March 2014 - Idaho Aviation Association

Let’s Go to Dug Bar!
Thank you Contributors!
Larry Knox, Lebanon, OR, Big Creek Level
Bob Patrick & Mary Sue Roach, Weiser, ID, Big Creek
Jim Carroll, Warner Springs, CA, Big Creek Level
Andrew George, Eagle, ID Johnson Creek Level
Richard Hartnack, Black Butte, OR, Johnson Creek Level
John Kinevich, Boise, ID, Johnson Creek Level
Ben Gibbs, Walla Walla, WA Johnson Creek Level
Scott Coatsworth, Raymond, NE, Johnson Creek Level
Renewing Corporate Sponsors!
Inter-State Aviation, Pullman, ID
Peterson’s Performance Plus, El Dorado, KS
Bruce “Sparky” Parker, Parker, Wilkerson & Nuxoll, CPAs
FUEL/OTHER DISCOUNTS FOR IAA MEMBERS!
Print your IAA membership card for your wallet, and call:
Western Aircraft
Boise
338-1833
Turbo Air
Boise
343-3300
Jackson Jet
Boise
383-3300
Arnold Aviation
Cascade
382-4844
Aero Mark
Idaho Falls
524-1202
Atlantic Aviation
Hailey
788-7511
Back Country Fuel
Emmett
861-9055
AvCenter
Nampa/Pocatello
866-3740
Reeder Flying Service Twin Falls
733-5920
Rapid Refueling
Caldwell
454-1669
Northern Air Inc.
Bonners Ferry
267-4359
Sulphur Creek Ranch Sulphur Creek
(254)378-7473
West Fork Lodge
West Fork, MT (406)821-1853
More information available at www.IdahoAviation.com
Tell our sponsors “thanks!” when you stop by!
Instructor Listing Now Available
Instructors can now list their services on the IAA website
by going to the "Aviation Resources" page; at the left click
on "Instructor Application". If you are looking for an
instructor, click on "Aviation Instructors". This list is
provided as a service to our members. The IAA does not
specifically endorse those on the list and cannot make any
recommendations.
www.IdahoAviation.com
Please send calendar and editorial submissions to:
editor@idahoaviation.com
Deadline is the 20th of the month
The Flyline is in FULL COLOR online!
Just log on to
www.IdahoAviation.com
Click on “IAA Newsletters”
for past and present newsletters
March 2014
Events Calendar
Mar 6–7 Mission Safety Int’l & Moody Aviation Annual Safety
Event: This 2-day safety event is held at the Moody Aviation facility,
Spokane, Felts Field (KSFF). Seminars cover human factors,
maintenance, cultural issues and security, airmanship. Details and
online pre-registration info at www.FAASafety.gov early Feb. Several
FAA Wings credits available. For info contact Allison Pfening (509)
535-4051.
Mar 8 Moody Aviation Annual IA Renewal Seminars: Moody
Aviation facility, Spokane, Felts Field (KSFF). Seminars cover topics
necessary for FAA IA Renewal. Details and pre-registration info will
be posted at www.FAASafety.gov early Feb. FAA AMT credits
avail. FAA Wings credits may be avail. It is necessary to attend all
the seminars to renew your IA. For info contact Allison Pfening (509)
535-4051.
March 15 Flying Companion Seminar: 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Idaho
Division of Aeronautics, 3483 Rickenbacker St., Boise. For complete
details please see Page 6 of The Flyline!
March 29 Pelican Point Work Party: Will be bladed; push “cupped”
material back to center of runway; Jerry Terlisner (208) 859-7959.
April 5 2014 Idaho Aviation Hall of Fame Induction of William
(Bill) Dorris & Dean Wilson: Red Lion Hotel, Lewiston. No-host
cocktails 5 p.m., dinner 6 p.m., hotel reservations at (208) 799-1000;
banquet tkts Jana Knoll (208) 559-6504; HallOfFame@cableone.net.
April 11–13 Prairie Work Party: Replace fence and repair shelter
(both burned); Gary McElheney (208) 334-8893.
