EAA CHAPTER 12 CALENDAR

NOTE: NEW GATHERING START TIME: 6PM !!!

Chapter Gathering - Thursday, 13 April 2023 at 6-7:30PM @ Lone Star Flight Museum (Ellington Airport) 

Dues ($20) help cover Chapter 12 expenses and bills from Young Eagle rallies and internet fees. Details on how to join or can be found on the Tab to the left -- Join or Renew Membership.

Young Eagles Rally - Pearland Regional Airport - March 4th

We had an excellent Young Eagles Rally at Pearland Regional Airport. Thanks to all our pilots, ground crews, and the folks at the Airport FBO, who allowed us to use their facility. We had excellent weather for the nineteen youth who received a free orientation flight. Our next YE Rally will be May 6th at the Lone Star Flight Museum on Ellington Airport (Sign up at YEday.org will open by mid April 2023).

Approval of Alternative Task Based Phase One

Resulting from a multiyear sustained advocacy effort by EAA, on February 2nd the FAA published its guidelines for an optional task-based Phase I flight testing program. The program will primarily be an alternative to the standard 25 or 40-hour flight testing requirement for amateur-built aircraft, replacing the hours-based test period with a list of tasks to complete. When the tasks are complete and the aircraft is shown to operate as expected, and an Aircraft Operating Handbook (AOH) is created, the aircraft can exit the Phase I flight testing period.

The new guidance is housed in the recently updated Advisory Circular (AC) 90-89C, the Amateur-Built Aircraft and Ultralight Flight Testing Handbook. This is a wide-ranging document that the FAA first developed in partnership with EAA in 1989. The task-based program itself is found in Chapter 2 of the AC, beginning on pages 2-3. Link to EAA Article on the Topic

Transition to Unleaded Aviation Fuel

The FAA approved General Aviaton Modifications Inc. (GAMI) Unleaded high octane Aviation Fuel (G100UL) for all spark ignited piston engines on the first of Sep 2022. G100UL can be mixed in any ratio with existing 100LL without limitation. Each certified aircraft will need a Supplemental Type Certification (STC) from GAMI, which will involve some paperwork and stickers for the aircraft. AvFuel, a major distributor of aviation fuel will assist in the roll out of this new fuel. Since some airports in California have already prohibited the sale of leaded aviation fuel, they will be a priority for G100UL distribution. The fuel will cost more (50-90 cents per gallons) especially while it is produced in small quantities. However, there are expected savings due to less frequent oil changes and spark plug mx. Swift Fuels expects to have its 100R unleaded fuel certified in early 2023. Swift currently sells unleaded 94 octane at select airfields around the U.S.  AOPA's Flying Magazine has a good summary of the topic: Getting the Lead Out..

FAA Experimental Aircraft LODA Rescinded

Following a court case early last year, the FAA required that every Experimental Aircraft obtain a Letter of Deviation Authorization (LODA) to allow flight instruction in an Experimental aircraft, even when the aircraft was owned or borrowed by the student. This was contrary to common practice for over 50 years. Congress directed the FAA to change this policy in the recently passed National Defense Authorization Bill signed by the President. Net Effect: you can get instruction or take a checkride in your own Experimental Aircraft (whether the instructions is free or for a fee).

FAA Extends the Requirement to Reregister Aircraft to 7 Years

At one time, Aircraft were registered with the FAA for an indefinite period (no expiration date). However, in 2010 the FAA changed to requiring each aircraft owner to renew their aircraft registration every three years. This burdensome requirement has been modified per FAA request to every seven years. Every aircraft with a valid registration is extended from three to seven years unless an event or circumstance necessitates a new registration being submitted prior to the expiration of the certificate. (Due to the backlog of pending reregistration requests, aircraft owners may fly their aircraft up to 12 months past the renewal date.)

Chapter 12 Officers (For 2022 & 2023)

Hal Getzelman – President, Denver Hopkins – Vice President, LD Stevenson – Secretary, John Jordan – Treasurer, David Braun – Young Eagles Coordinator, Carl Martin – VMC Coordinator, David Forster – Tech Counselor.

Chapter Tool Crib

The Chapter Tool Crib is up and running for our current Chapter Members. Thru the generosity of our members, who have made their own tools available or via chapter owned tools, you may find a seldom used tool for loan that can help with your aircraft build. (See the menu to the left for the a list of tools and the process to check them out.)

Future Gatherings:

- Thursday,May 11th, 6:00 PM @ Lone Star Flight Museum, Arne Aamodt will discuss his flight to Alaska in his homebuilt aircraft.

VMC Club:

The VMC club meeting will be at the beginning of the chapter meeting at 6 PM. Please feel free to join us as I am sure we will have another lively discussion on how best to fly under Visual Meteorological Flight Conditions. An actual flight scenario is presented and members contribute their thoughts as we iterate to a best technique to resolve the situation.

Upcoming “Local” Events:

EAA Homebuilders Week January 23-27, 2023:   Homebuilders Week series of Online Seminars will return  the last week of January. The virtual presentations are open, free of charge to everyone interested in building aircraft. Registration is required and space is limited. Updated schedule and presentation information is available at  Homebuilders Week

The Lone Star Flight Museum is open, Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 AM to 5 PM and Sunday Noon to 5 PM. The museum includes programs for all ages, with hands-on displays and simulators for future pilots and historical exhibits for all patrons. Their Redbird MX2 motion simulator can be used to log instrument time with a CFI.

MEMBER NEWS

AVIATION JOBS

As noted in prior e-mails, the aviation professional shortage is a real thing and recruiters are looking for people be on the lookout if you are interested. We will advise if we get any leads, but please forward us if you are looking for people! In the past year, we have had guest speakers from Texas Southern University in Houston and Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches about their undergraduate aviation programs.

FOR SALE

Do you need some artistry for your Aircraft Paint Job? 

Chuck Coupland of Coupland Signs 118 S. 5th Street, La Porte, TX 77571 has produced some excellent airbrushed artwork that were reproduced as decals for local EAA aircraft.

If you have any aviation items to sell please send me a simple pdf document to president@eaa12.org with a description and your contact info so we can add it to this section. We will post it here for 3 months unless you contact us requesting it to be extended or removed.

BUILDER / VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Do you have a project where you need some extra volunteer help or just want to convey some knowledge, let us know and we can put out a call.

The Rutan Aircraft Flying Experience (RAFE) is restoring several aircraft that were designed by Burt Rutan. You maybe familiar with one of his more popular designs, the LongEZ. They are looking for volunteers to help. You may find out more and volunteer here: RAFE Volunteer

HAVE NEWS TO SHARE or Update on Your Project?

Please send us your airplane/project/flying photos, your news, for-sales, and other items of interest to Chapter 12 members and friends. For events or news, please advise at least two weeks in advance so we can get it in the general news e-mail.