The chapter's regular monthly meeting last Wednesday evening was a good one, I thought. The turnout was very pleasing, and excellent program was given and three new members joined the chapter. It takes time and effort to make a good EAA chapter and I think we are on the right track.
I have read in the latest warbird news (February) that the board of directors of Sun 'n Fun Fly-In, Inc., has overwhelmingly voted to make the flightline area of 2007 Sun 'n Fun accessible to all attendees. Shades of Oshkosh just a few years back - just wait until some mother sits her kid on the tail of a fabric-covered airplane!
The latest issue (March) of the Airline Pilot Magazine has a very good article on understanding the Captain's Authority: Don't leave home without it. I'll quote just one FAR that was mentioned. It is FAR 91.3(a), and it states: "The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft." Even a student pilot flying solo comes under this FAR. With good flying weather approaching, keep this regulation in the back of your mind and do not hesitate to use it, should and occasion arise where its use is necessary. It anyone may have a question on this, I'll be only too happy to discuss and answer them at a future chapter meeting.
Troy Grover wants to become a Flight Advisor, mostly for RVs. I signed his papers at the meeting and I hope that the EAA headquarters will approve them.
I'm returning to my "southern command" headquarters on Saturday, March 10 for several weeks, but I may be going back and forth as things require. Just think, shortly it will be grass cutting time again.
Gus
In Attendance: Skip Budny, Dave Clark, Dennis Crawley, Mark Eminger, Bob Henderson, Troy Grover, Dale Gustafson, Glen Matejcek, Doug Moncreiff, Michael Mossman, Rick Princell, Ken Rahm, Gary Reynolds, Bryan Ruberson, Kim Shumaker, Vern Sullenger, Paul Vogel and Steve Weathers. If you were there but we didn't record it, let us know.
Guests: Jenna Grover, Tessa Grover, Shane Halbrook, Rob Sackmann and Mike Smith.
Treasurer's report: Vern Sullenger reports that the chapter has $1,635.26 in the checking account and $177.00 to deposit.
Secretary's report: Michael Mossman gave a brief summation of the February's meeting.
President's report: Gus Gustafson reminded the chapter that we have a Young Eagles rally scheduled for May 12. In a recent FAA preamble, Young Eagles was close to being shut down as a "commercial" flight activity. After strenuous EAA objections, the FAA later admitted that the Young Eagles program was never intended to be included in the list of targeted activities. Gus mentioned that no further progress has been made on the builder's patch. Gus added that the chapter should consider restarting the 50/50 to fund chapter philanthropic work, such as a scholarship or loaner tool kit.
Vice President's report: We are getting the nametags going. There will be no advertising on the tags, just the member's name and a photo of their airplane, if available. Last month we talked about learning to hand prop an airplane. I recently discovered an article in the July 31, 2005 edition or AirVenture Today about learning to hand prop. The article featured our own Gus Gustafson. Dave Clark added, in the two years that we did the hand propping sessions, we taught about 500 people per year how to hand prop and airplane.
Airport Reports: Dave Clark gave a brief summation of the Hendricks County Airport Association.
New Business: Vern Sullenger: We are always looking for new places to fly. A friend has established the Blue Crew Cafe, which is an Indianapolis Colts-themed restaurant on the northeast side of Indianapolis. It's within an easy walking distance of Metro Airport, and would be worth a quick trip over for lunch on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.
Program: Shane Halbrook spoke about TFR violations. See feature story at end of newsletter.
New member Mark Eminger recently moved from Otterbein IN to a new home that he and his wife Tina built at Pam's Place airpark (78I) near Cloverdale. Mark has been a Private Pilot since 1975, and started his plans-built Christavia Mk1 in 1994. He joined the EAA in 1991 and has been active with Tina in the Young Eagles program, having flown 31 to date. Both have been members of Lafayette EAA Chapter 256 and look forward to Chapter 1311 activities. Mark works at Paciv-USA LLC in Indianapolis. He and Tina have two grown children, a married daughter who is a school teacher and living in Springfield MO and a married son who is a corporate pilot flying a 10-passenger Astra jet based at Indy Executive Airport, and living in Whitestown.
