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Sunday, January 29, 2012

It never ends

My mom is having some major health issues...so much so that I'm not going to be able to post here for another couple of days while we get it straightened out.

Note to all my readers: If you have high blood pressure, make damn sure you take your medication or 20 years later you'll have congestive heart failure and wham, bam goes your quality of life.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Bio

Not specifically about the WASP - except that this Congresswoman authored the WASP medal act.

From Local News 10, Florida: Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Bio
I am proud to represent Florida’s 18th Congressional District, a diverse area which includes Miami, Little Havana, Coral Gables, Pinecrest, Miami Beach, Westchester and the Florida Keys.

I was born in Havana, Cuba on July 1952. At the age of eight, my family and I were forced to flee from the oppressive communist regime of Fidel Castro. We settled in Miami and put down permanent roots in our community. I attended Southside Elementary School in Little Havana, West Miami Junior High, and Southwest High School. In the years following, I earned an Associate of Arts degree from Miami-Dade Community College in 1972, Bachelors and Masters Degree in Education from Florida International University in 1975 and 1985 respectively, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Miami in 2004. I consider education a lifelong journey.

I began my career as a Florida certified teacher. I also founded and served as the principal and teacher of a private bilingual elementary school in Hialeah. I was inspired to enter public service by many of the parents and students; to fight on their behalf for a stronger educational system, lower taxes, and a brighter economic future.

In 1982 I was elected to the Florida State House of Representatives and the Florida Senate in 1986, becoming the first Hispanic woman to serve in either body. In the state legislature I authored the Florida Prepaid College Plan, which is now the largest pre paid college tuition program in the nation. More than one million Florida families have used this program to send their children to college.

I was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1989—the first Hispanic woman to serve in Congress--following a special election to fill the seat held by the late Claude Pepper. I have been strongly returned to Congress since, winning 69% of the vote in 2010.

To this day, I remain committed to improving the lives of my constituents and our beautiful South Florida community. As the economy remains a pressing issue, I support reducing taxes and cutting back unnecessary government spending. I also support plans to balance the federal budget and increase tax incentives for small businesses and middle class families. South Florida has also felt the devastating effects of the housing crisis. I have fought to end predatory lending practices by mortgage companies and extend the first time homebuyers tax credit.

Given my background in education, I have worked to strengthen the Head Start program. I have also supported legislation to increase the availability to student financial aid and revise the cumbersome and complicated Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) process.

I am a strong advocate of programs that address the serious problem of domestic violence against women. I was a lead sponsor of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which increases resources towards the prosecution of domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault. I also support legislation to increase criminal penalties for perpetrators of Medicare fraud. Medicare fraud is a deplorable practice which robs hardworking seniors of the benefits they spent a lifetime earning, while also wasting billions in taxpayer dollars.

As the wife of a Vietnam veteran and step-mother to Marine aviators, I am passionate about improving our nation’s military, safeguarding veteran’s health care, and ensuring that returning veterans have access to a college education. I have been an outspoken critic of the Miami VA’s recent failures to notify veterans who were at risk of infection, due to contaminated colonoscopy equipment. I also authored legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). These women pioneers had been denied recognition for their service during World War II.

I am the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. In this role, I have had the opportunity to voice my strong support for the state of Israel and human rights, including my opposition to Castro’s dictatorial regime in Cuba. I have also led on pressing foreign policy issues including the fight against Islamist extremism, and support of free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea.

I am the proud wife to Dexter Lehtinen, mother and step-mother to 4 adult children, and grandmother to baby Morgan Elizabeth.

WASP collection coming to digital domain

From the Denton Record Chronicle: WASP collection coming to digital domain
Texas Woman’s University announced last week that it had received a $100,000 gift from an anonymous donor to continue the digitization and preservation of the WASP collection.

The Women Airforce Service Pilots designated the TWU Blagg-Huey Library as the repository of their national archives in 1992.

The WASPs were the first women to serve as pilots and fly aircraft in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

The WASP collection contains photographs, letters, diaries, postcards, uniforms and artifacts from women who were part of the organization between 1942 and 1944.

The recent gift was given by an anonymous donor who gave also TWU $100,000 in 2009 for the collection.

“We are using the money to further process the collections,” said Sherilyn Bird, dean of the TWU Libraries.

