IMC News Service

Garmin^® Introduces New Avionics for Experimental Aircraft

Olathe, KS - Garmin today announced seven new, affordable products for experimental and light sport aircraft that offer enhanced capabilities, reduced weight and simplified installation. Garmin’s new lower cost and lighter weight Air Data Attitude Heading Reference System (ADAHRS) and new Engine Indication System (EIS) interface module enable a significant reduction in the G3X price, with highly capable systems starting at $4,375*. In addition, Garmin has introduced new product options that bring enhanced capability to the G3X system including a fully integrated Garmin autopilot, an angle of attack probe and a remote mount ADS-B receiver.

“These new products are designed by our dedicated experimental engineering team, many of whom are pilots and homebuilders, and they have created the kind of smart, cost-friendly avionics that they want to have in their own aircraft,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin’s vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “With these product enhancements and new system options, we’re bringing unprecedented technology and capability to the amateur-built and light sport aircraft market at a remarkably affordable price, continuing our commitment to help enhance situational awareness.”

The FAA Will Begin A Four-Week Phased Closure Of The 149 ATC Towers

Washington, DC –The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reached the decision that 149 federal contract towers will close beginning April 7 as part of the agency’s sequestration implementation plan. The agency has made the decision to keep 24 federal contract towers open that had been previously proposed for closure because doing so would have a negative impact on the national interest.

“We heard from communities across the country about the importance of their towers and these were very tough decisions,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Unfortunately we are faced with a series of difficult choices that we have to make to reach the required cuts under sequestration.”

In early March, FAA proposed to close 189 contract air traffic control towers as part of its plan to meet the $637 million in cuts required under budget sequestration and announced that it would consider keeping open any of these towers if doing so would be in the national interest.

The national interest considerations included: (1) significant threats to national security as determined by the FAA in consultation with the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security; (2) significant, adverse economic impact that is beyond the impact on a local community; (3) significant impact on multi-state transportation, communication or banking/financial networks; and (4) the extent to which an airport currently served by a contract tower is a critical diversionary airport to a large hub.

The FAA will begin a four-week phased closure of the 149 federal contract towers beginning on April 7.

Man Impersonated A Pilot At Philadelphia Airport

Philadelphia, PA - A 60-year-old man from France was arrested Wednesday evening after trying to impersonate a pilot and taking a seat in the cockpit of a plane that was about to depart from Philadelphia. The man had a ticket for a US Airways flight to Palm Beach, FL. He was wearing a white Air France shirt and a black leather jacket with epaulets.

Once on board, the man entered the cockpit and sat down in the jump seat behind the captain's chair. When the copilot asked for some paperwork the man, who claimed he was a 747 pilot with Air France, was unable to produce.

The boarding attendant saw the man in the cockpit and together with the copilot told him to take his seat in the cabin and then they called Philadelphia police assigned to the airport.

Before he was taken into custody, he removed the epaulets from his jacket. Police recovered the epaulets, along with a counterfeit Air France crewmember identification card. He is expected to face federal charges Friday morning.

Coalition Of Flight Attendant Unions Enlists Passengers In No Knife Fight

Washington, DC – The Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions yesterday started a series of leafleting events at airports around the country to directly enlist passengers in the fight to keep knives out of the aircraft cabin. Leaflets encourage passengers to sign the petition to the White House at www.NoKnivesOnPlanes.com and call members of Congress to support legislation to overturn TSA Administrator Pistole’s abrupt policy change. The leaflet says:

“The new rule does not make sense for combating potential terrorist attacks nor the daily disturbances we handle by de-escalating conflicts or asking passengers to help us contain problems. Aircraft cabins are fuller than ever and Flight Attendant staffing has been cut. Introducing knives and other weapons into these situations makes our job harder and everyone in the cabin less safe.

It makes no sense to choose between guarding against a hostile take-over attempt and an explosive device. We need to ensure air travel is secured against all threats to our safety and security.

We believe the millions who travel expect to arrive safely - and it’s our job to ensure it. Join us in opposition to this short-sighted, dangerous change to aviation security.”

Piper Expands its Global Network - “…the exploding need for new pilots in the Asia-Pacific region”

Vero Beach, FL  - Piper Aircraft has dramatically increased its global sales reach with an unprecedented expansion of its dealer network in 2011 and 2012.

