2010 Convention
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Other important considerations were: Being geographically central, Tulsa enabled PC-12 pilots to fly a reasonable non-stop distance from anywhere in the US to attend, while also accommodating those who chose to fly commercially. The hotel was modern, the right size, and had a layout that was meeting and vendor friendly. Also, recognizing that we were still in a recession and interested in attracting more professional, non-owner PC 12 pilots, the “all in price” was a bargain. The added pre-meeting attractions of the CAMI Course at FAA headquarters in Oklahoma City, and the golf outing at a brand new, world class golf course were unmatchable.Let’s talk content: Safety and Operational Excellence
As an opening highlight, we were able to honor and learn from the more than 40 PC-12 owners and pilots who volunteered for the Haiti relief effort…a combination of incredible humanitarian effort and piloting skills. You had to be there!
From a piloting perspective, we were challenged by Dr. David Strahle, the pioneering force behind Nexrad Radar, and Steve Hammack from Honeywell about whether or not we really understood and knew how to use and interpret on-board Nexrad and weather radar. Do we really know and understand what we are seeing, how to interpret it, and then be able to take appropriate action. We came away with a whole new appreciation of the powers and pitfalls of what we have on board. Safety and Operations.
And what about the world of changing approach charts and international standards? Once again, Jim Terpstra from Jeppesen brought his first-hand breadth of knowledge to our members, followed by Ron Zasadinski’s break-out session on optimizing the use of Garmin GPS equipment for those who have it. Safety and Operations? You bet!
We also were treated to more operational insights by Alpha Flying’s “Tips from the Pros,” the US Air Force’s PC-12 training presentation, Pilatus Business Aircraft’s professional pilot, Peter Duncan’s session on “Flying the NG,” and SimCom’s presentation on “Complacency” in the cockpit. And, we got our annual updates from Pilatus, Honeywell and Pratt and Whitney.
The short and long of it is we had two days full of Safety and Operational education and training, mixed with ample time for camaraderie and “hanger talk” over cocktails and meals.
So is this all worth it? A two-to-three day commitment once a year for PC-12 owners and pilots to attend the POPA convention? At least one third party vendor and supporter thinks so. At the meeting, Lance Toland of Lance Toland Associates announced a special program his agency and one insurance carrier have put together exclusively for POPA members who do their annual SimCom or equivalent currency training, and who regularly attend the POPA Convention and/or other POPA sponsored events.
Being a POPA member with a commitment to Safety and Operational excellence through on-going education and training pays off. That’s what your Board of Directors thinks, as does at least one major Insurer. You be the judge. Come see for yourself at next year’s celebratory 15th Annual Convention in Broomfield, Colorado – the home of Pilatus Business Aircraft.