Summer 2012
A Quarterly Publication of the AERO CLUB of Washington DC
Connection
Inside
Foundation and Luncheons
President’s Message Bob Bergman
www.aeroclub.org
Remembering the Past,
Looking to the Future
I
“While we celebrate
history, we look to
the future.”
Coming Up
September 18
Deborah Hersman, NTSB
October 17
Dave Barger, JetBlue Airways
November 14
Airbus and Boeing
Airline Industry Forecast
n our Spring newsletter, we reflected on the proud history of the Aero Club
of Washington. The pilot in the “Did You Know” section of this newsletter
on page 3 made history, although duplicating this feat today would draw a
different kind of attention!
Looking at the more recent history of aviation, we note the untimely passing
of Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. While I was well aware of her
accomplishments in the space program, I have learned much more about the
interest she took and the role she played in promoting science and technology
education among young people. After leaving NASA, among many other activities, she established Sally Ride Science, a company that focuses on motivating
young people to pursue careers in science and technology. The need to promote
STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – education was recognized by
Secretary LaHood’s Future of Aviation Advisory Committee as a key element in
maintaining US pre-eminence in aviation. In that regard, I encourage all members
to become more familiar with the activities of the Aero Club Foundation, which
works with students in DC schools to promote careers in aviation and aerospace
(see page 2).
While we celebrate history, we look to the future. Our luncheon speakers
this spring have indeed been “futuristic” in their outlook. NASA Administrator
Charles Bolden spoke of expanding our reach into the solar system; Northrup
Grumman’s Wes Bush, addressed the rapidly developing field of unmanned aerial
systems; and FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta discussed advances in
NextGen technology. I hope you enjoyed these speakers as much as I did; These
are important and exciting, developments in aviation and aeronautics.
We are beginning to plan for the annual Wright Memorial Dinner, which
will be held on December 14 this year. The Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy is
awarded annually to a living American for significant public service of enduring
value to aviation in the United States. The Aero Club makes a nomination every
year to the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), who selects the award
winner. Please consult the NAA website for more information on this prestigious
award.
We hope you have a great summer and we look forward to your participation
in upcoming luncheons, as we continue to look to the future of aviation.
2012 Board Members
Officers
President
Robert A. Bergman
UPS
Vice President
David Castelveter
Transportation Security Administration
Treasurer
Laddie Irion
URS Corporation
Secretary
Peter F. Dumont
Air Traffic Control Association
Immediate Past President
Monte Belger
Metron Aviation
Board Members
Aero Club Foundation
Oakley Brooks
National Air Carrier Association
Awards
Darby Becker
GE Aviation
FAA Liaison
Catherine M. Lang
Federal Aviation Administration
Government Affairs
John Provenzano
Delta Air Lines
Historian/NASM Liaison
Dik Daso
National Air & Space Museum
Legal
Jeff Shane
Hogan Lovells
Long Range Planning
Margaret Jenny
RTCA
Membership
Gerald Dillingham
U.S. GAO
Policy and Programs
Clay McConnell
Airbus Americas
Publicity
TJ Schulz
Airport Consultants Council
Special Projects
Dan Elwell
Aerospace Industries Association
Sponsorship
Jose Ceballos
NATCA TSA Liaison
Douglas Hofsass
Transportation Security Administration
Wright Memorial Dinner
Greg Principato
ACI - N.A.
Mark Anderson
United Airlines
Andrew Broom
HondaJet
Ed Faberman
Wiley Rein
Margaret McKeough
MWAA
Mike Nichols
NBAA
Sharon Pinkerton
Airlines for America
Yvette Rose
Cargo Airline Association
Melissa Sabatine
AAAE
Gael Sullivan
BNSF Railway Company
David Traynham
The Boeing Company
Susan Walsh
Pratt & Whitney
*Past ACW Presidents
Nancy Hackett
Executive Director
Top Aviation Landmarks
in the Washington, D.C. Area
W
e polled members of the Aero Club of Washington Board of Governors for the top
aviation-related attractions in the Washington D.C. area. During the last weeks of
summer, consider getting reacquainted with some tried and true favorites, or make
plans to visit new, obscure attractions!