April 19 Emmett Wings & Wheels Fly-in Breakfast: 7 a.m.–2 p.m.,
spot landing, balloon breaking, flour bombing, short field takeoff
contests, show n’ shine antique cars & trucks, fuel at cost courtesy
of Back Country Fuel Stop; Steve Burak (208) 861-9055.
April 26 Pine Work Party: Jerry Terlisner (208) 859-7959.
May 3 Weiser Fly-in: Breakfast by Jerry Terlisner 7–10 a.m.; 2 free
Biennial Flight Reviews will be raffled; Bob Patrick (208) 315-3706.
May 10 Ontario Fly-in Breakfast: Landing contest 7:30–8:30 a.m.;
breakfast 8:30 a.m.; IAA benefit; Roger Smith (208) 739-3979.
May 16–17 Idaho Aviation Expo KIDA Idaho Falls: Aircraft
displays, booths, seminars, IAA General Member’s Meeting &
luncheon; Aero Mark, (208) 524-1202, www.AeroMark.com.
May 24 Warren Pancake Feed: TV Chap.; FOD walk on runway;
Jerry Terlisner (208) 859-7959.
May 31 Carey Fly-in: 7:30 a.m. “Carey-er” spot landing contest,
good food, lots of fun, Paul Olsen (208) 309-2181.
June 14–15 Garden Valley Father’s Day Fly-in: TV Chap., potluck,
BBQ, Jerry Terlisner (208) 859-7959.
June 24–26 Wilderness Within Reach: Joe Corlett (208) 890-1819.
June 27–28 5th Annual Treeport "Steve Rogers" Fly-in & Campout: Treeport airport (ID22) in Spirit Lake, Idaho. The new EAA
Chapter 1554 will host, www.1554.eaachapter.org.This will be the
first year we will judge aircraft in multiple categories including but not
limited to; Amateur-built, Classic, Warbird, and a new category...
"Back-Country"! Two Oshkosh EAA Judges will organize the
th
Treeport judging event which runs noon 27 –noon 28th. Special
awards in all categories;contact: Tom Willis President, EAA Chapter
1554 Inc. KodiakFlyer@Gmail.com.
June 28 Cayuse Creek Work Party: John Stewart (208) 476-4647.
July 5 Cabin Creek Work Party: Jerry Terlisner (208) 859-7959.
July 19 St Maries Annual Fly In Breakfast Fundraiser: St. Marie’s
Airport (S72) 8–11 a.m., $8 suggested donation, contact Tina-Marie
Schultz 208-773-8522 or Carol Koelble 208-245-2914.
President’s Corner
District 2 – Lewiston/Moscow
Kerry Requa
Bill Ables
This month I’d like to focus on
the kinds of behind-the-scenes
work the IAA does to benefit us
all. I plan to keep everyone
informed about important issues
we
are
working
on. First,
everyone needs to understand
that a growing and vibrant
membership is the key to the
preservation of our ability to fly to
our favorite locations. Simply put, the more members we
have, the more clout we have with legislators. Second, our
work with other groups and support of each other is vital
when we are faced with issues detrimental to aviation.
Recently Bill Miller, our VP of Government Affairs,
presented a slide show in support of Senate Bill 1265. We
also had people from AOPA, IAMA, and others who
testified in favor of the bill. Introduced by Senator Lee
Heider of Twin Falls, this issue has been pursued for
several years with little progress. This bill will help protect
airports during local planning and zoning efforts. In the
past, local planners had little understanding of airports and
their various protected zones for approach and departure
areas. In the past, the Idaho Transportation Dept. has had
the duty of providing guidance to local planners. This has
not worked very well; local planning and zoning rarely
included the ITD in the process. In my opinion, most
planning and zoning boards ignored airports in the
planning process. I think they did this out of ignorance, not
spite. Nevertheless, the result has been that communities
have allowed incompatible industrial, residential, or
business developments to encroach upon airports. This
results in complaints about aircraft noise and flights. It also
puts pilots at risk with few options if anything goes wrong.
