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  • July 27, 2022 16:30 | Anonymous

    Hello! My name is Ryan Thayer and I am the Executive Director/CEO of the Fargo Air Museum (FAM). I have been part of aviation since birth, received my solo license at 16, and my private pilot’s license at 18 from the University of North Dakota, as well as an Entrepreneurship Degree. I have always been passionate about aviation and business and am thrilled to be able to pursue both of my passions at the Fargo Air Museum.  

    This summer has been very busy and exciting, with plenty of fun aviation activities in North Dakota. With the summer heat and bugs, there are a few things you can do to help keep your plane looking good and your flights safe. With all the bugs in North Dakota, it is important to keep your aircraft clean by removing bugs after each flight, especially the windscreen. Bugs and other contaminants can affect your aerodynamics and visibility the next time you fly, as well as being hard on your paint/clear coat. Consider some of the new products coming out to assist with repelling bugs and making cleaning easier, like professionally installed ceramic coatings. 

    In addition to bugs, summer heat and humidity can drastically affect our aircraft. Make sure you are keeping track of the density altitude during these hot, humid summer days. Take offs at gross weight with high heat and humidity could add a significant amount of runway length needed for take off. Also, make sure you are planning for more time to climb and a reduction in power, especially in the smaller training aircraft like Warriors and 152/172’s, with lower power numbers to begin with. 

    Overall, it has been a full summer of flying and aviation events! We look forward to seeing you in the air, at the Museum, or at some of our local fly in events! 

    The Fargo Air Museum is planning to attend more fly-in’s this summer, host a Warbird fly in this fall with Young Eagles flights, and our Celebrity Dinner and Auction Fundraiser in September.  

    I am very thankful for all our sponsors, donors, friends, staff, our Board of Directors and the community. We could not have a special place like the Fargo Air Museum without your support!  So on behalf of myself and staff at the Fargo Air Museum thank you and include a stop at the Fargo Air Museum this summer.  

       

    ​​The first picture is of Dick Springer›s (Honorary Board Member at the Fargo Air Museum) T-6 Texan. The second picture is of Kelly Perhus› (Board Member at the Fargo Air Museum) T-6 Harvard (Yellow T-6). The third picture is of Tim McPherson›s (Honorary Board Member of the Fargo Air Museum) P-51 Boomer. And lastly, I also included our Sponsorship Packet for our Fall Celebrity Dinner and Auction Fundraiser. Feel free to use as much of it as you would like. We appreciate all your support!!


  • July 27, 2022 16:26 | Anonymous

    By Kyle Wanner, Executive Director


  • July 27, 2022 16:22 | Anonymous

    Exploring North Dakota Airports

    The annual Fly-ND Summerfest is taking place on August 19, 2022, at the Williston Basin International Airport (XWA.) Check out some fun places to visit in Williston, ND, also known as Boomtown! The North Dakota airport passport stamp can be found at Overland Aviation; please ask at the desk.


    Here are a few local attractions to explore:

    Frontier Museum

    This museum includes a rural church, restored Great Northern Depot, general store and country schoolhouse.  

    Open Memorial Day through Labor Day and by appointment. 

    www.thefrontiermuseum.org or (701) 580-2415.


    Eagle Ridge Golf Club

    An 18-hole course and Mulligan’s restaurant tucked beside the natural beauty of Spring Lake Park.   6401 3rd Ave E, Williston, ND 58801

    Open daily from 7am-10pm.

    www.golfateagleridge.com or (701)572-6500.


    If you work up an appetite or need some caffeine while exploring Williston, here are a few recommendations:

    Hula Firegrill 

    Enjoy some delicious authentic Hawaiian food at a family owned business. 

    Hours: Open daily from 11am-9pm. 

    Address: 23 Main St, Williston, ND 58801

    Website: www.hulasfiregrill.com


    Daily Addiction Coffeehouse 

    A homey coffee shop with a relaxing atmosphere.

