Wings, Wheels and Water

EXPERIMENTAL CATEGORY AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT TOTALS CONTINUE FALLING TREND

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EXPERIMENTAL CATEGORY AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT TOTALS CONTINUE FALLING TREND

EAA safety efforts contribute to steady decline while flight hours increase

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (December 26, 2018) — Fatal accidents in experimental category aircraft, including amateur-built aircraft, continued their decline during the Federal Aviation Administration’s 2018 fiscal year that ended September 30, falling to historic lows.

For the 12-month period from October 1, 2017, to September 30, 2018, fatal accident totals for the experimental category overall, including amateur-built aircraft, racing aircraft, those used for exhibit only, research-and-development, and some types of light-sport aircraft, dropped for the fourth straight year. Total fatal accidents fell two percent, to 44, during the 12-month measurement period ending September 30, 2018. The final figures are nearly 14 percent below the FAA’s “not-to-exceed” goal of 51 fatal accidents for that period.

This continues an improving trend of lower fatal accident totals, even with increasing flight hour totals according to FAA data. Since 2015, the FAA has set successfully lower not-to-exceed targets for experimental category aircraft, from 64 in 2015 to 51 this past fiscal year.

“The FAA has challenged our community by lowering the not-to-exceed goal by nearly 20 percent since 2015, but we have met and surpassed that goal. These are historic lows for fatal accident in amateur-built and experimental category aircraft,” said Sean Elliott, vice president of Advocacy and Safety for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). “In addition, the FAA in 2010 challenged the aviation community to reduce the accident rate by 10 percent over the next decade. We are proud to say through a focus on safety, that goal was reached in just eight years, two years earlier than anticipated.”

Elliott noted that the overall fatal accident numbers remain much lower than other recreational pursuits, such as paddle sports, skiing and snowboarding, and driving all-terrain vehicles. 

EAA has worked closely with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board on recommendations to reduce fatal accidents, including through participation in the FAA General Aviation Joint Steering Committee that EAA co-chairs. The EAA focus has also included the newly released EAA Flight Test Manual for amateur-built aircraft; the Founder’s Innovation Prize competition that seeks innovations to reduce loss-of-control accidents in amateur-built aircraft; and use of an additional safety pilot during initial flight testing in amateur-built aircraft.

“These efforts build upon EAA’s longstanding Technical Counselor and Flight Advisor programs, and additional safety materials in EAA’s flagship Sport Aviation magazine,” Elliott said. “Further reducing the accident totals is a continuing challenge, but one that is foremost as part of EAA’s mission to grow participation in aviation.”

About EAA

EAA embodies the spirit of aviation through the world’s most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA’s 219,000 members and 900 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building and restoring recreational aircraft. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or go to www.eaa.org. For continual news updates, connect with www.twitter.com/EAA.

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EAA Press Release

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PENNEY, DIACHUN JOIN EAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PENNEY, DIACHUN JOIN EAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Each individual brings unique, extensive aviation background to EAA board leadership

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin— (December 12, 2018) — Heather Penney and Ben Diachun, who each have extensive aviation experience and recreational aviation interests, have recently been added to the Experimental Aircraft Association board of directors. They were approved as Class III directors for EAA and will serve one-year renewable terms on the EAA board.

“We are grateful that Heather and Ben have accepted our invitations to join EAA’s board, whose members volunteer their time and expertise to lead our association as we pursue our mission of growing participation by sharing The Spirit of Aviation,” said Jack J. Pelton, EAA CEO and chairman of the board. “Their passion for flight and experience in the aviation community will help represent the wide spectrum of interests among the entire EAA membership.”

Penney (EAA 1266991) was part of the first wave of women who went directly to piloting military fighters after pilot training. A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, she flew F-16s for 10 years and is best known for her duty over Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001. Penney also directed various U.S. Air Force programs for Lockheed Martin for more than a decade, and is now a senior resident fellow for the Mitchell Institute forAerospace Studies at the Air Force Association.

Penney has more than 3,300 hours off light time and remains very active in recreational flying, having flown a Taylorcraft BC-12 coast-to-coast and raced jets at the Reno National Championship Air Races. She currently owns and flies a PT-17 Stearman and a1950 Cessna 170A.

Diachun (EAA 424842) is president of Scaled Composites, LLC in Mojave, California, the legendary company founded by Burt Rutan. Diachun began at Scaled Composites in 2003 as a design engineer and has held key technical and leadership roles on such historic aircraft projects as Space Ship One and Space Ship Two, Global Flyer, and the Model 401 advanced research aircraft. He was part of the team that in 2005 received the Robert J.Collier Trophy for the development of Space Ship One.

Diachun earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and a Master of Science degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University. He holds a commercial pilot certificate with instrument and multi-engine ratings.

About EAA

EAA embodies The Spirit of Aviation through the world’s most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA’s 219,000 members and 900 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building and restoring recreational aircraft. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or go to www.eaa.org. For continual news updates, connect with www.twitter.com/EAA.

Improve fuel efficiency

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How can I improve my boats fuel efficiency?

To help improve the fuel efficiency of any boat make sure to inspect the engine and components, checking to see if they are working at their peak capacity.  That means the air filters or spark arrestors are clean and in good condition. Spark plugs should be cleaned or replaced (if their condition is questionable) and adjusted correctly. Fuel filters and water separators should also clean or replaced along with any worn or damaged hoses, belts, wires or cables.  The better the engine runs the better your fuel efficiency. 

fuel efficiency

It is also very important that you have the correct propeller on your boat.  The wrong propeller can over “rev” your engines burning too much fuel for the speeds and performance achieved.  To much pitch can do the opposite and put too much load on the engine.  Too much load will make the engine work harder than necessary and burn too much fuel for the performance.  Besides reduced fuel economy there is a risk of damage to the engine. 

It is also important to make sure the boat hull is clean and free of barnacles, algae or scum buildup.  Anything that sticks out from the hull surface can reduce the performance of the boat hull and reduce the fuel economy. 

Owners that have access to the exterior of their boat can regularly clean, polish and wax the hulls to reduce drag and increase performance. If your boat spends its life moored, you should have the hull regularly cleaned and refinished with an anti fouling paint.  Depending on the water conditions and your hulls anti fouling protection, this can be a once a every few years or once a year project.

Many companies sell products to reduce growth and build up.  Look for a product that is appropriate for your hull material and gives long life and low cleansing speeds.  If the cleansing speeds are too high, some vessels will never be able to take advantage of the cleaning action while moving.

What ever brand you use, make sure it is suitable for your boat and for the environment.  Look for an anti fouling treatment that last awhile. Cleaning and painting the bottom of any boat is a time consuming job.  The better the material works and the longer it lasts better your fuel economy.