Obernolte-Cartwright Amendment On Ramp Fees For Transient Aircraft Was Halted In House

Posted on July 28, 2023 by mwflyer

Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2023 Digital Issue

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Obernolte-Cartwright Amendment to the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (H.R. 3935) on ramp fees for transient aircraft parking was halted July 18, 2023 in the House of Representatives, because members of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and others lobbied against it.

The transient ramp mandate, proposed by AOPA and 600 other pilot groups, was NOT included in the House Rules package, which specifies amendments to be considered on the House floor. Other amendments that NATA opposed on noise, privatized ATC, restricting public charter, and banning 100LL, were also halted by the House Rules Committee.

The U.S. House of Representatives went ahead and passed (H.R. 3935) without the proposed amendments. This Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill provides funding and direction to the agency, which has its current congressional authorization expiring on September 30, 2023. General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) President and CEO, Pete Bunce, released the following statement regarding passage of the House’s FAA reauthorization bill:

“The Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act provides a strong foundation to set a positive trajectory for the FAA at a critical time for the agency. We applaud the House for its expedient work passing its FAA reauthorization bill and commend the leadership of Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Graves and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Cohen, who were instrumental in ensuring this was a bipartisan bill. The House FAA reauthorization bill works to provide leadership, stability, and direction to the FAA. We are pleased to see that the bill powerfully addresses regulatory process improvements, international engagement and leadership, and support for the emerging advanced air mobility sector. We particularly appreciate the extension and enhancements of critical aviation workforce development programs which are being expanded to focus on attracting the next generation of manufacturing workforce. We are also grateful for the work done by Representatives Carbajal, Yakym and Davids. They collaborated on an important amendment, adopted by the House, which establishes a pilot program to examine the use of technology in air traffic control towers to deliver more efficient digital clearances to aircraft through internet protocol for general aviation and on-demand Part 135 air operators.”

NATA will continue to fight these efforts to favor one class of aviation user at the expense of airports, aviation businesses, and Part 135 operators.
At press time, the Senate’s FAA Reauthorization Bill, S.1939, remained under consideration by the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

Both House and Senate measures must be passed, reconciled and signed into law ahead of the expiration of the current FAA authorization on Sept. 30, 2023.

Fight For Fair & Reasonable FBO Fees
Hits Turbulence…
Airports & FBOs Embark On
Misinformation Campaign, Says AOPA

Reported by Lillian Geil, AOPA

While AOPA’s effort to see an amendment included in the 2023 House FAA reauthorization bill may have been thwarted by airport associations, FBOs, and others, AOPA and the pilot community will continue the fight against those who want to continue to impose egregious and unnecessary fees on GA pilots.

For years, pilots have been contacting AOPA with increasingly concerning stories of landing at public-use airports to grab a sandwich, have a meeting, or just pick up passengers, and being met with what many refer to as egregious fees. One pilot who picked up four passengers in a midsize jet was slapped with a $1,200 bill after just 20 minutes on the ground. Another paid nearly $600 to park for a mere three hours. A flight instructor was charged $80 so his student could use the FBO restroom for 10 minutes.

As the House FAA Reauthorization Bill (H.R. 3935) went to the floor for a vote this week, Reps. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Matt Cartwright (D-PA), two GA pilots, introduced a bipartisan amendment that would have ensured pilots would be able to park their aircraft at public-use airports without being charged unfair, unreasonable, and hidden FBO fees.

AOPA President Mark Baker urged a coalition of nearly 600 pilot organizations and hundreds of thousands of AOPA members to contact their representative in Congress and support the fair and reasonable fee amendment.

“Many airports and smaller FBOs don’t charge fees and if they do, they are often fair and reasonable. Like most pilots, I am willing to pay fees but let’s not allow for monopolistic practices that limit access to public-use airports by requiring pilots to pay a private business that imposes unfair and unreasonable fees. As a matter of principle, it’s just not right,” Baker said.

The organizations that worked against fair and reasonable FBO fees erroneously suggested the amendment required airports to provide free parking and that it also required construction of new ramp areas. They also claimed the amendment imposed an unfunded mandate on airports, that it would be impossible to administer, and that the amount of fees being charged reflected the cost of doing business. These inaccurate and gross mischaracterizations of the amendment harmed the sincere intentions of the pilot organizations to fairly and responsibly address this issue for their members.

AOPA will continue to support the FBO and airport communities and remains determined to ensure GA pilots have access to and are being charged reasonable fees at federally funded, public-use airports.

