Jim's EAA Platform '05

[RST Engineering]

You all asked for it...here you go...(newsgroups flatten out subparagraph
indentation)




EAA Board of Directors 2005 Platform

Jim Weir, EAA 86698


1. I bring to this Board the experience of 3000+ flight and flight
instruction hours, restoring 3 classic aircraft from spinner to tailfeathers
as an A&P, IA, the founder and chief engineer of a 35 year old avionics
company dedicated to owner-built homebuilt aircraft electronics, and eight
years on the county elected board with the responsibility for a $100 million
budget, 800 employees, and 1000 square miles of land mass.


2. If I have a particular focus and passion, it is education. I note with
interest that EAA has established three entry-level education programs:

a. The Young Eagles program and website
b. EAA Air Academy
c. Aeroscholars.

i. One of the problems I note with these three programs is that they are
all reactive. That is, it requires effort on the part of the participant to
become involved. My thought would be to have a passive program geared to
the K-8 system that would involve aviation materials integrated into the
basic curriculum. That is, we all remember reading about John and Jane
going to visit their uncle in the country. How did they get there? Drive,
of course. Thus, the student grows up believing that automobiles are the
natural way to travel. Or bus. Or train. Never once did the concept of
flying in a light aircraft enter the elementary school curriculum. Once you
"grab" a young student and have them "grow up" with the thought that
aircraft is a natural way to travel you have a built-in candidate for their
Young Eagle and Air Academy years.

ii. Of course, this naturally folds into making aneroid barometers /
altimeters in science class, papier-mâché airport dioramas in art class,
weight and balance in mathematics class, and all the rest of it. One of the
problems I foresee with this program is that elementary school teachers
expect a fully-fledged curriculum-in-a-box that can be used with minimal
effort. Part of the true work setting up this program is to understand what
the needs of the faculty are and to meet or exceed them. I note with
approval the Fox Valley program, but also observe that this effort is
enjoyed by a very few (1600) students.

iii. I also note with some regret that both the Air Academy and
Aeroscholars are geared towards the privileged students who can afford to
pay for the program. While local chapters certainly can sponsor a
student(s) at both of these programs, I would suggest that a nationally
sponsored scholarship plan for both programs would allow disadvantaged
students with the "fire in their belly" for aviation to participate and
bring new blood into the aviation gene pool. (Yes, I am aware of the named
scholarships and internship program, but these programs are not well
advertised at all.)


3. Another deeply held interest is aircraft electronics, both historical
and modern. After all, avionics has been both my profession and my
avocation for nearly half a century. The museum has a smattering of
historical avionics, but nothing focused. I would propose that we find an
unused corner of the museum for some working, hands-on aviation electronics
and instrumentation that the museum visitor can touch, smell, and feel.


4. Last, but certainly not least, is my desire to have all segments of
aviation represented within the EAA umbrella. Certainly there is room
inside the EAA tent for anybody who has an enthusiasm for aviation to find
their niche in the organization. In the words of Lyndon Johnson, "I'd
rather have them all inside the tent spitting out than outside the tent
spitting in."



Thank you for your time and trouble.







Jim Weir
VP Engineering
RST Engineering

[Orval Fairbairn]

In article >,
"RST Engineering" > wrote:

