Page 21 - Volume 11 Number 3

new user fees, and placing it under the governing control of a self- interested, airline-centric board of directors,” Bolen continued.
Bolen also noted that there are two sides to the important ATC debate and the president had only heard the airlines’ position, but in fact, surveys of everyday Americans show a majority oppose privatizing the ATC system. “The concerns of these citizens are well- founded – after all, the nation’s aviation system is a public asset, intended to serve the entire public, including the people and businesses in the small towns and rural areas that rely on general aviation,” he said.
The U.S. Department of Defense has also voiced concern over the ATC system becoming privatized, as the military has a “shared infrastructure” with the system and that would definitely need to be addressed.
FAA Releases SAFO Regarding Awareness of Class B Airspace Boundaries
The FAA recently released caution of inadvertently exiting
Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) 17001 to alert pilots that operate near the boundaries of Class B airspace to the risk coming into close proximity to other aircraft operating outside of, but near the Class B boundaries. Aircraft operating outside of the Class B airspace may not be under the control of Air Traffic Control (ATC) providing Class B airspace services and therefore may increase the risk of a Near Mid Air Collision (NMAC).
the airspace, or of the approach path of many instrument arrival and approach procedures may come close to the floor of Class B airspace. Also, during times of high traffic volume, aircraft above the Class B airspace floor may receive ATC instructions that when executed, would cause the airplane to exit the confines of the airspace. Pilots may be unaware of an excursion because they may not be advised of such an event during times of high controller workload.
The SAFO emphasizes the
importance of a pilot’s role in
maintaining proper aircraft
separation when operating near
Class B airspace boundaries and in or near Class B airspace. KA
Pilots are encouraged to thor- oughly review the boundary speci- fications when preparing to operate
MARCH 2017
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 19