Colorado Pilots Association Seeks Scholarship Applicants!

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The Colorado Pilots Association (CPA) is accepting applications for its annual scholarship program, which awards one more $2,000 scholarships to Colorado high school graduates interested in pursuing an aviation related career.  Applications are due May 15, 2013.

The program is designed to recognize and assist high school graduates who have demonstrated ability and dedication and who have a strong interest in pursuing an aviation related career. The program is funded primarily from donations by individual CPA members and revenues derived from the organization’s nationally recognized Mountain Flying Ground School.

Four Participating Academic Institutions. The scholarships will be awarded in support of ground training and academics at one of four public academic institutions with aviation based programs in the State of Colorado; Metropolitan State University of Denver, Aims Community College, Colorado Northwestern Community College, and Emily Griffith Opportunity School. Funds will be applied towards tuition in an aviation-related program, not including flight training, and will be paid directly to the educational institution.Eligibility is limited to students planning to enroll as full time students at one of the four institutions and is further limited to United States citizens who are full-time Colorado residents.

Basis of Award. The selection of scholarship recipients will be based on academic accomplishment, work experience, community and school related activities, a personal application statement, and interview by the scholarship committee.

Applications. Application must be submitted on the attached application form, postmarked no later than May 15, 2013, and submitted to:

Colorado Pilots Association Scholarship Committee

P.O. Box 200911

Denver, CO 80220-0911

Contact: Walt Barbo, Scholarship Committee, 303-367-0670, WaltBarbo@comcast.net

Web site: www.ColoradoPilots.org

 

 

Free Avgas!!

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Did I catch your attention?!

During March 2013, Clare Municipal Airport in Clare, Michigan will be offering free avgas to one lucky visitor up to $100.  All you need to do is stop in, purchase avgas, and fill out a ticket.  The lucky winner will received a full refund for his fuel up to $100!

So fly in, say hello to the friendly manager Dick (who is well known across the State for his ice cream and handmade shakes) and most importantly go fly!

How Sequestration Could Affect Central Southwest Region’s Airports

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As most of you know, President Obama and Congress are in the throes of debate over federal sequestration, an unusual legislative requirement that dictates across-the-board cuts of $85 billion in federal spending on March 1, unless Congress finds a solution before. FMI, read the following two articles: http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2013/130225fed-sequestration-impact-on-ga.html and http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2013/130227top-officials-offer-glimpse-post-sequester.html?CMP=News:S1T.

I’ll start by pointing out that all of this is worst-case scenario. No one is able to draw any conclusions or reach decisions on where we might end up until, at least, this Friday, March 1.

Those articles above and the letter the FAA wrote to AOPA and other organizations(http://www.faa.gov/news/updates/media/2013_02_22_10_00_10.pdf) cited several measures that the agency might have to enact if a deal on sequestration isn’t reached, including:

1) the closure of 72 airport control towers during midnight shifts,

2) the complete shutdown of 238 towers (189 towers in the Contract Tower Porgram and 49 federally funded control towers) at airports with fewer than 150,000 flight operations per year,

3) the reduction of preventive maintenance, provisioning and support for all NAS equipment, and

4) a staff furlough.

Combined, the impact of the closures would amount to a 30-percent reduction in control tower service system-wide. Cuts would start in April and continue incrementally over 10 years if Congress and the Obama administration cannot agree by Friday, March 1 on a compromise to avoid  the arbitrary $85 billion cuts in federal spending for the rest of this fiscal  year.

You might be wondering how this could affect airports in the Central Southwest Region. Here is the list of airports, by state, that could potentially be permanently closed or their tower midnight shifts cut or reduced:

ATC Facilities - Potential Permanent Closures

Arkansas: Springdale Municipal (ASG), Fort Smith (FSM), Drake Field (FYV) in Fayeteville, Rogers Municipal – Carter Field (ROG), and Texarkana Regional – Webb Field (TXK).

Iowa: Waterloo (ALO), Dubuque Regional (DBQ), and Sioux Gateway (SUX).

