Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/254584
SPECIALLY MODIFIED AIRCRAFT, originally created for Alaskan bush-pilot necessity, will be part of the Valdez STOL (short takeof and landing) fl ying activities at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014. Demonstrations featuring the un- matched capabilities of the airplanes that compete at the annual Valdez Fly-In & Air Show in May each year will be held several days at Oshkosh. More than a dozen of these aircraft, including home- built and specially modifi ed production airplanes, will be participating at AirVen- ture 2014. They are based on aircraft that provide supplies to the rugged and far- fl ung outposts throughout Alaska. The demanding terrain in that state requires that aircraft take of and land on rough runways often less than 500 feet long. Along with fl ying demonstrations dur- ing AirVenture's daily afternoon air show July 28 to 30, the Valdez STOL aircraft will stage a "fun fl ying" demonstration from the grass ultralight runway on Fri- day evening, August 1. In addition, the aircraft will be on display in special parking areas and on the main show- case ramp at Oshkosh, with pilots and builders part of forums and eve- ning programs through- out the week. Further details and schedules of the Valdez STOL aircraft activities will be announced as they are fi nalized. Visit www. AirVenture.org for additional in- formation, including advance ticket and camping purchases. Click here to see the Valdez STOL aircraft in action. Valdez STOL Aircraft to Showcase Unique Capabilities at EAA AirVenture 2014 EAA Experimenter 7 EAA WILL BE PARTICIPATING in the series of AOPA regional fl y-ins in 2014, providing attendees more opportunities to get involved in aviation and discover more about the many activities and pro- grams available through EAA. EAA's participation in the fly-in series was among the items finalized during the mid-December meeting between EAA and AOPA leadership in Oshkosh. AOPA will also in- crease its participation at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this summer. The complete schedule of EAA activities and outreach will be fi nalized in the coming weeks, but it will be part of the fl y-in series announced by AOPA at: San Marcos Municipal Airport, Texas (HYI) – April 26, 2014 Indianapolis Regional Airport, Indiana (MQJ) – May 31, 2014 Plymouth Airport, Massachusetts (PYM) – July 12, 2014 Spokane Felts Field, Washington (SFF) – August 16, 2014 Chino Airport, California (CNO) – September 20, 2014 Malcolm McKinnon Airport, Georgia (SSI) – November 8, 2014 EAA to Participate in AOPA Regional Fly-Ins THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY Board's (NTSB's) Top 10 Most Wanted List of Transportation Improvements for 2014 contains three major items for avia- tion safety: hazardous weather awareness, helicopter operations, and cockpit distractions. The Most Wanted List establishes the board's priorities and typically includes focus items from its areas of responsibility such as aviation, highways, maritime opera- tions, pipelines, and rail systems. Last year's list included "improving general aviation safety" as a major item, citing a GA accident rate that was "6 times higher than for small commuter operators and 40 times higher than for transport category operations." EAA responded to the call by expand- ing the role of the EAA Safety Committee, enlarging the safety article section in Sport Aviation, furthering development of the Type Club Coalition, and working with its chapters to encourage increased use of technical counselors and fl ight advisors for experimental amateur-built aircraft. The NTSB noted that a failure to rec- ognize or take appropriate steps to avoid hazardous weather is a "frequent cause or contributing factor" to GA accidents. The board also stated accident investiga- tions and safety studies in all modes of transportation underscore "the dangers of using portable electronic devices while operating a car, train, plane, or marine ves- sel." Helicopter operations were added to the list due to the "overwhelming growth and demand" for helicopter services. "Hazardous weather is a perennial caus- al factor in aviation accidents, and we agree with the NTSB that there is signifi cant work to be done in educating the pilot population in ways to avoid weather-related risks," said Sean Elliott, EAA vice president of Advo- cacy and Safety. "We will work closely with our safety committee, safety columnists, and chapter leaders to get the message out about how lack of knowledge and poor de- cision making related to weather contribute to what are very often preventable trag- edies—and more importantly, how to avoid those tragedies entirely." Three Aviation Areas on NTSB Most Wanted List Photography by Jim Koepnick E A A E X P _ F e b 1 4 . i n d d 7 EAAEXP_Feb14.indd 7 2 / 3 / 1 4 3 : 1 2 P M 2/3/14 3:12 PM