Meetings

Please see Attached Document below for 2011 Schedule.   Meetings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.,  AirLake Airport, Lakeville, MN. October through May, second Friday of each month. June through September, second Thursday of each month.

Activities

Activities, since commissioning in September of 2002, have been
patient transportation, airport open house booths, and free plane rides to enhance interest in the Chapter.

File:     PCI-MN News Article 06142011.doc

By:      Pankratz

Rev:     1

Date:   June 14, 2011

Minnesota Chapter Update

Minnesota Chapter Assists Wyoming Chapter Mission

March weather was not cooperating for the second leg of a planned mission to transport Leah Gonzales and her mother from Gillette Wyoming to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota.  The outlook for the planned departure on Sunday March 20^th for the second half of the flight from Huron South Dakota to Rochester Minnesota called for ceilings between 500 and 900 feet in mist with freezing level at about the same altitude.  The decision was made to delay the flight to Monday March 21^st.

Monday morning’s weather at Airlake Minnesota was IFR with low ceilings and visibility.  The weather at the Gillette Wyoming departure point was VFR so Wyoming Chapter Pilot Gary Garland departed on schedule for a noon transfer at Huron South Dakota.  It wasn’t until about 10:30am local time that the Minnesota conditions improved to the point where an IFR return for landing from Airlake to Airlake could be made (if needed) and so I departed for Huron.  The trip to Huron at 6000 feet was between layers with a solid undercast topping out at about 3000 feet and a solid deck above at about 12,000 feet.  Conditions became VFR a few miles to the west of Huron and after an uneventful but somewhat late arrival I met Leah and her mother at the Huron terminal.  The temperature there was a warm 75 degrees F, a pleasant improvement from the mid to high 30’s and low 40’s seen at Airlake earlier.  I felt bad about not being able to meet Gary Garland personally but fully understood his desire to head back to Gillette as the weather was beginning to deteriorate to the west.  A special thanks to Gary and the Wyoming group for the cool chapter hat, literature and other gifts.

The trip from Huron to Rochester as IFR starting just a few miled to the east of Huron.  The smoothness of the flight and the drone of the engine put the ladies to sleep until I woke them at the beginning of the initial descent into the Rochester area.  I explained to them how things were going to happen on the approach and invited them to listen in to ATC over the intercom.  I got to see first hand for the first time a visual result of the “heat island” effect where the relative warmth of a city’s brick and pavement causes it’s own localized weather phenomena in that….as we approached Rochester the solid white under cast as far as you could see in all directions gave way to a dark “hole”…an opening over the city bounded by the city limits. 

The ceiling in the hole was up to 1400 feet but visibility remained low, about ¾ mile in mist and haze.  The intermediate and final approach segments were IFR due to the low visibility.  The landing was uneventful.  The passengers seemed amazed that we could find our way over all that territory without once seeing the ground and then find the runway and land on it after seeing it appear only on short final.  The best compliment was when they said they liked their little transport better than the dozen or so biz jets and turbo props that filled the Rochester ramp. 

We all gave thanks for the great flight as the ladies were loaded into the cab for their motel.  The flight from Rochester to home base at Airlake was IFR and only 45 minutes.  As I leveled off just prior to beginning the descent into KLVN the dull setting sun between the under and over layers of cloud caused me to say out loud to the Lord….how great Thou art, how great Thou art and to give thanks to Him for the wonderful and safe flight.  What a joyous way to share His gifts.  To Jesus Christ be all glory and praise, honor and love.

Minnesota Chapter Presence at Fathers’ Day Fly-In  

For a number of years running the PCI MN chapter has had a presence at the Stanton Field (KSYN) Fathers’ Day Fly-In and we are hoping to carry on the tradition again this Sunday June 19, 2011.  There has always been plenty of opportunity to talk up the gospel and PCI and hand out brochures at this event where about 1000 pancake breakfasts are served and 70 or more planes including antiques, classics, warbirds and ultralights arrive.  Stanton Field enjoys national historic site status because of its use for flight training during World War II.  Its two beautiful grass runways and 40’s vintage hanger and buildings are always inviting.

Minnesota Chapter Heads Effort to Secure Booth for AirVenture 2011.  

The Minnesota chapter is filing the paperwork to obtain an indoor booth for the week long EAA AirVenture airshow and convention being July 25^th through the 31^st. 

For those who might not be familiar with the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) signature event the annual AirVenture gathering is now the world’s largest airshow surpassing the Paris airshow in many respects.  For instance last year there were:

·         More than 10,000 arriving aircraft

·         2,380 showplanes including homebuilt, vintage, warbirds, seaplanes, ultralights and rotorcraft

·         777 commercial exhibitors

·         2,167 international visitors

·         More than 36,000 campers

·         979 media representatives from five continents

So far the MN chapter is footing the bill for the 10’ x 10’ spot.  For those who might be interested, there are several ways that you can help to make the Pilot’s For Christ, International presence a success:

            (1)  Financial contributions to help off set expenses are always welcome.

(2)  Help in staffing the booth…even for just a few hours a day would make a difference

       in relieving the strain on those who so generously came forward to volunteer for this duty.

(3)  Display items….pictures, posters, banners, backdrops to help make the booth inviting and

       attractive would be appreciated.

(4)  Give away items….brochures gospels, pins, stickers etc are always a crowd pleaser and

       leave a lasting impression.

