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United States Pilots Association |
With 13 USPA members and board present and many more represented by proxy, USPA President Steve Uslan called the quarterly board meeting of USPA to order at 10:10 a.m. on Saturday, October 23, in Long Beach, CA, in a Hyatt Regency meeting room generously provided by AOPA in connection with the annual AOPA Expo.
Minutes of the August meeting in Geneva, IL, were approved, and many items of concern and interest to GA were discussed. Minutes of the Long Beach meeting will be posted shortly at www.uspilots.org.
The next USPA board and members meeting will be held in Mobile, AL, March 17-19, 2005. Be watching for meeting information, and plan to join fellow USPA members for a worthwhile meeting and fun time. Among other items of interest will be a tour of the Continental-Teledyne plant.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
The FAA has issued NOTAMs that TFRs are planned for Monday, November 1, near Milwaukee, Des Moines, and Sioux City, with many area airports involved.
If you plan to fly in one of those areas on Monday, be sure to call FSS for up-to-date information.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
USPA IS PLANNING A FLYING TO ALASKA TRIP
YOU CAN JOIN US AND MAKE THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME IN YOUR PLANE
Bob Worthington
This summer (2005), USPA will host a trip to Alaska with participants flying their own planes over the Alaska (Al-Can) Highway. While the concept may seem daunting, especially with the huge mountains in Alaska and the distance of 1800 miles, it actually is a pleasant and easy trip to make. On my first trip to Alaska, the highest I flew in the state was 5,600 feet, only 150 feet above my airport pattern altitude. My airplane was an American General Tiger, slightly faster than a 172 so a complex single or light twin is not needed. In fact, I have seen pilots do it in a 150, but they did travel light. Therefore, USPA is inviting you to join us on this trip. The deadline for deciding if you want to participate is 31 January 2005. All planning will be based on the pilots and planes that are going by that date. The only cost to sign up is a $25 fee to cover printing and mailing expenses as USPA sends you the information needed for the trip. The only requirement is ALL participants must be USPA members (individual or state affiliate) by 31 January.
If you decide to go, contact the trip coordinator, Bob Worthington, by email at rworthin@zianet.com phone 505 522 6785 or fax 505 521 9449 or mail at 1136 Cave Sprgs Trl, Las Cruces, NM 88011. Make the $25 check to USPA. Remember the 31 January deadline. The preferred way for passing info will be email but regular mail will be used for bulky info.
When: Mid July to mid August 2005. The trip can take from 12-20 days, the exact time to be determined later. How long the trip takes depends on four factors: if the planes and pilots are VFR or IFR capable, the weather, the speed of the plane, and how much the group wants to see in AK.
Where: All planes will meet in Edmonton, Alberta at a hotel on the Edmonton Intl Airport (CYEG). Flying to Edmonton will be on your own as will clearing Canadian Customs. The route will generally follow the WW II Alaska Highway, which begins at Dawson Creek, BC and ends in Delta Junction, AK. From Edmonton, we will fly to Fort Nelson to RON via Dawson Creek, and Fort St John. The next day we go to White Horse to RON via Watson Lake. The next day we will go to Northway, AK to clear US Customs. Then on to Fairbanks via Delta Jct. After Fairbanks (you might want to take a side trip to Ft Yukon, a 5800 ft gravel strip but north of the Artic Circle to say you have flown and landed in the Artic) we will fly down to Anchorage, flying past 20,320 foot Mt. McKinley. After a few days in Anchorage fly down to Homer (home of Motel 6’s Tom Bodett, of “I‘ll leave the lights on for you“ fame). Then we will reverse the process and return to Edmonton where everyone will go his or her own way home. While AK has many mountains running 10,000 to 20,000 feet, we will be flying in the valleys between the mountains and typically will not be flying over 6000-8000 feet MSL. Then once we get to AK participants may decide to go on their own which is okay.
