Experimenter

April 2013

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.

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EAA Air Academy Among MSN's 10 Summer Camps Worth the Money EAA Air Academy summer camp programs have been recognized by MSN Money as one of 10 nationwide summer camps that are "worth the money," the website announced this week. Camps were chosen for not only keeping young people busy during the summer but giving them a chance to develop passions and expand their horizons. Since 1984, the Air Academy's weeklong series of camps have been designed to immerse young people ages 12 to 18 in the world of aviation. Campers are engaged through a variety of hands-on activities while staying at the EAA Air Academy Lodge in Oshkosh. Experienced aviation instructors help them delve into flight through studies, hands-on demonstrations, flight simulation, and other exciting activities. "Kids will explore aviation through technical and learning classrooms, as well as hands-on experiences that give them life skills," said Bob Campbell, EAA director of museum and museum education. "The camps are a week of nonstop excitement where fun and discovery combine for an experience that young people can find nowhere else." Twelve- to 13-year-olds are introduced to flight in the EAA Young Eagles Camp through small group activities taught by expert camp counselors. The EAA Basic Air Academy takes things to the next level, incorporating more hands-on projects and demonstrations for kids ages 14 to 15. Introductory recreational flight experiences highlight the actionpacked EAA Advanced Air Acad- emy Camp for 16- to 18-year-olds and give students full access to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh action throughout the week. Sessions for 2013 are currently full; any additional applicants will be added to a waiting list and notified on a first-come, first-served basis if a spot opens. A new camp added this summer is the EAA Advanced Air Academy/ SportAir, for kids ages 16 to 19. This camp places a strong emphasis on aircraft construction, primarily composite and fabric techniques. Air Academy enrollment is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and positions fill up quickly. For more information and to apply for a 2013 Air Academy camp program, visit www.YoungEagles.org/programs/airacademy. ELT Issue Heats Up – Again The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), at the urging of federal agencies with aeronautical search and rescue (SAR) responsibility, has proposed to prohibit the manufacture and sale of new 121.5-megahertz emergency locator transmitters (ELTs). These older ELTs have not been monitored by the SAR satellite system since 2009. For 20 years the SAR community has been pressing for a mandated change to 406-megahertz ELTs, a move that has been staunchly opposed by EAA and other aviation organizations. Even the FAA has been on record as recently as last year as not supporting such a mandate. In a meeting at the end of February between FCC personnel and GA representative organizations, it was made clear that not only did the FCC intend to ban the future manufacture and sale of new 121.5-megahertz ELTs, but that it was also contemplating an outright ban on the use of the older technology ELTs in the final rule, despite no mention of this in the proposal. The comment period was originally due to close on March 1, 2013, but EAA and several other associations petitioned for an extension, citing the need for more time to evaluate the impact of the proposal, particularly in light of the possibility of an outright ban on the use of 121.5-megahertz ELTs. The new comment period deadline was April 1. EAA and the GA community remain united in opposition to a mandated transition from 121.5-megahertz to 406-megahertz ELTs and are working to oppose this sweeping and veiled proposal. At the same time, EAA strongly encourages its members, when confronted with the need to repair or replace a 121.5-megahertz ELT, to do so with modern 406-megahertz or multiband ELTs that are being actively monitored by SAR. EAA will keep members updated on future rulings. EAA Experimenter 7

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