Today, at the International Council of Air Shows ICAS) annual convention, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Aviation Events Specialist (NAES), Susan Gardner, announced upcoming changes to FAA regulatory policy and guidance.
Among those changes are much anticipated and, long sought by the IAC, significant modifications to aerobatic practice area (APA) guidance found in FAA Order 8900.1,Volume 3, Chapter 5.
With the issuance of new, revised FAA guidance, expected in early 2013, we may anticipate the following:
1. Elimination of the 500' APA floor restriction encountered during 2012. (Effective immediately and revised waivers are presently being issued to affected waiver applicants.)
2. APA waiver maximum term extended to three (3) years.
3. For ninety-five percent (95%) of APA waiver applicants, it is anticipated that, when the final policy is published, Environmental Assessment (EA) will no longer be required.
At AirVenture, earlier this year, IAC once again renewed our requests to the FAA in this regard. It was also at AirVenture this year that newly returned FAA National Aviation Events Specialist, Ms. Sue Gardner, called together representatives of both ICAS and IAC to begin working together to address these, and other, important issues, all vital to our sport.
We appreciate the patience of our members, and are very appreciative of the efforts and hard work of the FAA, and of all involved. We will continue to work with our friends at the FAA in the coming days to craft revised guidance documents, and to train both waiver applicants and FAA personnel relative to these upcoming changes.
Dr. W. B. Finagin
National Representative
IAC Government Relations Committee