Securing Growth & Robust Leadership
In American Aviation Act

H.R. 3935 — 118th Congress (2023-2024) This bill reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through FY2028, including activities and programs related to airport planning and development, facilities and equipment, and operations. The National Transportation Safety Board is also reauthorized through FY2028.
The bill also addresses a wide range of issues. For example, the bill
• directs the FAA to increase air traffic controller hiring targets;
• establishes a workforce development program to support the education, recruitment, and retention of aviation professionals;
• establishes an FAA Ombudsman to coordinate the response to submissions of inquiries or objections relating to issues such as aircraft certifications and registrations, pilot certificates, and operational approvals, waivers, or exemptions;
• raises the commercial airline pilot retirement age to 67 (currently 65);
• prohibits aircraft dispatchers from working remotely, with limited exceptions for emergencies;
• requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish standards to ensure the aircraft boarding and deplaning process is accessible for individuals with disabilities, including for individuals who use wheelchairs;
• requires DOT to establish a policy directing certain air carriers to seat a young child next to an accompanying adult if adjacent seats are available without charging an additional fee;
• prohibits the FAA from requiring mask wearing or COVID-19 vaccines for passengers, air carrier employees, or FAA employees;
• requires the FAA to issue rules to update the requirements for testing and operating unmanned aircraft (i.e., drones), including for drones operating beyond the visual line of sight; and
• requires the FAA to issue rules for certifying pilots for powered-lift aircraft (i.e., capable of vertical takeoff and landing) and operational rules for powered-lift aircraft.

Posted in All Headlines, August/September 2023, Government/Legislation, Headlines, Headlines | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

And the winner is…. Todd Niles & His RANS S6S Coyote II

Posted on July 28, 2023 by mwflyer

by Dave Weiman
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2023 Digital Issue

Todd Niles Photo

Winning this year’s “Flour Bombing Contest,” June 3, 2023, at Milwaukee Lawrence J Timmerman Airport (KMWC), was Todd Niles of Somers, Wisconsin, flying his homebuilt aircraft, a 2018 RANS S6S Coyote II.

Niles is a retired civil engineer and mutual fund investor. With an early start investing, advice from fellow engineers, and lots of patience, along with several home and land deals, he was able to retire at age 45. He’s now 55. Winning the $200.00 prize gift certificate at the Flour Bombing Contest was a nice bonus!

Niles built his Coyote II in his basement and garage. “I did everything except wiring the avionics,” said Niles, who credits Steinair, Inc. of Faribault, Minnesota, for wiring the Garmin G3X panel and two-axis autopilot. The wings and everything except the fuselage were completed in his basement. The fuselage was built in his garage since it was too large to get out the back door of his house.

The Coyote II is equipped with an 80 hp Rotax 912 engine, burning 87 octane auto fuel. “Thanks to the 10 percent ethanol, I never have any nuisance water in my fuel tanks.”

Since the Coyote II is an experimental aircraft, Niles can maintain the aircraft himself, so that helps to keep costs down.

Niles escapes the Wisconsin winters each year by traveling to Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, or California, and tows his airplane in a homemade converted boat trailer behind his Sprinter van. His van was designed to look like a cargo van. It has a bathroom, shower, kitchen, recliner, 12-volt DC color TV, bed, and propane furnace.

“I’m very comfortable in the Sprinter, for up to two months. It is a stealth motorhome,” says Niles.

Niles prefers to park his van at small, rural airports, near large cities, so he can get over-the-air television reception, as local television weather reports are critical to him. He doesn’t feel that aviation weather and FAA’s 1800wxbrief are enough.

“Getting the opinion of the experienced local meteorologist is critical in an area I’ve never flown before,” he says. “They have saved my bacon a few times.”

Niles will stay at one airport for three to four weeks as a “tourist pilot” with permission from the airport manager. “So far, they’ve let me park my van and stay right at their airport, for free!

“I don’t need any electrical plugins, water, or sewer. I just need a quiet place to park. In fact, many airports like the free 24-hour security my being there provides.”

On nice days, Niles flys and explores the countryside. On other days, he drives his van to some local tourist attractions, and hikes, bikes, and researches the area for interesting destinations. “The locals are a great source of information, and they keep me out of trouble.”

Niles uses a “Critical Judd” folding bicycle that fits in his Coyote II. So, when he flys to some other airport, he can pedal off to some Indian ruins or a restaurant or wherever.

When choosing a folding bicycle for your airplane, Niles recommends a bicycle that does not have cables. That way it disassembles easily and can easily be stowed in your airplane.

“There is usually a grass airstrip or larger airport near every bicycle trail,” says Niles. For long trips, he brings a tent and sleeping bag and sleeps under the wing. He can often complete two bicycle trails per trip!

“I’ve ridden all of the bicycle trails in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana,” says Niles. “Now I’m working on all the trails in Iowa.”

It takes about 1 1/2 hours to fold or unfold the Coyote II aircraft. Niles will find a helper at the airport when he unfolds the wings. “There’s always somebody around the airport who can help me with the heavy wings, and I make a new friend.” All fuel is drained out of the wing-tanks before folding the wings.

The 10-gallon “bomb tank,” as Niles calls it, is located on the belly of his aircraft, and he designed it himself. The tank consists of two sheet metal cooking pots Niles purchased at Big Lots department store, aluminum to wrap the tank, and lots of pop rivets. He sealed the tank with 3M fuel tank sealant from Spruce and Specialty. He uses a used Cadillac fuel pump that can pump fuel at 1 gallon per minute up to the wing tanks. In 10 minutes, the bomb tank is empty!