“Just in the past two years Piper has added dealers and agents in more than a dozen countries to our sales force, and now the team is positioned on every continent in the world and in most countries where there is a potential to sell new airplanes,” said Drew McEwen, Piper’s Head of Global Sales and Business Development.

Overall, Piper has 22 dealers covering the United States and 15 other countries in North America, Central America and South America. In addition, the company has 18 sales representatives covering 42 industrialized countries in the rest of the world, including EMEA and Asia-Pacific. Moreover, 50 Piper Authorized Service Centers are approved by the company to work on Piper aircraft in the Americas, and 30 more Piper Service Centers support aircraft throughout the rest of the world.

“Our intention is to blanket the world in every country where the economy will benefit from our economical line of M-Class, Twin-Class and Trainer Class Aircraft,” McEwen said. “With the exploding need for new pilots in the Asia-Pacific region Piper Aircraft is positioned to take full advantage of our single and twin-engine training aircraft’s ability to fulfill important pilot training requirements.”

More Job Cuts On The Way If The Dothan Tower Closes

Dothan, AL – Dothan Alabama Airport Administrators are hoping Dothan's tower is taken off the list of about a 170 airports that will have its ATC tower close because of federal budget cuts.  A team compiled of airport administrators along with city and county leaders filed an appeal with the Federal Aviation Administration last week. Monday was supposed to be the day they were notified about the status of the tower, but that didn't happen.

The FAA's decision will also determine if a new aviation company moves to the airport with a major economic deal that promises to bring hundreds of jobs.  Also, the military operation that's directly tied to Fort Rucker, Pensacola, and the Columbus Air Force brings training flights from those facilities as well.

The industrial development deal is a major concern for airport administrators. The aviation company would have brought some much-needed financial relief to the airport. While the Airport is trying to restore jobs lost, more cuts could be on the way if the tower closes.  Six air traffic controllers would automatically lose their jobs and two FAA technicians would be furloughed.

If the appeal is denied the tower would close on April 7th. 

Beechcraft: “The U.S. Air Force (…) concluded that America’s ‘best interest’ now rests on the shoulders of Brazil”

Wichita, KS – Beechcraft Corporation issued the following statement regarding the Administration overriding congressional review of the Light Air Support (LAS) contract for Afghanistan:

“When it comes to producing aircraft that will help Americans come home from Afghanistan, the U.S. Air Force today concluded that America’s “best interest” now rests on the shoulders of Brazil. This decision is very misguided. It will lead to the loss of American jobs and substantially higher costs to American taxpayers.

By invoking this override procedure to outsource American defense jobs, the definitions of national security and the protection of the U.S. aerospace industrial base have been turned upside down.  Moreover, the Air Force’s decision to bypass the normal GAO review process deprives the American taxpayer of transparent answers to legitimate and well-documented questions to what has been a very opaque LAS acquisition.

The correct decision would be to protect our national security interest by selecting the lower cost, American-made aircraft that the Air Force rated “Exceptional” and one that is built around an airframe, weapons and systems that are familiar to, and under the control of, the United States military.

Beechcraft will review its options, with the goal of helping protect U.S. best interests and the Afghanistan Air Force, to reverse this misguided action.”

Flight Attendants Union Coalition Launches Nationwide Opposition To Knives In Cabin

Washington, DC – The Flight Attendants Union Coalition, representing nearly 90,000 Flight Attendants at carriers across the country, is coordinating a nationwide legislative and public campaign to reverse the announcement from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that effective April 25, knives would be allowed in the aircraft cabin for the first time since 9/11. The Coalition will utilize a series of tactics to apply pressure, starting with a petition to the White House.

“Flight Attendants are outraged. We are the last line of defense in aviation security and time does not change the fact that we were among the first to die in a war we didn’t know we were fighting on September 11, 2001. At great cost, we know better today. There is no excuse for this.

“(…), our unions have received an overwhelming response of outrage from members and passengers across the country. This policy reversal is against the best interest of the security of crew and passengers in the aircraft cabin and we will stop at nothing to fight it. We encourage all those who agree and wish to join our growing coalition to sign the petition at www.NoKnivesOnPlanes.com

“(…) The continued ban on dangerous objects is an integral layer in aviation security and must remain in place.