This bill will not address current problems but may help
prevent future inappropriate development around our
airports. It also recognizes that airports must be given due
consideration in land-use planning and zoning and that as
our communities grow, our airports need to grow with them
in harmony. Think of Boise 50 years ago and now, and you
can see that having properly planned airport/community
growth worked. Aviation must be a vested partner in the
growth of our communities. The IAA’s work to pass SB
1265 is one kind of behind-the-scenes work I want our
members to be aware of. Our work to preserve our airports
and keep pilots flying is not possible without the support of
our members. Remember, the paved strips are important
to us as well as the backcountry ones. We need them all to
be operational for years to come. Thanks to Bill Miller and
the others who testified the Senate Committee moved this
legislation forward. I would also like to thank our senators
for listening and understanding how important this issue is.
We keep you informed on the progress of SB 1265.
Tailwinds,
Kerry Requa
President, IAA
(208) 221-7417
Well, you have to appreciate
consistency in the things we deal
with from day to day. That’s what
Mother Nature has been dishing us
pilots, consistently bad flying
weather for the last 30 days. Here
in NE Oregon, SE Washington and
West Central Idaho it has been
either blowing, raining, snowing, or
doing all three ever since I put
together the last information for the Flyline. OK, maybe
one and a half short stints of decent weather where a
person could possibly get out and fly for a quick VFR flight.
I must have been pretty transparent to Judy. She got
tired of shooing me off to my shop, so she visited our local
book store and bought me a very good book by M.D.
Kincaid called Alaska Justice, about flying Game Wardens
in Alaska. Not quite done with it yet, but so far I’m giving it
thumbs up, as it deals with something dear to me as well
as the perils of backcountry flying up north.
I’m also re-reading Rich Stowell’s Emergency Maneuver
Training book. I’m finding things in there either I didn’t pick
up on during the first read, or maybe I’ve just forgotten
about. I attended Rich’s spin recovery seminar last August
in Cascade and found it to be full of great information. So,
along with re-reading his book, more things are coming
together that may keep me out of trouble during future
flights. I also took advantage of a day of good weather and
went up with good friend and good pilot, Steve Davidson,
and received some very beneficial instrument training
under the hood.
Trust me, the good flying weather will come! Meanwhile,
there are things that we all can do to hone our flying skills;
get a good book and learn from the expertise and mistakes
of others, get some training with a good instructor dealing
with unusual attitudes and flying on instruments, and most
of all keep your better half happy, as she just might
surprise you with a good book about flying.
Don’t forget to put on your schedule the Idaho Aviation
Expo that is being held in Idaho Falls on May 16th & 17th.
Hope to see you there.
Bill Duncan’s new Super Maule at Dug Bar Groundhog Day
Page 2
District 3 – Treasure Valley/McCall
Wayne Thiel
Last month Jim Davies stepped
down after 4-1/2 years as the president
of the Idaho Aviation Association. Prior
to becoming president, he was the
District 3 Director, a position I have
held for the last 4-1/2 years. A lot of
you probably don’t know that he has
been the president of the Idaho
Aviation Foundation along with the IAA
president for the same period of time.
Being the leader of either one of these
groups is a full time endeavor. I can’t imagine doing both at
the same time! His work has helped to bring the two
groups closer together, and, for that, I would like to say
thank you to Jim.
I met Jim 11 or 12 years ago at the annual 180/185 club
fly-in he and Hank Clancy sponsor in Garden Valley every
summer. After a successful Air Force career flying F4’s,
time as an ag pilot, and then 15 years with FedEx flying
727s and Airbuses, he now flies 79Delta, a 1955 Cessna
180 with a P-Ponk 470-50 engine conversion. This takes
him any place he wants to go in the Idaho back country.
My wife blames him for my putting the same engine
conversion in 75Bravo. Jim has even been brave enough
to ride with me into places like Big Bar & Cache Creek.
Jim truly has a passion for flying, unlike a lot of my
friends with similar backgrounds who would never fly one
of “those little Cessnas” down in the bottom of a canyon
and land on a one-way strip with a mountain at the end. I
would like to thank Jim for all the work he has done for us
in the Idaho back country!
