In "Pelican's Perch" on AvWeb, this month's column is about go-arounds. Makes for very worthwhile reading...

By E-R Staff
(reprinted from a Chico Enterprise-Record Article on 07/07/2007)

HAMILTON CITY -- A private pilot who flew his plane under the Gianella Bridge on Independence Day, allegedly scattering shocked tubers on the Sacramento River, may be investigated by the Butte County Sheriff's Office.

(from the New York Times this morning...)

MATTHEW W. PHELPS was a natural candidate for flying lessons. A computer system administrator, he liked anything technical. He had a brother who had a plane and wrote about aviation for a magazine. And from the moment he got behind the controls, at a small airport north of Boston, he enjoyed himself.

“I liked it a lot,” he said. “It was fun, it was exhilarating.”

In loving memory of our friend, mentor, flying club advisor, we changed our old 6315M to the new 631TK - now to be called.... "Kramer".

(by Mary Grady, Contributing Editor of AvWeb)

It's not often that a brand-new airport opens up, but Houston Executive Airport (HEA) is now ready for landings. Located in Brookshire, west of Houston, the private airport is VFR-only, with a single 5,050-foot runway. HEA will cater to general aviation aircraft and provide FBO services, including fuel. The airport was established by former commercial pilot and Houston native Ron Henriksen. “General aviation airports are disappearing around the country,” said Henriksen. “When I saw the closing of Houston’s Andrau Airport and Austin’s Robert Mueller Airport, I was determined to build this new airport with private investment to ensure its longevity and positively impact the local community.” The significant growth of the Energy Corridor along Interstate 10 was a natural draw for an airport located west of Houston, Henriksen said.

(from the Bryan College Station Eagle)

The Zachry Department of Civil Engineering has created a memorial fund in memory of associate professor Timothy Kramer, who died in a plane crash last month.

It is with very, very heavy heart that I write to let you all know that Dr. Jim Noel, one of the founders and the elder statesman of the Texas A&M Flying Club, died Sunday December 31 of apparent lung cancer.

--more--

For many of us, our first introduction to Tim Kramer was his warm hello and then, almost immediately, a conversation about flying. It didn't particularly matter who you were, or how much experience you had, or what area of aviation you preferred. Before you knew it, Tim would be leading a discussion about aircraft insurance, common pilot mistakes, airworthiness, the FARs, or whatever other topic seemed interesting at the time.

As many of you know, we lost Tim this weekend to an accident in Maryland. By all accounts, he had found happiness and contentment in his achievement of tenure and in the satisfying relationship he had found with Deborah Giant of Bryan. That he left us all so soon and suddenly is very, very sad.

http://www.eaa732.org/newsletters%5C2006-09.pdf

CFI Corner: “Any traffic please advise.” – NOT!

We hear it a lot around Northwest Arkansas: “Siloam Springs traffic, Lear N12345 is on a six mile final for one-eight. Any traffic in the area please advise.” There has been a running debate on many of the on-line aviation forums as to the value of this broadcast, and folks can get downright indignant about whether or not the phrase should be used. I, personally, find it annoying and don’t use it, but I haven’t made an issue of it in flight reviews. I will in the future.

The latest release of the AIM...more

On November 11, 2006, an air race billed as the First Annual Rocket 100 will take place. The race starts (or more accurately, competitors take off) from Taylor TX and proceeds on a 100 mile course between Taylor and Caldwell. If you want to see RV-class planes with balls to the wall, it sounds like this is the place to be. For more information, Click here!