June 2012 FromOur Department, the Airport Staff, the Bus Drivers, the Hotel Staff, the Law Enforcement Officers and the EAA Chapter Pilots and Staff. All the activities planned were completed and the weather cooperated the entire week-end. The flying competitions were successful with a slight glitch with helium and also a computer error, but all has been worked out and corrected. The Banquet, the Hawaiian Luau, and other social activities were outstanding. A total 148 Young Eagles rides were given not counting rides given to the very young and very old. Tom Newman gave a ride to a WWII veteran at the age of 90 years old. I am sure there will be other comments and articles by other members, so I will just say that if you weren't there, YOU missed it and we missed you. Turning to the situation at hand, let me remind you all of the up coming Annual Meeting in Las Vegas July 31st to August 4th. This General Membership Meeting is very very important so please make plans to attend. BPA s meeting will be on Thursday August 2nd from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., then from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. SEE YOU IN VEGAS WELL WELL WELL Operation Skyhook 16 was a great success, and I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who made it possible. Thanks to all the members who came and participated in the activities, those who worked and those who just made their presence known. I also want to thank the city of Pine Bluff and all the officials and staff that made our stay a pleasant one. A special thanks to the Red Coats, the Fire John W. Hicks, Jr., The Hawk A Note from the Publisher I hoped that my previous begging for ATIS articles would have resulted in me receiving so many articles that I would have to put some aside for future issues of ATIS Unfortunately, that is not what happened. I was planning to put out a 12 page ATIS. If you count these pages, you will see that it only contains 11 pages. Rather than delay this ATIS waiting for more articles, I decided to go with what I have. Our ATIS can only be as good as you make it. The next ATIS will come out shortly after the summer meeting. We are at the height of this years flying season. Please get articles to me so the next ATIS will be outstanding. Juan C. Haygood, Publisher
Here are the financial details of the 2012 BPA Membership Meeting in LAS. BPA will have its Annual Membership meeting in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, from August 1 to August 3, 2012. This meeting will be held in conjunction with International Black Aerospace Council (IBAC). There are TWO ways you can register for this meeting; 1. Register for the entire IBAC convention and the registration fee is $275 until 7-6-12, $350 after 7-6-12. This covers all the IBAC paid events, welcome reception, Youth luncheon, awards ceremony, and the Chief Anderson Gala dinner. To register and pay the registration fee go to www.blackaerospace.org. Select co-convention and register as a BPA member. -OR- 2. The other registration option is to just register as a BPA member for a fee of $150.00. This fee does not include the IBAC paid events, the Youth luncheon, welcome reception, the Chief Anderson Gala dinner and the exhibit hall. If you decide to use this option you send your $150.00 registration fee to; Les Morris, Treasurer P.O. Box 1295 Green Valley, AZ 85622 Whichever registration option you choose the hotel information is the same. We stay at the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. BPA will have a meeting room for all 3 days. The BPA schedule is for 1-2 - & 3 Aug. The rooms are $69.00. Suites available for additional cost. BPA will have a hospitality suite in the sleeping room area. To make a reservation at the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino call 800-635-7711. Ask for the IBAC 2012 Co Conventions or International Black Aerospace Council rate of $69.00. Or go to https://resweb.passkey.com/go/ibac2012
Fellow BPA Members I am in charge of the Welcome Reception that is being held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August. 1, 2012, for the IBAC convention. I would like to see a good turnout from BPA members. The convention is being held on August 1 through August 3. BPA will have a meeting room on Thursday, August 2, from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. We need members to come up with meeting and/or training ideas to fully utilize this time. Members who want a slot of this time should coordinate with John Hicks. The convention registration fee is $275 before July 6 and $350 after July 6. BPA will have a hospitality suite for all three days. There will be approximately 1200 members of the 7 organizations that make up IBAC at the convention. A good time will be had by all as it is almost impossible to have a bad time in Las Vegas. Las Vegas has everything you could want. Come and enjoy yourself. See you in Vegas. Horace Noble, BPA
Annual Black Pilots event attracts aviation fans to PB Aviation fans of all ages and from through out the country gathered at Pine Bluff's Grider Field on Saturday to take part in the 16th annual Operation Skyhook, sponsored by the Black Pilots of America organization. "I'm happy with our turnout," BPA member Kenneth Johnson of Pine Bluff said of the number of spectators as well as pilots and their aircraft. "We've got 30 planes here. Our record is 48, but with the economy and the price of fuel, we're doing well. The only thing that I could wish for is that he weather was cooler. The 51-year-old Johnson, manager of Pine Bluff Wastewater Utility, said he extended the original invitation for BPA to bring the three-day Operation Skyhook program to Grider Field, which dates back more than seven decades and was originally an Army Air Corps training facility during World War II. A pilot for 31 years, Johnson received his flight training as a University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff student. "I'm glad Pine Bluff is able to host Operation Skyhook," he said." I think it's a big plus for the Pine Bluff area as well as BPA." Operation Skyhook - which continues today - includes aviation competitions, plane rides for children and assorted seminars