AOPA TFR page

[Davepar]

Anybody know why there are a bunch of TFRs missing from the AOPA TFR site?
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/notams.html

If you look at the FAA's list, it's much longer:
http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html

I was looking up the TFR on Mt St Helens in regards to the wallpaper of the month picture.

[gmcjetpilot]

Originally Posted by Davepar

Anybody know why there are a bunch of TFRs missing from the AOPA TFR site?
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/notams.html.

Don't bother if you are not an AOPA member. They hit you up for $40 or $60 for membership. I don't know but it seems AOPA spends most of theit time trying to get $dues$ and promoting themselves and Phil Boyer. G

[cmitchellfly]

Originally Posted by gmcjetpilot

Don't bother if you are not an AOPA member. They hit you up for $40 or $60 for membership. I don't know but it seems AOPA spends most of theit time trying to get $dues$ and promoting themselves and Phil Boyer. G

What.....your not an AOPA member?

[L.Adamson]

Originally Posted by gmcjetpilot

Don't bother if you are not an AOPA member. They hit you up for $40 or $60 for membership. I don't know but it seems AOPA spends most of theit time trying to get $dues$ and promoting themselves and Phil Boyer. G

I seem to recall the AOPA doing a whole lot more, than what you've listed above.

L.Adamson

[gmcjetpilot]

Originally Posted by L.Adamson

I seem to recall the AOPA doing a whole lot more, than what you've listed above.

L.Adamson

Please tell us. No seriously tell me, I would be glad to hear some real thing they did. I was a member for many years. I dropped them oh about 15 years ago. I heard a lot of talk from them. They will tell you they do a lot but what do they really do??????? The best thing I heard was a pilot who said he just got his medical back with the help of AOPA.

Aviation is highly regulated. The national security, commercial aviation, aerospace commerce and military will always prevail. The claim is AOPA protects our rights. I just see more restrictions and AOPA is ham tied, no fault of their own. Our rights to fly where granted well before AOPA where around, but AOPA often makes it sound like they invented flying.

Here is the latest Example:

Remember the Unmanned air vehicle (UAV) that crashed Tuesday monitoring the southern border. Well the FAA dropped the TFR on Wednesday for obvious reasons, it was not needed anymore. The TFR ran 300 NM from 14,000 ft to 16,000 ft. This is how the AOPA spins the story .......

"AOPA is pleased that the FAA has finally canceled the TFR, considering the fact that there are no operations being conducted in it at this time," said Andy Cebula, AOPA executive vice president of government affairs. "AOPA has been opposed to using flight restrictions to control UAV operations, and it's a shame that it took an accident to illustrate why TFRs are a bad idea."

(Huaa? I personally am for the border protection even if 300-nm stretch of airspace is cordoned off from 14,000 feet msl to 16,000 feet msl. AOPA takes credit because the UAV crashed and the FAA dropped the TFR?)

"In fact, this accident illustrates why UAV operations should not be conducted until these unmanned aircraft are certified to the same level of safety as manned aircraft. Just think that if a pilot had been flying legally under the TFR and the UAV hit the aircraft from behind and above ? the pilot would have had no chance to see and avoid the uncontrolled UAV."

(Again Huaaa? Again I want border security and planes with people flying them run into each other all the time, many times, year after year. They may make a point but it is so whinny I can't stand it. These are troubled times and I don't want any bad guys crawling across the borders with illegal immigrants who are just looking for work. Also there is no reason ATC can't monitor the UAV and alert the operator of other aircraft in the airspace, OR the UAV could have TCAS, Traffic Collision Alert System. They don't give out all the capabilities of a top secret weapon system. AOPA protecting us from UAV's, bravo! Go get'em Phil AOPA says so many dumb things I wounder if anyone who is in AOPA's employ are pilots. It is that or they try to drum up causes to justify their existence.)


HERE IS ANOTHER ONE
The airspace over Washington, D.C., will be pretty much shut down to GA operations from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Jan. 31, during President Bush's State of the Union address to Congress. AOPA says the restriction covers 3,000 square miles, and notes that airlines are not affected, and neither are cars and trucks, "which can get very close to the Capitol with much greater payload than a Cessna 172." AOPA is also not happy about a restricted area along 300 nm of the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona and New Mexico. The "temporary" restriction is in place now through Dec. 31.

I think in a time of war when most of washington DC is all in one place, outside extra precaustions need to be taken. Also even then they where whining about border protection. AOPA is most concerned about self preservation and expanding payroll. It's a business like any other. There are other organizations that support aviation that I belong to. EAA, ALPA and NAFI to name a few. You could start your own non-profit charter, RVPA, and become president. If it was me my starting salary would be $275,000/yr.

AOPA does a lot a whining and complaining but so what? When not whining, and their other breath, they tell you how groovy Phil is or hustle you for dues. Its the illusion of action? May be better than nothing but may be we need a better association.

GA was drastically affect after 9/11. At least the government is doing something. I don't think UAV's on the boarder takes my rights away or is unreasonably unsafe. Are there restrictions? Sure but for USA pilots we live in a Country that has aviation freedom without compare, second to none. We are pretty lucky.