Plainfield resident Rick Princell joined chapter 1311 after attending a few meetings. Rick and his wife Teri live in Plainfield. Rick recently god his Private Pilot certificate at Hendricks County Airport, and lists a Kolb Ultra Star, C-150 and a CH-180 among his projects. He's a member of Cloud Niners and is starting a GP-4 project.
Plainfield resident Ken Rahm joined the chapter at the March meeting. He's been a private pilot since December of 1986. He worked part time for Max Bein at the Mount Comfort Airshow. He flew in southern Florida for the last three years, and crews on USAC midget teams. He loves racing, boating and flying. Was on the flotilla staff office in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxillary, air crew boat crew, public education instructor, vessel examiner, and now works for the Plainfield Police Department He adds, "I love to be around airplane people."
We have had many guests over the past few months and many people have expressed an interest in our organization. Look around and see if you have any friends, family members or acquaintance that are interested in aviation. Take the time to invite them as a guest to the next meeting. If you see somebody new, introduce yourself, welcome him or her, and invite them to sign up.
To get a downloadable PDF membership application see http://www.eaa1311.org/PDF_files/membership_application.pdf
Dues are Due!
Please send your $15 dues to the treasurer: Vern Sullenger, 1763 Ramsey Lane, Plainfield IN 46168, or give it to Vern at the next meeting. Make your check out to EAA Chapter 1311.
EAA 2007 Calendars Now Available
Annual FAA Surveys Mailed Last Week
The FAA is asking general aviation pilots and aircraft owners to respond to the survey, which will help the agency, NTSB, trade associations and other groups accurately measure fleet size, hours of operation, avionics equipage, and more. So if you have received a post card asking for your participation, EAA urges you to do so. It's completely confidential and there are several ways to participate, including Internet and paper (mail) versions.
Results from past years' surveys can be found on the FAA website.
Ultralight Pilot Transitioning Deadline
Also see some tips for the process located on the EAA sport pilot website
Columbus Man Makes National News
Columbus IN man and EAA Chapter 729 member Tom Dollmeyer was the first mentioned in the article. Although the other two builders had some significant experience building airplanes, Dollmeyer's subtitle in the article says it all: "The Rookie." Dollmeyer's first airplane was the Glasair Super II FG featured in the story. Dollmeyer had his share of artificial adversities (limiting the use of his own garage as workspace) and lack of aircraft building experience, and he was certainly handicapped by the bankruptcy of kit manufacturer Stoddard Hamilton. But not one to quit, he kept his sights on his goals and re-evaluated the project in order to complete it. Dollmeyer made extensive use of his tech counselors and kept his project on track. When finally completed, his aircraft won a Grand Champion Homebuilt at Sun 'N Fun and a Bronze Lindy at AirVenture.
The story is a good read for several reasons: one, it's well-written and it is interesting. Two, it talks about how others have worked their way through problems and staying focused on the prize. But most of all, it allows the reader to get inside the heads of the three featured builders and see how much of their psyche we possess, too. If you see yourself in some of their traits, maybe you have the "sticktoitivness" build an airplane. And if you are currently building an airplane and getting a bit discouraged, you'll see that others were once where you are but persevered.
Read it! Then get back to work!
EAA Memorial Wall
Each year at AirVenture, a dedication ceremony is held on Sunday morning in this beautiful park-like setting that includes a special name recognition tribute and a missing man flyover.
Each inductee is also remembered in a memory album kept in the EAA Fergus Chapel. It is a wonderful way to honor those that have gone before us. Your contribution of $350 for the Memorial Wall is held in EAA's endowment in perpetuity.
For more information on how to submit a lost member for inclusion on the Memorial Wall please go to: http://www.eaa.org/support/. To be included in this year's dedication service applications need to be submitted by April 1, 2007.
