Chairman's Corner By Darrel Pittman Do you ever wonder how the "North Dakota Aviation Council" (NDAC) keeps coming up with these out­ standing programs each year? The answer is diligence and hard work (lots of hard work) by a group of dedi­ cated volunteers. This year the "Upper Midwest Avia­ tion Symposium" (UMAS) was just that: outstanding. The council led by past Chair­ man Kirby Hahn deserves a great deal of appreciation The United States Navy Flight Demontration Squadron, the "Blue Angels" will highlight the Fargo and thanks. Air Show, June 8-9, 2002 at Fargo Hector International Airport. The training sessions were successful and our speakers Fixed Base Operation Changes, were notable. Gary Ness gave me the extreme pleasure Consolidation Begin to Make Impact of introducing our FAA Great Lakes Regional Director, Felt Across State .cecelia Hunziker. She has a Changes in Fixed Base Op­ long-time Bismarck avionics Sweeney indicated that general aviation background erator (FBO) ownership and repair facility, Way Point Avi­ changes in local economics and has done a great job de­ operations, common in other onies, who had served the drove the sale of Valley's as­ fending GA since coming to parts of the United States, region as a major source of sets and Way Point. Sweeney her Chicago office. Thanks have begun to have their im­ avionics work for many pointed out that the econo­ Cecelia for attending our pact felt in North Dakota. At years. Way Point had opened mies of scale had allowed for symposium. the end of the last year, Fargo a small Fargo facility in the costly duplications of assets The Council elected me as Hector International Airport late 1990's and had long been to be alleviated by the con­ your Chairman for the up­ FBO Fargo Jet Center began a major regional player in the solidation. coming year. In doing so, a consolidation of operators avionics field. The same pri­ Where there had previ­ they have entrusted me with with the purchase of neigh­ vate owner had owned both ously been 11 fuel trucks at the responsibility of keeping bor and business competitor Way Point and Valley Avia­ Fargo Hector, there are now Valley Aviation in Fargo. tion for some time. five. Fargo Jet is now offer- that outstanding tradition Concurrent with that pur­ In an interview with the Continued on page 2 chase was the acquisition of Quarterly, Fargo Jet's Jim Continued on page 4 They are excited and plan­ From The Editor: ning to work with the coun­ Letters to the Andrew Niemyer, Editor-in-Chief cil to make it a memorable North Dakota Goodbye, farewell and North Dakota aviation has event. amen: It has been a real done, is doing and will do The tentative schedule is Aviation Council: privilege to serve the last in the future. for a four-day affair, starting few years as the editor of the After 12 years here on the on Saturday the l"of March, Thank you, NDAC, for North Dakota Aviation Quar­ high plains, my family and and running through Tues­ terly. Because of the chance I have made a tough deci­ your fantastic spouses pro­ day the 4th of March. Satur­ afforded me by the North sion and will be moving gram at the recent aviation Dakota Aviation Council, I east to the shores of the "big day and Sunday would be symposium. It was interest­ have had the unique oppor­ water," Lake Superior, this fun days, celebrating avia­ ing, educational, fun and tunity to meet an amazing summer. The Minnesota tion and touring the facilities positively uplifting. variety of hard working, and Wisconsin aviation at UND's CAS. We had the "Hat Lady," dedicated people from all communities, while bigger, We've elected Dan "Candle Makers," "Dr. Scott corners of the state and will not be the "family" that Kasowski as your Vice Chair­ Mcfall, hypnotist," and a tour across the nation who have exists here. While I will en­ man; he is in charge of the of the Harris House and Five taken the time to discover joy the chance to meet new UND aircraft maintenance Nations Art Studios. We're looking forward to the amazing diversity that is people, make new friends department. Dan will also next year's program. Thank the face of aviation in North and discover new places to head up our coordinating you. Dakota. get $100 hamburgers, the committee for GFK. Few people outside our close-knit aviation commu­ Sally Pfeiffer Those who were at the industry realize how vital nity of North Dakota will Spouse Program Attendee aviation is to our state's eco­ always have a very special Symposium know we hon­ nomic and transportation place in my "personal log­ ored Andy Niemyer for his dedication as the editor of the infrastructure. It is very im­ book." NcJrth DaIrAIIa AvIation