St. Louis Downtown Airport Awarded $2.5M Grant for New Terminal

Posted on March 29, 2023 by mwflyer

Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2023 Digital Issue

ST. LOUIS, MO – St. Louis Downtown Airport has been awarded a $2.5 million grant to help cover the cost of replacing its existing terminal, an aging facility from the 1980s, that serves as the front door for businesses and developers expanding to the region. Funding for the grant comes from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is awarding nearly $1 billion from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to 99 airports of all sizes across the country. The new terminal at St. Louis Downtown Airport will better meet the needs of the aviation customers who use the airport for the unparalleled access it offers to the heart of the bi-state St. Louis region, while decreasing its footprint to reduce current and future maintenance costs and making this economic engine for the region more fiscally responsible to taxpayers.

“The total cost for the terminal replacement is estimated at $4.2 million, so this funding is a tremendous start that moves us closer to kicking off the design-build project for the new terminal,” said Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multi Modal Enterprises at Bi-State Development, which owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport as one of its enterprises. “We greatly appreciate U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin for their support of our grant application and for continuing to champion projects like this that contribute to the strength and economic vitality of Southwestern Illinois.”

St. Louis Downtown Airport – like so many other airports nationwide – continues to see air traffic rebounding to reach or beat pre-pandemic levels. As that trend continues, the new funding aims to help meet the growing nationwide demand for air travel and invests in key areas to help get travelers in and out of airports more quickly and improve the passenger experience by investing in new baggage systems, larger security checkpoints and improved ground transportation. Other projects increase terminal sustainability and improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

For St. Louis Downtown Airport in particular, the project will replace the existing terminal with a new terminal that will meet all Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations and serve future ADA travelers and employees. The project will address several of the other criteria considered as part of this grant program, including:
• Improving Energy Efficiency – The existing terminal is 43 years old with a large HVAC system that uses excessive energy in addition to several large bubble windows that allow airflow and water leakage.
• Encouraging Actual and Potential Competition – The airport recently welcomed United Airlines as a new customer, proving the airport is already competitive. This project will only increase the airport’s ability to attract new service.
• Good Paying Jobs – The project will enable the airport to diversify its services to attract new customers and specialized developers with high-paying jobs, while also enabling current tenants to expand their operations and add even more highly paid personnel.

“The St. Louis Airport is a major economic driver for the Metro East and surrounding regions, and making sure it has federal support to improve its infrastructure is critical,” said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). “This investment means improved service, safety, and efficiency for airport workers and travelers. I fought to ensure the Airport Terminal Program was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I’ll keep advocating for our state’s airports.”

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is putting Illinois on a path to rebuild our aviation infrastructure while also helping working Illinoisans find good-paying jobs,” U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) said. “I’m proud that St. Louis Downtown Airport will experience the benefits of this bill Senator Durbin and I supported, which will help families all across our state have better, safer and more accessible travel experiences.”

Located on 1,000 acres in St. Clair County in Cahokia Heights and Sauget, Ill., St. Louis Downtown Airport and its tenants contribute more than $422 million in economic impact for the region, and more than 1,500 full-time and part-time jobs, according to the most recent study conducted by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

St. Louis Downtown Airport will see additional growth in 2023 when its largest tenant, Gulfstream Aerospace, expands operations and adds 140 new jobs. Gulfstream Aerospace is one of the tenants that will benefit from a current infrastructure investment underway at the airport – a new ground engine runup and compass calibration area. Construction began last fall on the $5.4 million project, which secured $5 million in state funding through the $45 billion Rebuild Illinois Capital Infrastructure Plan. Upon completion in 2023, it will improve production safety, reliability, and efficiency.

“As work continues on the ground engine runup project, construction planning is already underway for the new terminal, and we look forward to firming up the local funding match and finalizing the construction schedule so we can break ground in the coming months,” said Sandra Shore, Director, St. Louis Downtown Airport.

 

About Bi-State Development

 

Bi-State Development (BSD) owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport and the Gateway Arch Riverboats and operates the Gateway Arch Revenue Collections Center and Gateway Arch trams. BSD is the operator of the main public transportation system in eastern Missouri and southwestern Illinois, which includes the 87-vehicle, 46-mile MetroLink light rail system; a MetroBus vehicle fleet of approximately 24 battery electric vehicles and more than 260 clean-burning diesel buses that operate on 58 MetroBus routes; and Metro Call-A-Ride, a paratransit fleet of 123 vans. BSD also operates the St. Louis Regional Freightway, the region’s freight district.

To learn more about St. Louis Downtown Airport, visit www.stlouisdowntownairport.com.

 

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St. Louis Downtown Airport Entered 2023 Prepared for Continued Growth

Posted on March 29, 2023 by mwflyer

St. Louis Downtown Airport

Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2023 Digital Issue

ST. LOUIS, MO – 2022 proved to be a solid year for St. Louis Downtown Airport, with highlights ranging from the arrival of a new director and continuation of strong flight operations, to the return of in-person events aimed at growing the aviation industry workforce. Add in the groundbreaking for a significant new project and expansion plans revealed for its largest tenant, and the airport is looking to the future with an eye on continued growth.

To help lead operations at the busiest airport in Illinois outside of Chicago, Bi-State Development welcomed Sandra Shore as the new director of the airport in February. With the airport’s enviable location just minutes from downtown St. Louis making it a popular choice for those flying into the bi-state area for business and major events, overall flight operations remained strong and steady last year under Shore’s leadership. A substantial increase in charter flights can be directly correlated to the NASCAR Cup Series race held at nearby World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill., which drew 56 charter flights in June. The airport also recorded two of its three best months in fuel sales in the last five years in 2022, a trend expected to continue in 2023.

St. Louis Downtown Airport will see additional growth in 2023 when its largest tenant, Gulfstream Aerospace, expands operations and adds 140 new jobs. Gulfstream Aerospace is one of the tenants that will benefit from the latest infrastructure investment underway at the airport – a new ground engine runup and compass calibration pad. Construction began last fall on the $5.4 million project, which secured $5 million in state funding through the $45 billion Rebuild Illinois Capital Infrastructure Plan. Upon completion in 2023, it will improve production safety, reliability and efficiency, boost airport businesses, and increase global competitiveness for southwestern Illinois and the State of Illinois. Five million dollars in state funding was secured for the project.

Gulfstream Aerospace and other aircraft maintenance tenants will use the project’s new airfield pavement with jet blast deflectors to perform aircraft maintenance tests requiring the operation of an engine at high power on the ground for several minutes, generating elevated noise levels. The new engine runup area will be located 1,850 feet from other parked aircraft and isolated from airport operations, ultimately reducing aircraft engine runup noise by more than 50% and accommodating the airport’s largest aircraft.

Located on 1,000 acres in St. Clair County in Cahokia Heights and Sauget, St. Louis Downtown Airport and its tenants contribute more than $422 million in economic impact for the region, and more than 1,500 full-time and part-time jobs, according to the most recent study conducted by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

“The diversity of operations occurring at St. Louis Downtown Airport contributes to our role as an economic engine for the bi-state St. Louis region and makes us a key contributor to the tremendous strength of the aviation sector in the state of Illinois,” said Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multi Modal Enterprises at Bi-State Development, which owns and operates the airport as one of its enterprises.