Chapter 1311 Looking for a New Identity
We've been using a logo for several years but it has never been officially adopted by the chapter or the board of directors. Perhaps it's time to decide what the chapter's logo should look like. We'd like to invite the chapter members to submit their ideas for a new chapter logo. This logo would be used on the front of the newsletter, chapter web site, all official correspondence as well as the forthcoming name tags.
Contributors don't need to be artists, but the idea should be very clear. If your submission is chosen, we'll help clean it up for print and web use. The logo should be simple and work well with both print and web use. Bright colors are a plus.
Once the chapter selects a logo, the design will be the property of the chapter.
Chapter 1311 Builders' Local Resource Directory
Why not? We've all been around town looking for AN hardware, sheet metal, paint, tools and other items. Let's gather our ideas and experiences and put together a list of potential sources for builders and restorers.
Start thinking of the places where you buy locally. Be sure to let us know if you would recommend them to others or not. The idea here is that members should be able to look to suppliers that you trust and would continue to do business with. Please forward your ideas and recommendations to Michael Mossman at michaelandkatie@insightbb.com. We'll start with a new page on the web site when we get a few recommendations.
EAA's VISA Card Features ACS&S Discounts
New EAA Finance Program Launched This Year
The EAA Finance Program has also been aggressively supporting the special light-sport aircraft (S-LSA) market. As the light-sport aircraft industry continues to develop and change the face of recreational aviation, the EAA Finance Program will continue to review the aircraft entering the market in order to support those aircraft that have been accepted and certified by the FAA. This is all part of EAA's mission to make aviation more attainable and affordable to its current and future members.
To obtain more information on the programs offered by the EAA Finance Program, call AirFleet Capital at 866-808-6040.
Are You Blind?
The blind spot is about 3/4-inch in diameter at one foot from the eye. At a distance of 800 feet, however, it's about 50 feet across and could easily hide an airplane. Move out to one mile and the blind spot is over 300 feet. That's enough to hide a 747 or our entire HomeWing Squadron leading the Blackjacks in a huge diamond formation. Something you really don't want to miss! Remember last month we said two aircraft (at RV speed) heading toward one another will close one mile in less than 10 seconds.
So, what's up with this blind spot? Light entering the eye is focused on the retina at back of the eye where millions of rods and cones sense incoming rays. They send their signals to an area called the optic disc, where they connect to the optic nerve. This circular area, the optic disc, has no rods or cones and is unable to sense light - resulting in the "blind spot."
Normally the blind spot in one eye is covered by vision in the other eye so objects are not missed. A person with only one functional eye can overcome the blind spot by constantly moving the eye so an object will not remain in that spot. Those of us with two good eyes could still "lose" an object (perhaps a plane) by staring in one direction while something (side or center windscreen trim, roll bar, pedestal mounted mag compass, large nose, etc.) blocks vision in one eye.
Let's look at a couple examples. First, stare at a prominent object (doorknob, light switch, etc.) ten or more feet away. Now, hold up your hand at arm's length to block vision of that object with your left eye. You'll see it only in your right eye. Keep your hand in place and slowly move your eyes to the left (maintaining the same elevation). The object disappears. If you're outside, try it with a car at around 300 feet away or an airplane at 800 plus feet.
Project Updates
Is your project finished and flying? We've love to report on it. Consider submitting a flight and performance report for the newsletter. Your experiences and insight will help other members who are building the same or similar model aircraft, and will positively influence others who may be contemplating an aircraft project.
If you aircraft has been flying for several years now, you might not be finished with the building process. What adjustments or modifications have you undertaken since the airplane first flew? Any significant repairs? Any memorable flights? Share them with your fellow chapter members!
Download a Microsoft Word copy of the Project Questionnaire at http://www.eaa1311.org/PDF_files/Project_Questionnaire.doc
Aviation on the Web
UPS had previously agreed with Airbus a week earlier to postpone its first A380 delivery by three years to 2012. The world's largest shipping carrier decided to cancel after Airbus halted freighter development to focus on delivery commitments for the A380 passenger plane.
