Presented By: 

John Bales, Director of Aviation for St. Louis County, Chief Executive for SUS, Airport Commissioner STL.  At age 16 he soloed at SUS.

Want to know more about Spirit of St. Louis Airport (KSUS)?

John will be speaking about the past, present, and future of this great airport.  Spirit has an annual economic impact of $400 million and is home to businesses that employ approximately 3,000 people.

John is the current Director of Aviation for Spirit Airport.  His father was a WWII veteran and a Captain for Ozark Airlines.  John soloed at Spirit on his 16th birthday.  He has served as an Airport Operations Specialists at Lambert (KSTL) and became only the second Director of Aviation for St. Louis County in 2007.

In addition to serving as the Director of Aviation at KSUS, John is an Airport Commissioner at KSTL, and Missouri State representative for the Great Lakes Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).  The Great lakes Chapter includes 12 Midwstern States and 2 Canadian Provinces.  He is a Founding Board Member for the Greater St. Louis Aviation Education Foundation, and former President of both the Missouri Airport Managers Association and the Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association (GSLBAA).

When:  Wednesday May 16, 2012

Where:  Maryland Heights Community Center

Dinner:  6:30 Program 7:30 P. M.

We meet at Maryland Heights Community Center, 2344 McKelvey Road, Maryland Heights, MO 63043. The doors open at 6:00 and the buffet line begins at 6:30 followed by the program at 7:30. It is not necessary to dine with us to attend the program at 7:30 p.m. We are a friendly and informal group, and we do ask that you make dinner reservations by the Monday evening preceding the meeting. Cost of the meal is $15.00 for dinner reservations call Jean Murry at 314-469-3541 or email Donna.Crandell@StaplesPromoProducts.com

First Flight:  Is your son, daughter, or grandchild interested in aviation?  Our Jim Byrnes First Flight Scholarship pays for an introductory flight with an instructor at a Metro St. Louis Airport.  Applicant must be at least 16 yrs old and submit a short essay on why they are interested in aviation.

Upcoming Events

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AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

Presented By:  Patti Brown, Air Traffic Controller at MDH, CPS, STL, and Private Pilot.

When:  Wednesday April 18, 2012

Where:  Maryland Heights Community Center

Dinner:  6:30 Program 7:30 P. M.

We meet at Maryland Heights Community Center, 2344 McKelvey Road, Maryland Heights, MO 63043. The doors open at 6:00 and the buffet line begins at 6:30 followed by the program at 7:30. It is not necessary to dine with us to attend the program at 7:30 p.m. We are a friendly and informal group, and we do ask that you make dinner reservations by the Monday evening preceding the meeting. Cost of the meal is $15.00 for dinner reservations call Jean Murry at 314-469-3541 or email Donna.Crandell@StaplesPromoProducts.com

First Flight:  Is your son, daughter, or grandchild interested in aviation?  Our Jim Byrnes First Flight Scholarship pays for an introductory flight with an instructor at a Metro St. Louis Airport.  Applicant must be at least 16 yrs old and submit a short essay on why they are interested in aviation.

Upcoming Events

See the Upcoming Events page

Presented By:  Colonel Sean Fagan – Commander of the North Central Region of the CAP.  He is responsible for operations in 7 states, 4236 personnel, and 54 search & rescue aircraft.  He is a St. Louis native and serves as a Captain in the Florissant Police Dept. He is the recipient of many awards, commendations, and medals. 

When:  Wednesday March 21, 2012

Where:  Maryland Heights Community Center

Dinner:  6:30 Program 7:30 P. M.

We meet at Maryland Heights Community Center, 2344 McKelvey Road, Maryland Heights, MO 63043. The doors open at 6:00 and the buffet line begins at 6:30 followed by the program at 7:30. It is not necessary to dine with us to attend the program at 7:30 p.m. We are a friendly and informal group, and we do ask that you make dinner reservations by the Monday evening preceding the meeting. Cost of the meal is $15.00 for dinner reservations call Jean Murry at 314-469-3541 or email Donna.Crandell@StaplesPromoProducts.com

First Flight:  Is your son, daughter, or grandchild interested in aviation?  Our Jim Byrnes First Flight Scholarship pays for an introductory flight with an instructor at a Metro St. Louis Airport.  Applicant must be at least 16 yrs old and submit a short essay on why they are interested in aviation.

