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… to celebrate our aviation passion. … to share our aviation experience. … to preserve our aviation history. … to assure our aviation future. |
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REGULATIONS RESOURCE PAGE! GET INFORMED NOW! |
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Aviation Assoc. P.O. Box 1382 Lincoln, CA 95648
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![]() The LRAA "UNICOM" is On Line! Join the Discussion Forums [posted 07-08-2010]
![]() LRAA and NATA Issue a "Call to Action" to Protect California's Aviation Training Industry [posted 06-28-2010]
What’s at Issue
Why It’s Important
What to Do Sample Letter: MS Word format Adobe pdf format Find your State Legislators: State Senate State Assembly (Here is the original NATA "Call to Action" document.) ![]() California Pilots Association's "Airport Advocate" Newsletter Now Available to LRAA Members! [posted 05-22-2010] The California Pilots Association's Airport Advocate newsletter is now available through the LRAA website. Simply click on the Airport Advocate link under the CalPilots logo in the navigation bar to the left and you'll be taken to the Advocate webpage where you can download current and past issues. A paper copy of the Airport Advocate can also be found in the Pilots Lounge at the airport ... just look for the binder in the LRAA Corner! ![]() AOPA Advises Implementation of California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education Regulations not yet Specified. [posted 05-19-2010] In a prepared statement released on May 17th, AOPA Director of State Legislative Affairs Mark Kimberling said it’s important people understand that implementation of the law is still being determined. “Despite some speculation within the industry, the legislation does not specifically target individual flight instructors, and the effect on them is not yet clear,” Kimberling said. “Yet it will clearly impact traditional ‘brick and mortar’ flight schools financially. While business accountability for flight schools is not necessarily a bad thing for students who invest in flight training, we want to be careful that this regulation is not overly burdensome to the point that the quality and availability of flight training in the state is significantly diminished.” A hearing on how to best implement the law will take place June 7 at 10 a.m. at the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, 2005 Evergreen Street, Sacramento, Calif. Although I am hopeful the regulations don't extend their tentacles past the realm of FAA Approved Flight Schools (14 CFR §141 and 14 CFR §142), the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education is part of the California state government and may see this as a method of gleaning more fees from those involved in the flight training industry. The deadline for submission of comments is also June 7, 2010 so there are a couple of weeks to get over the initial shock, make an effort to become educated on the topic, and formulate a concise and logical letter citing the reasons flight training, particularly that under 14 CFR §91, should be exempt from the burdens the regulations (as written) would impose. A good place to start the educational process is on the BPPE Regulations Resource Page of the LRAA website. Here you'll find letters and commentary from industry experts as well as the actual documents from the State containing the proposed regluations and the laws authorizing the creation of the BPPE. (If you discover any other sources that should be included on this page please contact me and I'll add them to the list!) ![]() California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education Proposes Regulations Threatening General Aviation Flight Training -- the "Alphabet Groups" Will Need Our Help to Repel This One! [posted 05-15-2010] Every now and then the Government does one of those things that just makes you shake your head and wonder, "what were they thinking"? Assembly Bill 48, the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009, passed into law last October is one of those things. With a single stroke of the pen, the Act created a new State Bureau charged with imposing regulations on private postsecondary training institutions. So how does "private postsecondary education" affect the average aviator? There are many details in the rule, but the most obvious impact is the requirement for training providers to be "approved" by the Bureau in order to operate in the State. For this privilege, the provider must submit an application along with the application fee of $5,000.00. Yes, Five Thousand Dollars! In addition, the provider would submit 0.75% of their annual revenue as an institutional fee. And did we mention the 0.25% of the charges received by the provider that will go to fund the State's Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF)? The financial impact is huge; the Bureau itself admits "the proposed regulatory action may have significant statewide adverse economic impact directly affecting business, including the ability of California businesses to compete with businesses in other states." Amazing. Having read the text of the regulations, my guess is that even if an independent CFI could afford the fees, the mammoth record keeping, reporting, and audit requirements puts them out of business before they even open an airplane door. If these CFIs are gone, who will conduct your next BFR? Will you be forced to fly out of state just to find a Flight Instructor? (The consensus seems to be that independent Ground Instructors may be subject to the same onerous rules!) You would think that such overbearing