YANKEE AIR MUSEUM DEVASTATED BY FIRE;
EFFORTS ONGOING TO RISE FROM THE ASHES

By now, you’ve probably heard about the fire that completely destroyed the YAM hangar at Willow Run.  Fortunately, all five of the flyable aircraft remain intact; three (the B-17, B-25, and C-47) were pulled out before the fire damaged them), and two (the AT-11 and Stinson) were being worked on at other airports.   

Grosse Ile Airport and the YAM have enjoyed an excellent relationship.  The Museum’s aircraft have appeared at various events here (including a Big Band dance), and the two airshows that the Museum has conducted here have been first-class events.   

The Museum has been provided hangar space at Willow Run.  It is now soliciting donations (money, books, and artifacts) to rebuild the museum, re-create exhibits, and replenish tool kits and stocks of aircraft parts.  Details regarding donations and photos of the Museum “before” and “after” can be found at www.yankeeairmuseum.org.  We encourage you to sign up as a Museum member and send in a donation to help the Museum “rise from the ashes” and return to its status as a unique and valued center of Michigan aviation history.

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From the Museum web site:

The Yankee Air Museum and the Michigan Aerospace Foundation would like to ask that anyone with an interest in helping to rebuild the museum, please contact the Foundation. Also, anyone who has artifacts they would be willing to donate to the museum should contact the Curator, Gayle Roberts. 

A help hotline can be reached at 734-483-4030.  If you receive a busy signal please keep trying.  The following people can be contacted to offer your support: 

For the Museum, contact:
Yankee Air Museum President, Jon Stevens 734-637-2117
Yankee Air Museum Vice President, Dick Stewart 734-637-8878
Yankee Air Museum Curator, Gayle Roberts 734-637-8876 

For the Foundation, contact:
Michigan Aerospace Foundation President, Dennis Norton 734-971-2750
Michigan Aerospace Foundation Treasurer, Gary Brown 734-316-2216  

Donations may be sent directly to the Michigan Aerospace Foundation through its web site at  http://www.michiganaerospace.org   or can be mailed to:

Yankee Air Museum Recovery Fund
P.O. Box 8282
Ann Arbor MI, 48107-8282

Thank you for your help,
Dennis Norton
President Michigan Aerospace Foundation

Brooklynair About to Go Part 135

by John Lawson, A.A.E 

Big news from Rick Schirmer at Brooklynair – they’re about to become certified by the FAA to fly on-demand charter flights!  They are adding N9349M (a Cessna 206) to their stable of aircraft (see photo).  More details in the next newsletter… 

Runway Project Progress

by John Lawson, A.A.E

 A couple of factors (Mother Nature, and the County bridge closure) conspired to push the completion date of the project back to approximately November 4.  When the runway reopens, the PAPIs and REILs will still be out of service; we’re replacing the old ones, but the new ones won’t be delivered in time.  Also, the displaced threshold will remain in place temporarily while we work with the Ford Yacht Club about the trees on Round Island.

Tennis Center Update

By John Shade, Tennis Center Director

The Grosse Ile Tennis Center is open and ready for business again this fall. Tennis Professional Scooter DeMare and Director of Tennis John Shade have planned activities for all ages and all levels of players. One of the most popular programs is the United States Tennis Association sponsored USA Team Tennis program for junior players. Practices have begun and competitions begin in late October. The Tennis Center has also joined the Great Lakes Tennis League for adult competitions. Call 734-362-PLAY (7529) for more information.

Improvements and additions at the Tennis Center include: cardio exercise equipment by Pre Cor, a treadmill, an elliptical and a recumbent cycle, divider netting between each court, chairs for each court, refinished parking lot, new lobby furniture from McLaughlin’s, and pictures of the building in its original form. 

The Morning Walk program runs from October 25 to April 1. You can sign up and pay for your pass at the Recreation Department during normal business hours or at the Tennis Center. The walking hours are Monday through Friday, 6 AM to 8:30 AM. The cost is $45 for the season (residents) and $50 for non-residents.  For more details, call the Recreation Department at (734) 675-2364.

News from Our Flight Instructors 

Tom Morrison recently purchased N524TM, a new C182 with a glass instrument panel (see photo).  He has asked Bill Kuehnel to get him current and trained in the panel.

New Billing System

 Please be aware we are currently switching over to a new billing and accounting system in the Airport office to correlate with the Township system.  The invoices and/or statements you may receive will look very different.  Please bear with us as we make this transition and if you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.  Please direct any questions or concerns to:  Caryn Johnson or John Lawson at 734-675-0155 or email at:  cjohnson@grosseileairport.com or jlawson@grosseileairport.com.

