KSGF News
March 2001

President’s Message

Almost Spring. March 7 was an absolutely beautiful day. One of those false starts of spring that even early March can bring. Jess Hudson and I had to be in Jefferson City for a meeting; why not fly? There was a haze layer at 3,500 but visibility still 15 miles or better. The course just southeast of Buffalo, over Camdenton, and Lee C. Fine is getting more familiar, but I still thrill looking down at the Niangua, Lake of the Ozarks, and the Osage. This is to say nothing of the sight of our capitol passing over to KJEF. Jefferson City Flying Service drove Jess and I to the MODOT building and picked us up four hours later. (I haven't been flying all that long so it still amazes me the service we pilots often get for a few gallons of fuel.) I dread five plus hours in a car for a 3 ½ hour Jeff City meeting. The meetings don't seem to be any better, but having the opportunity to fly makes getting there and back a lot more fun!

Speaking of FBOs - Mike Quint and I flew to Waynesville Regional (Forney Field - Ft. Wood) March 4th and found Waynesville City Aviation was selling fuel at $1.95. If you happen to fly into Forney using runway 32, you will also practice flying right patterns.

A recent AOPA electronic newsletter on AOPA's Air Safety Foundation (ASF), reports that the general aviation accident rate continues to decline, with a new record low set in 1999. The article goes on to state "… that a combination of improved technology and pilot education appears to be working. Low-level maneuvering flight and adverse weather conditions were the two largest fatal accident categories for GA pilots in 1999, unchanged from previous years, according to the report. Mechanical and maintenance issues accounted for 15 percent of all accidents, with just under half of those attributable to engine or propeller problems."

Good news, but we need to do our part to make flying even safer. One thing we can do is to complete the WINGS program. Remember that March 31 is the deadline for submitting the WINGS application for 2001. Have you turned yours in?

Safety Online. In the "check this one out category," AOPA and the AOPA Air Safety Foundation have teamed up to offer a lively, interactive online runway safety course that is available free to all pilots. For more, check out: <www.aopa.org/asf/runway_safety/>.

SGF Meetings. Steve Enders provided us a great program during our February meeting. The presentation and tour of the SGF tower afterwards were very informative. Thanks, Steve, for sharing your experiences. We also had the largest turnout for some time. Let's keep the trend going at our March 20th meeting. Hank Haddock, from the Ozark Chapter, and our own, Roger Ferguson, will bring us a program about the PBY Catalina. Both Navy PBY pilots in WWII, they will talk about not only their experiences flying the PBY, but also information about a restoration project on one of the seaplanes. Please join in a good meal, lively sharing of flying tales, and a good program to boot. I look forward to seeing you on the 20th!

February Meeting

This month's meeting is on Tuesday, March 20th, at the Café SGF. Springfield Branson/Regional Airport, Buffet is at 7:00 P.M. Cost is $10.00 per person. Social Hour is at 6:30 P.M. Program: " Hank Haddock and Roger Ferguson will present a program centered on PBY-5 (Catalina) Flying Boats and a one of a kind restoration project now underway.

Calendar of Events

3/29 FAA Aviation Safety Seminar, Cox N Hospital, 1423 N. Jefferson. Fountain Plaza Room 7-9:00pm.
For info, contact Larry G. Harmon at 417-866-0919.

3/31 FAA/MPA Wings deadline for the MoKan competition.
For info, contact Larry G. Harmon at 417-866-0919 or via e-mail

4/8 MPA Board Meeting, 12 Noon Lunch at Bledsoe's Restaurant, Columbia Regional Airport.
Board meets at 1:00 P.M. All MPA members welcome!

NOTE: Contact Larry' for info via e-mail address also: MPALHARMON@aol.com

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