FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1984
1984 - 0097.PDF
US Aopa will miss Helms WASHINGTON D.C. "We're probably losing a friend," says US Aircraft Owners and Pilots Associ ation (Aopa) president John Baker, following the resigna tion of Lynn Helms (Flight, December 3, who steps down at the end of this month. Describing Helms as the most technically astute adminis trator in Federal Aviation Administration history, Baker says that he had "more confidence in the competence of general-aviation pilots than the average administrator. He seemed to recognise that there is indeed responsibility in the [GA] pilot community, which in turn recognises the reality of the world, rather than the wishful thinking we've seen by others less knowledgeable". Nevertheless, Aopa still has strong reservations about many of Helms' plans for the FAA, and fears for the future of some issues. Baker says that despite a number of occasions when Helms and Aopa "squared off, there were many issues upon which they were at one. Helms' departure "casts a cloud over the future of those issues", says Aopa vice- president Stephen Bassett. Sensitive topics include ultra/microlights and self- regulation; industry efforts to create a new category of aircraft (Aopa's submission for a "Basic Airplane" is pending at the FAA); and efforts to ensure "Federal noise pre-emption at airports". Bassett reports fears that the next FAA chief might be less supportive than Helms on ultralights, and that his departure could increase pressure to show self- regulation as a viable alterna tive to Federal regulation. On the Basic Airplane proposal and on airport protection, Baker says that "all bets are off until we see who the next adminis trator is to be". It is reasonable, according to Bassett, to assume that President Reagan will nomi nate an individual who would be dynamic enough to help his presidential re-election efforts. Reagan is expected to announce his candidature for re-election following his state- of-the-nation speech this month. Aopa fears that the president will place a higher store on votes than on an individual's ability to lead the FAA effectively. Although in accepting Helms' resignation, Mr Reagan praised him for a job well done, the association reports Washington specu lation that "damaging articles in the Wall Street Journal" had made the FAA chief a political liability to the presi dent's re-election bid. Baker remembers Helms' stand on the ATC strike in 1982-he fired 11,000 employees—and points to the push Helms had given to the US National Airspace System Plan (the programme to modernise US airspace), many aspects of which Aopa actively opposed. The chief of the owner/pilots' lobby expects that the momentum which Helms created in the programme will push it forward, "and there's no ques tion it's necessary". But Baker believes that some of the plan's peripheral elements need a harder examination from the aviation community. He suggests that Helms' position on the modernisation and consolidation of flight- service stations (FSSs) was not supported within the FAA, although Helms testi fied before Congress on the merits and defended the appropriateness of closing down more than 250 stations. The Aopa head expects that the FAA might alter its posi tion on FSSs, recognising that its posture is "unrealistic and undefendable". According to Aopa, GA leaders in the USA hope that the Helms/FAA decision to halt the purchase of instru ment landing systems (in favour of microwave systems) "is headed for extinction". The organisation suggests that this could take up to 15 years to implement at a cost of ten times that which is neces sary. On the FAA's proposed Terminal Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), Baker believes that the plan will continue because it is a politi cal rather than a safety issue. "When something is stamped 'safety', its easy to get Congress support, regardless of whether the issue has anything to do with safety." Air Cdre Allen Wheeler Air Cdre Allen Wheeler, for many years Aviation Trustee and a frequent display pilot of the Shuttleworth Collection, has died at the age of 80. Although best known in recent years for his enthusi astic involvement with preserving and flying vintage aircraft, Allen Wheeler had a distinguished career in service test flying. He was commis sioned in the RAF in 1925 and trained as both engineer and pilot before attending Staff College in 1933. During the Second World War he commanded the Performance Testing Squadron at Boscombe Down and the Experimental Flying Department at Farnborough. Later he was involved in development flying for the airborne forces before the invasion of Sicily, and he commanded RAF Fairford during the Normandy land ings. Post-war, he commanded RAF Cyprus and the Aero plane and Armament Experi mental Establishment at Boscombe Down. In 1947 he became the Shuttleworth Trust's first Aviation Trustee, holding that position until 1980. Among the Collection's aircraft which he flew, he was particularly identified with the Avro 504K—the type on which he learned to fly. He was still flying his own Tiger Moth two years ago, and was an active and unusually enthusiastic "total aviation person" to the end. His several respected publications include Testing Aeroplanes in War, Flying Between the Wars, and an account of the historic replicas flown in the classic film Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, with which he was closely involved. PRIVATE FLIGHT European Piper Pow Wow OXFORD ~ Following the gathering of the International Comanche Society at Oxford last summer, CSE is to sponsor the first European Inter national Piper Pow Wow on Friday, June 1, and Saturday, June 2, this year. It will be both a social event and a seri ous meeting for Piper owners and operators, with clinics on various aspects of aircraft maintenance, including airframes, engines, and avionics. Equipment manu facturers, distributors, and UK Piper service centres are expected to participate. A programme has yet to be finalised, but the Pow Wow is expected to start after lunch on Friday. Details and hotel regis tration forms from: "Pow Wow", Product Support Dept, CSE Aviation, Oxford Airport, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 IRA; telephone 08675 4321/telex 83204 Aztec G. UK Aopa conference LONDON ~ The UK Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has final ised the programme for its Private Pilots' Conference at the RAF Club in London on February 25. A major theme is "Alternative Aviation", title of the first session, beginning at lOOOhr. John Walker of the Popular Flying Association will then talk on "Homebuilt Aircraft and the PFA Rally", followed by James Allen on the comparative charges and facilities of continental aero dromes. Afternoon sessions will include Graham Andrews on microlight flying, and Bill Scull of the British Gliding Association on motorglider training and licensing. An open forum for questions begins at 1600hr, and the event is due to end at 1730hr. Tickets are £5 (£7.50 for non-members). Further details from Aopa at 50A Cambridge St, London SW1V 4QA; tele phone 01 834 5631. FLIGHT International, 21 January 1984 145
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