“It sure is nice to refuel in flight and have full wing tanks for hours at 10,000 feet,” says Niles. The Rotax 912 engine burns 3.3 gallons per hour. The bomb tank alone adds three hours to his total flight time. The Coyote II can fly for 7 hours and still have a VFR reserve upon landing.

Niles’ aircraft is equipped with a BRS parachute, just in case the engine would fail. “It’s all tall trees, canyons, steep hills, and rocky terrain out west,” he said, so having the parachute is a great safety feature.

The airplane and homemade trailer cost Niles a total of about $100,000 and 3 years of his time. He figures it costs him about $13.00 an hour to fly his airplane, making it very affordable! “I fly whenever I want, since the cost is so low.”

Niles, who is a “Sport Pilot,” wonders why more pilots are not “tourist pilots” like him. “I’m having the time of my life,” and so can you!

Posted in Airports, All Features, August/September 2023, Events, Features, Features | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Making Dreams Come True

Posted on July 28, 2023 by mwflyer

by Mark Baker
AOPA President & CEO
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2023 Digital Issue

Excitement was in the air. At press time, we were only weeks away from the world’s largest airshow, when thousands of planes, pilots and spectators descended upon Oshkosh to make Wittman Field, as it’s often proclaimed, the world’s busiest airport in the world that week. I’ve been to OSH many times, but each time it’s like being there for the very first time.

Whether you’re a long-time pilot, newly certificated, an aircraft owner or just someone who shares our amazing passion, being at AirVenture is like being a kid in an aviation candy store. We walk around the grounds in amazement of so many different types of aircraft, kick tires (not too hard, I hope), peek inside, and chat about adventures.

Many of us who have been flying for a while may actually have an eye on a new aircraft (or our first one), a trade-up, a new glass panel or some other exciting upgrade. But as you walk around the grounds at AirVenture – or any other airshow or at any other airport around this great country – it’s obvious that many people who are looking at aircraft and exploring aviation are doing so from the outside. They’re looking through the GA window wondering if that could ever be them.

It’s on all of us in GA to help them get to yes. Whether it’s the dream of flying or the desire to have one’s own aircraft, you can see the passion and see the wishing in their eyes. As a community, we need to do everything reasonable and practical to bring them closer to reality.

Don’t get me wrong – flying is not an inexpensive pursuit, and we need to be mindful of that. Getting a pilot’s certificate takes time and money, and demand for used aircraft is driving prices up. Fuel, hangars, and insurance adds to the cost. But aviation doesn’t have to be completely out of someone’s reach, and we all need to do what we can to bring new pilots – and aircraft owners – into our fold.

Building the pilot population is a top goal at AOPA, and turning those dreams into a reality is exactly why programs like AOPA’s You Can Fly exists. We want to show those with the passion that they can fly, and provide them with a roadmap and tools to get them aloft and stay there safely.

We’ve certainly seen no shortage of aspiring aviators. In the past three years, the AOPA Foundation has received thousands of applications for our flight training scholarships – from folks of all ages and all walks of life. We have awarded more than $4.5 million in scholarships to more than 525 recipients, helping to bridge that gap between wishing and flying.

I also know that for most pilots, the bug hits early on. A core focus of You Can Fly – our High School STEM initiative – now engages more than 16,000 students in schools across the country. Since we began the High School initiative, which is supported by generous donors to the AOPA Foundation (thank you!), more than 50,000 students have been introduced to career opportunities in the aviation world through world-class STEM education. And what we’re hearing – more than 70 percent of the program’s first graduates say that they are actively pursuing an aviation career – shows that we are on the right track for GA.

For those who take the next step, one of the ways to keep costs in line is to make flight training as efficient as possible. Whether it’s a rotating roster of flight instructors or a not-so-well thought out instructional plan, hours can rack up which means money racks up, too. Unfortunately, for those reasons and others, the number of students not completing their training has also racked up. We need to fix that.

Our AOPA Flight Training Advantage initiative is an innovative tool for students and CFIs, designed to make the training process fully organized, transparent, forward-looking, and efficient. Right now, more than 1,700 flight schools and independent CFIs are signed on to AFTA, with more than 8,000 training hours logged since its inception.

Once pilots get their certificate, a big issue is access and cost – where can I rent an airplane near me at a reasonable cost. We have an initiative for that – our AOPA Flying Clubs team has helped more than 225 clubs form, which provides greater access and more affordability.

The holy grail for many aviators is to own their own airplane. The freedom to fly is one thing – but to go up and travel across America whenever and wherever you want is a whole different ballgame. Our Aircraft Finance team has the knowledge and passion to help aviators explore options to purchase virtually any type of aircraft.

As a community, it lifts us all when we band together to bring general aviation closer to those with the spark. Let’s continue to light those flames and grow this wonderful, shared passion. Blue skies!

Posted in AOPA, August/September 2023, Columns, Columns, Columns, From AOPA Headquarters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Chicago Skyline Tour

Posted on July 28, 2023 by mwflyer

by Yasmina Platt
© Copyright 2023. All rights reserved!
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2023 Digital Issue

The author’s route of flight along the Chicago Lakefront. ForeFlight.

