January 7, 2025
This is the semimonthly email newsletter from the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 54 of Lake Elmo, Minn. If you have difficulty reading this information, view it on the chapter website. Unless otherwise noted, all events occur at the Chapter House, at the south entrance of Lake Elmo Airport off Manning Avenue. Find fly-in and drive-in information here.
Collision avoidance in the traffic pattern
There's a lot to take in when entering a busy traffic pattern as more pilots flying in the East Metro can attest. Lake Elmo and South St. Paul, both with active flight schools, often find full patterns. And downtown St. Paul has plenty of corporate traffic. So, the Saturday January 4, 2025 session of the Chapter 54 Saturday Open House and Wings seminar was (comparatively speaking) pretty well attended. On the first Saturday of each month, we feature an expanded program thanks to the resurrection of the so-called "VMC Club," provided by EAA Oshkosh. It's a 4- or 5-minute "what if" video followed by a short discussion (I'd eventually like to have a CFI lead these discussions. Volunteers?), and then an expanded EAA webinar from its archives. The "What If" video doesn't provide an answer. That's up to those attending. In this month's scenario, a student pilot is heading back to home base, encountering a busy pattern, an overworked controller, and another plane in the windshield. What would you do? Read more >>
Upcoming Open House topics:
Saturday January 11 - Upset recovery training. Brian Lloyd, a CFI specializing in spin and Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT), discusses how we can better understand how our airplanes work in order to avoid a loss-of-control in-flight (LOC-I) and to recover if the unimaginable happens.
Saturday January 18 - Steve Lasday reviews the human factors topic of the startle effect, its causes, mitigation measures and technologies. He’ll present information gained from his experience as a CFII and more recently as a Senior Feeder Flight Safety Specialist.
Saturday January 25 - (tentative) Common homebuilt and maintenance mistakes. Presenter is DAR Vic Syracuse. This is part of the EAA Homebuilders Week presentations.
Question of the Month
You’re planning a VFR cross country flight in your 1977 Cessna Cardinal RG, which does not have a Minimum Equipment List (MEL). As you’re taxiing out for departure, you notice that the turn coordinator is inoperative (red flag showing). Can you legally fly the airplane on this flight with the turn coordinator inoperative?
John Ostrem: Aviation by the Numbers
Pilots often say we “fly by the numbers. " Here are some interesting numbers about our industry, especially general aviation. With 680,000 pilots, and 1.1 million jobs generating $246 billion annually, we are an economic powerhouse creating a driving force in the economy. Aviation is especially suited to promote the movement of people, freight, ambulance, search-and-rescue, traffic monitoring, firefighting, and law enforcement. In fact, one of five law-enforcement agencies have one or more fixed-wing or rotorcraft aircraft as part of their fleet, and there are over 1,500 aerial applicators in the agricultural industry. The medical industry benefits with fixed-wing aircraft moving 150,000 patients annually, and helicopters transporting an amazing 400,000 patients. These medical flights employ 4,400 pilots, 600 doctors, 5,500 nurses, 5,300 paramedics and EMTs. Read more >>
Schanks takes on calendar duties
Bill Schanks Jr., has agreed to assume the role of fly-in calendar coordinator for the chapter. The EAA 54 website provides two calendars: one is for chapter business and one is for regional fly-ins that might be of interest to pilots. Both calendars can be found under the "Events and Program" tab on the website, although the fly-in calendar is usually only visible around fly-in season. Members and other area pilots who have events and fly-ins they'd like to add to the calendar should send details to Bill at events@eaa54.org. The chapter is deeply indebted to Paul Hove, who started and maintained the service.
New frequency for AirlakeThere's an effort underway to get a dedicated CTAF frequency for 21D to reduce the radio chatter in the pattern. But Airlake Airport in Lakeville is going first. The FAA has announced that as of February 20, 2025, the CTAF frequency at KLVN will change to 122.975 from the present 123.0. The move will eliminate chatter and confusion from KULM, KAEL, and KMCW. It's also a good time to remind pilots of best-practice guidelines for radio work at non-towered airports. In addition to beginning a call with the airport you're referring to, wait a beat after your message and repeat the airport name at the conclusion.
Chapter Board of Directors in lightning round
Perhaps owing to the bare achievement of a quorum, the EAA Chapter 54 Board of Directors completed January's work in quick fashion on January 6. Board members Marlon Gunderson, Jay Schrankler, Emma Hanson, Ed Trudeau, Scott Hanson, Bruce Olson, and Bill Schanks attended the session. There was little new business to discuss. Treasurer Emma Hanson announced a slight shortfall for the month and indicated donations for the holiday party almost matched expenses. The anticipated shortfall reflected the $656 renewal of our EAA charter with headquarters, which is paid every December. Membership renewals have been strong, and the chapter now lists about 100 active members. Her report for the full year was equally encouraging. With $2,200 still to be paid out with the Ray Scholarship funds, the chapter ended the year at about $85 to the good. The treasurer's year-end report has been added to the meeting minutes. The Board was also advised that the possibility of hosting the Ford Tri-motor in 2025 has been dashed. EAA is taking it to Saint Cloud. Maybe next year. Read more >>
Monthly programs set
Monday evening's program features member Scott Hanson discussing ForeFlight. We may see a guest or two as area pilots have received an email from the Wings program advising of the event. Members attending receive Wings credit. Look for the sign-up sheet. In the meantime, the program schedule for most of the flying season has been announced.
Upcoming Programs
January 2025: Using Foreflight. Presented by Scott Hanson
February 2025: An Evening with Al Kupferschmidt
March 2025: Choosing the right avionics for your mission. Presented by Jay Schrankler.
April 2025: (Open)
May 2025: Sebastian Heinz, CEO of Zenith Aircraft
June 2025: Annual Chapter picnic and hangar tour
July 2025: John Mohr-Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame Member
August 2025: Oshkosh postmortem
See Calendar of Events
Answer of the Month
Yes, but you need to stop and do your homework first. The turn coordinator is not required as part of the VFR-day type certification instruments and equipment (§ 91.205), is not listed in the Kinds of Operations Equipment List for the aircraft (POH), and does not pose a hazard for this flight (your determination). It is not required by any airworthiness directive (this might be harder to determine). However, per § 91.213, it must be deactivated and placarded “Inoperative” prior to flight. Since the instrument is on a separate circuit, it can likely be deactivated without assistance from a mechanic. It will need to be repaired no later than at the next aircraft inspection.
The one question to ask yourself is whether in an emergency (low visibility, or inadvertent continued VFR into IMC), would it be safe to be flying the airplane without this instrument.
References: § 91.205 Powered civil aircraft with standard category U.S. airworthiness certificates: Instrument and equipment requirements; § 91.213 Inoperative Instruments and Equipment
Who's Who in Chapter 54 President: Marlon Gunderson president@eaa54.org |
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