Kansas: Forbes Field (FOE) and Philip Billard Municipal (TOP) in Topeka, Garden City Regional (GCK), Hutchinson Municipal (HUT), New Century AirCenter (IXD) and Johnson County Executive (OJC) in Olathe, and Manhattan Regional (MHK).

Louisiana: Chennault International (CWF) and Lake Charles Regional (LCH) in Lake Charles, Shreveport Downtown (DTN), Monroe Regional (MLU), and Lakefront (NEW) in New Orleans.

Missouri: Branson (BBG), Columbia Regional (COU), Jefferson City Memorial (JEF), Joplin Regional (JLN), and Rosecrans Memorial (STJ) in St. Joseph.

Nebraska: Central Nebraska Regional (GRI) in Grand Island.

New Mexico: Double Eagle II (AEG) in Albuquerque, Lea County Regional (HOB) in Hobbs, Roswell International Air Center (ROW), and Santa Fe Municipal (SAF).

Oklahoma: Ardmore Municipal (ADM), Lawtown-Fort Sill Regional (LAW), University of Oklahoma Westheimer (OUN) in Norman, Wiley Post (PWA) in Oklahoma City, Stillwater Regional (SWO), Enid Wooding Regional (WDG), and Klamath Falls (LMT).

Texas: Waco Regional (ACT) and TSTC Waco (CNW) in Waco, New Braunfels Municipal (BAZ), Jack Brooks Regional (BPT) in Beaumont, Brownsville/South Padre Island International (BRO), Easterwood Field (CLL) in College Station, Lone Star Executive (CXO) in Conroe, Fort Worth Spinks (FWS), East Texas Regional (GGG) in Longview, Arlington Municipal (GKY), Grand Prairie Municipal (GPM), Georgetown Municipal (GTU), San Marcos Municipal (HYI), Dallas Executive (RBD) and Collin County Regional at McKinney (TKI) in Dallas, Sugar Land Regional (SGR), Stinson Municipal (SSF) in San Antonio, Tyler Pounds Regional (TYR), and Victoria Regional (VCT).

ATC Facilities – Potential Overnight Closures

Arkansas: Little Rock (LIT) Tower

Iowa: Des Moines (DSM) Tower

Kansas: Wichita (ICT) Tower

Louisiana: Shreveport (SHV) Tower

Missouri: Kansas City Downtown (MKC) Tower and Springfield (SGF) Tower

Nebraska: Eppley Field (OMA) Tower

New Mexico: Albuquerque Sunport (ABQ) Tower

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City (OKC) Tower and Tulsa (TUL) Tower

Texas: Abilene (ABI) Tower, Austin Bergstrom (AUS) Tower, Corpus Christi (CRP) Tower, El Paso (ELP) Tower, Meacham (FTW) Tower, Lubbock (LBB) Tower.

The exact timing of these overnight closures would vary by facility.

Stay tuned for updates on the AOPA website/newsletters/etc, the Region’s Twitter account (@AOPACentralSW), or on this blog.

TENNESSEE’S AVIATION DAY ON THE HILL

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Last week, AOPA joined with the Tennessee Aviation Association and Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame and together we put on TENNESSEE AVIATION DAY ON THE HILL at Legislative Plaza in Nashville.

Getting exhibits set up and providing a Continental Breakfast for Legislators and Staffers by 7:00 AM started for me at about 4:30 in the morning. As the State Capitol began to come alive for the day’s business, we got into full-swing serving biscuits & sausage, coffee, fruit and juice and talking about General Aviation! Jo Ann Speer, the President of the Tennessee Aviation Association brought hundreds of little balsa airplanes with the TAA logo on them and they were a real big hit. TAA’s entire Board of Directors were there as was TAHF Chairman, John  Black. We had the best location possible, right outside the entrance to the Lt. Governor’s office.

