AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2014 - 96

SURVEY

|

53%

of all instrument-rated pilots in
the U.S. are AOPA members.

News & Notes
MEMBERSHIP

WHAT AOPA IS DOING TO KEEP YOU FLYING

|
BUDGET PLAN PROTECTS GA

FAA should rescind new
training standards
Allow students to log sim time, AOPA says
AOPA HAS ASKED THE FAA to rescind its new training standards for the instrument rating and allow students to log more simulator time. The FAA standards reduce simulator
time that can be logged from 20 hours to 10 for the instrument rating.
"Reducing the amount of simulator time allowed flies in the face of common sense,
especially today when improved technologies and training techniques make it more
effective than ever," said David Oord, AOPA manager of regulatory affairs. "That's why
we're asking the FAA to rescind the policy statement, begin an expedited rulemaking
process that would let students get credit for 20 hours of simulator training for the
instrument rating, and then reissue the letters of authorization needed for flight simulators to be used for the higher level of credited time."
Although the rule under Part 61 already allows for only 10 hours of simulator time
to be logged toward the instrument rating, the FAA has issued letters of authorization
(LOAs) to simulator manufacturers for more than 30 years. Those LOAs have increased
the allowed time to 20 hours for specific simulators, but because they have been issued
on an individual basis, there are now a variety of letters in circulation with different
stipulations and requirements, and some without expiration dates. Using the rulemaking process to make 20 hours of simulator time loggable as part of FAR 61.65(i), then
reissuing letters of authorization for approved training devices, would allow the FAA
to standardize its requirements without penalizing students.
"Simulators are a low-cost way for students to experience a wide range of flying
conditions they might not otherwise experience during their training," said Oord. "The
agency should afford the training industry the flexibility to train pilots using a variety
of new and innovative ways. Only through new thinking and innovation will we collectively rise to the next level of safety."
WEB

www.aopa.org/advocacy

96 | AOPA PILOT March 2014

The House and Senate have passed a
spending bill that preserves many key
general aviation programs. In addition to
providing $15.6 billion to fund the FAA-up
slightly from the $15.2 billion the agency
received in 2013-the spending package
includes language prohibiting new user
fees on aviation.
"With funding
secure for the
remainder of the
fiscal year, the FAA
and the aviation
community can
focus on moving
forward with initiatives to reform aircraft
certification policies, find viable alternatives to leaded avgas, improve infrastructure at GA airports, and take other steps
to advance our national air transportation
system," said Jim Coon, AOPA senior
vice president for government and
advocacy. "In the meantime, AOPA will
continue to press ahead in our work with
Congress and the FAA to expand the use
of the driver's license medical standard."
* $212 million for the FAA's Aircraft Certification Service, requiring the FAAto
move forward with reforms intended
to reduce the cost and time needed to
certify new aircraft and modifications to
the existing fleet.
* Guarantees a minimum of $140 million
for the contract tower program.
* $6 million to continue funding the joint
FAA-industry effort-the Piston Aviation
Fuels Initiative-to evaluate alternatives
to leaded avgas.
* Directs the FAA to continue efforts to
establish a "UAS Center of Excellence" to
help safely integrate unmanned aircraft
into the existing airspace system.
* Keeps modernization efforts moving
forward with $282 million to implement
ADS-B throughout the National Airspace
System.
* $59.8 million to preserve the NextGen
program.
* $3.35 billion set aside for the Airport
Improvement Program, up from $3.1
billion in 2013.
* A provision allows small airports to continue contributing 5 percent of the cost
for projects that were under way before
the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of
2012 doubled the cost share to 10 percent.
http://www.aopa.org/advocacy
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2014