“We will continue to oppose this dangerous approach to aviation security until the TSA reverses the decision and keeps knives and other dangerous objects out of the aircraft cabin and on the ground where they belong,” said leaders from the five unions.

Mike Goulian Appointed to the IMC Club’s Board of Directors

Norwood, MA -The IMC Club appointed an air show superstar and former United States Unlimited Aerobatic Champion, Mike Goulian, to its Board of Directors.

Michael Goulian, co-author of a series of books titled Basic and Advanced Aerobatics published by McGraw Hill, which became the industry standard for aerobatic flight training manuals is also a very experienced and devoted instrument pilot with over 7500 hours and over 500 of actual IMC.

Board meetings take place at Norwood Airport (Norwood, MA) quarterly and are held at the IMC Club International corporate offices.

Born in Winthrop, Massachusetts, Goulian is an American aviator, who has competed in aerobatic competition, flown air show displays, and has also raced in the Red Bull Air Race World Series. He was born into an aviation family, which founded Executive Flyers Aviation, one of the largest flying schools in the Northeastern United States in 1964. Michael's father Myron Goulian (also known as "Mike") was an FAA examiner. Michael learned to fly before he could even drive a car and soloed a Cessna 150 on his 16th birthday.

He began his aerobatic training in 1985 during his pilot study. He then established an aerobatic school within Executive Flyers Aviation. He worked his way toward the top ranks of air show display flying and competition aerobatics and became US National Champion in the Advanced Category at the age of 22. In 1995, he became the US National Champion in the Unlimited Category. He was a member of the US Aerobatic Team in 1994, 1996 and 1998.

“Many people might be surprised to know that I'm just as comfortable flying in the front of a Lear Jet or a King Air as I am performing at air shows in my Extra 330SC.

In the world of professional corporate flying and air shows, the safety culture is passed on through a mentor or a senior pilot who passes on their knowledge to a less experienced associate. The IMC Clubs rely on this atmosphere of constant learning which is a system that I truly believe makes for a safer and more well rounded pilot. It's an honor to join this organization as I feel it can make a significant impact on safety for pilots who want to utilize their aircraft on more than just beautiful VFR days" – said Mr. Goulian

Mike is one of only seven people to have been awarded all three of the air show industries most prestigious awards: the Art Scholl Memorial (2006) Showmanship Award, and the Bill Barber Award for Showmanship (2009), and the ICAS Sword of Excellence (2012). He is also a Lifetime Member of the IMC Club.

“I would like to welcome Mike as one of our newest Directors and extend my sincere appreciation for accepting our invitation to provide his knowledge and experience to further improve our outreach to the general aviation pilots for a purpose of improved proficiency and exchange of experience in instrument flying. Mike’s participation will allow us to gain yet another prospective from a very experienced aviator for the benefit of our members and safety of General Aviation” – said Radek Wyrzykowski, President of the IMC Club International, Inc.

Too often pilots finish their training and then become distracted and disengaged from the flying community. The result is a dangerous lack of proficiency and or the loss of support to the flying community as a whole. IMC Club, through its nationwide chapters, provides organized “hangar flying” focused on building proficiency in IFR. Believing that safety and proficiency are developed through education and experience - monthly meetings use real world scenarios to engage members and allow them to share and build their experience. It’s the only organization of its kind.

TSA: New Knife Policy Will Stand Regardless The Opposition

Washington, DC - John Pistole, administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), told a House Homeland Security subcommittee that his decision will be carried out next month as planned. Small knives were banned following the 9/11 al Qaeda hijack attacks on the United States.

"I think the decision is solid and it stands," Pistole said. "I plan to move forward with it."

Some lawmakers supported Pistole and praised his efforts in leading the agency. "Why should the federal government devote taxpayer dollars to low-risk people, places, or things?" said Rep. Richard Hudson, R-North Carolina, the subcommittee's chairman.

Most critics challenge that even small pocket and other knives still pose too great a safety and security risk for airline crews, reminding that the 9/11 hijackers used box cutters to take control of four jetliners. The TSA decision is strongly opposed by Airline Pilots’ unions and Association of Flight Attendants.