What: The trip will cost from $5000-$10,000 per couple and plane depending on how much you want to see and how long you want to stay. The distance from Edmonton to Homer is about 2200 nautical miles, which would take about 14 hours of flying time, not counting stops in a plane that flies about 140 kts. In 1999, I flew my Mooney 231 from Las Cruces on this trip to Homer and back which took 55.4 hours burning 11.6 GPH. At today’s fuel prices of about $3.00/gal the total fuel cost would be about $35/hr or just under $2000 for the trip (which is a round trip total of about 7000 nm for me). This will not be a regimented trip where everyone must fly in a formation the entire time. USPA will provide the information to make the trip an easy one, it may also make overnight accommodation arrangements, and provide the flight planning needed. Exactly how or if we fly together depends on the qualifications of the pilots and the airplanes (fast or slow) and the desires of the people on the trip.
Flight planning info: Later on this year, USPA will provide detailed information on exactly what charts, maps, approach plates/airport diagrams, navigational books, etc will be needed. Information on clearing Customs in both the US and Canada will be provided. Information on needed survival equipment will also be provided (which amounts to camping gear, food, signaling and fishing equipment for everyone on board for two weeks) and a survival weapon is no longer required in Canada or Alaska. Flying in Canada and Alaska is easy and fun. Mid July to mid August will offer the best VFR flying. Most of the flying will be over a major highway (which you can land on legally, just do not hit a car). It is probably one of the best trips anyone can make in a small plane. It will allow you to see and do more on the trip, be more relaxed as you will not have a travel guide schedule to maintain, and be less expensive, than taking a prepackaged commercial trip.
In order to better plan what to do and the associated costs, I offer the following items be purchased or otherwise obtained.
Flight planning info: Canada and Alaska Survival Equipment Requirements… www.aopa.org/members/files/travel/cansrveq.html.
Flight Tips for Pilots in Alaska… www.aopa.org/members/files/travel/Alaska/flight_tips.html.
The best flying guide to and in Alaska is the Alaska Airmen’s Logbook. $40 from 1 800 464 7030 or www.alaskaairmen.com
The Milepost book published each year as a travel guide to driving and flying to Alaska through Canada. $26 from 1 800 726 4707 or www.themilepost.com. This is an excellent guide.
Maps and charts are available from Sportys at 1 800 776 7897 or www.sportys.com. Videos or DVDs of flying to Alaska are also available; I prefer Larry Bartlett’s flying the Alaska Highway.
Maps and charts are also available from Aviation Publication Services at 1 800 869 7453, mention you are with USPA, and the prices are less than anywhere else.
General tourist and travel info about AK is found on www.travelalaska.com .
Bob Worthington
USPA Regional VP
The 6th Annual Holleyfest this weekend, celebrating friends, community, and aviation, opened to cool, wet, fall weather which certainly slowed down those planning to fly in. But a good crowd drove to beautiful Holley Mountain, and their enthusiasm for the event could not be rained out.
The Friday evening meal and “tall tale storytelling” were enjoyed by all. Saturday morning saw a great crowd gathered in Jim Collom’s hangar for an FAA safety seminar, presentation of Colors by the VFW Color Guard, dedication of the Dan Davison Emergency Center (the very well equipped volunteer fire station located at Holley Mountain and a gift to the property owners association by Jim and JoAnn Collom), and the dedication of the memorial garden near the airpark entrance, honoring Jim’s mom and dad. Afterward, a tasty barbeque lunch was enjoyed, under a tent outdoors, with the cool weather stimulating our taste buds.
At this point Paul and I had to leave, but we understand more was planned for the afternoon.
Holley Mountain is a six-year-old airpark in the majestic Arkansas mountains, beautifully planned and developed by Jim and Joann. Many of the home/plane owners are members of the Holley Mountain Chapter of the United States Pilots Association, including John Oakland, Holleyfest 2004 Coordinator.