    Hours: Monday-Friday, 7am-5pm, Saturday, 9am-4pm

    Address:  307 Main St, Williston, ND 58801

    For more information, call (701) 572-2600.


    See you in Williston for the NDAA Summerfest 2022!

    Please visit these locations’ websites or call to confirm hours and availability. 

    Do you have a favorite attraction to explore or a dining recommendation at your North Dakota airport to share with our readers? Submit your discoveries to editor@fly-nd.com.  


  • July 27, 2022 16:20 | Anonymous

    By Bob Simmers

    What a gorgeous beginning to summer! I recently took an early morning flight up the Missouri River and was in awe of the beauty that was present in North Dakota. I cannot remember a spring where the greens were greener, the prairies more lush, and the river in contrasting colors. It was truly one of those flights that is etched into my memory. Spring got off to a trying start with late and heavy snows, cool temperatures, and high winds, all not lending itself to leisure flying. The last couple of weeks have turned around and we have had beautiful mornings, calm evenings, and last night another shot of moisture to feed the green of the hills. What a great time to be an aviator in central North Dakota!

    This leads us into summer and the season of unstable air, which can produce severe thunderstorms, high winds, hail, and an occasional tornado. There are many factors that contribute to this severe weather. Early in the season, most of the terrain is the same color, whether it be the tan of early spring or the green of a wet spring. As summer progresses, there are contrasting colors on the earth’s surface that create uneven heating of the atmosphere, and that causes midday and afternoon lifting action. In turn, this causes rough air, which makes for uncomfortable flying conditions. Add a moisture source, such as a trough that can become the avenue to feed a system with moisture from either the ocean or the Gulf, and you start to have a recipe for isolated rain and thunderstorms. The greater the temperature differences and the higher the moisture content, the greater the risk of severe weather. Then add the conversion of a cold front and a warm front and you may experience some of the most violent weather.

    So, what have I learned about flying and summer weather in my over 50 years as an aviator? Here are a few things: 

    It is better to be on the ground wishing you were up there rather than being up there wishing you were on the ground. 

    Early morning and evening are the best times to fly. 

    Thunderstorms are usually isolated and can easily be circumnavigated. Rough air is usually below the first layer of clouds. 

    Do not fly under towering cumulus clouds. 

    Give thunderstorms a wide area of respect (minimum of 25 miles.) Even then, you may get hailed on. Be aware of microbursts and stay clear of suspected areas. 

    If you see a roller cloud, do a 180, land and let it pass over. 

    Stay VMC when embedded thunderstorms are forecast. 

    Summer can also be a great time to fly the prairie if you follow the above advice. But always remember that Mother Nature has a mind of her own. She is not always predictable, but she does provide you with signs to which you need to pay attention! Happy flying!


  • July 27, 2022 16:01 | Anonymous

    It is a common misconception that teachers don’t do any work during the summer. While they do have time to relax and are not going into school daily, teachers are still busy planning lessons for the next school year. In addition, many teachers take advantage of professional development opportunities. This summer, the North Dakota Aviation Association (NDAA) and the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission (NDAC) partnered with the University of North Dakota – Aerospace (UND) to host several aviation focused professional development opportunities. Funding for these opportunities was provided by a workforce development grant awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

    I am very excited to share that we had nearly 50 educators from around the region attend these two-day courses. It was very exciting to see teachers from all over North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota wanting to learn more about our industry. We also had teachers from a variety of backgrounds, including elementary, middle school, and high school teaching a variety of subjects. It was a great audience who came with energy, ready to learn. 

