• EAA Opposes NTSB Proposal for Airworthiness Directive on Landing Gear
• Smith Named EAA Airventure Museum Director
• NAFI Introduces Expanded Insurance Plan and Benefits for Flight Instructors
  
• EAA Member to Send Reports from International Space Station
• 767 Pilot in Command

EAA, The Leader in Recreational Aviation, is joining Cessna Aircraft in opposition of a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendation for repetitive landing-gear inspections on a large number of Cessna Aircraft 100-series models.

The NTSB recommendation, approved on a narrow 3-2 vote, asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to create an Airworthiness Directive requiring those inspections on all tail-wheel Cessna 170, 180, 185, 190 and 195 models. EAA and Cessna maintain that the proposed inspections, which would include removal of the airplane's spring struts and use of expensive dye penetrant techniques, are an overreaction.

"EAA does not believe there is a real-life safety issue here," said Earl Lawrence, EAA Vice President of Government and Industry Relations. "NTSB ignored many realities of general aviation with its recommendation. The airplane that prompted the proposal was a high-time airframe, operating in unique conditions, and doesn't reflect the overwhelming majority of operations. This recommendation goes overboard, urging unnecessary inspections which will create financial burdens."

NTSB's recommendation came from a September 1999 accident near Delta Junction, Alaska, when the landing gear on a Cessna 185 collapsed as the ski-equipped airplane landed on an unimproved glacier surface. The aircraft nosed over, causing injuries to two people as well as substantial damage to the airplane.

EAA agrees with Cessna's assessment that the accident and similar incidents - 16 since 1984 - occurred on airplanes operating in unique conditions. Cessna's maintenance guidelines for these aircraft currently recommend a 1,000-hour or three-year visual inspection of the main landing gear mounts.

"It appears to us, as far as the incidents are concerned, the problems are with airplanes operating in back areas like Alaska," said Marilyn Richwine, Cessna's Vice President-Corporate Communications. "We think there is a reason for the incidents that are happening. Nine out of 10 of the incidents were in Alaska, on airplanes fitted with skis or tundra tires."

Lawrence added that the situation is an opportunity for FAA to utilize the Airworthiness Concern Process, established with EAA input specifically to deal with such matters. The Airworthiness Concern Process allows FAA to gather information from aircraft owners in similar situations, then determine what type of guidance or regulation may be necessary.

"If there is a problem, let's use FAA's own process to determine what it is and what the best solution is to enhance safety," Lawrence said. "NTSB's recommendation, as proposed, is too sweeping and may actually not help pinpoint an exact cause for these accidents."

EAA, The Leader in Recreational Aviation, is an international association with 170,000 members and more than 975 local Chapters. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or explore EAA's World Wide Web site www.eaa.org.

Adam Smith, whose extensive museum and aviation experience includes five years as Curator at the National Museums of Scotland, has been named Director of the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh.

In his previous position, Smith was responsible for the operation and development of Scotland's national museum of aviation, which contained more than 50 historic aircraft and a collection of 30,000 aviation-related items. At the EAA AirVenture Museum, he will direct staff and programs involved with more than 100 display aircraft, plus numerous programs and activities.

"The EAA AirVenture Museum is in excellent hands with Adam Smith," said Greg Anderson, Executive Vice President of the EAA Aviation Foundation. "His experience, enthusiasm and international perspective will bring exciting, new ideas to the extraordinary potential of our museum displays and activities."

The Museum of Flight within the National Museums of Scotland is the only national museum in the United Kingdom that deals with every aspect of flight and how it has impacted society. As curator for the facility, Smith helped build attendance from 26,000 yearly visitors in 1996 to 87,000 in 2000, making the museum the fasting-growing visitor attraction in Scotland.

Smith was instrumental in establishing the Festival of Flight, which in three years became Scotland's largest civilian air show. The event earned the museum a Scottish Thistle Award - the nation's highest tourism award - in 1999, marking the first time a museum was honored in the more than 80 previous winners of the award.

