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United States Pilots Association |
I hope by now you are planning to attend the Geneva, IL, USPA flying/meeting August 26-29. The Illinois Pilots Association has set up activities for a fun and educational experience for USPA members.
However, if you cannot attend, and if you are a board member (that includes the five voting delegates from each affiliated state organization), please be sure to send a proxy with someone for the board meeting in order that there will be quorum present to conduct business.
If you would like to send me your proxy, you can send the following by email. Please send it before Thursday.
PROXY
The undersigned, being a designated voting member of the Board of Directors and/or Individual Member of the United States Pilots Association, and entitled to vote at the ________________ Meeting of the Board of Directors and/or annual membership meeting, do hereby constitute and appoint _________________________, my true and lawful attorney-in-fact and proxy to attend and represent me at the Board Meeting and/or annual meeting to be held on ____________________ , or any continuation or adjournment thereof, with full power to vote and act for me and in my name, place, and stead, in the same manner, to the same extent, and with the same effect that I might were I personally present thereat. Any proxy or proxies heretofore given by me to any person or persons whatsoever are hereby revoked.
In WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Proxy on this ___________ day of ______________, 2004.
Signature
Name Printed
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
By now most everyone in GA has heard the story of two Middle Eastern men—employees of NBC NY—who attempted to get a national news story on how easy it is to hijack a helicopter for a terrorist attack. Confirmed by USPA President Steve Uslan, it happened on August 11 at the St. Louis Downtown Airport, when they called the FBO about a charter flight, obtained directions to the business, arrived an hour later, and produced drivers licenses from two different states, with a car registered in a third state.
Being suspicious, as you can well imagine they might be, the mechanic delayed the men while the secretary called the FBI and local Police, who arrested the men. They were ultimately released when NBC vouched for them.
The two men were on assignment by NBC to get a story of how easy it is to charter a helicopter for a terrorist attack. They had stayed in a local hotel and had bought box cutters, knives, and other potential weapons which were hidden in their baggage. They had also taped the initial phone conversation to use in the national story.
Being the small community that GA is, it is no surprise to us that the FBO staff responded as they did. But can you imagine the reaction of non-aviation types had their plan succeeded? And it was later learned that although this was the first such attempt, NBC planned other potential stories around the country.
Good news reporting or bad? Helpful to national security or harmful? Builds more security confidence in Americans or less? You be the judge. But I’m thinking there are endless opportunities in our “free” society where terrorists can potentially wreck havoc. In the GA community we know who belongs and who doesn’t, and what does and doesn’t make sense at airports, and we’re probably far more secure than many other forms of transportation and public facilities.
With the burning desire to “scoop” for viewer numbers to the point of creating stories, we now have to watch out for both the “real” and the “make believe” terrorists. What a shame.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
The FAA has issued a NOTAM that will expand Prohibited Area P-49 beginning Wednesday, August 18 at 8:35 p.m. local, continuing through Thursday, August 26 at 12:30 p.m. local, for President Bush's visit to his ranch.
The TFR will extend to a 30 NM radius below 18,000. GA flight operations are prohibited within 10 NM of the TFR center. And based on previous Presidential travel, there may be smaller TFRs for arrival and departure from Waco.
Affected airports are Valley Mills Municipal (9F1), Wildcat Canyon (3T8), McGregor Executive (PWG), Clifton Municipal/Isenhower Field (7F7), Waco Regional (ACT), City-County (05F), Lake Whitney State Park (F50), TSTC Waco (CNW), Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional (TPL), and Wings For Christ International Flight Academy (73F).
Because TFR airspace frequently changes, pilots are encouraged to obtain a briefing and CHECK NOTAMS before every flight.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
The last week in July and the first week in August have been marked by a series of fatal aircraft accidents involving pilots and their families and friends from the state of Texas. There is no doubt in my mind that weather played a part in every one of these occurrences. Contrary to popular belief, Texas weather is not always CAVU with tailwinds. Consider these accidents. A single engine airplane piloted by a Texan, attempts to depart from Point Lookout airport in Branson, MO. Outside temperature was approaching 100 degrees. The plane was heavily loaded, and the pilot realized he could not get off the ground and attempted to abort the takeoff. He ran off the runway elevated threshold and fell onto a highway where the airplane exploded and burned killing all aboard. A light twin departs a private airpark in the Austin, Texas area. Temperatures and humidity are again major factors. The plane will not climb and ends up crashing into a house killing all aboard and destroying the house.
Yet another aircraft crashes and burns at Mineral Wells, Texas attempting to land on a 100 degree day. Two folks died when their aircraft dropped off center radar less than thirty miles from Waco, Texas. Temperatures in the high nineties, and this occurred in one of the most heavily scrutinized areas in the country; near President Bush's ranch. We as pilots need to realize that the airplane that flies off the ground in forty degree weather will require a great deal longer runway to get off the ground on a very hot day. Heat is a factor. So is humidity. As is total weight and how the plane is loaded. My rule of thumb is to depart early in the day when it is cooler and always be sure I am under gross weight. Density Altitude can kill you just as easily at sea level on a hot, humid day. Read your POH and understand the aircraft's limitations. Try to fly early in the day and avoid the late afternoon convective activity. Let us not try to defy the laws of physics. Common sense will go a long way toward insuring many future years of flying.