Ready for #OSH24 yet? If so, there is a good chance many of you may fly around and/or over Chicago. If so, I recommend flying a skyline tour on the way there and/or back.
Start by grabbing (or downloading nowadays) a Chicago Terminal Area Chart (TAC) and becoming familiar with the airspace. The elevation of Chicago is below 1,000 ft MSL (generally between 500 and 650 ft MSL). Downtown Chicago is located along the shore of Lake Michigan and there are two major commercial airports: Chicago O’Hare (KORD) and Chicago Midway (KMDW). KORD is in Class B airspace, and KMDW is in Class C airspace, under the Class B. Why the Class C over KMDW? The “T” is the top of the Class C airspace, which is the base of the Class B airspace. However, one can remain under both classes of airspace along the shoreline, below 1,900 ft MSL.

There are also several General Aviation (GA) airports and heliports in the area. For this exercise, we especially want to become familiar with Waukegan Airport (KUGN) on the north end, and Gary/Chicago Airport (KGYY) on the south side because they are also along the shoreline and in Class D airspace (with a ceiling of 3,200 ft and 3,100 ft MSL, respectively). Speaking to those controllers may be necessary if you go that far north and south respectively.

I’ll design a route north to south since that’s how most people (including the helicopter air tours) do it, and especially handy if you have passengers on the right side of the airplane, but it can be flown in both directions of course. The idea is to have the city on one wing and Lake Michigan on the other.
• You can start at the VFR checkpoint called “Bahai Temple,” which resembles a white acorn capping an octagonal base.
• VFR checkpoint Northwestern University is just passed it.
• VFR checkpoint Montrose Harbor (Beach) follows.
• You’ll be abeam Wrigley Field and Lincoln Park.
Soon you’ll see high-rise condos on Chicago’s Gold Coast.
• Then, VFR checkpoint Navy Pier.
• The downtown skyline has some of the tallest and most architectural significant buildings in the country. At or above your altitude (since it’s 1,451 ft high), and dominating the skyline, is the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower), still the third tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere.
• Buckingham Fountain.
• The Field Museum, the Aquarium, and the Planetarium.• Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears, sits across the harbor from Northerly Island, once home to the iconic and beloved GA airport, Meigs Field.
Keep an eye on NOTAMs, especially blanket stadium ones, and always, always look for other traffic. All aircraft flying in and around Chicago airspace should have ADS-B Out and, therefore, if you have ADS-B In, other aircraft should appear on your screen, but still look out your window! And even though you may be able to stay below/outside controlled airspace, I always recommend getting VFR Flight Following.

Sunrise and early morning are great times to do this tour since the sun rises from the east and lights up the downtown buildings.

For more information about Air Trails and other flying destinations, visit www.airtrails.weebly.com.

Fly often and fly safe!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Yasmina Platt’s full-time job has her planning the future of aviation infrastructure for Joby’s electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft. She also writes an aviation travel blog called “Air Trails” (www.airtrails.weebly.com), in addition to articles on pilot destinations for Midwest Flyer Magazine. Pilots can locate articles Yasmina has written by going to www.MidwestFlyer.com and typing “Yasmina” in the search box, or by going to the “Archives” section, then “Columns,” then “Destinations.”

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this column is the expressed opinion of the author only, and readers are advised to seek the advice of their personal flight instructor and others, and refer to the Federal Aviation Regulations, FAA Aeronautical Information Manual, and instructional materials before attempting any procedures discussed herein.

Posted in August/September 2023, Columns, Columns, Columns, Destinations | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

LLC Members Do Not “Own” The Aircraft

Posted on July 28, 2023 by mwflyer

by Gregory J. Reigel, Esq
© Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2023 Digital Issue

I frequently speak with folks who are members of a limited liability company (“LLC”) that holds legal title to an aircraft. During those conversations these individuals, more often than I would like to admit, state that they “own” the aircraft. They usually go on to argue that they should be able to fly “their” aircraft without any type of agreement or other documentation because they “own” the aircraft.

Unfortunately, these individuals are wrong on both counts. To understand why, it is important to understand how an LLC is structured.

An LLC is owned by all of its members. LLC members hold membership interests in the company that are represented by the members’ capital accounts. An LLC may be governed by its members or managers to handle the day-to-day business of the LLC.

An LLC is treated as a separate “person” in the eyes of the law with an independent existence from its respective members. Thus, when an LLC owns an aircraft, the LLC’s members do not actually own an interest in the aircraft. Rather, the aircraft is an asset of the LLC, and the LLC is managed by the members or managers of the LLC, on behalf and in the best interest of the LLC. So, while the LLC members may own the LLC, they do not have a direct interest in the aircraft that is owned by the LLC. This is an important distinction that is often misunderstood by LLC members.

Although the FAA is not always consistent in its application of the distinction between the LLC aircraft owner and the members of that LLC, when it comes to aircraft ownership, it is clear that the FAA does not view the LLC members as the “owners” of an aircraft where the LLC is the registered owner.