In addition, Smith guided several significant projects for the museum, including a $5 million program and fundraising campaign; restorations of a Supermarine Spitfire and a Bristol Blenheim; installation of environmental monitoring systems for the facility; and digitalization of key museum records, among other projects.

"I was attracted to EAA by the world-class reputation of the museum and the organization," Smith said. "It has many similarities to the Museum of Flight in Scotland - both places tell the entire story of flight and a have very strong educational mission at the heart of their work. I'm looking forward to bringing my own training, skills and experience, as well as my love of history, to the EAA AirVenture Museum."

Smith received a bachelor's degree in modern history from the University of Leeds in England, with special emphasis on World War I. He did postgraduate work at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, focusing on theory and practice of Museum operations. Smith was active in the Guild of Aviation Artists and with tourism boards in Scotland. In 1998, he was presented to Queen Elizabeth II as a national "Young Achiever" in the field of museums.

Smith holds a Private Pilot certificate and is part-owner of a Piper L-4 Cub. Smith also has aircraft building experience, having assisted on a Starduster Too project.

The EAA AirVenture Museum is located just off Highway 41 at the Highway 44 exit in Oshkosh. The Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, call the EAA AirVenture Museum at (920) 426-6108.

The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) is helping meet the needs of flight instructors who are facing increasing difficulty obtaining liability insurance coverage with the introduction of the expanded NAFI Instructors' and Master CFI Insurance Plan.

This plan, administered by Falcon Insurance Agency Inc. of Austin, Texas, is available to all NAFI-member instructors as well as NAFI Master Instructors. It is also available to NAFI members who are Designated Pilot Examiners, an underserved group of instructors that has faced extreme obstacles finding insurance coverage in the past.

"There has been a great deal of visibility recently regarding the difficulty or inability of flight instructors to obtain sufficient insurance coverage at reasonable rates," said Sean Elliott, NAFI Executive Director. "NAFI is doing something about it by joining with Falcon Insurance and creating a plan with expanded coverage for the same rates as previous plans. We appreciate Falcon's personal attention to the needs of flight instructors and very pleased to offer this program to NAFI members."

The expanded plan offers liability protection for bodily injury and property damage not only during dual flight instruction, but also after instruction has been given. In addition, the policy provides automatic coverage for legal defense in case of a pilot certificate enforcement or civil penalty action taken by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) against a NAFI member.

NAFI members can also purchase physical damage liability coverage for the aircraft in which instruction is given. This additional coverage provides payment for the first $1,000 of the owner deductible, regardless of fault, and protects instructors against subrogation by the aircraft owner's insurance company.

"Flight instructors accept many responsibilities in their role as aviation teachers," Elliott said. "NAFI members, in particular, make a deep personal commitment to the knowledge and professionalism necessary to be an effective instructor or examiner. We are especially pleased that Falcon Insurance has committed to insuring these teachers as professionals, and has specifically dedicated some of their personnel to the NAFI Insurance Plan."

As part of the plan, NAFI Master Instructors receive significant discounts for insurance premiums as recognition of their professional status. The Master Instructor status is earned and renewed through a rigorous process of continuing education, professional development and involvement in the aviation community. The program allows flight instructors to enhance their abilities as both pilots and educators.

For more information on the NAFI Instructors' and Master Instructor Insurance Plan, contact Falcon Insurance at 800-880-2727 or at PO Box 92409, Austin TX 78709-2409.

Falcon Insurance Agency Inc. is one of the largest independently owned aviation insurance specialists in the country, and for more than 20 years has covered the insurance needs of the aviation community.

NAFI was founded in 1967 and is dedicated to raising and maintaining the professional standing of flight instructors throughout the nation, as well as providing a safe and effective learning situation for students. In addition, NAFI initiates education and support programs throughout the aviation industry. The organization affiliated with EAA in May 1995.

More information is available through NAFI's World Wide Web site www.nafinet.org.

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