> You all asked for it...here you go...(newsgroups flatten out subparagraph
> indentation)
>
>
>
>
> EAA Board of Directors 2005 Platform
>
> Jim Weir, EAA 86698
>
>
> 1. I bring to this Board the experience of 3000+ flight and flight
> instruction hours, restoring 3 classic aircraft from spinner to tailfeathers
> as an A&P, IA, the founder and chief engineer of a 35 year old avionics
> company dedicated to owner-built homebuilt aircraft electronics, and eight
> years on the county elected board with the responsibility for a $100 million
> budget, 800 employees, and 1000 square miles of land mass.
>
>
> 2. If I have a particular focus and passion, it is education. I note with
> interest that EAA has established three entry-level education programs:
>
> a. The Young Eagles program and website
> b. EAA Air Academy
> c. Aeroscholars.
>
> i. One of the problems I note with these three programs is that they are
> all reactive. That is, it requires effort on the part of the participant to
> become involved. My thought would be to have a passive program geared to
> the K-8 system that would involve aviation materials integrated into the
> basic curriculum. That is, we all remember reading about John and Jane
> going to visit their uncle in the country. How did they get there? Drive,
> of course. Thus, the student grows up believing that automobiles are the
> natural way to travel. Or bus. Or train. Never once did the concept of
> flying in a light aircraft enter the elementary school curriculum. Once you
> "grab" a young student and have them "grow up" with the thought that
> aircraft is a natural way to travel you have a built-in candidate for their
> Young Eagle and Air Academy years.
>
> ii. Of course, this naturally folds into making aneroid barometers /
> altimeters in science class, papier-mâché airport dioramas in art class,
> weight and balance in mathematics class, and all the rest of it. One of the
> problems I foresee with this program is that elementary school teachers
> expect a fully-fledged curriculum-in-a-box that can be used with minimal
> effort. Part of the true work setting up this program is to understand what
> the needs of the faculty are and to meet or exceed them. I note with
> approval the Fox Valley program, but also observe that this effort is
> enjoyed by a very few (1600) students.
>
> iii. I also note with some regret that both the Air Academy and
> Aeroscholars are geared towards the privileged students who can afford to
> pay for the program. While local chapters certainly can sponsor a
> student(s) at both of these programs, I would suggest that a nationally
> sponsored scholarship plan for both programs would allow disadvantaged
> students with the "fire in their belly" for aviation to participate and
> bring new blood into the aviation gene pool. (Yes, I am aware of the named
> scholarships and internship program, but these programs are not well
> advertised at all.)
>
>
> 3. Another deeply held interest is aircraft electronics, both historical
> and modern. After all, avionics has been both my profession and my
> avocation for nearly half a century. The museum has a smattering of
> historical avionics, but nothing focused. I would propose that we find an
> unused corner of the museum for some working, hands-on aviation electronics
> and instrumentation that the museum visitor can touch, smell, and feel.
>
>
> 4. Last, but certainly not least, is my desire to have all segments of
> aviation represented within the EAA umbrella. Certainly there is room
> inside the EAA tent for anybody who has an enthusiasm for aviation to find
> their niche in the organization. In the words of Lyndon Johnson, "I'd
> rather have them all inside the tent spitting out than outside the tent
> spitting in."
>
>
>
> Thank you for your time and trouble.

Jim,

Here at Spruce Creek, we have a program called Wright Flight, at the
Middle School level. See http://WrightFlight.org/

It was started as a part of the Air Force Assn. and teaches individual
responsibility and leadership, using an aviation theme. It used examples
of famous aviators, from the Wrights, to Jimmy Doolittle, to the
astronauts to help mentor students. If a student raises his GPA (or, in
the case of honor students -- maintains his GPA) he/she gets an airplane
ride as a reward. Here, they get some exotic planes to fly in, so it is
really a reward.

We have combined the flight rewards portion of the program with EAA
Young Eagles, which is a win for all concerned. EAA National is aware of
this synergy, so it is not a new concept to them.

Good luck!

--
Remove _'s from email address to talk to me.

[RST Engineering]

Agreed, but we need to market some sort of similar plan to the whole country
or we are doomed to the same old fat white guys (and I look in the mirror as
I say that) getting older and the aviation dream falling by the wayside.
The WHOLE COUNTRY.

Jim



> We have combined the flight rewards portion of the program with EAA
> Young Eagles, which is a win for all concerned. EAA National is aware of
> this synergy, so it is not a new concept to them.
>
> Good luck!

[sleepy6]

And what about the UL community Jim? The EAA has screwed us over
pretty good so far. What is your position?


In article >,
says...
>
>Agreed, but we need to market some sort of similar plan to the whole c
>ountry
>or we are doomed to the same old fat white guys (and I look in the mir
>ror as
>I say that) getting older and the aviation dream falling by the waysid
>e.
>The WHOLE COUNTRY.
>
>Jim
>
>
>
>> We have combined the flight rewards portion of the program with EAA
>> Young Eagles, which is a win for all concerned. EAA National is awar
>e of
>> this synergy, so it is not a new concept to them.
>>
>> Good luck!
>
>

[OtisWinslow]

How has EAA screwed over the UL community?



"sleepy6" > wrote in message
...
> And what about the UL community Jim? The EAA has screwed us over
> pretty good so far. What is your position?
>
>
> In article >,
> says...
>>
>>Agreed, but we need to market some sort of similar plan to the whole c
>>ountry
>>or we are doomed to the same old fat white guys (and I look in the mir
>>ror as
>>I say that) getting older and the aviation dream falling by the waysid
>>e.
>>The WHOLE COUNTRY.
>>
>>Jim
>>
>>
>>
>>> We have combined the flight rewards portion of the program with EAA
>>> Young Eagles, which is a win for all concerned. EAA National is awar
>>e of
>>> this synergy, so it is not a new concept to them.
>>>
>>> Good luck!
>>
>>
>

[RST Engineering]

I do fairly poorly with things that are nonspecific. If you have been
"screwed over" tell me specific areas and what you would like done about it.

I don't guarantee that I can do anything about the problem, but if I don't
have specifics I do guarantee that I canNOT solve the problem.