regulation could only have been the result of an oversight. In the previous law regulating private postsecondary education that expired in 2009, flight training was specifically exempted from the costly and seemingly inapplicable sections of the law. Part of the outrage against this new regulation is the suddenness that it was thrust upon us. The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) wrote in its letter to Governor Schwarzenegger, "Most of California’s flight training providers were unaware of this major shift in regulatory policy until they received letters from the bureau demanding payment of a $5,000 approval to operate application fee. These providers then began to learn of the many other onerous provisions they would have to meet in order to continue operating their businesses in the state ..." How did the entire state flight training industry, including all the "alphabet groups" (AOPA, NATA, etc.) miss this rule? Mr. Pfeifer sums up the scenario this way. Each national organization possesses an extremely powerful computer loaded with a robust search engine. These computers are constantly scanning the internet seeking any references to "flight training," "aviation training," "flight instruction," and hundreds of other key terms and phrases. In the case of the BPPE's proposal, all references to flight training had been removed. The computers are incapable of bring attention to something that just isn't there. In other words, the regulations were imposed through the process of "inclusion by omission." What is the next step if we're to protect flight training from the far and deep reaching tentacles of the BPPE? My recommendation is simply to pause and take a breath. Yes, the threat to our aviating activity is both real and immediate, but the absolute best people in the industry are working the issue at the highest levels. Our first task as members of the General Aviation Community is to become educated about the issue. The LRAA has created a BPPE Proposed Regulations Resource page. Visit this page (or visit each source page individually), read the information, and become knowledgable. Then, compose an email or letter to your State Senator and Assembly Representative explaining why you support an exemption of aviation training. An opportunity to address the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education directly will be available through a public hearing scheduled on Monday, June 7, 2010 at 10 am at the Department of Consumer Affairs at 2005 Evergreen Street in Sacramento. If you can't attend the hearing in person you may submit comments via email, fax, or mail to: Joanne Wenzel Lastly, and presented solely as a thought with no intent of arm twisting, this may be a good time to make a contribution to your favorite pro-aviation Political Action Committee. ![]() EAA Chapter 52 Presents an "Aluminum Overcast Gala" at McClellan on Saturday, May 15 [posted 05-11-2010] One of the LRAA's purposes is to promote aviation activities throughout the Lincoln region. This week we'd like to give extra visibility to an entire day of events being presented by our friends at McClellan Airport [MCC].
In the evening, return to the Garden Pavilion at McClellan Airpark to soak in the ambience at the "Aluminum Overcast Gala Dinner & Dance." Enjoy music of the 1940's Big Band Era. Have dinner with the B-17 flight and ground crews. Be entranced by Guest Speaker Neil Morrison reveal his experiences as a B-17 Pilot. Tickets for the evening are $60 and may be purchased through the EAA Chapter 52 website or through the contact listed on the event flyer. Note: Mr. Morrison's presentation is an activitiy sanctioned by the FAASafetyTeam and which you may receive credit for the knowledge requirements applicable to the FAA "Wings" Pilot Proficiency Program. See the event listing at FAASafety.gov. ![]() Pacific Gold Aviation Association Hosts Open House on Saturday, April 24 [posted 04-22-2010]
The Lincoln-based Pacific Gold Aviation Association welcomes everyone to come take a look at their fleet of beautiful Piper aircraft on Saturday, April 24th. ![]() Saturday, April 17, 2010 ... a Great Day to be a Lincoln Aviation Enthusiast! [posted 03-31-2010] The Lincoln Regional Airport aviation community will gather on Saturday, April 17th for a day of aviation events and activites. We’ll be engaging in the “big 3”: Entertainment, Education, and Eats! Come join your fellow flying enthusiasts in the festivities! I'll post additional details about the day's events on the website soon. Until then, here's the short version:
The “Display Day” will take place on the flight line area north of the fuel pumps. All other events will be at the hangar at 1850 Flightline Drive (next to the wash rack) and accessible from the street through the pedestrian gate. NOTE: While there is space for 150+ people at the hangar, the LRAA has a limited supply of chairs. We're pulling out all the seating we can find but If you can bring a chair or two with you it would certainly be helpful! ![]() Kracon Aircraft Refinishing Becomes LRAA's 1st Business Affiliate; Offers Discounts to Members [posted 03-18-2010] A fixture at the Lincoln Regional Airport since 1972, Kracon Aircraft Refinishing has taken the initiative to extend the reach of the LRAA in serving its membership. Even if you're not in the market to paint your aircraft right now, drop by the Kracon office at 1406 Flightline Drive and say hello to Erin and the other Kracon employees. Have her show you the shelves of photo albums reflecting their gorgeous work. Its worth the stop just to oogle the pictures! (Ok, I'm a little biased since they painted my '77 Grumman-American Cheetah a year ago ... but