Don’t forget to register…

…and no, we’re not talking about the elections.  We’re talking about your airplane!  Our Michigan Aeronautics airport inspector passed on a friendly reminder that everyone that has aircraft in the State must be registered with the Michigan Department of Transportation, Bureau of Aeronautics.  A Michigan Aircraft Registration form M-4004 must be filled out and returned to MDOT along with the registration fee of 1 cent per pound based on the maximum gross weight of the aircraft.  The form can be obtained through the Michigan Aeronautics web site at http://www.michigan.gov/aero/ or by calling Aeronautics at  517-335-9719. 

FAA Safety Web Site

Take a look at the new FAA web site for aviation safety at http://www.faasafety.gov/.  The site is still under development and will include announcements about upcoming seminars, various FAA documents such as the FAR-AIM and the Pilot's Handbook, and other items of interest to pilots.

Report Suspicious Activity around Airports and on the Water

Help ensure the security of GA aircraft and airport operations across the country.  Call toll-free 1-866-GA SECURE (866-427-3287) to report suspicious activity at any airport.  The Airport Watch Program has been established with AOPA.  To learn what to watch for, see www.aopa.org/asn/watch.html.  Report suspicious activity on the water to River Watch, a Homeland Security Watch Program, at 1-800-537-3200.  You may also contact the Airport office during business hours at 734-675-0155 or call the G.I. Police Department at 734-676-7100.

Cold-Weather Hints for Hangar Tenants

By John Lawson, A.A.E. 

Watch for icicles falling off along roof tops and entrance doors.  Don’t stand under the edges of roofs any longer than necessary.  For the same reason, don’t stand directly under doors while they are in operation. 

Before opening T-hangar doors, shovel or sweep snow away from the bottom of the doors.  This will prevent the door bottom seals from tearing. 

Use only non-corrosive ice-melting materials on the ground (i.e., no salt, please!).  Also, please do NOT put any materials (corrosive OR non-corrosive) in or around the door tracks for Hangar 1 (such materials make the door rollers jump the track). 

Use EXTREME CAUTION when operating vehicles on the ramp while maintenance folks are removing snow.  Stay in the middle of the taxilanes between hangars and drive slow at all times so you can watch for snow trucks.  Be especially careful when going around corners and watch for snow trucks or other vehicles.  The snow truck driver can only warn you with the air horn on his truck, as we don’t have blind-spot mirrors on the hangars. 

Do not park vehicles anywhere around T-hangar units while snow removal is in progress, or when snow is expected. 

When other snow removal operations are complete, the maintenance folks will help you with snow removal from under your doors.  If you see a snow truck or front-end loader nearby, just flag him over to assist.  This is a free service, no tips please (from John— a big smile and a thank you will help!). 

Do not use any type of open flame heaters in hangars.  These are not authorized for use.  If a fire is ignited by an open-flame heater, your insurance might not cover you (a rowful of aircraft would be extremely expensive to replace out of your allowance!).   

Other hangar safety requirements are listed in your hangar lease.  We ask that you review them and comply. accordingly. 

Electrical Safety 

 Have you modified your hangar’s electrical system somehow?  Have you tapped into a power source without getting permission from Airport Maintenance first?  Are you using hand tools to “jury-rig” hangar door controls?  If you are, you might cause an electrical problem that (at the least) will cause circuit breakers to pop (and shut off power to other hangar tenants) or worse, will ignite a fire.   

Needless to say, such an event would cause considerable hate and discontent among your fellow tenants (not to mention the damage it will cause to your pocketbook!).  Please, please, please undo anything you have done without permission to hangar electrical systems.  If you desire to make modifications or improvements, contact Airport Maintenance first. 

Also, we received several complaints last winter about circuit breakers popping.  The cold weather caused aircraft owners to use heaters more than usual and the resulting amperage demand was too much for some of the hangars to handle.  Please be considerate of your fellow hangar tenants and only use as much power as you need.  Shut off all electrical devices when not in use or when the hangar is unattended, and unplug all extension cords (except for approved heaters) when the hangar is unattended.  Review your hangar lease for more details. 

Notification of Changes

Is your information up-to-date with the Airport?  Let us know of any changes of aircraft, email, addresses, or telephone.  Got a cellphone number to give us? 

Set up Easy Rent Payments 

Hangar tenants and commercial operators are eligible to have rent payments debited from any bank account.  We can set you up with automatic debit.  It’s easy and safe.  Just ask the office for an Authorization for Automatic Debit form.  We’ll have you set up in no time.  Then you won’t have to remember to pay your rent—and no more late fees!

We’re looking for a few good articles! 

Do you have something to write about?  Did you fly somewhere interesting?  Do you have a tip you’d like to pass on?  If so, please submit an article to Mike O’Brien or John Lawson and we’ll be happy to publish it as space allows. 

