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Legislation
"The
price of freedom is eternal vigilance."
Thomas Jefferson
(1743 - 1826)
It is increasingly evident that as pilots and aviation enthusiasts, we must be proactive in our efforts to protect our priviledge to fly.
Below is a set of tools to aid you in this quest to stay informed and most importantly, to let your voice be heard at all levels of government.
For all EAA governmental questions, please send to govt@eaa.org.
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LEGISLATIVE
ALERTS! |
| Proposed
Michigan House
Bill 4198 would require all gasoline sold to consumers
by January 31, 2008 contain at least 10% ethanol (section 3A).
Proposed Michigan Senate Bill 0033 would require all gasoline sold to consumers beginning December 31, 2007 contain at least 2% ethanol. (Section 3(8)). Both bills were introduced in January 2007, but thanks in great part to your efforts, they have yet to progress out of their respective committees. Since these bills are still listed as active bills on the Michigan legislature website, it is again time to contact your elected officials in the Michigan state legislature. Tell them that you (a) vehemently oppose any statewide mandate that all of the autofuel sold in Michigan contain ethanol additives and (b) urge them to support exempting premium grade autofuel from any ethanol-blending requirements. Stress that while you support ethanol blending for regular grade autofuel, a blanket ethanol mandate would adversely affect the safe operation of many aircraft, vintage cars, recreational vehicles, lawn movers, chain saws, motorcycles, 2-cycle garden tools, boats, and other machines. EAA is not opposed to ethanol-blended autofuel, but we oppose mandating a fuel additive, such as ethanol, that would cause harm to specific categories of consumers. In aviation alone, nearly 2,000 FAA-authorized autofuel supplemental type certificates (STC) have been issued to Michigan aircraft owners. Within the autofuel STC instructions, and in FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) CE-07-06, the FAA states clear instructions that the use of ethanol-blended autofuel in aircraft will create a clear and present hazardous risk to the safe operation of those aircraft. (See the SAIB at http://www.aviationfuel.org/saibs/10_27_06%20-%20CE-07-06.pdf ) EAA's concern, and that of many of our members, is that these STC’d aircraft cannot operate safely (or legally) running ethanol-blended fuel. Along with the nearly 2,000 such aircraft noted above, many ultralight vehicles and amateur-built aircraft also operate with engines that require autofuel. In addition, all future special light-sport aircraft are designed to stringent ASTM/FAA standards to operate on unleaded gasoline - many powered by Rotax engines that will not operate well on ethanol-blended gasoline. What can you do? Contact your elected officials in the state Senate and House of Representatives to remind them that this clear and present hazard exists if they vote to require ethanol in all gasoline sold in Michigan. The best solution you can offer--a solution that has been successfully implemented in both Montana and Missouri--is a compromise where all regular gasoline sold in Michigan contain a 10 percent ethanol blend, but premium gasoline (octane rating of 91 or greater) is exempted from the requirement. This would allow ethanol-free premium gasoline to be available those who need it, and at every fuel station in the state. Montana law - http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/mca/82/15/82-15-122.htm - exemptions from use of ethanol-blended gasoline.(1) Gasoline that
is not ethanol-blended as required may be sold or dispensed at a
public or private racecourse if the gasoline is intended to be used
exclusively as a fuel for off-highway motor sports racing events. Missouri law - http://www.house.mo.gov/bills061/biltxt/truly/HB1270T.htm - The following shall be exempt from the provisions of this section: (1) Aviation fuel
and automotive gasoline used in aircraft; EAA is asking for your support by contacting: Governor Jennifer
M. Granholm: http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21995---,00.html
Randy Hansen |
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WATCH DOGS |
AASHTO Standing Committee on Aviation
THOMAS (U.S. Legislative Information)
Michigan Legislative Search ( select aeronautics and click show bills)
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FEDERAL |
Federal Avaition Administration (FAA)
US Department of Homeland Security
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STATE |
Michigan House of Representatives
Michigan Aeronautics Commission
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LOCAL |
Capital Region Airport Authority
Mason Area Chamber of Commerce
Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)