AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2022 - 12

AOPA ACTION
TOP STOR IES /
Shaping a new generation of pilots
House approves federal aerospace, STEM education center
THE U.S. HOUSE of Representatives passed
legislation to establish the National Center
for the Advancement of Aviation (NCAA).
This bill will help the aviation and aerospace
industries collaborate on programs
that will ensure the aviation workforce is
well trained and prepared. The bill will
also help introduce the nation's youth to
aviation science, technology, engineering,
and math curriculum and assist military
veterans in transitioning to opportunities
in the aviation sector.
The NCAA will serve as an independent
body to enable cooperation among
all industry sectors to coordinate, promote,
and support the future of aviation.
The NCAA is seen as a necessary initiative
to shape a generation of new pilots,
aerospace engineers, unmanned aircraft
system operators, aviation maintenance
technicians, and other professionals. The
NCAA will have an enormous impact
institutions of higher education,
research institutions,
and other stakeholders
regarding aviation and aerospace
workforce matters.
" We applaud the passage
of this much-needed bill
and appreciate the vision
of its sponsors. This is not
a government entity, and it
is not funded by taxpayer
funds, but it does recognize
on young people as it will foster educational
efforts through the development
and deployment of STEM-based aviation
curriculum in middle and high schools.
AOPA's High School Aviation STEM curriculum
is now being taught in more than
400 high schools in almost every U.S. state.
(See " Briefing: True North Star, " p. 30).
The center will also serve as a
repository for research conducted by
the need for all sectors of the aviation
industry to collaborate on areas that
will ensure that our aviation industry,
including the military sector, remains
vibrant and competitive, " said AOPA
President Mark Baker. " I am especially
gratified that developing STEM aviation
curriculum is recognized as a key component
of the center's work. "
aopa.org/pilot/ncaaadvances
EPA moves forward with proposed findings
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Agency released a long-anticipated
proposed finding that lead air pollution endangers public
health, and that emissions from " certain aircraft cause or contribute "
to lead pollution. The FAA and aviation stakeholders
are years ahead on this issue. The release of the findings is a first
step in the federal regulatory process that points out something
everyone already knows: lead in aviation gasoline is not good. The
Endangerment Finding, to be published in the Federal Register and
subject to public comment, was reported by The Hill, with a statement
from EPA Administrator Michael Regan: aviation fuel is the
" dominant source " of lead emissions, decades after lead was phased
out of other fuels. This is news to nobody, certainly not the Eliminate
Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) coalition of industry,
government, and aviation stakeholders including AOPA, which in
September hailed the first FAA approval of a 100-octane, lead-free
fuel that may one day be available at airports across the country.
AOPA and other stakeholders have urged federal, state, and local
12
AOPA PILOT / December 2022
officials to ensure that aviation safety is not compromised as the
piston aircraft fleet transitions to lead-free fuels that remain
unavailable at most airports, although manufacturers including
General Aviation Modifications Inc. are working to ramp up production
and distribution as quickly as they can. With about 5,000
public-use airports across the country, it will take some time. EPA's
action sets up a process for public comment on its proposed finding,
and the agency will bring its final finding next year, which will
most likely require the FAA to develop a plan to remove lead from
aviation gasoline no later than 2030.
" First, we all want the lead out, and second, this announcement
has no impact on the use or sale of 100LL. If this were easy
it would have been done already. Nonetheless, we need a safe and
smart transition, and we will continue to focus our efforts on assisting
any FAA approved unleaded fuels be realized for pilots as soon
as possible, " said AOPA President Mark Baker.
aopa.org/100UL
DAVID TULIS
http://www.aopa.org/pilot/ncaaadvances http://www.aopa.org/100UL
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2022
