Summary: The January 2018 Flight Lines newsletter features President Bart Jones’s message about planning exciting flying adventures for the year ahead, including the AOPA fly-in at Gulf Shores, Cessna 170 Convention in Wyoming, and potential trips to backcountry areas and Oshkosh. The issue emphasizes upcoming CPA activities and membership engagement through the organization’s merchandise and events. A significant portion of the newsletter is dedicated to aviation safety, specifically addressing the risks of civilian aircraft encountering military training routes and restricted airspace, with detailed guidance on identification and avoidance strategies.
RoseMarie Kern provides comprehensive safety education about military operating areas (MOAs), military training routes (MTRs), and restricted airspace, explaining how they appear on sectional charts and how VFR pilots can contact Air Traffic Control to determine if these areas are actively in use. She shares cautionary anecdotes, including a glider pilot who inadvertently landed in a restricted area and was surrounded by armed personnel, and a Cherokee pilot who was buzzed by fighter jets. Kern emphasizes that while most of the country contains some form of military training airspace, northwestern Colorado, eastern Utah, Wyoming, and Montana have fewer such areas.
The newsletter also recognizes CPA’s 2017 scholarship winners and includes a holiday recipe contribution from the organization’s VP.
Key Topics
- 2018 flying adventure planning and calendar organization
- Military training routes (MTRs) and military operating areas (MOAs) identification and avoidance
- Restricted airspace, prohibited areas, and special use airspace (SUA)
- VFR pilot safety when operating near military airspace
- How to contact Air Traffic Control to determine active military operations
- Military radar systems and VIP TFRs (Temporary Flight Restrictions)
- CPA merchandise and membership support
- 2018 roster updates
Events & Activities
- January 11, 2018 (Saturday): CPA Fly-in Planning Meeting (location not specified)
- AOPA Fly-in at Gulf Shores (date TBD)
- Cessna 170 Convention in Wyoming (date TBD)
- Backcountry trips to Montana and Idaho (dates TBD)
- Possible Oshkosh attendance (date TBD)
Member News
- Scholarship Recognition: Congratulations to 2017 CPA Scholarship Winners: Hallie Groenwald (AIMS), Simone Christians (Metro State), and Braydon Franklin (Metro State), presented by Outgoing CPA President Gary Tobey
- Featured Contributor: RoseMarie Kern, author of “Air to Ground” (book on Air Traffic Control and aviation weather products), currently touring the country giving presentations to pilot groups
- VP & Chef: Rich Barclay contributed a holiday recipe (Blue Cheese Date Wraps)
