Sept 2014 March 2014 - Black Pilots of America, Inc.

September 2014
LABOR - DAY and SELMA FLY - IN’s
The Golden Hawks (Tuskegee Chapter, BPA) held its annual Kids Adventure Labor Day Fly-In on
Saturday, August 30, 2014, at Moton Field (06A), Tuskegee's Municipal Airport. The event was
supported and co-sponsored by the City of Tuskegee and Golden Eagle Aviation (FBO). The event
was successful, however the public attendance was low. Only 64 Kids were given airplane rides and
a lot of food and drinks were left over.
Thanks to all who participated, especially the pilots that gave the rides. David Toliver came from
Kansas City and gave the most rides. Locally, Chuck Wacker gave some in his Cardinal and
Audrey, Deion, Aaron and The Hawk took turns giving rides in the C-150. Yup, We only had two and
one half airplanes available but we were able to make some kids happy.
The low turn out of the community and the general public was primarily due to communications. We
waited to the last minute to put out advertisement signs and posters and spread the word which we
will correct next year. Our annual event is held on the Saturday just before Labor Day. Looking
ahead to 2015, it looks like it will be on September 5th but at any rate adequate advertisement will
be done.
We are now planning for our annual event in Selma, Alabama. The actual day for the kids and
community will be Friday, November 7, 2014. That is the day the local schools are looking for, so
our plans are to get to Selma Thursday evening or EARLY Friday morning as the event is expected
to kick off at 9:00 a.m. Right now the schedule is Friday: Airport Activities (rides, exhibits, flight
simulators, seminars etc.). Friday night: a get together at the home of the President of Wallace
Community College (last years it was off the scale). Saturday: a tour of historic Selma and other
local attractions with departures starting Saturday evening. Those desiring to spent an extra night
can leave on Sunday. We will be staying at the Hampton Inn in Selma.
This will be our THIRD Wallace Community College, Selma Aviation Day, and will be held annually
on the Friday just before Veterans Day. We are looking for any support and help we can get. For
additional information you can call me at 334 727-5850 or preferably me on my cell 334 724-7427.
The Hawk
Chapter President
BPA, WERE YOU THERE?
What a time we had in Kansas City, The meeting, food and entertainment
were excellent. I want to thank the Kansas City Chapter for a job well done.
If you weren't there, you missed out on the business discussed in our
membership meeting and of course we missed your input. You will be able
to find out the details when the minutes are sent out. You also missed out on
some great Kansas City bar-b-que.
Now, as you know, it's DUES time beginning in October. But please don't
wait until the last minute to pay your dues. Fact is, you can pay them
earlier and make the workload easier for your chapter treasurer and the national treasurer. ALL dues
are due in October, both Local and National. If you pay your dues directly to the national treasurer
by Pay Pal, indicate to him the amount that needs to be sent to your local treasurer (Chapter Dues).
My Chapter, along with some others, pay all dues to our local treasurer and he in turn sends the
national treasurer a check for all the national dues collected. Either way, let us pay our dues both
local and national.
Our next meeting (Board of Directors) is scheduled to be held in northern California in January
2015. The California Redtails are now making plans for the meeting and eagerly awaiting our arrival.
Start making plans now to be in attendance at the meeting and not disappoint the Redtails.
SEE YOU THERE,
John W. "The Hawk"Hicks, Jr..
A Note from the Publisher
The ATIS is slightly late this month. It almost did not happen. We had a thunderstorm here that was
among the worst I have ever seen. I did not know that it could rain that hard that long. My basement
flooded for the first time ever and I have been in this house for over 28 years. A week later we were
hit by a second storm. This one was just as intense but of a much shorter duration. Unfortunately, the
winds that accompanied it brought down 2500 power lines. I had no power or lights for 4 days and 3
nights. I was working on the ATIS when the power failed causing my computer to crash. I am so
grateful that autosave exists.
As promised in the last ATIS, here are the results of the survey on readership I asked you to
participate in. I got a whopping 14 replies I certainly hope more than 14 of you are reading the ATIS.
So I am going to assume that most of you read the ATIS, but just do not read this section. If only 14
of you are reading it, it is not worth my time to continue preparing it.
I would like to conduct the survey again to get a better handle on just how many of you actually read
the ATIS. If you see this note, please drop me an email letting me know that you saw it. It can be a
one liner. Please send it to [email protected]. The results will be published in the December ATIS.
The next ATIS will come out the middle of December. Again, articles will be needed.