Upcoming Events

See the Upcoming Events page

Presented By:  Chris Erkmann, MD,CFI, Glider Rating,  C-182 Owner.  Chris will discuss his recent participation in Operation Smile in Guwahati, India, January 2012.

When:  Wednesday February 15, 2012

Where:  Maryland Heights Community Center

Dinner:  6:30 Program 7:30 P. M.

We meet at Maryland Heights Community Center, 2344 McKelvey Road, Maryland Heights, MO 63043. The doors open at 6:00 and the buffet line begins at 6:30 followed by the program at 7:30. It is not necessary to dine with us to attend the program at 7:30 p.m. We are a friendly and informal group, and we do ask that you make dinner reservations by the Monday evening proceeding the meeting. Cost of the meal is $15.00 For dinner reservations call Jean Murry at 314-469-3541 or email Donna.Crandell@StaplesPromoProducts.com

First Flight:  Is your son, daughter, or grandchild interested in aviation?  Our Jim Byrnes First Flight Scholarship pays for an introductory flight with an instructor at a Metro St. Louis Airport.  Applicant must be at least 16 yrs old and submit a short essay on why they are interested in aviation.

Upcoming Events

See the Upcoming Events page

February 2012

The annual MACTS Seminar was held on 1-21 & 1-22 at the Maryland Heights Centre. We furnished coffee, donuts and mini bagels for the event. I am proud to say that our Chapter had 25 members present for the Seminar.  Thanks to: Don Kramme and Harold Booher for their hard work and excellent coffee making skills. I would remiss if I did not thank my husband, Bob Crandell, for all of his help and support.

Gloria Bahn, the president of the Greater St. Louis Flight Instructors Association, and Dave Pressey both Gateway members, were gracious enough to allow me to speak to the group at the beginning of the Seminar.  I invited everyone to join the Gateway Chapter and explained the importance of State Aviation Day. Several applications were handed out and renewals were paid by a few members.  I consider this to be one of the best events we have in the aviation community.  The speakers are always top-notch and the vendors are supporting all of general aviation.

Of course, I have volunteered the Gateway Chapter to do it again in 2013.

On a sad note, we lost one of our members that weekend.  Matt Martin passed away.  He will be missed. Matt was a kind, quiet, Gentleman in the true sense of the word.

On to new things:  We have speakers in place for the rest of 2012. Please plan on attending the monthly meetings and bring a friend.

If you can, be sure to come to Jefferson City on March 27 for State Aviation Day.  General Aviation needs all of our support. Please read the MPA news for more updates.

Please mark your calendars for the convention:  6-9-2012 in Boonville.

A big thanks to Steve Pierce for adding the links to our website.

That’s it for now,

Respectfully,

Donna Crandell

OPERATION SMILE

Presented By:  Chris Erkmann, MD,CFI, Glider Rating,  C-182 Owner.  Chris will discuss his recent participation in Operation Smile in Guwahati, India, January 2012.

 When:  Wednesday February 15, 2012

Where:  Maryland Heights Community Center

Dinner:  6:30 Program 7:30 P. M.

We meet at Maryland Heights Community Center, 2344 McKelvey Road, Maryland Heights, MO 63043. The doors open at 6:00 and the buffet line begins at 6:30 followed by the program at 7:30. It is not necessary to dine with us to attend the program at 7:30 p.m. We are a friendly and informal group, and we do ask that you make dinner reservations by the Monday evening proceeding the meeting. Cost of the meal is $15.00 For dinner reservations call Jean Murry at 314-469-3541 or email Donna.Crandell@StaplesPromoProducts.com

First Flight:  Is your son, daughter, or grandchild interested in aviation?  Our Jim Byrnes First Flight Scholarship pays for an introductory flight with an instructor at a Metro St. Louis Airport.  Applicant must be at least 16 yrs old and submit a short essay on why they are interested in aviation.