Jim



"sleepy6" > wrote in message
...
> And what about the UL community Jim? The EAA has screwed us over
> pretty good so far. What is your position?

[sleepy6]

For openers you could comment on the petition and my comments on
that petition which will affect the weights, ect allowed for UL.

http://dms.dot.gov/search/document.cfm?documentid=299254&docketid=19350

Read my comments #144 and #57 to see what should be involved. Comment
#1 is the actual petition.


In article >,
says...
>
>I do fairly poorly with things that are nonspecific. If you have been
>
>"screwed over" tell me specific areas and what you would like done abo
>ut it.
>
>I don't guarantee that I can do anything about the problem, but if I d
>on't
>have specifics I do guarantee that I canNOT solve the problem.
>
>Jim
>
>
>
>"sleepy6" > wrote in message
...
>> And what about the UL community Jim? The EAA has screwed us over
>> pretty good so far. What is your position?
>
>

[skylark71]

Jim you might want to check out www.eaacharterschool.com - EAA has done
more with school curriculum than you seem to be aware of.

[RST Engineering]

I am aware. That is the Fox Valley program that reaches something on the
order of 1600 students. You have to "rent" the equipment and take a one day
training course. That is problematic for the teacher in East Undershirt
Alabama who will have to travel to Wisconsin to participate. Perhaps an
expansion of that curriculum is the answer. I won't know until I get there.

"Renting" equipment is always a problem when you are trying to expand a
program. Doing it with tin cans, chewing gum, and kite twine has always
been my goal.

Thanks...

Jim




"skylark71" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Jim you might want to check out www.eaacharterschool.com - EAA has done
> more with school curriculum than you seem to be aware of.
>

[sleepy6]

Did you ever get around to decideing on your position about UL?

[W P Dixon]

sleepy6,
the UL group here does great! Matter of fact is there are more of them than
builders and owner's and restorers of certified aircraft. They are really
good at sticking together to keep local airports from blocking them out.
Myself I would like to see each chapter have a build project and all the
members pitch in and build a plane...kids welcomed of course so maybe they
will catch the flying bug as well. Would sure beat talking about where to
get lunch!! ;)

Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech


"sleepy6" > wrote in message
...
> Did you ever get around to decideing on your position about UL?
>
>
>

[sleepy6]

The local chapters are really great in dealing with UL. I have been
welcome at every EAA group I have visited.

I'm not so positive about the national level. Jim is running for
national office so I asked his position ... especially in reguards to
a petition for improvements to part 103.

So far, I haven't seen any answer.


In article >,
says...
>
>sleepy6,
> the UL group here does great! Matter of fact is there are more of the
>m than
>builders and owner's and restorers of certified aircraft. They are rea
>lly
>good at sticking together to keep local airports from blocking them ou
>t.
> Myself I would like to see each chapter have a build project and a
>ll the
>members pitch in and build a plane...kids welcomed of course so maybe
>they
>will catch the flying bug as well. Would sure beat talking about where
> to
>get lunch!! ;)
>
>Patrick
>student SPL
>aircraft structural mech
>
>
>"sleepy6" > wrote in message
...
>> Did you ever get around to decideing on your position about UL?
>>
>>
>>
>

[RST Engineering]

Sleepy ...

You sent me a long research project with a bad URL less than two weeks
before Oshkosh. Why don't you just ask the specific question right up front
so that I can deal with it?

Jim



"sleepy6" > wrote in message
...
> The local chapters are really great in dealing with UL. I have been
> welcome at every EAA group I have visited.
>
> I'm not so positive about the national level. Jim is running for
> national office so I asked his position ... especially in reguards to
> a petition for improvements to part 103.
>
> So far, I haven't seen any answer.

[sleepy6]

I assume this was posted prior to the recent private emails we have
exchanged.

In article >,
says...
>
>Sleepy ...
>
>You sent me a long research project with a bad URL less than two weeks
>
>before Oshkosh. Why don't you just ask the specific question right up
> front
>so that I can deal with it?
>
>Jim
>
>
>
>"sleepy6" > wrote in message
...
>> The local chapters are really great in dealing with UL. I have been
>> welcome at every EAA group I have visited.
>>
>> I'm not so positive about the national level. Jim is running for
>> national office so I asked his position ... especially in reguards t
>o
>> a petition for improvements to part 103.
>>
>> So far, I haven't seen any answer.
>
>

[Bill Shields]

"sleepy6" > wrote in message

> I assume this was posted prior to the recent private emails we have
> exchanged.

If it's a matter of concern to EAA members in general - and UL pilots
specifically - why not just post them in public anyway (private emails
or not)???

