IN THIS ISSUE President’s Letter Page 3 Articles Page 17-1 Vice President’s Letter Page 4 Letters Page 52-57 Secretary/Treasurer’s Letter Page 4-5 In Memoriam Page –57-58 Local Reports Page 5-17 Calendar Page 60 Volume 21 Number 4 (Journal 703) April, 2018 —— OFFICERS —— President Emeritus: The late Captain George Howson President: Bob Engelman………………………………………....954-436-3400…………………………………….………[email protected] Vice President: John Gorczyca…………………………………..916-941-0614……………...………………………………[email protected] Sec/Treas: John Rains……………………………………………..802-989-8828……………………………………………[email protected] Membership Larry Whyman……………………………………...707-996-9312……………………………………[email protected] —— BOARD OF DIRECTORS —— President - Bob Engelman — Vice President — John Gorczyca — Secretary Treasurer — John Rains Rich Bouska, Phyllis Cleveland, Cort de Peyster, Ron Jersey, Walt Ramseur Jonathan Rowbottom, Leon Scarbrough, Bill Smith, Cleve Spring, Larry Wright —— COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN —— Cruise Coordinator……………………………………..Rich Bouska………………. [email protected] Eblast Chairman……………………………………….. Phyllis Cleveland .................... [email protected] RUPANEWS Manager/Editor………………………… Cleve Spring ........................... [email protected] RUPA Travel Rep………..…………………………….. Pat Palazzolo ................... [email protected] Website Coordinator………………………………….. Jon Rowbottom .................... rowbottom0@aol,com Widows Coordinator…………………………………... Carol Morgan .................. [email protected] Patti Melin ....................... [email protected] RUPA WEBSITE………………………………………………………..…………..…….http://www.rupa.org —— AREA REPRESENTATIVES —— Arizona Hawaii Phoenix Road Runners……Ken Killmon.. [email protected] Hawaiian Ono Nene’s…………………………….Larry Becker Tucson Toros………...Randy Ryan…[email protected] [email protected] California Big Island Stargazers……………………...Linda Morley-Wells Dana Point…………...Ted Simmons….. [email protected] Linda Morley-Wells……………….. [email protected] Los Angeles South Bay………………………. .Sharon Crawford Beth Ann Raphael……………………... [email protected] [email protected] Illinois Monterey Peninsula………………………… Phyllis Cleveland Greater Chicago Area Group [email protected] Bob Helfferich…………………. [email protected] SAC Valley Gold Wingers.John [email protected] Dick Kane……………………………... [email protected] San Diego Co…………Mark Mayer.. [email protected] The Joe Carnes RUPA Group San Francisco Bay-Siders’.Larry Wright…[email protected] Walt Fink…………………………[email protected] San Francisco North Bay...Bob Donegan…[email protected] Nevada San Fransico East Bay Ruparians………………………………... Las Vegas High Rollers…..Andy Anderson - [email protected] Neil Dahlstrom [email protected] Reno’s Biggest Little Group…………..Gary Dyer - Lyle U’ren Rich Bouska [email protected] Gary Dyer ………………………………[email protected] The FAT Flyers…….………….Paul [email protected] Lyle U’ren……………………………… [email protected] Thousand Oaks…….Denny Fendelander [email protected] New York Colorado New York Skyscrapers…Pete Sofman…[email protected] Denver Good Ol’ Pilots…………………………….Tom Johnston Ohio Tom Johnston……………[email protected] Cleveland Crazies………………….Phil [email protected] Stanley Boehm………………………[email protected] Oregon Florida The Columbia River Geezers—Ron Blash—Tony Passannante N.E. Florida………………..Lowell Johnston [email protected] Ron Blash……………………………….. [email protected] The Ham Wilson S.E. Florida Gold Coast Tony Passannante………………[email protected] October thru April,…….........Lyn Wordell & Ned Rankin Lyn Wordell …………………………….. [email protected] The Intrepid Aviators of Southern Oregon Ned Rankin…………………………….. [email protected] Bob Niccolls……………………………[email protected] May thru Sept.………............Jim Morehead & Art Jackson Washington Jim Morehead …………………[email protected] Seattle Gooney Birds...Henry P. [email protected] Art Jackson…………………………….. [email protected] Washington D.C. Area S.E. Florida Treasure Coast Sunbirds…………...Bob Langevin Washington D.C……..E.K. Williams [email protected] [email protected] Williamsburg, VA………Jim Krasno [email protected] S.W. Florida………Gary Crittenden……[email protected] Tampa……...Matt Middlebrooks…[email protected] RUPANEWS (USPS 017-562) is published monthly for members for $25 per year by the Retired United Pilots Association, 1104 Burke Lane, Foster City, CA 94404-3636. Periodicals POSTAGE PAID at San Mateo, CA and additional mailing offices: POSTMASTER: Send address changes to RUPANEWS, P.O. Box 757, Stowe, VT 05672-0757 2 April 2018 RUPANEWS President's Letter I know that John wrote in his VP letter about the death of Gina Montalto, murdered in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, FL. She was the daughter of United Captain, Tony Montalto. Our own Captain, Dan Petrovich, still an active United pilot, represented the ALPA Critical Incident Response Program (CIRP) and did everything he could to help Tony and his family during this trying time. My hat’s off to Dan for doing something that I know had to be difficult. You may have seen the photo on the news of all the airline pilots lined up, in