On February 1, I flew with a couple of friends with “short
wing Pipers” to Owyhee Reservoir where we determined
(from the air) that Pelican Point strip was too muddy to
land on. We continued south up the reservoir to NSN, a
non-official landing spot we have used for many years. It
was a beautiful day on the Owyhee and my two friends
Scott and Shan’s first time there. I’m sure they’ll be back.
On February 2, I picked up Bob Patrick in Weiser and
joined Jim Davies and Tom Boyer in the air on our way to
Dug Bar. Bob and I felt good that we saw 18 mountain
goats and a large herd of elk on our way down the canyon.
At Dug Bar, Bill Ables joined us along with 3 more aircraft
from Joseph/Enterprise and 2 from Moscow/Pullman. We
had a total of 9 aircraft, 15 people and 2 dogs. We drank
coffee and roasted hot dogs. The temperature was in the
low 50’s with almost no wind. What a beautiful day. This is
the kind of impromptu fly-in I like!
I have spoken with several McCall area pilots who would
like to have some organized fly-in or work party events this
summer. If you are interested, Mike Weiss has volunteered
to help out with this. Give Mike a call at 208-340-3484 with
your ideas and suggestions.
Fly safe,
Wayne Thiel, N4775B
208-890-8866
WThiel@idahoflyer.com
Groundhog Day at Dug Bar — photos by Wayne Thiel
Alan & Alanis Bobo
Tom Boyer’s “Ellie” and her Mutt Muffs
Message to members from Bill Miller, VP Gov’t Affairs:
Recently, I was contacted by Idaho Senator Jim Risch’s
office. They would like to know if any Idaho pilots have
been stopped by Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) or
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel.
This is an issue that AOPA has been working on.
If you’ve had any such trouble, please contact me at
MillerWilliamC@cableone.net.
Page 3
District 6 – Idaho Falls/Salmon
Mike Hart
The planning for the Idaho
Aviation Expo in Idaho Falls is
underway.
This
year,
Lori
MacNichol will return with her
popular mountain flying classes.
This year will also feature Friday
presentations by Rich Stowell of
McCall, Idaho. Stowell was just
named the National FAA Safety
Team Representative of the Year for 2014. Also known as
the spin doctor, Stowell specializes in spin, emergency
maneuver, and aerobatic training. He is an eight-time
Master Instructor and 2006 FAA National Flight Instructor
of the Year. We are working on a waiver to allow an
aerobatic training and practice demonstration over the
airfield in Bob Hoff’s Stearman. More tradeshow details to
come.
On the home front in Idaho Falls, the newly elected
mayor recently requested citizen volunteers to join a
committee to make recommendations on city functions
including the airport. The first committee meeting was this
week and the committee is well represented by GA pilots.
It should be an extremely productive and engaged group.
Even closer to home, my 180 just got a top-end overhaul
with 6 new cylinders and new engine monitor. The break-in
flight was tough to squeeze in. First, sub zero weather,
followed by IFR winter storms, followed by rain. Eventually
it was possible to get the old bird up. So far, so good.
Message to Eastern Idaho Chapter of the IAA:
As members of the IAA, we formed a chapter to create a
more social group of pilots and aircraft owners, but we
really haven't done much in terms of meetings. The
solution has been to join forces with EAA Chapter 407 and
see what we can do. EAA 407 has meetings, poker runs,
breakfasts, fly-ins, and Young Eagles events. IAA will
continue to host the Idaho Aviation Expo. Hopefully there
will be more than enough events to be both social and
effective. The first event will be “Women Fly It Forward” at
the Idaho Falls airport on the morning of March 8,
designed to encourage women to join the flock of aviators.
This event is in concert with the World Women in Aviation
celebration. For more information contact Dale Cresap,
520-8631, DCresap@gmail.com.
That is all for now.
Mike
Editor’s Note: Intrigued by the poster photo above, I
asked Thomas Hoff of Aero Mark for its history.
