13 th Annual Seaplane Safety Seminar Betty Meyer

Seaplane Safety Culture Is Education and Training Enough…

FAA SEAWINGS Safety Program Inaugurated June 1996 Ware Island Alabama Inaugurated June 1996 Ware Island Alabama

Seaplane Accident Data Difficult to Quantify Relationship Difficult to Quantify Relationship Raw Data Raw Data Actual Numbers and Operations are Estimated Actual Numbers and Operations are Estimated “Hard to reach a Known from and Unknown” “Hard to reach a Known from and Unknown” Difficult to Quantify Relationship Difficult to Quantify Relationship Raw Data Raw Data Actual Numbers and Operations are Estimated Actual Numbers and Operations are Estimated “Hard to reach a Known from and Unknown” “Hard to reach a Known from and Unknown”

TOTALFATAL SUM49395 Float and Amphibious Accidents landing gear on the aircraft was classified as either floats or amphibious (raw data) AOPA Air Safety Foundation 2007

Does Training = Safety

“…Greater Prudence is needed rather than greater skill” – Wilber Wright 1901

Our Safety Record is the greatest testimony to protect our water access

Legislative Response Can Be Swift Legislative Response Can Be Swift

Alabama Boating License Law 1994 Alabama passed a law that required licensing of over half a million boaters under the age of 40 into compliance by Over 560,000 boaters have been registered with 30,000 added each year Alabama passed a law that required licensing of over half a million boaters under the age of 40 into compliance by Over 560,000 boaters have been registered with 30,000 added each year. It was the first in the nation to do so It was the first in the nation to do so Boating Groups had no chance to respond Boating Groups had no chance to respond 1994 Alabama passed a law that required licensing of over half a million boaters under the age of 40 into compliance by Over 560,000 boaters have been registered with 30,000 added each year Alabama passed a law that required licensing of over half a million boaters under the age of 40 into compliance by Over 560,000 boaters have been registered with 30,000 added each year. It was the first in the nation to do so It was the first in the nation to do so Boating Groups had no chance to respond Boating Groups had no chance to respond

Results of the Boating Law 95% of the Boaters took the test 95% of the Boaters took the test Accidents rate dropped 41% Accidents rate dropped 41% Other states following example Other states following example May lead to Federal requirements May lead to Federal requirements 95% of the Boaters took the test 95% of the Boaters took the test Accidents rate dropped 41% Accidents rate dropped 41% Other states following example Other states following example May lead to Federal requirements May lead to Federal requirements

Fish River - Senate Bill 39 Fish River - Senate Bill 39 Proposed legislation to prohibit seaplanes on four south Alabama Rivers Proposed legislation to prohibit seaplanes on four south Alabama Rivers Empower Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources authority over movement of seaplanes in these areas Empower Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources authority over movement of seaplanes in these areas Proposed legislation to prohibit seaplanes on four south Alabama Rivers Proposed legislation to prohibit seaplanes on four south Alabama Rivers Empower Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources authority over movement of seaplanes in these areas Empower Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources authority over movement of seaplanes in these areas

SB39 Senate Public Hearing SPA President spoke to Senate Committee SPA President spoke to Senate Committee Phone calls and letters to Legislators Phone calls and letters to Legislators Members attended the Hearing Members attended the Hearing SPA President spoke to Senate Committee SPA President spoke to Senate Committee Phone calls and letters to Legislators Phone calls and letters to Legislators Members attended the Hearing Members attended the Hearing

A Seaplane Safety Record Save No recorded Seaplane accident on these rivers recorded in 23 years No recorded Seaplane accident on these rivers recorded in 23 years Legislation was perceived as “Safety” Legislation was perceived as “Safety” Questionable authority over Federal waters Questionable authority over Federal waters Reactionary from a local dispute Reactionary from a local dispute No recorded Seaplane accident on these rivers recorded in 23 years No recorded Seaplane accident on these rivers recorded in 23 years Legislation was perceived as “Safety” Legislation was perceived as “Safety” Questionable authority over Federal waters Questionable authority over Federal waters Reactionary from a local dispute Reactionary from a local dispute

Remember the Battle of Pork Chop Hill? Soldiers Fought a Bloody Battle to Gain Control Over Certain Territory and Ultimately Won Victory Soldiers Fought a Bloody Battle to Gain Control Over Certain Territory and Ultimately Won Victory Meanwhile Officials Decided Otherwise and Gave the Territory Back Meanwhile Officials Decided Otherwise and Gave the Territory Back Soldiers Fought a Bloody Battle to Gain Control Over Certain Territory and Ultimately Won Victory Soldiers Fought a Bloody Battle to Gain Control Over Certain Territory and Ultimately Won Victory Meanwhile Officials Decided Otherwise and Gave the Territory Back Meanwhile Officials Decided Otherwise and Gave the Territory Back