still, their work is simply awesome in my opinion!) Kracon Aircraft Refinishing's business hours are 8 am to 4 pm weekdays. They can be contacted through their website, www.kracon.com, by telephone at 916-645-1614 or by email, <erin@kracon.com>. ![]() Skydive Sacramento Participating in United States Parachute Association's "Safety Day" March 13th. [posted 03-11-2010] Local skydivers will kick off another action-packed parachuting season by gathering for a day of refresher training and jumping. Safety Day includes a series of skydiving seminars and training drills that serve as both a refresher course and an introduction to new developments, equipment, disciplines and training methods. And, of course, there will be plenty of skydiving, weather permitting. Non-skydiving aviators aren't left out of the parachuting awareness and safety programming. Those not engaged in falling through the sky are encouraged to participate by attending a 10:00 am session at Skydive Sacramento that will allow pilots and skydivers to exchange information about each other's operational procedures and requirements. Those not wishing to go to the Skydive Sacramento facility may participate in a "hangar side" review of FAA and local air traffic procedures established to allow skydiving and non-participating aircraft to safely operate concurrently. FAA Safety Team Representative (and LHM-based aircraft owner) Corl Leach will be in the Karl Harder Pavilion (the shelter north of the fuel pumps) from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon to address the topic. Drop by for some discussions, enlightenment, and, of course, a cup of coffee or two! ![]() If the Media calls you, will you know what to do or say? Here's a plan! [posted 2-18-2010] This afternoon, Austin, Texas became the national face of General Aviation and it wasn't wearing a smile. I'm not going to delve into the issues that led to Joseph Andrew Stack flying his Piper Dakota into an office building; we'll be hearing about that for days or weeks to come. However one thing is factual: this General Aviation pilot has given us all a reason to pause and think about what we as fellow aviators do to promote our activity and assure that it is not perceived in a negative way. Do we "fly friendly"? Do we avoid overflight of congested areas when possible? Do we avoid making abrupt maneuvers or unpredictable course changes? When we're not in the air are our aircraft safely secured in their tiedowns or hangars? These are not only questions that we want to answer for ourselves, they are also questions the public wants to know ... and that means the news media has a new task. For most people, having a microphone shoved in your face while the lights glare and the cameras roll is an intimidating proposition. It creates a situation where they are not comfortable and, unfortunately, rarely able to express their thoughts the way they were intended. We've seen other pilots actively seek the spotlight with the resulting boastful and exagarated remarks tarnishing General Aviation's image even further. So what's my message? Simply this: be prepared and know what you want to do if approached by a media representative. In most cases, this may be to simply refer the reporter to someone more knowledgeable about the specific topic, or even just to someone who has more experience in talking to reporters.
In any situation, as you'll learn in the AOPA video, the first goal is to have had an opportunity to think about the questions that will be asked and formulate your responses before you get in front of the camera. Write notes if necessary (hire a teleprompter if you're so inclined!) but do your best to avoid surprise. Isn't that one of the first lessons we're taught when learning to become a pilot: plan your flight; fly your plan. Speaking to the media is no different. If you have questions, or simply want to pass media inquiries along, the LRAA President, Corl Leach, is willing to take your call at any time of the day. He is in contact with not only the AOPA Media Relations office but can get support from the state California Pilots Association as well. The goal is to keep Lincoln and its aviation community free from emotional journalistic attacks and ambush reporting. It can be done effectively, but it will take all of us working together and knowing when to speak up or say nothing. ![]() Monthly "Aircraft Display Days" at Lincoln Regional Airport kick off January 23rd! [posted 01-07-2010] The Lincoln Regional Airport boasts an impressive number of aircraft hangars. Very few aircraft spend their time tied down on the ramp. While this is great from the perspective of protecting the aircraft from the elements, it creates a very poor environment for airport bums and other aviation enthusiasts who enjoy looking at aircraft. Fortunately, there is a way to make everyone happy, especially since it has been announced that there will not be an airshow in 2010.
During the year, various themes will be combined with the general aircraft displays. For example, the May Display Day falls on "Armed Forces Day" and efforts will be made to invite warbirds to attend. Other months may emphasize narrower interests such as experimental projects, rag-wings, or aircraft types (think a fly-in of Mooneys or the like). In each case, the public will be invited during the morning hours to share our passion, engage in the camaraderie, and enjoy what we already know -- the fun of aviation! ![]() California Supreme Court clears path to close Elk Grove Airport [posted 01-07-2010]
The Sacramento Bee newspaper provides additional information related to this situation in THIS ARTICLE. | |||
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