The economic impact of St. Louis Downtown Airport and other airports in the St. Louis region was the focus of an insightful panel discussion hosted by the St. Louis Regional Freightway in November. Shore and directors from four other busy airports – St. Louis Lambert International Airport, Spirt of St. Louis Airport, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport and St. Louis Regional Airport – participated in the event. The panel discussion highlighted the unique attributes and contributions of each airport and underscored the collective impact of the aviation industry in the region.

“The collaboration that takes place among our airports is unique in the aviation industry and a model for success,” said Shore. “Collectively, between airport operations and tenants, our five facilities account for more than 36,500 jobs and generate a combined annual economic impact that exceeds $10 billion and is growing.”

A key focus within that growing industry is attracting future workers to fill a wide range of positions. With that in mind, St. Louis Downtown Airport welcomed the return of in-person events at the airport in 2022 in collaboration with St. Louis University’s Oliver L. Parks Department of Aviation Science (SLU). The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) joined with SLU to host Aviation Day for Educators in June, bringing educators from six school districts in southwestern Illinois and Eastern Illinois University to the airport. SLU’s Aviation Summer Academy attracted participants from 11 states who spent a week learning about different aspects of aviation and related careers and experienced the thrill of flying. Girls in Aviation Day in October, a career expo, provided an opportunity for more than 100 young women to climb into the flight decks of various aircraft and fly planes in flight simulators.

To learn more about St. Louis Downtown Airport, visit www.stlouisdowntownairport.com.

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Destination Florida!

Posted on March 29, 2023 by mwflyer

Daytona Beach, Florida with 23 miles of white sand beach.
Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Photo

by Dave Weiman
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2023 Digital Issue

If you are from the Midwest, chances are you are sick of the snow and cold temps in the winter and are looking for someplace warmer for a week or two or longer! Even our spring weather can be reason enough to want to escape, as weather systems change, and don’t leave fast enough.

With lots of destinations down south to choose from, might I suggest you consider Daytona Beach, a city on Florida’s Atlantic Coast with 23 miles of white sand beach. The town has a sign arching over the street leading to its boardwalk with the phrase, “World’s Most Famous Beach.” Explore this destination at https://www.daytonabeach.com/

Daytona Beach is an hour north of Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Centre on Merritt Island. Each time we visit the Kennedy Space Centre, I am fascinated with its history, space vehicles, layout of buildings, and facilities. I have yet to watch a launch, but that’s on the bucket list: https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/

Besides its beach, Daytona Beach is known for “Daytona International Speedway,” which hosts February’s iconic Daytona 500 NASCAR race.

 

We arrived in town after dark and drove past the enormous speedway. You cannot miss it! It’s huge!!!!

The massive multi-sports facility leaves visitors in awe with every visit. Kids love it as well. The track charges their imagination and gives them plenty to see and do.

After checking into our hotel, we went online to see if tours were available, and they are, so we bought our tickets online to ensure availability.

It doesn’t have to be Speedweeks to get your blood racing. And you don’t have to be a race fan to get spellbound by taking the “Speedway Track Tour” in an open tour bus. Cruising below the speed limit that does not exist, you experience the steepness of the track and turns, and from the bleachers your imagination will soar! The tour also took us inside the track by the pits and garages, and to the campgrounds where race teams and fans park their campers. A city within a city.

On select dates, you can choose a 2.5-hour VIP Tour which features an exclusive stop at the NASCAR Archives & Research Center, the home to thousands of vintage and rare items, including Dale Earnhardt memorabilia and images of beach racing history and famed moments of the race.

Even before entering the speedway, the sidewalk outside includes the names of those who have won at Daytona and the years they won. It was great to see the name of Wisconsin native, pilot, aircraft owner and local Oregon, Wisconsin race champion, Matt Kenseth, engraved in sidewalk.

About 10 years ago, Matt visited EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and graciously offered to meet fans and sign autographs, and the lines were long…so long that my schedule would not permit me to wait in line to take a few photos of him with race fans. So, I spoke with his publicist and was able to quickly meet Matt and take the photo I needed for publication. I found Matt very personable, and when I told him we published Midwest Flyer Magazine at our offices in Oregon, Wisconsin, his face lit up, as Oregon is where he got his start racing stockcars at Madison International Speedway.

In 2009, Matt won a rain-shortened Daytona 500 and won a second Daytona 500 in 2012. As of 2022, Matt is the last driver to compete in at least one NASCAR Cup Series Race in four consecutive decades (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s).

To read more about Matt Kenseth, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Kenseth.

While at the track, be sure to visit the “Motorsports Hall of Fame of America,” which honors racing in all its forms – Open Wheel, Stock Cars, Powerboats, Drag Racing, Motorcycles, Sports Cars, and Air Racing, at large and historic (https://www.mshf.com/).

Daytona Beach International Airport is a county-owned airport located 3 miles southwest of Daytona Beach, next to Daytona International Speedway, in Volusia County, Florida. The airport has three runways, a six-gate domestic terminal, and an international terminal. Imagine the corporate jets lined up on the ramp during race week.

General aviation airports in the vicinity include Orlando Executive, Ormond Beach Municipal, New Smyrna Beach Municipal, Flagler Executive, and DeLand Municipal. Spruce Creek (Residential) Air Park is in Daytona Beach, but access is private!

I will never forget the time when our daughters were just toddlers in the mid-1980s, and the wonderful treatment our family received from the fixed base operator at Orlando Executive when we arrived in our Cessna 172 Skyhawk. It was after sunset, so from 9,000 feet, we got a great view of the Florida coastline with all its lights contrasting with the dark ocean.

After we landed and taxied to the ramp, line personnel literally rolled out the red carpet, then drove our rental car to the plane to load our luggage. Tired and anxious to see “Mickey and Mini” the following day, and unfamiliar with the airport, it was a very nice gesture on the part of the fixed base operator and their staff. It was as if the Magic Kingdom had transformed our C172 into a Gulfstream GVI.

If you want to enhance your flying experience, consider signing up for Patty Wagstaff’s one-day “Confidence Course” in St. Augustine, Florida. It’s an introduction to aerobatics course and “Upset Prevention and Recovery Training Airplane” (UPRTA) course all in one! The one-day, two-flight course in Patty’s Extra 300L or Super Decathlon is taught by her highly experienced Certified Flight Instructors. Patty created the course in accordance with current International Air Transport Association (IATA), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and FAA guidelines. Tailwheel endorsements are also available.

Alissa Brown, recipient of the Marion Cole Memorial Scholarship, in the front seat of Patty Wagstaff’s Extra 300L.

Patty Wagstaff is a featured performer at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and many other airshows in North America. She is known throughout the world for her airshowmanship and precision aerobatics. Patty holds titles as a three-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion; six-time member of the U.S. Aerobatic Team, winning Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals in International Aerobatic Competition; as a National Aviation Hall of Fame inductee; and the recipient of the airshow industry’s most prestigious awards — the “ICAS Sword of Excellence,” and the “Bill Barber Award for Showmanship.” In March 1994, Patty’s Goodrich Extra 260 was placed on permanent display in the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum on the Mall in Washington, DC. Check out Patty Wagstaff’s UPRTA course at https://pattywagstaff.com/, and send her an email at pattyaerobatics@gmail.com to schedule a date and time for your training.

Wiktor Kun of New York, N.Y., completed his Single-Engine Commercial Seaplane Rating in Adventure Seaplanes’ economical Cessna 172 Skyhawk.