Wednesday morning at the Capitol, a first ever event for TAA and the TAHF, was a great day. I spend a lot of time in the halls of the Legislature for AOPA so I knew most of our visitors personally. Tennessee has a long history of legislative support for aviation and that was strongly re-enforced by the reception we all got from both Legislators and Staff. It is such a pleasure working with governmental leaders that “get it”, as we say! Of course, we managed to work in some lobbying on a few issues of interest as well.

These types of aviation events, focused on State Capitols are productive and important. In the every-changing halls of democratic government we should never stop doing these things. The Tennessee event was my second one this month. I also participated in one in Atlanta on February 6th. It too was very successful.

A 50-year-old aviation survival story, with lessons for today…

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From the “Looking Back” section of the Feb. 11, 2013 Fairbanks Daily News Miner.

The “Looking Back” section of yesterday’s Fairbanks Daily News Miner reported that on that day fifty years ago (February 11, 1963) an aircraft from Fairbanks was the object of an search along a Canadian stretch of the Alaska Highway.  The missing aircraft, a single engine Howard, was on its way to San Francisco. As a kid growing up in Fairbanks when this story first hit the papers, I followed with the rest of the country as the search, in severe winter conditions unfolded.  Initially searchers had no luck finding the downed aircraft.  Missing was 42 year old pilot Ralph Flores and his passenger, 21 year Helen Klaben, who had been sharing expenses for what was planned to be a three-day trip from Fairbanks down the Alaska Highway.

As the days passed, searchers found no trace of the missing pair. Winter temperatures in the areas plunged to 40 below and colder, and hopes begin to fade.  After two weeks, search efforts were called off, with the assumption that no one was able to survive in those conditions.

It definitely made headlines when 49 days after their disappearance the couple was found— ALIVE!  Not equipped with conventional survival gear, the little food they were carrying had been consumed in the first few days, leaving them to survive on melted snow and a tube of toothpaste for the better part of 40 days in the sub-Arctic wilderness.  Both had sustained injuries in the crash, so how did they survive?

Years later as a relatively new pilot, I attended a seminar organized by the Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation on survival skills, taught by the late Ray Tremblay. He used the Flores/Klaben accident to illustrate several aspects of a survival situation. Having no conventional survival equipment (sleeping bags, axe, firearm, food, etc.), they managed to survive 49 days in the wilderness in sub-zero temperatures.  How did they accomplish this feat, which would today challenge seasoned professionals?  Tremblay studied the case in detail and came up with his own answers, in part from the account of the ordeal written by Helen Kalben in her book, “Hey, I’m Alive.” 

There were two aspects of this accident that Tremblay suggested held important lessons  to consider:

  1. Conventional wisdom is to stay with your airplane, in a survival situation in the wilderness.  Not only is the aircraft easier to see from the air than a human, but it may supply a wealth of materials to use if you are stuck for an extended period.  In this case, the victims could hear search aircraft, but couldn’t attract their attention due the wooded nature of the crash site.  About five weeks after the accident, they moved to a more open area, and made a signal which was spotted by a pilot making a routine flight a few days later.  His point was this: conventional wisdom is valuable, but you have to consider all the factors and come up with the best course of action for the situation you find yourself in. Had they moved sooner, rescue undoubtedly would have been earlier. Had they not moved, their survival would have been in doubt.
  2. As the ordeal progressed, Flores attempted to convert Klaben to his religion.  Both were reasonably strong willed.  The discussions and mental conflict between the two kept them occupied, and provided a continued reason not to give up.  Tremblay impressed upon us not to overlook the role mental attitude plays (not necessarily always conflict) in a survival situation.

In addition to carrying standard items like food, first aid kit, signaling devices, and a sleeping bag in my survival gear, I include reading material to occupy the mind, in the event of a forced landing.  Even in non-emergency situations, I have found it valuable to read a chapter of a book while waiting for conditions to improve, to help reduce the temptation to “push the weather.”  And if push comes to shove, I can always use the pages to light a fire…

Helen Kaben did us a favor in writing her book, published within a year of the accident, that provides a detailed first-person account of the ordeal.  There are many factors that went into the success of this situation, leading to their survival. I recommend it for those interested in survival stories.