The photo was taken between 1946 & 1948 by Bob
Arentz, probably at Big Creek. The Staggerwing’s owner,
at left, was Bill Woods, who had a flying service and
airstrip near Boise called Floating Feather. He operated 2
Staggerwings: the one above, a D17A, and the one now
owned by Bob Hoff, a D17S. He also had a Stinson TriMotor and other aircraft. The D17A had a smaller Wright
engine; the D17S a larger Pratt & Whitney. Only eight
D17As were built. Until recently, only one was thought to
exist: the one above. It currently sits under the wing of the
Spruce Goose at Evergreen’s aviation museum. The
wreckage of another A-model was recently discovered in
Australia. It is significant, as it spent 1940–41 on an
expedition in Antarctica. It is currently undergoing a
restoration.
The 4th annual Idaho Aviation Expo will be held Fri &
Sat, May 16–17, 2014. The Expo will feature new and
vintage aircraft, parts and avionics, clubs and associations,
workshops and speakers, in Aero Mark's 30,000 sq. ft. XL
hangar at KIDA. Held in conjunction with the Idaho
Aviation Association's Annual Meeting, the expo is open to
everyone interested or involved in general aviation. Last
year's show featured over 40 exhibitors and new aircraft
displays! Admission $10 at the door, or free for Idaho
Aviation Association members and students, and includes
all workshops and both days of the expo. If you have any
questions about exhibiting at, or attending the Idaho
Aviation Expo 2014, contact Thomas Hoff at
info@AeroMark.com or 208-524-1202.
Page 4
NW Aviation Conference & Trade Show
Crista Worthy, Editor
If your Flyline arrives a bit late this month, it’s due
partially to February’s short 28 days, but also because I
spent Feb. 22–23 in Puyallup, Washington for the NW
Aviation Conference & Trade Show. Your Idaho Aviation
Association had a great-looking booth manned by Jerry
Terlisner, Steve Burak, and Nadine Burak. Many of the
thousands of aviation enthusiasts who attended stopped
by to learn about Idaho’s backcountry airstrips and how the
IAA helps keep them open and in great shape for pilots.
The IAA signed up new members and sold a lot of t-shirts,
books, charts, and other items.
The Idaho Aviation Foundation (IAF), a separate
501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization that raises
money for and distributes it to a variety of aviation-related
causes, had its own booth. Jim Davies, Larry Taylor,
Colleen Back, and Kayleesa Alwine all worked the IAF
booth, describing the projects the IAF has funded, and
building awareness and raising money for their current
major project, rebuilding Big Creek Lodge. Kayleesa is a
14-yr-old young lady who wants to become a pilot. Her
enthusiasm was infectious and she proved to be a
valuable member of the team.
As Flyline Editor and Managing Editor of Pilot Getaways
magazine, which frequently publishes stories about
backcountry destinations, I was invited by the IAF to give a
pair of seminars during the conference about “Idaho’s
Beautiful Backcountry Fly-in Lodges”. Colleen Back
prepared an excellent slide show as accompaniment and
then told the audience about the Big Creek re-build efforts,
which are proceeding along quite well. The seminars were
well-attended, particularly on Saturday when it was
standing-room-only, a testament to the allure of
backcountry flight. Lots of people would like to fly into the
backcountry, but would prefer to stay in a nice lodge rather
than camp outside—fortunately, Idaho has plenty of both!
We also talked about the importance of having the right
training and information before your flight, which in this
case includes Galen Hanselman’s Idaho Aeronautical
Chart and his book Fly Idaho! The book sold out at the IAA
booth after the second seminar; both are available at
www.IdahoAviation.com/store.php.
You can find CFIs on the IAA’s “Aviation Resources”
menu www.IdahoAviation.com/instructors.php.
After delving into some of the safety issues involved in
canyon flights like rising terrain, box canyons, density
altitude, winds, and one-way runways, I shared updated
information about Sulphur Creek Ranch, Flying B, Root
Ranch, Upper Loon’s Diamond D, B-Bar-C, Temperance
Creek, West Fork Lodge, Greene Valley Retreat, and a
few more. If you would like to learn more about these
ranches, check next month’s Flyline for information on
IAF’s “Backcountry Fly-in Lodge Reference Guide” and
how you can get one.
