Huerta Is Confirmed As Administrator, Congress Passes The Small Aircraft Revitalization Act, And Textron Buys Beechcraft For Christmas

There were some significant developments in the world of General Aviation in the year just past. Congress finally made it easier to have airplanes and parts certified, and the last stand-alone legacy American aircraft manufacturer was bought up by a corporate conglomerate ... but it will stay in U.S. hands. Along the way, there was a new FAA administrator and new DOT Secretary confirmed by the Senate, and auto gas made the trip to Oshkosh, where the EAA was forced to pay a hefty fee for air traffic control services. Here are just a few of the stories that were significant to GA in 2013.

January

Huerta Confirmed FAA Administrator
There were no long, drawn-out hearings and pointed questions that often make up the political theater surrounding the confirmation of a Presidential appointee. On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate approved dozens of President Obama's choices for government posts, including Michael Huerta to be FAA Administrator.

Mayors Petition President: No User Fees 
Mayors and other leaders from more than 115 cities and towns across the country have petitioned President Obama to rescind his proposed “$100-per-flight” tax on GA business flights. The petition was released recently by the Alliance for Aviation Across America (AAAA).

Shuster Likely Will Present Contrast To Mica As Transportation Chair 
Representative Bill Shuster (R-PA), the incoming chair of the House Transportation Committee, may approach the panel's issues differently than his immediate predecessor, Florida Republican John Mica.

LaHood Will Not Serve A Second Term As DOT Secretary
Secretary Ray LaHood announced to the employees of the U.S. Department of Transportation that after serving for four years in President Obama’s Cabinet, he would not be staying on for the second term.

John Uczekaj Honored As Aviation Entrepreneur Of The Year
John Uczekaj, president and CEO of Aspen Avionics, has been honored as the "Aviation Entrepreneur of the Year" by Living Legends of Aviation at its star-studded gala on Friday, January 18, 2013.

February

White House Calls Potential Loss Of Aviation Jobs A 'Difficult Choice'
The President's press secretary said Wednesday that the potential loss of middle-class manufacturing jobs in places like Wichita where bizjets are built is a "difficult choice" that has to be made to preserve jobs for teachers or the national defense.

LoBiondo To Kick Off Aviation Agenda Focusing On FAA 
Subcommittee on Aviation Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) held a hearing to focus on the FAA's progress in implementing the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, following the one-year anniversary of the measure being signed into law.

Not-So-Great-News: GAMA Releases 2012 GA Sales Year-End Report 
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has released the 2012 year-end shipments of general aviation airplanes.

Piper Shows Gains In Revenue, Deliveries In 2012
Piper Aircraft Inc. ended 2012 with increased annual revenue from new aircraft sales of $148,968,967, up more than 13 percent from $131,263,539 in 2011.

Beechcraft Emerges From Chapter 11
Beechcraft, formerly Hawker Beechcraft, announced it had formally emerged from the Chapter 11 process as a new company well-positioned to compete vigorously in the worldwide business aviation, special mission, trainer and light attack markets.

March

FAA May Close More Than 100 Towers At Smaller Airports 
In testimony before the House Transportation Committee's Aviation Subcommittee, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said that because a very large portion of the DOT’s budget is exempt from the sequester, the FAA will take more than 60 percent of the sequester cuts for all of the DOT, "even though our agency makes up only about 20 percent of the department’s budget." The agency a few days later reached a decision that 149 federal contract towers would close beginning April 7 as part of the agency’s sequestration implementation plan. The agency has made the decision to keep 24 federal contract towers open that had been previously proposed for closure because doing so would have a negative impact on the national interest.

Cessna TTx First Production Flight A Success
Cessna's new TTx completed its first production flight on Saturday, March 2. The single engine composite aircraft departed from the Cessna facility in Independence, KS, and performed the flight in and around southeast Kansas.

