Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
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AvRep Rick Braunig I don’t know how many people are still flying that remember seeing Ken Patz and Verdon Kleimenhagen doing safety seminars throughout Minnesota. Probably more of you remember Mark Schreier, Steve Szymanski, Marlan Perhus and me making the circuit, but even that is more years back then I care to talk about. The point is we have a long history of trying to affect the aviation accident rate. We have data that suggests when we do safety seminars, we are preaching to the choir. People who attend have the right attitude about s...
There are nearly 5,000 airports around the country that have many things in common regardless of their size, number of based aircraft, or runway length. At nearly every one of these locations there is a coffee shop or lunch counter, an FBO, or hangar that always seems to be inhabited by a cross-section of the pilot and former pilot, community. This is where stories of past adventures, triumphs over adverse situations, and dreams of the future abound. This is where anyone can have "20/20 vision"...
"With the constant and rapid changes in technology that have been the norm for the past few decades, it is exciting to see where we were and where we are today. Just look at the changes in the capability of telephones. Twenty years ago a cell phone was only something corporations could afford. Those phones made and received calls, but did almost nothing else. Now you have phones that are more computer than phone and can do nearly anything a laptop or desktop computer can do. Some technologies,...
The Minnesota Department of Transportation, office of Aeronautics collects taxes, safeguards the long-term viability of the state airports fund, plans and promotes a statewide system of airports, distributes state and federal aviation funding, provides navigational systems, enforces state and federal safety standards, offers technical resources, fosters aeronautics and aviation safety, and provides air transportation to state employees. Our Minnesota aviation system is funded by aviation user fees generated from aviation fuel tax, aircraft...
We are fortunate to have many long sunny days throughout the spring-summer-early fall seasons. That abundance of sunshine can turn thoughts to using that solar power at Minnesota’s airports. While that might be advantageous in the not too-distant future, there is much that needs to be considered and planned for, well before the commitment to solar is made. Solar power systems are rapidly growing in many areas and industries of our nation and the world. Airports across the US are beginning to bui...
Dan McDowell Summer flying is arguably some of the most spectacular and fun to accomplish. The long sunny days give us plenty of daylight to work with. Once in the air the beauty of the shimmering lakes and varied shades of green that pass under our wings is simply amazing. Life and flight seem to be so easy, pleasurable, and simple. But the days of looking at a chart or two, filing a simple flight plan and taking off are long gone. Now because of the expanded use (and need) for Temporary...
MnDOT Aeronautics Many scientists believe that the human brain receives nearly 80% of the information it processes about the world around it, through vision. Thus only about 20% is derived from touch, taste, smell, and hearing combined. Illusions can occur when our senses misinterpret or receive ambiguous sensory information. Though there are a number of different illusions that can occur, this article will only address a few of them. Many illusions in flight can occur when visual acuity is...
MnDOT Aeronautics One of the perks and beauties of flight is the rare opportunity to fly through a cloud (most likely in an airliner), skimming through the tops of puffy white cumulus, and flying along the great halls and alleys between them. The beauty is at once immense and inspiring! But you very likely have had a fleeting thought of wishing you could stand on a cloud. And in fact you can, but that would be a cloud on the ground! A surface based cloud, (fog), one of the most common weather...
Summers in Minnesota are spectacular! It is a great time for flying as the days are long and sunshine abounds. With that in mind I want to let you know we can help your community planner and/or zoning administrator with technical glare analysis of solar power installations that may be proposed at or near your airport. Many communities are looking for new ways to be more energy self-reliant, and solar power is an often considered alternative. Before putting solar panels in place there are a...
The cool, still air of the evening tempts you like a siren to take flight. Then the rising moon acts like a beacon, adding to the temptation to fly. While flying at night is beautiful to some pilots, it is intimidating to many others. Though it is about the same as daylight flying in many ways, night flying comes with some important differences. One of these differences is night vision and its unique challenges. It is easier to understand night vision and its associated challenges if you first...
The Federal Aviation Administration,(FAA), your office of Aeronautics, and numerous General Aviation organizations work constantly to help pilots fly safely. News, education, guidance, and procedural documents can be produced with the best of information. But in the end it is up to the pilot to assure he/she is well trained, proficient, and truly ready for flight. Recently the FAA released a document titled: FAA Says Fly Safe: Prevent Loss of Control Accidents; National Safety Campaign Intended...
It is time to think about CARB ICE! Actually any time is time to think about carb ice. So here is a simple reminder: According to FAA Advisory Circular 20-113, Pilot Precautions and Procedures to be taken in Preventing Aircraft Reciprocating Engine Induction System and Fuel System Icing Problems, "Heat should be applied for a short time to warm the induction system before beginning a prolonged descent with the engine throttled and left on during the descent. Power lever advancement should be...
Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the federally chartered, all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force's Total Force, which consists of Regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with Air Force retired military and civilian employees. CAP, in its Total Force role, operates a fleet of 550 aircraft and performs about 85 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions (Nationally) as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, an...
Education at its most basic level is the key to the success of any individual. What ultimately sets us apart from others is our use of what we have learned, and our unending desire to continue learning. One part of MnDOT Aeronautics’ mission is aviation education. We are charged with helping to educate the people of Minnesota about aviation and the positive impact it has upon everyone’s life. We do that through our Technical Bulletins, our Internet Web pages, and even our Facebook and Twi...
It is a good idea to have your favorite mechanic remove your aircraft wheel pants for winter flight operations. By doing so, you will greatly reduce the chances of snow and ice buildup packing into the wheels and brakes, and freezing solid when you climb to altitude. Also, when you remove the wheel pants, you will be able to more clearly see the condition of the wheel, brake pads, and most of the tire. Have your qualified mechanic add an entry to your equipment revision list, and weight and...
It seems “drones” are everywhere these days! Many of you know someone who has one, or have heard of an interesting way in which an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is planning to be used. There were certainly plenty of different types for sale at Oshkosh this year. Where, How, and When the UAV (commonly referred to as a drone) is used, and the regulations that may be required as a result of that use are a current topic at FAA and at MnDOT Aeronautics. Our focus is safety in all aeronautical act...
Every pilot should know that drones are being flown in the United States. LeSueur County is flying them at 600 feet, Excel Energy has a COA to fly their power lines, Burlington Northern is flying the rails beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), and the whole of North Dakota is being used by the test site program at the University of North Dakota. And these are the legal operators we are aware of. Countless others are flying illegally as evidenced by numerous You Tube videos. The FAA issued some pr...
As the summer season begins to fade and fall approaches, we are about to enter what is arguably the most beautiful season in Minnesota (and the upper Midwest). Flying during the weeks of fall when the trees turn to spectacular colors, varies from totally magnificent to quite simply awe-inspiring! The lakes shimmer and sparkle like jewels while reflecting the brilliant blue sky, and even the color of the leaves turning on their shores! How fortunate we are to have the opportunity to see these won...
With the advent of summer and all its beauty there is also the greatly increased potential for thunderstorms that produce tornadoes. It is vitally important that everyone knows of the potentials and has a plan ready in case tornadic activity begins at or near your location. To help you understand more about tornadoes, read the rest of this brief article. The information presented here was taken directly from the NOAA Severe Weather Safety Guide. You can obtain a free copy of the complete guide at: http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/resources/t...
port’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is and what it does for your airport, your community, and you? Although our construction season is well underway, planning for those projects began years ago as a CIP line item. A CIP is used to plan and program the projects that will preserve and develop Minnesota’s system of publicly-owned airports. Our system includes 135 publicly-funded airports around the State, 97 of which are eligible for Federal funding. Each airport’s CIP should summarize the N...
Minnesota's airports have a tremendous value not only to the cities and towns they are in, but also to the surrounding communities, the state and the nation. There are many factors involved that demonstrate the value of an airport to a community. Two very important ones are the economic and social impacts. First look at the social impact of an airport, then the economic impact, and their impact on the state and the nation. By definition, general aviation is considered to be all flying in the U.S...
The beauty of spring comes in a vast array of sights, sounds, and aromas. Once the snow is all gone and the earth has felt a few days of the suns warmth, dozens of different types of vegetation will spring forth. Many will grace our eyes and noses with beautiful flowers and sweet smells that invite us to come closer and enjoy. Even the simple blades of grass exude a sweetness that draws us to lie down for a few minutes and breathe-in the fresh sweetness as we watch the clouds quickly changing...
You, as an aviator, aviation administrator or manager, or an aviation supporter need to know how your aviation tax dollars are put to work for you in Minnesota. You also need to care about and understand how the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) impacts aviation throughout Minnesota. These things are vitally important to aviation across the State and the Nation. First, there are three main sources of state aeronautics funding. Each source is a tax on aviation-related activities. The dollars...
Most aviators recognize the tremendous power of lightning, but few truly understand this unique/ natural phenomenon. Here are a few eye opening facts about lightning: • A typical thunderstorm lasts approximately 30-45 minutes with lightning on average of 3-4 strokes per minute. • While most tend to occur in the afternoon and evening during the spring and summer, thunderstorms can occur at any time of the day, and along frontal boundaries. • Lightning can strike as far as 15 miles away from a thunderstorm. • Lightning can occur even when it is n...
As the holiday season arrives, many people will take vacation to spend time with family and friends. It is our hope that you will have a wonderful and safe time and will take advantage of the opportunity to share your passion for aviation with those around you. In our technical bulletin you will find several very important articles that I hope you will spend time reading and absorbing. Safety is our number one concern for everyone, here at MnDOT. SO we ask you to take time and consider your safe...
