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United States Pilots Association |
Paul Hough, as Chairman of the Nominating Committee, has made the request for input regarding officers and committee persons for the upcoming fiscal year.
If you are interested in a position, or have a recommendation of anyone for a position, please email me, and I will share the information with Paul.
Remember: AN ORGANIZATION IS ONLY AS GOOD AS ITS OFFICERS AND MEMBERSHIP PARTICIPATION.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
At the last USPA board meeting in Santa Fe, the board voted to give one year's free membership to individual members who sign up a new USPA individual member by December 31, 2007.
Have you signed up a new member yet? If not, why not? It's easy! Just give it a try. A free $35 membership is worth the effort.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
A few members and officers have reported having difficulties making reservations at the Holiday Inn in Denton for next month's flyout. The glitch has been handled, and you now can make hotel reservations at our USPA group rate. Please do so ASAP, before the group rate deadline of November 1.
Attached is the new registration form. Remember, if you register and are then unable to attend, only those monies which USPA cannot be reimbursed will be retained. If we don't have to pay, you don't have to pay. But registering ASAP is helpful to those setting up the flyout.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
It is October, and the holes in the LM FSS program are getting bigger and the service is worsening. Just last week, several aviation
news sources reported the following information.
A group of antique aircraft, flying on a VFR flight plan, crossed through the Washington, DC, ADIZ. An F-16 intercepted them, forcing several aircraft down. Amazingly, the pilots had flown on a flight plan, had talked to LM, and had never been given the Presidential Notam in the vicinity of Camp David. The FAA declined to prosecute.
The situation with lost flight plans is so bad, a member of Congress is threatening to open an investigation into the entire system. The entire system is in chaos. If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and call FSS, you should reach Fort Worth. If their briefers are busy, you might be forwarded to Albuquerque or Arizona, or New York. My understanding of the basic problem is that the new computer systems utilized by LM are not compatible with those of the FAA. Factor in that the military computers in many cases cannot read LM, and you end up with a massive Abbott and Costello routine called Whose on First?, What's on Second?, and I Don't Dnow is on Third.
Do we really want to throw even more money from the FAA to fix this mess, or should we discard the LM contract and go back to the old system? This is what happens when the FAA outsources its primary services. I await with great trepidation the Next Gen contract when it goes on line. When Southwest lands in Frankfurt after following Next Gen guidance, maybe we will all understand.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association
It is October, and the holes in the LM FSS program are getting bigger and the service is worsening. Just last week, several aviation
news sources reported the following information.
A group of antique aircraft, flying on a VFR flight plan, crossed through the Washington, DC, ADIZ. An F-16 intercepted them, forcing several aircraft down. Amazingly, the pilots had flown on a flight plan, had talked to LM, and had never been given the Presidential Notam in the vicinity of Camp David. The FAA declined to prosecute.
The situation with lost flight plans is so bad, a member of Congress is threatening to open an investigation into the entire system. The entire system is in chaos. If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and call FSS, you should reach Fort Worth. If their briefers are busy, you might be forwarded to Albuquerque or Arizona, or New York. My understanding of the basic problem is that the new computer systems utilized by LM are not compatible with those of the FAA. Factor in that the military computers in many cases cannot read LM, and you end up with a massive Abbott and Costello routine called Whose on First?, What's on Second?, and I Don't Dnow is on Third.
Do we really want to throw even more money from the FAA to fix this mess, or should we discard the LM contract and go back to the old system? This is what happens when the FAA outsources its primary services. I await with great trepidation the Next Gen contract when it goes on line. When Southwest lands in Frankfurt after following Next Gen guidance, maybe we will all understand.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association
Don Smith informed us that Business Air will provide complimentary tie-downs and a 40 cent fuel discount (net currently is $4.49). There is also a self-serve pump at $3.89. Hangars are available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
And please remember to send a proxy for the board meeting if you are unable to attend.
See you at DTO.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
For your information:
From: Cynthia.Kever@modot.mo.gov [mailto:Cynthia.Kever@modot.mo.gov]
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 2:28 PM
Subject: Vandalism at Airports
Last evening, vandals broke into approximately 40-aircraft at Lee's Summit Municipal Airport taking hand held GPS systems. Any aircraft that was unlocked they had easy access to, and those locked up, the vandals broke the side windows to gain access. So please share this information and be vigilant at your airport.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
The Santa Fe fly-out was a fun time, and much important GA business was taken up. The Mountain Flying Program conducted by the New Mexico Pilots Association was very well done and of value to all who participated. Those just attending the safety seminar portion of the program found plenty to add to their knowledge of mountain flying techniques.
Among the items of business conducted by the USPA board was an opportunity to expand our USPA membership and win a $35 one-year extension of your membership by simply signing up a new USPA Individual Member before December 31. Membership is vital to all organizations. Remember the first two letters of the word--ME--and take advantage of this chance to extend your own membership. It's simple. Just invite a fellow pilot to join and help support his own right to fly. If you don't have an application brochure handy, just go to www.uspilots.org and print one off or sign up there. And be sure to let me know that you're responsible for the new member joining.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
It's time to book your hotel room and send in your registration for our USPA fly-out to Denton, TX. The hotel cutoff date is November 1 to get our special USPA rate of $79. So call the hotel today.
With so many issues facing GA today, our meeting on Saturday morning will be full of pertinent information of benefit to you. Our Thursday evening safety seminar will be presented by John Boatright, Regional FAASTeam Manager. Register for the seminar today at www.FAASafety.gov. With so many interesting opportunities for educational tours in the Denton area, it was difficult to choose. We'll be touring Lockheed-Martin, the F-22 and F-35 assembly line, Navy Ft. Worth to meet with a unit previously deployed to Iraq, and visit the FAA Super FSS Station in Ft. Worth. Saturday night's banquet will feature a special speaker.
Much planning and effort has been put into compiling a fun and informative gathering, so don't miss it! Bring a friend and fellow pilot. You can register today at www.uspilots.org.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association