Hawaii Governor Declares 2013 The ‘Year of General Aviation’ 
National aviation organizations are praising Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie for declaring 2013 the “Year of General Aviation.”

EASA Appoints New Executive Director
The Management Board of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on Wednesday announced the appointment of Mr. Patrick Ky as Executive Director of EASA with effect from September 1, 2013.

FAA Publishes Contract Tower Closure Information
The FAA has published what it calls a "guidance" document in preparation for the closure of 149 contract air traffic control towers around the country. The agency announced the closures citing the sequestration as making the cuts necessary.

April

FAA Rejects Use Of Donated Aircraft For Compassion Flights
The FAA rejected a request by Patient AirLift Services (PALS), a nonprofit volunteer pilot organization, to use a donated aircraft to provide free air transportation for patients requiring medical care or other humanitarian purposes.

FAA Extends Tower Closure Date
The FAA said it would delay the closures of all 149 federal contract air traffic control towers until June 15. Last month, the FAA announced it would eliminate funding for these towers as part of the agency’s required $637 million budget cuts under sequestration.

Uncle Sam Strikes Again-- The 'Flight Fee' Verbiage From Obama's 2014 Budget
As you may have surmised from breaking news, our esteemed President has submitted a budget, two months late, in which his preference for anti-aviation activity and attacks on that business, is again continued.

Bipartisan 'Protect Our Skies Act' Proving Popular In The U.S. Senate 
U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said that their "Protect Our Skies Act" – bipartisan legislation to protect air traffic control towers and preserve aviation safety across America – has been cosponsored by a bipartisan group of 30 Senators, and the list continues to grow.

Changes Announced In FAA Special Issuance Medical Certification
The Federal Air Surgeon added several common diagnoses to the list of conditions that do not require a special issuance and review before issuing a medical certificate.

House Transportation Committee Chair Blasts FAA Cuts
The announced breakdown of the five percent cut in the budget of the FAA due to sequestration hasn't been particularly well accepted by several people, among them the chair of the House Transportation Committee which oversees the agency.

May

Congress, Industry Evaluate Foxx Nomination For DOT
Leaders on Transportation committees in the U.S. House and Senate weighed in on President Obama's nomination of Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx to succeed Ray LaHood as the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.

Solar Impulse Begins Trek Across America
The Solar Impulse solar-powered airplane began its trek across the United States, leaving San Francisco early Friday morning (PDT) en route to its first stop in Phoenix, AZ.

FAA Delays Layoff Of Contract Weather Observers
Saying it needs to get "more stakeholder input" on contract weather monitoring at 121 airports, the FAA said that it would delay cancelling contracts with weather observers at those facilities and transferring the duties to air traffic controllers.

Foxx Sails Through Senate Confirmation Hearing 
The partisan rancor that has permeated Capitol Hill over Benghazi, the IRS, and other issues was left at the door of the hearing room in which the Senate Commerce Committee considered the nomination of Charlotte, NC, Mayor Anthony Foxx to become the next Secretary of Transportation.

Small Aircraft Revitalization Act Introduced In The US Senate
Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at modernizing outdated FAA certification policies currently bogging down small aircraft manufacturers. The Small Aircraft Revitalization Act of 2013 updates the FAA's certification processes to improve safety, decrease costs and encourage innovation.

June

Aviation Coalition's Letter Underscores Need For Continued ATC Tower Funding
With an eye toward the conclusion of the federal government's 2013 fiscal year on Sept. 30, 11 aviation organizations recently signed a joint letter to leaders of the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees, not only thanking them for legislation passed earlier this year to preserve contract air traffic control towers slated for closure, but to also reaffirm the need for continued funding for the facilities in the future.

Aviation Community Urged To Sign Online Petition Against FAA Event Fees
The FAA notified the EAA that they would be responsible for some of the costs incurred for using FAA air traffic controllers at Oshkosh this year, and the price tag was pushing half a million dollars.

