P a g e 1 of 13

Fitchburg Pilots Association

EAA Chapter 1454

Newsletter

Inside This Issue

� FPA / EAA 1454 Officers

� FPA Membership News: June 2016

� Upcoming Events

� Oshkosh Planning

� Safety Corner

� Hanger Happenings

� Next FPA Meeting is:

Tuesday June 14th at 7:00PM (6:00PM food)

Key Organization Links

www.fitchburgpilots.org

www.meetup.com/fitchburgpilots

www.fitchburgairport.com

www.eaa.org

www.aopa.org

www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/aircraft_c

ertification/aircraft_registry/reregistration/

www.massdot.state.ma.us/Aeronautics

Monthly Featured Link

www.socialflight.com www.aopa.org/aopalive/

Key Weather Links

www.aviationweather.gov

www.windytv.com

www.usairnet.com

Key Reference Links

www.fltplan.com

www.airnav.com

www.flightaware.com

www.pilotgeek.com www.skyvector.com

June 2016

President’s Welcome

Let’s go fly and have some fun!

Mark Estabrook - N79818

President, Fitchburg Pilots Association EAA Chapter 1454

Our thoughts are prayers this month are with Blue Angles F/18 Marine

Captain Jeff Kuss’s family, friends and colleagues. The crash was at a practice

session last week. The cause of the crash is not yet known, but according to news

reports Captain Kuss stayed with the aircraft while an unknown problem developed

in order to guide it away from an apartment building rather than eject.

In an odd twist of fate, the Thunderbirds also had an accident this past week,

though the pilot ejected safely. These accidents are a constant reminder that

although we cannot eliminate risk from flying, we must minimize risk wherever

possible on every flight. We need to be constantly vigilant around the readiness of

our plane and ourselves to manage the proposed flight successfully.

Last month Doug Stewart delivered a terrific presentation on the many experiences

he’s had in his flying career and how they have helped him manage risk better. One

of his suggestions was to add a fuel flow to the takeoff check list – I’m updating my

checklist to add that item. I had an engine analyzer added to my plane a year ago,

which includes a fuel flow function. But until Doug mentioned it, I never thought to

add it to my check list. If you attended the presentation what did you learn that you

might incorporate into your regular flying?

There are a number of local events happening in the area. I sent around an email

recently highlighting some of those events. If you attend one of the events let us

know about it.

I met with the Airport managers over a Chatham Airport recently. They are

interested in having a meetup with the FPA in Fitchburg one weekend, and in

Chatham another weekend. It seems like it could be fun so I’m going to try to

organize it. We agreed not to charge each other for a meal as an incentive if you all

are supportive of the idea. There are lots of these sorts of opportunities. If anyone

wants to try and organize one, reach out to me and I’ll get you connected with

other airports or groups.

Less than 2 months to Oshkosh. Time to make my packing list, review NOTAMs and

creating placards for parking – no iPADs allowed! I think we have a pretty good crew

coming this year. Don’t forget to save the date for our BBQ on Thursday night

around 6PM – always a great time with great food.

Fly safe, have fun…

Mark

President FPA /EAA 1454 mestabr@gmail.com

P a g e 2 of 13

FPA / EAA 1454 Officers, Committee Members, and Key Contributors

Please note: Any member can be emailed through the Members Section of our FPA Meetup Site

Officers

Names

Committee Chair and Members

Names

President Mark Estabrook Safety Dave Dion

Vice President Glen Reinhardt Louise Anderson

Treasurer Louise Anderson Gary Archer

Secretary Dave Babineau Bob Adelizzi

Dick Maki

Key Contributors Names Building Mark Estabrook

Program/Wings Coordinator Jim Bisson Bob Scales

Young Eagles Coordinator Dave Babineau Steve Bortle

Membership Coordinator Louise Anderson Glen Reinhart

Newsletter Editor Jeff Scorse Richard Gammon

Merchandise Representative Dave Babineau Fund Raising Matt Scales

Hanger Manager Dave Dion Dave Babineau

Aero Fair Coordinator Dave Dion Fly Out Brian Gaudet

Santa Visit Coordinator Deb Schweitzer Food Glen Reinhardt

Oshkosh Trip Coordinator Cary Weber Dave Dion

Bob Scales

Steve Bortle

Scholarship Jim Bisson

Dick Maki

Mark Estabrook

Ed Murphy

Past President, Organizer Steve Bortle

Assistant Fly-Out Coordinator Thomas R. Wester

P a g e 3 of 13

FPA Membership News: June 2016

By Louise Anderson, Membership Coordinator & Treasurer louise@fitchburgpilots.org