    Our first two classes were offered in Grand Forks, ND and Fargo, ND. Teachers attending these courses participated in a variety of tours, highlighting aviation in North Dakota. The hands-on learning included a variety of simulations at UND as well as tours of Cirrus manufacturing, the Grand Forks Airport operations and firefighting, the Grand forks Air Force Base and CBP, UND maintenance, and Northrup Grumman. Moving a little further south, we visited the Kindred Airport, West Fargo Airport (including an aerial application demonstration) and a variety of businesses around the Fargo Airport. Teachers left with knowledge of opportunities available for their students right here in North Dakota. I think every location we toured indicated they need employees, and we hope these teachers will share the career opportunities with their students. 

    After the initial week of professional development opportunities, more courses were offered at a variety of locations around the region. These courses focused on integrating aviation education into current educational environments. A full day was dedicated to unmanned aircraft and a second day highlighted the curriculum available for manned and unmanned aviation. 

    Our hope is that the educators in attendance will be able to bring the material back to their schools and either integrate aviation into their current coursework or provide additional aviation opportunities through aviation classes or extracurriculars, such as drone racing clubs. We hope that by teachers exposing students to the opportunities available in the industry, we will see less pressure on the workforce in the future. We know this will take time. 

    I would like to thank everyone who opened up their facility to these teachers and shared their passion for the industry. There are really too many people and businesses to mention. Your time is greatly appreciated! 



    Mike McHugh, Aviation Education Coordinator 

    North Dakota Aeronautics Commission

    701-328-9650 | mmchugh@nd.gov


  • July 27, 2022 15:56 | Anonymous

    NDAA Executive Directors Note

    By The Staiger Consulting Group

    I grabbed my Starbucks coffee and found a quiet, sunny corner of the airport which overlooked the runway, ramp, and taxiway. I found myself simply mesmerized, watching all the people that make every single flight happen. 

    It was almost like a well-choreographed production and rightfully so; there are so many people working together to make things go and work smoothly and safely. My genuine appreciation for the individuals in this carefully crafted production was deepened even further. This immediately reminded me of the goal of the North Dakota Aviation Association and how we too are trying to convey and bring together all components of aviation. Our overall mission is one of serving aviation professionals, by providing a forum for the exchange of information, ideas, and experience among their peers across aviation professionals, and enthusiasts across the state; all the different areas work together, strengthening our entire community of aviation. 

    This recognition comes at a time in our world where the headlines indicate that we could all use a little dose of community connection and coming together to produce exceptional results. Let’s be that for our members and for this industry! 

    On behalf of the Executive Director team, I want to thank all of you readers, volunteers, members, board of directors, and aviation enthusiasts for your role in helping to make this organization a success. I cannot stress how you too can make a difference in the organization. 

    Here’s some ways to get involved and make a difference:

    Summerfest in Williston – August 19, 2022, followed by the Williston Air Show on August 20..

    Career Expo – October 6, 2022, at the Fargo Air Museum 

    Fly-ND Conference – March 5-7, 2023, at the Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck

    Each one of you is part of something bigger, and your role is noted and worthy of recognition. I know we are trying new things and stretching our wings, while making great progress for the industry and having a lasting impact on the future of aviation in the state. 

     

    Stacy & Mike Krumwiede


  • July 27, 2022 15:53 | Anonymous

    Many challenges within the aviation industry have presented themselves over the last few months. Most of the vocalized concerns that we have heard within both the public and private sectors are tied to rising project and operational costs, as well as continued difficulties in hiring and retaining a qualified workforce. These impacts are being felt throughout the airline industry, General Aviation, and airport construction sectors.

    The airline industry has come a long way, since the beginning stages of COVID-19 led to a 95% drop in passenger traffic in April of 2020. Now, many of our commercial airports are within reach of a full recovery in pre-pandemic passenger demand; however, new challenges have emerged. The airlines are currently citing inability to add additional flights into the system, due to the pilot and staff shortages that are currently plaguing the industry. Additionally, increased operational costs are resulting in higher fares for the traveling public. These new realities present headwinds for retaining and attracting new air service opportunities, which hurts the overall health of an industry that is now coping with rising break-even costs. In order to once again see sustainable passenger growth above pre-pandemic levels, additional flights or larger aircraft with additional seats will need to be added into North Dakota’s system. Furthermore, systematic workforce needs must be addressed and energy costs will need to improve and stabilize. 