Connecticut Senate Says Wright Brothers Were Not First In Flight
The Connecticut Senate has passed a bill that displaces the Wright Brothers as the first to fly a heavier-than-air powered airplane. House Bill 6671 instructs the Governor of Connecticut to "proclaim a date certain in each year as Powered Flight Day to honor the first powered flight by [the Wright brothers] Gustave Whitehead and to commemorate the Connecticut aviation and aerospace industry.”

Senators Tell FAA 'Stop' On OSH ATC Fees
Calling the FAA's move "completely unacceptable," a bipartisan group of 28 U.S. senators delivered a letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, strongly urging the agency to reconsider its unilateral decision to assess fees for air traffic and other services at general aviation events, including EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

FAA Asks For Proposals That Would Lead To Unleaded Fuel Transition
The FAA asked the world’s fuel producers to submit proposals for fuel options that would help the general aviation industry make a transition to an unleaded fuel. The FAA is committed to the development a new unleaded fuel by 2018 that would minimize the impact of replacing 100 octane low-lead fuel for most of the general aviation fleet.

FAA Re-Opens Comment Period For Draft Airman Certification Standards
The FAA re-opened the comment period on the availability of draft Airman Certification Standards (ACS) documents developed by the Airman Testing Standards and Training WG for the private pilot certificate and the instrument rating.

July

Congress Makes Deep Cuts In Civil GPS Funding 
Appropriations committees in both the U.S. House and Senate voted to make deep cuts in the civil communities' contribution to the GPS system next fiscal year.

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx Sworn In As 17th U.S. Secretary Of Transportation
Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx was sworn in as the nation’s 17th Secretary of Transportation by Judge Nathaniel Jones in a private ceremony at U.S. Department of Transportation.

Piper Completes Flight Tests Of Archer Fueled By Airworthy Auto Gas
Piper Aircraft completed flight tests of a Piper Archer powered by 93 octane premium unleaded automotive gasoline. Piper worked with Airworthy AutoGas LLC, Phoenix, AZ, to prove the concept in a test flight regime conducted from the company's Vero Beach manufacturing campus.

Solar Impulse Successfully Lands In New York City And Sets Historic First
The last leg of the Solar Impulse flight across the United States was marred by damage to the airplane, which caused a few tense moments and a change in the schedule, including scrapping a photo pass by the Statue of Liberty in New York.

Small Airplane Revitalization Act Clears The House
In one of the few GA-positive stories to come out of Washington, DC, the House of Representatives passed the Small Airplane Revitalization Act, a bill sponsored by Congressman Mike Pompeo, R-Kansas, which would revitalize America's general aviation industry by updating outdated certification regulations.

FAA Adopts Final Policy Statement On Residential TTF Access
The FAA issued a final policy statement concerning residential Through-The-Fence (TTF) access agreements for general aviation airports.

Washington Largely Absent From AirVenture This Year
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta did not attend Oshkosh this year. And while he had a previous family engagement made months in advance, it is at the very least unfortunate timing given the ultimatum handed to EAA over air traffic control services for the show.

Foxx Considers Rescinding Oshkosh Fees
Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) led an effort to have the FAA rescind the fees that were assessed against EAA for the use of Air Traffic Controllers at AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI.

Terrafugia Demonstrates The Transition At AirVenture
Sandwiched in between the wing walker and a flight of four T-6 Texans, the Transition Roadable Aircraft from Terrafugia made its debut at Oshkosh during the Monday air show.

U.S. Senate Advances Small Airplane Revitalization Act 
The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Tuesday passed S. 1072, the Small Airplane Revitalization Act, by voice vote.

August

Congressional Aviation Leaders Attend EAA Air Venture
Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Representative Sam Graves (R-6-MO) … both EAA members … attended AirVenture this year, as they have for many years. The two members of Congress held a small gathering ... mostly by invitation ...  at the show. Both took the opportunity to discuss aviation-related issues with those in attendance. Senator Inhofe discussed his first Pilots Bill of Rights, saying it was a great first step, but that many important items were not included.

