Rotax guru Eric Tucker updates ANN on meeting results

Just two days ago, ANN updated our readers on an upcoming ASTM meeting in Salt Lake City.

The meeting is now over, and Rotax guru and ANN columnist Eric Tucker gave us an exclusive wrap-up summary of the proceedings and progress, and the news is all good. The meetings went extremely well, and significant progress was made by the parties involved on a number of areas related to the Sport Pilot initiative.

According to Eric, the meetings closed at 3PM, and everyone felt that as far as working sessions go, it was a very productive gathering which produced a significant number of documents well on the way to being worked on. A good number of new proposals were also introduced which are now being tracked in draft form.

On the powered parachute arena, three documents were approved and published, and a wing interface document is now working its way through the system.

The fixed wing folks had three documents approved. The reciprocating engine document is approved and is now pending publication. The emergency parachutes document was approved and published, and a number of other documents are now in the pipeline and looking good.

The ballistic parachute standard document is going to be modified to add wording on the issue of proper labelling of the producs. This matter was brought up by the NTSB, the FAA and the International Fire Chiefs organization, and the amended document is already being edited. It is expected to be out for balloting for the July deadline.

A number of new task groups were formed during this meeting. One group was formed to tackle the subject of air parks and the development of national standards for this type of property. The group will be considering subjects such as how to integrate all sort of types of sport aircraft -- fixed wing, PPC's and trailered aircraft, for example -- into an air park scenario.

Another task group was formed to develop standards for sport aircraft FBO's and other commercial concerns establishing themselves to provide services to sport aircraft in smaller air parks.

A third task group was formed and given the task of tackling noise issues. This one is considered highly important because of issues such as high-profile anti-aviation litigation currently working its way through the legal system. This task group is expected to produce ballots before the next ASTM meeting go-around.

In addition to these, the propeller task group should have a draft for balloting in July, which will address propeller manufacturing standards for sport aircraft. Another task group will be producing a draft for balloting on tandem operations -- hang glider tugging operations and minimum standards.

Eric commented that there are many things going on which will begin to bear fruit within the next six months, when everyone involved will be gearing up for the next ASTM meeting in Washington (DC).

FMI: www.astm.org