Wingtips July 2004

Duane Cole
Duane Cole, one of the pioneers of modern aerobatic competition and the air shows that give it an audience, died in Burleson, Texas in February at the age of 89. A legendary teacher and 30,000-hour pilot, he wrote nine books, a series of videotapes and left a vast number of students that includes today’s top air show stars such as Patty Wagstaff. Cole built his career on performance, winning the national aerobatic championships in 1962 and 1964. He was named to the International Aerobatic Hall of Fame in 1987 and to the International Council of Air Shows Foundation Hall of Fame in 1996. Cole spent his whole life in aerobatics and airshows; he had certainly a profound effect on the aerobatic world.

Jerome F. Lederer
Jerome F. Lederer was born more than a year before the Wright brothers made their successful series of flights in North Carolina in December 1903, and he remained close to the greatest achievements in aviation throughout his career as a safety analyst until he died at age 101. He was there when the U.S. Air Mail Service needed an engineer to design safety improvements for its aircraft. Lederer personally inspected the Spirit of St. Louis before it took off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island. He organized the Office of Manned Space Flight Safety for National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He held numerous key government aviation safety posts and founded the Flight Safety Foundation. Lederer also was appointed by President Dwight Eisenhower to a group that paved the way for the organization of today’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Jean Ross Howard Phelan
Jean Ross Howard Phelan, a pioneer female helicopter pilot whose life spanned the era from Lindbergh to the space shuttle., died in January; she was 87. Phelan learned to fly as part of the civilian pilot training program during WWII. Also. during WWII, she helped aviation legend Jackie Cochran run a base for the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). She learned to fly under the Civilian Pilot Training Program; a program that later banned women from its ranks. In 1954 she become the eighth American woman, and 13th worldwide, to receive her helicopter pilot certificate. Phelan was director of helicopter activities at the Aerospace Industries Association, president of the American New Women’s Club and wrote numerous articles about flying. She helped form the Whirly Girls, an international organization of women helicopter pilots, in 1955. The group got its name from Bell’s nickname for her, and its financial support from Howard Hughes. Today. the group has 1,265 members in 41 countries.

International Women Members:
Rose Clement of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina has died. Clement was elected to represent Naval Flight Navigators of WWII and honored as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Aviation at the 2003 International Women in Aviation Conference.

Galina Gavrilovna Korchuganove, the dark-haired Russian test pilot and World Aerobatic Champion honored at the 2003 International Women in Aviation Conference, died on January 18 and was buried in Moscow, Russia.

Alex Sloan, an active Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) volunteer Technical Counselor, Flight Advisor, and active homebuilder, as well as the First chairman of the EAA Homebuilt Aircraft Council, has been selected as the 2004 recipient of the Tony Bingelis Award.

Sloan was nominated for this honor by EAA Chapter 615 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and EAA Chapter 941 in Madison, Alabama.

The Bingelis Award was created in 2002 to honor Bingelis, a noted homebuilding authority and an EAA Sport Aviation columnist who died in 2001. The award recognizes significant contributions to the encouragement of aircraft projects for fellow EAA members, the promotion of aviation safety and for maintaining the values of EAA. A nominee must have been active and current EAA Technical Counselor for at least five consecutive years.

EAA, The Leader in Recreational Aviation, is an international association with 170,000 members and 1,000 local chapters.

Aviation Division

One of the presentations at the Texas Aviation Conference was an excellent portrayal as told by Chris Wall of how an abandoned Aero Commander was discovered by two high school friends from El Paso, Texas. They dreamed of flying the aircraft around the world. For nearly four years countless friends and volunteers helped them get their flight off the ground. Then, on September 13, 2000, Dan Dominguez and Chris Wall, both young pilots, left Newfoundland for a three-month trip around the world in their refurbished 1957 twin-engine Aero Commander 560E. When they returned to the states, they were unofficially, the youngest crew ever to circumnavigate the globe. Since then, they have shared their record setting journey with students and teachers throughout the world via the Internet. What a trip!

Weather Safety Strategies

• Obtain weather from all available sources prior to the flight.
• Know the tools you can use to update weather information in flight:
  VFR (visual flight rules) flight following; flight watch or flight service; pilot reports; nearby
  AWOS (automated weather observation system),
  ASOS (automated surface observation system),
  ATIS (automated terminal information system) frequencies; and on-board weather radar or lightning detection equipment with data linked weather available.
• Learn to interpret in-flight weather cues and deteriorating visibility.
• Acquire instrument skills in addition to those required for a private pilot certificate.
• File an IFR (instrument flight rules) flight plan, and don’t cancel IFR until a VFR landing is assured.

Source: AOPA Pilot

Security Guidelines for General Aviation Airports
The Transportation Security Administration has just released new ” Security Guidelines for General Aviation Airports” The purpose of the Security Guideline for General Aviation Airport information publication is to provide owners, operator, sponsor, and other entities charged with oversight of GA airport a set of federally endorsed security enhancements and a method for determining when and where these enhancement may be appropriate. The document does not contain regulatory language nor is it intended to suggest that any recommendations or guidelines should be considered a mandatory requirement. This document was developed in collaboration with virtually all the groups and associations which represent general aviation. The guideline, represent a commonsense approach to protecting your airport. I urge you to obtain a copy of this document from either the Transportation Security Administration (www.tsa.gov) or our office (www.dot.state.tx.us) and use it to better ensure the security of your airport. By following these guidelines, we may be able to avoid mandatory regulation, which could be costly and difficult to implement.

