These are things from AOPA weekly email bulletin. 3 years after Sept. 11 some dumbnuts are thinking that a Piper Cub will be a threat to the general public. BAHA Fan of freedom and the ability to express it by flying. AOPA DECLINES INTERVIEW TO MEDIA ATTACK ON GA SECURITY New York City's WNYW-TV (Fox 5) will attempt to paint a dismal picture regarding security at a specific GA airport in New Jersey with an "investigative" report it plans to air at 10 p.m. tonight. The report could be shared with the national Fox News Network. The station initially contacted AOPA for an interview. However, once AOPA understood the strong negative bias of the story, the association declined the interview and provided answers in writing for the two questions submitted by the station. Lakewood Airport is a relatively small GA airport with about 70 aircraft, almost all of them single-engine. The airport manager ensures that all aircraft comply with New Jersey's "two-lock" rule, requiring that any aircraft remaining at a New Jersey airport for more than 24 hours have two methods of locking the aircraft. It appears that the station will focus on an aerial advertising business based at the airport. The doors on the J-3 and J-4 Cubs used by the banner-towing operation have been removed, and because these aircraft have no electrical ignition system, there is no keyed ignition. WNYW told AOPA that, based on these facts, the aircraft are not locked in accordance with the state's rule. However, airport authorities assured AOPA that two locks are in fact in place as required. Both of the aircraft use prop locks when parked, rendering the aircraft unflyable, as well as a second locking mechanism that is not readily obvious for security reasons. AOPA WORKS THE HILL TO DEFEAT 'RIDICULOUS' GA SECURITY BILL The moment word first leaked out that Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) wanted to impose security restrictions on general aviation that would exceed even those of the airlines, AOPA's Legislative Affairs staff sprung into action, lobbying against the bill. "This is preposterous, unrealistic, and unnecessary," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "General aviation is not a threat. The Transportation Security Administration has already said so." Weiner's bill, H.R. 5035, would mandate the same screening for all passengers and property aboard GA aircraft that is required for the airlines. It would also prohibit any aircraft other than an airliner from flying over cities with populations of 1 million or more, or operating within 1,500 feet of any building. "In light of everything that has already been done, requirements like those Rep. Weiner would impose would kill all of general aviation," Boyer added. AOPA has outlined its strong opposition to the legislation in meetings with Republican and Democratic staff of the House aviation subcommittee. The association is also using its extensive network of relationships with key members of the subcommittee in fighting the bill. SAN JOSE AIRPORT NIXES UNFAIR NOISE CURFEW Capping a multi-year effort, AOPA successfully forced San Jose Norman Y. Mineta International Airport to abandon its discriminatory, weight-based noise curfew. San Jose had passed an ordinance mandating a curfew of 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. for jet aircraft weighing more than 75,000 pounds. That was just one of many things the city has done to make the airport an unfriendly place for general aviation. In January 2000, AOPA filed an informal complaint with the FAA alleging that the city was in violation of its federal grant agreements. With little fanfare, the city quietly restructured its curfew from a weight-based regulation to one based directly upon noise emissions. "We understand that noise is a growing issue with many airports, but in today's airport environment weight has little to do with actual noise levels," said Bill Dunn, AOPA vice president of airports, "and we always encourage our members to be good neighbors, 'fly friendly,' and reduce their noise footprint. But any airport that tries to use discriminatory measures that unfairly target general aviation is going to have a huge problem with AOPA. We just want airports to follow the FAA process." See ( http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2004/040909san_jose.html). TILLAMOOK, OREGON. A Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Fly-in/Cruise-in event takes place September 18 at Tillamook (S47). The Tillamook Pilots Association, Tillamook Air Museum, and other organizations will be hosting. Breakfast starting at 7 a.m., lunch at 11 a.m. Contact Larry chaible, 503/842-1130, or visit the Web site ( http://www.tillamookair.com ).