If AOPA gets people's medicals back, than good for them. However claims of "AOPA doing a whole lot more", make me ask, I would love to see it. I think they are ineffectual and too self promoting for my taste.

There are other Aviation organizations to belong to. Surprisingly the US Federal and local state Government supports aviation very well and AOPA has NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. It is mass federal funds that we enjoy so many airports with great facilities. We can complain about FAA or ATC but they are still the world leader. We have more in this country than anywhere and AOPA wants you to believe it would go away tomorrow without them.

I would like to hear about rule making that AOPA actually, really, truly changed, not something they just took credit for. If everyone canceled their AOPA membership nothing would change. With that said, I am glad all you AOPA members are keeping the sky free for the rest of us slackers. I just think AOPA members should demand more from AOPA, get a new president more often than once in 25 years. Last AOPA is just plan ignorant about experimental aircraft. I don't want to be part of a group that ignores homebuilts so they don't anger Cessna and Piper. I could be wrong. But after 10 years that is what I saw and heard of late from the gent I mentioned who was selling homebuilts and was told by the AOPA adviser to PART IT OUT. That is idiotic hysteria based on NO legal precedence.

George

[rv8ch]

Originally Posted by gmcjetpilot

GA was drastically affect after 9/11. At least the government is doing something. I don't think UAV's on the boarder takes my rights away or is unreasonably unsafe. Are there restrictions? Sure but for USA pilots we live in a Country that has aviation freedom without compare, second to none. We are pretty lucky.

If my comments start getting too political, I hope Doug deletes them. I'll try to restrain myself.

I'm not sure if you are kidding or not in your comment about the government doing something. I can't believe someone of your intelligence would believe that restricting GA aircraft is making anyone safer. Just "doing something" to be seen as taking some action, even if it is useless, does not earn kudos in my opinion. Perhaps to be seen as "doing something", the government should have banned the production, distribution, and sale of box cutters. That would have prevented any future attacks, right? Perhaps, since it seems like the aircraft used in the attacks were large airliners, the government should have banned all aircraft over 12,000 lbs from US airspace. Now THAT would have at least been logicial!

Originally Posted by gmcjetpilot

I would like to hear about rule making that AOPA actually, really, truly changed, not something they just took credit for.

I think you're not aware of how things work in Washington. My belief is that without the AOPA, our rights to fly our small aircraft would be severely restricted or eliminated altogether. You see, everything in DC is based on money or pressure. If you have lots of money, then the politicians either pass laws to help your business, give you taxpayer handouts, undercut your competitors, allow you to collude with your competitors, or at a minimum don't pass laws that hurt you. Without the AOPA in DC putting pressure on politicians, we would have lost more than we already have. No, we have not gained much, if at all, you are right. However, in today's environment of pay to play, not losing is winning for us.

I'm really not sure how the AOPA does as much as they do with the budget they have, and the relatively small number of constituents, but I commend them, and I'm happy to pay my dues.

[DeltaRomeo]

Originally Posted by gmcjetpilot

...[snip]...There are other organizations that support aviation that I belong to. EAA, ALPA and NAFI to name a few. You could start your own non-profit charter, RVPA, and become president. ...[snip]...

Hey, guess who owns www.RVOPA.org? You never know what the future will bring, so I parked that one some time back.

I'm enjoying this good debate regarding the merits/accomplishments of various organizations. I often marvel and how much text some of you guys can generate. I appreciate everyone keeping it so civil also. Thanks again for that.

Best always,
Doug

[flybill7]

AOPA is not as effective at having restrictions on GA removed and saving airports as I'd like them to be. My Citabria is based within the Washington D.C. ADIZ and someday my RV-7 will be, and the ADIZ nonsense has been going on for 2+ years now with no end in sight. That said, AOPA is up on capitol hill fighting for GA rights, and I suspect things would be worse for GA without them. They are a voice and a presence on the hill for GA. How effective they are is hard to say. It's incredibly difficult to get anything done in this era of big government. Of course, if you can rally millions of people, it appears you can get anything you want.

... Bill

[Dgamble]

Two words: User Fees.

Who else will stand up to the airlines and defend our right to participate in the system?

I fear (maybe incorrectly, maybe not, but who wants to find out the hard way?) that without some form of GA lobbying group, whether it be AOPA or something else, the ATC system will become akin to the mess they have in Canada, Australia, and Europe. Giving the airlines free rein over the ATC system will greviously harm GA, IMHO.

[dmaib]

I consider the $39 (?) I spend on my annual membership to AOPA one of the few real bargains in aviation.
I can tell you that AOPA is well known on Capitol Hill. An organization that can generate thousands of letters from members to Congress on short notice, gets noticed by politicians who are primarily interested in getting votes for the next election. AOPA is not up there with the NRA or AARP, but they are a well known and powerful voice for GA in Washington.
That, coupled with their flight planning software, weather, medical department, legal, etc. are the reasons I consider the price of membership a bargain.

David