Use of Non-Primary Entitlement Funding for Hangars and Fuel Facilities
As I reported in the February/March edition of WINGTIPS, the new FAA grant program permits non-primary entitlement funding for hangars and fuel facilities if all other airfield needs have been met. We continue to receive a large number of requests for funding of hangars and fuel facilities. However. we will have to continue to delay responding to those requests until we receive clear guidance from FAA on criteria for eligibility. Once we receive direction from the FAA, we will notify those interested at the earliest possible time. As an aside, although the new non-primary entitlement funding has understandably become a very popular program, it has had a negative impact on the funds remaining each year for large capital improvement project. As a result, it will be necessary to use non-primary entitlement funding as a part of the funding package for upcoming large capital improvement projects in most instances.

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Selects New Regional Representative for Texas
Shelly Lesikar from Houston is the new AOPA field representative for Texas. She “grew up” on the West Houston Airport owned by her father and has been actively involved in general aviation for several years. Shelly is an active pilot with college degrees from both the University of Texas and Texas A&M. I had the opportunity to visit with Shelly recently and feel she will be an outstanding resource for general aviation pilot, and aircraft owner, in Texas. Welcome Shelly!!!

By Marie C. Peinado
Aviation Division

AUSTIN – The 22nd Annual Texas Aviation Conference (TAC) was held on April 14-16, 2004, at the Townlake Hyatt Regency Hotel in Austin. TAC was co-hosted by Texas Department of Transportation Aviation Division and the Texas Airport Management Association (TAMA).

TxDOT recognized airports and individuals who have led the way in significantly enhancing their airport operations and passenger service, as well as increasing economic development in their community. Participants included airport managers, city, county and state officials, consultants, exhibitors, the general public and representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Additionally, three students were honored from among 450 Texas entrants in the 2004 International Aviation Art Contest. They all received the top awards in their age categories. The theme of this year’s art contest was “Flying Saves Lives.”

Among a spirit of friendly good-fellow ship, there were over 500 participants who were treated to a wide-range of workshops, presentations and a general summary of the “state of aviation” in Texas. The program was well-received and timely for all participants as they noted on their overall conference evaluation sheet.

New exhibitors were added to TAC this year for a total of 60 exhibitors. We expect to keep improving our accommodations to our exhibitors as we book future conferences. Next year’s TAC will be held at the Hyatt on Tuesday through Thursday, March 22-24, so please mark your calendars!

At the Awards Banquet, the following aviation and art contest awards for the Year 2004 were presented:

GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT MANAGER OF THE YEAR – Isabelle Blanchard, airport manager for Pecos Municipal Airport. Blanchard’s devotion to aviation and education has been displayed in her work with the Young Eagles youth aviation group and pilots, including teaching flight instruction at the airport. Additionally, she oversaw a $1.6 million reconstruction project to improve pavement conditions at the airport in 2002.

GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT OF THE YEAR – Brenham Municipal Airport. The airport was recognized for various developmental improvements allowing it to remain a vital asset to the community. The airport houses 34 privately owned aircraft hangars, eight large corporate hangars, a fixed-based operator, a restaurant and aircraft mechanical/repair services.

RELIEVER AIRPORT OF THE YEAR – Dallas Executive Airport. Airport administrators have developed a comprehensive development program that includes construction of a new terminal building and air traffic control tower. Since 1998, more than $8 million in private investments have been committed to the development of the airport. The airport is a 1,000-acre facility owned and operated by the city of Dallas.

MOST IMPROVED AIRPORT OF THE YEAR – Coleman Municipal Airport. The city-owned facility is a public-use general aviation airport that provides several community-based services and programs that enhance the health, safety, welfare and quality of life of area citizens. The airport offers full -time staff for fueling and even provides a car and golf cart for passenger convenience.

The 2004 International Aviation Art Contest Awards:

Category I (Ages 6-9):

• First Place: Brooke Campbell, age 8, Princeton Elementary School, Princeton

Category II (Ages 10- 13):

• First Place: Jessie Kelly, age 12, Holy Trinity Catholic School, Grapevine

Category III (Ages 14- 17):

• First Place: Alice Xu, age 15, Cinco Ranch High School, Katy

The Golf Tournament was held at the Riverside Golf Course and the winners were: Team Leaders Bill Looke, Robert Baker, Kyle Wommack and Larry Shields. Additionally, the 3rd Annual Pool Tournament was held at the Slick Willies Family Pool Hall and winners were:

• 1st Place Chris Wall
• 2nd Place Bill Jinkins, Terrell Airport Board Vice President
• GUPPY Margie Gandy, TxDOT Lufkin District RAMP Coordinator

And last, but not least, the Hawaiian Night featuring live music and door prizes sponsored by TAMA was outstanding! The social took place outside on the hotel patio overlooking Town Lake.

Once again, this was a great conference! We would like to thank our exhibitors and sponsors for their contributions to TAC especially the “Get Acquainted Reception.” We appreciate their support and efforts in helping us provide another successful conference to our public. Also, we thank the Art Contest judges – Mel Brown, Texas Aviation Artists, Michelle Hannah, TxDOT Aviation Division, and Kristi Harms, Graphics Designer, TxDOT Travel Division – for their assistance in selecting the art contest winners for the State of Texas.

See you next year!