February meeting coming up

A quick reminder, our next monthly meeting will be this Wednesday.  Dinner starts at 6, with the meeting at 7.  This month’s meeting will include a technical presentation by Bill Dewey on carburetor overhaul procedures.

23rd anniversary of STS-51L

Today is the 23rd anniversary of the final mission of the Space Shuttle Challenger which was destroyed 73 seconds after launch due to a structural failure caused by an SRB malfunction.

Crash the cat’s injury

Crash nurses his duct-taped would in the pilot's lounge

A few days ago, Crash (the cat who guards the pilot lounge and surrounding Creswell airport) had a scrap with an animal and got his paw injured.  Shelley Humble has been treating it, and has resorted to using duct-tape to hold the bandage in position because of his lack of enthusiasm regarding wound dressing.  Let’s wish him well!

TSA and General Aviation

From the AOPA forums comes the following letter posted by a concerned pilot:

Dear [redacted],

One of the primary goals of the Centennial Airport Business Association (CABA) is to provide real time alerts and urgent communications to our membership and the local aviation community we serve. With that in mind please read the following important communication below:

It has come to our attention that as of December 20, 2008 the Transportation Security Association (TSA) has started to conduct security interrogations at general aviation airports using a newly implemented program called “Playbook”. Unannounced, the TSA set up a table at the entrances of FBOs at the Bedford, MA and Nashville, TN airports early in the morning to conduct security interrogations of the FBO, aircraft, pilots and passengers. As FBO employees reported for work, TSA agents checked credentials, frisked employees, and searched the FBO premises and aircraft. Similarly, pilots and departing passengers were also frisked and pilot’s required to open their aircraft to security inspections. We have also learned that the TSA will not only be checking transient general aviation at FBOs, but that they also intend to conduct these security interrogations at private hangars and flight operations.

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) was told by TSA attorneys that the “Playbook” security interrogations were beyond the authority of the TSA Regional Offices. When the NBAA asked for a copy of the “Playbook,” TSA officials declined. NBAA has learned that further TSA interrogations under the “Playbook” program are scheduled to be conducted at Dallas, TX Part 139 airports soon. It should be noted that even though at this point only Part 139 airports have been targeted, operators should expect the TSA to include reliever airports like Centennial and Rocky Mountain Metro under the “Playbook” program.

These new TSA tactics seem to be stemming from the Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP). As we have reported in previous email alerts, the TSA has a Notice of Proposed Rule Making(NPRM) out for comment on the LASP. Understanding this and the new information at hand, it is even more clearly imperative that we all take the time to write our comments and post them to the NPRM. We are waiting to see if the NBAA will open a link for comment on the new “Playbook” program. In the meantime, please use the link below for comment on the NPRM. We have also provided a link to the NBAA’s dedicated LASP NPRM page. Additionally CABA, the Centennial Airport Pilot’s Lunch, and the NBAA are working to put together a town meeting on February 10th, 2009 to discuss the LASP NPRM and the additional new issues at hand. Please stay tuned to CABA’s website or become a member for the latest information on that meeting.

It seems the TSA is actively trying to get its arms around and strangle general aviation. It’s up to us as operators, businesses, and aviation professionals to make sure that our industry remains viable, safe, and secure from these looming threats.

Sincerely,

Centennial Airport Business Association

If real, this is certainly an area of concern for GA pilots if this project is to spread and may represent a clear and present danger to us from the Transportation Security Administration.

First video of Flight 1549 ditching in the Hudson

The first video of the US Air 1549 Airbus 320 ditching has been released.  A fixed Coast Guard camera caught the plane completing it’s water ditching, then shows how quickly the passengers evacuated.

The captain had a glider rating.  Maybe those of us without one should visit Scott Henderson to get time in his and  Bill’s Schweizer.

Corvair powered Zenith 701

We’ve got members building 701s, we’ve got members interested in using Corvair engines in their aircraft.  Today’s video has the best of both worlds!

