By Clyde Smith, IDPA President

The Florida election recount controversy last December was fascinating. I was glued to the daily coverage on CNN. While other members of IDPA may have different views about the outcome of the controversy, I personally was relieved that Gov. George W. Bush will become our next president because of the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision to stop the recount of the votes.

I believe that it is to our advantage as general aviation pilots that Gov. Bush will take over the White House. I do not believe that he will recommend requiring fees from general aviation pilots for the use of airport runways and for the government service of providing weather reports. I believe Vice President Al Gore had planned to seek user fees from general aviation pilots to support his new government programs.

Strong IDPA
I am proud to say that IDPA is growing strong. Many new deaf student pilots have begun flight training. At the Illinois School for the Deaf, we have a 15-year-old student named Bremerton Allen who is taking flight lessons. So far he has logged 11 hours. He mowed lawns during the summer to pay for his training ($50 per hour for plane rental and $20 per hour for instruction). Bremerton's father is a private pilot, and he often rides with his father in a rented plane (Piper Warrior).

In the Chicago area, Henry Kisor reports, no fewer than three deaf student pilots are training:

Ashu Srivastava, who is from northern India, has been taking flight lessons at Du Page County Airport near Naperville, Ill., and Westosha Airport at Wilmot, Wis., Henry's home field. He's now completing his cross-country requirements and expects to be taking the flight test for the private pilot certificate before long.

Adetokunbo "Toks" Desalu, an American citizen whose roots are in Nigeria, begins his flight training in January at Lewis University Airport near Joliet, Ill.

And Melvin Patterson has logged several hours at Clow Airport near Plainfield, Ill.

8th annual Fly-In
Confused about numbers? The year 2001 will be our eighth annual fly-in, though our organization has existed for only 7 years. The IDPA Fly-In in Australia next July is considered the eighth annual international fly-in. The IDPA fly-in at Kansas City, Missouri next June will be considered the eighth United States Chapter of the IDPA fly-in. The IDPA-France Chapter will host its annual fly-in at Paris in May. I believe it is IDPA-France's sixth annual fly-in.

A new private pilot
Eric Mansfield of Frederick, Maryland, received his private pilot certificate recently. He teaches at the Maryland School for the Deaf. Please email to Eric to offer your congratulations at mansfield@aol.com. Congratulations, Eric!

News from Australia
I recently exchanged email with a certified flight instructor in Australia. His name is Paul O'Malley. He loves to hear from deaf pilots through the email system. His email address is flybfree@bigpond.net.au. Paul's girlfriend, Helen Gardner, is deaf. She wants to hear from deaf pilots. Her email address is hgardner@dlwc.nsw.gov.au.

Those who are attending the Australian fly-in may have had some concern about the extensive driving that is planned for people who will not be flying in rented airplanes. But "most of the roads in Australia are very good," Paul reports. "I see no problem driving the trip. Fuel is no problem as long as someone does their homework and sorts out fuel stops for the cars. There are plenty of small towns scattered around the place, and roadhouses for food. "At places like Williams Creek on the way to Alice Springs, even the planes can land for lunch, etc."

American deaf pilots visiting Australia very likely will go through something like the procedure Paul's flight school provides for German pilots who fly in Australia. "They get a special license, have a day at the school for briefing on local airspace and radio, then do a flight test and that's it, " Paul says.

News from Britain
Joan Hartley, a United Kingdom-based sailplane pilot, has moved. Her new address is 34, Fairfields Crescent, St. Ives, Cambs. PE27 5QH, England. Her fax number is +44 1480 370544.

Your 2001 dues
Here's a little reminder to renew your membership by mailing your 2001 dues now to our treasurer, Joe Stevens, 2843 Blackberry Ave., Middleburg, FL 32068. Thank you! Your timely financial support will show how serious you are about your membership in IDPA.

Happy New Year!
On behalf of the IDPA, we, the officers, wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year as well as the hope that we will all log many more flying hours.