The gift will help the university create a much larger Web presence for the archives by digitizing the collection and making it easier for scholars to find the information, Bird said.

It will also help preserve the original collection because once the information is on the Web, fewer people will be handling the actual items, she said.

The WASP collection has more than 1 million pieces of paper, about 25,000 photographs and about 700 oral histories, as well as more than 700 personal collections within the overall collection, said Kimberly Johnson, coordinator of special collections at the TWU library.

The gift will help support outreach programs by allowing the university to lend portions of the collection for exhibits around the country. It will also help the library document more oral histories, Johnson said.

Digitization will allow TWU to include information about what the women did after the organization disbanded in 1944, she said.

“Many of them [the women] continued to fly after the WASP disbanded,” Johnson said.

The preservation of the collection helps promote women’s place within aviation, she said, calling them “activists” of their time.

Johnson said the hope is that collection will spark enthusiasm about what the women pilots did and motivate people to want to know more.

“And it’s also to preserve that history and that legacy,” Johnson said.

“That mark they made in history is permanent.”

Monday, January 23, 2012

PR: 28 Jan 2012 - Aviation Fever takes over Hawaii!

Professional Pilots, High Schoolers to attend Seminar / Job Fair Event

Honolulu, January 23, 2012: Airline pilot careers begin with an inspiration, and really take off when the airline interviews the qualified pilot. FltOps.com, the premier provider of career and financial advice to professional pilots, is putting the spectrum together on Saturday, January 28, 2012.

Professional pilots will be attending the “Expats in Paradise” global pilot hiring fair at the Ala Moana Hotel (310 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu – 808-955-4811), where they will be attending professional seminars on their own job placement searches and interviewing with the hiring personnel from the airlines. Confirmed already are Hawaii-based Crew Resources Worldwide (the lead sponsor), Korean Air, Emirates, Total Aviation Service, and Qatar Airlines, among others expected to attend.

Airline employment for Hawaii residents is attractive even if the permanent job is located on the mainland or overseas. The airlines provide generous industry travel benefits, allowing employees to stay connected to their island home.

High school students interested in airline careers as pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, and other professionals will be treated to “Focus on the Future” seminars, where they and their parents will meet with representatives from professional aviation training schools and universities.

As a recent Boeing release says, “As the world commercial fleet expands to more than 39,500 airplanes over the next 20 years, the world's airlines will need to add 460,000 pilots and 650,000 maintenance technicians…” The outlook for high schoolers with an interest in aviation is sky-high!

Registration for the Focus on the Future seminars is online only (www.fltops.com/jobs ) and the doors open at 12:30; the seminars, offering advice on careers, employment projections, and loans, grants and scholarships, run from 1:00 to 5:00. Parents, guardians, and school counselors are also encouraged to attend.

All attendees (adults and students) must register online at www.fltops.com/jobs

Monday, January 16, 2012

PR: Air Conditioning System for LSA, Experimentals to Demonstrate at Sebring Show

Sebring, Florida, January 18, 2012: Corbi Air announces availability of a revolutionary air conditioning system that is light enough and reliable enough to work in small aircraft. The installed system is being shown in Sebring, Florida, at the Light Aircraft Expo, January 19-22.

The launch customer is the S-LSA Alto, a rugged, metal two-place machine with three models that cater to those who want a practical small airplane or a trainer. The gross weight limit of 1320 pounds for the LSA (Light Sport Aircraft) category is an imposing obstacle for most who want to “civilize” their machines, but the Alto already had excellent useful load, and, as Corbi Air President Ron Corbi said, “Because of its compact size and light weight, the air conditioning system fit easily into the Alto. Even with the 28-volt alternator we added to the Rotax 912S engine, the AMT-developed system allows us to retain one of the largest useful loads in the class.”

The system is all-electric, the standard 12-volt Rotax system, common in LSA, is augmented by an independent alternator and small 24-volt batteries. “Because it is compact, light, and powerful, the system is ideal for other small aircraft, including Experimental-class aircraft, many of which already employ a 24-volt system and thus would not require electrical system modifications,” noted Dan Coffey, development engineer at Corbi Air.

“The [typically 20-degree (F)] cockpit temperature reduction will be particularly welcomed by instructors who teach all day in hot cockpits, and by private fliers who just want to arrive fresh,” said Corbi.

