INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Lake Aero FBO at Chelan Municipal Airport ................... 2 WPA 2014 Annual Retreat ................. 3 AOPA Fly-Ins: Great News & Big Changes ................ 5 Pearson Field Education Center Honored ................................... 5 2014 State Airport Adopt-an-Airport .. 6 Award Winning Maintenance Team ... 6 WPA Logo Clothing ............................ 7 Calendar of Events .............................. 8 April-May 2014 President’s Captain Tyler Voss and Message… the Completion of his RV-8 By Marian Heale Two big meetings within 30 A large number of aviation enthusiasts days! I’m referring to our General in the Spokane area, both military and Membership Meeting on Saturday, nd civilian, have traveled a difficult road this February 22 followed by the past year since the tragic death of Capt. WPA Annual Retreat on March nd rd Tyler Voss and the members of his C-135 22 and 23 . crew, Capt. Victoria Pinckney and Tech. The Northwest Aviation Sgt. Herman Mackey III. Conference and Trade Show Tyler joined Spokane’s EAA 79 in in Puyallup was a success with June 2011. For those who spent a lot of time attendance numbers up over last at the EAA Clubhouse, rapidly becoming year. Our WPA booth was VERY known as the Aviation Event Center with crowded on Saturday. My thanks offices for WPA and EAA, Tyler became Les Smith, to all of those who volunteered a very familiar and friendly face. He was to staff the booth throughout the WPA President at the clubhouse almost every night the weekend. During the course of the last few months of his life working hard show, we saw WPA new membership and renewal numbers to install a new panel and other upgrades grow by twice what they did last year. During the Puyallup in his RV-8. event, the Washington Pilots Association held our Annual When word came that indeed the pilot General Meeting. We recognized the significant contributions who had been killed in the KC-135 accident Tyler Voss’s Flag-Draped RV-8 at Felts Field of some key individuals for their efforts this year with our over Kyrgyzstan was Tyler, those who had Annual Awards. come to know him and call him friend at Felts Field were stunned. Through the Bernie Lyman Award – Jim Flynn (for his work in military and civilian memorials and the building and supporting Green River Chapter) missing man formations flown at Felts Field Pilot of the Year – George Futas (for his efforts this and elsewhere, area pilots have watched year on behalf of Paine Field) and wondered at this activity that is held so Right Stuff Award – John Townsley (for a successful dear. Flying can exact a mighty toll on those conclusion to a night time engine failure) drawn to the dream, and yet the rewards continue to tug pilots on toward the sky. Thank you and Well Done, to each of you! Tyler’s mom and dad, Wayne and Marcy Voss of Borne, Texas along with Elections were also held and the following state Tyler’s brother who is attending Texas officers were instated, including: A&M and his sister who attends the Massachusetts Institute of Technology East Side Vice President – Norm MacPhee came to Spokane to attend the various Airport Affairs Director - Mr. Tom Jensen memorials and to collect Tyler’s personal Safety & Education Director - Mr. Ken Davies effects. When they met people at Felts Membership Director - Mr. Frank Hummel Field who had so enjoyed getting to know and as President - yours truly. Tyler, they went out of their way getting to know pilots at the Aviation Event Center The Board members work for and with you toward the and throwing a “Texas Style Bar-be-que” goals of the WPA. We want to work with you to advance the for his friends. interests of General Aviation in the state of Washington. We are all best served when we work together towards that goal. (Continued on page 4) We were also fortunate to have Mark Baker, President and Memorial for Three Fallen Airmen with Tyler on the Left CEO of AOPA visit our meeting and share his thoughts on the issues that are on the minds of aviators here and nationally. Mark also brought along some of his staff; Greg Pecararo, VP Government Affairs and David Ulane, Northwest WPA Legislative Director Report – Mountain Regional Manager. Mark’s visit exemplifies the partnership that exists between AOPA and WPA that is so helpful in addressing both State and National issues. I am also Chelan Annual Board Retreat appreciative of the opportunity to join Mark, his staff, and other aviation association leadership from California, Oregon The Legislature is out Senator Annette Cleveland, 49th district Represents part of Clark County including part of Vancouver. and Alaska for dinner. It was a great opportunity to share of session. We were able to (D) thoughts