Juan C. Haygood, Publisher
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AEFBPA - Bahamian Connection
Near the end of the last year I received an email with the subject “Retracing the Caribbean Goodwill Tour". The
content of the letter was a pleasant surprise. The sender is Dr. Harold Munnings of the Bahamas.
In his message, he explained how he discovered AEFBPA while searching the web for info on Dr. Albert E,
Forsythe. He explained that he was a recently licensed pilot, a native Bahamian and he had an interest in
retracing the tour that Dr. Forsythe and Chief Anderson had attempted many years ago. I replied that if our
chapter could help in any way in this endeavor, we would. This was the beginning of our correspondence.
I added him to the chapter guest list. In March, we sent out to the chapter a flyer announcing an “Open House"
at Old Bridge Airport (3N6) on June 7th 2014. In response to the announcement I received a message from Dr.
Munnings stating that he and his wife were flying (242HM) into Old Bridge on the 7th of June for the open
house, and he wanted information on accommodations. To make a long story shorter, the chapter was proud
to receive and host Dr. Harold Munnings and his wife. They were guests of the chapter for the week-end.
The Munnings touched down in Old Bridge near 12 noon on June 7th, and after an informal meet and greet
there was an exchange of gifts.
Dr. Harold Munnings presented the chapter with:
1. A 3 ft x 5 ft flag of the Bahamas.
2. A book titled "The Island Airman and his Bahama Islands home" written and autographed by Paul C.
Aranha, a relative of the Forsythe Family.
3. A letter from the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas
In kind, I presented Harold and his wife with:
1. A DVD copy of a documentary about Chief Anderson, signed by the granddaughter of Chief Anderson
2. An AEFBPA chapter patch
3. A set of chapter AEFBPA T-Shirts and carry bags
Here is the link to articles that was written in the Bahamas about the excursion:
This newspaper article was published in Nassau before he and his wife departed for New Jersey.
http://www.tribune242.com/news/2014/jun/05/honouring-memory-pioneer-pilot/?News
This is the follow-up article that was published after the Munnings returned to the Bahamas.
http://www.tribune242.com/news/2014/jun/18/the-flying-doctor/
Thanks to the global reach of the Internet we
have established a connection in the Bahamas
and the Munnings have a connection here in
the US with the AEFBPA chapter.
Dwight Horton , President
Dr. A. E. Forsythe Chapter of BPA
www.aefbpa.org
From left to right: Dr. Munnings, his wife, Joseph Holt, and Dwight Horton
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Dr. Munnings and Tuskegee Airman George Watson
The Flag that was presented to the AEFBPA chapter
from our Bahamian Connection.
DRAPER CHAPTER NEWS
The Draper Chapter is busy preparing to host the 2015 Summer Meeting right here in the birthplace of the
USA; the city of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!! The meeting will be held Saturday, August 15,
2015. We already have a hotel signed and the details of what we have planned will be sent out in a later
mailing. Rest assured that we WILL show you a GREAT time!!
At this writing, we are preparing to host our annual Airport Day at PNE for urban high school students. During
this event we give the students a tour of the airport, take them up to the tower, and introduce them to
various aviation related careers. This event is always a great time and a wonderful experience for our youth.
Rick (Don't call me Ricky) Astillero, Jr is on track to graduate in December with a B.S. Degree from Middle
Georgia College. Rick will also have his CFI Certificate; he is already rated multi-engine instrument. Rick
started with BPA Draper Chapter and attended the Summer Flight Academy. We look to him graduating so
he can finally change his membership from "Student" to regular member.
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Jayhawk Chapter
Of the Black
Pilots of America
Jayhawk Chapter
Of the Black Pilots of America
Jayhawk at Skyhook 2014
Senator U.L. "Rip" Gooch attends Skyhook 2014.
One of the original members of the Negro Aviation International, Inc., who transferred to the Black Pilots of America,
attended Skyhook 2014. Rip Gooch shown here on the left, author of “Black Horizons” and film “From the Bottom”.
“Black Horizons”, is his biographical novel of his journey from Tennessee to prominence in Wichita, Kansas as one of
the first blacks to own and operate an aviation company and his rise to become a Kansas Senator. Rip also brought
along his film on DVD - “From the Bottom”, and both the book and DVD were on display at the table of Chief Alfred
Anderson's memorabilia.
Rip was traveling with Kerry Lumpkins and his wife Bonita Lumpkins of the Jayhawk Chapter. Skyhook 2014 was a
resounding success with over 145 kids flying with pilots from many chapters. Thanks to the BPA members who set-up
and hosted the fly in. Also, a high fly over for the people of Pine Bluff for being such gracious hosts. The Jayhawk
Chapter will be in formation at Pine Bluff next year.
