European Powered Flying Union René Meier, President Haldenstrasse 18 CH-2540 Grenchen Switzerland Phone: Fax: E-Mail: Skype: +41 79 333 63 93 +41 32 653 42 86 [email protected] meierswitzerland EPFU News Flash No. 10, August 2014 Introduction Dear readers Here is edition no. 10 of our “News Flash”, a “holiday edition” with some useful information. Happy reading, and many thanks for your comments or contributions for future editions. 3rd transmission, due to the importance of the topic: EU Policy Initiative on aviation safety and possible revision of (EC) no 216/2008 This is the link to the questionnaire: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/air/consultations/ Comment period definitely ends on 15 September 2014. After the Aero-Club of Switzerland of 13 June and the Europe Air Sports workshop of 22 and 23 July 2014 I prepare a template in the next few days and send it to you, asking you for your comments on my comments in order to get a strong EPFU statement. A firm one asking for the LAFI surely is helpful! 3rd transmission also here, for the same reason: A-NPA 2014-12 with the same scope as mentioned before A-NPA 2014-12 was published on 23 May 2014, comment period ends on 15 September 2014, as for the EU Policy Initiative. This is the link to the text and to the Comment Response Tool: http://easa.europa.eu/document-library/notices-of-proposed-amendment/npa-2014-12 Europe Air Sports also held a workshop in the meantime. We have now more than 60 comments on the A-NPA. Most important: We all ask for the introduction of the LAFI! New situation: NPA 2014-14 Portable Electronic Devices (PED) II This is the link: http://easa.europa.eu/system/files/dfu/NPA%202014-14.pdf I sent you on 21 July at 16:07 my second edition of combined Europe Air Sports/EPFU/Aero-Club of Switzerland comments, I made a heading change of about 179 degrees after many discussions with FI’s and FE’s… Please send me your comments on what I sent you until the evening of 3 August 2014, many thanks. Actual state of the art… NPA 2014-17 Crew Resources Management Training The link: http://easa.europa.eu/system/files/dfu/NPA%202014-17.pdf but I am not yet ready, for holiday reasons, however, you will read from me soon. European Powered Flying Union René Meier, President Haldenstrasse 18 CH-2540 Grenchen Switzerland Phone: Fax: E-Mail: Skype: +41 79 333 63 93 +41 32 653 42 86 [email protected] meierswitzerland Copied form “Flight Global”, 30 July 2014, due to its “double importance” for us: OSHKOSH: UAV fears may prompt LSA expansion, LAMA says By: Stepen Trimble, Milwaukee Source: Flightglobal.com The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has requested a survey of light sport aircraft (LSA) employed for commercial services in foreign countries, a possible step towards expanding the sector’s application in the USA a decade after the regulated category was created, says an LSA advocacy group. The survey is informing FAA deliberations about allowing LSAs to serve a variety of commercial services, including sightseeing tours, pipeline surveillance and crop spraying, says Dan Johnson, president and chairman of the board of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (LAMA). “There’s a number of things that has to happen, but it could happen in a year or two,” says Johnson. The LSA category is restricted to offering only two commercial services – aircraft rentals and flight instruction. Expanding that definition would require a rulemaking process, Johnson says. The average time it takes to complete a rulemaking is about seven to 10 years. However, the FAA could put such a rule for LSA on a fast-track due to concerns in another aviation sector – unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), or drones. “One motivating factor among many is drones,” Johnson says. “It all depends on how motivated [FAA officials] are and drones are giving them near-term motivation, in my opinion.” The FAA currently prohibits the commercial use of UAVs, although a few exceptions exist. The agency is required to launch a rulemaking process that would allow small UAVs some access to the national airspace for commercial purposes, but its internal schedule continues to slip. Meanwhile, light sport aircraft have flourished in the decade since the FAA approved ASTM consensus standards for building and operating aircraft in the category. There are now 136 LSA models produced by more than 90 companies, Johnson says, meaning that on average a new design is approved at least every month. “I can’t think of anything like that in aviation since the time that the Wright brothers flew,” Johnson says. 2014 EASA Safety Conference, Rome, 15 and 16 October EASA’s Annual Safety Conference addresses a different safety topic each year. The 2014 Conference focuses on General Aviation as part of EASA’s re-energised focus on this topic and in particular the Agency’s ongoing efforts towards creating a simpler, lighter, better regulatory framework for General Aviation. The conference takes place in Rome on Wednesday 15 October and Thursday 16 October. A series of Panel Discussions will take place over the two days, addressing a range of important themes including Pilot Licensing, Airworthiness for small aircraft and other elements of EASA’s GA Roadmap. The panels will provide a forum for fruitful discussion, with the participation of a varied group of speakers drawn from all areas of the General Aviation Community including Regulators, Clubs & Associations and Industry. European Powered Flying Union René Meier, President Haldenstrasse 18 CH-2540 Grenchen Switzerland Phone: Fax: E-Mail: Skype: +41 79 333 63 93 +41 32 653 42 86 [email protected] meierswitzerland Xavier Barral will represent EPFU, from Europe Air Sports several representatives will be present at the Conference. To find out more, go to http://easa.europa.eu/newsroom-andevents/events/2014-easa-annual-safety-conference if you would like to learn more about the event, or if you are interested in attend the event. Kind regards, blue sky to all of you CH-2540 Grenchen, 1 August 2014 Distribution EPFU Members EPFU Board Members/Technical Officer René Meier