When I was a kid I got to go up to Boston Logan Airports tower thanks to a VERY NICE FLIGHT SERVICE STATION person who understood I was just a kid who flew gliders at the age of 12, with greater dreams of flight and a never-ending curiosity for anything aviation related.

Fast-Forward now, I’m now a grown man and flying Cessna’s and Fixed-Wing when economy allows. But I still get a certain twinkle in my eye when I see an airplane or control tower and secretly long to soar puffy cloudstreets with seagulls, eagles, and even an occasional trash-bag at 4,000′… Sorry, I was day-dreaming again on you.

This is the photo album that goes with the story published for the WA PILOTS ASSOC DECEMBER 2011 “WINGS’ MAGAZINE. AV8News gives you the “Tower Tour” so you will use their services! True professionals and pilots themselves, our local Air Traffic Controllers are among the most compassionate,kind, and accommodating in the nation! I know. I learned to fly from ‘under their wing’ at Spokane International. And that means the VERY PATIENT too we are so lucky to have them ‘watching our backs’ for safer skies and comforting traffic-separation services.

WE SALUTE YOU!

SNAKE RIVER – Outdoor enthusiasts are getting some air-support that will help them reach their recreation hotspots this winter and next spring. *ed: The WPA/Spokane chapter stewards the Lower Granite (00W) airport spear-heading this effort to keep this unique and pristine area open.  Disclaimer: Chapter President Tom Morris, is a friend of ours and a proud 18,000hr trans-oceanic airline guy, who is hanging his scrambled egg brim hat this weekend… Congrats Tom!

Washington State Department of Transportation announced earlier this week that the Lower Monumental, Lower Granite and Little Goose airports along the Snake River in Walla Walla, Whitman and Spokane counties, will remain open year-round.

In past years, these airports have typically closed between October and June. This changed after WSDOT and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) weighed a number of factors, including expressed interest from pilots and recreational organizations.

“Keeping these state-operated airports open all year will help support the local economies and allow pilots much greater access to popular winter fishing and hunting activities along the Snake River corridor,” said Paul Wolf, WSDOT airport manager, adding that WSDOT leases the airports from the ACOE. “We were able to keep them open because of flexibility in our lease agreements and the fact that the airports typically don’t see a lot of snow in the winter.”

Nine of the 17 WSDOT-operated airports are currently closed for the winter due to typical snow accumulations on airport runways, lease agreements and state law requirements. And while the Lower Monumental, Lower Granite and Little Goose airports are not scheduled to close, pilots are reminded to plan ahead by reviewing the latest Notices to Airmen and checking WSDOT’s state-operated airports webpage for updated information about airport closures.

“It’s important to note that even though these airports are scheduled to remain open throughout the year, adverse weather can change this very quickly,” Wolf said. “We won’t be conducting snow removal at the Snake River airports, and they will be closed if snow accumulates on the runways.”

-WDOT (via wsdot@service.govdelivery.com)

0430: I rush to the computer for the official Go/No-Go weather check. It’s POURING outside. But the radar also shows a rapid clear slot.  Just then, “It’s a GO” beeps the phone with Paul on it, practically taxiing already.  It had stopped raining completely by the time I finished my breakfast brick and quarter cup of half n half.

Gray traces of dawn breaking above memorial flag in Medical Lake, WA

The sun cracks through the cloud base of a misty dawn, silhouetting a single American Flag across the field bearing a certain local Veteran’s memorial. I’m in a Super8 at Medical Lake, and this is my call.  Just a group of simple Civilian Pilots on a yearly patriotic mission…

7 airplanes, 10 pilots, 20 vets and a couple very lucky by-standers took flight this year with Spokane Chapter WPA members. Carolyn thankfully gathered the real food, yummy SUBWAY (Jacob, our sandwich ‘artist’) and everybody at WESTERN AVIATION very kindly donated their hangar.  Meanwhile, I bump into Terry and Dana at Spokane Airways and didn’t even know they were taking part!  This is going to be a good day. Touching down on the still somewhat-glistening Runway 3L at Felts Field, Paul was already in the pattern doing those touch n’ goes  ‘Just working some bubbles out of my new right strut’ he says.

Pilots Tom Morris, Marian Heale, Dana Newcomb, Gary White, Geoff Scott, Paul Vietzke, Terry Newcomb and Dan Melville enjoy a dry spot on the ramp at Felts.

