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Holding Aviation to a HIGHER STANDARD March 2006
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This past month, some of our readers told us they’re seeing things when they get our monthly publication. At first we were sure they were just seeing red but it turns out they were seeing strange little characters dispersed throughout the print. Unfortunately, this problem is not new but it does have an easy fix.
At the very top of each NORDO News publication, you should see a link that is there for people who don’t see pictures within the NORDO News publication or who don't view their email in html format. If you are seeing strange things when you get NORDO News (only on the computer, not in the corner of the room), click on the link up top, or cut and paste it into your browser and it will take you straight to a version without these problems. Now if after you click on this link, you are one of the ones still seeing things in the corner of your room, you should know that there is a very special place for people like you; It is called Capital Hill. | |||||
.000376 Is A Very Significant Figure For EAA How is this number significant? Why should all of us in aviation be concerned about such a very, very, very small number relative only to EAA?
Would it help if we said this number is equal to 1 in 2656 or 64 out of 170,000 EAA Members? This ratio, which we have attempted to put into perspective, is the number of EAA members who personally voted for EAA Board Members last year.
Now before some bright young lawyer out there gets their heart rate up, we should state that technically you all voted for the Board of Directors last year. The problem is that you voted with the proxy vote you signed away when you became an EAA member.
Google offers two definitions “proxy vote:”
Take any political science class and you will learn that participation by and of the citizens is absolutely vital to the success and FUTURE of any democracy. I know; EAA is not a Democracy but I also know it is not very representative anymore.
To understand why I feel this way, ask yourself why the EAA encourages proxy voting yet spends so much to keep and add members? Maybe they need more “citizens to pay taxes?” Yes, we all have the option to vote, but we must attend the board meeting held at Oshkosh to do so and why bother since they make it so easy for you to sign over a proxy vote.
Personally, I think this is outrageous! If you were running a membership organization that was built for and by the membership, wouldn’t you be concerned if none of them ever voted for the people who run the organization. And, if you printed a monthly magazine and sent out emails and encouraged members to stand up for issues important to the EAA on a daily basis, wouldn’t you want them involved in all areas of the organization?
Well no, not if you thought you knew best what the members needed. If that was the case, you would only rally the troops when you needed numbers for a project that would keep you in business or when you needed more money to fix all the planes you’ve wrecked in the past few years (NORDO News wished to sincerely congratulate EAA’s maintenance department for getting Aluminum Overcast back in the air).
So how do we think this problem could be fixed? We believe the bylaws of EAA should be changed to reflect the need for a 50% or greater membership vote to confirm any board members. Then when board of directors come up for a vote, there should be an election ballot and envelope delivered inside the current issue of Sport Aviation. Anyone who has a life membership or at least two consecutive years of membership would be eligible to vote this way. The cost would be a little more, but since EAA would certainly start encouraging membership participation I think it would be well worth it. What do you think? | |||||
A Big Welcome To Adventure Pilot Thankfully, Walter Boyd and Bill Strahan, over at Adventure Pilot are real forward thinkers with a desire to make a difference and could see the benefits of a partnership. This means there will now be more benefits to being a NORDO News reader and we will be able to help out the good folks at Adventure Pilot by introducing them to another group of like minded people. The first thing we will offer is an events section. Unfortunately, we could not get the details worked out in time for this newsletter. But, do us a favor and become a member of Adventure Pilot (it’s free) and submit your event. These events will be listed in future NORDO News publications as well as available from our website in the near future. After this service is up and running we have something else very exciting in mind so keep watching for updates and send the guys at Adventure Pilot a note to let them know you saw them here on NORDO News. | |||||
PARTICIPATE IN a Grass Roots Effort A Grass Roots effort is the work of a group of people focused on achieving a goal. Our goal at NORDO News is to "Hold Aviation To A Higher Standard". Numerous other publications exist for reporting aviation news but that's not for us as we want to fill a void by voicing “real” concerns about aviation. Some of these concerns you've heard before, some of them you’ve thought yourself but were afraid no one else agreed, and others are new to you but they'll get you thinking. Whatever the case, they're published here to give them wings. If you enjoy our efforts please read on. We are guessing that each of you know at least one other pilot that would like to see aviation continue for future generations to enjoy. If you do, NORDO News asks would like you to forward this newsletter to a friend and ask them to Sign-Up. Let's grow our group that is focused on "Holding Aviation to a Higher Standard".
