Warbird Information Exchange

Here is an update on the TSA's plan to mandate security checks on all private aircraft in the United States over 12,500lbs MTOW. As I'm sure you're all aware of this issue by now, let's please have some intelligent discussion about this. They will be holding public information meetings around the country to meet with the public and [hopefully] listen to the voice of reason. I strongly urge anyone with an interest in preserving the freedoms enjoyed by General Aviation to make themselves available to attend one of these sessions if there is one near you.

The article (from AOPA);
http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2008/081231gasecurity.html?WT.mc_id=090102epilot&WT.mc_sect=tts

And the schedule of info sessions:
Jan. 6 at Westchester County Airport, White Plains, N.Y.

Jan. 8 at the Renaissance Concourse Hotel Atlanta Airport in Atlanta, Ga

Jan. 16 at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel and Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill.

Jan. 23 at the Burbank Airport Marriot Hotel and Convention Center in Burbank, Calif.

Jan. 28 at the Hilton Houston Hotel-North Greenspoint Conference Center in Houston, Texas.

Remember, this is not something that only affects the CEO of Big Corporation and his Gulfstream, this affects many in the warbird community and other sectors of GA. As such I would ask that the Mods leave this thread in the main hangar and not move it to the Civilian Aviation forum.

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real airplanes have round engines

Now I don't have any set plans so far and will have to look into the situation as the date gets closer, but methinks we ought to have a significant WIXer gathering at this event... Any way the Texas Raiders group, LSFM, or someone else in the Houston area could help organize a Warbirds response?

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Here is the latest update and a schedule of public heqarings. We need to have as many folks as possible to show up and let these bureaucrats know how we feel !

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

Here's the TSA's website, where you can voice your opinion about their non-trusting atitude of their own citizens! Kind of like when Hitler banned guns in Germany before WW2.

Anyway, the preflight will have a whole new meaning! Starting with a clueless fat guy with a funny uniform and a funny wand running CAF pilots through an x-ray, and a rectal exam.

Followed by the EPA examination checking the instruments for radiation after walking out in the sun w/ 10x the radiation, and then checking the methane meter in the cockpit followed by carbon footprint test of the engine.

This is what we've got to look forward to, and will get worse and even more ludicrous than what I wrote above if these law writers are not challenged by people like yourselves.

http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/c ... -2008-0021

I pretty well voiced my opinion, and let them know they are going too far.

I think the TSA is the killer for GA. Some stuff I read is just crazy! Anyone remember the story where a TSA agent climbed up on a aircraft breaking a few things to check if the aircraft was easy to break into? Sure I'd like to voice my opionion.

Anyone else got any other stories?

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Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com

That was an American Eagle EMB 145. The TSA WILL be the death of GA if we do not put a stop to their POWER grab (this over-reaching administration can't be gone soon enough).

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John Cotter

Fight it here:

http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/c ... -2008-0021 [/quote]

Rosemont is within reasonable driving distance, but unfortunately I'm already scheduled to present at an educators' conference on January 16th.

Is a contingent of WIXers planning to attend any of these forums? Just curious.

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

I would definitely like to try and make the Houston meeting if I could work out the transportation issue and was sure I had the time. Anyone know what time of day the meetings are taking place? Any San Antonio area WIXers want to try and chip in to take a plane out there?

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Rob Collings said that he was going to attend the first session.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

They did, Bill. No one spoke in favor of this, and TSA didn't really responds to the folks presenting.

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

I made my comment... It was not very friendly, and probably a bit annoyed sounding. I think they should all be fired...

OUT OF A CANNON!

But I didn't say that...

Scott

There was a large group (standing room only) that attended the event in White Plains. Most of the people who commented (you get 3 minutes per person to comment) were very well informed on the proposed legislation, and were able to make informative comments on how the legislation would effect their specific portion of General Aviation. There were many different sectors within GA that were represented at the meeting including several different historical aircraft operators. The most important point that came out of the meeting (and hopefully comes out at all of the meetings) is that the TSA needs to work with GA when they are putting together a program that effects such a large portion of GA. TSA is not going to go away. They are going to work their way into GA, the question is just how much, and for aircraft of what size. There were a lot of comments at the meeting that this program should be effective for aircraft that are much larger than 12,500. There were also comments about the effectiveness of the program all together.

Ryan et al,

All of the meetings are scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM local time, with registration beginning at 8:00 AM.

From what has been reported so far, the White Plains meeting went as well as could possibly be expected: Not one invited attendee was in favor of the proposal(s); all felt there must be a better way. It would appear the true hero of the day was Mr. Ed Bolen, president of the National Business Aviation Association, who proposed an effective and workable alternative to the TSA's proposal.

I would encourage everyone--especially those planning to attend-- to take a little time to examine the following brief prepared by EAA.

http://www.eaa.org/govt/lasp_briefing.pdf

Let's hope today's forum in Atlanta went as well as White Plains.

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

My boss, Pat Epps went to the Atlanta meeting yesterday & let them know how he felt. See link.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/busine ... ation.html

Robbie

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Fly Fast Make Noise!