News

Excellent turnout at the Anniversary Fly-in

Contact: Sharon Spence, President Grumman Owners & Pilots Association +1(306) 441-9525 Pres@grummanpilots.org

American Yankee Association (AYA) evolves into
The Grumman Owners & Pilots Association (GOPA)

Keywords: AYA, American Yankee Association, Grumman light aircraft, Grumman owners, Grumman pilots, GOPA

(Aug 1, 2020). The American Yankee Association (AYA), the Registered International Type Club for Grumman general aviation owners and pilots, is proud to announce its transition into the new Grumman Owners & Pilots Association (GOPA), “Building on our proud AYA heritage.”   The new identity more accurately reflects the evolving composition of the Association, which has expanded from the original 2 seater American Yankees (AA1) which gave birth to the Association in 1976 to today’s Grumman family of 9 different models.

The Grumman Owners & Pilots Association is dramatically expanding support for Grumman owners and pilots to include

•          A “Market Place” listing planes, parts, and services, often with offerings not available elsewhere
•          An Airplane Listing discussing “Why buy Grumman? and “Which Grumman?”
•          An “Owner/Mentor” program to assist potential buyers through the buying process
•          A “Pilot Familiarization Program” (PFP) with vetted pilots who conduct “train-to-proficiency”, comprehensive check-out programs
•          “Cockpit Cool” to empower non-pilot companions to manage a plane in an emergency
•          A scholarship program for young pilots
•          Access to industry gurus to answer technical/operations questions

Becoming a member of GOPA also opens opportunities for fellowship and knowledge through an active local, national and international events program, a content-rich website and growing video library, and a bi-monthly news magazine, The International Grumman Star.

For further information, visit GOPA at GrummanPilots.org or call President, Sharon Spence (details above).

COVID-19 Virus and Fredericksburg, Texas

Due to the ever changing concerns and restrictions on our world regarding the Covid-19 Virus the AYA Board of Directors have moved the 2020 Fredericksburg Convention to May 10-13, 2021. 

NO AYA CONVENTION IN 2020.

Many, many thanks to Scott Sanders, Susan Dollar, Cindy and Bill Daley for agreeing to host the 2021 Convention in Fredericksburg, Texas.  There are still many hours that are needed to cancel and re-book the venues, etc and that TAKES A LOT TIME AND COMMITMENT!!  Thanks again to you all.

The 2021 Pacific Region convention will now be held in 2022 (no date set yet).  I also want to thank Kim Muinch for his understanding and willingness to move the Pacific Region Convention to 2022.  Kim has been putting in a lot of time researching sites and hotels for 2021 and now must reschedule as well.

Full refunds have already been issued to all who had registered and paid their registration fees for the 2020 Convention.  

Don’t forget to cancel any reservations you may have made ie: car/hotel/airlines.  Hopefully they are all of the understanding of the situation and full refunds will be forth coming.  We just cancelled our hotel room at the Hangar Hotel and received a full refund. 

Scott Sanders has been in contact with the Hangar Hotel and they have agreed to book the AYA in for 2021 at the same quoted price of this year (this includes room rates and conference center).  WOW!!! Is that customer service or WHAT!!! 

ALSO:  The Convention Scholarship Auction is the main source of fundraising for the AYA Scholarship Program and as the convention is being cancelled for this year - Please “consider making a donation to the Scholarship Fund”.  Any and all donations are appreciated – Helping to keep our young people flying. 

Our Scholarship applicants must apply by February 1st, 2021 to be eligible for a Scholarship.  Our 2021 Convention will not be held until May 2021 – therefore, there will be few funds available for the applicants and/or we may have to cancel the program for next year without your support.

Stay healthy and fly safe – Hope to see you all in Fredericksburg in 2021. Any questions/concerns please contact myself at pres@grummanpilots.org or phone: 1-306-441-9525.

Sharon Spence, President AYA

Pilots, Aviation Enthusiasts and Friends of VETS, Inc: Don’t miss your chance to win this 1972 Grumman AA1A. Odds of winning- 1: 4,000. Best of All, every dollar raised helps support the incredible work of VETS, Inc USA a nonprofit committed to helping at-risk veterans who suffer from mental illness, substance abuse and homelessness. For more information and specs, visit: https://rafflecreator.com/pages/31172/no-vet-left-behind--annual-raffle

After a one year hiatus, Dave Ohser and Jack Maher are happy to announce that we have secured a one hour block for the AYA Forum at SnF. The AYA Forum at SnF will be 4 April 2020, at 1000 until 1100.  Check the SnF program for the  exact location.  Our theme will be membership and it’s benefits.

Dave- dohser@yahoo.com

Jack- n3876h@gmail.com

There we were, five Grummans in a loose formation heading for an airport, cleared for the right break for landing but there was a wall of water falling from the sky just to the right of the runway. Our inexperienced formation had to make a quick change to right echelon in order to break left away from the heavy rain... 

It all started with a post on a social media site. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association members in Miami, Florida, had a load of relief supplies for the controllers in the Bahamas and were looking for pilots to deliver the supplies. AYA member Ross Brilakis saw the posting and contacted AYA Convention Co-Chair Matt Drahzal to see if the AYA could help during the convention. Matt sent an e-mail to the attendees asking for volunteers and five pilots answered the call. Former AYA safety director Ron Levy volunteered to be mission planner. 

As it turned out, there was not enough time to do all the paperwork required to do the flight during the convention, so a decision was made to go on the day after the convention ended. Ron contacted the NATCA Chair - man for Disaster Response, Tom Flanary, to get the details. He then prepared a PowerPoint briefing for those of us who signed up. 

Who knew a 45 minute flight to the Bahamas would require over four hours of paperwork preparation and submittal? First, there was the request to enter the Freeport Temporary Flight Restricted area. The request, the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority Temporary Flight Authorization Application Hurricane Dorian Relief form required six attachments; 1) Aircraft Certificate of Registration; 2) Certificate of Airworthiness; 3) Aircraft Insurance; 4) Pilot License; 5) Pilot Medical; 6) Pilot Passport. Fortunately, they accepted photographs of the documents, but it took quite a while.