briefs

Whilethe folks at ExxonMobil say metal particles found in Exxon Elite are nothing toworry about, the company is offering free replacement for pilots who would justas soon have metal-free oil, thanks. An AOPA memberlast week alerted the association when he noticed sediment — in the form ofmetallic particles — at the bottom of a bottle […]

AOPA wants a say in designing the service criteria forwhatever results from a contracting-out study of U.S. flight service stations– and isn’t yet taking a stand against privatization. AOPA spokesman WarrenMorningstar said the group wants direct input in drafting the Performance WorkStatement that will form part of an A76 study of FSS operations. A76 studiesinvestigate […]

As AVweb reported last week, the implementation of the new STARS system is still drawing muchcriticism — now, it appears the FAA may be listening. A week before a new airtraffic control system is supposed to be put into service, FAA officials havecalled an unusual high-level meeting to review reported flaws of STARS …including misrepresenting […]

Capstone has completed its first real-world test and saved alife in the process. Launched in 1999, the program has installed $19,000 worthof special navigation equipment on 189 commercial airplanes operating inAlaska’s Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. The goal of the program is to reduce aviationaccidents in the region where there is no radar, the terrain is rough andweather […]

Call and call frequently. Over the weekend, the FAApublished NOTAM2/1730 that enlarged P-40, the Restricted Area around Camp David near Thurmont,Md., to twice the size of combined P-40 and R-4009 depicted on the special new”Blue Dot” Baltimore-Washington VFR Terminal Area Chart. Issued onAugust 8, the Blue Dot chart shows P-40 as a circle with a […]

Starting today, the Salt Lake City Department of Airportswill host the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) AnnualConference and Exhibition. Running until November 14, the annual conferencewill host 2,000 airport executives to discuss important airport and airtransport challenges and opportunities within the new aviation environment. Theexhibition hall — featuring over 120 aviation-related exhibitors — will beopen […]

Last week’s elections were not only important from apartisan point of view, but a potentially big deal for general aviation aswell. AOPA’s legislative affairs department reports that of the candidatessupported by AOPA, 90 percent were elected to serve in the 108th Congress. Inthe House, 93 percent of the AOPA-supported candidates were elected, while inthe Senate, […]

The phone number 866-GA-SECURE (feel free to leave off that final “E” when dialing) will in early December begin accepting reports of suspicious activity on or around general aviation airports. Be aware that the digits were improperly transposed by more than one news service. The correct digits are 866-427-3287.

In a notice published in the Federal Register, the TransportationSecurity Administration (TSA) formally moved the Twelve-Five Standard SecurityProgram implementation date to February 1, 2003. Previously, operators had beentold that compliance was required no later than December 1, 2002. The notice explains that obstaclesfaced by small on-demand air taxi operators, never before subject to securityrequirements, necessitate […]

There are too many young pups out there who dont reallyrealize, let alone appreciate, the extent of what has been sacrificed in somany conflicts around the globe so that the rest of us can live and prosper inthe freedom we enjoy today. Sometimes the best way to convey that understandingis to rebuild a piece of […]