uniform, at the memorial service. That was an impressive display of compassion and brotherhood. There were over a hundred airline employees, of many airlines, lending support for the family. One of our newest members pointed out something I’d neglected to think of. Many of our recent RUPA additions came to us from Continental, or as they say at UAL, “legacy CAL,” and did not cross their picket lines. Some were strikers who eventually returned to CAL after the picket lines came down, and some flew for PEOPLExpress (PEX) or New York Air, and refused to cross OUR picket lines as fleet-quals, remaining at those carriers for much lower pay. They later were absorbed into CAL and came to United with the UAL- CAL merger. We owe that group our gratitude and admiration for their integrity. One college friend of mine, a Navy F-4 driver, was a striking CAL pilot who got hired by PEX and flew the 747 there. When Lorenzo took over PEX, he immediately quit, telling me he would not fly for that man, and he never flew again. During my furlough in the early 1980s, I flew at PEOPLExpress, so I know many of that group, and I’m especially glad they’ve joined us. That new RUPA member also reminded me that, until Lorenzo, Continental was a great airline, and that he was proud to have flown for United until his recent retirement. While I know many of the ex-PEX pilots, I don’t think I’ve seen any update letters from them, and I’d sure enjoy knowing how they’re doing! Welcome to the following new RUPA members: Captain Steve Allen (DCA) Warrenton, VA / Captain Mats Carenback, (ORD) Inverness, IL Captain Brian Florence (active DCA) Leesburg, VA / Captain Barry Fuller (DCA) Gore, VA Captain Charlie Grba (IAH) Lutz, FL./ Captain Kathleen Harrigan (EWR) Key Largo, FL Captain Steve Minarik (IAH) The Woodlands, TX / Captain Dave Nelson (IAH) College Station, TX Bruce Piverotto (ORD) / Captain Paul Wilson (IAH) Highland Village, TX Captain Dave White (ORD) Plano, TX We’ve had more and more members in TX join us. From RUPA Secretary/Treasurer Captain John Rains, “Dave (White) said he was starting up a DFW chapter. Wishing those guys the best and hoping they know we’re here to help!” Thanks Dave. This is great news. I’ll end with a personal note. I’ve bored you before with photos of my 1967 Corvette roadster. My club, The Sting Rays (’63- ‘67s) had 31 cars at the best show in South Florida on March 4th. We also had a mini-RUPA meeting there, with Captains Bob Senderoff, Mike Warde, Rick Valdes and Dan Kurt (who’s a member of the club) join us there. We had a great time and, best of all for us pilots, the burgers and dogs were free! BTW, the cute blonde in the photo is my first, and current, wife, Diana, a former Air Florida flight attendant. Happy Spring! Bob April 2018 RUPANEWS 3 Vice President's Letter It is with such great sadness that I also have to add my condolences for the loss of Gina Rose Montalto who is the daughter of United Captain, Tony Montalto. Gina lost her life in the tragic shooting that occurred in Florida. This has deeply impacted her family, the United community and, of course, this country. I have found it extremely interesting that the airlines are having a difficult time recruiting and finding the right candidates for pilot positions. This is not only happening in this country, but throughout the world. In fact, there is serious consideration to a single pilot operation within the commercial aviation industry. I am not sure that would provide any amount of confidence in the flight crew by the passengers. And now, there is a college in Denver that has a partnership with United to train prospective pilots. It is fascinating how the pilot hiring environment has changed dramatically in the past 30 to 40 years. With regard to the active employees at United, I was very happy to hear that the CEO is taking some time to reconsider the Quarterly Operations Incentive Program. They will begin a series of listening sessions in order to receive feedback as a new program is structured. Let's hope it works out for the active employees. Lastly, I would like to personally compliment Cleve Spring again for the wonderful RUPANEWS magazine that he organizes each month. The articles that he publishes about the various groups around the country are always so fascinating. We at RUPA always enjoy anyone sending a missive about themselves. It does provide a certain degree of entertainment. My biggest feedback is how much our retired group enjoy those articles. I have also found tremendous value in the medical articles that Cleve always includes. As I attend the various luncheons, I hear so much about the various ailments we are all experiencing. Regardless of the aviation background we all share, it does appear to be a main topic of conversation. My best to you all and stay healthy! Still Flying High, John Gorczyca Secretary Treasurer’s Letter Thank you for the opportunity to serve as Secretary Treasurer of RUPA. It’s been almost a year since there was an “advertisement” in RUPANEWS for someone to take the job of Secretary/Treasurer.