Sign up for our FREE e-Pub, click here Be sure to include an email address and name for each person to be added to our subscription list. A welcome letter will be emailed to them along with an easy way to unsubscribe.
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Wittman vs. Whittman
And here is a nice response from Bob Warner of the EAA:
Just like we said before, the people at EAA are always quick to answer any questions or to respond to your concerns. Without your input, how are they to know what you want? | |||||
Several Groups to Visit This Summer
Why was it exciting for us to get this email? It is great to know there are people out there who are not letting gas prices get in the way of them doing what is they love to do most; fly.
But that is not all. When they chose Lee Bottom as one of their stops, they had no idea that the original 70 Knotter is right here in our hangar. It should be a great re-union. If anyone would like to join the group on their journey this summer, contact Gary Mummey at gdmum@core.com. He tells us there are going to be 30 aircraft in the caravan.
We've already had 2 aircraft from this challenge land at Lee Bottom. . . Oh, did I mention this adventure is for those using with Microsoft's Flight Simulator? We are having a virtual cookout and making virtual milkshakes for those spending the night on their virtual tour. If you listen, you can hear this Waco as it makes a low pass to scare off the deer. . .
If your group would like to spend a day, weekend, or longer with us, please contact us. It’s a great place for a gathering, type club event, or just a stopping point on a journey. If we know ahead of time, we can help you arrange for lodging, transportation, cookouts, bonfires, etc. | |||||
Another Great Barn Photo
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Aircraft Insurance and Landing on Grass Runways
As it turns out, we are now highly inclined to believe that any of you who believe you have restrictions against landing on grass do not, those of you who definitely do probably only have restrictions against landing somewhere that is not a runway, and those of you who rent may have a overly cautious FBO that has chosen to restrict you from landing on grass while blaming it on the insurance companies.
If any of you have policies that you are sure restrict you from landing on grass runways, please send us copies so that we can see actual examples and discuss them with insurance agents and underwriters.
Included here are the two most informative responses we received:
Editors Note: Jamie and his wife Shara are both agents for Sutton and James. Their company is one of the advertisers in this edition. Please show your support by viewing their website. It is companies like this that allow us to continue to fund the operation of NORDO News. Although we currently do not use their services, we have been impressed with the conversations that we have had with them and will look to them to help us with insurance needs in the future. www.suttonjames.com
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Kansas City changed to St. Louis on the Map
Well, we intended to change it but as a testament to how busy we are, we had yet to do it when last month’s NORDO News went out. Shortly after hitting “publish,” we began receiving little digital geography lessons from all over the country. This brought us a great many laughs and we have now changed it although we did consider putting Indianapolis over Dwarf, Kentucky just for kicks.