For more information on the Holley Mountain Chapter and the Airpark, go to http://www.holleymountainairpark.com.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
President Bush will be in the Hobbs area for an event at 9:20 a.m. on Monday, and it is anticipated that a TFR will be established over that area—typically 30 NM radius, plus smaller GA no-fly zones.
Please call FSS for updates before flying in that area on Monday.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
The USPA board (all members and guests welcome and invited) will again meet in conjunction with the AOPA Expo—this year at Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, October 23, at 10:00 a.m., in the Harbor B room of the Hyatt Hotel at the convention center.
Listed as one of the top aviation attractions in the US, “101 Best Aviation Attractions” by John Purner puts AOPA Expo in the top 10, and one of the nation’s “gotta go there” destinations. It’s a one-stop opportunity to check out new airplanes and equipment, learn the latest safety procedures, and enjoy the company of other aviation supporters. Combining a USPA board meeting with Expo has been a good combo for several years now.
We do hope you will take this opportunity to participate in these great events. But if you are a board member (you should know who you are, and that includes the voting delegates of affiliated states and local chapters) and cannot attend, PLEASE send me or someone who will be attending your proxy in order that we might have a quorum to conduct business. A proxy form follows. Emailed proxies are acceptable. Many of us flying our own planes to California will be leaving early, so DO IT NOW!
PROXY
The undersigned, being a voting member of the Board of Directors of the United States Pilots Association, and entitled to vote at the Long Beach Meeting of the Board of Directors, do hereby constitute and appoint _________________________ my true and lawful attorney-in-fact and proxy to attend and represent me at the Board Meeting to be held on October 23, 2004, or any continuation or adjournment thereof, with full power to vote and act for me and in my name, place, and stead, in the same manner, to the same extent, and with the same effect that I might were I personally present thereat. Any proxy or proxies heretofore given by me to any person or persons whatsoever are hereby revoked.
In WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Proxy on this ___________ day of ______________, 2004.
Signature
Name Printed
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
The FAA has issued a NOTAM restricting flight in the STL area during
President Bush's planned visit Thursday through Saturday, October 7 to 9.
There will be a 30-nautical-mile-radius temporary flight restriction
(TFR) centered on the CSX VOR 233-degree radial at 8.4 miles,
extending up to flight level 180, in effect from 5:35 p.m.
local on Thursday until 10:25 a.m. local time on Saturday. Also, there
will be smaller 10-nm-radius GA no-fly zones in effect during that
timeframe. For the full text of the NOTAM, along with a graphic, go to
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/notams.html#4/0680.
The affected landing facilities are Creve Coeur (1H0), Spirit of
St. Louis (SUS), Lambert-St. Louis International (STL), St. Charles (3SQ),
St. Charles County Smartt (SET), St. Louis Downtown (CPS), Sackman
Field (H49), Washington Memorial (MO6), St. Louis Regional (ALN),
Greensfield (M71), St. Clair Regional (K39), and Festus Memorial (FES).
Please consult FSS for any possible changes prior to flight.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association
Had you called the San Angelo FSS on the 800 number this evening, as USPA President Steve Uslan did, you would have gotten the Albuquerque FSS. Steve inquired why ABQ was answering, and was told that the San Angelo staffers were at a meeting in Ft. Worth, being briefed on what will happen to the FSS employees if they are not awarded the bid to run the privatized FSSs, which award will be made in January.
To confirm that privatization is a done deal, and that it is only a matter of who will get the contract, USPA Executive Director Jan Hoynacki called the Columbia, MO, FSS and was told that such briefings are indeed taking place. Among the bidders, which she was told include Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, is an organization of FSS employees who are hoping to keep their jobs under the new plan.
As USPA and MPA were under the impression that FSS privatization was still on the fence, it comes as a surprise that FSS employees are being instructed on how their retirement will be handled and how locations may be eliminated or moved if their bid does not win in January. What conclusion can we make, except that it is simply a matter of WHO not IF?
Towers first, FSSs in January, ATC next? Pay for service? Why aren’t more alphabet groups hollering?
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association