MY FLIGHTNOTES:

1. Silverwood is building what appears to be a new high-speed/volume teardrop shaped park entrance off Highway95. Big enough to land a small Citation on.
2. Bitteroot Western Slopes: “Not a spot of color, except for Marian’s Citabria”
3. Eastern slopes of Lake Coeur D’Alene: Engulfed by smoke. To the extent made a quick call to Spokane approach; “We didn’t just fly into a new TFR, did we?” Thankfully, we had not.
4. Did anyone else notice how accommodating Felts Tower was? Impressively cool ATC Doug and Kelly provided some ‘red-carpet’ service in an already crowded day, complete with special message; “We are so glad up here you (all) do this for our veterans… thank you. Continue taxi back to Ramp.”

V.A. Director Pam Wick; “Most of these vets have never done anything like this before and they were so excited and thrilled to have gotten the opportunity.  …Thank you for your time and generosity, and know we truly appreciate all the pilots involved.” Left with a smile a mile-wide, I now think how thankful I am, to be able to share such feeling of freedom as flight, with these true heroes who dedicated their lives, protecting ours.

We salute you! Spokane area veterans take flight with the WPA.

Ride along with us and see! PICTURES/SLIDESHOW POSTED HERE

Even MORE exciting photographic aerial adventures are POSTED HERE

The Washington Pilots Assoc annual “Fall Foliage Veterans Flight” is coming up! Unfortunately due to changing jobs and economy; we are already down two available pilots this year… and you’ve been wanting an excuse to fly anyway, lets be honest- So please mark your calendar to take that eager bird to Eastern Washington  Saturday Oct 1st @ 9:00 am (KSFF) Felts Field, Each year the Spokane Chapter treats the Vets to a spectacular tour through some of the  ‘hidden jewels’  of our precious area; The mouth of Clark-Fork, The Cabinets, Libby Pass, Priest , Mt Spokane (Weather permitting, route subject to conditions and number of Veterans) just to name a few~  it’s a real badge of honor to be able to share such a feeling of satisfaction with all involved. Many of the veterans we fly have never flown before and bring back an entirely “different perspective” reportedly. Back at Felts~ lunch served, friendships and feelings shared, and thanks given the best way the WPA pilots know how.

Happy pilots fly thankful vets at Felts Field (WPA)

Interested in checking out some of the most interesting routes “off the beaten flight path”??? This flight is a MUST. You’ll safely navigate wide open valleys with mostly even terrain beneath you. The deepest lakes in North America, 3000′ cliffs that jette starlight down past the gravity-defying mountain goats, lovely fall hues, and the youngest mountain peaks this side of Mt St Helens, all nestled seemingly deep in the Interior NorthWest’s  Bitteroots & Cabinets. GPS is useful and weight & balance sheet a pretty good idea, I’m just sayin’.

Clark Fork River, ID/MT

From out of town? Fuel and services are available at Felts (Delta) & Spokane International (Class Charlie) is just “a TOC” west. Hotels, hangars and that big airport smile. Seriously *John, Greg, Mark, Jeff and the whole crew at SPOKANE AIRWAYS always step up and help out with certain support (IE, my rental) and offer great pilot amenities (and even A COOKIE *if you ask really nice and then wait patiently while they are custom baked behind you).

THE DETAILS:

• Saturday Oct 1st @ 9:00 am (KSFF) Felts Field. Contact Marc Ruggiero (pruggi@peoplepc.com/509.892.1539) to sign up, volunteer,  help out, or Geoff Beth (geofscott@aol.com/208.746-1149) for more information & media. Veterans interested should see their V-Administrator, or leave a message for Director Pam Wick @ 509-434-7686.

Big wings over the LC Valley… 

This crew from Whidbey Island Naval Station enjoys the best weather all year!

EAA Chapter #328, The Commemorative Air Force & AV8News wants to thank EVERYONE for coming by AIRFAIR 2011, I grabbed some highlights you can check out in above slideshow, that is, while we weren’t busy crooning the crowd with the romantic 40′s big band music. *additional details and story posted on sister website!
-=Gs=-

The 4^th Annual Air Fair & Fly In, July 23rd at the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport, will be sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association (E.A.A.) & Stout’s Flying Service. This event is open to the public and is free, beginning at 8:00 a.m., according to Air Fair organizer Frank Miles. *(ed: you can read more all about it in the July WPA “Flyer” magazine now posted  WA PILOTS ASSOC/SPOKANE)

July 23rd at N.P. Lewiston Airport, ID. (KLEW)

Antique and unusual aircraft will be displayed along with a replica of the 1909 Herring-Curtiss Pusher, the airplane that made the first powered flight over Idaho.  This will be the last chance to view the “Pusher” before it leaves for its Florida home.   A Navy P3 Orion from Whidbey Island will be on static display as well as a Blackhawk Helicopter from the Idaho National Guard in Boise is expected.

