FAA

WISHY WASHY?

I never thought these two words would go together in the same genre. For years when the FAA came out with a policy there were no exceptions. Oh my how things have changed.

The FAA now has two policies on crossing runways and who you communicate with. Some airports you stay on ground frequency for all runway crossings, and some airports you start on ground, monitor tower to get clearance to cross and then go back to ground. One has to always listen carefully to ATC instructions, but in this case standardization has left the building.

The FAA has just come out with a new policy on runway crossings. However numerous airports have been given exemptions from this policy. Again one has to listen to ATC carefully in any situation.

These policies are not conducive to safety which is what the FAA is supposed to be all about. We need to have standardization from the FAA.

SSI’s are a problem nationwide. This is special use airspace for sporting events. They include football and baseball stadiums along with major race car tracks. The problem is one cannot ascertain what time these SSI’s are in effect. If you look at the screen on your GPS they are always there. It is almost impossible to find out what time an event occurs and this airspace restriction is in effect. I have put in a request with AOPA to work on this so we can be better informed.

I had the pleasure of attending my first Phoenix Aviation Users Group (PAUG) meeting yesterday. This meeting is held quarterly and is run by Phoenix TRACON. Represented at the meeting were TRACON, all tower managers, Luke Airforce Base, Deer Valley Pilots Association, Arizona Pilots Association, Airport Managers, AFTW, AOPA and NBAA. It is a laid back informal meeting that deals with airspace issues in the Phoenix area. I must say that in all my aviation meetings that I have attended over the past 40 years this was one of the best. It is a group that gets things done. PAUG meets on a quarterly basis, and I am looking forward to attending my next meeting.