    General Aviation activity throughout the country has also been greatly impacted by both the rising costs of fuel and the current prices of purchasing or upgrading aircraft. In conversations with aircraft operators, I have heard many concerns regarding fuel prices and the large role that those rising costs have had on their flight decisions.

    The airport construction sector has also been experiencing inflationary and supply chain issues, which have substantially driven up costs. These challenges have been taking a toll on infrastructure projects as decision makers throughout the country are postponing projects, scaling back others, and reprioritizing needs. Specifically, airport project costs throughout the state of North Dakota have recently averaged 17% higher than expected, when comparisons are made to pre-bid engineering estimates. Contractors have also vocalized concerns regarding the unknown future prices of materials and the escalating energy costs that are being experienced. Acquiring new snow removal and aircraft rescue and fire fighting equipment has also become increasingly difficult, as most airport deliveries are currently projected to be out 18-24 months. 

    A robust national energy policy, strong efforts to contain inflationary pressures, a reduction of regulatory burdens, and a lowering of barriers to entry for the workforce, are all areas that would have immediate and positive impacts for the aviation industry. These issues are being continually discussed at the national level and will need to be addressed as soon as possible, to alleviate the concerns that many of us within the industry have been vocalizing. 

    Fortunately, good pre-planning was able to position most of our airport projects in North Dakota to be bid early in the construction season. This allowed for a greater opportunity to receive competitive prices and provided more time for contractors to secure supplies. The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission is also currently in a financially sound position, which has allowed airports to secure state grants to help fill in funding gaps where appropriate. These efforts have resulted in the ability for most of our high priority airport projects that were planned in the upcoming construction season to be able to proceed. Our office will continue to engage with airport management and community leaders to readjust and plan for 2023 and beyond. 

    Overall, North Dakota has done a tremendous job over the years to maintain, develop, and enhance our airport system which now allows us to help address the current challenges from a position of strength. Our priority is to work to ensure that a positive business environment exists so that the aviation industry can grow and prosper to the direct benefit of our communities and to the flying public. 

    When we fly, we can’t direct the wind, but we can reroute our flight plan and adjust the aircraft controls. Challenging moments help to bring people together while also creating opportunities for positive changes to occur. I encourage all of us to positively build up our communities and to work towards making decisions that will improve the standard of living for current and future generations. 

    If you have any concerns or ideas to help improve and grow aviation within your community, we would love to hear from you. I also hope that you and your family are able to enjoy the summer weather and discover opportunities to create exciting new memories in the field of aviation. 

    Wishing you smooth flying, 

    Kyle


  • July 27, 2022 15:44 | Anonymous

    A warm hello to all of you once again. I hope this issue of the Fly-ND Quarterly finds you doing well! Summer is clearly upon us, with the toasty temperatures, afternoon thunderstorms are often popping up, and the Fourth of July fireworks are behind us by a few weeks. Summer flying can be a lot of fun, with unique challenges like avoiding thunderstorms. However, one important point I’ve learned during summer flying is to remember your passenger’s comfort!

    A few years back, I had to make a day trip out to Billings, MT, and back. A friend decided to join me for the day. The flight out that morning was fairly routine, with one deviation for weather, then direct to Billings. That afternoon when it was time to depart back to Bismarck, the temperature had climbed to about 95 degrees. We jumped in the airplane and I got it started up. I started reviewing the taxi diagram, getting ATIS, getting my clearance, plugging everything into the GPS and Autopilot and was finally ready to start taxiing. I looked over at my friend, and the sweat was running down him like a hose. I didn’t even notice how warm it was in the cabin, as I was consumed with getting everything ready. He surely noticed how warm it was! In my focus on getting ready, I didn’t think about taxiing out a bit and turning so the sun wasn’t coming straight into the cabin from the windscreen. Later as we climbed to our cruising altitude of 7,000 feet, the air was still quite warm and bumpy. I requested and was granted a climb up to 11,000 feet where we found smooth and cool air. My friend finally mentioned how warm it was earlier, and that this altitude was much better. 