Annual Aviation Statistics For 2012 Released By NTSB
The National Transportation Safety Board released preliminary aviation accident statistics showing U.S. civil aviation accidents fell from 1,550 in 2011 to 1,539 in 2012.

Second Name Connected With Scotts Miracle-Gro Emerges In AOPA CEO Search
There seems to be something of a theme here. A second name associated with the Scotts Miracle-Gro company was circulated by a very reliable source as being on the short list for the position of president and CEO of AOPA.

Hersman Selected For Third Term As NTSB Chair
President Obama nominated Deborah A.P. Hersman to serve a third term as the chair of the NTSB. The appointment came late last week just two days before her term was set to expire.

FAA Proposes AD Affecting Some 6000 Continental Engines
The FAA posted a notice in the Federal Register proposing an Airworthiness Directive for certain Airmotive Engineering Corp. replacement parts manufacturer approval (PMA) cylinder assemblies marketed by Engine Components International Division (ECi), used on the Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) models 520 and 550 reciprocating engines, and all other engine models approved for the use of CMI models 520 and 550 cylinder assemblies such as the CMI model 470 when modified by supplemental type certificate (STC).

AOPA Picks Mark Baker As New Boss
Mark R. Baker, described by AOPA as a "a longtime general aviation (GA) pilot," was named president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Baker is only the fifth AOPA president since the association’s founding nearly 75 years ago.

$1 AvGas? Industry Partnership Uses One-Dollar Avgas To Fuel Research
A group of companies planned to use the Skyport aviation laboratory, in San Marcos, Texas, to find out how the price of fuel influences aviation activity by selling avgas for a scant $1 per gallon.

September

DOT IG Says More Air Traffic Controller Training Needed
The FAA's plan to hire and train more than 11,700 new air traffic controllers through fiscal year 2021 presents significant challenges for the Agency, as new controllers can require more than 3 years of training to become fully certified. That is the assessment of the DOT inspector General.

AOPA Kills Off Future 'Aviation Summits' ... WILL Hold 2013 Summit In TX 
AOPA said that it has decided to suspend its annual Aviation Summits in favor of reaching more members "where they fly."

FAA Awards $40 Million To New Center Of Excellence
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced that the FAA has selected a team of universities to lead a new Air Transportation Center of Excellence (COE) for alternate jet fuels and the environment.

Cessna Announces Major Order For Skyhawk Aircraft
Cessna received an order for 79 Cessna 172 Skyhawk aircraft, one of the largest orders on record for the aircraft, at Moscow’s JetExpo 2013.

NTSB Issues Final Rule In Response To Pilot’s Bill Of Rights
The NTSB issued a Final Rule to implement several changes to its Rules of Practice applicable to aviation certificate enforcement appeals. This final rule responds to public comments received by the NTSB as a result of an interim final rule (IFR) it issued last October.
 

New AOPA Leader Says Value For Members Is Paramount
Mark Baker, the newly-appointed head of AOPA, says that his first order of business is to be sure that everything the organization does is perceived by the members as adding value to their membership.

October

Tecnam P2008JC Achieves EASA Certification
EASA certified Tecnam's P2008JC CS/VLA single engine airplane. The company will now begin immediate delivery of pre-ordered P2008JC’s to the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland and Switzerland.

DOT Document Outlines Effects Of The Government Shutdown On FAA 
In a DOT document released September 27, the department says that extensive furloughs can be expected at the FAA under the partial selective government shutdown.

NBAA Releases Letters Sent To President, Congress 
The NBAA released multiple versions of a letter the association has sent to congressional leaders and President Obama outlining the grave repercussions of the partial government shutdown on all aspects of the general aviation (GA) industry, including the purchase and use of small GA aircraft for business transport.

