pilot certificate, it can be Former recipient and professional in the United States that qualify as $2,600 dollars. In return, the pilot pilot Andrew Wizon spoke, as did gets the benefit of FAA Inspector, Orton Ogborn. Airport Flashback certification stan- Scheduled speaker Johnny Miller dards for the air- was unable to attend after an auto craft, maintenance, accident in the Spring. Scholarship inspection, training recipient photos are on Page 3. and flight reviews that previously Udvar-Hazy Bus Trip... were unavailable in The Aero Club is planning a bus this category.” trip on October 2 to the new Udvar-Hazy Museum. Located The rule was first near Dulles Intl. Airport in north- proposed by ern Virginia, the museum houses industry in the late a collection that includes a Con- 1980’s. Initially, the FAA couldn’t corde, the Space Shuttle Enter- Photo by Rob Dant, story Dan Kurkjian even agree that prise, the SR-71 Blackbird, and A sports complex sits on the site of the old Shannon hundreds of other displays. Seat- Airport in central Chester County, PA. The only these aerial vehi- ing will be limited. See page 7. remaining remnant is the old airport beacon, still in cles were “air- place. Shannon Memorial Airport started out as an craft,” and for old farm strip in the mid-1950’s. It was originally Safety Seminar... The Aero- known as Downingtown airport and had 3 grass run- years the FAA Club co-sponsored an FAA safety ways. The airport was bought by Bob Shannon in the hoped the issue seminar at the American Heli- early 1960’s and was paved in the late 1960’s. After would go away. copter Museum at Brandywine Bob’s death in 1970, the airport was renamed in his honor. The airport closed to the public in the early These aircraft did- Airport on June 3. Air traffic 1990’s, but remained in private use for a few years n’t fit into any tra- controller Mary Wunder, aviation after. The runway remained intact until the sports ditional certifica- lawyer and AOPA board member complex was built and soccer fields constructed in tion regulations, the late 1990’s. You will find more about the airport Paul Heintz, and long-time A&P beacon and other airport news on page 4. but finally, in the Walt Ellis spoke on subjects relat- mid-90s, it became ing to TFRs, FAA paperwork, light sport aircraft. The rule specifies clear that these “whatever-they- and violations. All are Aero Club an LSA as being 1320 pounds max were” were not going away, and nei- members. The Aero club will co- gross, max 180HP, two seats and ther was the growing enthusiasm for sponsor another seminar Oct 21. max cruise of 120 Knots. Within them. So, the FAA started dis- tight guidelines, the average person Issue Highlights... cussing ways to fit them into the will be able to fly one of these air- regulatory scheme; this new rule is Fall Calendar, pg 3 craft with as little as 20 hours of the culmination of that long jour- Silent Auction, pg 3 flight training. The certificate will ney. If the sport pilot rule were a Aviation Donations, pg 4 allow them to fly daytime, with three Museum Bus Trip, pg 6 well-aged Scotch, it would be just or more miles visibility, below about ready for drinking. Member Renewal, pg 7 10,000 feet, and with one passenger. Continued on Page 3... AERO CLUB OF PENNSYLVANIA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Jeff Kahn As you can see from this issue of PA Pilot, your Aero Club has been very busy. The Scholarship Dinner was well attended and we award- ed three $2,500.00 scholarships to very deserving young aviators. Although Johnny Miller could not attend, we hope to have him with us at this year’s Wright Brothers Dinner. ORGANIZED: Dec 17, 1909; CHARTERED: May 10, 1910 PO Box 748 Our Safety Seminar in June was very well attended and was so well Blue Bell, PA 19422 received that the FAA has asked us to do an encore, which will take www.aeroclubpa.org [email protected] place on October 21st at the Philadelphia FSDO. New membership: includes quarterly Plans are coming together for our field trip on October 2nd to the newsletter mailing. Send name, e-mail, Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum. Please sign up early address and $20 to the address above. as space is limited! See page 6. OFFICERS We welcome the FAA’s issuance of the Sport Pilot regulation. Not only President Emeritus Al Schnur will this attract more people