INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Northwest Aviation Conference ..............1 WA Aviation Legislation ..........................1 Omak-Okanogan Airport ........................2 Pearson Airfield .......................................3 Flying Companion Seminar ...................3 Safety and Educations Report ................4 Eastside / Westside Reports .....................5 Fighting for our Airports ........................6 Spokane Chapter Scholarship Winner Pilots Missions ....................................7 WPA Helping Those in Need ..................8 FEBRUARY 2018 - MARCH 2018 President’s Message… Yesterday as The Lovely Mrs. Steed and I were flying to Belling- ham for fish and chips through an unseasonably beautiful January sky, she turned to me and said, “We are so lucky to be able to do this!” George Steed, And I think she WPA President is right. Flying at five thousand feet over Puget Sound is a vantage point not many people have, and the ability to jump “NW Aviation Trade Show and Conference 2018” in an airplane and simply scoot through the skies is a right and privilege not accorded to everyone. We are blessed with an immense Northwest Aviation Conference in Puyallup and established infrastructure that provides By George Steed, WPA President us with runways, fuel, parts, services, air Very soon we will have the opportunity chanics who hold an inspection authorization There is food available at the conference, traffic control, and friends to fly with. Yes, I to meet with hundreds of aviators and avia- must attend periodic refresher training. This Don and June will be handing out apples at the pay taxes and patronize businesses to pay for tion businesses and organizations at the North year there will be 11 hours of instruction, free to Okanogan Area visitor’s booth, and the WPA this but it was here long before I arrived. We West Aviation Conference in Puyallup. Satur- attendees just wishing to obtain the knowledge will be serving light snacks at our annual mem- are very fortunate to stand on the shoulders day and Sunday, February 24th and 25, from provided. Batteries, brakes, fuel cells, magne- bership meeting at 11:30 on Saturday, but the of fore-sighted giants that were here before. 9 AM to 5PM the Washington Aviation Asso- tos, fuel injectors, etc. If you have an interest best chow is later that night. Every year Spen- At the chapter level the WPA’s aim is to ciation hosts the conference at the Puyallup Fair in expanding your knowledge base, check out cer Aircraft hosts a customer appreciation din- enjoy this ability that we have. At the state Grounds. Easy access, free parking, and a min- the schedule of seminars presented by experts ner at their showroom on Thun Field. A family level it is to protect it wherever it is threat- imal $5.00 admission give you access to more in their respective fields. event, there is food, entertainment, and they ened. We carry your voice to Olympia by than 400 booths, speakers, meetings, seminars, Schools displaying programs and testing run shuttles back and forth from the conference attending caucuses and educating legisla- and career forums. Many people fly in for the students, airlines recruiting pilots, vendors sell- grounds. Stop by the Spencer booth for infor- tors. We partner with other aviation organi- weekend, stay at a local hotel, and attend both ing aviation parts, equipment, and related items, mation. zations to expand our message. We educate days because there is too much to see in just one. there is a lot to do. Static displays, publishers, Stop by our booth, too. Introduce yourself local commissions who are unaware of their My favorite activities (besides the WPA travel info, and organizations all compete for to the volunteers manning the booth, and tell us obligations. I want to leave the same clear, and FATPNW booths) are the AI seminars. Me- your attention. Come early; stay all day. your aviation story; I know you’ve got one. free skies, runways, available fuel, obtain- able parts, and joy of flying to my grandchil- dren. I thank you for your membership, your By Rep. Tom Dent (R-Moses Lake) voice, and your assistance in doing that. Aviation Legislative Update DART (Disaster Aviation Response Our short, 60-day 2018 legislative ses- $105 million would be raised and as a result able for purchase. Team) update: We currently have over sixty sion has started out very quickly, and just of the taxes generated by projects funded by There has been a lot pilots from all corners of the state who have three weeks in, we are making progress! The this money, $7.36 million would go back into of positive feedback volunteered to consider assisting in case of Legislature has passed a permanent Hirst so- the general fund biennially. This