Upcoming Events

• 1 Feb 2012 - Safety Seminar POSTPONED

Complete calendar of events...

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Are you expiring?

02 Jan 2012 - (r1 - 02 Jan 2012 - 13:56:39 - GeorgeClark)

George Clark writes: ... Have you recently renewed your drivers license, passport or other ID used to prove identity in order to obtain an access badge? If so, your access to ORH might be turned off. When ORH discovers that the identification used to get your badge has expired, so does your access. And it's a complete ban. Not even escorted access like any other passenger or visitor is allowed. Notification? The badge stops working and Swissport will have you on a "Stop list". Renewal is quick - just show security two current forms of identification so they can update their files. It needs to be a photo ID - like drivers license or passport, and/or your birth certificate.

I can understand that an expired drivers license might be expected to block drive-on access. But denying walk-on access and even escorted access? Your TSA tax dollars hard at work.

Also don't forget to check your aircraft registration at http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/nnum_inquiry.aspx. The lifetime registrations are expiring and need to be renewed or the aircraft will be grounded. See article on AOPA.org for more information Aircraft originally registered in March of any year should already have started the process!

Click here to read more...

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Holiday Party December 7th 2011

21 Nov 2011 - (r1 - 21 Nov 2011 - 20:36:29 - GeorgeClark)

George Clark writes: ... The 2010 party at Grill on the Hill was a resounding success. Be sure to sign up soon for the 2011 event. $25 per person, reservations required. Menu includes Salmon Oscar and Yankee Pot Roast. See pictures from last year's event at HolidayParty2010. Signup Here!

Click here to read more...

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Collings Foundation returning to Worcester

18 Sep 2011 - (r1 - 18 Sep 2011 - 21:06:42 - GeorgeClark)

George Clark writes: ... The Collings foundation Wings of Freedom tour will be returning to Worcester for an extended visit, Friday September 23rd through Wednesday September 28th. Aircraft anticipated are their B-17, B-24 & P-51. Below is a photo of the B17 from the 2009 arrival.

Their last visit to Worcester was back in 2009. You can see more photos from the 2009 visit here

Click here to read more...

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Southbridge devastation

11 Jun 2011 - (r1 - 11 Jun 2011 - 22:55:46 - GeorgeClark)

George Clark writes: ... Here are a few more details on the destruction of Southbridge airport. According to a report in the Telegram. "Fifteen airplanes and two of the airport’s six hangars were destroyed." One hangar destroyed was a 6-bay T-Hangar, which from the air appeared utterly flattened. There were 5 aircraft in that hanger. (Click on the thumbnails for larger photos)

Other aircraft were pulled from their tie-downs. One aircraft was reported to have remained securely tied down, but the force of the tornado snapped off the nosewheel, flattened the tail tie-down ring, and wrinkled the fuselage at the firewall and in front of the empennage. The spinner had been scraped on the ramp.

Jim Engberg sent in some photos of the aftermath of the tornado at Southbridge. From a flight over the airport on Friday the 10th, it appeared that there were still aircraft and/or pieces of the hangars in the woods east of the airport.

For more photos, see the photo gallery: Aftermath of a Tornado
Click here to read more...

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"Cessna 123 Report SPAGS, Cleared for the ILS 29 Approach"

09 Jun 2011 - (r2 - 09 Jun 2011 - 18:55:40 - GeorgeClark) George Clark writes: ... Can SPAGS return as the "Initial Approach Fix" for ILS 29 at Worcester?

The FAA has had the identifier SPAGS reserved for a number of years now. As the last remains of the Spag's empire approaches the wrecking ball for a housing development, there is an opportunity to keep the Spag's name alive, and honor the contributions to the aviation community by Anthony "Spag" and Olive Borgatti. The current PUMPP intersection has no particular meaning, and is just to the south of where the Spag's store was located. Aircraft approaching the PUMPP intersection can look off the right wing to see the location of the original Spag's store.

Anthony "Spag" Borgatti (1916-1996) along with his wife Olive were well known in the community for their generosity and were the recipient of numerous awards. His wife Olive (1917-1990) "took up flying at age 55, earning a pilot’s license in 1972, a commercial pilot’s rating in 1976, and a rating for the Cessna Citation II in 1988. At the time of her death in 1990, she was the company president and jet pilot ..." (from Spag's history)

We can still honor Spag and his family for their dedication to local aviation, for their renowned retail store and slogan, and for their former local landmark. We need political support to spearhead the name change of the runway 29 final approach fix from PUMPP to SPAGS while there are members of the Borgatti family yet alive.

Click here to read more...

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New year, New ORH access procedures

24 Jan 2011 - (r1 - 24 Jan 2011 - 10:28:15 - GeorgeClark)

George Clark writes: ... New vehicle access procedures for ORH. The 2010 stickers expire on 1/31/2011. No vehicles without a 2011 sticker will be permitted on the field after 1/31/2011.

The registration process has changed again. Last year, while all vehicles had to be registered, a sticker was issued per person, to be moved between vehicles. For 2011, it is back to a sticker per vehicle, but in addition the vehicle must be presented and the sticker placement supervised by the Airport Police. So if you have multiple vehicles, plan for multiple trips, or additional drivers to get them all registered.

To complete registration, be sure to remember to bring:

• Check for $15 per vehicle payable to Massachusetts Port Authority
• Copy of current insurance coverage showing proof of $100,000 for damage to someone elses property, (on-file copy is not sufficient)
• Your current Airport ID
• Each vehicle to be registered.

Click here to read more...

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In Memoriam: Gregg Andrews

22 Dec 2010 - (r8 - 09 Jun 2011 - 13:11:31 - GeorgeClark)

George Clark writes: ... I'm deeply saddened to report that this morning, aviation lost one of it's great.

Gregg Andrews lost his life this morning a little before 9:00 am in the crash of a Piper PA-28 Warrior at Spencer Airport. Gregg was a great friend and always willing to help out another pilot in need. His love of aviation and life in general showed through with brilliance with every interaction I ever had with him. He died doing something that he loved to do.

Click here to read more... (WAPA members can leave remembrances here...)

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-- GeorgeClark - 29 Apr 2005