And if you ever considered getting a “Seaplane Rating,” fly inland to Lake Wales, Florida, where Minnesotan Brian Schanche operates “Adventure Seaplanes” at Cherry Pocket Fish Camp in the winter. Space permitting, Brian can provide you with overnight accommodations right on the lake, and there’s a restaurant within walking distance. Contact Brian for additional information: 612-868-4243 or 612-749-1337 (adventureseaplanes@gmail.com, www.adventureseaplanes.com). Brian migrates north to Minnesota in the summer, where he offers a variety of course options that can combine training with an adventure to Canada, the Northwest Territories, or the Arctic Circle. I shared my experience in acquiring a Seaplane Rating on the Midwest Flyer Magazine website: (https://midwestflyer.com/?p=13390). Depending on the aircraft you train in, you can get your high-performance endorsement at the same time as I did in a Cessna 180 amphibian.

If you plan your trip around Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo, March 28 – April 2, 2023, you can land at Lakeland Linder International Airport (https://www.flylakeland.com/) and park on the Sun ‘n Fun grounds. For additional information, visit https://flysnf.org/. Wisconsin natives Kris Hallstrand at Lakeland Linder International Airport, and Gene Conrad at Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo, will take good care of you.

Posted in April/May 2023, Columns, Columns, Columns, Destinations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

First Elvis, Then Lear… Jets To Be Restored

Posted on March 29, 2023 by mwflyer

by Dave Weiman
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2023 Digital Issue

We often hear of small, classic and vintage aircraft being restored, as well as warbird aircraft, but seldom corporate jets. But when names like “Elvis Presley” and “Bill Lear” are associated with the aircraft, exceptions are made.

The 1962 Lockheed L-1329 JetStar (N440RM) once owned by Elvis Presley, and recently sold at auction at Mecum Kissimmee 2023.
Photo Courtesy of Mecum Auctions (www.MECUM.com).

The King of Rock ‘n Roll owned three jet aircraft towards the end of his career. Most notable are the 1958 Convair 880 (N880EP) Elvis purchased in April 1975 and named it after his daughter, “Lisa Marie,” and a 1960 Lockheed L-1329 JetStar (N777EP) Elvis also purchased in 1975 and nicknamed “Hound Dog II.” Both aircraft are now on permanent display at “Graceland” in Memphis, Tennessee.

“Hound Dog” is a twelve-bar blues song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Recorded originally by Big Mama Thornton on August 13, 1952, the best-known version is the July 1956 recording by Elvis Presley, which sold 10 million copies worldwide. This was his best-selling song and is listed as one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.”

Elvis reportedly spent more than $800,000 having the Convair remodeled. It featured a living room, conference room, sitting room, and private bedroom, as well as gold-plated seat belts, suede chairs, leather covered tables, 24-karat gold-flecked sinks and more. Elvis also had the Jet Star remodeled with a yellow and green interior. This aircraft was primarily used for flying Elvis’ manager, Colonel Tom Parker, and his staff from city to city during concert tours.

According to an article in People magazine, Elvis’ third aircraft, a 1962 Lockheed L-1329 JetStar (N440RM), which had been parked at the airport in Roswell, New Mexico for the past 40 years, sold at auction for $234,000 on January 8, 2023, which would have been Elvis Presley’s 88th birthday. Presley bought the jet on December 22, 1976, for $840,000. The new owner is James Webb of “Jimmy’s World,” who plans to transform the aircraft into an RV to tour the country and raise funds for charities, such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. I think Elvis, being the charitable person he was, would have approved.

Lear 23-003 (N200Y)
Photo Courtesy of Classic Learjet Foundation

Meanwhile, the world’s oldest Lear Jet returned home to Wichita, Kansas where it will be restored to flying condition by “Classic Lear Jet Foundation.”

Lear Jet 23-003 was the third aircraft built by Bill Lear’s fledgling company and the first one to be delivered. The group tackling the restoration has deep ties to the plane and the history it represents. Classic Lear Jet Foundation is made up of current, retired, and former employees of Lear who have admiration and affection for the airplane, the man, the company and its employees, the business jet industry, and the city where it all started in 1962.

Classic Lear Jet Foundation is a non-profit IRS 501(c)(3) corporation. Donors can deduct contributions they make under IRC Section 170. For more information see
https://ClassicLear.org or contact Rick Rowe at rick.rowe@classiclear.org/ 316-305-5046.

True, both Elvis’ and Lear’s aircraft are factory-built, conventional aircraft, but they were aircraft used by two people who caught our imaginations…who we admired for their talent and uniqueness…and who made contributions to the world. A fan of both people, I am looking forward to seeing the aircraft once they are fully restored.

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Passenger Traffic At MidAmerica St. Louis Airport Surges To New Record With More Than 160,000 Passengers Served

Posted on March 29, 2023 by mwflyer

Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2023 Digital Issue

MASCOUTAH, ILL.– MidAmerica St. Louis Airport announced February 6, a new record of 163,210 passengers served in 2022, continuing a trend of positive passenger growth. The 2022 passenger count exceeds that of 2021 by nearly 2,000 and is fueled by a robust recovery from the travel disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. As travelers become more comfortable with air travel and demand continues to surge, many people are taking advantage of the services that MidAmerica St. Louis Airport offers.

“MidAmerica Airport’s continuing growth is due to numerous factors,” said St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern. “Passengers can count on easy access from Interstate 64, affordable parking and efficient airport and security operations, and they appreciate Allegiant’s strong route network serving popular destinations at affordable rates.”

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport currently serves the following nonstop destinations via Allegiant on either a year-round or seasonal basis: Charleston, Destin/Ft. Walton Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Myers/Punta Gorda, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Phoenix/Mesa, Sarasota/Bradenton, Savannah, and Tampa Bay/St. Pete.

“We are excited about the sustained growth at MidAmerica Airport, especially at a time when travel demand is on the rise and the public is exploring more leisure destinations,” said Bryan Jonson, Director of MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. “Our growth goes beyond increased passenger numbers, as we are also enthusiastic about the progress being made on our terminal expansion project, which will deliver a new and improved security screening area, two additional boarding bridges, and significantly more passenger amenities.”

The passenger terminal expansion is not the only improvement project happening at MidAmerica Airport. A $37.7 million project to add nearly 3,100 feet of new Taxiway Lima pavement and a new Taxiway Bridge over Crooked Creek is under construction. It will serve Boeing’s new production facility, which is slated for opening in 2024 and has the potential to spark future development of an aviation business park. MetroLink’s planned expansion from Scott Air Force Base to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport also was expected to be under construction as early as March 2023, making the airport even more accessible to potential customers all along the light rail alignment and providing a direct connection to St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

To learn more about MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV), visit www.flymidamerica.com or follow it on www.facebook.com/midamericablv.

 

About MidAmerica St. Louis Airport

 

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport is located in Mascoutah, Illinois, in the eastern portion of the St. Louis metropolitan area. Passenger service to a dozen different destinations is offered by Allegiant Airlines. Major multimodal rail and inland port centers are located within 22 miles of the airport, which also enjoys easy access to five interstate highways via I-64. With parallel runways of 8,000 and 10,000 feet, the airport can handle simultaneous takeoffs and landings in all conditions, minimizing delays. The airport has an annual capacity of 200,000 operations. Tenants include Boeing, which has an aircraft manufacturing facility at the airport; and North Bay Produce, an international, grower-owned, year-round, fresh produce marketing and distribution cooperative headquartered in Traverse City, Mich. MidAmerica is a Joint Use Airport partnering with Scott AFB, the home to the U.S. Transportation Command, a multi-service organization, and Air Mobility Command, the USAF’s component command for airlift. MidAmerica and the 375th Air Mobility Wing operate Scott AFB/MidAmerica St. Louis Airport.

