Midlands Voices: Business Aviation Steps Up for Flood-Stricken Nebraskans By Mike Gerdes, President of Silverhawk Aviation in Lincoln, Omaha World-Herald April 11, 2019 The national headlines may be moving away from the about charter services to deliver them to medical historic flooding Nebraskans have recently faced, but appointments, jobs and families. one of America’s best industries — “business aviation” — Amidst the deluge of inquiries, our company had a remains on the front line, lending a helping hand to those single thought: Nebraskans stick together in times of in need. crisis. We decided to fly as many people as we could Business aviation is a term used to describe from the impact zone. We were a small part in the overall the manufacture and use of small airplanes for picture of Nebraskans helping Nebraskans. Airports transportation. It generates jobs, connects communities, offered free fuel, local residents of Fremont donated helps companies of all sizes succeed — and provides a food for the pilots and people struggling, and companies lifeline when disasters strike, like the one in Nebraska. contributed thousands of dollars in supplies. Silverhawk Aviation, along with numerous volunteer Silverhawk was able to utilize a pair of Beechcraft King pilots, was able to provide critical lift to deliver people Air 90 turboprop aircraft, a Cessna Citation and a Cirrus from crisis areas, while moving medical specialists, to operate flights between Fremont Municipal Airport and supplies and other resources into impact zones. We the cities of Lincoln and Omaha, for relief-transport and are just a small related missions. part of a loose In the end, we transported more than 140 passengers PIREPS coalition of nonprofit free-of-charge before the flood-damaged roads gradually June - July 2019 organizations, reopened. Of course, we couldn’t have done this alone: Volume 70, Issue 4 companies and other Silverhawk was joined by dozens of individual pilots, who Published bi-monthly by groups committed together flew an estimated 1,000 people out of Fremont Nebraska Dept. of Transportation to providing relief and into safety, and dozens more who offered any Aeronautics Division to Cornhusker assistance they could provide. PO Box 82088 Lincoln NE 68501 families and This moment illustrates the value of business aviation, 402-471-2371 rebuilding the state’s not just in Nebraska, but nationwide. For example, after dot.nebraska.gov/aeronautics most damaged hurricanes ravaged Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico in Governor Pete Ricketts communities. 2017, business aviation was a first responder, providing NDOT Director Consider the disaster relief before federal and state authorities could Kyle Schneweis impact of these take over. Aeronautics Commission coordinated Of course, business aviation is at work for Nebraska— Dick Trail, Chair efforts: In Fremont, and America — every day. Nebraska is home to more than Michael Cook Diana Smith Tom Trumble Terri Wachter devastating rains cut 75 public-use airports, many of which are used primarily Administration off a community of for business purposes. These airports serve the local Director ..............................Ann Richart 26,000 people from communities around them and connect dozens of local Deputy Director .................Andre Aman surrounding areas, companies to the global marketplace. In our state alone, [email protected] turning the city into business aviation helps support an economic output of Circulation: 3320 an island. There is no more than $1.2 billion and roughly 7,000 jobs. airline service from In short, business aviation is a vital part of Nebraska’s Fremont, and roads economy and transportation system — in good times and were impassibly bad. As Nebraska continues its recovery effort, we look flooded, so residents forward to being a central part of that work. began inquiring Reprinted with permission of the Omaha World-Herald Richart Joins NDOT as Aeronautics Division Director Ann B. Richart began Director of Aviation at Elmira Corning Regional Airport her duties as NDOT’s in Horseheads, New York. Richart has also managed Aeronautics Division Director airports in Klamath Falls, Oregon and Hutchinson, on May 13. She succeeds Kansas. Ronnie Mitchell, who retired “We are excited that Ann has joined NDOT as our December 2018 after serving Aeronautics Division Director,” said NDOT Director in the new role with the Kyle Schneweis. “She has decades of experience merger of NDOT and the leading airports and supporting aviation through state Department of Aeronautics government positions. Ann’s background in planning on July 1, 2017. Mitchell for and implementing airport development plans will Ann Richart retired with over 50 years in complement our Aeronautics team’s experience well.” the aviation industry. Richart said she looks forward to helping aviation Richart comes to NDOT from Martha’s Vineyard continue to grow and flourish in Nebraska. Airport, in Massachusetts, where she served as Airport “Aviation is an important tool in the economic