Thanks to all of you who care enough to point out our mistakes and give us suggestions, no matter how funny or tragic they may be. | |||||
What’s Your Problem With The EAA ??? On one hand, my friend with high standards did not see fit to chew me out and even agreed in part with me; but on the other hand, his admission of letting his membership lapse made me very afraid for the future of flight in this country. When diehards start cutting their connections to aviation, we are certainly on a slippery slope. My reaction after thinking it over for a while would now be to tell him to re-join and do everything he could to make his feelings known to those in charge. To give up is just that and I’m not quite ready to do it. EAA has many things to offer pilots and enthusiasts alike and is doing many of the jobs no one else is. Some of the jobs are thankless and others are really thankless. This publication was not created to bash EAA and we want to encourage each of you who might be thinking of dropping out to stay with it and make your feelings known. Give it another year. Do your part to hold aviation to a higher standard and maybe by then they will have listened to you or some other group with a big open life raft will have come along to scoop you up. | |||||
April to Bring Another Work Kamper to Lee Bottom Last year’s work kamper experience was so positive we decided to make it an ongoing program here at Lee Bottom. For those of you who weren’t around last year, “work kampers” are people who volunteer at places of interest like state or national parks (and now airports), in exchange for a hookup for their RV’s. This opportunity provides people, who are usually retired, a chance to see the country and share their knowledge or skills with a place that can use an extra hand. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved. This year’s work kamper, Kit Owens, is going to be with us starting in April. Be sure to say hello and thank him when you fly in. He’ll be doing more to help aviation than a lot of people out there who have a pilot’s license. | |||||
Lee Bottom Family Members In the News
Those of you who remember the Pilatus that came to the fly-in last year may remember Peter Krpata and Glenn Frith. Glenn owns a great little, but rapidly growing, charter operation at Page Field in Florida and Peter is his Chief Pilot. Together they have created a program that was covered in an editorial in last month’s AOPA magazine. The program helps budding pilots get much needed and highly sought after time in turbine aircraft. If you turn to page 42 of the February AOPA Pilot, you can read all about Peter’s efforts to help out the next generation of pilots. www.GoFlyACI.com
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NORDO News To Offer Historic Aviation Products Since our publication is free, every little bit of income helps. So, the next time you need an aviation gift, go to NORDONews.com and click on the for sale button (or click on the icon below) . There you will find a window into Historic Aviation. There is something inside for everyone.
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The Future of Vintage Aircraft This story all started last month when I read a press release from EAA. It basically said, hey we just met with the FAA on all kinds of issues and trust us, we will save you. Naturally, I immediately called EAA to get a transcript from the meeting to see what was said and who said it. When I got to Earl Lawrence, V.P. of Industry and Regulatory Affairs, I had a truly interesting conversation.
Apparently, EAA, a non-profit membership organization, does not make a transcript of meetings nor do they take notes when they meet with the FAA and other organizations when trying to save us from the Feds. Maybe I should make that clearer. After a long conversation with Mr. Lawrence, it was inferred that they do take notes but I could not see them as they will be writing about the meeting in upcoming magazines. Which of course brought my comment, “yeah after they’ve been prettied up and spun but I would like the unfiltered notes that surely you or the FAA are required to keep.” The notes that may or may not exist were refused once again and an agenda for the meeting was all that Earl was able to drum up.
But Earl did try to convince me of EAA’s power by saying that H.G. Frautschy, executive director of EAA's Vintage Aircraft Association division, had been given an IOU by the FAA and that he would be placed in charge of creating the roadmap for continued airworthiness of aging aircraft. Funny thing, on my computer was a paragraph from AOPA that said pretty much the same thing with one of their names on it.
Where was I? Oh yes, when I asked why members were not made aware of this meeting and what I needed to do to make sure I would be invited to the next one, he chuckled and said they do these meetings in secret. If they told members, other people would show up to cause trouble. Apparently there are groups jealous of EAA's relationship with the FAA and they would surely slow the process down. JEALOUS??? Did I really just hear that? People would show up and slow the process down??? What is the rush?? This word gives us another one of those great insights into the current culture of the once grand EAA. You see Earl is not the problem. It is the "District of Columbiaesque" attitude that has taken over at EAA that leads to indoctrinated good people like Earl saying such silly things. JEALOUS??!! How about being tired of EAA taking great ideas and running with them so that they can send out a press release saying “WE saved you” while selling out other groups or the only good parts of the idea? And who comes up with the ideas they keep proposing? It is quite obvious that it is not someone who has thought the issues through logically.
When I asked about another idea, Earl said that they could propose it but the FAA says it won’t get approved. And if the FAA says they will approve it, our political connections say they won’t approve it. Furthermore, if the FAA and our great political connections (that we are all jealous of) approve it, they both say the trial lawyers will kill it. If this is the case, why are they working with these people in secret meetings? This makes no sense to us here at NORDO News.
