Survey Results set direction for WAPA
The WAPA Board met in November to review the survey results and to plan
our next steps based upon the feedback from the Survey.
Results from the Survey were reviewed in some detail. We had 34 responses to the survey - 3 from US Mail, and the rest from the Web. (Since the meeting, one more arrived via the web, and one more from US Mail.)
Next Steps: We need more help on three committees:
- Outreach: We need volunteers to organize local efforts in national programs, EAA Young Eagles, and AOPA Mentor, and other activities
- Airport / Agency Relations: We need volunteers to represent interests of their local airports, and volunteers to commit to attending MAC, Massport, Airport Commission, and other open meetings.
- Activities: We need help in organizing flyins and other group activities
The results are described below in more detail.
Understanding the results The survey results are all ranked in decending order of interest. The average response is shown. The numbers in parenthesis are the lowest and highest response. An answer of 1 represented "Strongly Disagree", and 7 was "Strongly Agree".
Outreach
This topic seemed to generally have the highest interest. Overall 12-14
respondents indicated that they would participate in one of the Mentoring or
Initial Flight programs.
It was decided that we should proceed with a committee to oganize efforts in
this area. We have one volunteer. He has already made contact with
one of the Worcester schools, and they are putting together an introductory aviation program at one of the High Schools which will hopefully culminate in an introductory flight for the student.
A new email list has been set up to help organize the Outreach committee. To sign up, either visit the Outreach List Webpage and fill out the subscription form, or send an email to outreach-request@worcesterapa.org and put the word "subscribe" in the subject. This list is only open to paid WAPA Members so if you have not done so, now is as good a time as any to Join WAPA
Airport Issues
This topic attempted to determine whether our efforts should focus on the airports and management, or on the surrounding communities. Clearly the Survival, Public Fear, and Business success at airports generated the strongest response. Access, Atmosphere, Fees, Neighbors and the MAC Pilot ID program were less important.
- Survival 6.08 (1-7)
- Public Fear 6.02 (4-7)
- Businesses 5.93 (2-7)
- Pilot Communications 5.51 (2-7)
- Access to Ramp 5.32 (1-7)
- GA Atmosphere 5.29 (1-7)
- ORH Fees 5.08 (2-7)
- Neighbors 4.85 (1-7)
- MAC Pilot ID 3.8 (1-7)
It was decided that we don't have any specific action to take yet without a
better understanding of who we should attempt to influence. We need to get a
better understanding of MAC, WAC, Massport, etc. Also, we are the Worcester
AREA pilots … and should not be totally focused on ORH. We decided that the
2nd committee - "Agency and Airport Relations", should be formed with the following objectives
- Identify individuals to attend various public meetings and report back
- Build relationship and identity with various govt. agencies
- Idenfity liason for airports in area Worcester, Spencer, Sterling, Oxford, Southbridge,
If you are a pilot based at one of these airports, and would like to serve as the laison for the WAPA Airport / Agency Relations committee, please send an email to relations@worcesterapa.org Also, WAPA should establish a relationship with the Fitchburg pilots
association. They are an active organization and we should interface with
them, but not necessarily attempt to deal with airport issues out in Fitchburg.
A new email list has been set up to help organize the Agency / Airport Relationships committee. To sign up, either visit the Relations List Webpage and fill out the subscription form, or send an email to relations-request@worcesterapa.org and put the word "subscribe" in the subject. This list is only open to paid WAPA Members so if you have not done so, now is as good a time as any to Join WAPA
From the above results in these two survey areas, we came to the following conclusion. The results are consistent. The Outreach activites, generating public interest in aviation, and encouraging Student Pilots will fit well with the concerns about Airport and Business survival. We need to get involved and keep our ear to the ground at the local airports and expend our most energy in the commmunity outreach area.
Interest was considerably lower in this area. 8 Volunteers for the Fly a
Reporter. 2 and 3 for the Liasons
- Fly a Reporter 4.12 (1-5)
- Newspaper 4.02 (1-5)
- TV Liason 3.4 (1-5)
After some discussion, it was decided that we need to have newsworthy items
before focusing too much on the Media. If we get the above two committees
going, and start to see some activity, we should then focus on the media.
Initially it will be up to the committees to publicize their events. It was
also decided that WAPA meetings should be submitted to various papers. The clerk
should send announcements of meetings to the local media.