Aviation trade shows, expos, and fly-ins are always such
a fun way to spend a day. You get to see and touch
products you may only have read about in an aviation
magazine, from the latest avionics to beautiful custommade wood instrument panels. It’s a convenient place to
pick up the latest FAR/AIM or the kind of specialized
aviation book you could only find in a place like this. But
the best part is meeting people: I especially enjoyed
meeting and visiting with Nick and Christina Hanks of
Hanks Aero Adventures. What they do is pretty close to
the top of my bucket list: A self-fly safari over Africa,
complete with game drives, gourmet food, and luxury
tents. A bit closer to home, Kevin Psutka, the president of
the Canadian Owners & Pilots Association, informed me
that COPA has finally been able to get the grass airstrip at
Jasper opened again. This gem has been labeled
“emergency use only” for many years. So if you visit the
Canadian Rockies this summer, you can camp at the strip.
Better yet, stay at the fabulous Fairmont Jasper Park
Lodge and they’ll pick you up at the strip after you land.
Idaho’s own Aviation Expo is coming up soon; don’t miss
your chance to meet a bunch of interesting aviation folks or
win a prize at the IAA General Meeting and Luncheon.
Nadine & Steve Burak with Jerry Terlisner at the IAA booth
Kayleesa Alwine & Colleen Back at the IAF booth
IAA Member 2014 Nat’l FAASTeam Rep of the Year
Rich Stowell of McCall was recently named the National
FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year for 2014.
Stowell, who specializes in spin, emergency maneuver,
and aerobatic training, is an eight-time Master Instructor
and 2006 National Flight Instructor of the Year. Stowell will
be recognized at an official awards ceremony in July
during the annual AirVenture fly-in in Oshkosh, WI.
Page 5
Contacts
Flying Companion Seminar
State President Kerry Requa
221-7417
Vice Presidents:
Bill Miller—Gov’t Affairs/Scholarships
853-8585
Larry Taylor—Agency Liaison
855-0261
Jerry Terlisner—Activities
859-7959
Doug Culley—Membership/Scholarships
861-6926
Joe Corlett—Communications
336-1097
Dave Rigby—Awards
343-1985
Nadine Burak—Secretary/Treasurer
861-9056
Directors:
Director-at-large Jim Davies
859-5537
Dist #1 Don McIntosh
691-9839
Dist #2 Bill Ables
(541) 263-1327
Dist #3 Wayne Thiel
890-8866
Dist #4 Kerry Requa
221-7417
Dist #5
Dist #6 Mike Hart
528-7672
FLYLINE Crista Worthy
(310) 560-7324
editor@IdahoAviation.com
Do you want to know more about flying in an airplane?
Do you want to know how to assist a pilot on a flight? This
is the seminar for you!!
The Flying Companion Seminar is designed with the
non-pilot in mind. Our goal is to help you become more
comfortable in light aircraft and be able to have FUN! It will
give you an understanding of how the airplane flies, why it
stays in the air, AND reveal the secrets of what the pilot is
doing! This ground school-only course is packed with
information and activities to help you enjoy flying more.
Topics
include
Aerodynamics,
Basic
Cockpit
Instruments,
Navigation
and
Chart-reading,
Communication, Handling an Emergency, and much more.
Includes hands-on tour with a real airplane!
When: Saturday March 15 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m..
Where: Idaho Div. of Aeronautics, 3483 Rickenbacker
St., Boise, ID 83705
Advanced registration highly recommended - only $45
before March 5th. ($50 after March 5th) Lunch is included
(donations accepted). Don’t delay. Register TODAY!
You’ll be glad you did!
For more information, please contact:
Beth Shannon beth_terry@msn.com (208) 880-5084 or
Jan Peterson - janpeterson08@gmail.com (208) 867-0962
Idaho Ninety-Nines - online at www.idaho99s.org
Mail $45 check payable to 'Idaho Ninety-Nines' to:
IDAHO NINETY-NINES, 3701 W. Ambrosia Lane, Kuna,
ID 83634
Many Thanks to Jim Davies
Crista Worthy, Editor
I first met Jim Davies at Garden Valley in July of 2010.