[sleepy6]

Jim sent me a private email wanting clarifications and we had a couple
of email exchanges. Just some clarifications of the UL situation. I
don't make others private email public but it's okay with me if Jim
wants to post mine. When Jim has time to research the info, I'm sure
he will reply on here.


In article >,
says...
>
>"sleepy6" > wrote in message
>
>> I assume this was posted prior to the recent private emails we have
>> exchanged.
>
>If it's a matter of concern to EAA members in general - and UL pilots
>specifically - why not just post them in public anyway (private emails
>or not)???

[Bill Shields]

"sleepy6" > wrote in message

> Jim sent me a private email wanting clarifications and we had a couple
> of email exchanges. Just some clarifications of the UL situation. I
> don't make others private email public but it's okay with me if Jim
> wants to post mine. When Jim has time to research the info, I'm sure
> he will reply on here.

Sorry, I wasn't suggesting that anyone post private emails (bad
"netiquette" - I agree)... What I meant was that I (and probably
others) would like to know what concerns the UL community
has - and suggesting that this might be a good place to post them.

Bill

[sleepy6]

In article >,
says...
>
>
>"sleepy6" > wrote in message
>
>> Jim sent me a private email wanting clarifications and we had a coup
>le
>> of email exchanges. Just some clarifications of the UL situation.
>I
>> don't make others private email public but it's okay with me if Jim
>> wants to post mine. When Jim has time to research the info, I'm sur
>e
>> he will reply on here.
>
>Sorry, I wasn't suggesting that anyone post private emails (bad
>"netiquette" - I agree)... What I meant was that I (and probably
>others) would like to know what concerns the UL community
>has - and suggesting that this might be a good place to post them.
>
>Bill

Don't get me wrong here. The local EAA guys are great and the other
chapters seem to welcome UL as well. I have never had any reason to
complain about the grass roots part of the EAA.

The national level is a different situation. The EAA has a long
history of not representing UL. Are you aware that in the 22 years
since part 103 was written that the EAA has never initated a single
petition for the improvement of part 103? The only thing they have
done is file for the same exemptions that other organizations worked
for after they got them.

Are you aware that sport pilot came about when the EAA blocked a
petition in the ARAC committee for improvements to part 103? That was
the first petition for large improvements in 22 years and was almost
guaranteed to be enacted before the EAA action.

Don't get me wrong, there are some good things in sport pilot. This
is not about sport pilot at all. The UL community would have gladly
supported an EAA effort in that direction. The point is that if the
EAA had cooperated, part 103 would have been improved. They chose to
hijack that petition instead of write their own. On top of that,
the way sport pilot was written eliminates the fleet of existing UL
trainers and the existing system of instructors in a couple of
years.

The registration of the UL trainers and instructors provided
the largest part of the income for the UL organizations. With
no trainers, no instructors and much less funding, the picture
looks pretty bleak for the UL organizations.

Recently another UL petition was submitted. This petition was NOT
discussed with the UL community. In fact once rumors started that it
was being drawn up, the orgs denied it existed for a long time. The
community first knew all the details when it was put on the docket.

As written, it is a thinly disguised attempt to allow the orgs to make
money by chargeing members to participate in a phoney safety study. In
other words, if you pay the orgs, they would let you use the petition
exemption for a little more weight. It isn't designed to help the
community. It is designed to produce income for the orgs.

The EAA originally was going to be one of the submitters but pulled out
after the community got upset about what little we knew of the
petition. The EAA did submit a favorable comment to the petition.

The community was so upset that most of us do not support the petition
submitted by our own orgs. We submitted comments about what the
community really wanted instead.

You can read the petition and comments for yourself at

http://dms.dot.gov/search/document.cfm?documentid=299254&docketid=19350

If you read my comment #144 first it will help you watch for certain
items when you read the petition which is comment #1. If you read my
comment #57 you will see what the petition should have been to really
help the community.

I asked Jim to check out the above and then tell us what his position
would be concerning UL. He is very busy but assures me that he will do
that as soon as he can.

Bob

[Jez]

Jim wrote:.

> "Renting" equipment is always a problem when you are trying to expand a
> program. Doing it with tin cans, chewing gum, and kite twine has always
> been my goal.
>
> Thanks...
>
> Jim

Jim,

I don't know you (except for your informative, cut to the chase, stuff on
here) but am sure glad that I posted off that chit for your EAA ticket to
stand for office.

You're my kind of guy with talk like that, I'll support anything that gets
back to the basics, with affordable, fun, flying. Just making young people
aware that building and flying is within their grasp, irrespective of
income, social status or whatever, has to be a worthwhile objective.

Jeremy
SALISBURY
United Kingdom
EAA 711015