and ideas on growing general aviation, protecting advance a couple of aviation Rep. Mark Hargrove (R) 47th district Represents part of southeast King County including part of Kent, related pieces of legislation. Covington and Auburn. airports, and local and national advocacy issues. Rep. Dave Hays (R) 10th district Represents all of Island County and part of Skagit and Washington State Snohomish Counties, including the cities of La Conner, Oak As for the recent WPA Retreat, look for an article Harbor, Coupeville, Langley, Stanwood and part of Mount elsewhere in this issue in more depth. This is an annual Aviation Caucus – This group Vernon. came together with the push of 15th District Represents part of Yakima County including Selah, Moxee, opportunity for the state and chapter leadership to gather, Senator Jim Honeyford, (R) Wapato, Toppenish, Zillah, Granger, Sunnyside, Grandview and review our accomplishments and strategize the coming year. Les Smith and Dave Ulane, (co-chair) part of Yakima. the current list is included. 14th district Represents Skamania and Klickitat Counties, and part of Clark We were joined by Tristan Atkins, Director of the Aviation Rep. Norm Johnson, (R) and Yakima Counties, including North Bonneville, Stevenson, Division, WSDOT, along with a member of his staff, Senior The Caucus is comprised of White Salmon, Goldendale, Tieton, Naches and part of Yakima. Planner Rob Hodgman. Also joining us was David Ulane, member of both chambers and Rep. Brad Klippert (R) 8th District Represents the northeast part of Benton County, including from AOPA. Attendees agreed that the meeting was very both parties. More members Richland, West Richland and Kennewick. will be beneficial, so work with Rep. Drew McEwan (R) 35th District Represents San Juan, and part of Skagit and Whatcom counties beneficial for all and that it was energizing – an important including Anacortes, Burlington and part of Bellingham and Mount aspect for our leadership in an all-volunteer organization. your own State Legislators to Vernon. educate and encourage them Rep. Dean Takko (D) 19th District Represents Pacific and Wahkiakum Counites and part of Cowlitz, We are excited for the AOPA Fly In announced for Lewis, and Grays Harbor Counties including Westport, Aberdeen, August 16 at Felts Field in Spokane. It’s a great opportunity to join. Cosmopolis, Montesano, Raymond, South Bend, Long Beach, SB6059 – Senator Ilwaco, Cathlamet, Longview and part of Kelso. to showcase one of our great airports here in Washington. It Rep. Gael Tarleton (D) 36th District Represents part of Seattle: Magnolia, Briarcliff, Queen Anne, Honeyford drafted a bill, Lawton Park, Ballard, Fremont, Greenwood, Loyal Heights and (co-chair) Sunset Hill. (Continued on page 4) commonly referred to as the Met Tower Bill, which reflects what about ten other states have done with regard to the MET Tower Washington Pilots Association PRSRT STD issue. Recall that the FAA requires marking of towers over 200’ AGL and MET towers are less than th PMB 397, 227 Bellevue Way NE U.S. POSTAGE 200’. It passed on March 6 and delivered to the Governor’s desk on March 13 for his signature. SB5430/ESB5430 – This bill was introduced in the Senate and would redirect the Aviation Bellevue, WA 98004-9721 PAID Excise Tax revenue collected from the General Fund to WSDOT-Aviation. These dollars can then Permit #5 be leveraged significantly toward airport projects. This bill creates an easy and painless way to Snohomish, WA enhance public safety through aviation infrastructure improvements. It was passed out of Ways and Means, then passed by the Senate Rules Committee, then passed by the Senate, and then it moved on to the House. On March 13th the House Finance Committee returned the bill to the Senate Rules Committee for a third reading. We have work to do with regard to educating the members of this committee and the House on the merits of this piece of legislation. Fortunately, we have received (Continued on page 4) ������������������������������������������������ ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� Page 2 - WPA Wings April-May 2014 ������������������������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������ Chelan Municipal ����������������������������������������������������������������� PO Box 2871 Chelan, WA 98816 �������������������������������������������������������������������������� Lake Aero FBO at Chelan Lake Chelan Airport serves as a genreal purpose multiuse airport catering to recreational users, ����������������������������������������������������������������������agricultural spray planes and helicopters, medical transports, charter flights and periodically fire suppression activities by the Forest Service and Department of Natural Resources.