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AOPA

State By State Pandemic Guide For Pilots Released

December 16, 2020

By AOPA Communications Staff

Many pilots have been grounded and unsure of how to navigate the latest requirements on general aviation flying while under mandatory stay-at-home orders in several states and territories. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has published a state-by-state guide to help with some of the research pilots might be forced to do to understand if they can continue flying in their state.

“AOPA continues to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on GA in all 50 states and U.S. territories, and this database of information should make it easier for pilots to decide whether they can fly or not,” said Mike Ginter, AOPA vice president of airports and state advocacy. “We will continue updating the state-by-state resources as new guidance becomes available, and since this is a rapidly changing situation, we also urge pilots to proactively call their local airport managers and check NOTAMs before flying.”

The FAA is requiring airports that receive federal grants to remain open unless they have obtained specific FAA approval to close. But the fact that some airports remain open doesn’t necessarily mean everyone can continue flying, AOPA officials say.

State governors have issued multiple executive orders to protect residents during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, all of which follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for social distancing. However, finding out if you can still fly for various reasons is not that simple.

Is it OK to fly in your state?

The online guide includes links to executive orders issued by each governor, along with any supplemental guidance issued by the state department of transportation or aviation, answers to commonly asked questions, contact information for government offices and reminders about checking NOTAMs and calling airport managers to confirm availability of services.

If pilots are unable to find what they are looking for in the state-by-state guide, AOPA recommends they contact their airport and state transportation or aviation department for clarification.

Pilots can also call or message the AOPA Pilot Information Center at 800-USA-AOPA (800-872-2672) for assistance, but pilots are reminded that AOPA staff cannot provide legal interpretation or opinions of state executive orders. If required, pilots should contact an aviation attorney licensed to practice law in that state to get a legal interpretation or opinion about how the stay-at-home order impacts their planned flight.

Colorado and Virginia are unusual in that both states have published supplemental guidance that allows flight schools to remain open for aircraft rentals to help pilots maintain currency and proficiency, but restricts dual instruction.

Pilots should also be aware that the FAA recently announced temporary adjustments to the operating hours of approximately100 control towers nationwide at facilities that have seen a significant reduction in flights since the pandemic began.

Filed Under: Wingtips Fall 2020 Tagged With: AOPA

Meet AOPA’S New Texas Ambassador

June 1, 2016

AOPA Ambassador Pat Brown.

AOPA Ambassador Pat Brown.

By Pat Brown
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

Aviation is a fun industry and it’s a great way to make a living. But, it’s not without its challenges! Economic conditions and a myriad of other factors can keep recreational and weekend pilots away from the airport. If you are an airport manager, you know this only too well because it means reduced activity at your airport.

As you are also, no doubt, aware, the pilot population in the United States is in decline and has been for a long time. Over the past few years, AOPA has created a number of programs to reverse that trend. One of them is You Can Fly! That’s where the Texas Ambassador comes in…and I have the pleasure of being the “face” of this effort here in the Lone Star State. So, what can I do to help you bring more activity to your airport? Here are a few suggestions.

FLYING CLUBS

Flying clubs make flying more affordable. Period. Flying clubs are not difficult to set up but there are decisions to make and details to handle. Flying clubs provide a social atmosphere that fosters more flying and gets even non-flying family members involved. In addition, students who learn through a club setting are far more likely to complete flight training. AOPA has tremendous resources designed to help start, or grow a flying club, and I am here to help the process. An active flying club will bring additional activity to your airport both in terms of operations and in fuel sales! I have a fun presentation called Maximum Fun/Minimum Cost designed to answer many of the questions that potential club organizers have. If you want me to bring that presentation to your airport, just let me know!

Check out this link: https://www.aopa.org/community/flying-clubs

RUSTY PILOT

There are thousands of certificated pilots out there who, for one reason or another, haven’t flown for years! That’s what the Rusty Pilot program is for. Our FREE three-hour seminar will bring them up to date on what’s changed since they last flew, provide a review of all the stuff they used to know and, at the end, they will receive a logbook endorsement satisfying ground school portion of the flight review requirement. This is an excellent way to introduce potential new customers to your airport. If you want to host a Rusty Pilot Seminar at your airport, just let me know. And, let me repeat…it’s FREE.