bill has a regarding the new a regional disaster. We have seen how GA lution and a 2017-2019 capital budget. This is positive impact to the state’s general fund as license plates and pilots in other parts of the country have used great news for the state of Washington. well as our state aeronautics account. as of Dec. 31, 2017 their machines and the freedom of the skies I continue to work on a variety of my House Bill 1656 – creates the Commu- over 564 have been nity Aviation Revitalization Program to ferry essential personnel and materials to own bills. Of course, that includes some avia- sold. The Washing- tion-related legislation. Here is a brief update: At the end of the 2017 session House ton Pilots Associa- stranded communities. I think it only pru- House Bill 2754 – Aviation fuel tax Bill 1656 had still not passed. By rule, it was tion and others have dent to prepare for such disaster when the This bill changes the current distribution reintroduced for the 2018 session. Sen. Jim requested to add sun is shining (figuratively) and thank those of aircraft-fuel-retail-tax and reallocates one Honeyford has a similar bill, Senate Bill 5328 their N-numbers to that have signed up. If you haven’t and would percent of the 6.5 percent total tax revenue to and both are moving forward. You will recall their Aviation Spe- State Rep. Tom Dent like to, send an email to george.steed@ the state aeronautics account. In the past, all this bill would create a loan program known cial License Plate. (R-Moses Lake) gmail.com with a subject line: DART. I’ll 6.5 percent would go directly to the general as the Community Aviation Revitalization The Department of represents the 13th send you a Google Form. When you return fund. House Bill 2754 would take just one Loan Program. It would serve the smaller Licensing (DOL) is Legislative District it, you’ll be on the list. You are never obli- percent of the retail tax and leverage that rev- airports around the state allowing access to working on finding gated, but could consider a call to action. enue through the Federal Aviation Adminis- low-interest loans to fund projects that are not a solution to adding the N-numbers and have Please join us at the annual meeting tration (FAA) Grant Program to fund airport eligible for grant programs such as those that communicated a solution to add N-numbers during the Northwest Aviation Conference preservation projects that generate “direct contribute to economic development. There is by the end of Feb. 2018. in Puyallup. On Saturday, Feb 24, at 11:30 revenue” in the form of sales and business enough support to keep this legislation going. The special license plates can be pur- in Room E, the North Foyer, we will host our and occupation (B&O) taxes. Airport pres- In fact, $5 million was included in the 2017- chased online by visiting: http://www.dol. annual meeting. Reports, awards, and the ervation projects include grant programs and 2019 capital budget for aviation revitalization wa.gov/vehicleregistration/specialdesign. election of new officers will be the agenda, infrastructure projects such as laying pave- loans. I am hopeful we will have the policy html or by visiting your local vehicle licens- along with a light lunch. Come in, sit a spell, ment. The one percent would divert $7.28 bill in law by the end of session to go along ing office. and meet a new friend or two. million from the general fund, along with lo- with the funding. In the future, if you have comments or Whether flying over the stretch and cal funding into the state aeronautics account. House Bill 1400 – Washington aviation ideas for aviation-related legislation please do special license plate (Continued on page 6) By leveraging it through the FAA, another not hesitate to get in touch with me. You may On April 14, 2017, my House Bill 1400 email me at [email protected] or contact was signed into law “creating a Washington my office at 360-786-7932. You may sign up Aviation Special License Plate.” As of July for my email updates by visiting my website 23, 2017, the license plates have been avail- at www.tomdent.wa.gov. ATTENTION ALL READERS! PLEASE CALL YOUR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TODAY AND TELL HIM OR HER Bellevue, WA 98004-9721 WA Bellevue, YOU OPPOSE H.R. 2997, PMB 397, 227 Bellevue Way NE Way Bellevue 227 397, PMB THE BILL TO PRIVATIZE ATC. Washington Pilots Association Pilots Washington THIS IS IMPORTANT! Page 2 - WPA Wings FEBRUARY 2018 - MARCH 2018 Omak Municipal PO Box 72 Omak, WA 98841 Omak Municipal Airport Omak Municipal Airport is three miles North of Omak and is the largest Airport in the Okanogan Valley. The Airport was built in 1942 as an allternate landing strip for WWII. It was turned over to By June and Don Fitzpatrick the city in 1954.