This position can result in problems for LLC members when an aircraft is purchased by, and operated from, what is commonly referred to as a “single purpose entity” or “flight-department company.” In this scenario, the buyer, which may be an individual or a business, purchases an aircraft for personal use or use incidental to a business under FAR Part 91. Intending to limit personal liability, the LLC member forms a separate LLC whose sole purpose is to own the aircraft. But then the LLC operates the aircraft for the LLC member under FAR Part 91.

Unfortunately, the FAA will likely view the LLC’s operation of the aircraft on behalf of the LLC member as a commercial operation requiring an air carrier certificate. Even though the flights are for the member, any operation of the aircraft by the LLC for the benefit of the LLC member without an air carrier certificate, could subject the pilot(s) actually flying the aircraft to an FAA legal enforcement action and subject the LLC that owns and is operating the aircraft to a civil penalty action. This is clearly something to be avoided.

Similarly, depending upon how this arrangement is structured, the Internal Revenue Service could view the LLC’s operation of the aircraft as a commercial operation requiring the collection and payment of Federal Excise Tax on any flights operated by the LLC on behalf of the member(s). Alternatively, a legally compliant Part 91 private operation may only require the collection of sales tax.

However, it is possible to be legally compliant with the LLC owning the aircraft. The aircraft needs to be operated by the member, as an operator, and for that member’s benefit. Using appropriate agreements, operational control of the aircraft is transferred from the LLC to an LLC member for that member’s use of the aircraft. With that structure, the member, not the LLC, is the operator of the aircraft. This satisfies the FAA’s operational control requirements and avoids the FAA and IRS issues if the LLC were to be the operator.

But regardless of the operational structure, the LLC members will still not be the owners of the aircraft. LLC members desiring to use an LLC for the purchase of an aircraft should keep this in mind when discussing the ownership of the aircraft.

Each situation is unique and must be analyzed to confirm that the ownership and operational arrangements will comply with the regulatory requirements anticipated by the LLC members for operations under FAR Part 91. As they say, “the devil is in the details.”

If you want to use an LLC to own and hold title to an aircraft, and where the LLC members will not be the owners of the aircraft, work with a knowledgeable aviation attorney to ensure that the transaction is structured appropriately to meet the regulatory requirements applicable to your particular situation.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Greg Reigel is an attorney with Shackelford, Melton, McKinley & Norton, LLP, and represents clients throughout the country in aviation and business law matters. He has more than two decades of experience working with airlines, charter companies, fixed base operators, airports, repair stations, pilots, mechanics, and other aviation businesses in aircraft purchase and sales transactions, regulatory compliance including hazmat and drug and alcohol testing, contract negotiations, airport grant assurances, airport leasing, aircraft-related agreements, wet leasing, dry leasing, and FAA certificate and civil penalty actions. For assistance, call 214-780-1482,
email: greigel@shackelford.law, Twitter@ReigelLawor (www.shackelford.law)

Posted in August/September 2023, Aviation Law, Columns, Columns, Columns | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Milwaukee’s Flour Bombing Contest… Precision Flying Is What It’s All About!

Posted on July 28, 2023 by mwflyer

by Dave Weiman
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2023 Digital Issue

Experienced and inexperienced pilots alike participated in this year’s “Flour Bombing Contest,” June 3, 2023, at Milwaukee Lawrence J Timmerman Airport (KMWC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In fact, flight instructors at Spring City Aviation, located at the airport, encouraged their students to give it a try as well.

Never having competed in the event, I – and a few other pilots flying larger aircraft – took a backseat to smaller aircraft, such as Cessna 150s, 152s, 172s, Piper Cubs, a RANS homebuilt and the like. For this competition, slower meant better, as did the ability to see below the aircraft. Low-wing aircraft were especially challenged.

Milwaukee County, which owns and operates Timmerman Airport and Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport (KMKE), provided a grand prize of $200.00 and free food and refreshments for participants. The prize money added to the fun, but it was the fun and challenge of the competition that lured pilots from within and outside the Milwaukee metro. This contest, as well as Milwaukee’s “spot landing contest” to be held Saturday, September 9, was hosted by Spring City Aviation to promote safety and the airport.

Participants arrived at Timmerman by 10:00 a.m. for a mandatory safety briefing. The contest got underway shortly thereafter.

Each contestant was given two attempts to drop a small bag of flour on the target below, or as close as possible, unless their bag fell well outside the target area, like ours did. Our daughter, Stacy, accompanied me this year and dropped the bag when I gave her the go-ahead. Once the bag hit the ground, it of course broke open, but each bag was marked with the aircraft N number, so the winners could be identified.

The active runway, 4L, was used for takeoffs and landings, while we made our runs over the grass runway, 4R. Depending on inbound and departing traffic, we generally flew a lefthand pattern. The tower allowed three aircraft to be in the pattern at any one time, and the judges’ decisions were final.

Officials requested that we fly at 900 feet MSL, or approximately 150 ft AGL, and no slower than 60 kts.

Pilots then taxied out in assigned groups of three to avoid congestion on the taxiway, but procedurally, there were no shortcuts. Pilots were asked to do their normal preflight checks and runups before taxiing.

When it was your turn, you contacted Timmerman Ground and informed the controller you were participating in the contest and ready to taxi to the designated runway.