open to the public. Admission is free. A pair of Star City residents - 51-year-old Virginia Gillespie and her 31-year-old daughter-in-law, Jackie Gillespie - were among Saturday's attendees. The elder Gillespie has an obvious appreciation for planes and flying. "I came to one of the shows here a few years ago and saw a lot of planes flying over in a special formation," she said. "They really put on a show. She said her son-in law, James Caldwell, is a pilot and formerly owned a plane. "I first saw a plane flying back when I was 11 or 12 in Glendale," she said. "That's been a long time ago, but planes still fascinate me. I like flying myself, but I'm not crazy about landing." Charles Williams and his grandmother, former BPA National Secretary Delores Simon, journeyed from Miami for the affair. Simon, a registered nurse, said she enjoys her work with the pilots group so much that she annually devotes a week as a volunteer in support of BPA's service to children. Williams, meanwhile, proved somewhat of a challenge to his interviewer. "How old are you, young man, and what are you enjoying the most here?" the youngster was asked while he played with a couple of toy cars he had been toting. "I'm 5, he replied in a snap, and in the same breath announced, "I like talking to people," before asking the reporter, "How old are you?" "Fifty-eight," answered the journalist. "Fifty-eight?" exclaimed Charles. "Wow! That's a big number!" Perhaps, but not so large that its bearer himself is too old to have just as much fun as a 5-year-old while watching "the show" and "talking to people." By Rick Joslin Reprinted courtesy of the PINE BLUFF COMMERCIAL May 27, 2012
Flour Bomb Drop Operation Skyhook 2012 Competition Results 1st Place Palmer Sullins New Orleans Golden Eagles 3 feet 2nd Place Marvin Smith Bronze Eagles 6 feet 3rd Place Rick Astillero Roscoe Draper 30 feet Pylon Cat 1 1st Place Michael Youngblood Atlanta Raptors 2nd Place James Jeter Louis Lynch 3rd Place Rick Astillero Roscoe Draper Pylon Cat 2 1st Place Marvin Smith Bronze Eagles 2nd Place Hubert Looney Louis Lynch 3rd Place Fred Lewis Bronze Eagles Pylon Cat 3 1st Place Bobby Robinson Gilbert Cargill 2nd Place Anthony Hall Bronze Eagles 3rd Place Juan Haygood Gilbert Cargill Balloon Burst 1st Place Palmer Sullins New Orleans Golden Eagles 2nd Place Michael Youngblood Atlanta Raptors Spot Landing 1st Place John Bailey Bronze Eagles 1 foot 2nd Place Eddie Kimbrough Bronze Eagles 1 foot 3rd Place Anthony Hall Bronze Eagles 9 feet Top Gun 1st Place Palmer Sullins New Orleans Golden Eagles 416 pts 2nd Place Michael Youngblood Atlanta Raptors 376 pts 3rd Place Rick Astillero Roscoe Draper 365 pts Formation Team 1st Place 2nd Place 2nd Place Top Team 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place Atlanta Raptors Bronze Eagles New Orleans Golden Eagles Bronze Eagles Atlanta Raptors New Orleans Golden Eagles
OPERATION SKYHOOK MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2012 By Tom Newman WOW! This is beautiful is what comes to mind when describing the activities that occurred during the 2012 Operation Skyhook in Pine Bluff. I have participated in all but one, maybe two, of the past thirteen Operation Skyhook gatherings (as best as I can recall). I look forward to a really solid cross country flight (1400 nm round trip), the comradery of people like me and flying Young Eagles; which brings me to my most cherished memory of Operation Skyhook 2012. On Sunday, May 27 th, the day before Memorial Day, 2012, Doug (Grider Airport Manager) asked me if I had enough time to squeeze in just one more Young Eagle who wanted an airplane ride. I hesitated momentarily, until Doug presented the Young Eagle whose body language screamed I want to go! He was introduced as Ellsworth Pennington and I could only say YES! His eyes immediately popped wide open to about the size of a half dollar and began to sparkle with that gleam of excitement we often see in Young Eagles. While walking to the plane, Ellsworth s exuberance came out as he danced a little jig and smiled from ear to ear. We were escorted to my plane by several interested folks who seized the opportunity to pose for photos with Ellsworth before he climbed into the front passenger seat. I strapped him in, threw his hat in the back seat and put his headset on. Ellsworth was all smiles and grins, saying only this is beautiful. We started the engine, taxied out and did our run up. As we started our takeoff roll Ellsworth again said this is beautiful. We flew north over the Wal-Mart to the river, then east to the rail yard. Ellsworth admired the scenery and view from above and upon turning south for our final approach to landing; he again said this is beautiful. We landed and taxied to our tie down parking space and secured the airplane. Ellsworth exited the airplane and I swear his eyes had grown as wide as silver dollars and just sparkled with joy. I too was grinning with sparkling eyes as wide as silver dollars. I couldn t help but share in his joy. My giving Ellsworth Pennington an airplane ride was the most exciting, fulfilling and rewarding Young Eagle ride I have ever given. You see, Ellsworth Pennington is a ninety year old World War II veteran who served in the South Pacific Theater. It was indeed my honor and privilege on this Memorial Day weekend to share the joy of flight with another (extra special) Young Eagle. Ellsworth Pennington said it best WOW! This is beautiful! God willing, see you next year at Operation Skyhook.
Black Pilots of America, Inc. Founded 1997 The Black Pilots of America is a non-profit membership organization committed to introducing underrepresented youth to the field of aviation. President John W. Hicks, Jr president@bpapilots.org Vice President.: Marvin Smith III vicepresident@bpapilots.org Operation Officer: Aaron "Al" Daniels operations@bpapilots.org Secretary June E. Marsh secretary@bpapilots.org Treasurer: Leslie Les Morris treasurer@bpapilo ts.org Chairman of the Board: Fred Lewis chairman@bpapilots.org BPA Communications TBD bpamedia@gmail.com BPA ATIS is published by the Black Pilots of America P. O. Box 7463 Pine Bluff, AR 71611 www.bpapilots.org Graphic Design: Juan C. Haygood petertv2@aol.com