Corbi Air is the distributor of the Alto LSA, and is also the supplier of the AMT air conditioning system. The Corbi Air Alto with the AMT conditioning system will be featured at the Light Aircraft Expo this week, Space 208.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

16 Jan 2012: Celebrate MLK Day at IWASM

As we remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on this day we would also like to celebrate the life and legacy of some incredible women who used aviation as way to advance the Civil Rights Movement. Beginning with Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to earn her pilot’s license, to Mae Jemison, the first African American female Astronaut, we want to inspire you with the stories of these incredible women and then some. A list of activities and times are listed below:

10:00am : Craft Stations Open – Learn how to make the prefect paper airplane, experiment with Whirly Gigs, and make a Bessie Coleman Bookmark to take home.

11:00am-12:45pm : FREE Public Tour

1:00pm-1:45pm : Presentation by David Fuller from NASA. Learn about the space program and ask your most pressing aeronautical questions.

2:00am-2:45pm : FREE Public Tour

3:00 pm : Craft Stations Close

Come in early and stay all day or just drop in for a quick tour and visit. This program is FREE and open to the public. For more information call 216-623-1111

Parking is available in the Burke Lakefront Airport parking lot. Parking is typically $6 per day and is within walking distance from the Great Lakes Science Center and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

IWASM Now Offers Free Public Guided Tours Every Saturday!

IWASM (Burke Airport, Cleveland, OH) Now Offers Free Public Guided Tours Every Saturday!


The International Women's Air and Space Museum now gives free guided tour of the musuem's main exhibits every Saturday at 1pm. Learn about Amelia Earhart, Bessie Coleman, the WASP, and more. Hours are approximately 1 hour in length. Gather by the sign in front of the gift shop at 1pm to join. No reservations required! For more information call 216-623-1111 or email mepps@iwasm.org

(The museum has always been free, but they've never had guided tours before.

http://iwasm.org

Flying Musicians to Perform at Sebring Jan 19-22


PRESS RELEASE: Two Passions - One Goal -
Bringing Aviation and Music Together


“Pilot Musicians sharing their passion while encouraging and educating youth and adults in the science and art of aeronautics and music.”

Flying Musicians: Performing and Exhibiting at the Sport Aviation Expo

- Visit FMA in the AeroShell Tent and see the Sennheiser S1 Digital ANR Headset –


Fort Worth, Texas – January 10, 2012: The Flying Musicians Association, Inc., a non-profit organization, is gearing up for the first event of 2012, held in Sebring, Florida this January 19-22. Come out and enjoy music performed by FMA members and see the demo for the Sennheiser S1 Digital headset.

FMA performers will entertain on stage in the AeroShell tent daily, Thursday – Saturday – see the schedule: www.FlyingMusicians.org. John Zapp, co-founder of FMA, said, “Being invited to the first aviation event of the year is exciting and eclipsed only by the fact that this is FMA’s first Sport Pilot event.”

The Flying Musicians have created an atmosphere where enthusiasts of both aviation and music can converge to share their passions while enjoying a great aviation festival! So bring your love for music and flying, and have fun at the Sport Aviation Expo! Bring your instrument, too – the Flying Musicians always welcome fellow musicians at informal jam sessions, which can strike up anytime. Contact Mike Golas (Mike@FlyingMusicians.org), performer coordinator, if you would like to perform at this event or future events. To see opportunities look at the FMA Radar at www.FlyingMusicians.org.

About Sennheiser:
For 27 years, Sennheiser Aviation has supplied private and professional pilots with reliable, premium communication headsets. Sennheiser NoiseGard™ ANR leads in performance and comfort in the cockpit, ensuring clear communications and hearing protection. Today, the S1 Digital headset is the standard by which general aviation noise reduction and comfort are judged.
More: www.Sennheiser-Aviation.com



About the Flying Musicians Association:

The Flying Musicians Association, Inc. took off in 2009 by blending two passions: flying and music. The mission of the organization: “Pilot Musicians sharing their passion while encouraging and educating youth and adults in the science and art of aeronautics and music.” College chapters have begun to take flight around the country. See if your alma mater is listed; if not, let’s create one!