    Another evening in early July, my family and I were on our way back from another trip to Grand Forks, ND, for a Red Pepper supper. The evening had turned to night, as we passed somewhere around Carrington, ND. Suddenly, I heard a commotion from the kids in the back seat. They had spotted fireworks a ways off. Being on a VFR flight, I decided to give the passengers some enjoyment and turned toward the fireworks. We flew a couple of circles over the small-town fireworks display, and enjoyed a view not seen by many.

    Enjoy your summer flying and remember to make your flight enjoyable for your passengers!

      Justin Weninger, Chairman

      North Dakota Aviation Association

      chairman@fly-nd.com


  • May 19, 2022 13:22 | Anonymous

    Read the NOTAM

    If the headline for this story was “One Tip for Flying in to AirVenture,” this would be it. Some NOTAMS are one or two sentences — ours is 32 pages, and it’s an absolutely mandatory read before you fly in. Wittman Field in Oshkosh becomes the busiest airport in the world during the week of AirVenture, and that only works because people follow the rules in the NOTAM. It’s available as a download or you can order a printed copy and we’ll send it to you for free, as long as you promise to read it.

    1. Arrive Before You Get Here If you have a PC-based simulator like Microsoft Flight Simulator X(currently available from Dovetail Games via the Steam marketplace) or X-Plane, you can fly the Fisk arrival, or any of the others, for that matter, before you leave the house. Enhanced scenery packages are available for both platforms, but even out of the box, you’ll see important landmarks and can get familiar with the routes. You’ll occasionally find prepackaged scenarios, especially on simulators from a company like RedBird, which run on a variant of Microsoft Flight Simulator, that include custom ATC and traffic, but using the simulator is more about landmarks and time and distance than it is about what you hear on the radio. If you don’t have a sim at home, you can do much the same thing on a platform like Google Earth.

    2. Learn the Language Once the AirVenture NOTAM goes into effect the Thursday before opening day, you can listen in on arrivals and departures, and even the air show air boss, from anywhere in the world via LiveATC. LiveATC also has some archives available, which, while dated, can still give you a feel for what you’ll hear when you get here. YouTube is another great source for ATC audio, with examples like this and this, among hundreds. There are even some unfortunately spectacular examples of what not to do.

    3. Watch Somebody Else Do It You can hop in the right seat with one of our volunteer pilots and the NOTAM chairman Fred Stadler and take a detailed look at each step of the traditional VFR arrivals as well as a typical VFR departure in this five-part video series. And, once again, YouTube is also a great place to get a pilot’s eye view of the arrival procedure, which can go a long way to letting you know what to expect. You can just head to YouTube directly and search for terms like “Oshkosh arrival.”

    4. Go to School Every year, we present a live webinar that steps you through the AirVenture arrival procedures. These presentations last about an hour, and include time for questions and answers. 

    5. Know Your Numbers This seems like common sense, but you might be surprised. When you arrive at Ripon, the procedure in the NOTAM mandates that you fly at 1,800 feet at a speed of 90 knots (or 2,300 feet and 135 knots for faster aircraft.) This doesn’t mean 85 knots or 97 knots — it means 90. Know your power settings so that, when the time comes, you can nail your speeds.

    6. Hit the Dot Here’s another one from the common sense file: If your spot — or, in our case, dot — landing skills aren’t up to par, go out and practice. If you need to, get a little extra dual instruction. When you’re cleared to land on a given dot, our procedures only work if you do just that. Landing short or floating and touching down a couple of hundred feet past the dot can cause all kinds of separation problems.