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MAC Reliever Airports Supported 342,000 Operations In 2022

Posted on March 29, 2023 by mwflyer

Investments In General Aviation System Remain Strong
To Support Future Demand
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2023 Digital Issue

One of many corporate jets that takeoff and land at St. Paul Downtown Airport (STP), which is one of six reliever airports in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Metropolitan Airports Commission Photo

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL – The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) general aviation system in the Twin Cities supported a total of 342,136 aircraft operations in 2022. The newly released year-end operations data accounts for all takeoffs and landings at the system’s six Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area general aviation airports. Operations declined just under 3% compared to the 352,195 total operations in 2021.
“General aviation activity in the Twin Cities has grown through the pandemic – even when commercial passenger travel dipped,” said Brian Ryks, CEO of the MAC. Operations at our reliever airports last year was 7% greater than in 2019.”

“We are continuing to invest in the MAC’s reliever system to meet projected demand and support our flying community and the many aviation businesses that operate at our airports.”

Joe Harris, director of reliever airports for the MAC said: “There is significant momentum at our reliever airports with our commercial partners – flight training schools, charter operators, maintenance companies, fixed-base operators, and avionics firms – all reporting they are busier than ever. The demand we are seeing at our relievers includes waitlists for flight training and aircraft maintenance activity, both of which are already scheduling out to late 2023.”

Three reliever airports increased operations in the last year: St. Paul Downtown Airport (STP), Crystal Airport (MIC) in northwest Minneapolis, and Airlake Airport (LVN) located in Lakeville. STP is the MAC’s primary business-focused general aviation airport, logging 41,592 operations for a 4.9% increase over 2021. Corporate jet activity continued to rebound in 2022, especially with fewer pandemic restrictions to international travel.

Flying Cloud (FCM), located in Eden Prairie, is the busiest reliever airport in the MAC system. In 2022, FCM had 122,281 total operations, a decline of 7% over 131,593 operations the prior year.

The MAC’s general aviation airports support personal, recreational, and business aviation users. They are referred to as “reliever airports” within the Twin Cities metropolitan area because they relieve congestion that would otherwise impact Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), which had 310,235 total operations in 2022, a 24% increase over 2021.

2021 Operations
FCM 131,593, MIC 37,845, STP 39,196, ANE 74,657, LVN 36,259, 21D 32,645

2022 Operations
FCM 122,281, MIC 42,592, STP 41,592, ANE 65,688, LVN 38,268, 21D 32,189

% Change 2021/2022
FCM 7.08%, MIC 12.54%, STP 4.90%, ANE 12.01%, LVN 5.54%, 21D 1.40%

% Total Operations
352,195 (2021), 342,136 (2022), % Change: 2.86%

In the past five years, the MAC has invested more than $50 million to provide a safe, efficient, and modern reliever airport system. One of the latest projects was the completion of a new 3,500-foot runway at Lake Elmo Airport (21D), which opened to air traffic in July 2022. It is 650 feet longer than the previous runway, which will be converted to a taxiway later this year. Improved instrument approaches will also be implemented this year at Lake Elmo as part of the multi-year project to improve airfield infrastructure and provide safer operations.

The MAC’s reliever airport system generates an estimated $756 million annually for the area economy. It also supports more than 3,600 jobs. The reliever system accommodates 850 hangar buildings for nearly 1,300 aircraft.

The MAC’s reliever airports host numerous community events annually including Girls in Aviation Day and the AirExpo aircraft showcase at Flying Cloud, the Father’s Day pancake breakfast at Crystal, and the Pan-o-Prog Fly-In Breakfast at Airlake.

About The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC)

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) owns and operates one of the nation’s largest airport systems, including Minneapolis-St Paul International (MSP) and six general aviation airports. The MAC’s airports connect the region to the world and showcase Minnesota’s extraordinary culture to millions of passengers from around the globe. Though a public corporation of the State of Minnesota, the organization is not funded by income or property taxes. Instead, the MAC’s operations are funded by rents and fees generated by users of its airports. For more information, visit
www.metroairports.org.

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What is in your airplane, besides passengers and baggage?

Posted on March 29, 2023 by mwflyer

by Bob Worthington
www.BobWorthingtonWriter.com
© Copyright 2023. All rights reserved!
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2023 Digital Issue

What we carry in our airplanes today evolved from our military air services becoming common after WWI. During combat our military pilots needed to know where they were and have some form of survival equipment (a parachute and an individual weapon, with hand grenades). During the teen years of the twentieth century, aviation flourished. The value of aviation became very apparent. Initially navigation was visual with pilots depending on a watch, their airspeed indicator, and their compass. In 1924, the U.S. Air Mail Service began, using bonfires for cross-country navigation. In 1934, an airline pilot, Elrey Jeppesen, formed a company to sell his hand-drawn navigation charts. In 1941, the first approach charts were created. From there, aerial navigation charts, and landing graphics, became required for cross-country flights.

Back in the day (1980s and 1990s), cross-country flying, by instrument flight rules (IFR), required 10 to 40 pounds of flight information. Enroute charts, VFR Sectional or World Aeronautical Charts (no longer made by our government), as well as several bound copies of airport approach plates, and of course a bound copy of AOPA’s Airport Directory, were all needed. Today, all of that and more are found in slim computer tablets, iPads, and smart phones. What I used to carry in a large “cloth flight bag” (CFB) to do flight planning, along with the aircraft Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH), sunglasses, flashlight, spare batteries, and emergency, handheld nav-com radio, have given way to what is now called the “electronic flight bag” (EFB). My old flight bag was up front with me, between the seats. In the rear of my plane was a survival kit (created by me and housed in a small backpack), and gear for the airplane, such as tiedowns, chocks, tools, oil, and spare parts.

But what was in the back of my plane, depended on the plane, depended on where I would be flying, and the time of the year. Winter required warm clothing and survival gear. Over desert flying required extra water, and over water required floatation gear, such as life vests and a small raft. Extra gear for the plane itself depended on the needs of the plane. If it gulped oil, spare containers of oil were needed. I owned an airplane (a Cessna) that seemed to need “O” rings for the underwing fuel drains because they always began to leak at a fuel stop where no replacements were available. Mechanic tools were based on experience on what was needed during flight trips where parts of the plane needed removal or changing.

One day, early in my flying career, in my 10-year-old Cessna 172, stopping at a lonely, isolated, small, county airport in West Texas, I encountered a mechanical problem. There was an A & P mechanic on the field, but he was tied up doing an annual. He stopped long enough to evaluate my problem, explaining what needed to be done. He said I could use his tools and do the work myself and he would make sure it was done properly. By nightfall, I was done. He inspected my work, pronounced me safe to go, and went home. I spent the night sleeping on the ground, next to my airplane (in a sleeping bag). I also had some food onboard. At sunrise, I continued on my way. If not for that kind mechanic, I could have been stranded for days. From that trip on, I always carried tools and spare parts with me. They were contained in a small, fabric, zippered, tool bag.

With the small airplanes we fly, on long cross-country trips, weight can be an issue. Two kinds of trips taxed my brain attempting to take everything I needed, but I remained within safe weight limits.

