JULY 2013 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 3

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1 This quarterly MMU E-Newsletter is a joint publication from DM AIRPORTS, LTD. (Operators of Morristown Airport), MAA (Morristown Aviation Association) and MAPA (Morristown Airport Pilot s Association). This issue, as well as previous issues, is available at Table of Contents: Committees & Messages Page 1 CoMMUnity Page 2 Airport News Page 3 Our Airport Family Page 5 COMMITTEES & MESSAGES ATC Update Total traffic for April 2013 was up 3% compared to April There were 14 days of delays mostly attributed to sector volume, CDW arrivals and N90 West stops. Total traffic for May 2013 was up 3% compared to May There were 6 days of delays mostly attributed to sector volume. Total traffic for June 2013 was down 1% compared to June There were 11 days of delays mainly due to sector volume, swap and EWR Rwy 11. Membership The next MAA meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 4 th at 10 a.m. in Signature Flight Support s Conference Room. Please attend and consider joining MAA if you are not already a member. Message from the MAA Chairperson Let me begin by extending a sincere thank you to those who supported my appointment to MAA Chairman. I am excited to be given this opportunity, and look forward to helping take MAA to the next level. I also extend my gratitude to Dan Holbrook for carrying the banner over the last year; a year of transition for sure. Thank you Dan for your leadership and continued support. It is also my privilege to thank Steve Pannozzo, MAA s Vice-Chairman, for his leadership during and after Dan s resignation. Steve did a fantastic job of holding things together for those months while looking for the new Chairman. Steve has been gracious to continue in the Vice-Chairman position moving forward. For those of you who may not know me, my name is Randall (Randy) Wood. I am the Principal of Inflight Training Solutions over in Allentown, Pennsylvania. I.T.S. provides training under Part 135 and 91, handles all types of manual development and revision services, and supplies management consulting for flight departments in employment or administrative transition or who need assistance with FAA issues. I have been a member of MAA since October, 2011, and have always enjoyed getting to connect with all the MAA members from month to month. Newsletter 1

2 At my first meeting as Chair, this July, I was happy to see a large turnout at the now-bimonthly MAA meeting. There were almost thirty people in attendance, and everyone had unique input to bring to the table. There is one prominent topic that was discussed at this meeting: reinstituting an MAA website. This page will subsist under and will be built to include all relevant information concerning the MAA and its members, as well as past and future topics/projects. We are hoping to have a listing of all the new events surrounding the MAA, an specifically for MAA, an archive for all the past minutes and agendas, and links to several ATC tools. This is obviously still in the works, so if anyone has any other novel ideas for it feel free to contact me. There are many very important topics that affect both users and tenants of Morristown Airport, so I would love to include your involvement. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me or my staff so that your concern can be addressed. I can t promise that your concern or question will be answered with the answer you are looking for, but I will strive to ensure it is addressed. Until the website is up and running, please feel free to reach out to me via at rwood@inflighttrainingsolutions.com or at my office at I would encourage your attendance at our bi-monthly meetings; the first Wednesday of all odd-numbered months. Thus our next meeting will be on September 4 th. I hope to see all of your there. I do look forward to working with you and to having a part in future MAA endeavors! Randall (Randy) Wood Chairman, MAA Message from the President of MAPA The recent crash of the Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 at San Francisco International Airport jarred the whole aviation community with everyone asking, How could this happen? What we do know now is that the crew allowed the approach speed to get too low and last minute attempts to regain flying speed did not work, with the plane hitting the seawall. There were four pilots on the flight deck and each supposedly has 10,000 or more hours as Pilot in Command. Putting aside the relative short time the pilot flying the approach had, maybe 80 hours or so, his total time and experience should have been enough to tell him to maintain airspeed. All four should have been alert enough to look at the airspeed indicator or the GPS and know what was happening. So the big question becomes why and why do we care? Every one of us knows what slow airspeed on final means a hard landing. Sometimes, it