DON’T MISS THE MACTS SEMINAR:

“Super Safety Seminar for the 2012 Midwest Aviation Conference and Trade Show (MACTS).”
Topic: MACTS Super Safety Seminar
On Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 9:00 AM
Location:
Maryland Heights Centre
2344 McKelvey Road
Maryland Heights, MO 63043

Description:
The Greater St, Louis Flight Instructors Association presents the 2012 Midwest Aviation Conference & Trade Show.  We have many exciting programs planned for the entire weekend including an expanded Saturday MACTS Program.  Lots of WINGS pilot proficiency program credits offered for attendees.  Visit http://www.macts.org/ and youtube by searching MACTS 2012 Promo.

To view further details and registration information for this seminar, click here.

Upcoming Events

See the Upcoming Events page

CHRISTMAS PARTY with Chinese gift exchange.

When:  Wednesday December 21, 2011    

Where:  Maryland Heights Community Center

Dinner 6:30  Program 7:30 P. M.

Please come an celebrate with us.

Please make your reservation by phone to : Jean Murry  314-469-3541  or send me an email.

We will have the Chinese Gift Exchange $10.00 gift.

Hope to see you all there.

Happy Holidays.

Donna

We meet at Maryland Heights Community Center, 2344 McKelvey Road, Maryland Heights, MO 63043.  The doors open at 6:00 and the buffet line begins at 6:30 followed by the gift exchange at 7:30.   It is not necessary to dine with us to attend the program at 7:30 p.m. We are a friendly and informal group, and we do ask that you make dinner reservations by the Monday evening proceeding the meeting. Cost of the meal is $15.00  For dinner reservations call Jean Murry at 314-469-3541 or email Donna.Crandell@StaplesPromoProducts.com.

Upcoming Events

See the Upcoming Events page

AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE

Presented By:

Bill Hopper – Owner Helicopter Services and Technologies, LLC, Helicopter Flight Instructor 25 years, former Associate Professor Parks College – Aerospace Technology Department.

When:  Wednesday November 16, 2011    

Where:  Maryland Heights Community Center

Dinner 6:30  Program 7:30 P. M.

We meet at Maryland Heights Community Center, 2344 McKelvey Road, Maryland Heights, MO 63043.  The doors open at 6:00 and the buffet line begins at 6:30 followed by the program at 7:30.   It is not necessary to dine with us to attend the program at 7:30 p.m. We are a friendly and informal group, and we do ask that you make dinner reservations by the Monday evening proceeding the meeting. Cost of the meal is $15.00  For dinner reservations call Jean Murry at 314-469-3541 or email Donna.Crandell@StaplesPromoProducts.com.

Upcoming Events

See the Upcoming Events page

We are looking for a volunteer to mail printed copies of the newsletter to those who do not have email. Are you the one? If so, contact Donna Crandell.

From the August 2010 Meeting

Jeremy Cox introduced us to the newly formed St. Louis Aviation Forum. The Forum aims to bring together all parties which are interested in aviation in the St. Louis metro area.

The Greater Saint Louis Air & Space Museum is holding its annual golf tournament on Saturday, October 2 at Grand Marais Golf Club in Centerville, IL (in the Frank Holden State Park). Cost is just $50 per person.

St. Claire airport needs traffic. It may close. Fly there!

Smartt airport will hold an open house September 25-26.

The next Missouri State Aviation Day will be in March 2011. MPA has already committed to it. Do plan on attending and inviting your legislator(s) to attend, too. This year, Donna simply emailed her legislator and mentioned that she would be there. The legislator came by.

State MPA will print new address books soon. Send updates and corrections to Sharon Vaughn.

The 2011 MPA Annual Convention will be in a hangar at Grand Glaize-Osage Beach Airport to reduce costs. The day will probably include a pancake breakfast followed by meetings and wrap up with a catered dinner. The 2010 convention costs were over $500 per couple, which was simply too expensive. It will probably be the second Saturday in June 2011.