A LESSON LEARNED One Stroke of the Legislative Pen can change the landscape in spite of the untold sacrifice of many to achieve a goal One Stroke of the Legislative Pen can change the landscape in spite of the untold sacrifice of many to achieve a goal Emotion Laced Campaign Tactics Work Emotion Laced Campaign Tactics Work One Stroke of the Legislative Pen can change the landscape in spite of the untold sacrifice of many to achieve a goal One Stroke of the Legislative Pen can change the landscape in spite of the untold sacrifice of many to achieve a goal Emotion Laced Campaign Tactics Work Emotion Laced Campaign Tactics Work

AS A SEAPLANE PILOT YOU ARE A CERTIFIED MEMBER OF A SAFETY CULTURE

Seaplane Flying Advocate Know your local elected officials Know your local elected officials Know your legislators and district Know your legislators and district Develop a positive relationship Develop a positive relationship Know your local elected officials Know your local elected officials Know your legislators and district Know your legislators and district Develop a positive relationship Develop a positive relationship

Be Informed Use Resources

Know Who Has Jurisdiction FAA FAA US Army Corps of Engineers US Army Corps of Engineers US Coast Guard US Coast Guard US Forest Service US Forest Service National Park Service National Park Service Tennessee Valley Authority Tennessee Valley Authority States- Local- RPA States- Local- RPA FAA FAA US Army Corps of Engineers US Army Corps of Engineers US Coast Guard US Coast Guard US Forest Service US Forest Service National Park Service National Park Service Tennessee Valley Authority Tennessee Valley Authority States- Local- RPA States- Local- RPA

A Wealth of Resources FAA – ACs FAA – ACs Seaplane Pilots Association Seaplane Pilots Association Training and Technique Training and Technique Reference Reference Biographies Biographies Seaplanes Seaplanes Pilot’s Model Code of Conduct Pilot’s Model Code of Conduct FAA – ACs FAA – ACs Seaplane Pilots Association Seaplane Pilots Association Training and Technique Training and Technique Reference Reference Biographies Biographies Seaplanes Seaplanes Pilot’s Model Code of Conduct Pilot’s Model Code of Conduct

Seaplane Pilot’s Code of Conduct Improve Airmanship Improve Airmanship Flight Safety Flight Safety Sustain and Improve Seaplane Community Sustain and Improve Seaplane Community Improve Airmanship Improve Airmanship Flight Safety Flight Safety Sustain and Improve Seaplane Community Sustain and Improve Seaplane Community

How Public Views Seaplanes

PUBLIC VIEW of SEAPLANES  NOISY  HAZARDOUS  HARMFUL TO ENVIRONMENT  SHOULD BE REGULATED  NOISY  HAZARDOUS  HARMFUL TO ENVIRONMENT  SHOULD BE REGULATED

How Pilots View Seaplanes

PILOT PERCEPTION of SEAPLANES  FUN  SAFE  SKILLFUL  CHALLENGING  CHALLENGING  FUN  SAFE  SKILLFUL  CHALLENGING  CHALLENGING

What We Would Like the Public to See

What the Public Often Sees

If We Don’t Promote Ourselves Then Who Will?

Seaplanes Assist in Disaster Relief

Commercial Seaplane Ops

Public Relations Role Model Seaplanes Support Community Activities Seaplanes Support Community Activities Publish Your Good Deeds –Take it Public Publish Your Good Deeds –Take it Public Be a Photo Op Be a Photo Op Endear Seaplanes to Your Community Endear Seaplanes to Your Community Make a Place in the Neighborhood Make a Place in the Neighborhood Seaplanes Support Community Activities Seaplanes Support Community Activities Publish Your Good Deeds –Take it Public Publish Your Good Deeds –Take it Public Be a Photo Op Be a Photo Op Endear Seaplanes to Your Community Endear Seaplanes to Your Community Make a Place in the Neighborhood Make a Place in the Neighborhood

Aerial Tours for Officials

Involve Local Merchants

Include Neighbors in Events

Show Them Your Point of View

Way Too Much Fun!

From Historical Transportation

To An Evolving Future

Ware Island, Alabama