The occasion was the International 180/185 Fly-in that he
and Hank Clancy sponsor there each year. Galen flew me
in to the event so I could meet the new IAA president and
discuss how Pilot Getaways, the aviation travel magazine I
write for, could help get the word out about the IAA. Jim
suggested we publish an article about IAA work parties,
which we did. As Jim often says, work parties are the IAA’s
signature events. During his tenure Jim has successfully
steered the IAA forward, work parties and all. Since
moving to Idaho in 2011, I have had the privilege of
helping the IAA through The Flyline. I’d like to thank him
for his years of service and welcome Kerry Requa as our
new president. Make no mistake; Jim will remain an active
force in Idaho aviation. I haven’t spent as much time with
him as many of you have, but I have learned two things
about him: He’s extremely intelligent, and a man of few
words. He won’t waste your time with meaningless chatter.
(Indeed, excess chatter on 122.9 is one of his pet peeves.)
But when he does talk, people listen, because they know
they’ll be hearing something worthwhile. Best to you Jim;
here’s to fresh snow under your skis!
Jim Davies departs Dug Bar Feb 2 in search of snow for his skis
Bill Ables photo
Airport Land Use Legislation-SB1265aa
Bill Miller, VP Government Affairs
Updated March 8:
On March 6, the Idaho House unanimously passed SB1265aa; it had been unanimously passed by the Senate
the week before. The bill now heads to the Governor’s
desk for his signature and will become law July 1. IAA
President Kerry Requa testified in support of the bill, as did
VP of Gov’t Affairs Bill Miller and others. Many thanks to
you and the IAA Board for your important work on this
issue!—Editor
Background:
This year, the IAA supported a bill in the Idaho Legislature
that will ensure proper planning and zoning of local
airports. For three years, IAA has worked with the Idaho
Airport Management Association, consulting engineers, the
associations of cities and counties, and key legislative
leaders to craft this proposal. Now ‘airports’ will be
required by law to be listed as a specific item in Idaho’s
land use planning. This law will require every community to
prepare a Comprehensive Plan. The bill was sponsored by
Twin Falls pilot Senator Lee Heider, and will ensure that
airports are included when these local Comprehensive
Plans are developed. Finally, after two prior sessions, we
now have hit the target!—Bill Miller
Page 6
Idaho Aviation Hall of Fame Induction
Joe Corlett
On April 5, 2014, William Henry “Bill” Dorris and Dean W.
Wilson will be inducted into the Idaho Aviation Hall of
Fame.
The event will take place at the Red Lion Hotel in
Lewiston, Idaho. No-host cocktails begin at 5 p.m.; dinner
at 6 p.m., followed by the ceremony.
Banquet tickets are $45 each +3% for credit card orders.
Cutoff date for banquet tickets is April 1.
Send check or credit card number with expiration date
via email or regular mail to HallOfFame@cableone.net or:
Jana Knoll
11335 W Southerland Ct
Boise, ID 83709
(208) 559-6504
Joe Corlett has provided biographies of the two inductees
below—Editor.
William Henry “Bill” Dorris
Bill Dorris was born in 1921 in Roundup, MT. He began
flying at 12. Bill and his brother George built a Pietenpol in
their father’s shop that Bill “accidentally” soloed. They both
taught themselves to fly. Although Bill had much flying
time, he did not get his pilot’s certificate until he began
training as a Naval Cadet in 1942. In WWII he served in
the Marine Corps, flying PBYs in the south Pacific. After
the war he served in the Marine Reserves and rose to the
rank of Major. Bill studied engineering at Cal State, San
Luis Obispo and Montana State. He was a crop duster for
Lynch Air Service in Montana and then worked at Boeing
in Seattle. In 1952 Bill came to Idaho where he took a
position with Idaho Fish and Game. He developed a fish
hopper for aircraft that was used to stock mountain lakes.