The October MPA State meeting will be a fly in at Rebel’s Bluff airport, outside Mt. Vernon, MO. It is a grass strip but you can also land at Mt. Vernon and they will pick you up. The fly-in will be from 11:00 to 3:00 and the MPA meeting from 1:00 to 3:00.

MPA State has created a task force to look at revitalizing the whole organization. Don Crandell is on the task force. Talk to him (or Donna) if you have any ideas! The goal is to get members to come back to the meetings. Rosters look good but meeting attendance is down and people are dropping out. We need ideas that are different from what we are doing now.

Presentation on the Commemorative Air Force

FIFI B-29 Superfortress

Craig O’Mara, operations officer of the Commemorative Air Force – Missouri Wing, gave us an overview of the CAF. The CAF is largest warbird operator in the world with about 150 planes. Including FIFI, the only flyable B-29 Superfortress, and the only flying SB2C Helldiver. The CAF’s mission is to keep memory of the WWII pilots alive.

The Missouri Wing flew their B-25 to the Doolittle Raiders reunion at Wright Patterson. The Air Force had resurfaced the old Wright field just for the reunion. Seventeen B-25s flew in formation at the reunion, perhaps more than had flown together since WWII. It was truly impressive.

If you want a ride in a warbird, getting involved with the CAF can be one of the least expensive ways to do it. The museum at Smartt Airport is open Saturdays 8:00 to 3:00 or 4:00 and sometimes on Thursdays, too. The public is always welcome. Please do come look at the planes.

Two of the wing’s planes are flying, the B-25 and TBM. In addition, they will have their L-3 will be flying soon.

The CAF’s annual hangar dance is set for Saturday, September 18. Come celebrate with 700 or 800 of your closest friends (and friends-to-be). There will be lots of costumes and the 26 piece brass band Sentimental Journey. Cost is $15 in advance, $18 at the door.

Next Meeting

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, September 21 at 6:30pm at the Columns Banquet Center.

Dave Pressy, Chief Flight Instructor and Chief Pilot at St. Charles Flying Service, will discuss Light Sport aviation. Dave presented the FAASTeam Light Sport Seminar in the fall of 2009. He was also the GSLFA New Flight Instructor of the Year 2007.

Upcoming Events

Also see the Upcoming Events page.

Our monthly newsletter is back, after a “brief” hiatus. Send submissions to Art Zemon. We are looking for a volunteer to mail printed copies of the newsletter to those who do not have email.

From the June 2010 Meeting

Elections were held and the new board (which is the old board graciously joined by member-at-large Rosemary Petrusso) was unanimously approved.

In July, we will try a joint meeting the the St. Louis chapter. We will meet at Air Associates at Spirit of St. Louis airport. The food will be catered by the Pilot Shop.

There will be an airshow July 3 & 4 at St. Louis Downtown airport. Both the EAA and the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum will have food. There will be lots of airplanes on static display along with thrills and chills in the air. This is the first time that Fair St. Louis has had an airshow since 2005. There are more details in the St. Louis Business Journal.

EAA chapter 32 (at Smartt field) has movie night on the last Saturday of each month and visitors are welcome. Festivities start with a pot-luck dinner at 6:30pm (and BBQ meat if you bring a small donation). Movies are projected on a BIG screen and start at about 8:30pm in the summer. The movies on Saturday night, July 26 are Memphis Belle and Memphis Belle, first the documentary from 1944 and then the movie from 1998. More details are available on EAA 32′s web site.

Next Meeting

Our next meeting will be Wednesday, July 7 at 6:30pm at Spirit of St. Louis airport, Air Associates, 18600 Edison, Chesterfield, MO. This is a joint meeting with the St. Louis MPA chapter. Phone your dinner reservations to Jean Murry at (314)469-3541 or email Donna Crandell.

Upcoming Events

Also see the Upcoming Events page.