to aviation, the new medical rules will President Jeff Kahn 1st Vice President Walt Ellis enable many current pilots to extend days of active flying. But Secretary Nancy Kyle beware of the catch that you cannot self-certify yourself if your last Asst. Secretary Joan Landry Application for Medical Certificate was denied. Hopefully, the FAA will Treasurer Tim Boyle soften the impact of this provision in the future. In the mean time, it Asst Treasurer Charlie Pydych is wise for all of us to address new medical issues before going to VP Membership Lou Fitzpatrick VP Spec Projects Steve Najarian their Aviation Medical Examiner. Check with your AME well before you VP Scholarships Tim Boyle schedule your examination. AOPA also offers extensive resources to VP Publications Robert Dant its members, both by phone and on its web-site. In many cases, you Solicitor Paul Heintz, Esq. can bring the documentation necessary for your AME to issue your medical certificate on the spot. The good news is that if you are not BOARD of DIRECTORS sure whether you can pass the physical, but still believe that you are 3 Year Term: Norm Blanchard safe to fly, you may have the option to continue flying under Sport Tim Boyle Pilot regulations. Steve Najarian James Prier Fair skies! John Stubbs Jeff Kahn, President 2 Year Term: Elaine Farashian Lou Fitzpatrick Donald Hershey Joan Landry BOARD OF DIRECTORS REPORT Ed Siefken Nancy Kyle, Secretary 1 Year Term: Walt Ellis Debbie Harding The Aero Club board of directors met at PACC at Wings Field on July 29. Lee Paynter > Nancy Kyle reviewed the minutes from the last meeting. Irv Ross Marc Saunders > Jeff Kahn presented the financial report for the absent Tim Boyle. > Lou Fitzpatrick reported on membership. TRUSTEES Membership is steady at just over 200 members. Our mailing list includes Aero Club Mem. Scholarship Fund: an additional 125 dignitaries, organizations, and scholarship recipients. Tim Boyle, Chair > Rob Dant announced the highlights of this issue of the newsletter. Jeff Kahn Debbie Harding > The board discussed the success of the Scholarship Dinner. > Walt Ellis provided information about the upcoming safety seminar. PENNSYLVANIA PILOT The agenda will be similar to the spring seminar, but will be held at Intl. Editor Al Schnur Plaza near Philly International. The date is set for October 21. Asst Editor/Layout Robert Dant > Nancy Kyle and Debbie Harding reported on progress of the silent auction. PUBLISHED QUARTERLY > Jeff Kahn announced some details of the upcoming bus trip to Udvar-Hazy. All Copy for the Pennsylvania Pilot should be submitted via e-mail or floppy disc one month prior to publishing date. > Steve Najarian discussed details of the Wright Brothers Dinner Please submit copy to either: arrangements at the Desmond Hotel in December. [email protected] [email protected] > The meeting was adjourned. 2 PENNSYLVANIA PILOT AVIATION NEWS AERO CLUB CALENDAR Continued from Page 1... New medical rules for Sport Pilot... August Key among the provisions in the new rule is 18(wed) Atlantic City Boardwalk, USAF Thunderbirds the driver’s license as proof of medical fitness. 21-22 Reading AeroFest, Reading, PA But there are some caveats. Pilots must self- 21-22 Aero Club Silent Auction Donations, N99, LOM 28-29 Aero Club Silent Auction Donations, N99, LOM certify that they are medically fit to fly. And, 27-29 Sussex Air Show, Sussex, NJ anyone who was denied their most recent 28-29 Lancaster Community Days Air Show, Lancaster, PA third-class medical will not be issued a Sport Pilot certificate even if they have a driver’s September license. They must first satisfy the FAA that 9-12 Intl Seaplane Fly-In; Moosehead Lake; Greenville, ME the medical condition that prompted the pre- 11 Vintage Aircraft Day, Wings Field; Philadelphia, PA vious denial has been fixed or is under con- 11 Blueberry Skies Airfest, Hammonton, NJ (N81) 12 Easton EAA Fly-in Breakfast, Braden Airpark, PA (N43) trol. The complete Sport Pilot rule can be 12 Pottstown Fly-in Breakfast, Pottstown, PA viewed at www.faa.gov/avr/arm/rulemak- 11-12 Antique Airplane Club of Grtr NY Fly-In; Brookhaven, NY ing/SportPilotRule7_19.doc 11-12 Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Show; Reading, PA 18 Display of Vintage Fairchild Aircraft, Hagerstn, MD (HGR) 25 Ocean City Annual Airfest, Ocean City, NJ Cellphones tested aloft..