According to Milwaukee County Airport officials, ignoring drag, flying at 150 feet, your bag of flour would take about 3 seconds to hit the ground. So, you drop it 3 seconds before you overfly the target, assuming you fly at around 90 kts. If you fly slower, the tendency to undershoot the target will increase, so you should drop it slightly later. The prevailing wind is a consideration, but does not significantly change the outcome.

One tip, though, is to make sure the bag of flour is relatively tight, so that the falling shape is as close to a smooth sphere as it can be, which keeps it from spinning away from going straight down. Airport officials provided the bags of flour, so all we had to do was write our aircraft N number on them.

The airport remained open during the competition, and participants got excellent cooperation from the tower. Transient aircraft were given the right-of-way, so as not to disrupt normal airport operations.

The results were as follows:
1st Place: Todd Niles and Max Behrens of Milwaukee, Wis. – 26 feet from center.
2nd Place: Josh Woodard and Ayden Whitney of Racine, Wis. – 35 feet from center.
3rd Place: Andy Kanehl and Ron M of Waukesha, Wis. – 38 feet from center.

To watch previous flour bombing and spot landing contest videos, go to: https://www.facebook.com/TimmermanAirport/videos/

Many thanks to Milwaukee County Airport officials for sponsoring both the flour bombing contest, and the upcoming “spot landing contest,” to be held Saturday, September 9, 2023, beginning at 10:00 a.m.; the FAA Air Traffic Controllers for helping to keep them safe events; and Spring City Aviation for hosting the contests.

Posted in Airports, All Features, August/September 2023, Features, Features | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spot On: SIU’s Saluki Aces Finish Second In 2023 Air Race Classic

Posted on July 28, 2023 by mwflyer

by Pete Rosenbery
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2023 Digital Issue

(L/R) SIU Aviation’s Graci McDaniel and Meadow Boden finished second, both overall and in the collegiate division, of the 46th transcontinental Air Race Classic. Photo by Russell Bailey

CARBONDALE, ILL. – Trusting their instincts and making smart decisions to overcome difficult weather paid off for Southern Illinois University Carbondale Aviation’s Saluki Aces Meadow Boden and Graci McDaniel. The pair finished second – both overall and in the collegiate division – of the 46th transcontinental Air Race Classic – the four-day, 2,334 nautical mile journey from Grand Forks, North Dakota, to Homestead, Florida, June 20-23. The 2023 event, which honors female aviators, featured 41 teams of competitors of all ages and experience levels this year, including 14 universities.

Racing with a unique handicap and against their own best time, Boden and McDaniel made several decisions during their journey that helped propel them to SIU’s second-highest overall finish in eight years of competing. A team from SIU won both the overall and collegiate title in 2015. Results are available on the Air Race Classic website. McDaniel, of Pinckneyville, Illinois who earned her bachelor’s degree in aviation management in May, had hoped to at least finish third in the collegiate category as Boden and her teammate, Abby Lee, did in 2022.

“Sitting at the awards banquet, we were in shock that we did as well as we did,” she said. “I was never expecting to be in the top 10 of all the racers. We ultimately just focused on not getting penalties and doing our best. I’m still in shock, and it is a major highlight of my life. We couldn’t have done it without each other, and we are so proud to be Salukis!”

Competitors included trainees on Boeing 777s, retired air traffic controllers, fixed base operators (FBOs), airport owners, and collegiate teams. Competing against women of these different backgrounds is one of Boden’s greatest experiences.

“Placing second among the 41 teams showed that no matter your background, you really can do anything,” said Boden, of Bushnell, Illinois, a 2022 SIU graduate and certified flight instructor in the program.

Weather Posed Challenges

The biggest challenge while flying more than 30 accumulated hours was weather. The race’s goal is to beat your own handicap, “which was extremely difficult with the amount of wind we had to encounter,” and major concerns of afternoon thunderstorms in southern Florida, Boden said. The team faced “huge headwinds all week,” along with storms in Alabama and Florida, said McDaniel, noting the “smart decisions by flying as low to the ground as they could legally and safely and examining the convective weather carefully.”

“The night before the race deadline, we decided that we would be pleased with simply completing the race. Waiting around for a line of thunderstorms to go through, then quickly making the decision to complete the next leg before more storms came, was very challenging but ultimately paid off,” Boden said.

Finding hotels was another challenge, with McDaniel noting that one night they stayed with one of the Auburn University teams in a hangar generously provided by a volunteer at one of the stops.

More Than Just A Race

McDaniel and Boden said they made meaningful connections and friendships with other race participants, event officials and volunteers that will last a lifetime. The event will “always be a home away from home for me,” said McDaniel, adding she gained “an invaluable amount of aviation skills flying over a good chunk of the United States.”

Boden said the race is “so much more than the competition itself,” predicting that she will likely cross paths with many of the women in the future.

“I am so grateful that Meadow was my partner. We worked as a great team to accomplish what we did. We trusted our guts and collaborated to end with a finish that we were not expecting,” McDaniel said, again thanking the aviation program and aviation maintenance and flight line crew for their work.

