[JYO] AOPA seeks extensions for instrument proficiency, aircraft inspections, flight r

AOPA seeks extensions for instrument proficiency, aircraft inspections, 
flight reviews

10/12/01 3:49:03 PM, ET — Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has asked 
FAA's Flight Standards Division to ease selected rules in FAR Parts 61 and 91 
governing recent IFR experience, flight reviews, aircraft inspections, 
flight-instructor certificate renewals and ground-instructor requirements. 
AOPA is asking for extensions for people caught inside enhanced Class B 
airspace or serving overseas military duty. This would be in addition to 
FAA's extension to Nov. 30, 2001, of aeronautical-knowledge test scores that 
expired on Sept. 30, as requested by AOPA.

"We believe that granting these requests is vital and necessary to the 
overall robustness and continued excellent safety record of the general 
aviation fleet. We also feel that it is simply the right thing to do in light 
of the unprecedented airspace restrictions and recent military action," said 
Andrew V. Cebula, AOPA senior vice president for government and technical 
affairs, in the letter of request to FAA.

AOPA seeks relief in FAR 61.56 for any pilot affected by the enhanced Class B 
(ECB) or Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) airspace whose flight review 
expired on or after Sept. 30, 2001. The due date would be extended through at 
least Nov. 30, 2001, and the FAA would concurrently allow VFR training for a 
flight review until Nov. 30. Pilots serving overseas would have 30 days to 
complete a flight review after returning from duty.

Additional relief sought under FAR 61.56 would automatically grant individual 
exemptions through at least Jan. 31, 2002, for pilots affected by ECB and 
TFRs to fly to an instructor's location for a flight review if those pilots 
could not meet the Nov. 30 extension.

Under FAR 61.57c regarding recent instrument flight experience, AOPA 
requested an extension of the instrument proficiency date to Nov. 31, 2001, 
for any pilot affected by ECB or TFR airspace who was unable to meet the 
requirement before or after Sept. 30. A pilot-in-command with a safety pilot 
aboard would be allowed to exit the airspace in visual conditions under an 
instrument flight plan to gain the requisite experience. Pilots serving 
overseas would have 30 days after returning to the U.S. to meet the 
requirements.

Aircraft maintenance regulations under Part 91 would also be eased for 
inspections and tests that were due on or after Sept. 11 and could not be 
completed due to airspace restrictions. AOPA sought a Nov. 30 deadline for 
annual and progressive inspections under FAR 91.409, exempting a ferry permit 
under certain conditions. The deadline would also apply to inspections and 
tests for altimeter-system and altitude-reporting hardware (under 91.411a) 
plus transponders (under 91.413a).

AOPA also requested an extension of the expiration date for flight instructor 
certificates that cannot be renewed after Sept. 30 because the pilots are out 
of the country serving in the military. The extension, applied to FAR 
61.197b, would be for at least 120 days after returning from overseas duty, 
and during that time the instructor could not provide flight instruction.

Finally, AOPA asked for a 120-day extension for ground-instructor 
recent-experience requirements in FAR 61.217 for those serving in the 
military. The extension would commence when the instructor returns from duty.

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