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United States Pilots Association |
USPA’s spring flyin/meeting to Houston, TX, saw an excellent turnout and is being hailed as a great success. Hosted by the Gulf Coast Chapter of USPA, the cowboy welcome mat was rolled out to all who flew and drove into the West Houston Airport (IWS). Chapter President Steve Clemons and Airport Manager Woody Lesikar proved that everything is bigger and better in Texas, including the hospitality!
From a huge indoor rodeo in the fantastic Reliant Staduim, to an indoor barbeque complete with band at the airport, everyone was made to feel like an “Honorary Texan.” Chapter Vice President Mel Garrett and the Mel Garrett Band the crowd of nearly 100 entertained while we feasted on mouth-watering barbeque chicken, beef, and sausage with all the trimmings, and then continued as those that were so inclined danced the evening away.
USPA was proud to present two awards at the barbeque: To Texas 7th District Congressman John Culberson and Transportation Advisory Committee Chairman Edd Hendee for their contributions to general aviation in general and their excellent work helping to restore the IWS instrument approaches.
The general members meeting on Friday morning and the board meeting on Saturday morning were very well attended, and much important business was handled. There was a good exchange of state and local organization challenges and successes, and all went away taking new ideas to share with fellow members at home.
The next USPA flyin/meeting will be held in Odessa, TX, May 20-23. Keeping up the Texas tradition and planning a fun time for all attendees, Pam and Steve Uslan of Odessa want you to come join us to see what their area has to offer. You won’t want to miss the Commemorative Air Force Museum, the Midland Rockhounds baseball game, barbeque, and fireworks display. Watch for the registration form in America’s Flyways magazine.
(Click "Continue" to view pictures)
USPA Executive Director Jan Hoynacki and Past President Paul Hough participated in a meeting in Hollister, MO, on March 15 regarding the role Hollister may play in preventing the closure of M. Graham Clark Airport (PLK) near Branson, MO. According to Dr. Howell Keeter, who sits on both the board of the College of the Ozarks (which owns and operates the private airport) and the Hollister City Council, the college will soon set a date by which the airport will be closed.
In an effort to prevent the closing, Hollister officials said they recognize the value of the airport, and they want to work with the City of Branson and Taney County toward the development of an airport authority or coalition that can afford to keep it operating. “There’s nobody with the city who does not appreciate the value of M. Graham Clark Airport,” Hollister City Administrator Rick Ziegenfuss said. Taney County Presiding Commissioner Chuck Pennel said, “We want to see it stay. We have the heart, but how big, I don’t know.”
(Continue for Branson Daily News article)
Several USPA members and officers have taken the opportunity to contact Northwest Airlines CEO Richard Anderson at https://www.nwa.com/talk/ttu.html to let him know how they feel about his recent editorial, A WORD FROM NORTHWEST.
Following are the excellent comments of USPA VP Bob Worthington:
“Why is it that corp chiefs today seem so prone to say anything, regardless of the truth, just to placate customers and investors? Your recent dribble about how airline passengers are having to pay extra so general aviation can survive is mostly lies but you probably don’t even know that. Do you pay any federal income taxes? I do and income taxes help fund the federal govt to include the FAA.
For the airlines to function you need a system to control IFR traffic. I don’t need that system if I fly VFR. Airlines need large airports with terminal buildings, long runways, a whole lot of extra security for protection. I don’t. I always know who my passengers are and I know what is in their baggage. I require no federal guards to conduct searches of my passengers or their baggage. Many large airports I land at charge me a landing fee. I pay parking when I stay overnight at an airport (and for some airports even if I’m there a short time). I use FBOs, not terminal buildings so I pay the FBO directly or indirectly. I’m light (3000) pounds and under) so I don’t create the wear and tear that your planes do. Usually I land at smaller reliever airports so you have the larger airports for your use without small planes being there.
How often do you use one of your planes solely to take an ailing person and spouse or parents to a medical facility because they can’t afford to buy an airline ticket? How often do you take school children aboard to teach them about aviation without charging someone? How many of your pilots learned to fly by starting out in an airliner?
I can go on quite a bit more but I just want to point out that while many of your passengers will probably accept your lies about general aviation as the truth, there are many of us who are general aviation pilots who very quickly recognize your words as just more of the trash that is becoming too common with so many large corporate leaders who will say anything or blame anyone attempting to make their leadership failures less obvious.”
If Bob’s words inspired you, why not write Mr. Anderson yourself?
Ever fly Northwest Airlines? You may have noticed an article in the airline’s magazine written by Northwest CEO Richard Anderson which is not only a terrible slam on general aviation, but inaccurate as well. For instance, Mr. Anderson states, “As the system works today, you, the commercial airline passenger, are subsidizing private aircraft ownership. This is not right.”
We who fly privately pay many fees, including fuel taxes, landing fees, and ramp fees, to name a few. And we certainly don’t have (nor do we need) the services provided to the airlines.
You might feel inclined to write Mr. Anderson your thoughts on the subject. Read the full text of his article.