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United States Pilots Association |
I’m thankful that my home town, Branson, MO, has seen fit to honor veterans in a big way on and around Veterans’ Day each year. It always brings back memories of the day I marched in the Veterans’ Day Parade in downtown St. Louis as a 17 year old Woman Marine Reservist.
Now, as then, I don’t have words to properly describe how I feel about the value of our military service personnel, of both yesterday and today. But this passage written by Navy Chaplin Denis Edward O’Brien says it in a powerful way.
“A vet is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn’t run out of fuel.
A vet is the POW who went away one person, and came back another – or didn’t come back at all.
A vet is the drill instructor who has never seen combat – but has saved countless lives by turning teenagers into Marines, Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, and Coast Guardsmen, and teaching them to watch each other’s backs.
A vet is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.
A vet is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.
A vet is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor lies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean’s sunless deep.
A vet is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket – palsied now and aggravatingly slow – who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
A vet is an ordinary and yet extraordinary human being, a person who offered some of his life’s most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.
A vet is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.”
To me, a veteran is also the Reservist of yesterday and today who spent/spends his/her weekends preparing to go and serve when called.
Enjoy your holiday. And to all you veterans and families of veterans, I say a heartfelt “Thank You” for keeping our country free.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
In these days of terrible pressure on general aviation—making most of us wonder just how long we can afford to fly our GA planes—ABC carried a very good article by John J. Nance, a decorated military pilot with a commercial airline career, who flies his own plane.
To read John’s article, go to http://abcnews.go.com/Business/FlyingHigh/story?id=1251850. I only wish John had gone into just how threatened those little grass strips are, how many airports are lost every day, and how the days of the average person flying for personal pleasure might very well be numbered.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
USPA President Steve Uslan was the guest speaker at the Texas Pilots Association meeting in Denton on Thursday evening, October 20. Addressing a good turnout of TPA members, Uslan’s topics included user fees, the Washington DC ADIZ, TFRs, and FEMA’s inept handling of Katrina/Rita hurricane relief.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
There’s a new free website available for checking fuel prices around the country. http://www.100ll.com/. You might like to give it a try.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
The latest report from our USPA members, the Smiths:
Jan,
Thanks for the USPA’s support of our dog Hauss. Thanks to you and your network, he is back in the running again. It’s always nice to have backing like the USPA. If Hauss wins, I’ll send you a glossy 8 x 10 picture with his signature on it (his pawprint). It will have to be an 8 x 10 because his pawprint would almost entirely cover up a 5 x 7. Thanks for your quick response and support.
Like Superdog, USPA has come to save the day.
See his picture in the attachment.
Greg and Sharon Smith
“HAUSS THE BAUSS”
I am in a Halloween Contest in the Sun Times Newspaper. Please go online to www.thesuntimes.com website and click on the Halloween Contest Button and Vote For Contestant P-2. Contest ends October 26th at noon, so please vote quickly. Thanks.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
USPA members Greg and Sharon Smith of the Holley Mountain Chapter in Arkansas are asking USPA’s support of their “Kid” in the Heber Springs Sun Times Newspaper Halloween Contest. The fact that their “Kid” is a six-year-old Great Dane named Hauss, makes it even sweeter, since Hauss is the co-pilot of the Smiths’ Cessna 172!
The contest closes tomorrow (Tuesday), so Hauss needs your vote TODAY! Just click on www.thesuntimes.com, select Halloween Contest on the upper left, and vote for Contestant P-2, the Great Dane in the Superman Costume with the sunglasses on. Greg and Sharon and Hauss would appreciate the support of their flying friends.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
Since many USPA members live in or near Missouri and the Johnson County Executive Airport (OJC), I’m forwarding this invitation to attend an interesting seminar which will be presented next Thursday evening, October 20. Roy Martin is the uncle of a Bransonite friend, and it sounds like he has a very interesting presentation.
