fitchburg pilots association, eaa chapter 1454files.meetup.com/1060828/fpa newsletter oct...
TRANSCRIPT
Page 1 of 18
Fitchburg Pilots Association,
EAA Chapter 1454 October 2012 Volume 4, Number 10
Inside This Issue • The President’s Cockpit
page 1
• Aviation in the News page 1
• Editors Notes Page 4
• New Members & Member News Page 6
• Upcoming Events Page 7
• Recent Events / Photos Page 8
• Flight Safety Corner Page 13
• ATC Corner Page 15
• Officer’s Report Page 15
• From the Commissioners Page 15
• Pilot Short Stories Page 16
• Classifieds Page 17
• Aviation Humor Page 18
• Next FPA Meeting is Tuesday October 9th at 7:00PM (6:00PM food)
Key Organization Links
www.fitchburgpilots.org
www.meetup.com/fitchburgpilots
www.fitchburgairport.com
www.eaa.org
The President’s Cockpit A big thanks to David Babineau, our vice president, for taking over and running September’s meeting while I was in the hospital for surgery. He worked hard and I heard we had a great meeting. I am out now, mostly healed, and hoping to hit
some of our fantastic fall flyouts! Make sure you add a few of them to your calendar! Our October meeting will be a simple business meeting. There should be plenty of time for people to get together, talk about flying, and still get home a reasonable hour. I hope to see you all there at 6pm for food and 7pm for the meeting! Sincerely, Matt Scales President, Fitchburg Pilots Association EAA Chapter 1454
Aviation in the News
EAA MOURNS LOSS OF BOB ODEGAARD The Fargo Air Museum were held this week for fallen aviator Bob Odegaard, who was killed on Friday while practicing for an air show at the Barnes County Municipal Airport in Valley City, North Dakota. Odegaard, EAA 287715/Warbirds of America 6269, had been scheduled to perform in the Valley City Air Show last Saturday in the Goodyear F2G Super Corsair he restored. The show was canceled because of the crash. He was known around the world as a warbird and antique aircraft restorer and operator, and his Corsair could always be seen on the flightline at AirVenture - as was the smiling yellow C-47 Duggy, of which he was principal pilot. EAA eHotline 9/14/12
SPORTY'S ENHANCES FREE FLIGHT TRAINING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG EAGLES
Page 2 of 18
www.aopa.org
Key Weather Links
www.aviationweather.gov
www.usairnet.com
Key Reference Links
www.duats.com
www.fltplan.com
www.airnav.com
www.flightaware.com
www.pilotgeek.com
http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/aircraft_certification/aircraft_registry/reregistration/
www.massdot.state.ma.us/Aeronautics
Monthly Featured URL
http://fromthecontroltower.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-endeavour-has-landed.html
Contact Us
Please contribute directly to this newsletter with useful web links, stories of interesting aviation events, articles on subjects interesting to pilots…even aviation humor! Send any material directly to me at the above email address!
