Charity flying opportunity for Austin based pilots, May 20

AggieMike88

AggieMike88

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Jan 13, 2010
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Denton, TX
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The original "I don't know it all" of aviation.
Home Airfield
KDTO (Denton Enterprise)
FlyingViking.org is holding it's next kid flying event onMay 20, 2017 at KGTU. This is an opportunity for us to give back to our community by providing short scenic flights to at risk kids, kids who have been battling cancer, and other kids with disabilities.

I participated for the first time this weekend during their event at My home field, KDTO. I had a great time and gave kids and parents their first ride in an airplane that only had four seats and a view out the front most never get when flying commercial.

I am planning on being at the Georgetown event and hope others who reside in the area will come out to help.

I don't have the specific schedule yet, but once I do, I'll update this thread.

@kenjr and @BigBadLou, I hope this will be a chance to meet both of you.
 
Thanks for posting this Mike. I would love to but as of now will be on a trip.
 
Mike don't count me in yet but love to do these things and if I don't drop the plane into annual I will try and make the time to come up from Houston...
 
Warlock said:
Mike don't count me in yet but love to do these things and if I don't drop the plane into annual I will try and make the time to come up from Houston...
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Check the calendar on their web page. They have future plans for KSGR.
 
Depending on what I have going on for May 20th, I might attend. (at least to meet you, Mike)
Could you please either PM me or post a link to more information including rules for pilot participation?
I will throw the event up on our local pilot board and see how much support we can drum up.
 
BigBadLou said:
more information including rules for pilot participation?
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No real rules... Just know how to be a safe PIC and a good host to your passenger.

All aircraft types are good to to go to help with this mission. This weekend, we had a Twinkie, Bonanza, Warrior, a Malibu, a C172, and my C182. High wings are helpful for passengers who are in wheelchairs. But we only had 3 of those this time. All others were able to get into the plane under their own power.
 
Could you please send me the link to the official webpage for this event? I would like something to link to in the local event I am about to post.
I am surprised there aren't any rules. Normally there are plenty (sometimes even more than some are willing to abide by :) ). Which is why I asked.
Are you coordinating this with the GTU tower manager or do you see no need for that?
 
@BigBadLou -- www.flyingvikings.org

Are you coordinating this with the GTU tower manager.
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Paul Hansen, the organizer, handles that.

And since there were several of us flying a similar route at similar altitude, and departing/returning to the same airport, we obtained a local Flight Following beacon code and then got the approach controller onboard. Whoever he was, he was super helpful keeping track of each of us and assisting with inbound sequencing.
 
AggieMike88 said:
@BigBadLou -- www.flyingvikings.org


Paul Hansen, the organizer, handles that.

And since there were several of us flying a similar route at similar altitude, and departing/returning to the same airport, we obtained a local Flight Following beacon code and then got the approach controller onboard. Whoever he was, he was super helpful keeping track of each of us and assisting with inbound sequencing.
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Thanks for the link, this one works.
And it brings up more questions.
Their "Our Pilots" page discusses pilot qualifications. Are those meant as criteria for volunteer pilots or are they implying that they have pilots on a payroll?
I assumed we would be donating our time and fuel, similar to Young Eagles. However, the website collects donations. Is that for our fuel? If so, we would need commercial certificates to operate for compensation.

I have a friend in our local TRACON so I can ask him to help coordinate the effort.
If Paul Hansen will talk to the GTU tower, he will be very pleasantly surprised, we have great and very friendly controllers here, I am sure they will be 100% onboard and excited.

Do y'all have any specific sightseeing routes in mind (so that we can pre-plan)?
And how many aircraft are you looking for? How many should I try to scrounge up?
The Google Calendar entry for GTU only shows "Saturday", no time given. What is the time window you desire?

I'll post the event on our local calendar shortly.
 
BigBadLou said:
Thanks for the link, this one works.
And it brings up more questions.
Their "Our Pilots" page discusses pilot qualifications. Are those meant as criteria for volunteer pilots or are they implying that they have pilots on a payroll?
I assumed we would be donating our time and fuel, similar to Young Eagles. However, the website collects donations. Is that for our fuel? If so, we would need commercial certificates to operate for compensation.
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I just heard about the event via the North Texas Aviators Facebook group.

I just showed up and flew. I wasn't asked for any documentation, nor did I sign anything.

My time, rental, fuel was a donation. For five flights I put on approx 1.75 on the tach.

The way he wrote up his website might be more confusing than it actually is. If you have a PPL and are willing to donate costs to fly the kids, then you're welcome to participate.

I have a friend in our local TRACON so I can ask him to help coordinate the effort.
If Paul Hansen will talk to the GTU tower, he will be very pleasantly surprised, we have great and very friendly controllers here, I am sure they will be 100% onboard and excited.
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Do let Paul coordinate with the airport and tower authorities.

However, as I was the first one headed out, I did a quick on frequency brief with the ground controller (who I know) about what we were doing, and he briefed the controller working the tower frequency. She asked me a few questions to get her situational awareness queued up, and then cleared us to take off.

Do y'all have any specific sightseeing routes in mind (so that we can pre-plan)?
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Paul allowed us pilots to work that out.

Since we were using RWY18, we chose to turn left to overfly the city, then toward Lake Ray Roberts, then west toward I-35 and Sangar, TX, then south back to the airport. Entire flight was about 20-ish minutes airborne.
And how many aircraft are you looking for? How many should I try to scrounge up?
The Google Calendar entry for GTU only shows "Saturday", no time given. What is the time window you desire?

I'll post the event on our local calendar shortly.
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We had 5 aircraft, but the more the better.

I repositioned from hangar to the ramp abut 8:15am. He showed up about 8:45am to setup his tables and chairs and signs. About 9:30, the parents and kids arrived. At 10:00am, we gave a general briefing to the gathered crowd. At 10:15am I was started the engine for my first flight. Last flight for me was about 2:30pm.

My plan is to arrive at GTU around 9:30am.
 
Thank you for all the great details, Mike.
I posted the event on our local boards.
If you want to reach the south crowd, you might try one of the Facebooks or you can contact Shane. (or I can if you need)
 
If you can get hold of Shane....

It would also be a good chance to showcase some of his headsets to other pilots. He can bring us some loaners to try out.

(and where has @Archammer been lately?)
 
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Event date: May 20, 2017
Location: Georgetown TX KGTU Flying in front of main terminal building
Time: Start at 10 am complete by 1 pm
Participants: Children with Chronic illnesses and physical disabilities
Contact: Paul Hansen 254-458-7055
Our Mission: Flying Vikings is a 501 (c) (3) Non Profit,,, We take children who have either a chronic illness or physical disability for a free plane ride.
 
UPDATE...

Just got an email from the organizer.. event is CANCELLED due to a forecast of thunderstorms.

It will be rescheduled for the fall.
 
BigBadLou said:
Schucks. Oh well, I'll cancel it on our boards. Maybe next time.
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Send Paul an email... next one in our region is in Temple first part of June.
 
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