Qumerly portant that each of us, be Dan Vigesaa will take the "Aviation Quarterly". Well, 0IIidal1'lllllll:aticl oIlhe we applicators, air taxi pi­ helm of the Quarterly, start­ Andy and his bride are mov­ NorIh DIIraIa AvIatIon CoundI lots, flight instructors, FBO ing as soon as you receive ing away. He will be giving I!dIlor/I'llblllber: Andrew NIemyer owners, maintenance tech­ this issue. I know everyone OlT to our new Quarterly edi­ Phme (701) 328-9650 NorIh Dakota Aviation Council nicians or airport mangers, who reads this will enjoy tor on this issue. Our new BoaId Members Ol/a.! get the word out about the Dan's insights and ideas. editor's name is familiar to role aviation plays in the The Quarterly will continue us all. Yes, he is none other DIne! ~_'''''_'H''''''''''' 0Iabman day-to-day life of our com­ to grow and thrive under than that famous pilot for the Don ~ NDPAMAIVioe 0Iabman munities and the state as a his guidance. I wish him, Roger PfI!iIfer H ...H ..H.H .............. Secretory North Dakota Governor, Dan whole. What we do here is the Council, and everyone jlmLawler ..... _ ......... MND/1NoIunr Vigesaa. Welcome back to reflected across the nation in North Dakota aviation Bill Towle ... H ......................._H ..... MND the council, Dan. Does the and the world. North Da­ the very best of luck, and as Randy Amtad ............................... NDPA kota aviation and its prod­ anyone who has called me Governor grade you better Tom KenviJIe .................................. NDPA ucts, be it human, mechani­ knows, "Mayall your land­ than Gary, Fred and me? P...tAdams ....... _ ...................... NOAA cal and even biological, ings equal your takeoffs." The NDAC is made up of Oint R.ocIniJIpn __................ H NOAA spread everywhere around Best wishes, the various aviation groups CameIOn WIIchor .H.. H ....H_ NOAAA our planet. We should look Andrew S. Niemyer, in North Dakota. It is the Joel tIMbberger ..................... H .. NOAAA with pride upon what Editor-in-Chief desire of every council mem­ MIke DeVrIes ..................... H .... NDPAMA ber to serve your interests. MidIoeI Gunia ............ _ .............. NDFP WiDIam Stnmer ._...................... NDFF Chairman from page 1 Get in touch with your rep­ resentative and convey your Don !.anon ....................... _ ........ Dl'AM going. You've heard me council has voted unani­ DanoI Schroeder ........................... DI'AM thoughts to the council. make this statement before. mously in favor of Grand Gary Neoa ................. H. NO Aero. Comm. Remember, file your flight As an air traffic controller I Forks for 2003. To properly plan for GFK in March of North Dakota Aviatloo Quarterly am honored to be a viable celebrate the 100-year anni­ 2003. We are planning a great Published January 15, AprIl 15, part of the North Dakota versary of aviation we July 15, October 15 celebration for your enjoy­ aviation arena. The new needed to have more hangar ment. Send Adc1n91 Changes To: council and I will do our best and ramp space for aircraft North DaIaIta Aviatlaa QaarIedy "CLEARED FOR TAKE­ CIO Dan VigeIaa to keep that outstanding had a meeting displays. We OFF." P.O. Box 5020, symposium tradition alive. at UND with Bruce Smith, Bismarck. NO S8502-502O Darrel www.ndac-org That being said, the sym­ Dean of the "Center For E-mail: posium for 2003 needs to be Aerospace Science" (CAS). dvigesaaOBtate.nd.us a very special event. Your FROM THE DIRECTOR'S CHAIR Editor Andy has informed ads. Additional funding is By Gary Ness, Director, us that he not only will be being sought from compa­ ND AerolUlutical Commission leaving the Quarterly he will nies involved with agricul­ be moving his family to tural aviation. NDAAA The 2002 "Gathering of Duluth, MN. Good-byes are President Tim McPherson, Eagles" has come and gone. always hard, but to say so along with a committee set The aviation community has long to a AVIATOR is the up for that purpose, is doing met again, taking the time to hardest. Best of luck, good the leg-work on the project. share the good and the rest buddy, keep the power up in If you are interested in be­ with counterparts from all the turns. coming a sponsor; would like comers of the state. When I Have a good spring and more information; or maybe walked around the exhibit keep the greasy side down you have some ideas - we hall on Sunday night, I and the nuts tight. would like to hear from you. couldn't help but be amazed This time of year the excite­ at the amount of material ment begins to grow for' crop available that represented so memoration events. If this NDAAA dusters' as we look forward many facets of the industry.