DOUG STEWART, eight-time Master CFI provided us with an honest and thought-provoking FAA Wings seminar last

month on “True Confessions! The Mistakes I Have Made” in our new FPA Aviation Hangar. Using examples of mistakes he’s survived, he had the audience captivated. We were there for two or more hours and we all could have stayed longer to hear more, identifying with him all the way. Our hangar is the perfect venue for this – I so like being there.

New member Harold Chattaway, a talented videographer, filmed the seminar, set up an FPA YouTube channel and edited Doug’s talk to a 30-minute video.

See it here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjiHazuYKaR9-CV36lVNQRw. He has some great ideas for the channel

site. I hope to hear more about that.

Learn more about Doug at http://www.dsflight.com/about-doug-stewart/. And look for him at Oshkosh!

New FPA members last month: (in no particular order)

• Dave deMoulpied: from Chelmsford, Dave is Instrument and Commercial rated and attended the FCA Flight School’s Rusty Pilot seminar in April. He hasn’t flown regularly in a while and liked what he saw in the FPA group at Fitchburg. Glad to have you with us, Dave!

• Mark Rogge: from Concord, Mark owns that gorgeous single-seat Extra in the FPA Aviation Center. He plans to enter some competitions and I hope to hear more about that. Good to see you at Fitchburg, Mark!

• Roy Evarts: from Northborough, Roy flies a beautiful Cessna Hawk XP based at Fitchburg. He says he doesn’t fly it as much as he should, so we’ll have to change that situation. Welcome Roy!

• Harold Chattaway: from Ashby, Harold reports that he’s a student pilot and wants to become more involved. See above re: the Doug Stewart video. You’ve come to the right place, Harold. Welcome!

• Sean Padgett: from Grafton, Sean owns an RV-10 based here at Fitchburg, attended the Doug Stewart Seminar and joined that evening. Welcome, Sean!

• John Reitman: from Maryland John will be moving to the Harvard area mid-late June. He owns a Beech Sierra and wants to build a PA18. Single engine land and sea rated with tailwheel endorsement, and his Beech Sierra will be the FPA’s newest tenant. Welcome to Fitchburg, John!

AERO FAIR is June 18th! See you there – a great family day at the airport… Young Eagles, Airport Tours, Glider

demos, FPA Aviation Center tours, food, fun and more!!!

NOISE ABATEMENT UPDATES IN THE A/FD: Thanks to Airport Manager Scott Ellis, we have two new comments in the Northeast A/FD for KFIT: Noise Abatement: Rwy 20 Turn to Hdg 140 After Takeoff Avoid Overflying Hospital. Noise

Abatement: Rwy 32 Maintain Rwy Hdg to 1350msl Then Turn on Course.

We should be getting reminder signs for us to see as we approach runways 32 and 20 for departure.

PLEASE CONSIDER attending the Airport Commission meetings on the fourth Wednesday of the month. New

commissioners are Clayton Raymond (connected with aviation maintenance), Richard Liberatore, who has also served on the City Fire Department and retired educator John Early. Mayor DiNatale, Council President Michael Kushmerek and City Solicitor Vincent Pusateri also attend. This is a different Commission; come and find out what’s going on with the airport, including plans for tree clearing and the new runway.

Miscellaneous notes:

A link to our new FPA merchandise site is on Meetup (lower left side of the home page showing an FPA hat. Check it

out! You can see hats, shirts, jackets and other neat stuff all with the FPA logo. The items are priced reasonably and really nice. Note to women: the sizes run a bit small, so if you wear a small, try a medium this time. See more at http://fitchburgpilotsassoc.qbstores.com/ where special pricing is shown – 25% discount!

P a g e 4 of 13

If you’re interested in reviewing the monthly treasurer report – I post it every month on Meetup in the “files” section and

bring copies to meetings.

We’re showing 86 current members in FPA/EAA 1454, and most of those are registered on our scheduling/event web site at www.meetup.com/fitchburgpilots. All of us are involved in aviation on some level and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know most of you.

Our somewhat flexible policy about Meetup: FPA uses Meetup to schedule its activities and is a benefit open to FPA

members only. However, a three-month trial membership on Meetup is offered to new people who are interested in

aviation but not sure about joining FPA. It provides an opportunity to learn what kinds of events and activities FPA has to

offer.

Our future, as well as the future of aviation, lies in the participation and creative action of all members. We welcome area

pilots, student pilots, pilot wannabes, their families and others interested in aviation. We especially welcome the new

ideas that come in the door with every one of you.

Future Scholarship Program in Jeopardy. FPA members have supported an annual aviation scholarship for about a decade and it is one of the key tenants of our

mission statement.

However, that was all before we began our ambitious work on the hangar project. Because of the cost of our future

hangar, funds contributed earlier, in part directed toward scholarships, were by necessity diverted to the hangar project.

That decision was fiscally responsible. But, without added scholarship funds, that decision has reduced the current

balance in potential scholarship donations to approximately $1,200, or enough for one more full year ($1,000) of an FPA

scholarship.

With FPA leadership doing everything in their power to fund our top priority project, members should also be aware of

the concern of the members of the Scholarship Committee that 2017 may see the end of one of our key missions,

offering scholarship support to students aiming toward aviation-related careers.

To forestall the demise of FPA scholarships, the Scholarship Committee has applied for a grant from the Community

Foundation of North Central Massachusetts to serve as a "bridge" until FPA is in a better financial position to reinstate

our own support for the program.

The $3,000 grant request is in line with other scholarships supported by the Community Foundation for area students

attending Fitchburg State University, Mount Wachusett Community College and similar institutions. If awarded the grant,

we would be able to continue to support our scholarship effort for four more years. Optimistically speaking, FPA should

be able to resume support of our scholarship awards thereafter.

Officer’s Report

Treasurer: The detailed list of cash in and cash out is in the last month’s Treasurer’s report that can

be found at: http://www.meetup.com/fitchburgpilots/files

Secretary: The meeting minutes can be found at: http://www.meetup.com/fitchburgpilots/files/

Note: Only FPA members have access to this site

P a g e 5 of 13

Upcoming Events For the latest details including new additions visit the FPA Calendar at meetup.com/fitchburgpilots

Aero Fair & Young Eagles - June 18th from 9AM to 2PM

Our annual Aero Fair is one of our largest events. We need volunteers for food prep, parking etc. To be discussed at our

monthly meetings.

Young Eagles - June 18th from 9AM to 2PM

David Babineau would like to know who has their EAA background check completed and plans to participate in the

Young Eagles events – Specifically the Aero Fair. Please send him along an email on Meetup to let him know, so he can

gather up a count of participants.

EAA Ford Tri-Motor Visit - June 30 – July 4

We need volunteers for food prep, parking etc. To be discussed at our monthly meetings.

P a g e 6 of 13

Oshkosh Planning By Cary Weber

Continue to check out the website for updates: http://www.eaa.org/en/airventure . Tickets are still available at a

discount.

Things to think about this month:

2016 NOTAM:

The main thing to think about this month for those flying in is to get super-familiar with the NOTAM which is now available;

here’s the link: http://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/eaa-fly-in-flying-to-oshkosh/eaa-airventure-oshkosh-notam . The free 32-

page booklet is an absolute must if you're flying an aircraft to Oshkosh. It outlines all arrival/departure procedures, radio

frequencies, Wittman Regional Airport details, and much more. Have a copy of the NOTAM with you before arriving at Ripon

(view of the airport as seen flying in from Ripon in the attached picture). Although many of the procedures are similar to

previous years, there are updates in nearly every area to enhance safety, efficiency, and convenience for the thousands of

airplanes expected. The EAA AirVenture NOTAM is required reading and should be part of a pilot's pre-flight preparation. There

is also a link available to graphic displays of any TFRs that may affect your route of flight. And take the time to brush up on your

flying and landing skills!

Misc - Lodging:

o The house is currently full-up, with Brian Gaudet taking my place since I am unfortunately unable to go this year after all

due to family health issues. However, potentially some sleeping bag areas are still available. The basement is still available

Sun through Wednesday. Cost per person will vary depending on how many people we have in the house. Let me know.

o EAA Chapter 196 at Minute Man airport is also offering a space in a pop-up camper at Camp Scholler, located near the Fly-

In theater and a bathhouse. Let me know if anyone is interested in this option.

Ride-sharing:

o Continue to let me know about ride-sharing, either offering or requesting, in a plane or a car.

o Brian Gaudet is looking to share a rental car in connection with his commercial flights, as follows: 7/24 BOS to MKE

Southwest 6:35 am-8:10 am, 7/31 MKE to BOS Southwest 8:20 pm-11:30 pm. Let him know directly if you can ride-share.

Trivia: Mystery Aviation Person (MAP) of the Month (answer next month):

Answer to last month’s MAP: Patty Wagstaff

For this month, who is the gentleman I’m shaking hands with in the attached pic, after he signed my T-shirt (this should be another

easy one)? He is a former air show pilot, and United States Air

Force test pilot and fighter pilot. Known as the "pilot's pilot",

he revolutionized modern aerobatics flying and has been

referred to by many aviation circles as one of the greatest

pilots ever to have lived. He has set records for

transcontinental and "time to climb" speed, and has

personally known such great aviators as Orville Wright, Eddie

Rickenbacker, Charles Lindbergh, Jimmy Doolittle, Chuck

Yeager, Jacqueline Cochran, Neil Armstrong, and Yuri

Gagarin. He is best known for his civil air show career

demonstrating the capabilities of Aero Commander’s Shrike

Commander. His final show was Sun'N'Fun 2000 in Lakeland,

Florida where he did not perform any aerobatics. Following

his retirement, his Shrike Commander was placed on display

at the National Air and Space Museum. His decades of

fantastic flying form the framework for the highly researched

three-year project culminating in the 2014 documentary film, Flying The Feathered Edge.

And you really need help, go to this link for a most famous video - http://eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=938610600001

P a g e 7 of 13

Flight Safety Corner Pilot items of interest to support refresher training and flight safety

By Dave Dion, FPA Safety Committee Chair

Safety Quiz

ASI Safety Quiz

Weather No pilot ever knows enough about weather, but what's your level of knowledge? Take this quiz and find out.

1. Which is not a tactic when entering an area of strong turbulence?

Fly attitude - not altitude

Don't chase the airspeed

Lower the flaps

Lower the landing gear

2. When flying from an area of high pressure to an area of lower pressure without resetting the altimeter, the aircraft

will be

Higher than indicated on the altimeter

Lower than indicated on the altimeter

3. Which of the following is a tip for deviating around weather?

Deviate north of convective activity

Don't fly under anvils and overhangs

Try to deviate 45 degrees or less from course

All of the above

4. Which is more stable?

Warm air over cold air

Cold air over warm air

P a g e 8 of 13

5. At what dew point temperature, in degrees Fahrenheit, do cumulus clouds often form in the summer?

40

50

60

70

6. Which is not a tactic for flying in icing conditions?

Do not lower the flaps

Use the autopilot

Turn the defroster on high

Do not climb steeper than average

7. What does "BECMG 0204 34007KT" in the following TAF indicate?

KBWI 121403Z 121412 28025G42KT P6SM SCT045 TEMPO 1418 BKN045 FM2100 30012G20KT P6SM SKC

BECMG 0204 34007KT=

Wind abruptly changing to 340 degrees at 7 knots between 0200 and 0400 Zulu

Wind becoming 340 degrees at 7 knots at exactly 0204 Zulu

Wind gradually changing to 340 degrees at 7 knots between 0200 and 0400 Zulu

8. When taxing with a crosswind, how should the aircraft's controls be positioned?

Dive away from the wind if it is a quartering tailwind

Turn controls into the wind, no matter the direction of the wind

Turn controls away from the wind, no matter the direction of the wind

9. If flying in an area of thunderstorms,

Don't land or takeoff in the face of an approaching storm

Avoid by at least 20 miles any thunderstorm identified as severe

Regard as extremely hazardous any thunderstorm with tops 35,000 feet or higher

All of the above

10. Can a microburst be associated with virga (rain not reaching the surface)?

Yes

No

P a g e 9 of 13

Score Me!

1. Which is not a tactic when entering an area of strong turbulence?

Fly attitude - not altitude

Don't chase the airspeed

Lower the flaps Lowering the flaps in an attempt to reduce airspeed can do more harm than good. The aircraft is strongest with the flaps up.