Steve Uslan, President
USPA
The FAA has proposed significantly increasing the scope of its required drug and alcohol testing program to include all tiers of maintenance providers associated with Part 121 and 135 air carriers. As proposed, the regulation would include certified repair stations and non-certified maintenance subcontractors that perform maintenance functions for anyone providing maintenance services to Part 121 and 135 air carriers in the U.S.
Sound reasonable enough? But when you fully comprehend the implications, you find that this applies to anyone working on any piece of an aircraft no matter how far down the contract chain that company may be, such as third, fourth, or fifth tier, etc. companies performing such specialized services such as welding, heat-treating, machining, dry cleaning, etc. Some of these companies work primarily in industries other than aviation, and imposing the rule would inflict substantial cost burdens.
Also, many repair stations use sub-contractors that repair common consumer electronic items, such as VCRs and DVD players, if they are subsequently installed in aircraft. It’s not difficult to imagine a subcontractor who is not even aware that its work is aviation maintenance-related, yet it would be required to have a drug and alcohol testing program.
So how does this affect Part 91 operators (you and me)? As stated by one Part 145 repair station already on a company-wide testing program, “Obviously, we have to pass on the extra cost to all our customers, whether or not they’re a Part 135 operator.”
As stated by USPA President, Steve Uslan, “Obviously, we will come down against this idea.”
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
Many USPA members visited AirVenture 2004 at Oshkosh, WI, this past week. So did USPA Executive Director Jan Hoynacki and USPA Past President Paul Hough, both of Branson, MO—and in less than 24 hr.! Yes, that was enough for us. And it was certainly worth the effort.
Leaving PLK (Pt. Lookout, MO) at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, it was a mere 2 hr. 45 min. IFR flight in VFR conditions to Fond du Lac, WI, (FLD), where the helpful ground crew fueled our Mooney Ovation2 and towed it to a hard surface tiedown spot nearby. It seems everyone in WI had been told to welcome OSH visitors warmly and tell them to have a good time. That’s a really nice thing!
It was easy this year to get an arrival reservation at FLD. http://www.fly.faa.gov/estmp/index.html made it much simpler than trying to figure out which telephone key to press. That’s a very good way to get your reservation to go to AOPA Expo in October also. No departure reservation was required leaving from FLD.
Having been invited to stay overnight with them in their motor home at OSH, USPA member Lindell Loveless and his wife Jean were already there waiting for us with hot brats and drinks. Then, after a short drive up to AirVenture at OSH, we were ready to buy tickets and hit the grounds.
How do you tackle the world’s largest aviation show in two half days? Well, we chose to ride the shuttles that take you up and down the length of the grounds, stopping at various locations along the way, and changing from south-bound to north-bound shuttles after reaching the end. From amphibians and ultra-lights at the south, to classic and type clubs, to war birds on the north, and vendors and booths everywhere in between, we were able to have a motorized tour, with stops along the way to browse in areas of interest. The afternoon air show was enjoyed during the stops, as the weather was ideal for tripping the light fantastic in aerobatic planes and war birds of all types.
(By the way, if you camp at Camp Schoeller at OSH, be sure you’re a long way away from the teen dance hall which starts at 9:00 p.m. and runs (loudly) until 11:00 p.m. every night!)
The next day found us at the Garmin booth, talking with USPA member Micky Pinkston’s grandson Scott Smith who is a Garmin salesman, checking out Garmin’s new glass panel. It’s unbelievable and a quick learn, even for old timers. But at this time you have to buy a new plane to get the glass. Retrofits are on the way.
The Mooney booth was busy selling new Ovations, with all new buyers favoring the Garmin 1000 glass. USPA member Steve Broussard who has Midwest Mooney at New Century Airport, Olathe, KS, was busy showing potential buyers the beautiful Ovation mockup in the Mooney booth. With two years of free fuel, I understand several Ovations were sold during AirVenture. And some MPA members from Lake of the Ozarks (potential USPA Individual Members) are seriously looking.
At 12:30 p.m., after downing another brat, we were off IFR from FLD to PLK, planning a direct course, unless we had to deviate around some convective weather over eastern Iowa. But at around 187 K, we flew past the storms before they invaded our path, and landed at PLK at 3:15 p.m., ready to get home, open the mail, do the laundry, have a cool drink, and give thanks to the good Lord for allowing us the wonderful privilege of living in a country where we can still jump in our plane and take in a glorious event like OSH, and be home again, all in 24 hr.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
The M. Graham Clark Airport at the College of the Ozarks at Pt. Lookout, MO, (PLK) has been closed down since a single engine plane with five on board went over the east end of the runway on takeoff at10:00 a.m. this morning. A fire followed, and reports are that all five on board died in the crash.
Reports say all five are from Texas, and one was a child.
It is unknown how long the airport will be shut down, but Hwy. 65 traffic and throughout the Hollister area traffic was being diverted to provide access for emergency vehicles.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association