I will be watching the “Looking Back” section of the Fairbanks paper during the weeks ahead to see if other accounts of this story surface, and how it was reported, a half century ago.

Flight Service integrates satellite trackers in Alaska

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After almost two years in the making, the Alaska Flight Service Program issued a Letter to Airmen last week, announcing a new service that combines two of the popular satellite tracking devices with VFR flight plans.  The program is called the Enhanced Special Reporting Service (eSRS), originally designed to track pilots operating over mountains or water using frequent radio calls.  Of course, in much of Alaska there aren’t nearby radio outlets to receive those calls— so enter the era of satellite tracking devices.  These units combine the features of GPS positioning and a satellite communication network to send “Help” messages to a ground facility somewhere on the planet, which forwards them to the email or text message address of our choice.  So why not send those to Flight Service, the people holding your VFR flight plan?

In a nutshell, that is what this service does.  Pilots who own either a SPOT or Spidertracks tracker may sign up to have alert messages from their devices sent directly to Flight Service. In the event of an emergency, FSS will relay the messages to the Rescue Coordination Center, including your location.  Signing up is fairly simple.  Fill out, or update, a Master Flight Plan indicating that you want to participate in the eSRS program, and list the type of satellite tracker you have. (The service is currently limited to SPOT or Spidertracks, however other devices are expected to be tested and added in the future.)  Upon receipt of that plan, Flight Service will email the information needed to add them to your contacts list.  You can still have your family or friends receive the message at the same time.  A few details to be mindful of:

  • FSS is NOT actually tracking your flight. They only expect to receive a message if you are in distress and need help.
  • This supplements, but does not take the place of the legal requirement to have an ELT.
  • There is no charge by FAA for this program; however both SPOT and Spidertracks charge an ongoing fee for their tracking and messaging services.

An example Spidertracks track from a 191 nm photo mission flight into the Alaska Range. Had anything gone wrong, FSS would have received an email with my flight track and my reported position within the last two minutes before the unit quit transmitting. It would have been hard to describe this route precisely for FSS in a flight plan.

I have used both SPOT and Spidertracks devices.  Before the FAA offered this service, my wife was my primary contact to receive a distress message. This was fine until she was riding in the airplane with me. And even though I have other friends set up to receive my messages, they don’t necessarily know where I am going, and who is on board.  So having an alert message go straight to Flight Service, where it can be matched up with my flight plan, brings the information together needed to get help headed my way.  This seems especially well suited for people flying to remote areas where there are no phones or radio outlets to close a flight plan.  While we have always had the option to file a long-duration, “round robin” flight plan, it didn’t offer much protection until we came up overdue, which might be several days.  Combined with a satellite tracking device, Flight Service will respond when they get the help message.   It also makes sense for pilots who fly on complex routes on a “round robin” flight plan where it is difficult to precisely describe to Flight Service where you intend to go.  How well this works does depend on what tracker you have, and how you chose to use it. Do your homework before investing in a device.

This program didn’t just happen.  Adam White, at the time serving as the President of the Alaska Airmen’s Association, and I approached the FAA about this concept.  It took a team of Flight Service staff from the three “parent” flight service stations (Juneau, Kenai and Fairbanks), the Alaska Flight Service Program Office in Anchorage and support from FAA headquarters to develop the concept and operational procedures.  While Adam and I served as the initial “parties in distress” to test the system, before the service was declared operational, a dozen other pilots from the interior, south central and south east Alaska participated in the beta-testing phase of the program.  Spidertracks Ltd. loaned the FAA a system for test purposes while a member of the Flight Service staff loaned their personal SPOT tracker for the test period. My thanks to all that donated their time, talents and resources to incorporate this new technology, which I hope in the future will get pilots help sooner, and reduce the time spend searching for overdue aircraft.

To learn more or to sign up, Flight Service has developed a brochure and other background information to explain how the system works.  It could someday save your bacon!

At Your Service

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This past week, I was given the opportunity to attend the Great Lakes International Aviation Conference held on the campus of Eastern Michigan University. As I packed up the AOPA display late on Saturday night, I took a moment to reflect on the interactions I had during the conference so that I could share them with you here.