1. The National Air and Space Museum – Not only is this the most well-know aviation
attraction in the Washington D.C. area, in 2010 it was recognized as the second most
visited museum in the world with 8.3 million visitors. Those who have not visited the Air
and Space Museum recently should check out new exhibits celebrating 50 years of human
space flight and the centennial of Marine Corps Aviation. http://airandspace.si.edu/
2. The National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center – Located near
Dulles International Airport, this facility remains the Smithsonian’s best kept secret. Three
football fields in length and ten stories tall, the Hazy Center currently holds 180 fully assembled aircraft and 135 space artifacts including the space shuttle Discovery. A new restoration
shop and archives just opened there last fall. http://airandspace.si.edu/udvarhazy/
3. Air Force Memorial – Located just outside of D.C. on the west side of the Pentagon, this
stunning memorial is a national place of pride, reverence and remembrance. It was
dedicated on October 14, 2005 to the members of the United States Air Force and its
Heritage Organizations. www.airforcememorial.org/
4. The College Park Aviation Museum – This museum is a 27,000-square-foot, state-ofthe-art facility located on the grounds of the world’s oldest continuously operating airport
in College Park, MD. The airport was founded in 1909, when Wilbur Wright gave flight
instructions to the first military aviators. Visitors to the museum step into an open 1-1/2 story
exhibit space, which highlights the display of unique aircraft and artifacts and tells the story
of the airport’s many firsts in flight to today. The gallery contains historic and reproduction
aircraft associated with the history of the airfield, as well as hands-on activities and interpretive areas for children of all ages. www.collegeparkaviationmuseum.com/home.htm.
Aero Club Foundation
Exciting Field Trips and Growth Cap
Another Successful Year
W
ith another academic school year completed, the Aero Club Foundation’s program
for District of Columbia school students finished on a high note during an Open
House put on by Andrews Air Force Base in suburban Maryland on May 18.
Forty students from Washington Mathematics Science Technology Public Charter
and 22 students from McKinley Technical attended. The visit included time with members
of the 459th Air Refueling Wing, who counseled students on career paths and
opportunities with the Air Force Reserve, and tours of aircraft, including a KC-135 tanker.
This academic year also saw an expansion of the Foundation’s activities with District
public schools. McKinley Technical came on board, joining Cardozo TransTech, Washington
Mathematics Science Technology, and Stuart Hobson, on various field trips and events. The
number and variety of trips expanded to double that in the previous year, broadening students’
exposure to different aspects of aerospace – both civilian and government. The Foundation
will continue this track for next year.
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A Quarterly Publication of the AERO CLUB of Washington DC
Wright
Memorial
DinnerasContinued
5. Gravelly
Point
Park – Known
one of the best places in the country to watch
aircraft take off and land, this park off of Washington Reagan National Airport is easily
accessible by car or bike. It offers loads of fun for kids and is a great location for
picnics. Also check out Daingerfield Island on the south side of the airport, which has a
concessions stand and viewing area in the back.
www.city-data.com/articles/Gravelly-Point-Park-Arlington-Virginia.html
6. Ft. Myer Historic District – The birthplace of military aviation, where the first
military airplane in the world, built by the Wright brothers for the Army Signal Corps,
made its first flight in September 1908. Orville Wright was the pilot for the flights
required to demonstrate performance. Less than a thousand people witnessed the
first flight, because the general public was still doubtful that powered flight had been
achieved. Orville’s subsequent flights during the next two weeks were watched by
thousands, and finally convinced the American public that “man could fly.”
http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/aviation/ftm.htm
7. The Wright Experience - Visit this working museum in Warrenton, Virginia and
learn about how the Wright Brothers built gliders and powered aircraft. Working under
contract with the Discovery of Flight Foundation, the Wright Experience researches,
reconstructs, tests, analyzes, and documents authentic full-scale reproductions of the
Wright Brothers’ developmental aircraft and engines.
http://www.wrightexperience.com/index.html
8. Flying Circus Airshow – Parachute jumpers, wing walkers and barnstormers are the
stars of the Flying Circus airshow in Bealton, Virginia. Ninety-minute airshows are held
weekly from late spring into fall. After the airshows the audience can go out on to the
airfield and meet the pilots and other airshow performers.
http://www.flyingcircusairshow.com/
9. Northern Virginia Control Line at Meadowood Field – Fly your control line model
aircraft every second Saturday of each month from April to September.
http://www.nvcontrolline.com/index.html
10. Potomac Park – Finally, be sure to visit the Haines Point monument unveiled and
dedicated by the Aero Club of Washington in 1958 commemorating the 40th anniversary
of the first scheduled airmail flight.
Did You Know . . .