For more details, check out this link: http://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/lapsed-pilots/rusty-pilots

<h2″>FLIGHT SCHOOLS

Just as with any other business, flight schools face challenges every day. If there is a flight school on your field and it’s having some issues—or just wants opportunities to grow its customer base. Call me and let’s talk about the resources and tools we can offer. As an example, we can bring a Rusty Pilot Seminar to the school. Those attendees are potential new customers!! We can also get the school engaged in our Flight Training Excellence Awards, connect them with other successful schools, and help them with ideas for promoting their school.

Why not start by checking out our research on the flight training experience: https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/flight-schools/flight-training-initiative

So, there you have it. As your AOPA Ambassador, I am here to help grow aviation in the State of Texas. Please feel free to contact me directly at [email protected]g. Let’s get flying!

ABOUT PAT BROWN

Pat has been flying since age 16. As an active Gold Seal CFII-MEI-Glider-CSIP flight instructor, he has over 5000 hours of instruction given. He is an approved Check Pilot for the Piper PA46 (Matrix/Malibu) platform as well as a factory-trained Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot. Pat is the former Chief Tow Pilot for the Greater Houston Soaring Association with over 2400 tows under his belt. He contributed a sidebar on radio communications to Rod Machado’s Sport Pilot Handbook, and participated in re-writing/updating the National Association Of Flight Instructors’ CFI Guide To Light Sport and Light Sport Aircraft. He is the co-developer of AOPA’s Rusty Pilot seminar, travels the country speaking to pilot groups as a Safety Seminar Presenter for the Air Safety Institute, and conducts Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics nationwide. In 2013, Pat was named by the FAA as both the Houston FSDO and Southwest Region Flight Instructor of the Year.

Filed Under: Wingtips Spring 2016 Tagged With: AOPA, Pat Brown

AOPA’S Report: New Texas Laws Benefit General Aviation

October 19, 2015

By Yasmina Platt,
AOPA’s Central Southwest Regional Manager

We had a very busy, but productive, legislative session in Texas in 2015 and AOPA members, pilots and aircraft owners among others will reap the benefits.

New Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a number of general aviation friendly bills into law after the 84th Texas Legislature adjourned June 1st. In addition to working with state legislators, we met and talked with staff in Abbott’s offices in both Austin and Washington D.C. to ensure GA pilots’ voices were heard.

Thanks to advocacy efforts from AOPA and other aviation stakeholders who tracked 54 bills throughout session, pilots can enjoy many of the benefits being afforded to GA. The bills that Abbott signed into law provide:

  • $84 million (state, federal and local dollars) to support and promote GA services and airports for each of the fiscal years ending Aug. 31, 2016 and 2017;
  • Free Texas Department of Transportation Airport Directories (the directory previously cost $6);
  • A requirement to mark and register meteorological evaluation towers (better known as MET towers) to mitigate safety-of-flight hazards for pilots;
  • Clarification of how GA aircraft leasing and business practices operate so that sales and use tax changes don’t affect the industry’s positive contribution to the state’s economy.
  • The ability for repossession agents to file a petition in a justice court for a writ of assistance to receive help from law enforcement officials when repossessing an aircraft.

Yasmina Platt said leadership and support from Reps. Paul Workman (47th District), Armando Martinez (39th District), Chris Paddie (9th District), Rick Miller (26th District), and John Otto (18th District), and Sens. Charles Perry (28th District), Van Taylor (8th District), Royce West (23rd District), and Jane Nelson (12th District) helped push the positive legislation through session.

You can get more information about these and other developments in our region, and specifically in Texas, by visiting http://www.aopa.org/Advocacy/Airports-and-State-Advocacy.aspx or following me on Twitter (https://twitter.com/AOPACentralSW or @AOPACentralSW).

Filed Under: Wingtips Fall 2015 Tagged With: 2015 Texas Legislature, AOPA, Yasmina Platt

AOPA’s Report: General Aviation Initiatives in 2015’s Texas Legislative Session

June 30, 2015

By Yasmina Platt,
AOPA’s Central Southwest Regional Manager

The 84th Texas Legislature is in full swing and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Accociation (AOPA), along with other aviation stakeholders, is working on several initiatives to promote and protect general aviation in the state. We are tracking about 50 bills in Texas. Below are some of the ones we are most interested in, including the bill numbers and a brief summary. If you are interested in seeing the progress of a specific bill search http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/.

