The Aviator

Volume 19, Issue 3, March 2004

President’s Corner

Hello Everyone,

I have some good news to report. As most of you know, at the March meeting it was announced  that the Chapter’s Board of Directors has placed the order for the new Chapter building. The building will be an all-metal hanger and it was purchased from York Buildings. Its size will be 52’ x 48’. Tom Cucarese found a contractor and was able to set up a meeting with the Chapter’s Board of Directors.A couple of meetings were held with him on the Chief Brand building, engineering fees, contractor fees, and other aspects of purchase  and assembly. Contractor Mike Menzel agreed to allow EAA Members to participate in the assembly of the building to reduce his labor costs and he will pass the savings on to us. Delivery time will be eight weeks.

Over the last year there were questions on how we would maintain the building. After some brainstorming, we were able to come up with workable solutions that will pay for the building insurance and the building’s electric usage.

After many discussions, it was decided to downsize the building keeping the width at 52’ but downsizing the length to 48’. This will leave us with the option to expand to 60’ some time in the future if we so desire. We are also shifting the building site a little to allow for several other options. There is an individual who has shown an interest in the present Chapter building. If that sale should fall through, we might want to consider the option of moving, like originally planned, the building to the back of the new building as a Chapter meeting room with a hallway connecting both of them.

The building is going to give Chapter 859 a new home, one that will allow us to do many more things that we can't do at the Terminal building or at the Prop buster hanger.

Already some ideas have surfaced, involving other aviation groups which, if they work out, will add to the activity at the airport. This building will give the members who own, who are restoring, or building planes a place where they can do something that they can’t do at home.

It is going to take a little time to mold this building into shape but with our member’s ideas and old fashion EAA “can do” spirit, we will make this a place where we can learn and share ideas and a place where we can come on a warm summer evening to hang out or a cold winter day to do little hanger flying.

I would like to thank Tom Cucarese for standing in for me and Rick Ramsey at the March meeting. I was told it was a very interesting one. We are excited to have Mr. Forest Barber as our guest speaker for April.  Mr. Barber is from Barber Field in Alliance, Ohio. He is a man of many talents, ranging from aerobatic pilot to test pilot for the old Taylorcraft factory that used to be in Alliance. He is also a Tech. Counselor for many local EAA Chapters up in that neck of the woods. At our April meeting he will talk about being a test pilot for Taylorcraft. So come out for a fun and informative evening on Tuesday, April 6th.

And remember to bring someone new to a Chapter meeting, and if you see someone new make them feel at home with us.

See you there

Dave

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Officers

News

Congratulations to fellow member Cathy Stiehler, on becoming the new Airport Authority  President. We of EAA Chapter 859 wish her the best and offer our continuing support for the airport.

FAA Temporarily Retracts Sport Pilot Proposal - read all about it.

Columbiana County Airport is getting a new Taxiway with work beginning next month. Ross Lentini will be taking over as the new fixed base operator sometime around April 1.Jerry Gearhart who has been there for 22 years is stepping down.

Wheeling Ohio Co. Airport (HLG) will be installing PAPI runway approach lighting in the near future on runways 16, 34,  and 03. Runway 21 is equipped with Visual Approach Slope Indicator lights (VASI). Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) is a system of lights arranged to provide visual descent guidance information to the runway.

The Chuck Yeager model Club {IPMS} Will hold its annual model show and contest April 4th at the R. J. Bush Sports Center in.For info call Dean Haun 748-8099.

Wheeling Airport Cookout, June 29 at 5 pm—Guest speakers include past world aerobatic champions Sean T. Tucker and Mike ?. This is always a spectacular event with great food and a lot of fun. Don’t miss this one - Ed

Cleveland Air show (www.clevelandairshow.com) - Sat. Sept 4th, Please contact Dean Haun (phaun@comcast.net) or tel: 304-748 8099 for reservations. More information will be available shortly.

Our Chapter Business meeting date will be the third Wednesday of each month.
Starting on Apri 21
Time 7:00pm
At the Airport.

If you are interested in aviation and don't receive the Avweb newsletter I highly recommend you take a look at it and subscribe. It is also free. So what is your national EAA organization doing? Please visit their website. If you have any comments or feedback about this newsletter or articles you would like to have included please let me know - Ed

Get Well Wishes

We would like to send out get well wishes to Bill and Mary Freeman. We will look forward to seeing them at the Chapter meetings soon.

Also we send our sympathies to Jennette Meriwether and wish her a speedy recovery from her broken ankle.

