Upcoming Events

• 15 May 2013 - WAPA Annual Meeting, 6PM at ORH Terminal

Complete calendar of events...

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Temporary reprieve for the towers

06 Apr 2013 - (r1 - 06 Apr 2013 - 22:00:41 - GeorgeClark)

George Clark writes: ... The FAA announced yesterday that they will temporarily delay the tower closings until June 15th, but at that all towers would be closed instead of the phased closing previously announced.

“This has been a complex process and we need to get this right,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Safety is our top priority. We will use this additional time to make sure communities and pilots understand the changes at their local airports.”

As pilots, we all know the procedures for non-towered operations, but the tower closures are unfortunately going to cause problems. We can only hope that no lives are lost while everyone adjusts. I've had the direct experience of a "save" by the ORH tower, several years ago, when the tower waved off another aircraft that was landing out of sequence directly on top of my aircraft. I have to wonder what the outcome would have been had the tower not been there to resolve the conflict.

Click here to read more...

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Tower closure schedule

27 Mar 2013 - (r2 - 27 Mar 2013 - 17:39:12 - GeorgeClark)

George Clark writes: ... The FAA has published the schedule for contract control towers. (Though it's announced as a euphemism "Federal Contract towers where funding will cease" ). I guess that's on the hope that some other deep pockets will pick up the funding. (PDF attachments are from AOPA).

The area airports include:

April 7, 2013 - 24 Towers

• LWM Lawrence / North Andover
• ASH Nashua

april7-closures.pdf

April 21, 2013 - 46 Towers

• BVY Beverly
• ORH Worcester
• GON Groton / New London
• OSH Oshkosh (Well not exactly local.)

april21-closures.pdf

5 May 2013 - 79 Towers

• EWB New Bedford
• OWD Norwood
• BDR Bridgport
• DXR Danbury
• HFD Hartford Brainard
• HVN New Haven
• OXC Waterbury Oxford

may-5-closures.pdf

As far as the impact on Airventure, EAA announced that it would have no effect on ATC for Airventure.

Click here to read more...

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How night current are you?

03 Feb 2013 - (r1 - 03 Feb 2013 - 15:04:31 - GeorgeClark)

George Clark writes: ... The next WAPA / ORH Safety Seminar will be held on Wednesday Feb. 13, at 7:00 pm.

Do you fly at night? Are you aware of all the night flying hazards. Night visual illusions and reduced visibility can be threats to spatial orientation, navigation, weather avoidance and obstacle clearance. They can also impact takeoff & climb and approach & landing operations, as well as airport ground operations. How about cross country planing... should you do anything different? Featured presenters for this briefing include FPM Jim Adams and FAASTeam Reps. Ken MacDonald and Jack Keenan. Jim will review a recent night accident and discuss how it could have been prevented. Don't miss it!

Free parking at ORH. Take a ticket at the parking lot entrance, and leave before midnight.

(Click the read-more link for more details.)

Click here to read more...

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Can the iPad save your life?

30 Nov 2012 - (r1 - 30 Nov 2012 - 21:11:51 - GeorgeClark)

George Clark writes: ... Find out at the upcoming safety seminar. Wednesday December 5th, Worcester Airport, 7:00 pm. Reserve your seat here

Attend this exciting event featuring two briefings! At the first we will discuss general aviation takeoff, approach and landing accidents and how best to prevent them. We'll also address operations at tower controlled airports and discuss if pilots are always obligated to follow ATC instructions? The second half of the program will examine the way technology is changing the way we fly. Many pilots are flying with an iPad in the cockpit but still purchase and carry paper charts. Is it considered "safe" to fly with just an iPad? Refreshments provided by Worcester Area Pilots Association!

Click here to read more...

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Silver Wings / Yankee Fly-in at Tanner-Hiller

20 Aug 2012 - (r1 - 20 Aug 2012 - 12:30:46 - GeorgeClark)

George Clark writes: ... The 2012 Labor Day fly-in at Tanner Hiller Airport (Airnav:8B5) will be held from Friday August 31st through Sunday September 2nd. (Click the poster thumbnail to see a larger version)

• The event is sponsored by the Yankee Ultralight Flyers USUA Club 202, and the EAA Ultralight Chapter 67.
• Food is available throughout each day, including Breakfast and BBQ.
• Events include Young Eagles flights (pending EAA application), Hang Glider Towing, and a Candy Drop.
• Live music Saturday night, by "Finding Reason".

Watch for WAPA news regarding a fly-out to support this event.

Click here to read more...

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More access changes at ORH

20 Aug 2012 - (r1 - 20 Aug 2012 - 12:07:14 - GeorgeClark)

George Clark writes: ... This year in addition to the new badge readers, there is now mandatory driver training that must be accomplished annually. Which means that the 2-year badge is now a 1-year badge. The training consists of a power point presentation and quiz, along with a ride-along with someone from Operations who points out where you are and are not allowed to drive.

Click here to read more...

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New access badge procedures

29 Jun 2012 - (r1 - 29 Jun 2012 - 23:36:36 - GeorgeClark)

George Clark writes: ... New badge readers have been installed at ORH, and the access procedure has changed. Previously, you entered your PIN and then scanned the badge. Now the procedure is:

1. Scan your badge
2. Wait for the light bar at the top of the reader to begin flashing red and green. (Can be tough to see in bright sunlight)
3. Type your PIN code, and
4. "Enter" it by pressing the # (pound) key. (also known as the octothorpe key)

Click here to read more...

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-- GeorgeClark - 29 Apr 2005