Airplane Designs of the Future
A Special Presentation by Northrop Test Pilot Roy Martin
Where: Air Associates Hangar #3
Johnson County Executive Airport
(East Side) 913-764-4800
When: Thursday, October 20, 2005
Time: 7:00 P.M.
Test Pilot Roy Martin will review a flight test project conducted for NASA by the Northrop Company where he piloted a specially shaped F-5 aircraft. This project proved that appropriate aircraft shaping can be used to reduce the effect of the sonic boom. He will talk about how the flight tests were conducted and how the results of these tests will affect future designs of business aircraft that can operate over the USA at supersonic speeds.
Refreshments will be provided.
RSVP - Air Associates, 913-764-4800
If you plan to attend, be sure to RSVP at the number given.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
Summer has gone and so apparently have most of the Flight Service Stations. Lockheed Martin has taken over the operation of this very important function, and to be honest, I have not noticed any deterioration in service. When calling for a briefing, I get Albuquerque instead of San Angelo, but the information is well presented, and thus far there has been no appreciable wait to speak to a briefer. If any of you are having difficulty in getting briefings or filing or closing flight plans, please let me know.
Next we come to “User Fees.” Ms. Blakey continues to pound the drum saying the FAA needs a more fair and equitable means to fund itself. Read that as a series of assessments to small aircraft which would only add to the FAA staffing and would not do anything to improve the feds heretofore ignoring of GA needs. As long as there are politicians that will use GA as a whipping boy, and as long as the airlines continue to bleed monies due to poor management and high fuel price,s we can expect no consideration from the FAA. Lets face facts. The airlines control a much larger lobby than we do. When I see airline ticket sales at $29.00 one way, I know that sanity is not one of their strong suits. We need to write to our federal elected officials protesting any imposition of user fees.
Next on the menu is the proposed Permanent Washington, DC, ADIZ. This idea comes solely from the inconvenience that two pilots caused to our government officials (the evacuation) by flying into the DC area with a Cessna 152. This is more of that "Feel Good Mentality" put forth by the Department of Homeland Security. It makes me think that our politicians are on a steady diet of Peyote. The attacks of 9/11 were performed by idiots using airliners as guided bombs. Does anyone seriously think that a Cessna 152 could be used in the same manner?
While we are on the subject,t why are airliners not restricted from landing and taking off from Washington, DC? Logic says if these were used before why would you want to give the enemy another chance? The politicians answer is to ban small GA aircraft from the area, and force business jets etc. to land at a predesignated airport outside the ADIZ, subject their aircraft to TSA inspection, and then board and carry a sky marshall into Washington. Personally, until they move the Smithsonian to the Grand Canyon, I will stay out of the Washington, DC, area.
Finally is the issue of fuel prices. Forty miles east of where I live is a FINA refinery that makes avgas (100LL). Before hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, the price of avgas began to jump. When I took an Angel Flight mission to San Antonio, I was given a fuel price of $5.52 per gallon after a $.50c per gallon discount for AF. I am here to tell you this is /was the same fuel that sat in tanks and is still sitting in tanks-- refined well before the hurricane. It is pure gouging of the aviating public and is already having repercussions in the industry.
The price of 260-325hp used single engine airplanes is dropping like a stone. Those owners who were counting on selling their aircraft for prior market prices need to re-look at the situation. Think of it this way. The major truck and SUV manufacturers (Ford, GM, Chrysler) all came out with "You pay what we pay" pricing on new vehicles. Their profits have fallen dramatically as they sold off inventory. When you could buy a new Dodge or Ford quad cab pickup for about $21,000 new, imagine what it does to the used vehicle price. The same will apply in aviation as manufacturers like Cessna try to recoup cash from the sale of existing inventory.