Another Example of Program Excellence

José Ruiz, professor and School of Aviation director, said the work by Boden and McDaniel “speaks to the high level of expertise possessed by our students and flight instructors. It also reflects very positively on the caliber of flight instruction associated with the SIU aviation flight program.

“The School of Aviation is committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity among our student body, instructional staff members and support staff. National recognition of this type showcases and reinforces that commitment.”

This summer, there are 554 undergraduate students in the School of Aviation’s three programs – aviation flight, aviation maintenance and aviation technologies, with 90 of those students being women. Ruiz anticipates both numbers will increase in the fall.

Posted in All Features, August/September 2023, Awards & Recognitions, Features, Features | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ray Rubin, Creator of the Canadian Caravan for Pilots

Posted on July 28, 2023 by mwflyer

(October 4, 1931 – July 11, 2023)
by Dave Weiman
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2023 Digital Issue

Utik Lake, Manitoba, Canada 2003: (Back Row L/R) Phil Peterson, Renee Rubin, Ray Rubin, a staff member, and the pilot of the Cessna Caravan. (Front Row L/R): Al Reid, Eunice Rubin, Dave Weiman, and a staff member.

Ray Rubin

It was the winter of 1988 when businessman, Ray Rubin, of Eagle River, Wisconsin, saw a copy of Midwest Flyer Magazine and called me to help him promote a new five-star fishing lodge he was building in northern Manitoba. The following year, it was Ray’s idea to create the “Canadian Caravan” for pilots, an adventure we have continued to this day, with pilots flying their own aircraft to Canada as a group.

Ray was a football player in college, a student pilot for a while, an aeronautical engineer by trade, a world traveler, and the owner of the local Ben Franklin store in Eagle River. Ray and his Canadian business partner, Al Reid, also developed and managed hunting and fishing lodges throughout Manitoba. Ray was an expert fisherman, and fishing was his #1 hobby. Al was a pilot and a master at building lodges and airstrips in remote areas. Together, they made a great team!

The lodge Ray and Al had under construction at the time was “Knee Lake Resort,” which became one of only a handful of five-star fishing resorts in Canada.

Flying to Knee Lake was not my first fishing trip to Canada, but it was my most enjoyable, because it was the start of a lifelong friendship with Ray Rubin and his family. Ray and I, and friends Walt Loether, Jack O’Brien, and Phil Peterson, enjoyed our trips to Knee Lake, and Ray also joined me on trips to other fishing destinations throughout Manitoba and Ontario in the years that followed. Ray also encouraged our family to vacation in Eagle River, which has become a tradition.

Ray’s wife, Eunice, passed away in 2017, and their only child, Renee, passed away in 2020. Other than a sister and nephew on the East Coast, all Ray had left were his many friends in Wisconsin and Canada.

Repeated falls required that Ray sell his lake home in Eagle River and live in an assisted living facility. We celebrated his 91st birthday on October 4, 2022, and saw him twice this year, most recently just two weeks before he passed away on July 11. Fortunately, Peggy and I were able to thank him for his friendship over these past 35 years on our last visit, and for his idea to create the “Canadian Caravan” for pilots!

Blue skies, Ray, and thanks for your friendship and the memories!

 

Posted in August/September 2023, Columns, Columns, Columns, Dialogue | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wisconsin Has Brodhead… Minnesota Has Buffalo

Posted on July 28, 2023 by mwflyer

by Dave Weiman
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2023 Digital Issue

Two great Midwest airports are Brodhead in Wisconsin (C37), and Buffalo in Minnesota (KCFE), hosts of great aviation events. Brodhead is home of EAA “Cheeseland” Chapter 431, and the airport hosts a myriad of aviation events, including the chapter’s annual pancake breakfast fly-in, this year held May 21, 2023; the annual Pietenpol/Hatz Fly-In, this year held July 20-23, 2023; the Midwest Antique Airplane Club Fly-In, September 7-10, 2023; and the annual Skiplane Fly-In, held in February, which I attended and reported on earlier this year. Brodhead is also home of the Kelch Aviation Museum (https://www.kelchmuseum.org/).

Mike Weeden is President of EAA Chapter 431, Ben Johnson is Vice President, Larry Clements is Secretary, Sue Faville is Treasurer, and Brian Terry, Bill Weber, and Ron Zweifel are directors.

I was able to fly into Buffalo for the Minnesota Pilots Association’s (MPA) “Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering” (GMAG) on Saturday, May 20 (the event was held May 19 and 20, 2023), and to Brodhead for EAA Chapter 431’s “Great Pancake Breakfast” on Sunday, May 21.

The Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering featured educational sessions and a variety of aviation-related vendors. Its “Hangar Flying” sessions covered a broad range of timely topics, including VFR and IFR flight operations, preflight considerations, seaplane operations, aviation medicine and medical certification, engine maintenance, flightseeing, U.S. Forest Service and DNR flight operations, experimental aircraft building, local and state governments, and much more!