UPS's cancellation comes four months after rival FedEx Corp. also scrapped its 10-plane order; Airbus has no orders for its monster freighter.
Greatest Air Travel Risk is on the Ground
Typically, the biggest risk would be at the largest and most congested airports. But the accidents are now occurring at the reliever airports. FAA figures claim hundreds of commercial jet aircraft came within eight seconds of collision between 2001 and 2006. Runway mishaps have risen 37% since 1995. Incidents peaked at 401 in 2001, then fell off during the recent aviation recession, then have since risen. Last year, 330 runway incidents occurred, up from 240 in 1995.
Business Travellers Opt for the Ultimate Private Aircraft
In 1996, Boeing began to offer its 737 reconfigured as the Boeing Business Jet. But the stunningly wealthy can now distinguish themselves from the merely ultra wealthy with their choice of a new ride. Boeing is now booking orders for their 747-8 ($280 million) or perhaps look across the pond for an import: Airbus is offering their 380 for only $20 million more than a 747-8.
It may take a while to get one; they aren't available in any stores. The 747-8 is expected to be ready for deliveries in 2010; the Airbus 380 id delayed until the middle of the next decade (perhaps you can get one of FedEx's or UPS's cancelled planes and customize it yourself.)
Many of these airplane will feature some unusual and extremely expensive features, such as gold-plating on the fixtures, hot tubs and movie screening rooms. Without being destined for the commercial travel market, the owners face far fewer restrictions on what they can use in their sumptuous accommodations.
Sited as potential customers include Russian oil tycoon Roman Abromavich, Google guys Larry Page and Serge Brin, and billionaires Sergio Mantegazza, Philip Green and Lakshmi Mittal. OPEC royalty are specifically targeted as customers. Quite often faced with the need for tran-oceanic flights, not tolerant of airport security shakedowns and of the means to buy, they've already shown a pattern of willingness to buy.
March 2007 newsletter continued onto Section 2
Once again it's time for Chapter 1311 members to ante up with dues. The chapter's board of directors set the 2007 dues at $15 to help meet the chapter's on-going expenses. Since we don't have any chapter fund raising events, we need to pay our EAA assessments, insurance, web site maintenance, and other internal expenses with what we raise from dues.
Chapter 1311 has a limited supply of 2007 EAA calendars. These calendars feature a fantastic aircraft photograph each month and look great in your shop, hangar or over your desk. Price is $12. See Vern Sullenger or Michael Mossman at the chapter meetings to get yours.
From EAA e-Hotline
For years general aviation aircraft owners and operators have participated in the annual General Aviation and Air Taxi Activity and Avionics (GAATAA) Survey. Late last week notices to participate in this year's (calendar year 2006) survey, now called the FAA General Aviation and Part 135 Activity (GAP135) Survey, were mailed to roughly a third of the active GA/Non-scheduled Part 135 fleet, representing more than 84,000 aircraft.
From ChapterEgram
Ultralight pilots who registered with one of the four FAA recognized ultralight organizations before September 2, 2004, but missed the January 31, 2007 deadline, or pilots who registered AFTER September 1, 2004, still may use the aeronautical experience (flight hours) they obtained in ultralight vehicles to meet the experience requirements to obtain a sport pilot certificate.
FAA recently published clarifying information that can help answer your questions. To find out "What really happens to a transitioning "Ultralight Pilot" on January 31, 2007?" go to:
In the March 2007 edition of EAA Sport Pilot, the story titled "Advice to Dreamers" wrote about what separates the builders from the non-builders, doers from dreamers. The author, Jim Busha, put himself strongly into the second category: the non-builder. But he describes quite a few qualities that he possesses in common with the builders. He then goes on to assess how a few select builders stepped out of the crowd, over came some adversities, and proceeded to make their dream come true: they built and flew their airplane.
From ChapterEgram
EAA's Memorial Wall is a lasting tribute to those aviation enthusiasts who have "gone west." These special people are memorialized on a beautiful wall constructed of stones brought to Oshkosh by EAA members from all over the world.