Young people who have discovered flight through the EAA Young Eagles program, already the most successful youth aviation education program in history, now will have upgraded options to further explore aviation as Sporty's Pilot Shop continues to make its Sporty's Learn To Fly course available to all Young Eagles. The upgraded course is offered at no charge, continuing the program that began with Young Eagles' access to Sporty's Recreational and Private Pilot course. More than 15,000 young people have already accessed the Sporty's course following their Young Eagles flights. EAA eHotline 9/14/12
Youngsters soar like eagles at Fitchburg Municipal Airport FITCHBURG -- Pesky clouds that hurt visibility cleared up quickly
Saturday morning at the Fitchburg Municipal Airport in time for the Young Eagles Program to give local youth a chance to soar. The Fitchburg Pilots Association puts on two Young Eagles events each year that gives kids between age 8 and 17 a chance to fly in a small aircraft. "The kids are basically going for a
ride," said Charley Valera, president and owner of the flight center. He said each flight took about 15 minutes and the path looped around Wachusett Mountain and came back. SentinalandEnterprise 9/24/12
N.H. airport is awarded $3.49M for improvements Skyhaven Airport in Rochester, N.H., has been awarded $3.49 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation for improvements. The airport plans to use the grant money to repair its runway in a project that will start this fall. Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover, N.H.) AOPA eBrief (9/21)
DATE SET FOR SUPERSONIC STRATOS SKYDIVE Felix Baumgartner is set for an Oct. 8 attempt to freefall from an altitude of 120,000 feet near Roswell, N.M., breaking the sound barrier along the way, and a record that's stood for more than half a century. The jump will be the culmination of the Red Bull Stratos project, which began in 2005. It aims to best USAF Col. Joe Kittinger's 1960 record for jumping from 102,000 feet and landing safely with a parachute. The team suffered a setback in July, when a practice run from more than 97,000 feet saw Baumgarnter reach 537 mph in freefall. He landed safely, but his 2,900-pound capsule did not, suffering minor damage. AvWeb 9/27/12
Page 3 of 18
FPA/EAA Officers, Committee Members and Key Contributors Officers
President V P and assistant YE Coordinator
Treasurer Secretary
Matt Scales David Babineau
Louise Anderson Dawn Marinelli
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Committee Members
Safety
Dave Dion Louise Anderson David Reinhart
Gary Archer Bob Adelizzi
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Building
Mark Estabrook Steve Bortle Bob Scales
Glen Reinhardt Kathy Reinhardt
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Space Steve Bortle Bob Scales
[email protected] [email protected]
Fund Raising
Alex Roman Charley Valera Deb Schweitzer Dave Babineau
Brett Cline
[email protected] [email protected]
Fly out
Charley Valera Glenn Reinhardt
Peter Regis
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Food
Glenn Reinhardt Steve Bortle Bob Scales
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Scholarship
Jim Bisson Dick Maki
Mark Estabrook Dawn Marinelli
Ed Murphy Lorraine Schwartz
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Key Contributors Program/Wings Coordinator
Chapter Administrator Young Eagles Coordinator Membership Coordinator
Newsletter Editor Assistant Newsletter Editor Merchandise Representative
Jim Bisson Toby Hume Ed Murphy
Louise Anderson Mark Estabrook Glenn Reinhardt David Babineau
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Board of Directors Matt Scales
David Babineau Louise Anderson
Dave Dion Jim Bisson
Charley Valera Steve Bortle
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Page 4 of 18
Editors Notes By Mark Estabrook, Newsletter Editor General Turn off the magneto! Several of us attended a seminar at OshKosh this past year that was hosted by engine guru Mike Busch on engine maintenance. I didn’t know of him until OshKosh and now I can’t wait to read his articles each month. If you have not read his articles many of us FPA folks who know of him recommend you do. Anyway, Mike brought up the point during his seminar that was really interesting. He said never delay maintenance on a failing magneto. This seems odd because we have 2, what’s the urgency? Well, it’s not the mechanical risk - it’s the pilot risk according to Mike. His experience has shown that young or old, experienced or not, pilots just don’t handle mag failures well. If one fails the engine can run incredibly rough, and the last thing you might want to do is move the key to the left or right to check for failed mag. In part because we have a budding emergency and stress is high, but also because most of us are just not used to switching the mag in flight. If you did check the mags, you might find that using only the good mag would smooth out the engine just fine. I read another article last night by Mike in EAA Sport Aviation magazine where he advocated shutting the mag off while the engine is LOP (max stress on creating combustion successfully in the cylinder) and while recording EGTs with an engine analyzer. This will help identify early problems with the ignition system. He goes on to say that he does this almost every time he flies. Turning the mags off during flight? Heresy! I have personally never touched the mag selection switch in flight. Gremlins might attack and shut the engine off! I wonder how many things we don’t do as pilots that are actually perfectly normal and manageable and even recommended that we never do? I seem to remember something about ‘old timers’ spinning their airplane through holes in the clouds to land too! Spin the plane intentionally? Heresy! FPA is a Helping Community The FPA is a community and it warms my heart when our community comes to the rescue of those less fortunate… Charley at ORH… something about those nose wheel tires!