If you feel moved to help in any of these ways or in any way, please coordinate with Minnesota Chapter Representative Paul Pankratz at (952) 898-6687.

By:      Pankratz

Rev:     1

Date:   June 14, 2011

Minnesota Chapter Update

Minnesota Chapter Assists Wyoming Chapter Mission

March weather was not cooperating for the second leg of a planned mission to transport Leah Gonzales and her mother from Gillette Wyoming to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota.  The outlook for the planned departure on Sunday March 20^th for the second half of the flight from Huron South Dakota to Rochester Minnesota called for ceilings between 500 and 900 feet in mist with freezing level at about the same altitude.  The decision was made to delay the flight to Monday March 21^st.

Monday morning’s weather at Airlake Minnesota was IFR with low ceilings and visibility.  The weather at the Gillette Wyoming departure point was VFR so Wyoming Chapter Pilot Gary Garland departed on schedule for a noon transfer at Huron South Dakota.  It wasn’t until about 10:30am local time that the Minnesota conditions improved to the point where an IFR return for landing from Airlake to Airlake could be made (if needed) and so I departed for Huron.  The trip to Huron at 6000 feet was between layers with a solid undercast topping out at about 3000 feet and a solid deck above at about 12,000 feet.  Conditions became VFR a few miles to the west of Huron and after an uneventful but somewhat late arrival I met Leah and her mother at the Huron terminal.  The temperature there was a warm 75 degrees F, a pleasant improvement from the mid to high 30’s and low 40’s seen at Airlake earlier.  I felt bad about not being able to meet Gary Garland personally but fully understood his desire to head back to Gillette as the weather was beginning to deteriorate to the west.  A special thanks to Gary and the Wyoming group for the cool chapter hat, literature and other gifts.

The trip from Huron to Rochester as IFR starting just a few miled to the east of Huron.  The smoothness of the flight and the drone of the engine put the ladies to sleep until I woke them at the beginning of the initial descent into the Rochester area.  I explained to them how things were going to happen on the approach and invited them to listen in to ATC over the intercom.  I got to see first hand for the first time a visual result of the “heat island” effect where the relative warmth of a city’s brick and pavement causes it’s own localized weather phenomena in that….as we approached Rochester the solid white under cast as far as you could see in all directions gave way to a dark “hole”…an opening over the city bounded by the city limits. 

The ceiling in the hole was up to 1400 feet but visibility remained low, about ¾ mile in mist and haze.  The intermediate and final approach segments were IFR due to the low visibility.  The landing was uneventful.  The passengers seemed amazed that we could find our way over all that territory without once seeing the ground and then find the runway and land on it after seeing it appear only on short final.  The best compliment was when they said they liked their little transport better than the dozen or so biz jets and turbo props that filled the Rochester ramp. 

We all gave thanks for the great flight as the ladies were loaded into the cab for their motel.  The flight from Rochester to home base at Airlake was IFR and only 45 minutes.  As I leveled off just prior to beginning the descent into KLVN the dull setting sun between the under and over layers of cloud caused me to say out loud to the Lord….how great Thou art, how great Thou art and to give thanks to Him for the wonderful and safe flight.  What a joyous way to share His gifts.  To Jesus Christ be all glory and praise, honor and love.

Minnesota Chapter Presence at Fathers’ Day Fly-In  

For a number of years running the PCI MN chapter has had a presence at the Stanton Field (KSYN) Fathers’ Day Fly-In and we are hoping to carry on the tradition again this Sunday June 19, 2011.  There has always been plenty of opportunity to talk up the gospel and PCI and hand out brochures at this event where about 1000 pancake breakfasts are served and 70 or more planes including antiques, classics, warbirds and ultralights arrive.  Stanton Field enjoys national historic site status because of its use for flight training during World War II.  Its two beautiful grass runways and 40’s vintage hanger and buildings are always inviting.

Minnesota Chapter Heads Effort to Secure Booth for AirVenture 2011.  

The Minnesota chapter is filing the paperwork to obtain an indoor booth for the week long EAA AirVenture airshow and convention being July 25^th through the 31^st. 

For those who might not be familiar with the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) signature event the annual AirVenture gathering is now the world’s largest airshow surpassing the Paris airshow in many respects.  For instance last year there were:

·         More than 10,000 arriving aircraft

·         2,380 showplanes including homebuilt, vintage, warbirds, seaplanes, ultralights and rotorcraft

·         777 commercial exhibitors

·         2,167 international visitors

·         More than 36,000 campers

·         979 media representatives from five continents

So far the MN chapter is footing the bill for the 10’ x 10’ spot.  For those who might be interested, there are several ways that you can help to make the Pilot’s For Christ, International presence a success:

            (1)  Financial contributions to help off set expenses are always welcome.

(2)  Help in staffing the booth…even for just a few hours a day would make a difference

       in relieving the strain on those who so generously came forward to volunteer for this duty.

(3)  Display items….pictures, posters, banners, backdrops to help make the booth inviting and

       attractive would be appreciated.

(4)  Give away items….brochures gospels, pins, stickers etc are always a crowd pleaser and

       leave a lasting impression.

If you feel moved to help in any of these ways or in any way, please coordinate with Minnesota Chapter Representative Paul Pankratz at (952) 898-6687.