By Clyde Smith, IDPA President

Finally, general aviation is back to its old standards and rules. However, there is some remaining temporary restricted airspace. Thanks to AOPA and its strong lobbying, we pilots were able to get back most of our old guidelines.

But be sure to check with a FSS or DUATS to obtain a weather report for your flight route as well as ask for NOTAMs about temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) along your route. I understand that a TFR may be instituted on short notice by the FAA, perhaps just hours before you plan to take off, and if you haven't asked for the pertinent NOTAMs, you're in hot water if you bust the restricted airspace. Proceed with caution on your flight route, and keep your eyes scanning the sky.

Tax-exempt status and DPA committee meeting at Dayton, Ohio: Jack Kelsey has worked hard to obtain tax-exempt status for our organization. We will be known as the Deaf Pilots Association, dropping the "International" from our title. Jack, being IDPA-USA president, will hold a committee meeting at Dayton April 5-7 to discuss the organizational restructure and formation of the DPA, as well as the 2003 fly-in at Dayton and the IDPA's proposed participation in a transcontinental trip of deaf and hard of hearing bicyclists. They will cycle from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., to promote awareness of Deaf Way II, a gathering of deaf people from around the world. (Alec Naiman had suggested at the 2001 Fly-in at Lee's Summit, Mo., that we offer our services flying over the route with journalists and photographers.)

The DPA committee consists of Alec Naiman of New York, Mark Stern of California, Jeff Willoughby of Kansas, Jack Kelsey of Georgia, Teddy Clemons of Illinois, and me. The results of the meeting will be shared with Becky Center, our 2003 fly-in chairperson, and Cathy Roach, our co-chairperson.

Ninth Annual Fly-in at Frederick, Md.: The 2002 Fly-in will be the last one under the auspices of the International Deaf Pilots Association. After this event, we will begin the restructure of our organization and will be known as the Deaf Pilots Association. Though we have found this change necessary in order to achieve tax-exempt status, we will continue to stay in touch with our friends in Europe, and Australia as well as all other countries, though we will no longer share the same organization. Everyone from foreign countries is always welcome at our events and fly-ins.

Tenth Anniversary in 2004: The Tenth Anniversary fly-in, our 11th, will be held in Atlanta, Ga., with Jack and Nora Kelsey our hosts. It promises to be a special one. More information will be announced later. You will not want to miss this special celebration.

Newsletter copies returned: IDPA newsletters have been sent back to me owing to insufficient or expired addresses. I have spent a lot of time searching for new addresses for our members. If you move, please send your change of address to me immediately, so you can keep on receiving your IDPA newsletter.

Also, if you wish to continue receiving the newsletter, remember to pay your yearly membership dues. Contact Joe Stevens to find out the status of your dues. Your help on this matter will save us a lot of time as well as money on postage.

Interpreters for FAA or AOPA workshops: Recently an IDPA member e-mailed me inquiring about interpreters for FAA or AOPA workshops. The FAA and AOPA both will provide interpreters for their workshops at their expense, so don't be shy about going to one of them because you might not be able to understand what is going on. If you need an interpreter, however, you must contact the FAA or AOPA two weeks in advance.

Stephen Hopson joins the Civil Air Patrol: Congratulations to Stephen for passing his checkride for the CAP recently. He joins Herby Lester and Bob (Hook) Rose as a deaf member of this important Air Force auxiliary organization. Soon he will be going on search-and-rescue flights as well as looking for drug smugglers.

Stephen Hopson shortly after passing his checkride for the Civil Air Patrol.

Toks Desalu solos: Congratulations to student pilot Adetokunbo (Toks) Desalu, who took his first solo last Dec. 9 at Clow Airport, Plainfield, Ill. In the next issue of the IDPA Newsletter, Toks will tell us all about it.

Welcome to these new members: Willi Reif, Summerfield, Fla.., and Denis T. Tucker, Houston, Tex., and these new associate members: James Shepard, Washington D.C.; Ashton Dunbar, Alexandria. Va., James Cummins, Pacifica, Calif.