s a very hard landing. So we monitor our airspeed. Getting back to the Asiana pilots, we are probably guilty as they are for calling time on the autopilot as flight time and duly recorded in our log books. The small amount of time spent on actually flying the airplane during takeoff, before switching to autopilot, is only a few minutes, but the logs reflect the total flight time, not stick and rudder flying. Applying the lessons of flying time versus logged time, brings us to the heart of the problem. Staying current and remembering the old-timers advice. Fly the airplane. With the plethora of electronic cockpit tools, flying may become a lost art or a potentially hazardous pastime. The cockpit displays can divert the pilot s eyes to the inside of the airplane and set up scenarios for mid-air meetings or as in the Asiana case, the pilots simply forgot how to fly the airplane. Today we are faced with rising gas prices, and the $100 hamburger flight has at least doubled. So, our personal flying time has been drastically reduced and with it, goes our flying skills. I worry about general aviation s future and the loss of piloting skills. So, let me urge you to stay current, maintain your flying skills, fly quietly, and be a good neighbor. Fly safe. Mike Stoddard President, Morristown Airport Pilots Association CoMMUnity Pilots N Paws By Keenan English, DM Operations Coordinator On May 16 th, Morristown Municipal Airport (MMU) received some of the most precious cargo the Airport has ever seen. Non-profit organization, Pilots N Paws, delivered 22 puppies and dogs to FTC FBO. Pilots N Paws is a North Carolina based organization that consists of volunteer pilots who transport various types of pets to Newsletter 2

3 rescue shelters and foster homes around the country. Each puppy/dog flown into MMU was placed into a network of foster homes coordinated by Home for Good, Dog Rescue, a 100% foster-based rescue shelter located in Summit, NJ. Together, these two organizations play a huge role in saving the lives of abandoned and mistreated pets destined from euthanasia. Home for Good, Dog Rescue volunteers help take one of the Pilots N Paws rescue dogs off an aircraft During the dogs stay, our good friends at FTC FBO were gracious enough to waive any and all aircraft fees and also donated fuel for their trip home. Also, the dogs received first class treatment that included baths, food and water, and grooming. Pilots N Paws and Home for Good, Dog Rescue will continue to use MMU and FTC FBO as a drop off zone for rescued animals for the foreseeable future. If you are interested in adopting a dog or becoming a foster for Home for Good, Dog Rescue, applications can be found at If you are interested in donating to Pilots N Paws, visit AIRPORT NEWS Runway 5-23 Keel Repair By Darren Large, A.A.E., DM-Manager, Facilities & Projects Morristown Municipal Airport (MMU) is currently working on the preliminary design phase of the Rehabilitation of Runway 5-23 Project which consists of a multi-year project that includes the rehabilitation of Runway 5-23 pavement, associated lighting, drainage, and safety areas and the rehabilitation of the Medium-intensity Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator (MALSR). Prior to the commencement of the Rehabilitation of Runway 5-23 Project, a 50 foot wide by 5,999 foot section of the runway keel will need to be milled and paved. The milling and paving of the runway keel will be done in order to strengthen the pavement and to give it a longer life expectancy, while MMU and the FAA continue to work through the details of the larger project. In September 2013, DM AIRPORTS, LTD. (DM) will be initiating the first phase of the runway keel mill and pave project with the construction of an approximately 50 foot wide by 1,000 foot section of the runway keel. Construction will involve milling out nine inches of the center 50 foot section of Runway 5-23, the placement of pavement fabric to help distribute the load, and the laying of nine inches of new pavement. This work is expected to take approximately two weeks, although the contract and schedule are still being negotiated. The exact dates of construction, and subsequent runway closures, are still being discussed. DM anticipates advising the MMU community of the start date of construction and anticipated closure dates, in mid-august. Over the course of the next three years, DM will continue with the construction of the keel section of Runway 5-23 in preparation for a future full length/full width overlay. If you have any questions about this project, please contact Darren Large, Manager, Facilities & Projects, at DarrenL@mmuair.com. Save the Date! The Collings Foundation Returns in September By Keenan English, DM Operations Coordinator We are pleased to announce that the Collings Foundation is gearing up for another visit to MMU. For those who missed out on last year s event, the Collings Foundation is a non-profit educational foundation that preserves historic military aircraft and tours them around the country. Since 1979 they have acquired over 25 Newsletter 3