FAA Recalling Some Furloughed Inspectors 
The FAA apparently took notice of some of the messages sent by various airlines and aviation advocacy groups, saying Tuesday that more than 800 furloughed aircraft and airline inspectors will be returning to work.

Skyport One-Dollar Avgas Experiment Ends On October 15 
Unless you’ve just returned from a fact-finding trip to Mars, you’ve probably heard quite a lot about the $1 avgas being sold at the Skyport as part of an experiment to stimulate GA flying in Texas. Well, Redbird Skyport says the outcomes from the first eight days of the experiment have been interesting ... and frankly surprising.

EAA Declines FAA Exemption For Young Eagles, Eagle Flights Pilots 
EAA notified the FAA that it is declining a partial grant of exemption that would have allowed Young Eagles and Eagle Flights pilots to obtain reimbursement for fuel costs and logging of flight time.

House Aviation Subcommittee Holds Hearing On GA Certification Process 
The U.S. House of Representatives Transportation Committee subcommittee on aviation held a hearing on the FAA's certification process. Subcommittee Chair Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) called the hearing in an effort to "find the right balance between maintaining the highest level of aviation safety while achieving greater efficiencies in FAA’s certification processes."

November

Gamera Team Sets Unofficial Record For Human-Powered Helicopter Flight
They may not have won the Sikorsky prize, but University of Maryland students from Team Gamera unofficially set a world record of 97 seconds for the duration of a human powered helicopter flight.

Privately-Owned New Jersey Airport Faces Government Takeover 
The private owners of a public-use airport in Readington Township, NJ have been fighting an ongoing legal battle with the township board that was attempting to take over the airport through eminent domain.
The Township Committee later rescinded the ordinance.

City Of Santa Monica Sues FAA Over Airport
The City of Santa Monica, CA sued the FAA to establish the city's right to control future use of the Santa Monica Airport (KSMO) property, which the City has long owned.

FAA Releases Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Roadmap
The FAA released its first annual Roadmap outlining efforts needed to safely integrate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the nation’s airspace.

More Med Scrutiny: FAA To Begin Examining Body Mass Index For Pilot Candidates
Sometimes it seems like somebody at the FAA lays awake at night coming up with ways to make it more difficult for those who might want to fly to obtain a pilot certificate.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Small Airplane Revitalization Act Is Law
Call it a victory... though it may wind up being a small one. Legislation designed to reduce the cost and complexity of doing business in the general aviation world is now law... but it will take some time to determine if the mammoth American bureaucracies involved in this business manage to screw that up, too.

December

Shell Announces Intent To Certify/Offer Unleaded AvGas
It's been called the "holy grail" of general aviation fuel, and now Shell has become the first major oil company to develop a lead-free replacement for Aviation Gasoline (Avgas 100 and 100LL), which will now begin a strict regulatory approvals process.

EAA Continues Court Action Against FAA
The EAA filed a petition in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit for review of the FAA's actions in demanding payment for Air Traffic Control services at AirVenture in 2013.

Congressmen Introduce Bill To Revise GA Medical Certificate Rules
GA pilots have for years been asking the FAA to look at rules for third-class medical certificates in an effort to see those rules relaxed. Two Republican Congressman turned up the heat on the process by introducing a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would substantively change medical requirements for thousands of GA pilots.

FAA Will Fast Track Sleep Apnea Policy
During a Dec. 12 webinar presentation to discuss the agency's controversial new OSA-screening proposal with industry stakeholders, Federal Air Surgeon Dr. Frederick Tilton appeared determined to push ahead with the requirements. The agency later decided to delay implementation of the policy until industry input could be collected.

Textron Buys Beechcraft
In releases issued as most of America was still scarfing up leftover turkey and stuffing (with extra gravy), GA's remaining All-American powerhouse officially commented on their purchase of Beech and let loose with just a few details as to what may thereafter transpire.

FMI: www.aero-news.net