A Young Eagles Experience We flew another successful Y/E event towards the end of September. This is my favorite event that the FPA runs. One of my partners was flying our plane N79818 a week before the event at KFIT. Pete Coolidge grabbed me at Y/E and let me know that his student, who was flying his first solo a week ago, saw my plane also flying and said – hey, that’s the first plane I ever flew with a guy (me) at a Y/E event 3 years ago. Now that is what Y/E is all about, and after flying about 10 really great kids, the story made my day even better!
Page 5 of 18
Building Your FPA hanger building project is being managed by myself, Steve Bortle, Bob Scales, Glen and Kathy Rheinhardt (a.k.a. the building commission). The building commission would like to provide a short update for you. The building we had hoped to acquire in SouthBridge MA seems less likely to happen for us. So we are looking at smaller (still plenty big) pre-fab metal hanger options. The metal hangers are a great option with low maintenance and long life. Of course we have to pay for the hanger where the SB building was free (+ teardown, transport), but with the smaller size the overall cost isn’t too much more. We will still have plenty of opportunity to customize the metal hanger in whatever way we feel appropriate. So with a focus on a metal hanger we are now looking at ways to simplify the hanger construction and get the FPA members a useable building as quickly as possible. In consultation with the town of Fitchburg and the airport commission we are planning a simple hanger build in 2013 with construction start in the spring and completion in the late fall – and then usable! There will be electricity, water and heat included. We are going for various approvals, hanger quotes and build out plans. It’s all coming along very well with help from a lot of folks inside and outside the FPA! We have agreed with the airport commission not to start construction until we have all of the money in place to complete the project. The money required for the 2013 build will be about $180k. Donate generously, donate often! Featured URL Wednesday, September 26, 2012 - The Endeavour has landed, a VIEW FROM THE TOWER
Friday, September 21st, saw the arrival of the space shuttle Endeavour at LAX. This was the last of the shuttle delivery flights, and was the final time a shuttle was in the air. The arrival was delayed a day by weather, as the original plan called for a Thursday arrival. After several weeks of preparation, the Endeavour will be transported by surface streets to the California Science Center, where it will go on display at the end of October.
Endeavour was the last of the shuttles, built from spares in the late 1980s to replace the Challenger. Endeavour also flew the next-to-last mission of the shuttle program, STS-134, in May of 2011. See many pictures from the tower at the following link: http://fromthecontroltower.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-endeavour-has-landed.html
Page 6 of 18
New Members & Member News By Louise Anderson, Membership Coordinator The Young Eagles Rally September 22 was really fun. Steve Brousseau dealt with the low ceilings with his helicopter; 21 youngsters, one at a time, until the ceiling lifted enough for fixed wing pilots to take off with 50 more, 2-3 at a time. I think the kids had a good time; I know FPA members did. This is the first reminder of the year that 2013 dues are payable by January. They remain at $30 per year and can be paid by credit card on the membership tab at www.fitchburgpilots.org. Contact me with questions about membership or dues options. If you’re a new (or not so new) member and really want to know what’s happening, please consider signing up at Meetup.com/Fitchburgpilots. It’s FPA’s scheduling site and you’ll find all our activities listed there and receive timely news about what we’re doing. It’s a benefit of FPA membership, but takes action on your part. So if you’ve just joined FPA, check it out and sign up! New FPA members in September:
• Aroldo Vichiett Netto: from Acton, MA, Aroldo arrived at the August meeting with a, infectious enthusiasm that works well with our group. He’s a multi-rated pilot that flies out of Bedford and we’d like to see more of him. Aroldo, please try to attend the October meeting. Welcome!
We’re showing 120 current members in the FPA, and most of those are registered on the Meetup web site. All of us are involved in aviation on some level and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know most of you. See you Tuesday! 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. See you Tuesday!
Page 7 of 18
Upcoming Events For the latest details including new additions visit the FPA Calendar at meetup.com/fitchburgpilots
Page 8 of 18
Recent Events / Photos By Glen Reinhardt I missed one fly-out in August – and it was a good one: Go-cart racing at Keene, NH.
On the way to KEEN you pass by Mt. Monadnock. Something to remember on the return flight in the dark. The airport is nestled among some hills, which is also a consideration after sunset.
Ahhh, a (great) landing looks eminent.
Part of the fun is over – the flight. Now let’s have some more fun.