4 restored historic aircraft that represent a progression of military aircraft developed during the 20 th century. From September 3 rd through September 5 th, as part of their nationwide Wings of Freedom Tour, the foundation will fly three of their more popular WWII aircraft into MMU. On display will be a B- 17, a P-51C Mustang, considered by some as the greatest fighter aircraft ever produced, and a B- 24, the only restored flying B-24 in the world. During their stay, each event attendee will be granted full access to tour and take pictures of each aircraft inside and out. These walk through tours will cost $12 for adults and $6 for children under 12. WWII veterans get into the ground tours at no charge. Parking is free and the event will be held on the apron at Signature Flight Support FBO. For those who really want to get the full experience of these magnificent machines, 30 minute flights will be offered to those willing to make a donation to the foundation. B-24 Witchcraft from the 2012 Wings of Freedom Tour at MMU So, whether you ve seen them before or, it s your first time, come see three pieces of living history while you have the chance. It s a fun time for all ages. For more information regarding the Collings Foundation, tour schedules, or plane ride gift certificates, visit For additional details, contact Airport Operations at 1(973) ext NBAA s Area Fatigue Seminar By Dean Saucier, NBAA-Northeast Regional Representative It is amazing what you don t know about what you don t know. That was just one of the comments heard at one of three fatigue management seminars held in the Northeast NBAA Region last month. The most widely attended was at the Signature Flight Support facility at Morristown Municipal Airport (MMU). DM AIRPORTS worked diligently to keep traffic moving and find parking spaces for the more than 120 attendees. The four hour long CAM approved seminars were conducted by Alertness Solutions of Cupertino, CA and included internationally renowned doctor Melissa Mallis and Delta Airlines Captain Jim Mangie Pilot Fatigue Risk Manager. Attendees walked away from the seminar better understanding how to cope with fatigue and how to use circadian systems, diet, sleep and exercise to manage fatigue. ARFF Chief s Chat by Doug Reighard, MARS/ARFF- Fire Chief In light of some recent events with commercial aircraft in the news, I thought it would be a good reminder to pass along safety information to both crew and passengers in the General Aviation community. Remember, depending on what facility you land at, there may be a long period of time before off-airport resources arrive to assist you with the evacuation of your aircraft. Please do everything you can to provide for the best outcome when a bad situation occurs! Exit, Emergencies, and Equipment Exits Passenger briefings on airliners always include information on the location and operation of doors, and yours must do no less. The location of the door -- or doors, depending on the model -- is no mystery on most GA airplanes, so your briefing can be limited to door operation. Make sure that your passengers know how to open the door(s) in the event of an emergency evacuation. Since no one needs the distraction and discomfort of a door opening in flight, it is also important to brief your passengers on properly securing the door(s). Emergencies If your aircraft has doors on both sides of the fuselage, it is a good idea to develop and brief specific exit procedures to facilitate rapid evacuation of the aircraft. For example, you might plan on keeping your seat forward to allow rear seat passengers to exit via the left door, while you follow the right-seat passenger out the starboard door. This method allows you, as PIC and captain of your ship, to oversee the passenger evacuation before leaving the aircraft yourself. For aircraft with a single right-side Newsletter 4

5 door, consider what works best for a given group of passengers. You might want to have the right seat passenger exit and move the seat to allow rear seat passengers to follow, with you departing last. Alternatively, you might want to follow the right-seat passenger but remain at the door to assist in the evacuation of those in the rear seats. There is no single correct evacuation strategy, so the most important thing is to think it through in advance and communicate the plan to your passengers. Another part of the emergency exit briefing is to designate a gathering point (e.g., walk aft to avoid the prop and gather at the rear of the aircraft). If you carry survival equipment, point it out to all passengers. Stress that safe and expeditious evacuation is the most important consideration, but consider designating one of your rear seat passengers to be in charge of carrying survival equipment