The annual Christmas party for the Chapter was held on December 13th
at the Western Sizzlin' in Fort Payne. Turn out was light with around
20 people attending.
In formal business, certificates of appreciation were presented to Chapter
President Barry Wigley, Vice President Guy York, Secretary Wilma Playford,
Treasurer John Isbell, Young Eagles Coordinator Mary McGuire, Web Editor
Laura Bundy, Flight Advisor and Technical Counselor John Shippey, and
Technical Counselors Terry Chambers and Jackie Bailey.
New officers were elected. Mike Atwell will be chapter president, Barry
Wigley will be vice-president, Doc Isbell will remain as treasurer, and
Wilma Playford has agreed to continue as Secretary.
Miscellaneous
Ron Iconis has been collecting quite a few aviation items from an estate
in Georgia. Check with Ron for more information about what he has available.
Other News:
FAA Funding Extension
On September 30, the very day that FAA funding was set to expire, President
Bush signed the “Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of
2008,” which means the FAA has the money to continue operating until
March 31, 2009.
“We’ve won the battle against user fees for now,” said
AOPA President Phil Boyer. “This extension means that aviation fuel
taxes remain at their current levels, and the FAA can’t charge any
new fees for the length of this act.”
But that also means that the FAA funding issue starts anew when the new
Congress convenes next year. Both the House and Senate will have to start
drafting new legislation to determine how the FAA will be funded and what
its budget will be. (from www.aopa.org)
Bush Sets Deadlines for NextGen Implementation
In what is seen as a challenge to the incoming Obama administration, President
Bush issued an executive order on November 18 dictating "effective
implementation of the Next Generation Air Transportation System [NextGen]."
The first deadline for establishing a DOT support staff is set for no
more than 60 days after the order, or by January 17. President-elect Obama's
inauguration is January 20. The first of Bush's deadlines is followed
up with a next phase, set for 120 days later, dictating the establishment
of an advisory committee to the Secretary of Transportation. Pilots and
aircraft owners are concerned that equipment requirements for NextGen
could be excessively expensive and might not adequately consider some
pilots' real-world needs. Though President Bush has put forward the order,
the Obama administration retains the right to review such administrative
orders and has the right to rescind or replace such orders at its discretion.
(from Flying Magazine newsletter - www.flyingmag.com)
Pilots Get New Chance to Comment on 51-Percent
Rule
The FAA has reopened the comment period on proposed changes to the so-called
51-percent rule governing amateur-built aircraft, giving pilots and owners
until Dec. 15 to file their comments. AOPA previously filed its own comments
( http://www.aopa.org/epilot/redir.cfm?adid=17565 ) on the plan, asking
the FAA to enforce existing policies rather than creating new rules that
could negatively affect homebuilders. Read more >> (http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2008/
081105amateurbuilt.html?WT.mc_id=081107epilot&WT.mc_sect=gan )
New Airport is First to Open in State in Three
Decades
It's been more than 35 years since Georgia opened a new airport, but that
is all about to change. On Nov. 14, Paulding County Regional will open
with a 5,500-foot runway and the distinction of being the first public
airport ever to open in Paulding County, Ga., northwest of Atlanta. Read
more >> ( http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/region/2008/081103ga.html?WT.mc_id=081107epilot&WT.mc_sect=gan)
From Our Members
picture perfect emergency landing
This landing was broadcast on CNN on November 17, 2005 with Miles O'Brien,
who pilots in his spare time, narrating. The aircraft, a Beechcraft 100
King Air, left Savannah that morning and is shown coming in for an emergency
landing at Fulton County Charlie Brown Airport in Atlanta.
Global Hawk UAV
The photo below shows a Global Hawk UAV that returned from the war zone
on February 20, 2006. During its overseas deployment, UAV-3 logged more
than 4,800 flight hours, supporting Iraq Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom
and the Combined Task Force - Horn of Africa. While deployed it flew 249
mission. To read the full story, visit the Air Force Link website at http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123016477
From the email shared by Nelson Jackson "This is a photo of the Global
Hawk UAV that returned from the war zone recently under its own power.
(Iraq to Edwards AFB in CA) - Not transported via C5 or C17..... Notice
the mission paintings on the fuselage. It's actually over 250 missions...
(and I would suppose 25 air medals). That's a long way for a remotely-piloted
aircraft.
Think of the technology (and the required quality of the data link to
fly it remotely). Not only that but the pilot controlled it from a nice
warm control panel at Edwards AFB. Really long legs- can stay up for almost
2 days at altitudes above 60k.
The Global Hawk was controlled via satellite; it flew missions during
OT&E that went from Edwards AFB to upper Alaska and back non-stop.
Basically, they come into the fight at a high mach # in mil thrust, fire
their AMRAAMS, and no one ever sees them or paints with radar.
There is practically no radio chatter because all the guys in the flight
are tied together electronically, and can see who is targeting who, and
they have AWACS direct input and 360 situational awareness from that and
other sensors The aggressors had a morale problem before it was all over.
It is to air superiority what the jet engine was to aviation.
It can taxi, take off, fly a mission, return, land and taxi on it's own.
No blackouts, no fatigue, no relief tubes, no ejection seats, and best
of all, no dead pilots, and no POWs. Pretty cool!!!"
Upcoming Events
Chapter Meeting - January 10, 2009 at 10 AM
The regular chapter of meeting of EAA 890 will be held at the Fort Payne
FBO at 10 AM.
Young Eagles - January 10, 2009 Young Eagles flights will be offered on Saturday, January
10th from 9 am to Noon. Bring your young aviation enthusiast
to the airport for a free introduction to the world of flying. Young Eagles
that complete the orientation will receive a free flight in a general
aviation plane and a certificate of completion.
Fly-in Breakfast - January 31, 2009
Chapter 890 will be hosting the nextfly-in breakfaston Saturday, January 31, 2009. Breakfast for
members begins at 7:00 and is open to all others from 7:30 AM to 10:00
AM CST. Please contact Laura
or John Bundy if you would be willing
to help in the kitchen, or hangar cleanup.
A website is always a work in progress. If you see errors or if there
are additions you would like to see, please contact Laura
Bundy (lbundy@kijikdesign.com). Photos and articles are always welcome.