At the October meeting, Gus Gustafson asked that the chapter consider having some name tags made for members to wear during the meetings. Most of us only see the others only once a month or so and don't know each other very well. Gus thinks that name tags could help with the recognition process.
New chapter member Mark Eminger nominated the first entry into our new Builders' Local Resource Directory. Mark refers us to McKinney Corp. in Lafayette, and company that specializes in supplying parts and materials to the drag racing community. Along with their racing components, McKinney stocks a wide variety of 4130 steel and 6061 aluminum tubing, AN hardware, NACA scoops, and other items that may find their way into a homebuilt aircraft. McKinney's website http://www.mckinneycorp.com/ has an online catalog and ordering page.
From EAA Chapter E-Gram (January)
Help EAA keep the fun in flying by applying for and using the official EAA Platinum VISA card, issued through EAA partner U.S. Bank. Choose from one of three designs: EAA's B-17 Aluminum Overcast; a Piper Cub; or the EAA logo. New cardholders also receive the opportunity for the low interest rate the first 12 months. The EAA VISA entitles cardholders to a discount with EAA flagship partner Aircraft Spruce & Specialty. (Up to 10 percent; restrictions apply to avionics.) Additional partners will be added to the program in the future. EAA receives a portion of each purchase made with the card to help support its educational and youth activities. Visit U.S. Bank's secure sign-up for more information: http://www.usbank.com/eaavisa
By Brenda Anderson, EAA Chapter Administrator
The EAA Finance Program provides a wide array of programs to meet the needs of our members looking to finance experimental aircraft (kit and airworthy), light-sport aircraft, piston, helicopter, and jet aircraft. EAA and AirFleet Capital have created a program that offers a variety of options that are constantly changing to meet the needs of members.
By Len Kauffman
EAA Chapter 105, Portland OR
Last month we talked about a mid-air nightmare emphasizing the importance of keeping heads-down time to a minimum. This month we'll consider a related topic -- the blind spot in our eyes. Under certain conditions this phenomenon could prevent a pilot from seeing an airplane even if he/she is looking outside. The blind spot is nothing new to most, if not all, pilots but is worth revisiting from time to time. Let's take a look at it again using the two small aircraft pictured below. Hold this page at arms length in front of your eyes. Close your left eye and stare at the center of the Cessna while moving the page slowly toward you. The RV disappears. Now close your right eye, look at the center of the RV and bring the page closer. The Cessna disappears. The brain cleverly fills in the blank spot to match the surrounding area.
With the days getting longer and colder winter weather on the way out, many chapter members are spending their evenings and weekends in their basements or garages, hunkered over the work bench and building airplanes or getting their projects ready to fly in the spring. We'd like to report on the status of these projects, as our members are interested building airplanes Help us with a project update on your aircraft. You can write the story, if you'd like, or you can download our project update questionnaire from the web site. Answer as little or as much as you'd like, then send it to the newsletter editor. If you have any photos, we'd love to see them. Just attach your JPG photos to an email.
Another Airbus 380 Order Cancelled
The Airbus A380 super jumbo jet program is on the ropes as UPS Inc. canceled its order for 10 A380Fs, leaving the European aircraft maker with an empty order book for the suspended cargo version of its much-delayed flagship.
Condensed from the Associated Press
Air travel has become statistically safer than ever, with crashes way down since 9-11. Screening has reduced the risk of terrorism and only 74 commercial aircraft crashes world-wide since. But the FAA stats report the greatest dangers during takeoff and landing. Since 2001, 108 commercial airline fliers died in ground collisions.
Condensed from Forbes.com
In just a few short decades, the ultra-wealthy travelers have upgraded from the noisy and fuel inefficient first private jets - Lear jets, to much larger and luxurious aircraft, such as Gulfstreams and the new Cessna Citation X. The newest trend is toward much larger aircraft - those that were originally designed as true airliners, and are now being refurbished (if used) or equipped when new as the most opulent cruise barges in the air.
Condensed from Forbes.com