A Michigan State Police officer and pilot came to the booth and reached out his hand saying “Thank you.”  I returned the handshake and he told me how he had recently attended one of AOPA’s Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics and still hadn’t received his renewed certificate from the FAA. He went on to tell me how he checked with the local FSDO with no success, called FAA Headquarters with no success, and finally talked with a local Designated Pilot Examiner who told him to “Call AOPA.” He then went on to tell me how one of AOPA’s Pilot Information Center Specialists “tenaciously attacked the issue and found my certificate that same day. For that reason alone, I’m incredibly grateful for AOPA — even on top of the great advocacy the Association does,” he went on to say.

This sums up many of my experiences interacting with pilots and aircraft owners from across the great lakes region. Many express thanks for what AOPA has done in the past and many present issues for AOPA to tackle in the future.  During this conference alone, I met with at least 10 Airport Support Network Volunteers who told me of the ongoing issues at their airport, talked with representatives from three local collegiate aviation programs, numerous manufacturer representatives and countless pilots from the area. All of these interactions help guide AOPA’s efforts both nationally and regionally.

I mention this because I think it’s very important for AOPA members to know that we are all in this together.  Making general aviation stronger is a challenge we all must face together.  So, if you see or talk to an AOPA regional manager or other staff member — let us know how we can better serve you.  After all, we are here because of you and for you — and it is not something any of us take lightly.

Ski pilots: Fly In to the Willow Winter Carnival

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In what may be the first Alaska fly-in of the year, ski-plane pilots are invited to fly into Willow Lake, and attend the Willow Winter Carnival.  As daylight slooowly starts to return to the north, this event provides an excuse, er good reason, to pre-heat and fly over to Willow.  The Winter Carnival is not new—it has been going on for more than 50 years.  But this year thanks to some hard work on the part of community organizer Jane Dale (one of many hats she wears), provisions were made allowing ski-planes to land on the lake, within easy walking distance of the festivities.

The first airplane to arrive at Willow Lake as part of the Winter Carnival. Mt. McKinley looms in the background.

So what is the Willow Winter Carnival?  The event takes place in and around the Community Center and includes dog sled races, ski competitions, an outhouse race, bridge tournament, extreme dog boarding (I was afraid to ask what this was), ice cream eating contest, and much more.  While I was there today the Colony High School Jazz Band entertained the crowd followed later in the day by a K9 explosive detection demonstration by the Anchorage Airport Police.  Something for everybody!

The fly-in is organized by the Alaska Airmen’s Association and the Willow Airport Support Group.  The skies were blue, and the air cool and crisp, to the tune of about -5 degrees F.  While I was there, the first aircraft landed: a classic yellow supercub.  While most people arrived by car, the community center was packed. In addition to the special events, vendors were selling food, kids faces were painted, a wide range of items were available for sale or being raffled off, including a four-wheeler.  I bought a book on Joe Redington Sr, directly from the author.

If you are looking for a break in this rather bazaar winter we are having (weather wise), consider firing up your ski-plane and flying over to Willow for a few hours.  The Carnival takes place during two back-to back weekends: Jan 26-27 and February 2-3.  If you fly, check out the Willow Winter Carnival Site Plan, showing where the ski-strip and parking areas have been placed on the lake. Be extra alert, as there are dog races and other events also occurring on the perimeter and south half of the lake.  The revenue derived from this event provides the operating funds for the community center.  Details about the carnival are found on the Willow Area Community Organization’s website.  Consider it an Alaskan version of the $50 hamburger!

KENTUCKY IS SERIOUS ABOUT AVIATION EDUCATION

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The Commonwealth of Kentucky slogan is “Unbridled Spirit”. That reference doesn’t just speak to the state’s renowned equine industry, and it is probably interpreted by some as Unbridled “Spirits” because Kentucky is also the worlds supplier of Bourbon whiskey. But after learning about aviation education programs in The Commonwealth, I would argue that Unbridled Spirit best describes a bunch of deeply dedicated aviation educators and volunteers we met this week.

