by Richard Beckert | Jun 8, 2020 | President's Corner
I hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy considering the new Coronavirus that is circulating. Like many of you, in addition to being concerned about the virus itself, I am also concerned about the economic impact affecting people’s lives. Due to how contagious...
by Richard Beckert | Jun 8, 2020 | President's Corner
On April 2nd, Greg Ortega and I met with Paine Field Airport Director Arif Ghouse, Snohomish County Council Members Sam Low and Nate Nehring, and Legislative Assistant Russel Wiita via Skype from our homes. The purpose of the meeting was to follow up on previous...
by Richard Beckert | Mar 31, 2020 | President's Corner, Membership, Chapter Business, News, State
This years Washington Pilots Association retreat held at Lake Chelan was unique in that 7 of us wanted to connect remotely due to the coronavirus outbreak and not wanting to expose others to viruses or be exposed. So, I set up a live meeting via GoToMeeting...
by Richard Beckert | Mar 31, 2020 | President's Corner, News, Chapter
As you may have read in my recent emails, due to the restrictions being placed on gatherings of more than 10 people due to the the Covid-19 pandemic response, and the Governor’s “Stay at Home” order closing bars and restaurants, the Chapter is unfortunately being...
by Richard Beckert | Dec 31, 2019 | President's Corner
I am honored to serve as your president for 2020. I love flying to backcountry airstrips with my wife, Kolette, and our dog, Dork, in our Skylane RG. I started flying in 1979 while I was a junior in high school. I soloed just before my 17th birthday...
by Richard Beckert | Jan 28, 2020 | President's Corner
Winter is often a time when many pilots, including me, don’t get to do as much flying as we would like. We have lots of rain and at times low land snow. Freezing levels are usually below IFR minimum altitudes resulting in icing conditions for those in clouds or...
by Richard Beckert | Jan 28, 2020 | President's Corner
On January 21, 2020, Richard Beckert, Jerry Barkley, Rich Jones, and Stephanie Allen met with Ryan Zulauf at his office at Paine field. Ryan’s manager Arif Ghouse also dropped by for part of the discussion. The purpose of the meeting was to follow up on issues raised...
by Richard Beckert | Dec 31, 2019 | President's Corner, Events, Chapter
For the second year in a row we had a wonderful Christmas Party at the Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum. Shawn O’Donnell and his team provided us with great food for the event. We awarded four awards during the event: Pilot of the Year – Rich...
by Richard Beckert | Dec 31, 2019 | President's Corner, Events, Chapter Business
Our January WPA meeting will be held at the Le Bistro and will feature a 2019 Year in Review as well as entertaining suggestions on how to make 2020 an even better year. I would like to solicit input from the membership on what events and speakers they would...
by Richard Beckert | Dec 31, 2019 | President's Corner
The WPA and the Flying Heritage Museum met with the Paine Field Airport Director and two Council members in the Snohomish County Council Conference room to discuss several concerns that General Aviation (GA) pilots flying out of Paine Field have expressed. Attendees...