  • HB 946 / SB 505 – Marking/Registration of Meteorological Evaluation Towers (MET Towers): MET towers are temporary structures used to measure wind speed and direction to identify locations for future wind turbines. They pose a continuing hazard to low-altitude aviation operations, such as agricultural, helicopter flights, and search and rescue. These towers are below the 200-foot Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) threshold for evaluation, are very difficult to see from the air, and are usually erected overnight and without notice. Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA have published documentation encouraging the states to mark and register these towers. These bills follow the research and recommendations of both of those agencies.
  • HB 1458 / SB 798 – Tax Exemption on the Maintenance of General Aviation Aircraft: Tax exemptions for general aviation maintenance help to increase aviation activity, generate jobs and raise revenue for maintenance businesses. Only operators using aircraft as a certificated carrier of persons/cargo, for flight training, or for agricultural use are currently exempt from the sales and use tax (including both parts and labor) when repairing, remodeling, or maintaining aircraft. This bill would include all general aviation aircraft and activities. Texas aircraft are often flown to other states which do not apply sales taxes to obtain cheaper maintenance. This means local companies are losing business.
  • HB 1605 – TxDOT Airport Directories: TxDOT-Aviation prints the Texas Airport Directory every few years for use by the public and the aviation community. The directories include information about all public use airports (approximately 400) in the state. By state law TxDOT charges $6 per airport directory but, as a state resource, it should be available to the public for free from public facilities, the Texas highway maps. This bill would offer the directories for free. TxDOT-Aviation will be printing an aeronautical chart this year and they could be distributing both resources for free at the same time.
  • HB 3287 / SB 1396 – Texas Sales/Use Tax: In 2014, the Texas Comptroller attempted to change the tax rules and standards that impact the ownership and operation of aircraft in Texas. The proposed rule tried to change when operators could qualify for the “sale for resale” exemption through aircraft leasing. This legislation would recognize the leasing of aircraft as a legitimate transaction eligible for resale exemption, allowing aircraft to be brought into the state for completions without being subject to tax. The bills also would address out of state use and related party transactions and exempt fractional programs from sales/use tax.
  • HB 3077 / SB 1493 – Emergency Medical Air Transportation Account: These bills would create the above mentioned account and the commissioner of State Health Services could use the appropriated funding to fund and reimburse emergency medical air transportation.
  • HB 3901 / SB 1133 – Repossession of Aircraft: A repossession agent may file a petition for a writ of assistance for the repossession of aircraft in a justice court.

You can get more updates about these and other developments in our region, by visiting http://www.aopa.org/Advocacy/Airports-and-State-Advocacy.aspx or following me on Twitter (https://twitter.com/AOPACentralSW or @AOPACentralSW).

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: 2015 Texas Legislature, Aircraft, AOPA, Yasmina Platt

Get Involved–Volunteer for AOPA!

February 25, 2015

By Joey Colleran
AOPA’s Director of the Airport Support Network (ASN) program

AOPA’s Airport Support Network (ASN) is recruiting volunteers for Texas airports. The ASN program was established in 1997 when AOPA recognized the need for a grassroots effort to help prevent airport closures. Presently, there are 2,500 ASN Volunteers nationwide. Over the years, the program was grown from a defensive “save the airport” stance to a more proactive “let’s promote the airport” effort. Instead of waiting for trouble, investing the time to help a community understand the value of its local airport is an important activity we all need to support. In fact, AOPA created a form to allow members to recognize their airport sponsors and it can be found at: http://www.aopa.org/asn/recognition.cfm. AOPA wants to recognize local elected officials who are good stewards of their community airport, and thank them for their support. If your local Mayor and Council, County Commissioners, or other elected officials have done a good job overseeing your airport, please let us know.

For more information about the Airport Support Network (ASN) program and to view a complete list of airports that need volunteers, visit www.aopa.org/asn. The following is a list of some of the airports that currently need an ASN Volunteer in Texas. If you or someone you know is an AOPA member, is based at one of these airports and would like to serve as our ASNV, please visit https://www.aopa.org/asn/asnform.cfm.

Airport ID Airport Name City
BKD STEPHENS COUNTY BRECKENRIDGE
45R HAWTHORNE FIELD KOUNTZE/SILSBEE
F00 JONES FIELD BONHAM
07R BISHOP MUNI BISHOP
BFE TERRY COUNTY BROWNFIELD
F17 CENTER MUNI CENTER
MKN COMANCHE COUNTY-CITY COMANCHE
ARM WHARTON RGNL WHARTON
RFI RUSK COUNTY HENDERSON
RPH GRAHAM MUNI GRAHAM

If you want to know more about what’s going on in Texas, visit http://www.aopa.org/central-southwest-rm or follow @AOPACentralSW (https://twitter.com/AOPACentralSW).

