Brendan,

I found this article interesting because it shows how EAA publicizes their advocacy process with their bureaucracy – the FAA:  http://www.eaa.org/news/2010/2010-03-09_summit.asp

Thanks,
Scott

Speaking of written ideas… I enjoy this free monthly newsletter from Bob Miller (not the Portland radio host)…

http://OverTheAirwaves.com

He lives and works in New York, however many of the tips are applicable to flying here in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.  He is also a frequent guest on Aer0-News.net’s podcast.

All the best, Brendan Fitzpatrick 2010/2011 President Oregon Pilots Association

http://www.rotor.com/Default.aspx?tabid=2736

Pretty heavy into helicopters (it was produced by the national helicopter trade organization).  Although some good stuff for fixed wing folks as well.  Also, some Oregon connections – Wilson Construction is in Aurora and of course not a month goes by that I don’t think of PGE (for those of you not in Multnomah County that’s Portland General Electric.)

Fly Safe!  Brendan Fitzpatrick – 2010/2011 OPA President

Seattle FAA puts on WINGS eligible Safety Seminar

We also got a chance to network with pilot associations from Washington, Montana, Idaho, Alaska and California.  We all gathered as guests for a great dinner with AOPA discussing the value local pilot associations bring.

Still hoping to find a guest poster now and then.  Springtime’s almost here – Safe flying!

Brendan Fitzpatrick – 20102/2011 President Oregon Pilots Association

The first is something you should try, even if you’ve been in the past.  Just a short trip from Portland (and much shorter than Oshkosh is from anywhere in Oregon) is the annual Washington Aviation Association meeting and trade show, www.washington-aviation.org.  A great new venue, good speakers, lots of exhibitors.  Check out the website and if you miss this year – plan for 2011.

The other show is in Houston, TX and it’s called Heli Expo, www.heliexpo.com  The largest helicopter trade show in the world starts Sunday and goes until Tuesday.  I get to attend for work, however when it makes it back to the West Coast, I’d consider it.  Where else can you sit in multi-million dollar helicopters?  It’s sponsored by the Helicopter Association International, which is the trade organization for the helicopter industry.

I’ll be in Puyallup on Saturday and Houston on Sunday!  Springtime almost here…

Safe Flying,

Brendan Fitzpatrick, 2010/2011 President Oregon Pilots Association

=============================================================================

Forest Service Planning NOI

c/o Bear West Company

172 East 500 South

Bountiful, UT 84010

fspr@contentanalysisgroup.com

Subject:  Comments — USFS Planning Rule Revision NOI dated December 18, 2009

This letter is being submitted to provide the Oregon Pilots Association’s  (OPA) comments on proposed USFS planning rules.

The Oregon Pilots Association represents pilots in Oregon and throughout the country.  Our charter is to protect and enhance aviation in Oregon.  Oregon contains many public land and airstrips managed by the USFS and Oregon aviation will be affected by the proposed changes to the planning rules.

We would like to place on the record that we concur with the comments as provided by the Recreation Aviation Foundation (RAF) in their letter to you.

(Ed note RAF letter listed below)

Sincerely,

Alan Cossitt

Direction of Backcountry Aviation Division,

Oregon Pilots Association

http://www.oregonpilot.org/

RAF Letter:

February 15, 2010

Forest Service Planning NOI

C/O  Bear West Company

172 East 500 South

Bountiful, UT 84010

Subject: Comments – USFS Planning Rule Revision NOI dated December 18, 2009

This letter is being submitted to provide the Recreational Aviation Foundation’s comments on proposed USFS planning rules.

The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) is a national public charity organization.

The RAF’s vision is “Preserving the legacy and promoting the enjoyment of aviation in the back country of America”.

The RAF’s mission is “To provide leadership, private financial support, and expertise for preserving and enhancing recreational aviation resources on both public and private lands throughout the United States for present and future generations.

The RAF believes that the USFS needs to place more emphasis on recreation and access to Forest Service lands, employing methods that are ecologically sustainable. To achieve this, the USFS needs to develop a planning process which is efficient, allows adequate public participation (including proper, timely notification of all user groups) and is administered by planners that do not have a personal bias against any particular user group. Consensus is desirable but seldom occurs when one particular interest group fails to participate.

Regarding the Section: Process Principles for a New Rule

1. The current drawn out planning process results in public frustration in the inability of Forest Service personnel to make decisions. This needs to be more efficient and designed so that land management decisions are not driven by threats of lawsuits. Decisions need to be based upon the facts and best science. Final authority must be with the agency, not in the court of law.  The final plan authority needs to reside at the Washington Office level to ensure that national management goals are met, and a consistency of application, based on best science, prevents dissimilar application of management practices for otherwise similar plan models.

2. USFS planning should only apply to NFS lands. The USFS has no business influencing other managed lands, whether public or private, unless those land owners volunteer without coercion to participate in some degree in the planning process.

3. There should be one planning process for all NFS lands. This is absolutely necessary for efficiency and accurate public participation.

In the case of the RAF’s participation, the RAF has supporters in 37 states. The guidance given to supporters in how to participate in the NFS planning process should be uniform throughout the country.

4. The RAF has experienced, during participation in several plan revisions, a lack of expertise in our area of interest (recreational aviation).  The USFS needs to conduct a review of the entirety of management aspects of the planning process and ensure all relevant activities happening of national forest lands are being addressed.  As pertains to airstrips on USFS lands, the FS Manual/Handbook gives responsibility for design and construction to Engineering, but no authority to manage; Fire and Aviation gain control of a specific airstrip in the event of an emergency requiring use of the airstrip, but again, no authority to manage; and Recreation, Lands, Heritage and Wilderness Resources chapters in the Manual/Handbook are silent on airstrips, and again give no authority to manage what is probably the heaviest use of USFS airstrips – Recreational aircraft use.  In addition to addressing the above aspects, the USFS needs to ensure a subject matter expert for each planning activity is present on the planning team.