I have several suggestions to offer regarding the spike in fuel costs. First, fly smart. Get on Air Nav.com and seek out the least expensive fuel stops along your planned route of flight. Throttle back to 65% power to conserve fuel. Most important, if the flight is not critical, don't go, or if you must go, consider driving. Finally, avoid those high priced FBOs on the big airports that pay a "flowage" fee to the city, county, or airport authority. Read that one as a TAX added on to the fuel price. Seek out the less expensive fuel stops. When the higher priced fuel sits in the FBO’s tanks and trucks unsold, the price will come down.
We can all do our part to voice our opposition to any or all of the above issues. Don't just sit on your behinds waiting for AOPA or EAA, etc., to do the job for us. Take the time and write your congressman and explain your position. We are still a representative democracy. If they don't represent us, then fire them at the next election.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association
If it happens in Washington, it can happen anywhere. So think many of us. Although we know some airspace restrictions are necessary for reasonable national security concerns, changing the D.C. Class B airspace into a permanent new designation sets the precedent for this to be duplicated elsewhere.
If you share USPA’s concerns—which are the concerns of AOPA and many other aviation organizations—you might like to do what you can to have your voice heard. Go to http://dms.dot.gov/search/searchResultsSimple.cfm?numberValue=17005&searchType=docket to view the many comments posted there, and to add yours.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
The USPA flyout/meeting in Roswell, NM, was a dandy, with around 30 people in attendance. Personally, Paul and I flew out two days early to enjoy the area and travel to some of the wonderful places of interest “scoped out” by Bob Worthington. We traveled up into the Capitan Mountains and west as far as Alamogordo, on the edge of the White Sands Missile Range. Among our fun stops was the resting place of the original Smokey Bear (there were two others after him), the historical town of Lincoln (of Billy the Kid fame), Ruidoso (you know of Ruidoso Downs), and the wineries and pistachio groves near Alamogordo. Of course, we came home with wine and pistachio goodies, and many happy memories.
The New Mexico Pilots Association put on an excellent safety seminar on Friday evening, and followed it up with a mountain flying course/biannual flight review on Saturday and Sunday. The weather cooperated, and those flying into the Sacramento Mountains reported breathtaking beauty and vistas too numerous to describe. Our thanks to CFII Jim Van Namee of Taos, and Gold Seal CFIIs Dick Samuels of Alto and Ferdi de Souza of El Prado.
The Saturday night dinner was well attended, after which President Steve Uslan was presented with a plaque of appreciation for his service as President of the organization. Then Bob Worthington, who led five USPA planes on a three week flight through Canada into and through Alaska this summer, gave a multi-media presentation on how to fly your own plane to Alaska. The talk began with describing what preparation is necessary, followed by highlights of the trip.
A General Membership Meeting was held Friday morning, and a Board Meeting on Saturday morning, with discussion and sharing information of concern to GA in today’s uncertain aviation climate. Among actions taken was the decision to withdraw USPA’s offer of flying assistance to FEMA, since they have never called us to service, in spite of several situations where we may have been helpful, including the recent hurricanes. Instead, President Steve Uslan urged members to volunteer their services to other aviation organizations which perform similar missions on a regular basis as their main objective. USPA also heard from a NM representative of Angel Flight, on the good work of their organization, and their need for more pilots.
Friday and Saturday afternoon were left for sightseeing in Roswell and the surrounding area, and many went to the International UFO Museum in Roswell. This fine museum is extremely well done, and documents (among other interesting things) the events surrounding the 1947 crash of a space ship near Roswell, in which three Aliens were killed. One gentleman working there—Glenn Dennis—was the mortician on duty at the time of the crash. Now whether you believe the story or not, if you had seen the sworn testimonies of those involved, and met Glenn as we did, you would be persuaded that we are not alone in this universe. Isn’t that a foolish thought anyway!
By the way, Paul had the goals of meeting an Alien in Roswell and flying in a space ship. He accomplished one of his goals. Working at the UFO Museum was a delightful fella from England, who, of course, is an Alien! The space ship flight remains for another day.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association