Pictures of Yesterdays Pilots Meeting

Thanks to Mike Moore for hosting the event and Jack Fastnaught for his slide show. We had a good turn out (22) and a range of items were discussed.  We are still going to host the SCBC at Whiteplains, and Fly Young Eagles.  We also covered runway up keep, insurance and a few other items. See Dick Hitt for minutes of the meeting.

 

 Pictures from: Steve Crimm

ALPA Suddenly Has A Problem With Pilots Bill of Rights

ALPA Moves To Block Medical Reform Bill

By Stephen Pope / Published: Jul 28, 2015

Related Tags: News

image: http://www.flyingmag.com/sites/all/files/imagecache/article_image/_images/201507/ga-plane-runway.jpg

Enlarge Photo

Just when it appeared third-class medical reform might finally be within legislative reach, airline pilots have held up their hands to say not so fast.

 

The Air Line Pilots Association is staging an 11th-hour p.r. campaign aimed at derailing the key provisions of the Pilots' Bill of Rights 2, legislation aimed at eliminating third-class medicals for most private pilots in favor of self-health assessments.

 

In a letter to lawmakers on Friday, ALPA wrote that its members have "grave concerns" about sharing the same airspace with "medically unfit pilots" who would be given "unfettered accessimage: http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png
to the national airspace up to 18,000 feet."

 

An amendment to a pending highway bill filed by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) last week seeks to tack on the third-class medical reform language before Congress heads out of town for its summer recess on July 31. ALPA says it's opposed to the amendment being added to a surface transportation bill, preferring that medical reform be a part of the broader discussion about FAA reauthorization, which has been pushed off until September.

 

The amendment looked as though it was gaining serious momentum until ALPA's sudden denunciation. The leadership at AOPA and the Experimental Aircraftimage: http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png
Association, who've been fighting tooth and nail for the legislation for more than a year and who say they haven't heard a peep from ALPA on the issue until now, are fuming.

 

""The rhetoric from ALPA is most disappointing and utterly out of step with the rest of the general aviation and airline pilot community," said EAA president Jack Pelton. "Why it would turn its back on the community that inspires, supplies, and trains its professional aviators is baffling, especially when the vast majority of statistics and opinions by safety professionals, regulators, and other pilots agree that ALPA's position has no basis and makes no sense."

 

AOPA and EAA are urging members to contact Congress to support third-class medical reform before the July 31 deadline. Failing that, there is still hope that the Pilots' Bill of Rights 2, which was introduced last year by Sen. James Inhofe (R.-Okla.) and has garnered 55 co-sponsors in the Senate and 118 in the House, could resurface in the fall.

Read more at http://www.flyingmag.com/news/alpa-moves-block-medical-reform-bill#rxh8pERHX3ijGLMj.99

Amazon and Drones - Coming to your area?

This was brought up at the pilots meeting last night. Didn't think it was true, but it just might be.

Drone Airspace? by Steve Podradchik

I ran across the following article about Amazon proposing a thin slice of airspace to be dedicated to drones.  Providing the obvious limits on drone flights, regardless of the altitude, are in place near airports (incl. seaplane bases) and other crucial manned flight areas, it seems like the concept should be explored further.  There may be an issue in Alaska where it's common for folks to fly very low to the ground, potentially in the slice of airspace that Amazon proposes.  Still, it's hard to imagine a lot of drones flying in the Alaska backcountry.

http://www.cnet.com/news/amazon-proposes-slice-of-sky-designated-for-commercial-drones/

It's inevitable that drones will be flying so the real question is how to keep them from dangerously interfering with us.  I believe it's already been stated that drones would have to carry ADS-B Out transmitters so it's also yet another reason to get ADS-B Out in your plane (besides the January 1, 2020 FAA mandate, of course).

Thoughts?

Steve

Steve Podradchik | July 29, 2015 at 6:54 am | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/p5d9ep-3P

First Successful Drone Delivery Made in the US

July 20, 2015 8:33 AM Wochit

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The first US government-approved drone delivery has successfully transported 4.5kg of medical supplies to a rural health clinic. The drone, made by Australian drone manufacturer Flirtey, took part in the demonstration, which was approved by the Federal Aviation Authority, in partnership with Nasa on Friday. The Flirtey drone made three three-minute flights from Lonesome Pine Airport, Virginia, to the clinic at the Wise County Fairgrounds, carrying 24 medical packages. The test is being hailed as proof that drones can be useful in a delivery scenario, particularly in rural and remote areas that are hard to reach via ground vehicles. But the range and flight time of drones means that opportunities are limited. Amazon and others are currently developing the technology to make drone deliveries possible on a commercially viable scale, but rules and regulations currently governing their operation have held development back.

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Pilot's Bill of Rights 2

Dear EAA Member,

I am sending this email to you because we need you to reach out to South Caro’s Senators on the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 (PBOR2) and strongly ask them to co-sponsor this bill. This potential legislation needs only an additional 3 co-sponsors to reach a 60 vote majority. If we can achieve this over the next two days, there is a high likelihood that it will be taken directly to the Senate floor for a vote this week. Time is of the essence as the Senate will recess for the summer at the end of the week.

Please call Senator Lindsey Graham at (202) 224-5972 and tell them why they should co-sponsor the PBOR2 and what its importance is to aviation in this country. It is always best to attempt to talk directly to your Senator and not just a staff person in the office. This is an urgent matter! A set of talking points is available here. We have never been this close in this effort, and with your help it is possible that we can clear a major hurdle in the Senate. The Senators in your state who have yet to sign on are listed below with their contact information:


Thank you for your help as an EAA member!

Sincerely

Jack J. Pelton
EAA Chairman of the Board

Flight of Three - Landing at Whiteplains Plantation (SC99)

Video by: DAC Promo                                                                 7-26-2015

Pilots, Don Nowakowski, Jim Franklin and Mike Moore.

Whiteplains Plantation Work Day - 7-18-201

Successful clean up along taxiway this morning. Thanks to Clem, Don N, Don C, Jim F, Dick H, Ron G, Tony Scrib, and Steve C (who helped with later project). Good job guys! Hopefully I didn't leave out anyone.

Photos by: Don Cook

Update:
Val cleaned taxiway alone after we left, hand sweeping.
Thank Val!

Drainage Problems - Fixed?

Whiteplains had to go back and revisit the drainage problem by Ed Fishers property. The first attempt to fix it didn't work.  As soon as we have a good down pour we'll know if the second fix works or not.

Click on any picture to see full size.

Lawn Tractor For Sale

Mike Moore

7:07 AM

Groups

To: whiteplains-announcements-list@googlegroups.com

Steve Sanderson has a nice John Deere lawn tractor for sale. It has new engine and serviced last winter by Palmetto Lawn. He is asking $2900 and it is in my hangar. If you know someone that my be interested have them get in touch with me. It is also posted on Craigslist. I'll post model in another email. I believe this tractor originally sold for over $7000.

Work is never done.

Diane weeding the service entrance.