Antique cars will also be on display at the E.A.A. hangar on O’Connor Road.  In addition, free camping facilities will be available at the E.A.A. hangar for fly-in participants.

Food will be provided onsite with a $5 breakfast and a $5 hamburger lunch served near the Stout Flying Service hangar from 8:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. respectively.  A do-it-yourself steak dinner with the E.A.A. providing the steaks and all the trimmings and customers will do their own cooking begins at 5:00 p.m. with the cost of $10.

Various displays and activities are planning including the LifeFlight aircraft which is headquartered at the airport.  The E.A.A. will conduct tours of their facilities and youth in the area are encouraged to learn more about their scholarship program and the Young Eagles.  The Young Eagles is open to youth between the ages of 8 and 17.  In addition, Kiwi Air of Clarkston will offer helicopter rides.

The main access to the Air Fair-Fly In will be at Stout Flying Service gate, west of the airport terminal.  Shuttle service will be provided between the main gate area and the E.A.A. hangar.

Sentimental Journey on a rare Valley stop!

The Commemorative Air Force will be returning on Friday, July 22^nd through Sunday, July 24^th and bringing two of their famous flag ships:  the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-25 Mitchell.  The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was a four-engine heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the then-Army Air Corp.  Eventually, over 12,700 were produced.  The B-25 Mitchell was made famous as the bomber that flew the Doolittle Raiders.  It is a twin-engine medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation.  It was used by many Allied air forces in every theater of operations of World War II.  Many other air forces used this aircraft after the war ended, the “Mitchell” eventually seeing service across four decades.  Almost 10,000 were built.

The E.A.A., a leader in recreational aviation, is an international membership organization encouraging and supporting recreational aviation.  Chapter 328 is located in Lewiston with members in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

Contact information:

• Jim Otey
• 208-746-8488
• Email:  oscartango@cableone.net

-=Gs=-

Lewiston Airport (KLWS) 3RD EAA Summer Air-Fair on Saturday July 23, 2011 8AM-4PM. Mark your dates now and stay tuned for more shortly~

*watch THIS space*<———————-

FAA Safety Team | Safer Skies Through Education

FAAST recently updated the site you’ll notice a few changes including a completely re-designed Airman’s ‘WINGS’ interface. In the following release you’ll note several changes and clarifications have been made;

“…The WINGS – Pilot Proficiency Program consists of three Levels – Basic, Advanced, and Master. Each Level requires an increased level of proficiency. For example, if a participant completes the Basic Level using Private Pilot standards, then the Advanced Level will consist of Commercial Pilot standards, and the Master Level will consist of ATP and/or CFI standards.
Participants can earn as many Phases in each Level as they wish. Phases are completed by accomplishing three Knowledge and three Flight requirements for each phase. Specific activities can only fill specified requirements in the WINGS Program.
Each of the elements in the WINGS program is based on an accident causal factor. Primary accident causal factors are addressed at the Basic Level. Other accident causal factors are addressed at the Advanced and Master Levels.”

For the complete release: https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2011/May/WINGS_accident_causal_factor_Subjects.pdf You’ll want to update your WINGS profile while you’re at it; So visit the new FAAST site and improve your overall “situational awareness”  -=Gs=-

Recently asked me to share some of my CB collection with you~ Unfortunately, it turns out, I know the subject all TOO WELL. These accounts are posted to serve as a reminder that mother nature is NOT to be taken lightly, and even though I have studied weather systems for nearly 40 years~ There’s always more to be learned, with every frontal passage. IN THE SKIES- around, through, or under them is NOT the place to learn about Convective (Vertical Build) or Orographic Development. In other words; *DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!*…