The event attracts excellent speakers, among them AOPA President Mark Baker, who is originally from Minnesota; AOPA Regional Representative Kyle Lewis; and FAA Flight Standards District Office and Minnesota DOT Office of Aeronautics officials.
I learned to fly in the Twin Cities metro where Buffalo Municipal Airport (KCFE) is located, so I am very familiar with the area and air traffic control there, which I rate as one of the best!

Key organizer, Randle Corfman, President and Founder of the Minnesota Pilots Association, provided ample details on flying in, which are good reminders for all of us when we venture away from our home airports:
1. Check NOTAMS that may apply to KCFE.
2. Be sure to BRING YOUR OWN TIEDOWNS!
3. For those who wish to tie down in the grass, be sure to bring your FLYTIES, CLAW or other devices for tying down.
4. For those who wish to camp at the airport Friday night, please do not plan on open fires. A fire pit with firewood will be provided in a designated area. “Porty Potties” will be available for your use.
5. Please note that it is important to secure your own aircraft.

All fly-ins, especially in the Midwest, have EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and the Antique Airplane Association Fly-In in Blakesburg, Iowa, as model fly-ins to emulate.

Membership in the Minnesota Pilots Association is required to attend the Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering, and depending on the event held in Brodhead, membership is required and limited to members of the respective sponsoring organization. For details, checkout their websites: https://mnpilots.org/ and https://www.eaa431.org/

You know aviation is strong when you have organizations like EAA Chapter 431 and affiliate organizations at Brodhead, and the Minnesota Pilots Association in Buffalo.

The mission of the Minnesota Pilots Association is to promote and protect aviation in Minnesota through advocacy, education, outreach, and social activities. The association firmly believes that a healthy aviation community is an invaluable asset to the state of Minnesota. Members and volunteers join to act as the voice of pilots, aviation enthusiasts and supporters of aviation in the state.

In addition to Randle Corfman, who is President of MPA, Grant Wallace is Vice President, Michael Bergeson is Treasurer, Daisy Saenz is Secretary, Patrick Halligan is Scholarship Director, and Paul Jackson is Government Affairs Director. Directors include Steve Thibault, Mike Wiskus and Jason Jensen.

Posted in All Features, August/September 2023, Features, Features, Fly-Ins & Air Shows | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Airport Enthusiasts: General Aviation’s Unofficial Ambassadors

Posted on July 28, 2023 by mwflyer

by Jeff Flynn
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2023 Digital Issue

Have your ever heard the term “Airport Enthusiast?” Maybe you have been one or are one. There is no doubt that if you have spent enough time hanging around an airport, you likely know at least one.

Airport enthusiasts are, in many cases, the foundation of general aviation. They range from people who fly and possibly build their own aircraft, to weekend flyers, to student pilots and others. The one thing they all have in common is their passion for general aviation. That passion may have developed while building their first balsawood airplane model, or from attending an airshow, or any number of things. It does not matter where the passion originated, it only matters that one acted on that passion. Many of us spend our lives wishing and hoping for inspiration. Airport enthusiasts grab life by the horns and find a way to exercise their passion. Which means they spend a lot of time at airports.

And, generally speaking, they like to talk about all things related to aviation. Those who don’t talk much, still demonstrate their passion through their actions and projects.

Take the case of “Tim” (not his real name, but a real person). Tim spent every weekday working his day job. After he got off work, Tim would drive to the local airport to spend the remainder of the afternoon embracing a cup of coffee and talking about airplanes. His dedication was noteworthy because his arrival time would be so consistent that, if Tim did not show up at 3:21 p.m. each day, the rest of the local airport crowd would wonder if he may have been involved in an unfortunate event. You see, the drive time from Tim’s place of work required twenty-one minutes for him to travel to the airport. It was like clockwork.

Tim is an aircraft owner, flight instructor, and all-around nice guy. More importantly – he’s like hundreds of passionate airport enthusiasts found at local public airports on any given day, ready to share his knowledge of and passion for general aviation with anyone who’ll take the time to say “hello.”

Getting started in general aviation.

The point is, a lot can be learned from simply hanging around an airport to talk about flying, observe activities, and share a common passion. You may also find a new group of friends.

If you have an interest in aviation, please don’t sit at home. Make the leap, drive to the airport, even if you don’t currently fly or own an aircraft. There is so much to be learned from simply hanging around at the airport.

If you are not currently a pilot, yet have an interest in aviation, consider taking something called an “introductory flight.” These “Intro Flights” give you a chance to take the controls of an aircraft with an experienced instructor guiding you through basic maneuvers.

Maybe flying an aircraft is not your goal. Perhaps you would like to explore opportunities to be an aircraft mechanic, air traffic controller, or aircraft servicer. Please don’t be intimidated by the fences and gates around airports. Rather, understand that those fences and gates are a necessary safety feature designed to allow airport access, while creating a safe space restricted for aircraft operations. By simply entering a smaller airport’s Arrival and Departure building, you may find a new world of opportunity.

No matter which airport you enter, if you are respectful and show an interest in becoming part of the aviation community, you will likely find a welcoming and interesting group of “Airport Enthusiasts” who may take you under their wings.

Posted in August/September 2023, Columns, Columns, Columns, MN Aeronautics Bulletin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment