General Aviation

General Aviation Pilot Protection Act

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

New bill would expand driver’s license medical to pilots,

After nearly two years of FAA inaction on the AOPA-EAA third-class medical petition, Congress has taken matters into its own hands, offering up legislation that would vastly expand the number of pilots who could fly without going through the expensive and time-consuming third-class medical certification process. Reps. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.), a member of the House General Aviation Caucus, and GA Caucus Co-Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) on Dec. 11 introduced the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act. The legislation, House Resolution 3708, would dramatically expand the parameters for flying under the driver’s license medical standard. Rokita and Graves are both AOPA members and active pilots.

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Adventures, National Parks

Snowshoe Yosemite: Mariposa Grove

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Even though we’re experiencing a kinda dry winter, Yosemite Conservancy is hosting a shoeshoe event early in February, and it seems like a fun (if exhausting) event.  From the event page:

See giant sequoias in a way few visitors have on this fun and informative day of snowshoeing into the Mariposa Grove. Winter offers the rare opportunity to feel as if you have this ancient grove all to yourself. Naturalist Shirley Spencer will enhance this trip with her creativity and extensive knowledge. You’ll learn about the natural history of the grove, as well as the plant and wildlife species that call it home. If you’re looking for an unforgettable Yosemite experience, don’t pass this one up. This excursion is recommended for adults and mature teens. This trek will begin Saturday morning at Yosemite’s south entrance gate on Hwy. 41.

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National Forests

Fire Restrictions Take Effect in Los Padres National Forest

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Due to extremely dry vegetation and an increasing fire danger, Los Padres National Forest officials today announced that Level III fire restrictions will go into effect beginning tomorrow, January 11, 2014. The following restrictions will be rigorously enforced until this Forest Order expires:

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Big Bear Lake

Scientist to speak on solar eclipses

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Press release form the SCMF:

Join the Southern California Mountains Foundation and the Big Bear Solar Observatory on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 4 p.m. at the Big Bear Discovery Center to welcome guest speaker Jay Pasachoff, a leading scientist on solar eclipses, in a presentation of “The Sun and Solar Eclipses.”

Combining his rare appearance with his devotion to teaching and sharing with the world the joys of observing eclipses, Professor Pasachoff’s presentation will be open to the public. Admission is free; seating is limited on a first-come basis.

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General Aviation

Female pilots: a slow take-off

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Emine Saner has written over at The Guardian about the slow adoption of female pilots by airlines.  From the article:

When two children, a six-year-old girl and a slightly older boy, visited her flight deck last week, British Airways pilot Aoife Duggan asked if they would like to fly planes too. The boy said yes but the girl demurred, saying: “I think I’d like to be an air hostess – boys are pilots.” A surprised Duggan says: “I was like, ‘No! Come and sit in my seat, wear my hat.’ “

Four decades after the first female pilot started work for a commercial airline, there are still relatively few women sitting in Duggan’s seat. Of the 3,500 pilots employed by British Airways, just 200 are women, yet the airline still employs the highest proportion of female pilots of any UK airline. Globally, around 4,000 of the 130,000 airline pilots are women, according to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots. Fewer still are captains – worldwide, there are around 450.

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