One trip was flying the Al-Can highway through western Canada into Alaska, and the other trips were with my wife and two daughters. It seemed that each daughter would pack for a five-day trip as if we would be gone five weeks. Duplicate curling irons, hairdryers (and everything else females need), with tons of clothes, made the plane way over gross. Repacking was required for every trip we made as a family.

When I flew to Alaska, both Canada and Alaska (1990s and early 2000s) mandated required survival equipment which meant enough food for all onboard, plus a hunting rifle or shotgun for survival. But survival gear (food, water, clothing, and shelter, plus first aid supplies) is required! Fitting everything in within weight limits (survival gear or clothes and personal items for young women) takes practice packing and deciding what is most important or what equipment provides more but weighs less. I also recommend a personal satellite tracking device be included in your survival gear.

I live out west. Much of my flying was over wild, uninhabited, harsh terrain so I always had survival gear in my airplane. Flying back East or along the coast of southern California, usually means help is but a cell phone call away if a precautionary landing is needed. Even so, going down in a storm or in a wooded area or mountain top, even if in a populated area, may take help a long time to find you. You may be on your own for hours or days.

Your survival gear must be contained in something that can be readily reached and removed from your airplane, and easily carried. Loose gear in the back of an airplane simply does not cut it. It should be packed in an easily carried container and easily accessible. In winter, the sleeping bags were separate, but easily removed from the plane. In 40 years of flying, the only unplanned, overnight survival episode was the stop in West Texas. But it is better to have what you need and never use it, than need gear you don’t have.

Within the past two decades, both pilots and the FAA have struggled with the legality of using electronic flight devices for navigating in small general aviation airplanes. FAA Advisory Circular 91-78 is an excellent source of information, along with FAR Parts 91-78 and 91.21(for IFR flights) and AC 120-76D. (Part 91 is the section of the Federal Aviation Regulations that provides general operating and flight rules for civil aircraft. Whether you’re flying a Cessna 182 or a Boeing 777, you have to comply with these rules.) These FAA documents and regulations explain what is legal (and for whom or what flights). For the GA pilot, paper charts or approach plates are not required. But in AC 91-78, the FAA does “suggest” that backup sources of information be available, either electronic (a second iPad or tablet?) or paper. In addition to my tablet, I carried backup paper World Aeronautical Charts (WAC). If I suspected severe instrument flying on a trip, I would carry paper backup IFR enroute charts.

Three combat tours as an infantryman and special ops officer taught me to always have a backup plan in place when going into battle. I believe I am alive today because of this steadfast rule. I did not become a pilot until I was 38 years old (after my combat days were over). Flying also involves risk. During my initial training as a pilot, I promised myself I would not entertain risks when flying. I also was determined to follow my combat rule and always had backups when flying. Even the FAA believes in this. What you as a pilot decide for your backup is up to you. I had my electronic flight bag device AND paper backups. Did I ever need my paper backups? Never, but they were available if needed. They were also handy for long cross-country flight planning.

But the biggest problem with personal electronic devices (PEDs) is power. Some planes may not have a source of power to recharge batteries. Other sources are available such as small solar units (I used one which used the sun by laying on top of my instrument panel) or backup batteries.

If weight is not a problem, in-cabin comfort items are nice. One’s flight path and the sun may present problems for the pilot (and passenger). East-bound early morning flights and west-bound late afternoon flights mean flying into the sun. Not Good! Stashed in the pockets behind my seats were large, colored, plastic squares, that would adhere to the windshield or door windows, acting like sunglasses, blocking the glare. My wife loved light blankets for winter flights (my vintage Vietnam camouflaged poncho liners were excellent for this) and small pillows for snoozing. Snacks and liquids were always welcomed on cross-country flights.

Firearms in a GA plane were covered in a previous column. I always flew with a pistol in my airplane, but I was also experienced with handguns. I also had a concealed carry permit, legal for many states. Before packing a pistol in your airplane (which is not prohibited), be sure you understand the firearms laws of every state you will cross or land in.

More than once I have stopped to overnight only to find no tiedowns on the ramp. Even with brakes on, the wind can move small airplanes. I carried tiedown ropes with hooks to engage on the plane or places on the ramp. I also carried small aluminum wheel chocks (“L”-shaped ¼ inch thick stock about 4 inches long and two inches on each side). Tied together with a foot of cord, they were small, light, and always did the job.

My airplane gear was kept in a light plastic box or a cardboard box, lined with aluminum foil. Greasy rags, oil cans, gloves, and other dirty items were kept off the rear baggage compartment carpet and contained. The tiedown gear also resided here.

This is the extra gear I carried in the back (and front) of my airplane. What gear do you carry in yours?

EDITOR’S NOTE: Pilots are urged to check the current firearm laws of other countries concerning what is legal to transport in general aviation aircraft before departing the U.S. Also, see article entitled “Can you carry a gun in your airplane?” published in the February/March 2022 issue of Midwest Flyer Magazine: https://midwestflyer.com/?p=15245

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pilot, Viet Nam veteran and former university professor, Bob Worthington of Las Cruces, New Mexico, is the author of “Under Fire with ARVN Infantry” (https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/Under-Fire-with-ARVN-Infantry/), and producer of the 2019 film “Combat Advisor in Vietnam” (www.borderlandsmedia.com). Facebook: Bob Worthington Writer. Website: www.BobWorthingtonWriter.com. Bob Worthington has placed excerpts about combat flying in Vietnam (from his books) on his website. Here is a direct link to those excerpts: www.BobWorthingtonWriter.com/combat-flying-in-vietnam/. Every couple of months, he adds another excerpt.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this column is the expressed opinion of the author. Readers are urged to seek the advice of others, including their personal flight instructor, and state and federal officials. Neither the author, Midwest Flyer Magazine, Flyer Publications, Inc., or their staffs, employees or advertisers assume any liability for the accuracy or content of this column, or any other column or article published in this publication.

Posted in April/May 2023, Columns, Columns, Columns, The Left Seat | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

AOPA Leads GA Groups In Lobbying For Transient Parking At Public-Use Airports

Posted on March 29, 2023 by mwflyer

March 9, 2023

Honorable Sam Graves, Chairman
House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure
2167 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515

Honorable Garret Graves, Chairman
House Aviation Subcommittee
2167 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515

Honorable Rick Larsen, Ranking Member House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure
2167 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515

Honorable Steve Cohen, Ranking Member House Aviation Subcommittee
2167 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515

Dear Messrs. Graves, Larsen, Graves, and Cohen,

We write today to express our strong support for an effort being led by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) that calls for the construction or implementation of transient parking ramps at public-use airports.

Our organizations represent hundreds of thousands of pilots who own and operate virtually every general aviation aircraft type in the fleet, and we cannot agree more with AOPA and applaud their efforts. We believe individual owner-operators of aircraft should not be required to pay fees to a private business on a public-use airport when their products and services are not used, needed, or requested.

Most Fixed-Based Operators (FBOs) provide excellent service and are integral to our nation’s aviation fabric. Unfortunately, there is a lack of competition at many airports in our system which has led to increasing prices and above normal profits. We have and continue to see unprecedented consolidation in the FBO market, which has led to monopolistic behaviors at many of our nation’s public-use airports. Clearly, private equity firms have prioritized returns on their investments and placed the burden on the backs of pilots.

Simply said, we need policies at federally funded airports that create competition and help incentivize aviation activity, not unfettered practices that allow users of our aviation system to be penalized. Unlike the airlines, private pilots do not have a process available to negotiate fees and charges at airports.