More: www.FlyingMusicians.org

Sunday, January 8, 2012

22-23 Jan: 2nd Annual Sport Fly into the Bahamas

Press Release

2nd Annual Sport Pilot Fly-in to the Bahamas
January 22 - 23, 2012 *

http://www.aviatorshotline.com/bahamas

Aviators Hot Line is hosting the 2nd Annual Sport Pilot Fly-in to the Bahamas. Participants will receive a commemorative t-shirt personalized with their N-number and aircraft manufacturer's emblem.

For those who are attending Sebring, there will be a noon briefing on January 22, at the Alan Jay Hangar on field at the Sport Aviation Expo.

After closing ceremonies, participants will fly out from Sebring (SEF) to Freeport Grand Bahamas (GBIA) to unwind for an evening filled with food, drink and fun!

Accommodations for the Fly-in will be provided by the Radisson, Grand Lucayan Resort so book your room early!

Pricing is as follows:

$197.59 - Single Occupancy (inclusion of room rate, room tax, hotel tax, airport fees and round trip transfers);

$117.20 per person - Double Occupancy (inclusion of room rate, room tax, hotel tax, airport fees and round trip transfers).

If you are interested in attending please use our online form; www.aviatorshotline.com/bahamas or call Penny at (515) 574-2220 with questions or assistance with registration.

There is fun to be had by all and we hope to see you there, because "It's better in the Bahamas!"

*For those not wanting to return home immediately, there is a group continuing onto the Stella Maris Resort on Long Island for two days of snorkeling, kayaking, bike riding and some breath taking flying! Anyone is welcome but reservations are required! To make reservations, please call (800) 426-0466 and mention that you are with the LSA Fly-in.

Banyan's Bahamas Expert Hotline: (954) 491-3170

http://www.banyanair.com/bahamas_travel_assistance.asp

Click on the link below to listen to Mike Z's "Fly to the Bahamas" video

http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/pvanspronsen-1217115-fly-to-the-bahamas-2011-12/

You can reach Mike Z directly at (813) 474-1337

Online Registration
http://www.aviatorshotline.com/bahamas

19 Jan, US Sport Aviatin Expo at Sebring Florida

Press Release: 5th Annual LAMA Dinner: Open to Vendors and Associations of the Light Sport Aircraft Industry.

Where: AeroShell Hospitality Tent

When: Thursday, January 19, 2012
5:30 Beverage Service
6:00 Free lasagna dinner served buffet style
6:30 Rod Hightower Speaks

http://www.aviatorshotline.com/dinner


or contact:
Aviators Hot Line
Penny Lewis
Toll Free 800-247-2000 ext. 2220
Direct 515-574-2220
Email: penny@aviatorshotline.com

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Librarians with bound magazine volumes, beware

A few days ago, I went to my local library and started going through the first bound volume of Time Magazine that they had. I think they had Volume 3, running right through to present day.

I intended to go through each issue and make note of any women pilot news - or ads, etc., that were in there.

And each issue in that volume was missing a couple of pages, normally pages 22-23, but sometimes a different page.

At the time, I wondered if someone was stealing the sports section, if it had a photo of some old time ball player on it, like Lou Gehrig or something.

But now I think it's something different.

Now I'm wondering if someone wasn't stealing advertisements, in particular advertisements featuring women pilots.

I say this because today, I was making my daily search through Ebay with the search "woman pilot" and there were about 10 advertisements for sale. Women pilots advertising nail varnish, Camel cigaretts, sparkplugs and so on. And these ads were from the 20s, 30s and 40s.

Not the magazines, just the ads.

Now, I'd noticed that they'd done this before, and I'd thought, how stupid this was. Naturally no one was going to pay $12 for a one-page ad with out the magazine that it was supposed to be in!

But now I realize my mistake. I think these folks are ad thieves, and they actually go to libraries and tear these ads out of magazines, then trim the edges so it doesn't look like it came from a mag, and then they sell what they stole for a $10 or so profit on ebay!

Now, I don't know if they've all done this (I don't want them to sue me for calling them thieves - I have no proof. But it seems odd to me that these people would offer the ad, and not the magazine itself...unless for some reason they did not have the magazine, and what reason could that be?

Of course you have to blame this on Ebay, and on a new generation of seller - and buyer - who doesn't seem to realize that a magazine missing a page is worthless, and a single page torn out of a magazine is also worthless!