Lower the landing gear

2. When flying from an area of high pressure to an area of lower pressure without resetting the altimeter, the aircraft

will be

Higher than indicated on the altimeter

Lower than indicated on the altimeter

3. Which of the following is a tip for deviating around weather?

Deviate north of convective activity

Don't fly under anvils and overhangs

Try to deviate 45 degrees or less from course

All of the above

4. Which is more stable?

Warm air over cold air

Cold air over warm air

P a g e 10 of 13

5. At what dew point temperature, in degrees Fahrenheit, do cumulus clouds often form in the summer?

40

50

60

70

6. Which is not a tactic for flying in icing conditions?

Do not lower the flaps

Use the autopilot Using an autopilot masks the effects of ice. It may also bring the aircraft into a stall or cause control problems.

Turn the defroster on high

Do not climb steeper than average

7. What does "BECMG 0204 34007KT" in the following TAF indicate?

KBWI 121403Z 121412 28025G42KT P6SM SCT045 TEMPO 1418 BKN045 FM2100 30012G20KT P6SM SKC

BECMG 0204 34007KT=

Wind abruptly changing to 340 degrees at 7 knots between 0200 and 0400 Zulu

Wind becoming 340 degrees at 7 knots at exactly 0204 Zulu

Wind gradually changing to 340 degrees at 7 knots between 0200 and 0400 Zulu

8. When taxing with a crosswind, how should the aircraft's controls be positioned?

Dive away from the wind if it is a quartering tailwind

Turn controls into the wind, no matter the direction of the wind

Turn controls away from the wind, no matter the direction of the wind

P a g e 11 of 13

9. If flying in an area of thunderstorms,

Don't land or takeoff in the face of an approaching storm

Avoid by at least 20 miles any thunderstorm identified as severe

Regard as extremely hazardous any thunderstorm with tops 35,000 feet or higher

All of the above

10. Can a microburst be associated with virga (rain not reaching the surface)?

Yes

No

P a g e 12 of 13

Hangar Happenings

Welcome to "Hangar Happenings" - a means to present information to you about our FPA hangar. There's been good progress with both "move in" tasks and working off the "punch list" of open hangar tasks. For example, there's four airplanes in the

hangar rental space (as planned) and a rough grade of the area around the hangar is complete (dirt piles gone !!!). See "FPA

Hangar Happenings" below - the current list of hangar tasks with status.

Thanks and hope to see you around the airfield & hangar,

Dave Dion

FPA Hangar Manager

Hangar Task Status Roof

� Complete adding screws to roof panels

� Complete June and July 2016

Exterior Grading

� Add blacktop to the main hangar door apron

� Complete pave stones at entry doors and

add mulch for walkways from terminal

parking lot to entry doors

� Add water and sewer lines for the bathroom

� Complete fine grading and seed the area

around the hangar

� Pave stones and mulch walkways are work in

progress

� Water and sewer lines are 2016 (presently TBD)

� Fine grade and seed are after water and sewer lines

Inside the Hangar

� Build shelves for FPA hangar stuff

� Add the gas heaters and expanded electrical

/ lighting

� Hangar shelves during 2016

� Large gas heaters by Fall 2016

� Expanded electrical and lighting TBD

Windows

� Add eight large windows on South and

West hangar sides

� Windows are TBD

Fall Landscaping

� Add FPA sign out front of the hangar

� Add landscaping bushes

� FPA sign late summer

� Landscaping late fall

P a g e 13 of 13

Sponsor Page

FPA Store

Buy your FPA Merchandise

here!

WX at KFIT by US AirNet.com

Quick look at current Wx. We a

go/no go on fly outs?

FCA Flight Center

Flight Training 7days a week.

BFR's, IFR, Wings, Online

Scheduling

BABINEAU Insurance Agency

An experienced team who can

analyze the various options

open to you

Autumn Air Services

Autumn Air Services maintains

all types of aircraft.

WEBSTER FIRST Federal Credit Union

One of the strongest credit

unions in Massachusetts.

JN Phillips Auto Glass

Because there's a lot more

behind your windshield than

you think.

Charley Valera, Laer Realty Partners

Service only another pilot can

offer.

EAA

Our parent organization.

FAA Safety Wings Programs

This Wings site that has had an

overhaul. Looks and flies easy.

Try it!

GA Serves America

Go here to learn more about

AOPA's GA Serves America.