To get straight to the point, EAA is proposing that parts and items that are not PMA or TSO compliant be allowed on vintage aircraft. This sounds great doesn’t it? Heck, I think it is a fantastic idea but it is not at all new and there is already a system in place to allow such a thing. Ever hear of a 337? I know, you are saying “they are impossible to get,” but keep reading.
Following is EAA’s idea they say is better; “Place your plane into a vintage category that revokes its certification status forever and give up any and all privileges to carry persons or property for hire.” Now as you can see, the FAA will only discuss something when we offer to give up certification rights on aircraft. But hey, they know how to make it sound palatable don’t they?
The FAA has a long standing process for bringing CERTIFIED aircraft back into certification after they have left for whatever reason; it’s called a conformity inspection. But in this case they specifically address the issue by saying that placing a plane in this new aging aircraft category means you will never be able to use a conformity inspection to bring it back into certification (again, just like Sport Pilot). In other words, we at the FAA believe the rules should only apply when we want them to. So now again I ask, why claim it is still certified?
This is another nail in the coffin designed to get vintage planes out of mainstream aviation because the FAA no longer has people on their payroll willing or knowledgeable enough to carry out some of their basic duties - like approving 337s. If they get this rule passed, it will be impossible to get a 337 approved because they will just tell you to convert to the "non-certified certified category" and use whatever you want to keep it in the air. OR put another way; we don’t want to do our jobs but we want you to pay user fees so we can get new equipment and raises.
Not that long ago the folks at EAA proposed a great idea (yes I said it) and if you were to believe what some of them say, a legion of Huns nearly ripped the place apart because they thought it was a bad idea. The problem I see is that I have asked every person I can think of who would would know or remember what that idea was and only one of them even knew it was ever proposed. This is the root of all their problems. The EAA believes whoever they are listening to is the heart of aviation and I can assure you they are not. They may have money, power, or a position at EAA or some other alphabet organization but they are not the heart of aviation. When I asked around about how using non PMA or TSO parts would help people stay in the air, I received many great responses. Here is one of them:
This is a great example of how this proposal would help but notice the person was operating commercially? That would be out the window under the new proposal unless this person could get a waiver. Doesn’t a waiver need a FAA signature????
Finally, I would like to leave you with these thoughts. According to EAA's proposal, you would loose everything of significance that certification gives you over the experimental category but you would still have to pay some “remove and replace mechanic” to maintain it in a certified manner. Furthermore, the FAA is actually saying that if you use old rebuilt parts that are not as safe as modern parts, you can still carry people for hire. But if you put brakes, radios, tailwheels, or other items on your plane that improve safety, you cannot. This is completely illogical and it doesn’t surprise me but even worse the EAA is going along with it. Can someone out there tell me the name of the person they consulted when coming up with these trade-offs? If so, I have a gift for them and I found it on www.DogDoo.com. | |||||
YOUR THOUGHTS . . . The comments, thoughts, and views from the last newsletter were too numerous to print all of them. But, here are a few of those that inspired us. . .
Ginger& Rich; The Nordo News is the one thing I do look forward to seeing on my e-mail. Sometimes I save it for a few days to read at a more leisurely time. I receive it at my office. I think it's a great piece of writing and wonder just how in the heck you get the time to put it all together. . . .
************************************************************ Great Newsletter!!!! You're gonna love this one!!!!! I was thanked for the call and was told that runway allocation was done by computer and that time of day, the 33's were to be used unless the wind increased above a certain value. The tower chief said due to the sea fog which had just moved off and a bit of drizzle, he would say the runway was "wet" and we were allowed to use it!!!!!!!!! Fine bit of information. Also, I found out the Stearman does not like landing with a tailwind, not even a little. Keep up the fine job.......PC ************************************************************ I really love your "tell-it-like-it-is" style, and you've got the credibility to go with it. Keep up the good work. . . . HG
************************************************************ Dear Rich and Ginger, I am a 600 hr. pilot with 500 in tailwheel airplanes. You can just imagine how much I enjoy your newsletter and your airport. Last year was a struggle to get the Luscombe to your fly-in because of the weather but we waited and finally made it. I will always try to make it, because it is a little piece of heaven for a tailwheel pilot. Thanks for a great fly-in , BS
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I can't thank you guys enough for the great work you put in on your NORDO News. You guys say what I (and many others, I suspect) are thinking about general aviation issues and more. . . . . MC
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Rich and Ginger I just finished reading the newest NORDO New, and I just have to say good job. I always looks forward to your news letters and I am always impressed with its content. . . . Keep up the good work with the NORDO News. JM
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I'll give you this: you're consistent! In your misspelling of Steve Wittman's last name that is...
