August 9, 2006 FAA To Ease Restrictions On Warbird Flying

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By Mary Grady, Newswriter, Editor

Warbird pilots got some good news from the FAA during EAA AirVenture last month. "The FAA has proposed removing the proficiency area requirements currently in place for warbirds," said EAA Warbirds of America (WOA) Executive Director Bill Fischer. "It will mean that a civilian pilot who flies a military or surplus aircraft can fly it anywhere that a civil aircraft can go." Current FAA regulations restrict most warbird flights to 600 miles or less from their home bases. WOA has been involved in a "continuing dialog" with the FAA to try to ease those restrictions for qualified pilots, Fischer said. "The FAA continues to stress that warbirds in civilian operation are intended for exhibition and not for personal transport, but they have conceded that lifting the area restrictions will not affect the safety of the pilots or the public."