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ACRO E-mail Archive Thread: [IAC-L:852] Announcing formation of Big Sky Ch ...

Thread: [IAC-L:852] Announcing formation of Big Sky Ch ...

Message: [IAC-L:852] Announcing formation of Big Sky Chapter

Follow-Up To: ACRO Email list (for List Members only)

From: KleinG at aol.com

Date: Wed, 03 Sep 1997 21:40:30 UTC

Message:

 I am happy to announce the formation of a new IAC chapter, the Big Sky
Chapter (number still to be assigned) in Bozeman, MT.  We held the
organizational meeting last night, chose officers and a name and filled out
forms.  I expect that we'll have about 10 charter members to get started
with.  Current aerobatic aircraft at Bozeman includes a Yak-54 (mine), two
S2B's, an Extra 300L, a CJ-6, and a Great Lakes.  Interest extends beyond the
folks who presently own capable airplanes.  I'm aware of a few other
aerobatic enthusiasts in Montana who may wish to join our chapter.  IAC
members in nearby states are also welcome to join.  We hope to be able to
live up to our name.  

We're going to try to establish an aerobatic box at the Bozeman airport for
both practice and contests.  The airport has a 9000 ft main runway and a 2600
ft crosswind runway.  It should be possible to lay out a competition box
within the confines of the airport's property.  Facilities would be excellent
for holding a contest at this airport.  It is a relatively busy airport with
about 7 jet airliner flights a day plus several commuter flights daily, a lot
of business jet traffic (Ted and Jane Turner visiting their rance, etc), and
lots of GA activity including gliders.  We are presently an uncontrolled
field but that will soon change as a temporary control tower will be
established within a month while construction of a new 100 ft tall control
tower is finished.  The airport manager appears to be willing to help us.  

I took on the job of applying for the practice and contest waiver (why-o-why)
and I could use a little help.  (Note: I've already got Chapter 48, etc.)
 Our regional FSDO in Helena has almost no knowledge of aerobatic boxes as
witnessed the extreme difficulty I had in obtaining a practice box waiver for
a nearby airport.  (Note: this airport would not be nearly as suitable as
Bozeman for a contest site because of the existence of public roads, a few
homes, even an operating railroad next to the airport which would practically
disallow flight below 500 ft.) 

I could really use some statistics such as: number of IAC members, number of
active competition pilots, number of IAC sanctioned contests per year, number
of practice box sites in the U.S., number of contest sites at airports with
active control towers, number of contest sites at uncontrolled airports.
 Having such statistics at hand would make it lots easier to negotiate
something reasonable with the FSDO people.  I need to have all the data that
supports the case at my fingertips.  It's hard to fight an argument that
says, "it's being done at 40 (or whatever) airports around the country, what
makes THIS airport so special?"  

Klein Gilhousen
Vice President, Big Sky Chapter IAC (# applied for) 
Yak-54 N14026

p.s. do not reply to this AOL address, use the following:
kleing at qualcomm.com

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