Some files from the archives

Sergeant Serious and his mighty cub!

The 1929 Fleet 2

January 2009 Minutes

January 7th, 2009 Meeting

The meeting started with a special Spaghetti-Garlic bread and salad dinner (instead of our great hamburger/hotdog/ Chili Bar-B-Q) at 6:00. Ben Hallert, our new President, did himself proud!! It was delicious!

Meeting called to order at 7:03 PM by President Ben Hallert, V.P. Bill Dewey and Sec./Tres. Randy Stout also present. 26 members and guests were in attendance and introduced themselves. Among the guests were Wayne and Del Ray Bowers (who became a member at the meeting), Welcome to all!

Daniel Cathy asked the club to make a decision on whether or not we would put on the breakfast and lunch at the July 18th Oregon Aviation Historical Society in conjunction with the Bohemia Mining Days group at the Cottage Grove airport. After a brief discussion, several people volunteered and so agreed to run this event. In that vein, Bruce Curtis asked if we could organize the breakfasts a little better, with a list of volunteers and substitutes so that we knew who would be cooking and cleaning each month. He also mentioned that he had a good sum of money that the breakfasts had made during the previous year, and was asked to have Brent Burgess sell all the T-shirts and sweatshirts to the club for resale.

Getting started

Ken Schmidt had volunteered for a field trip to his workshop after the January breakfast, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, he said that he would have his tour later in the year. New member Wayne Bowers was asked if we could tour his shop, and he agreed. He is building an RV-12 and several people expressed interest in seeing his progress. Sounds like a good time!!

A suggestion had been made to improve the clubhouse by replacing the toilets. Our water manager and neighbor, Dave Heisley said that they have not been a problem recently with running over, so he suggested that we don’t replace them at this time. He also noted that he would be turning off the water (as usual) in February in order to keep his control of the water service. Thanks again Dave for another year of free water!!

Ben Hallert said that he will contact Scott Henderson again about renting the clubhouse for a weekend glider operation meeting area. If this activity is approved by the airport manager, the club might rent the clubhouse for various days, as long as we are a named insured on his policy.

It was noted that there are now 2 windows in the clubhouse (the only ones not replaced this summer!) that seem to need replacing. Bill Dewey and Rusty Bartel were asked to take this project on and see if they can find some good units. (They did the other ones) Thanks guys!

A discussion ensued about changing the breakfast from the 2nd Saturday to the 3rd. Saturday so that we would not conflict with the Independence group, and that they might find that Creswell is a great place to fly to for breakfast. It was decided to have Ben contact them to be assured that they have not changed to the 3rd. Saturday and if not, we would change for a 6 month trial period.

Three of our older and less active past members have had medical problems recently, and could use a visit. Phil Writer, Dave Kenyon and George Oswald have all had medical setbacks recently, so if you can, give them a call and pay them a visit.

Daniel Cathy suggested we call up Charlotte Writer and ask if she would like the club to come over and get Phil’s airplane cleaned up and made presentable for sale. Several people liked the idea, and so a call will be made to Charlotte to see if we can be of help.

Secretary Stout noted that dues are due again. Please see him at the meeting or mail your $25 to EAA Chapter 31, 86277 Panorama Rd., Springfield, OR  97478

A quick auction for 2 nice metal boxes then occurred. The club made $10 and everyone was happy!

The meeting ran a little long, but at the end, it was decided that, for entertainment and education, we would have a different project brought in each month for a hands on demo of some building or repair technique. The schedule is as follows:

* February- Bill Dewey- Carb Overhaul procedures
* March- Rusty Bartel- Plastic panel repair
* April- Bob Severns- Engine overhaul procedures.

George Coulter then volunteered to help get the web site up and running a bit better. Georges email address is (redacted)

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55PM

Respectfully submitted,

Randall Stout
Secretary/ Treasurer