Face it, the EAA is now run by a bunch of yuppies. They have no interest in something old and funky, like Steve's old hangar, unless they can make a buck off it. Glitz is in and the grass roots are long gone there, replaced by "corporate partners."
As for local politics, the majority of Oshkosh citizens feel the same way about EAA'ers as Iraqis feel about the US military, so if news got out that EAA had successfully pressured the city into saving the old hangar, it would have probably resulted in several city council members not getting reelected. Keep up the good work! Soft landings, AG
************************************************************ Hi Rich and Ginger, Thanks for all your hard work with the NORDO NEWS. Every time I turn on my computer and I see the NORDO News, I think very cool. . . .Keep up the good work. Cheers, LJ
************************************************************ Ginger and Rich; I started reading NORDO News at 10:30 p.m. and I have just finished at 11:30 p.m.; not because I'm a slow reader but it's jam packed with "good sense" articles that I can't skip a word. Both of you have been very, very busy with flying and projects and all of us NORDO News recipients get anxious waiting for the next issue so that we can enjoy your adventures. Actually, we're envious, wishing that we could do the same things that you're experiencing. . . . .JN
************************************************************ Hi Ginger, *********************************************************** Ginger...Recieved my 1st issue of Nordo News and enjoyed it very much. You people must be VERY busy ,...but it sounds like a lot of fun also. Oddly enough a local C85 powered Jodel has been stalling out after landing , and has had much fiddling with carburetor etc. to no avail !! Will pass along Rich's article to those concerned . . . Thanks again, DM We'd love to hear your thoughts . . . Email: info@LeeBottom.com | |||||
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Lee Bottom Flying Field Identifier: 64I 7296 S. River Bottom Rd. Hanover, IN 47243 812-866-3211
Time Pieces 7296 S. River Bottom Rd. Hanover, IN 47243 317-501-2773
Contact Us: info@LeeBottom.com
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Here is part of a response we received from last month’s publication. The rest of this response is at the end of this months issue…you don’t want to miss it. We put this one right up front to show we make mistakes like the rest of ’em. Plus we liked the smart ass style of it. Kind of funny isn’t it?
Last month, we mentioned that we hated the fact that the Lee Bottom barn has to come down. It sits too close to the new runway addition and there simply is no choice but to remove it. After lamenting its impending demise, we received several great photos that included the barn and here is the best one of the bunch. Thanks go out to Mike Foushee for this addition to our photo library.
Last month we ran a story about people who think that they have restrictions on their insurance keeping them from landing on grass runways and we ended up with some great responses. 
David and Jan Smith’s aircraft, a Piper Super Cruiser known as Smokey, was recently featured in GA News. The article was about an unexpected reunion at Oshkosh when previous owners from the 50’s stumbled upon the plane on the flight line. The aircraft has a truly unique story as it served as the makeshift air ambulance that saved the bear that went on to be known as Smokey. The current owners became members of our airport family after visiting us during last year’s Wood, Fabric, & Tailwheels Fly-In. They are great people and they have a great plane.
Alan Reber was recently featured in a publication that comes out of England. The article, which he wrote, was about flying his award winning Tiger Moth in freezing temperatures with snow on the ground. The article really said it all about Alan. He flies his aircraft and they never gather dust. I would almost bet he put more time on his Moth last year than all the others in the US combined. 
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