To this end ,the RAF believes  there is a need for education  beginning with USFS front line planners about aviation.  We have attached a copy of our Land Managers Guide regarding aviation and considerations relating to the use of aircraft on public lands.

Airstrips are an appropriate use of National Forest System (NFS) lands as they provide enhanced access for a variety of legitimate recreational activities. These include but are not limited to hiking, camping, fishing and hunting. The RAF has cooperated with user groups related to the above. We recognize their expertise and they ours.

We look forward to a continued positive relationship with the USFS on these issues.

Thank you,

John J. McKenna Jr.

President

Recreational Aviation Foundation

1711 West College Street

Bozeman, MT. 59715

CC:  Brendan Fitzpatrick, President OPA

Chuck Jarecki, RAF

The Board meetings are open to all members.  If you’re in  chapter ask the leadership if they need someone to attend if they can’t.  We also have some vacant positions at the state level that are open to be filled.  Finally, we are always looking to highlight the good things happening in GA around the state – send in an article for the Propwash or send me a post for this blog.  I and all future presidents can be reached at president-opa@oregonpilot.org

We also had members from the Columbia Seaplane Pilots Association attend the meeting (www.c-spa.org)  Over the next two years I hope we can reach out to the other GA organizations in Oregon to see how we might work together for the good of all.  High 100LL prices, excessive noise restrictions, closed airports, user fees, taxes on planes, etc affect us all whether you’re in the EAA, Flying Farmers, 99′s, Northwest Antique Aircraft Club or Popular Rotorcraft Association just to name some of the other groups here in Oregon.

Are you a master of Facebook?  We’re planning an OPA Facebook page in hopes of reaching out to other pilots around the state.  If you’d be willing to help us manage that page – please let me know.

Until next time – fly safe!

Brendan Fitzpatrick 2010/2011 President

www.uncontrolledairspace.com

http://www.pilotsjourneypodcast.com/blog/

http://pilotwill.libsyn.com/

http://pilotcast.libsyn.com/

http://www.flightlineinternetradio.com/  (this is the only one I don’t personally listen to – although others recommend it)

I recently attended the Portland Boat – however, before you think I’m going to try to convert you to boating, know that I went with aviation in mind.  In many ways pilots have a lot in common with our aquatic friends and I don’t just mean the seaplane pilots out there.  Just think…

- many boaters need public facilities to launch into the water (like airports)

- anything made for a boat costs more than for a car (but always less than for a plane)

- many have to navigate by government charts (except those that pull skiers around a lake)

- Boaters watch the weather, use expensive electronic toys and have specialized magazines

I think you get the picture – not a great comparison, however the vast amount boaters vs. pilots allow for some pretty big shows locally.  I went to see what I might be able to learn to help GA.  A few ideas might have some merit – for instance I spoke with the folks at www.traveloregon.com.  Perhaps getting aviation featured more in these kind of sites may create more pilots.

I also like reading boater magazines to see if the articles inspire my aviation writing.  Although most of the magazines are ads for boats for sale.  However I found it interesting that one magazine thanked me for reading because of the number of Northwest Boating Magazines I could be reading.  Imagine a world where there are three or four Northwest aviation magazines!

On a last note, please remember our Board meeting is February 13 in Salem.  We really like as much representation as we can get from around the state.  So please see if you can make it or at least someone from your area.  This Association belongs to all of us and I’d like your input on where you’d like to see us going for 2010 and beyond.

Safe flights!

Brendan Fitzpatrick – President OPA

That’s not the point of this post though… the point is that I used my time away from the office to visit some great aviation places all within a short drive of Portland.  The first is a relatively new facility, Paul Allen’s Flying Heritage Collection, in Everett, WA on Paine Field – www.flyingheritage.com.  A little tough to find – just follow the signs.  Well worth the trip to see beautiful planes – however, in December none were flying.  Just about every other Saturday in the good flying weather something flies.  So I’d recommend a trip in the warmer months – watch their website to see what’s flying and make the trip.  I’m sure part of the facility’s success is Paul Allen’s personal wealth; I’m just glad he is passionate about aviation as opposed to horses or motorcycles.  Plus, if you’ve ever wondered where the actual X Prize is housed you’ll have your answer.

The other thing I did was to take the tour of the Boeing facility also on Paine Field in Everett (the plant in Renton only offers tours to VIP’s) where the 747, 767, 777 and now 787 are made.  Now especially is a good time to visit to see the 787 in production.  The tour starts from a relatively new facility called Future of Flight – www.futureofflight.org.  While dedicated mostly to the 787 there is information about other Boeing planes and ever a few Airbus’.  Again – well worth the trip.  Just check the website for some restrictions on taking the tour.

Lastly, I had hoped to visit the Museum of Flight’s Restoration Center also located on Paine Field – www.museumofflight.org/restoration.  However, it was closed – I guess for the Holidays.  It didn’t show this fact on their website so be forewarned.  Not to fear – now I have another reason to go back to Everett.

As I walked around these places I thought about how lucky we are to have all this so close to home.  And then I imagine so many people who have never visited – planning to “someday”.  Don’t let that happen to you!  Happy New Year!

Fly safe,

Brendan