In the May 2104 meeting members were voted and installed in the following positions:
President: Kerry L. Lumpkins, Sr.
Vice President: Eugene Anderson
Treasurer: Carl Nickels
Recording Secretary: Cheryl Wright
Sgt at Arms: U. L. "Rip" Gooch
Items discussed:
Unit reorganization
Marketing and recruitment of new members
Promotion of the program to youth of the community.
Purchasing of a unit aircraft for training.
Upcoming events:
Skyhook 2014 (Attended by Rip and Kerry)
Annual meeting in Kansas City on 22-24 August 2014 (Attended by Kerry and Bonita Lumpkins)
Chapter News:
1. Chapter Treasurer Carl Nickles' son Nick promoted to Captain.
2. Kerry Gooch Jr. completes re-certification at Kansas State Salina Campus
3. Birthday of U.L. "Rip" Gooch - September 14th
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2014 BPA "Les Morris" Summer Flight Academy
Saturday, July 12, 2014 all of the Students had arrived at the BPA "Les Morris" Summer Flight Academy. Since nothing was
planned before dinner the Students formed study groups and began going through the maneuvers manual. After dinner
they met in the TSU Technology building for orientation and to meet the staff and their instructors.
Sunday morning everyone went to Ellington Field where pictures
were taken and the Students did an extensive walk around with
their instructors. After the walk around inspections were completed, everyone proceeded to Anthony Hall's hanger for hot
dogs and hamburgers.
On Monday training began in earnest and the Students could not
get enough. The weather played havoc with the flying the first
week but the second week, with cooperation from the weather,
the flying was completed on Thursday, a day early. On Friday the
Aja Stewart
Students visited the San Jacinto Monument and Museum
and the battleship Texas.
As usual the Summer Flight Academy had an outstanding staff.
Marvin Smith, Charlie Masters and Tom Newman served as
Flight Instructors. Mohammad Haleem, Anthony Hall, Myra
Walker, Major General John Bailey, Danny Perkins, Vernon
Baker, Darryl Johnson, Darryl Smith and Fred Lewis served as
Ground Instructors.
Caroll Moreno
Ronald Mejia, was the Executive Assistance for Les. Ronald
attended the Summer Flight Academy in 2012 and has since
gotten his Private Pilot License. He plans to attend the US Naval
Academy after graduating from high school next year.
Doug Smoots and President John Hicks served as Technical
Instructors at the airport, assisting the Students with their inflight problems and trying to stay ahead of the flight instructors
to make their job easier. James Miller did an excellent job of
coordinating the aircraft maintenance and providing other invaluable assistance to the Summer Flight Academy
Courtney Jiggetts
John Hicks also served as Transportation Coordinators for the
first week. The second week, Theresa White and Delores Simon
arrived to take over the job.
Desmond McWilliams
The middle Saturday the Students assisted the Bronze Eagles of
Texas with the Dr. Jesse Hayes, Jr. Fly-in. The group then went to
Hobby Airport for a tour of the Air Traffic Control Tower and the
Fire Station. Afterwards they were given a private tour of the
Buffalo Soldiers Museum, arranged by June "Lady Bird" Marsh,
and got to see Ms. Melissa Waddy-Thibodeaux do a reenactment of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.
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Saturday evening the Students went to the Kemah Boardwalk
for a night of relaxation. Sunday they were taken to the Lone
Star Museum and the movies. Afterwards they were treated to
a steak barbeque by the Bronze Eagles of Texas.
Fred Lewis did an outstanding job as Operations Officer. He
coordinated all of the ground instructors, made arrangements
for the rental of the aircraft, took pictures and created the
annual Summer Flight Academy presentation when he wasn't
busy doing other things.
Jacquelyn Vickers
The Students stayed and had their meals at Texas Southern University for the entire two weeks. Support and assistance was
provided by the owners of The Aviator Shop, Tony LeCara and
Carolynn Waites. Other members of the Bronze Eagles volunteered many of hours of their time to help make the SFA a success.
Traci Hockett
Les wants to thank Elliott Williams and Myra Freeman-Walker for
their generous monetary donations to the BPA "Les Morris" Summer Flight Academy, President John W. Hick Jr for donating the
use of his Cessna 152 and Jeppesen for donating the Private
Pilot Kits for the Academy.