Today, pilots are subject to a multitude of fees including tie down fees, security fees, maintenance fees, building fees, handling fees, habitat fees (offset for FBO employees working in high-cost areas), and others even when no fuel is purchased or when their services have not been requested.

Many FBOs waive or reduce these fees when fuel is purchased but those entities most often have extraordinarily high, above market, fuel prices.

Again, we firmly believe policies at federally obligated public-use airports should allow access without requiring private pilots to pay businesses for something they did not need or request. We also believe public-use airports should be required to provide access to an itinerant ramp for parking with the ability to impose a fair and reasonable fee.

In order for general aviation to grow and prosper in this nation, we respectfully request the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee address this issue in the impending FAA Reauthorization.

We are more than happy to provide any additional information the Committee may need.

Sincerely,

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
AAA Flying Club, Inc. Fort Wayne, IN
Acanthus Flying Club, MA
Acorn Mutual Flying Club, Lancaster, PA
Aero Fliers, Inc., OH
AeroFlyte of Pomona, Inc., CA
AESOP, LLC, OR
Airborne Aviation, NC
Air Care Alliance
Aksarben Flying Club, NE
Alameda Aero Club, Oakland, CA
Alaska Airmen’s Association
American Dream SkyRanch, SC
Archer Aviation, LLC, IA
Arizona Cloudbusters Flying Club, AZ
Arizona Pilots Association
Arkansas General Aviation Association
Altron Industrial, LLC, VA
Armed Forces Aero Club, San Diego, CA
Associated Aviation Services, LLC, CA
Association of Professional Warbird Operators, Inc., FL
Augusta Flying Club, GA
Austin Aviators Flight Club, TX
Aviation Adventures Flight Schools
Backcountry Aviation, LLC, VA
Bakalar Flying Club, Columbus, IN
Barnstormers Flying Club, Inc., TN
Bates Aero Club, AL
Bay Area Aero Club, Pearland, TX
Beaver Valley Flying Club, PA
Big Bear Airport Pilots Association, CA
Black Hole, Inc., Flying Club, Georgetown, TX
Bloomsburg Flying Club, PA
Blue Horizons Flying Club, OH
Blue Ridge Flyers, VA
Boca Raton Pilots Association, FL
Boyertown Flying Club, Pottstown, PA
Bradley Flying Association, Peoria, IL
Bridge City Flyers, IA
Brighton Airport Association, MI
Brighton Flying Club, MI
California Pilots Association
Caltech/JPL Flying Club
Camas Washougal Flying Club, WA
Capitol Flying, Inc., CA
Carrabelle Flying Club, Inc., FL
Cascade Flyers, Inc., WA
Central Oklahoma Aviators Flying Club
Cereal City Flying Club, MI
Chesaning Sportplane Association, MI Chesapeake Skyhawks, MD
Chocks Away Aviation, LLC, MD
Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association
Citation Jet Pilots Association
Civil Air Patrol Flying Association Inc, Hartford,
CT Cloud Dodgers Flying Club, FL
Colorado Pilots Association
Columbia Aviation Association, OR
Columbia Flight Club, MO
Commemorative Air Force
Congressional Flying Club, MD
Connell Aviation Group, Inc., IA
Connellsville Flying Club, PA
Consult Air, LLC, MS
Corporate Aircraft Association
Courtesy Aircraft Sales, Rockford, IL
Craig Airport Pilot Association, FL
Crossroads Flying Club, NM
Crosswinds Flying Club, Inc., Bloomington, IL
Dearborn Flying Club, MI
Deer Valley Skyhawks, AZ
Delaware Valley Aviation, PA
Departure Aviation Services, NC
Desert Flying Club, NV
Destin Airport Association, FL
Downwind Flying Club, WA
Dunedin Flying Club, Inc., FL
EAA Chapter 25, Lakeville, MN
EAA Chapter 38, Perry, GA
EAA Chapter 52, Sacramento, CA
EAA Chapter 99, Vero Beach, FL
EAA Chapter 150, Collegedale, TN
EAA Chapter 193, Jacksonville, FL
EAA Chapter 351, Enterprise AL
EAA Chapter 485, Pensacola, FL
EAA Chapter 724, Merritt Island Flying Club, FL
EAA Chapter 731, Hickory, NC
EAA Chapter 797, Live Oak, FL
EAA Chapter 905, St. Simons Island, GA
EAA Chapter 908, Fort Pierce, FL
EAA Chapter 1023, Greenwood, SC
EAA Chapter 1025, Covington, GA
EAA Chapter 1047, Wilson, NC
EAA Chapter 1271, Spruce Pine, NC
EAA Chapter 1355, Greenville, SC
EAA Chapter 1432, Stockton, CA
EAA Chapter 1494, Morristown, TN
EAA Chapter 1646, Apalachicola, FL
EAA Chapter 1674, Inverness, FL
Eagle LLC, MT
East Central Ohio Pilots Association, OH
Eclipse Owners and Pilots Association
EnginAires Aero Club, IL
Every Aviation, LLC, TX
Falcon RV Squadron, GA
Fightertown, LLC, VA
Fliegend Flying Club, Inc., IN
Flight Crew Aviation Services, IA
Florida Aero Club
Florida Bonanza Owners and Pilots
Flyboys Flying Club, LLC, Georgetown, SC
FlybyAir, LLC, LA
Flying Club of Kansas City, KS
Flying Educators, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Flying Engineers, Inc., Indianapolis, IN
Flying Javelina Aero-Club, AZ
Friends of Boeing Field, WA
Friends of Horry Airport, SC
Friends of Lone Pine Airport, CA
Friends of Pryor Field, AL
43rd Aviation Flying Club – Brainard Field Hartford CT
Gateway Flying Club, MN
GEM Flyers, Inc., IL
General Aviation Council of Hawaii
Gillespie Pilots Association, CA
Gnoss Field Community Association, CA
Golden Eagle Aviators, West Jordon, UT
G.P.A. Aviation Club, NJ
Grumman Owners and Pilots Association
Half Moon Bay Pilots Association, CA
Hammond Flying Club, LA
Hangar 6 Aviation, LLC, FL
Happy Landings, LLC, GA
Hartford Brainard Airport Association, CT
Hemacinto Valley Flying Club, CA
High Sierra Flying Club, CA
Hokie Flying Club, Blacksburg, VA
Hostess City Aviators, Inc., Savannah, GA
Hotstuff Air Racing, LLC, SC
International Flying Club, DuPage, IL
Intrepid Red Barons Club, Green Bay, WI
Iowa Aviation Association
JCP Flying Club, MD
JKA Pilots Association, Gulf Shores, AL
Kentucky Pilots Association
Kimmel Aviation Insurance, MS
Kingdom Pilots Association, MO
Kootenai Flying Club, ID
K-T Industries, Inc., IA
Lake Shelbyville Flying Club, IL
Lancair Owners and Builders Organization
Lantana Airport Advisory Board, FL
Leading Edge Aviation Foundation, LLC, AR
Legacy Aero Sport, LLC, NM
Liga International, Flying Doctors of Mercy, CA
Lima Whiskey Flying Club, PA
Low Flying Angels, CA
Maine Aeronautics Association
Marco Aviation Club, FL
Marshall Aviation Services, Inc., IN
Mid-Tenn Aero Club, Murfreesboro, TN
Mighty Mule Flying Club
Mineral Wells Flying Club, TX
Minnesota Pilots Association
Monroe County Airport Association, Aberdeen, MS
Montana Pilots Association
Monterey Pilots, CA
Moresco Services, Inc., PA
Morgantown Aero Club, PA
Mountain Flyers, Inc., Asheville, NC
Mother Lode Flying Club, Calaveras County, CA
National Warbird Operator Conference, LLC, IL
National WASP WWII Museum, Sweetwater, TX
New Bedford Regional Pilots Association, MA
New Braunfels Flying Club, TX
New England Flying Club, MA
New Jersey Aviation Association
New Mexico Pilots Association
New River Flying Club, WV
NorCal Flight Club, CA
North American Trainer Association
Northeast Florida Aero Club, FL
North Shore Aero Club, MA
Oceanside Airport Association, CA
Octopus Flying Club, MD
Odyssey Aero Club, Sanford, NC
150th Aero Flying Club, NJ
Olds Forge Flyers, Inc., MI
One Way Holding, LLC, VA
Onslaught Air Racing, LLC, SC
Oregon Aviation Industries
Oregon Pilots Association
Orlando Christian Flying Club, Inc.
Pacific Bonanza Society, CA
Pacific Gold Aviation Association, CA
Page Field Association, Fort Myers, FL
Palm Beach Aircraft Services, FL
Panther Aviation, LLC, VA
Payson Aero Club, LLC, AZ
PDK Airport Association, Atlanta, GA
Penn Yan Flying Club, NY
Perkins Flying Club, AZ
Petro Blend Corp, IA
Phoenix Flying Club, AZ
Pilatus Owners and Pilots Association
Pinellas Pilots Association, FL
Pine Mountain Aviation Association, CA
Pittsburgh Flying Club, PA
Plane Lease, LLC, IA
Plymouth Flying Club, Inc., NH
Premier Flight Solutions, FL
Princeton Flying Club, NJ
Recreational Aviation Foundation
Red Baron Flyers, Inc., Caledonia MN
Redlands Airport Association, CA
Redlands Flying Club, CA
Reno-Tahoe Aviation Group, NV
RFC Flying Club, Inc. Cedar Rapids, IA
Ridgeland Aviation Community Association, SC
Riverside Pilots Flying Club, CA
RPM Flying Club, IL
Runway Three-Six, LLC, IA
Runyon Aviation, LLC TX
RWJ Airpark Property Owners Association, TX
San Carlos Airport Association, CA
Sandpiper Aviation, NV
Sarasota Westwind Flying Club, FL
Savannah Area Aviation Association, GA
7 AC Club, Inc., Clearwater, FL
Servos, LLC, VA
Sheridan Pilots 307, LLC, Flight School, WY
Silver City Aviation, LLC, KS
Silver City Flying Club, CT
Sky Bryce Flying Club, LLC, VA
Skycrafters, Tri-Cities, TN
Skyhawk Flying Club, NE
SkyMaster Company, LLC, SC
Skyriders Flying Club, CO
Skyriders Flying Club, ID
Sky’s the Limit Flying Club, OH
Skytrain Company, LLC, SC
Sky-Vu Flyers, Inc., IN
SoCal Pilots Association, CA
South Shore Flying Club, Marshfield, MA
Southern Heritage Air Foundation, MS
SouthWings
Spirit Flyers, Inc., Chesterfield, MO
Spirit of Meriden Flight Club, CT
St. Augustine Airport Pilots Association, FL
Strikehalk Aviation, AL
Sun Country Aero Club, FL
Swift Arrow Flight Club, TX
Swift Museum Foundation, Athens, TN
Syracuse Flying Club, NY
Taildragger Flyers, Inc., MI
Tailwind Aviation Solutions, Perry, GA
Taunton Pilots Association, MA
TBM Owners and Pilots Association
TDM Aviation, LLC, TN
TFC Flying Club, Inc., CT
Tennessee Flyers Flying Club
The Bluff City Flyers, Inc., TN
The Nashville IMC Club, TN
Thomasville Flying Club, GA
Tillamook Pilots Association, OR
TLM Holdings, LLC, OR
TopFlight Aviation, Inc., Nashville, TN
Torrance Airport Association, CA
Tuolumne County Aeronautical Association, CA
Turris Flight Training, SC
T-34 Association
20 Awesome, LLC, NM
United Flying Club, CA
Upper Valley Flying Club, Inc., Lebanon, NH
Upstate Flying Club, NY
U.S. Aero Club, LLC, CA
Valley Aircraft Restoration Society, Mesa, AZ
Valley Pilots Flying Club, Inc., Concord, CA
Van’s Aircraft, Inc., OR
Venice Aviation Society, Venice, FL
Veterans Airlift Command
Wachusett Flying Club, LLC, MA
Warbird Adventures, SC
Warbird Aviation Services, LLC, PA
Warbird Museum, LLC, VA
Washington Pilots Association, WA
Washington Seaplane Pilots Association, WA
Watsonville Pilots Association, CA
WB Hangars, LLC, SC
Western Air Flying Club of Los Angeles, Inc.
Western Flying Club, NC
Western Reserve Flight Club, OH
Westminster Aerobats Flying Club, Inc., MD
Westwood Property Management, OR
Whiteman Airport Association, CA
Windwalker Aviation, AL
Wind River Flyers, WY
Wilmington Pilots Association, NC
Wing And A Prayer Flying Club, Athens, GA
Wingnuts Flying Club, Chesterfield, VA
Wings Over Winyah Flying Club, SC
Yellow Bird Flying Club, OH
York Travelers Flying Club, PA
Youth Eagles Aviation, CA
Zephyrhills Flying Club, Inc., FL
Zephyrus Flying Club, NV