Filed Under: Wingtips Winter 2015 Tagged With: AOPA, AOPA’s Airport Support Network, Joey Colleran

AOPA at the 2014 EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI

November 13, 2014

AOPA’s Central Southwest Regional Manager Yasmina Platt riveting the One Week Wonder Zenith aircraft from Mexico, Missouri. Photo courtesy of AOPA.

AOPA’s Central Southwest Regional Manager Yasmina Platt riveting the One Week Wonder Zenith
aircraft from Mexico, Missouri. Photo courtesy of AOPA.

By: Yasmina Platt,
AOPA’s Central Southwest Regional Manager

“AirVenture Oshkosh 2014 could be one of the best ever” said Jack Pelton, Chairman of the Experimental Aircraft of America (EAA). Attendance, airplane numbers and exhibitors’ reactions and enthusiasm are all trending up significantly. Attendance on Saturday, for example, was up 20 percent over 2013. Aircraft arrival numbers were up significantly from a year ago. As of Sunday morning, there were more than 1,000 additional registered aircraft and Tuesday was full for aircraft parking – first time in a long time this has happened.

In addition to the seven AOPA regional fly-ins (www.aopa.org/fly-in), the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) had a bigger and better location and presence at this year’s AirVenture in Wisconsin. Nearly 20,000 people visited AOPA’s main tent throughout the week. Your Association was right on the flight line across from the famous brown arch. AOPA’s presence was expanded to include not only the many great AOPA brand experiences, products and services pilots have come to expect at the airshow, but also a new activities tent that 3,000 people visited where safety and educational seminars as well as special gatherings were held. Some of those special events included a Pilot Town Hall with President Mark Baker, a Rusty Pilots seminar with 90 attendees, an Airport Support Network (ASN) Volunteer appreciation dinner, a flying club meeting, and an ADS-B learning session.

AOPA celebrated the organization’s 75th anniversary with cupcakes one day and AOPA President Mark Baker held several gatherings to discuss the latest in AOPA initiatives, industry issues, etc with members. Pilots were also able to take a photo and appear on the cover of AOPA Pilot magazine. Disney’s “Planes: Fire and Rescue” had an interactive display for kids to play and Jay simulators were available for adults and kids to try. If that was not enough… AOPA also had a new outdoor courtyard area to relax, enjoy conversation and build new friendships. Many took advantage of this area as an airshow viewing area as well.

Couldn’t attend Oshkosh this year but wish you could have? You can catch a summary of the week’s show and highlights at www.aopa.org/live. Look for the “Live This Week” videos that includes “AirVenture” in the title.

Follow your AOPA Regional Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/AOPACentralSW or @AOPACentralSW for up-to-date information regarding news, developments, initiatives, and issues in Texas.

Filed Under: Wingtips Fall 2014 Tagged With: 2014 EAA AirVenture, AOPA, Yasmina Platt

AOPA Guidelines–What to Do if Stopped by Law Enforcement

October 22, 2013

Download PDF for printing

Eight-step guide on what to do as a pilot if you are stopped by law enforcement. This guide was published by AOPA Pilot Protection Services.

Filed Under: Wingtips Fall 2013 Tagged With: AOPA, AOPA Guidelines

AOPA at the Texas Aviation Conference

August 13, 2013

Yasmina Platt and Joey Calleran standing beside an AOPA exhibit.

L-R: Yasmina Platt, AOPA’s Central Southwest Regional Manager, and Joey Colleran, Director of the AOPA Airport Support Network program. Both reside in Texas.

By Yasmina Platt
AOPA Central Southwest Regional Manager

For the first time, your association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), hosted a booth and the Airport Support Network (ASN) Volunteer Reception during the 31st Annual Texas Aviation Conference in Austin held May 13-15. The booth provided an opportunity to meet and network with aviation industry stakeholders from all around Texas, showcase AOPA’s efforts to preserve your freedom to fly and promote the upcoming AOPA Summit scheduled for October 10-12 in Fort Worth.

In addition to the booth, AOPA held an afternoon reception with a few local ASN volunteers and elected officials, as well as TxDOT Aviation Director Dave Fulton. The ASN program is still looking for volunteers in the state. The list below shows some of the Texas airports that currently need an ASN Volunteer. For information about the Airport Support Network (ASN) program and to view a complete list of airports that need volunteers, visit http://www.aopa.org/Advocacy/Get-Involved/Airport-Support-Network.aspx.