We will also publish aviation and Naval Air Station related classified / wanted ads for free!

Grosse Ile Pilot House

Historic WW II Officers Club 

Overnight and Long Term Lodging 

734-671-2295 Art Cortis

Stuff That Pilots Can Use

You can reserve an N-number, change your address on your pilot’s license, request replacement of a lost airman’s certificate, get forms related to aircraft and airman registration, and perform a number of other tasks at the FAA’s web site at http://registry.faa.gov/. 

 The FAA has also established a safety-related web site at http://www.faasafety.gov/.  If you register, you can receive email notices of safety seminars that will be held in the area.  The site also has on-line resources (an on-line copy of the AIM and the Pilot’s Handbook will soon be available). 

 The web page at http://www.csgnetwork.com/aviationconverters.html has a bunch of on-line calculators and conversion tools that are very useful to pilots. 

 The latest TFRs are at http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr/jsp/list.jsp.  Don’t leave home without looking at it, or you may end up with an F-16 as an escort! 

 The Michigan Aeronautics web site at http://www.michigan.gov/aero/ has a lot of useful information, including the Michigan airport directory, a calendar of events, seminar dates and locations, state aeronautical rules and regulations, aircraft registration forms, and more. 

 A good synopsis of the new Sport Pilot rule is at http://www.sportpilot.org/rule/final_rule_synopsis.html.  The entire rule is also available for download, if you need a substitute for a sleeping pill (452 pages!  The weight of the rule might exceed the max gross weight of a Light Sport Airplane).  There are links at the bottom of the page for other information about the rule and how certification as a Sport Pilot can be earned. 

 And if you want to find just about every worthwhile link in the universe to aviation-related web sites, go to http://users.aol.com/dheitm8612/page2.htm. 

NASGI & GIMA Shirts Available!

Naval Air Station Polos (with embroidered Corsair) or Airport Polos (with embroidered Cessna) are available at the Airport Office and Seaway Aviation.  

$33.92 (Tax included.)  

$30.00 (Tax included) for Grosse Ile Flight Instructors / Student Pilots, and Aircraft Owners who currently lease any hangar space on the airport.

Grosse Ile Airport hats are coming soon!  We expect to receive a shipment by mid-November.  They will be available in the Airport Office for $13.

Looking for a Model Builder! 

The Grosse Ile Airport is looking for an R.C. model builder to complete this balsa wood model Stearman, which will be displayed in the Township Hall.  It needs an engine, wheels, wing bolts, and rudder hinges.  We also need the blue MonoKote® stripped and reapplied with Naval Air Station Grosse Ile colors (solid yellow) and markings.  If you know anyone who would be interested, please call the Airport Office at (734) 675-0155.

Airport Administration

Q         Office – 734-675-0155

Q         Fax – 734-675-0932

www.grosseileairport.com

Airport Commission

Q         Chairman:  Robert Harris

Q         Vice Chair: Joe Lemanski

Q         Trustee:      Les Neal

Q         Members:  Tom Dunne

                Jim Lowlor

                          Jim Weaks 

                          Tom Burkhart

Administration

Q         John Lawson, AAE - Manager

Q         Caryn Johnson - Office
Coordinator

Q         Mike O’Brien—Airport Intern

Maintenance

Q         Lyle Eastom—Supervisor/Leading Chief

Q         Rodney Eastom

Q         Gerald “Jerry”  Dionne

Q         Jim Farrell  

Rights reserved to correct errors or omissions.  © Grosse Ile Airport.

“Working with you to provide the energy that propels aviation"

Arrow Energy, a Nationwide Independent Supplier of Aviation Fuels, and Phillips 66 are sponsors of The ONZ ‘Tetrahedron’ newsletter.  Grosse Ile Airport thanks them for their support.  For more information, visit www.arrowenergy.com, call

1-800-968-2853, or email info@arrowenergy.com.

Calendar of Events

Q         Nov 10– Airport Commission Meeting 7:30 PM
Township Boardroom 

Q         Nov 11– EAA 457 Meeting  7 PM Township Boardroom 

Q         Dec 8– Airport Commission Meeting 7:30 PM Township Boardroom

Airport Commission meetings are held in the Grosse Ile Township Board Room, 9601 Groh Rd., Grosse Ile, Michigan 48138. 

Generally, the meetings are held at 7:30 PM the 2nd Wednesday  of each month.

Your Local EAA Chapter Contact:  Norm Donaldson, 734-676-7366.  Please visit www.geocities.com/eaa457/ for the latest news and info.   

The next Chapter meeting will be Thursday November 11 at     7 PM in the Grosse Ile Township Boardroom.