I'd love to buy the ad - in the magazine, to provide context - and eventually donate 'em all to the IWASM, but to buy just the ad itself? That would be encouraging them in their vandalism.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

General Aviation Watch: Pompeo blasts Air Force for Hawker Beechcraft exclusion

From KWCH.com: Pompeo blasts Air Force for Hawker Beechcraft exclusion
Hawker Beechcraft says it has learned that the U.S. Air Force has awareded the Light Air Support contract to Sierra Nevada Corporation and its Brazilian manufacturer Embraer.

Hawker says it still has not received any concrete word on why its Beechcraft AT-6 was excluded from the bidding process.

The LAS contract is valued at nearly a billion dollars.

Republican Congressman Mike Pompeo (KS-4) had this reaction to the news, “I am deeply disappointed by this announcement.

Several weeks ago, Hawker Beechcraft—the only American competitor—was eliminated from this important competition without explanation. Since then the Air Force has been secretive and evasive, leaving countless questions unanswered."

PR: Falcon Aviation Services : Gold Sponsor for the ABU DHABI AIR EXPO

Abu Dhabi, January 3rd 2012: Falcon Aviation Services (FAS), the renowned private aviation company based at Al Bateen Executive Airport and established in 2006 by HH Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has become an official partner of the 1st General Aviation Exhibition in the Middle East: Abu Dhabi Air Expo.

Alongside its VIP stand, where it will host its clientele over the three-day exhibition, the company will present the event's expected 10,000 visitors with a range of their fleet which includes:

· 1 Embraer Lineage 1000
· 2 Legacy 600
· 1 Gulfstream 450
· 12 Bell 412EP
· 2 Bell 206L3
· 2 Agusta 109S
· 1 Agusta 109SP
· 1 Eurocopter AS365 N3
· 1 Eurocopter EC-135 HERMES
· 4 Eurocopter EC 130

“FAS are excited at the opportunity to display our fleet and to highlight our Services here in Abu Dhabi. We look forward to working with the team at Al Bateen and this Air Expo is a clear indication of the growth that the aviation sector is having in Abu Dhabi” said HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, FAS’ Chairman and CEO.

"We are delighted by the presence of Falcon Aviation Services which has lengthened the list of partners for the 1st General Aviation Exhibition in the Middle East," said Yousif Al Hammadi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Air Expo.

"Not only has this very dynamic Gulf company offered us its support by becoming a Gold Sponsor, it will also enable visitors to discover all of the business aviation possibilities and services proposed by FAS thanks to the presentation of its VIP configured aircraft," he added.

Running from the 6th to the 8th of March 2012 at Al Bateen Executive Airport, the Abu Dhabi Air Expo is the only General Aviation Exhibition in the Middle East.

www.adairexpo.com

About Falcon Aviation Services (FAS)
Falcon Aviation Services was formed in early 2006 under the initiative of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan with the prime objective of filling the significant gaps in the Aviation Market through the provision of innovative products and services. With its main operating base at Al Bateen Executive Airport, situated only 10km from the City Centre of Abu Dhabi, FAS is ideally located for Operators and Passengers alike. FAS are committed to delivering the highest level of aviation services that establish benchmark standards in terms of Safety, Quality and Customer Service.

The helicopter and corporate jet fleet offer a diverse range of capability, performance and comfort to satisfy every customer’s requirement. Technical Support: Falcon Aviation is currently increasing its capacity to deal with the rising demand for MRO services for VIP, VVIP, and executive jets in the UAE and Middle East region. Corporate / VIP : Falcon Aviation Services is answering the increasing demand of corporate travel market in UAE by offering customers a choice for a supreme air charter service. Asset Managment : Falcon Aviation Services offer complete turn key aircraft asset management services, handling all aspects of aircraft ownership, starting with aircraft selection, pre-purchase and insurance, through to entry-into-service and day to day operations to include scheduling, flight crews, on-going maintenance, marketing management, and, finally, sales and close-out.

About Al Bateen Executive Airport
Al Bateen Executive Airport is a dedicated business jet airport, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region; conveniently located only a five kilometres from the central business district of Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital.
The downtown location of Al Bateen Executive Airport makes it ideal for users of business jets, whose time is valuable and who have a high-regard for the convenience that personalised jet travel can bring.