News Archive

Michigan pilot wins AOPA Air Safety Foundation transceiver prize

William Kelley of Dowling, Michigan, is the winner of a Sporty’s handheld transceiver after attending an AOPA Air Safety Foundation “Weather Tactics” seminar.

Kelley’s interest in flight began with his first airplane ride at age 10. More than 30 years later, he began taking lessons and received his private pilot license in 1985.

Kelley is the owner of a 1963 Cessna 182 and has been attending ASF seminars for the past five years.

“I find all the seminars very well presented. They offer the most up-to-date information,” said Kelley. “The real life scenarios are especially helpful.”

“Weather Tactics” is the sequel to ASF’s acclaimed “Weather Strategies” seminar and is one of the 265 free seminars being offered at locations across the nation this year. Each seminar attendee who registers is automatically entered to win the quarterly handheld transceiver prize.

Using an interactive video presentation, “Weather Tactics” takes pilots on an “Operation Rain Check” tour of the Washington Dulles International Airport tower and approach control facility as well as the Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center.

Pilots then follow a flight into thunderstorm conditions to learn what controllers can and cannot do to help them avoid hazardous weather. The program illustrates how the long-range air route surveillance radar (ARSR) used by en route centers is not as effective as an approach control’s airport surveillance radar (ASR).

Information and schedules for all ASF safety seminars can be found in the “AOPA Action” section of AOPA Pilot magazine and on AOPA Online.

The AOPA Air Safety Foundation is the independent, nonprofit organization chartered in 1950 to improve general aviation safety. The majority of ASF funding comes from individual pilots’ tax-deductible donations.

99-3-016

August 30, 1999