In 1910, along with the Washington
Post, the Aero Club offered pilot Claude
Grahame-White $10,000 for a roundtrip
flight from Washington to Baltimore. White
turned the offer down, judging the route
“too hazardous.” The Club settled for
hosting a reception for the pilot where he
was presented a silver cup for “flying from
Bennings around South Washington,” says
the old record, “and landing beside the
West Wing of the White House,” on what is
now West Executive Plaza.
Summer 2012
New Members
April through July, 2012
Leslie Abbott
Southwest Airlines
John Coffey
TriVector Services Inc.
Brent Connor
Thompson Hine LLP
John DiMattei
The Boeing Company
Paul Doerrer
The Doerrer Group
Donald Forest
Aerospace Industries Association
Kevin Geiss
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force
Florian Hafner
Hafner Engineering, LLC
Michael Hawthorne
Noblis, Inc.
James Jarvis
Ricondo & Associates
Norma Kaehler
American Airlines
Shinichiro Kawazoe
Mitsubishi International Corporation
Jennifer Lowe
The Boeing Company
Christine Madden
Young Enterprise Systems
John McGraw
John McGraw Aerospace Consulting, LLC
Joseph Meier
Technical Applications Group
Jennifer Michels
Transportation Trades Dept., AFL-CIO
Keith L. Moore
Martin-Blanck & Associates
Jeffrey Munk
Hogan Lovells
Nobukazu Nagai
Japan International Tranport Institute, USA
Ramon Ricondo
Ricondo & Associates
Sherry Ruffing
Valent Aerostructures
Mary Jean Russell, Ph.D.
Webster University and Wings of Hope
Joshua Schank
Eno Center for Transportation
Herb Schlickenmaier
Crown Consulting
Kevin Schorr
Campbell-Hill Aviation Group
Sanjay Shah
1st American Systems and Services
Jol Silversmith
Zuckert, Scoutt & Rasenberger, LLP
Mike Wambsganss
Crown Consulting
Michael Wascomb
American Airlines
Wytkind, Ed
Transportation Trades Dept., AFL-CIO
Michael Yodice
Yodice Associates
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Aero Club of Washington Luncheons
NASA Programs and Contributions Discussed
N
ASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden highlighted numerous initiatives
in space operations and exploration, and research that will benefit
the aviation sector during the March 2012 Aero Club luncheon.
Describing the FY 2013 budget proposal as “stable, not shrinking,” Bolden
said that NASA was “embarking on an ambitious program of space exploration that will build on new technologies as well as proven capabilities that
will expand our reach into the solar system, including new destinations such
as an asteroid and Mars.” He also discussed initiatives underway that benefit
aeronautics, including driving technology for NextGen, the integration of
unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System, and research to test
the use of alternative fuels and biofuels.
Bush Provides Outlook on UAS
T
he growth of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) took center stage at
the April luncheon. “Unmanned air systems are more than ready for
transition into civil airspace,” said luncheon speaker Wes Bush, Chairman,
CEO and President of Northrop Grumman Corporation. “In fact, they have
already proven their adaptability to civil uses, and today they truly are
indispensible in the conduct of so many vital non-military missions.”
Passage of the FAA reauthorization bill mandated the integration of UAS into
the national airspace no later than September 2015, and six test ranges to
support integration will be identified. With global spending on unmanned
systems expected to reach $94 billion, Bush cautioned against setting export
restrictions that could prevent U.S.
Huerta Discusses NextGen Benefits
A
t the May luncheon, FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta discussed advances in
NextGen technologies that are having significant impacts now. Calling NextGen one of the
largest infrastructure projects underway, Huerta said, “What we do over the next several
years is going to affect the air transportation system in this country for decades to come.”
Under the Metroplex initiative, for example, precise GPS routes are being designed above congested metropolitan areas to create more direct routes that relieve bottlenecks and congestion,
cut emissions and fuel consumption, and create better access for GA airports. Huerta also said
that FAA was improving safety by moving from a system of investigation and forensic study to
a proactive analysis of data. According to Huerta, establishing Safety Management Systems help
determine where problems exist, catch errors before they happen, and greatly improve safety.
AERO CLUB of Washington
P.O. Box 17295
Washington, DC 20041
703-327-7082 • 703-327-9412 (fax)
[email protected] (email)
www.aeroclub.org
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A Quarterly Publication of the AERO CLUB of Washington DC | Summer 2012