Airport ID

Airport Name

City

ARM

WHARTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT WHARTON

ASL

HARRISON COUNTY MARSHALL

BBD

CURTIS FIELD BRADY

BKD

STEPHENS COUNTY BRECKENRIDGE

ELP

EL PASO INTERNATIONAL EL PASO

BRO

BROWNSVILLE/S PADRE ISLAND INT’L BROWNSVILLE

JSO

CHEROKEE COUNTY AIRPORT JACKSONVILLE

OCH

A.L. MANGHAM JR REGIONAL ARPT NACOGDOCHES

RPH

GRAHAM MUNICIPAL AIRPORT GRAHAM

TYR

TYLER POUNDS REGIONAL ARPT TYLER

 
To learn more about what is happening in Texas, visit https://twitter.com/AOPACentralSW.

Filed Under: Wingtips, Wingtips Summer 2013 Tagged With: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Airport Support Network program, AOPA, Joey Colleran, Yasmina Platt

AOPA’s Airport Support Network Program: Supporting Texas Airports – One at a Time

March 27, 2013

By Yasmina Platt
Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association

A lot of attention is given to high-level issues in the national aviation media. “Will user fees be thrust upon us?” or “Is 100LL an endangered species?” The headlines frequently overshadow a lot of good work that is done at the local level, often one airport at a time. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) recognized the need for grassroots efforts at a time when general aviation airports were disappearing at a frightening rate, mostly due to land-use conflicts and economic pressures. Since most airports are owned by city or county governments, it was clear that early warning of an impending threat was critical to their survival. To address this need, AOPA established the Airport Support Network (Airport Support Network) program in 1997.

Volunteers were solicited to be AOPA’s eyes and ears at public-use airports, to sound the alarm if a threat loomed that might harm or close the airport. Presently, AOPA has 2,500 ASN Volunteers nationwide. Over the years, the program was grown from a defensive “save the airport” stance to a more proactive “let’s promote the airport” effort. Instead of waiting for trouble, investing the time to help a community understand the value of its local airport is an important activity we all need to support. Therefore, AOPA also wants to help recognize those airports/governments/public officials who are showing the positive value airports bring to a community, whether by way of holding an Airport Open House or supporting an airport improvement project. In addition, AOPA has created tools to help our members and ASNVs with their efforts, such as the Holding an Airport Open House or Participating in the Planning Process guides.

Texas has 182 ASN Volunteers who perform a wide range of activities that are supporting our airports. However, AOPA’s goal is to have an ASN Volunteer at every public-use airport in the U.S. This means we still need 133 volunteers in Texas to cover all the public-use airports we have in Texas. We need your help in filling those seats. The following is a list of some of the airports that currently need an ASNV:

Airport ID

Airport Name

City

OCH

A.L. MANGHAM JR REGIONAL ARPT

NACOGDOCHES
BBD

CURTIS FIELD

BRADY
IO6

CITY OF TULIA SWISHER CO MUNI

TULIA
BRO

BROWNSVILLE/S PADRE ISLND INTL

BROWNSVILLE
ASL

HARRISON COUNTY AIRPORT

MARSHALL
BKD

STEPHENS COUNTY AIRPORT

BRECKENRIDGE

PEQ

PECOS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

PECOS

ELA

EAGLE LAKE AIRPORT

EAGLE LAKE

OSA

MOUNT PLEASANT REGIONAL ARPT

MOUNT PLEASANT

ARM

WHARTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

WHARTON

E35

FABENS AIRPORT

FABENS

RPH

GRAHAM MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

GRAHAM

RFI

RUSK COUNTY AIRPORT

HENDERSON

GNC

GAINES COUNTY AIRPORT

SEMINOLE

SNK

WINSTON FIELD

SNYDER

E38

ALPINE-CASPARIS MUNICIPAL ARPT

ALPINE

BFE

TERRY COUNTY AIRPORT

BROWNFIELD
E01

ROY HURD MEMORIAL AIRPORT

MONAHANS
ONY

OLNEY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

OLNEY

For more information about the Airport Support Network (ASN) program and to view a complete list of airports that need volunteers, visit www.aopa.org/asn. If you want to know more about what’s going on in Texas or the Central Southwest Region (NM, TX, LA, OK, AR, KS, MO, NE and IA), visit http://www.aopa.org/?sc_itemid={AA34BCCF-5A3D-4485-012D-39F733E50284} or follow me on Twitter (https://twitter.com/AOPACentralSW).

Filed Under: Wingtips Tagged With: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Airport Support Network, AOPA, ASN program, Texas general aviation

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