Social Activities
Quarterly events won out at 20:3 for the 23 respondents indicating a preference. 29
respondents indicated that they would participate in a flyin, but only 2 would
help organize one. We really need more interest in this area if this is going to be successful. One or two people can't run the whole show. So now is your chance to help. A new email list has been set up to help organize the Activities committee. To sign up, either visit the Activities List Webpage and fill out the subscription form, or send an email to activities-request@worcesterapa.org and put the word "subscribe" in the subject. As with the others, this list is only open to paid WAPA Members so if you have not done so, now is as good a time as any to Join WAPA
Flyin type leaned toward informal (1=informal 7=formal,
avg. response 3.17, range 1-6
We decided that at the next meeting we should pass around a "Phone List" for
fly-in activity. email interest has been low, and a phone-a-thon approach may
be more effective.
We had the beginnings of an activity committee in April (one Volunteer) and need
to get some additional help in this area.
- Pancake Breakfast, 4.7 (1-7)
Pancake breakfast had less support. 11 respondents would attend.
Poker Run had the lowest support. 2 respondents would help organize one,
and only 8 would participate.
Merchandise
- 12 - T-Shirt
- 11 - Golf Shirt
- 7 - Baseball Cap
- 5 - Coffee Mug
- 4 - Jacket
- 2 - Luggage Tag
- 1 - Logo Pin
- 0 - Key fob
- 1 Write-in for a beer mug.
The size distributions were:
- 2 Small
- 3 Medium
- 11 Large
- 9 X-Large
- 3 XX-Large
The board decided to go ahead with the setup for embroidered Golf/Polo shirts and T-Shirts, and we hope to be ready to take orders at the December meeting.
- I can only speak about ORH. Increasing citizen contact with the airport
would be of great benefit in my opinion. The restaurant space in the terminal
building should be leased out to build traffic at the airport. The increased
traffic is the benefit to the airport, not the rental income. An almost empty
facility does not attract attention. Building traffic is very
important. Another possibility is actively working to attract based aircraft
to the airport. Since the cost to provide a tiedown is zero, and there is room
for a large number of additional aircraft at the Foxtrot area, why not reduce
the rent of the tiedowns in an effort to attract more aircraft to the airport?
Naturally, this would increase fuel and maintenance sales on the
field. Obviously the existing tennants on the field would expect their rent
to be reduced if new tennants were offered lower rent. The whole picture would
have to be balanced. Just as obvious is that price is not the only criteria
that draws or repels tennants. I am simply suggesting that more traffic at the
airport would be very beneficial to all involved.
- I honestly don't know but would be happy to brainstorm about it
- If fly-ins or similar activities are going to be successful, the destination
has to be attractive. I would be happy to help with an event but can't say
specifically which would be best without more information
-
Being in the news is very important. My work schedule makes being a liason
impossible but I think it's a great idea.
-
I wish I had more time to participate, but it's not likely, with twin boys
having been born in mid-June. I'm supportive but can hardly find time to fly
let alone help in other ways
-
I'm not sure. I am a renter. I don't know what problems someone who owns and
hangers an aircraft at ORH might have. As a renter, I haven't really come
across any problems with the airport
-
Some of the activities surveyed above require space in which to conduct the
activity. How likely is it that that space will be available at ORH? Maybe
WAPA could team up with another association, such as the Fitchburg group.
Fitchburg airport seems more accomodating to GA.
-
Suggestion: attempt to identify (from WAPA members) the potential usage for a
FAA aproved flight simulator device for Worcester area pilots/students to log
time, IFR training, and so on
-
ORH needs activity at the airport to support FBO, Restaurant, schools,
etc. Sell autogas to those with the STC. Lower the 100LL
price. Unfamiliar with the MAC badge plans
-
How can WAPA do any kind of fly-in event while having to meet with Massport
security requirements
-
I have been up and down the East Coast by plane. Every airport I visited was
helpful and cooperative. Worcester Airport and their security measures are a
joke and only serve to harrass GA pilots and tenants!
-
ORH Access passes that operate the 2 gates need to be reissued to tenants and
tiedown customers with rules that make sense. Swissport should not have to
escort people to their hangars who have been here for 20 years
-
WAPA should speak for the membership and pressure MassPort to grant us the
access we had before 9-11. Clear us and leave us alone
- Governors council member should be flown
- No, but I strongly believe that GA could generate positive PR if we were to
participate in some of the programs noted above. I'm especially interested in
AngleFlight but don't know how I can contribute as a VFR pilot. So…info
sessons would be a plus
-
I did not rate Pilot Communications as I don't know to what this refers.
