Category Archives: FAA

BIRD? PLANE? IT’S JETMAN AT EAA AIRVENTURE 2013!

Posted on by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BIRD? PLANE? IT’S JETMAN AT EAA AIRVENTURE 2013!

First public U.S. flights will be in Oshkosh

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. — (May 2, 2013) — Yves “Jetman” Rossy, the world’s first jet-powered man, will make his first public U.S. flights this summer at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, showcasing the cutting edge of human flight at The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration on July 29-August 4.

The U.S. flights are supported by Jetman’s sponsor, the luxury Swiss watch manufacturer Breitling. Complete details on the AirVenture flight schedule will be announced as it is finalized. Along with the appearance at Oshkosh, Jetman will fly in the U.S. at the Reno Air Races in September.

“We have eagerly followed and supported Jetman’s progress and success for several years,” said Jim DiMatteo, EAA’s vice president of AirVenture features and attractions. “He has already been featured as our cover story in EAA Sport Aviation magazine (March 2011), so to welcome him here this summer is an exciting first and part of the unique flying world you’ll see only at Oshkosh.”

The American tour follows Jetman’s successful private flight over the Grand Canyon in 2011 and numerous demonstrations in Europe. EAA assisted Rossy with the paperwork to make the U.S. flights possible.

“I am excited to share my project with fellow enthusiasts and be a part of aviation’s biggest gathering in the world,” Rossy said from his home in Switzerland. “EAA helped me secure the experimental exhibition special airworthiness certificate for my jetwing. It will be a privilege to attend Oshkosh and demonstrate how experimental projects can push forward the boundaries of flight.”

Using a carbon-Kevlar jetwing with four engines, each of which capable of a 22-kilogram thrust, the Swiss aviator is able to propel himself through the sky at upward of 150 mph, controlled by a simple throttle in his hand. The rest of the controls are left to the human fuselage – Rossy himself – who simply uses his shoulders, body, and legs to steer, pitch, and descend. This forward-thinking technology has allowed Rossy to achieve many outstanding feats since 2008, including soaring above Rio de Janeiro, completing aerobatics from the Breitling Orbiter balloon, crossing the English Channel and flying in formation with various Breitling jets, warbirds and passenger aircraft.

For Breitling, a watch brand synonymous with aviation, both the Oshkosh and Reno events are a natural fit to celebrate the past, present, and future world of flight. The watch manufacturer joined Jetman as his main sponsor in 2010 and allowed him to achieve many aviation firsts.

“Breitling is honored to bring Jetman back to the United States,” said Breitling U.S.A. President Thierry Prissert. “His aerobatic feats exemplify the spirit of aviation, and his never-ending dedication to air exploration enhances each event in which he performs. Jetman in flight is truly incredible and something everyone should see for themselves.”

Jetman’s flights will be part of AirVenture’s air shows during the week. EAA AirVenture air shows are presented by Rockwell Collins.

About EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” and EAA’s yearly membership convention. Additional EAA AirVenture information, including advance ticket and camping purchase, is available online at www.airventure.org. EAA members receive lowest prices on admission rates. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or visit www.eaa.org. Immediate news is available at www.twitter.com/EAAupdate.

 

Senate Committee Proposes 65 Percent Fuel-Tax Hike

Posted on by

More fuel taxes….I guess its better than user fees!

Reprinted from AVWEB 

The Senate finance committee approved a plan to hike the taxes on general aviation jet fuel by 65 percent, from 21.8 cents per gallon to 35.9 cents, The Hill reported on Tuesday. The change would raise $400 million per year, which the committee says will help fund NextGen, the FAA’s plan to modernize the air traffic control system. The committee also approved a surcharge of 14.1 cents per gallon on jet fuel used by fractional aircraft. Fuel taxes have been supported as a better option than user fees by most aviation advocacy groups. “In the last two Congresses, AOPA and its members agreed to 25 percent and 65 percent increases on aviation gasoline and non-commercial jet fuel, respectively,” AOPA noted on Tuesday. “Our position really has not changed,” AOPA spokesman Chris Dancy told AVweb. “In 2007 and again in 2009, we and our members agreed to higher fuel excise taxes as a way to fund the FAA and NextGen in lieu of user fees.”

NBAA agreed that the committee’s plan is acceptable. “The business aviation community has long said that the best way for companies that rely on general aviation to help fund aviation system modernization is by building upon the proven and efficient general aviation fuel tax,” NBAA said in an e-mail to AVweb. “The bill approved by the Finance Committee today mirrors previous Congressional FAA reauthorization proposals supported by NBAA and the rest of the general aviation community, in that it makes adjustments to the fuel tax in lieu of new user fees for general aviation. The revenues raised through the fuel-tax increase will go to funding aviation system modernization; we welcome this legislation, and look forward to working with its supporters in Congress to ensure its final passage.” The full Senate is expected to continue its work on the FAA bill over the next week or so. The House Aviation Subcommittee also is holding hearings this week to hear from government officials and advocacy groups about FAA funding. After both the House and Senate have completed their bills, a final bill will be worked out. The current funding bill has been extended 17 times, and may have to be extended at least once more before a final bill is worked out, with a term of two to four years.

TSA search article reprinted from AVWEB.

Posted on by

Security Goes Down Under

Private aviation is looking better all the time, especially for those who like to travel in comfortable clothes. Separate reports from different parts of the country suggest the TSA is ready to get down and dirty in the name of security and is conducting full-contact pat-downs of passengers’ genitals and buttocks. Owen JJ Stone, a radio personality known as Ohdoctah, appeared on the Alex Jones talk show in Austin, Texas, Tuesday and said a TSA airport screener put his hand inside his sweat pants and ran it around the full circumference of his body, pausing at everything along the way. Meanwhile, in Orlando, a Missouri man wearing shorts had a similar experience. Stone said he was told it was a new rule that applied to those wearing baggy clothing. At many airports, the alternative is a full body scan, which is supposed to take a “for their eyes only” peek under the clothing of those who get the extra security treatment. Well, apparently some of those machines have hard drives that will save at least 35,000 images, as recent visitors to the federal courthouse in Orlando are discovering.

For whatever reason, U.S. Marshals saved the images, and they were available to Gizmodo via a freedom of information request. The images are remarkably low-resolution but they were nevertheless retained despite assurances by security officials that there is no way for the machines to store or transmit the pictures and that they are deleted as soon as the subject has been cleared.