Posted in All Headlines, AOPA, April/May 2023, Government/Legislation, Headlines, Headlines | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

North American Helicopter Adds K-MAX® Firefighter To Its Operations At MidAmerica St. Louis Airport

Posted on March 29, 2023 by mwflyer

(L-R) Jessie Bailey and Nathan Husbyn

Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2023 Digital Issue

MASCOUTAH, ILL – North American Helicopter, a 55-plus year veteran charter operator that provides services to customers throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean from its home base at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, debuted its newly acquired K-MAX® medium-to-heavy lift helicopter with an aerial firefighting demonstration on the airport grounds March 6. The K-MAX® chopper is designed to do one thing – pick up really heavy objects – and the test drops demonstrated firsthand the aircraft’s unique capability to carry a significant quantity of water, which makes it a groundbreaking tool in the fight against forest fires across the nation and into Mexico.

During the demonstration, the rugged $7 million, American-made K-MAX® helicopter – one of just 23 in the country and the only one currently in the Midwest – dipped its two Bambi Buckets into a nearby pond, where they collected nearly 700 gallons of water (the equivalent weight of an F-250 truck) and completed six short flight patterns, each of which ended with the helicopter hovering approximately 100 feet above the ground and initiating a test drop to return the water to the pond. The aircraft is the first-of-its-kind in the St. Louis region with the capability to lift up to 6,000 pounds (2,722 kg) with unmatched performance in hot and high conditions. The MidAmerica St. Louis Airport-based helicopter is one of only 60 K-MAX® helicopters in the world!

North American Helicopter purchased the K-MAX® helicopter in the fall of 2022 from Kaman Air Vehicles, a division of Kaman Aerospace Corporation. This addition to North American Helicopter’s impressive fleet is an important step in expanding the company’s operational services and overall external lift capabilities to help benefit future firefighting efforts. When not fighting fires, the aircraft will be used to support the company’s ongoing work with the electrical and gas utility sectors and the Department of Defense, while enabling it to also meet heavy lift needs in the construction industry.