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Sun ’n Fun Honors Volunteers at 30th Fly-In
“30 Years of Sun ’n Fun: A Salute to Volunteers” is just over a month away, April 13-19 at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida. The fly-ins volunteers will be recognized with a series of activities throughout the week. Aircraft slated to appear at Sun ’n Fun 2004, range from the Goodyear blimp, several World War II heavy bombers and a military jet demonstration team to a wide variety of homebuilts, vintage airplanes, production aircraft, warbirds, rotorcraft, aerobatic aircraft and one of the world’s most active ultralight venues.

And here is a letter from Troy A. Toelle - EAA Chapter Field Administrator (ttoelle@eaa.org)

Hey Chapter Leaders!
Come join us for some fun, interactive Chapter related forums at Sun N Fun, Lakeland, Fl…
"Keeping your Chapter Members Satisfied" on Friday April 16th, at 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., in Forum Tent #2
"Making your Chapter Great!" (Part 1 and Part 2) on Saturday April 17th from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, in Forum Tent#2  
These forums will be a fun and interactive presentations that will allow you to take away some ideas on how to make your Chapter more effective and more satisfying for your members!
Please come armed with your best ideas on Membership Participation, Membership Recruitment, Chapter Activities, and anything else you think will be of value.
We look forward to a fresh exchange of ideas and information.
No registration necessary.

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OK, now relax with some flying songs.

So you have all heard the story about the guy who flew in an arm chair lifted by a bunch of helium balloons, well I thought you might like to know the details - Ed

Wings Evening Report

Well folks, most of you missed the March 6th WINGS evening at Wheeling Airport. Remember that these meetings are for all of you, pilot or not and the information learned just might save your life. The meeting was arranged by Dinny Walford and was presented by John Hemmis from the FAA and Clint Clotrell, retired chief tower control instructor from Pittsburgh International Airport. Register online with our local flight standards district office (FSDO) to get info via email for all WINGS programs, free educational programs or just to borrow a safety video.

A quick summary of the evening;
There were a lot of stories including the one about the pilot who thought it smart to do aerobatics in the approach to PITT, and whose tail number was read by an approaching HEAVY and the pilot who thought it fun to fly under the bridges around Pittsburgh. Hard as it is to believe, you really have to do something like this to get busted. If busted and you have a reasonable explanation, apologize and probably not much will come of it. However, if you bust a temporary flight restriction (TFR) expect a 30 to 60 day suspension. They discussed 9/11 and showed a power point presentation including a timeline of aircraft activity, the complete shutdown of the GPS system and the evacuation of the PITT control tower as one of the hijacked aircraft approached and flew over PITT. Also discussed were the approaches to PITT and that inbound aircraft are anywhere between 6 and 10 thousand feet above Wheeling, so it is recommended that for your own safety you call FSS before any flight on 1-800-WX-BRIEF for a standard brief which includes TFR’s, and contact PITT approach if flying above 6 thousand feet or within 30 miles on 127.95 near HLG , other areas south half of PIT's Class B is 119.35. Another good reason to contact Pitt approach when out flying is that they will advise you when the C-130 Aircraft are flying. Remember these guys fly as low as 500 feet in our patch.

Did you know that US Air is only flying a GPS approach into PITT?  A BIG thanks to Dinny Walford, CAP, EF Aircraft at Harrison County Airport, Wittenbrook Flying Service and the sponsors who made this event happen.- Ed

Short Final...

Overheard while approaching the control zone in Wellington, New Zealand.......

ZKxxx: Request entry into the zone with Charlie 1021, currently 20 miles to the south west at 2500.
Wellington Tower: Cleared to enter the zone via the Sinclair Sector 1500 feet or below.
ZKxxx: Cleared to enter the zone via Sinclair at 1500 or below.
(A few minutes later...)

Tower: ZKxxx, suggest you descend to 1500 immediate to avoid a fast approaching pile of paperwork.

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Dates to remember:

"Wings" Safety Seminar, Wheeling Airport, June 29, 5 pm

Sun ‘n Fun, Lakeland FL, April 13 to 19

Wheeling Airport Cookout, June 29 at 5 pm

EAA AirVenture, Oshkosh, July 27 to August 2

Next Chapter Business meeting
April 21
Time 7:00pm
At the Airport.

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The Prop Busters have three openings in their Flying Club…

If you are interest in some real affordable flying, contact Dick Hawkins (Prop Buster President) or Tom Cucarese (Treasurer ) 740 266-9305 for more details on becoming a Flying Club Member.

Their airplane is a Cessna 150 and is based at the airpark.

What does it cost to belong:     Initiation  Fee      $250.00

                                                    Dues:                   $200.00 a year

Aircraft Flying Rate:                Per Hour               $35.00 wet.

Your Flying Insurance is included in with your membership to the Flying Club. 

There is also a web page flying calendar, so flying times can be seen by the club members.

Aircraft is based at its Jefferson County Airpark hanger.

So if your looking for very affordable flying, this is the place for you.