LESSONS LEARNED:
Having flown gliders in New England, landed with ice, and even as a traffic reporter in Boston, observed in some of the worst 300ft weather imaginable… I wonder if perhaps all this experience had diluted my pilot “spidey-senses” when it comes to “go” or “not go.” The day the instructor and I saw building cumulus a few miles off the airport with a single ponytail of virga around 6,000’ (Hint #2) 20-30 minutes before it would be even close I figured, “No big deal. We can still squeeze in three or four T n G‘s,” and three minutes of actual consideration later, I selfishly committed us to one of the most death defying rides of an almost shortened-life;
…As soon as I applied full throttle to the little C150, the winds bee lined from 300 @ 6 (RWY HDG) to 14G22 out of 270, and almost full rudder was needed just to keep us aligned (Hint #3). Rotating into what should have been a 400 FPM climb, it just lumbered along as if to say “You sure you want go there?” (Hint #4). Barely climbing with an increasing groundspeed (Hint #5) the airspeed indicator dancing between ends of the green arc (Hint #6). How many clues does it take? “Down draft! My airplane.” Instructor commanded over intercom as we narrowly cleared what would be the edge of the plateau. Still flying … barely. We were now in that shaft of rain that seemed so far away (Hint #1). Ground-speeding faster still showing 60kts and trying to squeeze every vertical foot out of our violently pitching aircraft, it had gone from “pleasure” to “pressure” flight in 6,000’ horizontally in less than a minute.
On the radio three other aircraft squawking their displeasure at this sudden turn of weather, trying to race in below the cascading curtain. One pilot said “It’s like this for 100 miles… this is the alternate”. Tower, dutifully accommodated (while clamoring to amend the METAR) all of us in a controller equivalent of “All aircraft cleared for landing, any runway.” We positioned ourselves for a very short final for RWY30, then RWY26, then, cleared to RWY30 again-much like the winds now 19G32 teetering between 270 & 310 degrees with an occasional 060 just to keep things interesting. Two aircraft in front, one aside, landing like a carefully choreographed routine, one clearing the runway as the other would land adjacent… couldn’t have been scripted any better by trained formation pilots! Then it was our turn as the instructor, keeping power in, jammed the nose down and pointed it at the numbers. “Keep our speed up in that downdraft” she said. We spiraled down to a 45 degree final. Right before the threshold, we cut throttle and began a 5,000’ flare down the 6,000’ surface. Settling as gracefully as if driving over a small log, but alive and on the ground. Hands melded to the shape of yoke, braking together, barely, we made the last taxiway. Tower had already cleared us to the gate back at the ‘first’ flare. Lighting crashed; I later noticed how close the flash really was when I had to reset my blinking dashboard clock. That was close enough into the “mouth of doom” for us that day.

 
1. Always get the full weather briefing from approved sources EVEN IF “it’s just pattern work” Conditions change very rapidly near severe weather. In our case, the time it took to taxi and perform a run-up.
2. USE YOUR ADM. in a reasonable logical order, beware of “macho”, “complacent”, and “Oh we’ve done this A MILLION TIMES BEFORE” it can kill you… Wondering about limits and extremes is best served over a warm cup of vending machine coffee in the pilots lounge ~ Not while flying them.
3. If you’re ready to depart, and find yourself thinking; “Hmmm, SHOULD we, or SHOULDN’T we?” Chances are pretty good this is probably good time NOT to. the longer it takes to justify (like our departure) the less likely it is we should actually do it!
4. There’s a REASON to avoid severe weather by 20+ miles. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there- Inflows, outflows, sudden core shifts and even hail cascading out of sides of clouds …. Again, more fun watching from the ground than from un-expectantly IN IT.

LINK: to the VIDEOS PAGE and see some incredible cloud development shots!!!

The Ray Daves Tower at Geiger International was officially renamed and dedicated in a first-of-a-kind event in our country for a very special man–Ray Daves, a WWII NCO and Purple Heart recipient. Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (WA-05) spoke at the dedication, made possible by passage a bill she introduced to the 111th Congress that was signed into law on Dec. 22, 2010.”

Said the 90 year-old veteran sailor, and subject of the book “Radioman” by Carol Edgemon Hipperson (St. Martin’s Press), “Today I am humbled to be in the presence of this gathering: Representative McMorris-Rodgers, military and government officials, FAA personnel, local dignitaries and my family. The technicians who keep everything up and running and the crews who make it possible for the controllers to do their jobs safely and well. I didn’t realize when Tom Torvick, his sister Stephanie, his mother Roberta Yanuszeski and Liz Larsen began the process to rename the tower, something this monumental would come of their untiring efforts. I thank them for believing in me and the process. How fortunate we are to have made such wonderful new friends during this time. When I began working for the civil aeronautics agency in early 1946, I knew I had found the perfect job. In fact, it became my passion. I couldn’t wait to get back to work….even when on vacation.”

Proud grand-daughter Angela Boyette says of the honors, “GP smiled bigger than I have seen him smile in a long time….They presented him with a flag that they flew over the tower the day the bill was passed- way cool! They will have a shadow box just inside the tower with a beautiful plaque and picture…. tells the story a bit. He is mainly just trying to come to terms with his overwhelming feelings. It brought tears to his eyes to be honored in such a way.”

Angela adds, “We hope this brings more awareness to Honor Flight too. We have 150 veterans on a waiting list to go.” She requests that donations be sent to:

Inland Northwest Honor Flight
608 W 2nd, Ste 309
Spokane, WA 99201-4430

www.inwhonorflight.org

Read more about the Ray Daves Air Traffic Control Tower Dedication in the March 2011 Washington Pilots Association Newsletter on-line at: http://www.wpaflys.org/Chapters/Spokane/Mar11Online.pdf