On 4/3/2010 7:23 PM, Eric Greenwell wrote:
Mike Schumann wrote:
This is a classic example of why we should have a formal relationship
with AOPA, so that we can leverage their expertise in governmental
relations and other areas, where we will never have the kind of
resources that they do. In addition, having our headquarters in the
middle of nowhere can't help matters.

Mike Schumann
Do we know that AOPA was aware of these code allocations?


Probably AOPA didn't even know that SSA was trying to get a glider code.

If SSA was paying someone at AOPA to interact with the FAA on this
issue, hopefully the AOPA would have known.


I'm an AOPA
member, and I'm not aware of any notification of the AOPA members. A
search of their site for " National Beacon Code Allocation Plan" finds
results only in the AIM:Chapter 4, but that section doesn't mention
1201; searching for JO 7110.66D found no result. A Google search for JO
7110.66D finds it only on the FAA site.

"having our headquarters in the middle of nowhere can't help matters"

But it WILL hurt to move it to a different location, so, as long as it
doesn't hurt, no problem. This was a matter that could be handled by
telephone, letter, email or the web, but somehow, despite sustained
contact over many years by several SSA people, the SSA people were not
notified of the eventual "allocation". And, apparently, neither have all
the ATC people been informed of the situation and how to handle it.
Oddly, the people that did know about it, and will interact with it the
most - Reno ATC - didn't bother to contact anyone either, while gliders
continued to fly around using 0440!

I say "Thanks to the SSA folks", and shame on someone in the FAA for
their oversight.