    7. Bring a Friend Just make sure it’s the right kind of friend, the kind you trust to help provide you with an extra set of eyes and ears to watch for traffic, listen to ATC, etc. The kind of friend who’s flown in to AirVenture before is a bonus. If you bring the kind of friend who’s loud and distracting, brief them thoroughly and firmly before you leave so that they know when it’s time to be quiet.

    8. Check on Parking While we’re always committed to accommodating all of our visitors, sometimes being the busiest airport in the world can mean some temporary parking delays. You can check our parking status and get other updates on field conditions here.

    9. Tie a Knot If your airplane is hangared full time, you might be a little out of practice when it comes to using tie downs. Take a minute to practice, and, while you’re at it, check out your tie downs themselves. If they don’t look like they’re up to the task, you can build your own. Find instructions, as well as some tips on knots, rope types, and all other things tie-down-related here.

    10. Save Money Along the Way FBOs and airport managers all across the U.S. offer everything from free snacks and discounted ramp fees to courtesy cars and fuel discounts to pilots heading to AirVenture. Before you set off for Oshkosh, check out our list of special offers that might be available along your route.

    Reprinted with permission from EAA.org.


    Venturing to the World’s Largest Annual Fly-In 

    Are you interested in flying to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this summer? Here are some tips to make your journey a success! 

    EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is July 25-31, and pilots from everywhere are already making their preparations to fly to Oshkosh for the world’s largest annual fly-in convention. An important part of those preparations is fully reading and understanding the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM, formerly Notice to Airmen) for AirVenture.

    In May, the NOTAM will be available for download via the EAA website – just go to the “Flying In” area of EAA.org/AirVenture. Along with the 32-page NOTAM available for download as a PDF document, EAA’s webpage includes videos that fly the Fisk approach, including the transition points used prior to arrival at Wittman Regional Airport. 

    Also available are tips for flying into major fly-ins, supplied by the National Transportation Safety Board, and FAA’s graphic NOTAM/TFR website that shows other areas that may affect your flight to Oshkosh. 

    The Oshkosh NOTAM is a required part of a pilot’s AirVenture preparation and should be fully understood prior to departure for the event.

    Other recommendations for flying to Oshkosh, along with all other AirVenture information, is continually updated at EAA.org/AirVenture.


    Courtesy of Dick Knapinski, EAA Communications


  • May 19, 2022 13:19 | Anonymous

    Military aviation is an important part of our state’s aviation community. In this spotlight, we highlight some of our local military aviators, who represent North Dakota around the world, and share their stories with you. We thank them for their dedicated service to our country and community.

    Our spotlight in this issue features Loren Obrigewitch, a First Sergeant (1SG) in the Army National Guard.

    Q: What is your hometown?

    I grew up in Beach, ND. I left at 19 to join the Army, and I left active duty in 1999 and joined the North Dakota National Guard (NDNG.) Currently, I live in Dickinson, ND.

    Q: What is your job title? What does your work include?

    I am a first sergeant of Company A of 1-112th aviation battalion.Most of my career was serving as a Petroleum Supply Specialist refueling aircraft and as a platoon sergeant. I also worked in flight operations for the first couple years in the NDNG.

    Q: How many years of service do you have? 

    I have 35 years total, with a little over 12 as active duty army and 23 in the National Guard. I have also been a military-technician at the North Dakota Army Aviation Support Facility since 2007.

    Q: What inspired you to join the military?

    The first time I saw a Memorial Day ceremony, conducted by the ex-GI’s, when I was a child in Beach, ND. They provided the 21-gun salute and gave us kids the brass from their M1 Garands. 

    Q: What has been the most rewarding part of your job/time in the military?

    Working with and training soldiers. Watching them develop their leadership skills and become professionals at their chosen career fields.

    Q: What advice do you have for anyone interested in military aviation?

    Talk to a recruiter, pick a goal, and pursue it. It can take several tries to get the job you want in Army aviation.


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