- ORH is my local airport. Why not try to set up a series of meetings with
airport management to focus on how to promote GA at ORH? I'd also be interested
in comparisons of GA conditions at ORH with those at airports where GA is
perceived to be truly welcome.
- Holds meetings at those airports, perhaps rotate meetings among area airports
- I've found it very difficult to make it to WAPA meetings - but I believe that
we would really benefit from promoting GA in the central MA area. Doing
something for others eg AngelFlight is a good way to get positive publicity
- fly a reporter is a double-edged sword. It could either help or hinder our
cause depending on many variables
- It seems that general aviation (everything from private flying, flying clubs,
etc. to business jets) is the best future that ORH has - substantial airline
service looks very unlikley.
-
Other than the effects of the 9-11 aftermath, the situation has improved with
the current airport manager and the change to management by Massport. Tiedown
and hanger fees seem reasonable
- In general, I think it is better to select a few activities and do them
successfully, than to try to do too much. Also a balance between
service-oriented and fun activities is good. I'm sorry that right now I can't
volunteer to help. With reference to the question below, I think one meeting
per month is plenty except for committee meetings regarding specific events,
activities. More member participation at meetings, like trip reports,
reports on experience with a new aircraft, experience with new equipment, etc.
would be good to get the members introduced to each other. At present those who
know each other stand around and talk, and those who don't know the others
don't have much opportunity to get to know them. Keep up the good work
- WINGS day. Pilots can do entire wings certification in one day. Lots of
instructors available. 2 - 3 safety seminars throughout the day
- Worcester could use a Pilot Operations Program. This would be a program to talk
with pilots who have difficulty flying in and out of the worcester airport.
Many recent incidents of pilots who don't know where they are or don't know how
to speak on the radio present significant dangers to all pilots flying to and
from the airport
- 60M - Neigbors and MAC restrictions
- 60M - Reduction in MAC intervention
- Communication to all based owners and non owners. E mail is great. The more you
communicate locally - the more aware all owner and non owner pilots will be and
the easier it will be to mobilize action. If the group acts collectively to
help all area airports it will positively reflect back on to Worcester and help
with the struggles there
- Pilot recurring training sessions, i.e. regs reviews, airspace reviews, etc
- I'm not clear on the purpose of WAPA. (Is WAPA?) If the purpuse is to
advocate on behalf of area pilots, then some of these items become
important. If we are mainly a social organization, then other issues take
priority. I'm not sure the WAPA membership is in agreement on our purpose
and goals as an organization. For the record, I think WAPA should: 1)
Position itself for the benefit of local pilots 2) Offer things pilots want to
see/hear such as a. recreational events b. training events c. social
events Trying to influence public policy, or major airport policy is a
realistic goal for the organization. Just my .02
- Maybe WAPA could hold an airplane wash or something similar to raise money
- try to get area airports to hold wapa meetings or fly ins
- First concern is that of not having any public tie down for out of town
aircraft to park. Swissport is the current transient parking area and they
charge a ramp fee of $7 for parking and have only a few actual tie downs. 2nd
there is no public phone on the airport so when Swissport is closed there is no
access to a phone to call the airport police to escort pilot and passengers off
the airport. The landing fees and parking fees are excessive and there are no
landing fees for single engine aircraft but for twins that may be the same
weight and price? The fuel prices are to high and there is no competition
amongst FBOs for fuel or other sevices. Only one flight school at ORH. No
restaurant or anything regarding social clubs for pilots to gather
- Participate with the local group that has been trying to create a Robert
Goddard park in the vicinity of the airport
- As a renter pilot, these (Atmosphere, fees, fear, ramp access) don't appear to
impact me on a day-to-day basis.
- More official, ie city, emphasis on GA since it doesn't look like the airlines
are interested in ORH
- Participate in functions with groups / associations at the local airport
- Note on pancake breakfast - I would provide labor
- Additional meetings should be specific committee meetings, (not general
membership)
- ORH needs a wash-pad. Hanscom has one. No charge. Flyin, hose available.
- ORH needs signs, phone, restroom access, available 7x24. How to
exit/enter after hours, etc. Security should monitor CTAF after hours and provide guidance on how to exit.
- Attend the Amity ground school to talk up WAPA to students.
This may get some new blood who would be candidates for mentoring.
- WPI is planning an Alumni fly-in for Sept. 2003. Maybe WAPA
could be involved with this in some way.
- Which fees are Swissport and which are set by the airport. We need to understand this further.