Manager. She has extensive experience in both the development toolkit. It’s an honor for me to have the public and private sector, including Director of the Oregon opportunity to work with Nebraska’s aviators, airports Department of Aviation and State Airports Manager at and communities to ensure a strong and vibrant aviation the Oregon Department of Transportation, as well as industry in our state,” said Richart. New Surveillance Technology Coming in January What happens January 2, 2020, if your aircraft for approving non-equipped aircraft operations in is not equipped with Automatic Dependent ADS-B rule airspace, defined by FAR 91.225, primarily Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out and you on the aircraft operator—and not on the FAA. “To the need to fly into — or out of — airspace where maximum extent possible, operators of equipped the new surveillance technology is required? aircraft should not be penalized or have their ATC You will be able to request an airspace authorization services affected by operators who choose not to from the FAA. Some information about the process equip their aircraft with ADS-B Out equipment,” the was published April 1 in the Federal Register. While agency wrote in the policy statement. “Therefore, an the title, “Statement of Policy for Authorizations ATC authorization allowing an operator to deviate from to Operators of Aircraft that are Not Equipped the equipage requirements of [FAR] 91.225 must be With Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast requested and obtained prior to the operation.” (ADS-B) Out Equipment,” is a mouthful, and despite ADS-B rules require that the operator of an the publication date, it is no April Fool’s joke. This unequipped aircraft request an authorization at least document establishes the FAA’s policy for issuing one hour prior to the flight. The FAA will not issue air traffic control (ATC) authorizations to pilots flying in-flight authorizations to operators of non-equipped aircraft not equipped with ADS-B Out equipment who aircraft, nor will air traffic control facilities accept want to access rule airspace after January 1, 2020. telephone requests. ADS-B uses satellites instead of ground-based Only if ADS-B Out equipment fails in flight will radar to determine aircraft location, and it is a key controllers be able to issue an airspace authorization technology behind the FAA’s Next Generation Air to an airborne aircraft. Otherwise, an authorization Transportation System. The FAA has mandated ADS-B must be requested at least one hour in advance, Out for flights after January 1, 2020, generally in through a website that is being developed. We can airspace where a transponder is required today. expect the website for non-equipped authorizations to The FAA policy primarily affects scheduled be available before 2020. operators but also addresses general aviation Reprinted with permission of Aviation Brief, operations. The agency said it is placing the burden published by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) 2 New Designee Management System By Lee Svoboda Applicants and instructors, remember: When you Attention instructors — designated pilot examiners contact an examiner by phone, text, email, or website, need your help! The FAA has initiated a new Designee be prepared to be flexible for time and place, and also Management System (DMS). This new system requires be prepared to provide the full name of the applicant, examiners to submit a request to the FAA for approval their phone number and the FAA Tracking Number to perform a practical test. This request must be (FTN). If all of these actions are not accomplished submitted a minimum of 24 hours before the practical early on, the practical test may need to be postponed test. until the actions are completed and the examiner has approval to conduct the practical test. Much of the required information can be obtained off the practical test Airman Certification and/or Rating New subject—well, it is an old subject that is beginning to show up again. Applicants are showing Application, (FAA Form 8710-1); however, examiners up with airplanes that are not eligible for the practical need to have access to the applicant’s FAA Form test. Examples of deficiencies are: 8710-1. The only way an examiner can digitally look . Expired registration. at an applicant’s form is for it to be submitted in the . Expired annual inspection. Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application . Expired WAAS GPS Instructions for Continued (IACRA) system. Airworthiness Inspection (ICA). If it is a Part 61 application, after submission by the . No record of completion of other required ICAs. applicant, the recommending instructor must sign into . No required Flight Manual Supplement for STC IACRA, then review, electronically recommend and sign installed parts or equipment. the FAA Form 8710-1. If it is a Part 141 application, . No operating manuals in the aircraft as required after submission by the applicant, the flight school chief by a Flight Manual Supplement.