out of the aircraft if circumstances permit. Equipment Finally, be sure to explain any equipment, such as supplemental oxygen, that passengers are expected to use during the flight. Source: FAA General Aviation Passenger SAFETY Briefing Take Our Survey! by Maria Sheridan, A.A.E., DM-Sr. Director, Government Affairs & Business Development How are we doing? We want to hear from you! We have a survey on our website to get feedback from our pilot community. As an enticement for you to take 2-3 minutes of your time to answer our questions, we will have a monthly drawing for a $100 Amazon gift card. Please feel free to complete the survey as often as you use choose MMU. Just go to the bottom left of our main page for the link or go directly to it at OUR AIRPORT FAMILY Welcome Gloria! By Joey Cathart, A.C.E. Operations Coordinator DM Airports would like to welcome Gloria Baird to Morristown. Gloria recently graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah with a B.S. in Facility and Property Management and a Business Management minor. She has completed internships with the Salt Lake City Department of Airports and the Smithsonian where she coordinated the LEED Silver Certification of the National Museum of the American Indian. New to the New Jersey area, Gloria is happy to delve into the operations experience at Morristown Municipal Airport. Welcome, Gloria! Welcome Joey! By Gloria Baird Operations Coordinator DM would also like to welcome Joey Cathcart. He is joining us after a year spent working for Frontier Airlines, in Salt Lake City. Joey graduated from Westminster College with a degree in Aviation Management as well as a minor in Flight Operations. He has his private pilot s license with an instrument rating and enjoys flying every chance he gets. As a Colorado native he misses his mountains but is happy to be in New Jersey. Good Luck Keenan! By Gloria Baird Operations Coordinator After a year with DM AIRPORTS, LTD. as an Operations Coordinator, Keenan English is moving forward to a new opportunity as the Assistant Airport Manager of Shawnee Regional Airport, in Oklahoma. Located in his home state, Shawnee is a reliever airport 30 miles east of Oklahoma City. We wish him the best of luck in the future! Signature Flight Support Welcomes Pasquale & Rheal and Congratulates Marilyn! By Pasquale Raguseo, SFS-Duty Manager Signature Flight Support is happy to welcome Pasquale Raguseo as their new Duty Manager. Pasquale comes to Morristown from Teterboro Airport where he spent the past 10 years at Jet Aviation as a Customer Service Manager. He holds a BS in Criminal Justice and an MBA both from Montclair State University. Rheal Gagnon comes to Morristown from Burlington International Airport where he previously served as Vice President of FBO Services for Heritage Aviation. In his new role he will serve as General Manager for Signature Flight Supports FBO. Rheal holds an MBA. Marilyn Vela has been promoted to Sales Manager, North East Region for Signature Flight Support. She previously held the title of General Manager of Signature Flight Support FBO in Morristown. Marilyn has been at MMU for 13 years and as GM for the past 10 years. Congratulations Marilyn! Newsletter 5

6 In Memoriam of Frank Savasta By Len Levy-MAPA Frank James Savasta, 65, died Friday July 12, 2013 at his home in the Lake Stockholm section of Hardyston. Mr. Savasta, son of Leo Lawrence and Mary Margaret (O Toole) Savasta was born in Newark January 18, He resided in Hardyston for the past 31 years. Mr. Savasta was an Air Traffic Control Specialist at Morristown Municipal Airport, retiring June 1, He also served as the Facility Union Representative for 26 years. He was a member of the Wallkill Golf Club in Franklin and had served with the US Navy from 1966 to Mr. Savasta is survived by his wife, Sharon Lee (Larity) Savasta; children, Frank James Savasta II of Chattanooga, TN, Brian Lawrence Savasta & his wife Missy of Nolensville, TN, Andrea Lea DiGiovanni & her husband A.J. of Hackettstown, John Anthony Savasta of Stockholm and Kristin Margaret Savasta of Sparta; father, Leo Lawrence Savasta of West Orange; sisters, Jennifer Melito & her husband Matthew of Mt. Airy, MD and Diana Iovino of Basking Ridge as well as 3 grandchildren. Frank Savasta s plaque given to him by the members of MAPA Frank Savasta surrounded by his fellow air traffic controllers as well as some members of his family FAA ATCT Manager, AJ Barrett gives Frank Savasta a plaque commemorating his retirement If you have any questions or comments regarding the newsletter or items of airport interest including notable events (promotions, awards, service anniversaries, marriages, births, deaths, milestone anniversaries, etc.) please contact Maria Sheridan at: MariaS@mmuair.com Join us for travel talk, news, videos, and more! Type Morristown Municipal Airport into the Facebook search bar or visit the link directly at: Airport Newsletter 6