The go-cart drivers appear ready for competition
Page 9 of 18
My understanding is that some people had trouble following the rules.
And to some, the evening was a blur.
And then, of course, there was the good food.
Page 10 of 18
Now into September. A month of mostly great weather and a lot of FPA activity. This month’s FPA meeting included a Wings program. Quite a few aircraft flew in for the event.
Burgers and dogs, the most popular dinner entrée, were the fare for this month. $5 for a plate and the food is free!
The topic this month? FAA and the legal system.
Page 11 of 18
There were fly-outs to Barnes and Hartford of which there are few photos. But Worcester airport had several visiting war birds which attracted FPA members like….well, you know.
Some pilots about to see some really big toys.
One of the premier events was the Orange Drag Strip Reunion where the FPA was one of the food
vendors. Some people are so happy when they see there are plenty of Port-o-Potties
Page 12 of 18
The track is a 1/16 mile which means fast acceleration and excellent brakes.
Can you believe the golf cart won this heat.
Yes, officer. I AM old enough to drive. The day was long and non-stop. It got to Chef Glen as he was heard saying: “It can fly! It can fly!”
Steve consoles Deb who remarked: “I had ten of these when we started.”
Page 13 of 18
Flight Safety Corner
The Best Season
Gene Benson
Autumn has always been my favorite season for flying. Summer is my favorite season overall, but jumping into an airplane that has been parked in the hot sun and having to taxi while wiping perspiration out of my eyes isn’t one of my favorite activities. Taking off into MVFR conditions caused by summer haze and having to deal with the threat of air mass thunderstorms doesn’t rank very high in my opinion either. Welcome autumn! The temperatures are more moderate, at least here in our part of New York and the cumulonimbus are all but gone. The air is clear so that we can look at those great fall colors.
Even the airplane seems to like autumn. Those long, laborious takeoff runs on those high density altitude summer days give way to shorter ground sprints and steeper climb angles.
So let’s get out there and enjoy fall as only aviation people can! Those who live in this part of the planet are very much aware of what kind of flying weather is on the way over the course of the next few months. Fall flying is a great time to go out and practice those “stick and rudder” skills that might not have been visited in awhile. For example, descending spirals aren’t practiced very frequently but can be a life-saver in the event of a fire in flight.
Increasing flight handling skills can be particularly helpful if there isn’t going to be much winter flying. Skills deteriorate over time but can be brought back rather quickly. Honing skills now will provide a fresh starting point and will help to ensure a higher level of proficiency for that cold, clear, crisp, and windy winter day. It will also provide for a higher level of proficiency when spring arrives.
The shorter days of autumn also provide for more opportunities for night flying. Autumn night proficiency flying is generally more comfortable than winter night proficiency flying. Autumn nights can be chilly but winter nights can be downright frigid. Night flying requires more preflight planning than does flying in the daylight. Routes, even local ones, must be planned and studied so that the elevation of obstacles and terrain can be known thus avoiding a CFIT accident. Fuel must be carefully planned lest it get very quiet in the airplane. Running out of fuel during the daylight can be catastrophic, but experiencing fuel exhaustion in the dark is unthinkable. In many ways, night flying
Page 14 of 18
presents more challenges than does instrument flying. When we fly on instruments, we frequently break out of an overcast a thousand or more feet above the runway but we will never break out of the dark night. Any pilot who does not regularly fly at night should go out for some proficiency work in night operations with a qualified and proficient flight instructor.
Proficiency flying in autumn can be lots of fun in addition to increasing safety. It lets the pilot get ready for winter flying or helps to reset the clock on skills that will be needed in the spring. Sure, flying is costly today, but having an accident due to lack of proficiency is even more expensive or even worse.
Next month I’ll let you in on a way to help maintain some proficiency in procedures very inexpensively on days when flying is not an option.