Kentucky boasts that there are more youngsters studying aviation and aerospace in this state than anywhere else in the country – and that it is all S.T. E. M. based. What I found most interesting is that the programs we learned about were complimentary, connected and don’t compete – they actually feed each other.

My AOPA headquarters colleagues, V.P., Michelle Peterson and her side-kick, Lauren Otto joined me in Lexington for a couple of days of familiarization about aviation education in Kentucky. We began at the Aviation Museum of Kentucky where every summer the AMK sponsors Aviation Camps of Kentucky. Students are enrolled at three levels – Level 1 (Ages 10-11), Level 2 (Ages 12-13) and Level 3 (Ages 14-16). The 2-day camps are packed with a rigorous program that introduces youngsters to aviation. Camps are held at the Museum on Bluegrass Airport in Lexington and at other locations throughout the state. Since 1996 there have been over 4,000 children enrolled in two intense days of math, the science of aeronautics, map reading, flight planning, a half-hour of flight training and more. http://www.aviationky.org/

Our next stop was at Capitol City Airport in Frankfort, the home of The Kentucky Institute for Aerospace Education (KIAE). Founder and CEO, Dr. Tim Smith, some of his Board Members and volunteers provided us with astonishing insight into its mission to improve student learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and create career pathways into aviation and aerospace throughout Kentucky. Students can transition into college and/or career readiness programs. The KIAE program now has agreements with Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State University, The University of Kentucky and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, allowing students to receive college credit for their studies. To date, KIAE has established accredited aviation learning programs in 18 public school districts across the state and is now receiving requests from other states to assist them is setting up similar programs. http://www.kiae.org/

Eastern Kentucky University at Richmond began establishing higher learning programs in aviation management and flight training in the 80’s. I was privileged to serve on an EKU Aviation Advisory Committee as then, Dr. Wilma Walker, was working to establish the aviation curriculum. When the University was granted approval for a minor in aviation in 1984, 18 students enrolled; today there are more than 150 enrolled in aviation flight and management courses. EKU’s professional flight option is the only FAA-approved university flight program in Kentucky. The University also manages the FBO at Madison County Airport. http://aviation.eku.edu/

Our two-day Kentucky learning adventure concluded with a marvelous and inspiring visit with Kentucky’s 2009 National Flight Instructor of the Year… the incomparable Arlynn McMahon of Aero Tech at LEX. Among a very long list of Arlynn’s accomplishments is a “Teen Aviation Camp” at Aero Tech. We wanted to learn more about it. Arlynn has established an all-summer (while school is out) aviation home (my words) for teens. Essentially a place they can come to at the airport where they can gather with a members-only peer group of other teens interested in exploring aviation. Initially, each summer’s Teen Aviation Camp orientation begins with about 35 teens and their parents. Perimeters and objectives are set… afterwards, the youngsters themselves are involved with somewhat informal activities. Aero Tech provides a welcoming, “safe place” where students can learn about aviation – and they can get dual flight instruction if they like – most do! http://www.aerotech.net/

As we all are seeking ways to interest others in General Aviation and to increase the pilot population, I believe the learning programs in Kentucky can be a model of how to proceed and how to succeed. The key ingredient is passionate and very dedicated people like we met everywhere we went. We never heard a negative word and their enthusiasm was contagious.

Addison, TX Mayor Meier Writes to Pres. Obama

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Addison, TX’s Mayor Todd Meier has recently sent a letter to President Obama expressing his concern over the President’s repeated negative remarks regarding general aviation as well as his opposition to the proposed $100 per segment user fee. For a copy of his letter, click here: Addison Mayor Meier letter to President 2013-01-04

Mayor Meier joins more than 115 Mayors across the country who have sent letters to the President explaining the critical importance of GA to local towns and communities. FMI and for a listing of these Mayors: http://www.aviationacrossamerica.com/mayors-petition-to-president-obama/

I encourage you to invite your Mayor to do the same.