Prescott Valley Balloon Festival is This Weekend: What Do You Know About Hot Air Balloons?

FooteWork is proud to be a sponsor of the Prescott Valley Annual Balloon Festival happening this weekend, June 16th and 17th.  If you are looking for something fun to do this Saturday and Sunday, this is it!  A great way to celebrate Father's Day too!

Did you know that hot air ballons and the pilots who fly them are regulated by the FAA just like other aircraft?  Do you know what 'glow' refers to?  Here are some interesting facts about hot air balloons from the Prescott Valley Balloon Festival website:

When do hot air balloons fly? Hot air balloons generally fly during the morning and late afternoon. Balloons rely on air currents for speed and direction and require stable (calm to 7 knots in a predictable direction) to maintain safe operations. The Phoenix area usually has 300 days of good weather for flying.

Where do hot air balloons fly? Hot air balloons can fly practically anywhere. Balloons are registered aircraft and are under the authority of the FAA, who also owns the airspace above buildings and events.

How tall and wide are hot air balloons? Standard shape balloons are approximately 85 feet tall and 65 feet wide.

What are hot air balloons made from? The fabric part of the balloon, called the envelope, is constructed of coated rip-stop nylon, similar to the material that parachutes are made from. The basket is constructed of primarily of wicker. Wicker is light, strong, and resilient to incidental damage.

What type of fuel is used? Liquid propane is used to heat the inside of the balloon.

How long have balloons been around? Hot air balloons are the oldest type of flying, having been invented in France in 1782. Not until the late 1960s did the new era of ballooning arise with the new materials and designs.

Are balloons regulated? Hot air balloons are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), just like airplanes. Like other aircraft, balloons require yearly safety inspections by an FAA authorized repair station.

Are balloon pilots regulated? Balloon pilots are licensed and regulated by the FAA.

What is a balloon glow? Heating the air inside the balloon with propane-fueled fire causes the balloon to glow brightly. During a daytime flight, this effect is usually not seen, but during evening glows, the effect is stunning.

What is a balloon tether? A tether is when the balloon does not fly freely, but is tied to the ground with a number of 100 to 150-foot ropes. While being tied off, the balloon can take passengers up into the air without flying away from the designated spot.

Among the many events, there is 'Balloon Glow' Saturday night and helicopter rides both Saturday and Sunday given by Guidance Aviation. There will also be a car show, carnival, beer garden, and arts & crafts. Go to the Prescott Valley Balloon Festival website for a schedule and map of the events. Hope you can join us for the 2012 Prescott Valley Balloon Festival!  It will be uplifting! 

Come see us at our FooteWork Prescott Valley or FooteWork Prescott office for any of your vehicle needs!

Aviators: FAA Accepting Only Electronic Medical Certificates After October 1, 2012

Cessna Mustang

If your FAA medical certificate is coming up for renewal or you are in the process of becoming a pilot, the FAA just announced that as of October 1, 2012,  it will no longer accept paper applications and everyone will be required to complete the application online.

According to the Federal Register public announcement on March 8, 2012, "The Federal Aviation Administration is providing public notice regarding its intent to discontinue use of the paper version of FAA Form 8500-8, the application form used to apply for FAA medical certification. Maintaining FAA Form 8500-8 for applicants to complete manually is burdensome not only in terms of the cost involved, but also in terms of the complex logistics and use of Agency resources involved. This burden becomes all the more compounded when the form must be revised, reprinted, and redistributed (worldwide). The FAA launched an on-line FAA Form 8500-8 application known as ``FAA MedXpress'' beginning in 2007. Since 2007, ``FAA MedXpress'' has evolved considerably, streamlining FAA medical certification into a much more efficient and seamless process, thereby rendering the paper process both redundant and obsolete. Discontinuing print of FAA Form 8500-8 will save considerable resources and improve the efficiency of the airman medical certification process. "


View the complete Federal Register announcement here>>:


http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-03-08/html/2012-5655.htm


To complete your medical certificate online via FAA MedXpress click here>>:


https://medxpress.faa.gov/

While we can't give you a medical certificate, we can handle your aircraft registration quickly and easily at one of our FooteWork offices. Come see us! Clear skies!

Important Aircraft Registration and Re-Registration Facts for Arizona Aircraft Owners

Did you know that a third of all aircraft are inaccurately registered?  Because of these inaccuracies, there is a new process in place that really affects aircraft registered before October 1, 2010.  According to the FAA, "About one-third of today's 357,000 registered aircraft have inaccurate records. At least 100,000 of these are not expected to re-register. Prompt reporting of a change in aircraft ownership, mailing address, or destruction has long been required by registration regulations. Without these reports from the owners the aircraft records could not be updated. The Registry has revoked registrations due to unreported changes; however, this process is slow and expensive. In many cases registration would be revoked, but owners whose notices were undeliverable would be unaware and continue to operate their now unregistered aircraft."-source: http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/aircraft_certification/aircraft_registry/reregistration/


"These improvements will give us better knowledge about the state of the aviation industry, especially general aviation," said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. "We also are responding to calls from law enforcement and other government agencies for more accurate, up-to-date registration data."

Basically, aircraft registered before October 1, 2010 have a specific re-registration dates over a three year period that takes place from October 1, 2010 to December 31, 2013 to renew and update their information.  Six months before your expiration, the Registry (Aircraft Registration Branch) will mail information to the owner that identifies the re-registration expiration date and the three month window to which comply before expiration.  It is important that they have the correct address and most likely many will need to be proactive to find out this relevant information.  All aircraft registered on or after October 1, 2010 have three years before their expiration date which is shown on their current paperwork.


Aircraft Re-Registration Schedule

If the Certificate was issued in:	The certificate expires on:	The owner must apply for re-registration between these dates, - to allow delivery of a new certificate before expiration.
Marchof any year	March 31, 2011	November 1, 2010	and January 31, 2011
April of any year	June 30, 2011	February 1, 2011	and April 30, 2011
May of any year	September 30, 2011	May 1, 2011	and July 31, 2011
June of any year	December 31, 2011	August 1, 2011	and October 31, 2011
July of any year	March 31, 2012	November 1, 2011	and January 31, 2012
August of any year	June 30, 2012	February 1, 2012	and April 30, 2012
September of any year	September 30, 2012	May 1, 2012	and July 31, 2012
October of any year	December 31, 2012	August 1, 2012	and October 31, 2012
November of any year	March 31, 2013	November 1, 2012	and January 31, 2013
December of any year	June 30, 2013	February 1, 2013	and April 30, 2013
January of any year	September 30, 2013	May 1, 2013	and July 31, 2013
February of any year	December 31, 2013	August 1, 2013	and October 31, 2013

To check the accuracy of your aircraft's registration go to: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/nnum_inquiry.aspx.  

CONTACT FOOTEWORK, WE ARE AIRCRAFT OWNERS TOO!
Bottom line, the process may be a bit confusing.  For all Arizona Aircraft Owners who have questions or need assistance, feel free to call FooteWork.  Our staff is poised to assist you with ADOT and FAA issues.  Clear Skies!