After 13 years he left Fish and Game to join Johnson’s
Flying Service in McCall, ID. There he flew mail, people,
and supplies in and out of ranches in the then “Idaho
Primitive Area”. In 1976 Bill started his own McCall Air Taxi
service which he operated with two of his sons, Mike and
Pat, until he passed away in 2000. The service flew mail,
and contracted with the US Forest Service and Idaho Fish
and Game for flight services into the central Idaho
mountains. He flew many smoke jumper, medical, rescue,
and search missions. He had commercial, single, and
multi-engine, land and sea, flight instructor, and aerial
applicator ratings. From 1982–92 Bill was a vigorous
advocate for keeping the “Big Creek Four” and Wilson Bar
Idaho backcountry airstrips open. He wrote many letters
and worked with the Idaho congressional delegation to
oppose the US Forest Service’s efforts to close the strips.
Dean W. Wilson
Dean Wilson has been a pilot, airplane designer, and
builder for several decades. He was born in 1935 in
Clarkston, WA just across the border from Lewiston, ID.
His pilot training began at 13. He did his mechanics
training at 17. Through his career, he became a certified
flight instructor, multi-engine pilot, and glider pilot. In 1954
his interest in building and designing airplanes began
when he built a hang glider from plans. In the late 50’s,
Dean’s interest turned to designing airplanes. In Eagle, ID
he designed and built the prototypes for the Eagle
agricultural plane. It was produced by a company he
formed and eventually built about 100 airplanes. Dean next
designed and developed the Avid Flyer. The Flyer is a
family of single engine, high-wing, light aircraft designed
for kit construction. Its several variants sold in large
numbers. The Flyer was a popular design that evolved to a
half-dozen variants and is still being produced by several
companies 40 years later. Dean’s next project was to
design a larger amphibian aircraft meant to fly to the North
Pole. One of these larger aircraft was the Explorer, which
was essentially a flying camper. His last design was the
four-place Ellipse, of which only four were built, probably
due to the complexity of its construction for homebuilders.
In 2010 he was a major contributor to a replica of the
Herring Curtiss Pusher for the Idaho Centennial of Flight, it
being the first airplane to fly into Idaho. Dean’s honors
include an EAA Homebuilders Hall of Fame Inductee in
2010, 1998 recipient of the Dr. August Raspet Memorial
Award for outstanding contribution to the design of light
aircraft, 1983 EAA Best New Design with the Avid Flyer,
and Grand Champion Antique Aircraft Association for the
restoration of the 1916 Avro 504K.
Book Review: Cubs to Bonanzas
Crista Worthy, Editor
As Bill Ables mentioned in
his District 2 column, the
weather at this time of year
can be glum for days or
weeks. Pilots in need of a
pleasant read will enjoy the
new book Cubs to Bonanzas
by Richard A. Komm, an
80+-year old pilot who took
up flying at age 15. From his
first flight in a Piper Cub to
his current Bonanza (thus
the title), Komm, a retired
psychologist, shares the joys
and sorrows of 65 years of
flight. As Komm’s life moves
from one decade to the next, he must juggle career, family,
and travel, and find a way to pay for it all both in money
and in time. Readers will travel with Komm as he crisscrosses the continent from Nova Scotia to the Florida
Keys, Mexico, the Pacific, Alaska, Canada, and across the
American heartland. The accounts will help non-pilots
understand some of flying’s risks as well as how they can
be mitigated. There are enough technical lessons that
pilots will enjoy the book, but Komm’s life lessons apply to
all. With the perspective of hindsight the author examines
how our society has changed and illuminates both the past
and the future of personal aviation. Komm holds a
commerical pilot certificate for both single and multi engine
aircraft as well as instrument and glider ratings. Now 81,
he still flies his aircraft out of his home base in Phoenix,
flew to Oshkosh in 2013, and is an active member of the
UFO Club (United Flying Octogenarians, a club reserved
for those over 80 who still fly as pilot-in-command). $15.99
on Amazon.com or visit www.CubsToBonanzas.com.
Page 9
1951 Cessna L-19 Bird Dog
See this plane and more Idaho and Montana aircraft.
www.AircraftExchangeNetwork.com
Call Steve 406 529-1601
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Page 11
Idaho Aviation Association
PO Box 2016
Eagle, ID 83616
The FLYLINE
March 2014
The Monthly Newsletter
of the
Idaho Aviation Association