The 2015 Summer Flight Academy will be held on July 11 through
July 25, 2015
Shemaun Thomas-Miller
Lorenzo Vargas
Zachariah Koenig
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Front Row Left to Right
Courtney Jiggetts, Aja Stewart, Jacquelyn Vickers, Caroll Moreno, Ronald Mejia
Back Row Left to Right
Delores Simon, President John W. Hicks Jr., Fred Lewis, Marvin Smith, Shemaun Thomas-Miller, Desmond McWilliams,
Lorenzo Vargas, Zachariah Koenig, Traci Hockett, Les Morris, Tom Newman, Theresa White, Myra Freeman-Walker
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These are three of the original attendees of Skyhook #1, Memorial Day 1971, Yazoo City, Mississippi;
Horace Noble, Rufus Hunt, and Rip Gooch. These pictures were taken at Skyhook #43.
Horace Noble of Chicago was the co-organizer, along with Dr. Jesse Hayes of Houston, Texas.
Rufus Hunt of Chicago was the person that named the event “OPERATION SKYHOOK.”
Rip Gooch of Wichita, Kansas served as the announcer at Skyhook #1.
46 airplanes owned and flown by black pilots attended Skyhook #1. A fabulous time was had by all
the attending pilots. Everyone spoke up "let's do it again next year, right here in Yazoo City.” We did
it again in Yazoo City in 1972. NAI (Negro Airmen International) officials attended and asked if they,
NAI, could adopt Operation Skyhook. Horace & Jesse agreed and the rest is history. Operation
Skyhook is the premier event of Black aviation. The flying competition is on par with any amateur
aviation event held anywhere. The camaraderie and partying is second to none.
Operation Skyhook is three days of hard flying and hard partying. If you love flying and/or love
partying, put it your calendar to attend Operation Skyhook on Memorial Day weekend in Pine Bluff.
Arkansas.
Horace Noble
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BPA Connecticut Chapter Boosts Participation for a Second Year at ACE
Camp
by Dianne M. Daniels
It had been over 8 years since Groton New London airport (GON) had seen such activity. The return
of the ACE Camp in 2013 was a welcome sight.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) designed the Aviation Career Education Academy Program
(ACE Camp) as a fun, interactive, aviation-focused summer camp targeted to middle and high-school
students who are interested in aviation and the aerospace field. This interest could take the form of
students who wished to become private or commercial pilots, those who wanted to gain exposure and
experience to other aviation-related fields like engineering, maintenance, and even aircraft design.
The last ACE Camp had been held many years ago at GON, and both inspiration and perspiration were
needed to get it up and running again. The instructors were Stuart Sharack and Alex Rode - both
experienced in education and avid aviation enthusiasts.
Finding students for the class proved to be a challenge, but when the members of the Connie Nappier
Jr. Chapter of Black Pilots of America, based in nearby Norwich, CT, found out about the course, the
work began in earnest. The Nappier chapter helped publicize the ACE Camp which helped them reach
their goal of 8 students and provided scholarships for two (2) participants in 2013, and provided
scholarships for three (3) participants in 2014 from a class of 14 students.
Activities at ACE Camp included speakers from aviation fields including the GON Airport Manager (also
a Nappier Chapter member), a visit from the local Civil Air Patrol (also including a Chapter member), a
visit to a water landing training simulator, creating models (and flying them), and a visit to a nearby
facility that retrofitted "glass" cockpits into private and commercial business aircraft.
The students all received certificates and a terrific aviation-related education. Some of the 2014
students were repeat attendees, indicating the value of the training and the amount of fun they had
while learning. The curriculum includes information in aviation history, the physics of flight, many
hands-on activities, and all students' favorite part: actual flight time!
Check out some of the photos from the 2013 and 2014 ACE Academies, and see if there's an ACE
Academy near you that could benefit from being involved with your chapter!
ACE Camp 2013
ACE Camp 2013
ACE Camp Buddies
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ACE Camper Returning From Flight
ACE Campers Visiting the Shop - Wiring Harness Work
ACE Campers Checking Out Work In Progress
ACE Camp Graduation Cake
BPA Kids
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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.
[email protected]
Vice President:
Marvin Smith, III
[email protected]
Operation Officer:
Aaron "Al" Daniels
[email protected]
Secretary:
June E. Marsh
[email protected]
Treasurer:
Leslie “Les” Morris
[email protected]
Chairman of the Board:
Harold E. Moss, Jr.
[email protected]
BPA Communications:
Aaron "Al" Daniels
[email protected]
To
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
[email protected]