“We’re excited about the sustained growth at North American Helicopter and their recent investments that will enhance future powerline projects, infrastructure building, and firefighting support in St. Clair County and far beyond,” said St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern. “The diversity of operations occurring at MidAmerica Airport have significant impact on the local and regional economies, as well as contribute to the tremendous strength of the aviation sector in the state of Illinois.”

Bryan Johnson, Director of MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, said North American Helicopter established a presence at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in 2021. “The acquisition and use of the K-MAX® by North American Helicopter demonstrates the diverse nature of the aviation/aerospace industry and the technology that is developed and used for specific needs,” said Johnson. “The company is another example of how business aviation has a direct economic benefit for the airport and the entire region.”

Founded in 1967, North American Helicopter has built a solid reputation on its commitment to safety and the professional, reliable service they have been proud to offer customers for more than five decades. Since its establishment, the company has grown from three choppers and a handful of full-time staff members to a team of 24 employees and 10 state-of-the-art aircraft, offering operational services, aerial firefighting, utility inspection, charter flights, scenic tours, helicopter emergency response, and aerial photography for business, government, and individuals.

Now operated by Chris and Jessie Bailey, the third-generation husband-and-wife ownership team purchased North American Helicopter 10 years ago, and it has since become certified as a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) in Illinois and Missouri with pending approval for federal WOSB certification.

In February 2020, the couple invested more than $2 million on a 19,000 square-foot facility that broke ground at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport’s convenient location and available developable land provided North American Helicopter with the space needed to support the company’s continued growth and build its new facility. Completed in 2021, it includes an oversized hangar with aircraft and maintenance services, extensive community office space and more. In late 2022, the company further expanded by purchasing Maine Helicopters, Inc., a utility helicopter company based out of mid-state Maine that was established in 1960. This extended their service territory while acquiring an existing customer base offering the same utility-type services that North American Helicopter provides.

“Over the last 10 years we have stretched our footprint from only the Midwest, all the way to New England and down the East Coast – really anything east of the Rockies we travel and service year-round,” said Jessie Bailey, President of North American Helicopter. “We’ve grown our operations quite substantially, which is very exciting, and beyond its firefighting capabilities we plan to grow K-MAX® construction operations throughout the East Coast, establish U.S. Army Corps of Engineers connections in the area, and further build on relationships with utility customers in this region.”

For additional information on North American Helicopter and the new K-MAX® aircraft, visit northamericanhelicopter.com. To learn more about MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV), visit flymidamerica.com or follow the airport on facebook.com/midamericablv.

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport is located in Mascoutah, Illinois, in the eastern portion of the St. Louis metropolitan area. With parallel runways of 8,000 and 10,000 feet, the airport can handle simultaneous takeoffs and landings in all conditions, minimizing delays. The airport has an annual capacity of 200,000 operations. Tenants include Boeing, which has an aircraft manufacturing facility at the airport; and North Bay Produce, an international, grower-owned, year-round, fresh produce marketing and distribution cooperative headquartered in Traverse City, Mich. MidAmerica is a Joint Use Airport partnering with Scott AFB, the home to the U.S. Transportation Command, a multi-service organization, and Air Mobility Command, the U.S. Air Force’s component command for airlift. MidAmerica and the 375th Air Mobility Wing operate Scott AFB/MidAmerica St. Louis Airport.

Posted in Airports, April/May 2023, Sections, Sections | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

MAC Reliever Airports Supported 342,000 Operations In 2022

Posted on March 29, 2023 by mwflyer

Investments In General Aviation System
Remain Strong To Support Future Demand
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2023 Digital Issue

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL – The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) general aviation system in the Twin Cities supported a total of 342,136 aircraft operations in 2022. The newly released year-end operations data accounts for all takeoffs and landings at the system’s six Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area general aviation airports. Operations declined just under 3% compared to the 352,195 total operations in 2021.
“General aviation activity in the Twin Cities has grown through the pandemic – even when commercial passenger travel dipped,” said Brian Ryks, CEO of the MAC. Operations at our reliever airports last year was 7% greater than in 2019.”
“We are continuing to invest in the MAC’s reliever system to meet projected demand and support our flying community and the many aviation businesses that operate at our airports.”
Joe Harris, director of reliever airports for the MAC said: “There is significant momentum at our reliever airports with our commercial partners – flight training schools, charter operators, maintenance companies, fixed-base operators, and avionics firms – all reporting they are busier than ever. The demand we are seeing at our relievers includes waitlists for flight training and aircraft maintenance activity, both of which are already scheduling out to late 2023.”
Three reliever airports increased operations in the last year: St. Paul Downtown Airport (STP), Crystal Airport (MIC) in northwest Minneapolis, and Airlake Airport (LVN) located in Lakeville. STP is the MAC’s primary business-focused general aviation airport, logging 41,592 operations for a 4.9% increase over 2021. Corporate jet activity continued to rebound in 2022, especially with fewer pandemic restrictions to international travel.
Flying Cloud (FCM), located in Eden Prairie, is the busiest reliever airport in the MAC system. In 2022, FCM had 122,281 total operations, a decline of 7% over 131,593 operations the prior year.
The MAC’s general aviation airports support personal, recreational, and business aviation users. They are referred to as “reliever airports” within the Twin Cities metropolitan area because they relieve congestion that would otherwise impact Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), which had 310,235 total operations in 2022, a 24% increase over 2021.
2021 Operations
FCM 131,593, MIC 37,845, STP 39,196, ANE 74,657, LVN 36,259, 21D 32,645
2022 Operations
FCM 122,281, MIC 42,592, STP 41,592, ANE 65,688, LVN 38,268, 21D 32,189
% Change 2021/2022
FCM 7.08%, MIC 12.54%, STP 4.90%, ANE 12.01%, LVN 5.54%, 21D 1.40%
% Total Operations
352,195 (2021), 342,136 (2022), % Change: 2.86%

In the past five years, the MAC has invested more than $50 million to provide a safe, efficient, and modern reliever airport system. One of the latest projects was the completion of a new 3,500-foot runway at Lake Elmo Airport (21D), which opened to air traffic in July 2022. It is 650 feet longer than the previous runway, which will be converted to a taxiway later this year. Improved instrument approaches will also be implemented this year at Lake Elmo as part of the multi-year project to improve airfield infrastructure and provide safer operations.
The MAC’s reliever airport system generates an estimated $756 million annually for the area economy. It also supports more than 3,600 jobs. The reliever system accommodates 850 hangar buildings for nearly 1,300 aircraft.
The MAC’s reliever airports host numerous community events annually including Girls in Aviation Day and the AirExpo aircraft showcase at Flying Cloud, the Father’s Day pancake breakfast at Crystal, and the Pan-o-Prog Fly-In Breakfast at Airlake.

About The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC)

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) owns and operates one of the nation’s largest airport systems, including Minneapolis-St Paul International (MSP) and six general aviation airports. The MAC’s airports connect the region to the world and showcase Minnesota’s extraordinary culture to millions of passengers from around the globe. Though a public corporation of the State of Minnesota, the organization is not funded by income or property taxes. Instead, the MAC’s operations are funded by rents and fees generated by users of its airports. For more information, visit
www.metroairports.org.

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