Flight Lines (March 2018) features CPA President Bart Jones celebrating the FAA’s exceptional support during the August 2017 Solar Eclipse fly-in at Alliance, Nebraska, where controllers managed 200 aircraft safely with only one day’s notice. The newsletter also addresses membership communication logistics, noting that declining hard-copy subscriptions may force a transition to digital-only distribution due to bulk mail cost thresholds. Additionally, Jones reports on efforts to support Glenwood Springs Airport against development pressures, with CPA leadership providing AOPA planning materials to help local airport advocates demonstrate community value.
Technical content includes updates on CPA’s Mountain Flying Ground School, with the ground school portion rescheduled from August 4 to August 11 at Rocky Mountain Metro Airport. The course completion counts toward pilots’ required Flight Review currency training. An educational article by Rose Marie Kern provides detailed instruction on wind shear phenomena, covering definitions, National Weather Service encoding in Terminal Aviation Forecasts (TAF), and practical recognition methods for pilots.
Key Topics
- FAA appreciation and Solar Eclipse fly-in coordination at Alliance, Nebraska
- Flight Lines newsletter distribution challenges and potential transition to digital-only
- Support for Glenwood Springs Airport against development pressures
- Wind shear education: types, NWS forecasting, TAF encoding, and recognition techniques
- CPA Mountain Flying Ground School rescheduling and BFR/Flight Review terminology
- CPA merchandise and member engagement
Events & Activities
- CPA High Altitude Airport/Mountain Flying Ground School – June class and August 11 class (rescheduled from August 4) at Rocky Mountain Metro Airport (KBJC)
- Centennial Airport Birthday celebration mentioned in newsletter header
Member News
- Ken Henze (FAA Air Traffic Controller, Alliance, Nebraska) – Recognized for exceptional service managing the Solar Eclipse fly-in; responded with appreciation for CPA’s Letter of Appreciation and details of the behind-the-scenes coordination effort
- Walt Barbo – Drafted Letter of Appreciation to ATC controllers on behalf of CPA
- Bill Totten – Coordinated with CPA President to meet with Glenwood Springs Airport management and provided AOPA planning materials for airport advocacy
- Rose Marie Kern – Contributing writer on wind shear meteorology