Page 15 of 18
ATC Corner By Bob Adelizzi
Officer’s Report
From the Commissioners by Steve Brousseau, airport commissioner This monthly summary report from the Fitchburg Airport Commission is intended for members of the Fitchburg Pilot’s Association and others in the local aviation community who wish to keep up to date with the planning, development and aviation points of interest associated with Fitchburg Airport. No Report This Month, please tune in next month for a full update... Commission Chairman: Joe Poznick Commissioners: Kit Walker, Peter Kettle, Jack Naylor, Steve Brousseau
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
Question: For a GPS approach that includes a procedure turn (PT), how can I request a straight-in approach to avoid the PT when I’m arriving within 90 degrees of the Final Approach Course? Answer: Request vectors to final if appropriate
Page 16 of 18
Pilot Short Stories By Dave Dion, FPA Safety Committee Chair
New Mount Wachusett Beacon Light Complete
The Army Corps of Engineers (COE) have a motto – serve the public. The COE did this by accepting the responsibility to upgrade the old beacon light on their Mount Wachusett radio relay tower with a modern, very bright LED beacon light. The COE allocated $12,000 for the upgrade … with the expressed purpose to help pilots see the new beacon light better and further away and thus increase flight safety in and around Mount Wachusett.
Fitchburg Pilots’ Association (FPA) President – Matt Scales – presented an appreciation plaque to Joe Faloretti, Operations Manager from the COE’s Royalston MA office, on August 17 at the Fitchburg Airport.
The old beacon light on top of the radio relay tower was too small and at the end of its life cycle – all worn out and very dim. Given the failing beacon light, pilots flying near Mount Wachusett frequently commented that during dusk, night, and / or certain weather conditions the old beacon light was hard or impossible to see. This in-flight situation made it difficult to establish good visual cues to positively identify the summit at realistic distances to help support safer flight in and around the 2,000 foot Mount Wachusett.
The FPA learned that the COE owned the failing beacon light. One year ago the FPA built a case advocating that the COE upgrade the radio relay tower beacon light to help support safer flight in the vicinity of Mount Wachusett. Acting on their mission of “serving the public,” Joe Faloretti and his COE staff took it from there: they coordinated with Mass DOT to specify the type of beacon light required then selected a supplier to install the new light on the radio relay tower. In May 2012 the new beacon light was installed to the delight of all pilots who fly in and around Mount Wachusett. The FPA and all those who fly in North Central Massachusetts sincerely thank the COE for a job well done!!!
Page 17 of 18
Classifieds This section is available to all FPA members who wish to buy, sell or trade any aviation related items. Please send any classified adverts to [email protected]. Include your contact information for interested parties. Flight Instruction, BFRs IPCs FCA Flight Center is the place to go for your BFRs, IPCs, Instrument Training and Primary Training. We have great CFIIs for weekends and two more during the week. We will work around your schedule with instructors at any level. FCA has aircraft to rent and train in. www.FCAFlightcenter.com Stop by and see us. We have a line of pilot supplies and charts at great prices.
For Sale
I have a Garmin 396 I will be selling. If anyone is interested before I put it on EBAY, it is $600 plus shipping. I have the cloth case, original manual, wall power charger, 12V charger cable, XM antenna, extra GPS cable/antenna, USB adapter cable, car mount, and yoke mount. If interested please contact Mark Hubelbank at [email protected].
A kerosene heater, 75K BTU's, similar to the one shown in the photo. Used once, &179.00 New, first $75 takes it. Includes kerosene in tank! Contact Dave at [email protected]
Page 18 of 18
Aviation Humor From lrn2fly.com..
• Another student, a not too bright woman, was coming in for a landing. The radio in the FBO was set to the ground freq. It seems that she landed on the taxi way. The ground controller told her, "please call 555-9876 after you park the plane". She answered, "No thank you sir, I'm already married."
• Cessna: Bay Approach, Cessna 12345 over South County Airport at four thousand feet,
request permission to land at San Jose. • Bay Approach: Cessna 12345, Squawk 4567, and do you have Hotel? (the current SJC
ATIS) • Cessna: Negative, we're going to stay with my sister-in-law. • American 123: Does your sister-in-law have any extra rooms? • Overheard by a guy giving airplane rides: "Sorry about the rough landing, but I'm practicing
for a job at SAS. Next time I'll try to loose your luggage."
If you have any questions, comments, contributions or suggestions about this Newsletter, contact Mark Estabrook at [email protected]. This is your newsletter, and should reflect your needs and interests!