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MSO GA NEWS Summer 2014

Transportation of accident victims and patients

requiring specialized critical care throughout Montana is

now being provided by an air medical program based at

the Missoula International Airport. Northwest MedStar

and its aviation operator Metro Aviation, Inc. began

operations on April 2, 2014.

Providence St. Patrick Hospital, with input from

Community Medical Center, entered into an agreement

with Northwest MedStar to provide critical care transport

services, previously provided by the Life Flight air

ambulance program. Both air medical programs utilized

services from Metro Aviation, Inc. of Shreveport,

Louisiana.

The air ambulance

programs of Missoula have

gone through transitions that

parallel those that occurred

more than twenty years ago in

Spokane, where the leadership

at two hospital systems agreed

to merge separate air

emergency medical programs

into one. The reason for

Spokane’s merge is in line

with Missoula’s - offer greater

efficiency and functionality in

providing critical care transport

services.

Northwest MedStar, the preferred provider of critical

care transport for St. Pat’s and Community hospitals, is

building on the quality reputation the former program was

See Metro (Continued on page 3)

“Inside this issue”

Aviation has a place at the National Museum of Forest Service History, p. 4

MSO’s great digs: East GA ramp and an outdoor deck at the Terminal, p. 5

Homestead Helicopters expansion, Museum of Mountain Flying, p. 5

GA BBQ Saturday, September 20, noon to 4 PM: Don’t miss it! p. 6

West Fork Lodge airstrip: Don’t miss it either! p. 7

The Missoula Airport Authority’s Honorary Commissioner is a respected and

informed presence at the Airport’s Board meetings. As are all Commission members,

Louie is attentive, informed, and up to date on Airport business. His active interest at

the age of 93 years is a bit unusual. He brings to the table a background rich in unique

experiences few would guess from his quiet, modest participation at Board meetings.

Louie grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and as a high school student was a member of

the Naval Reserve. He attended the University of Nebraska where his Reserve

experience led to leadership positions in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps.

With the encouragement of his superiors, Louie applied for the Naval Academy and

was accepted.

His training as a Naval Midshipman was in the field of engineering. With his vision

not being 20/20 he was selected for a specialty in the Supply Corps, which is the

business and logistics arm of the Navy. After graduating from the Academy he attended

Harvard Business School along with 75 or so other Navy personnel for training as a

Supply Officer.

During active duty Louie served as Supply Officer aboard a destroyer, troop ship, and hospital ship. His duties

See Knudsen (Continued on page 2)

Metro Aviation and Northwest MedStar at MSO By Gary Matson

Louie Knudsen Brings Unique Experience to Airport Board Meetings By Gary Matson

Missoula Airport Authority Honorary Commissioner Louie Knudsen. Gary Matson photo.

Metro Aviation Lead Fixed Wing Pilot Ken Griffith. Gary Matson photo.

Page 2

included procurement of all the equipment, spare parts,

clothing, and general supplies needed for his ship.

Assignment to his first ship, the destroyer USS Gatling

(named after the inventor of the gatling gun), came near the

end of the war. He boarded the destroyer in Honolulu as it

was headed for the shipyard for repairs. After its return to

sea, it fired its guns on a Wake Island Japanese

emplacement but was not involved in major action before

the end of the war.

After the end of the war,

Louie was assigned to the

troop ship Deuel, which

carried military personnel on

maneuvers. It was during his

third ship assignment, on the

USS Haven, that he

encountered an experience of

a lifetime: Atomic bomb testing in the Marshall Islands.

Operation Crossroads was conducted to evaluate the

effects of an atomic bomb like the one dropped on

Nagasaki, Japan. The USS Haven was a WWII hospital

ship converted to provide quarters and laboratory space for

scientists studying the effects of the atomic explosions. On

the day of the test, July 25, 1947, 900 guests including

Congressmen and dignitaries were aboard the Haven at its

observation location out to sea some distance from the

target area. The Navy’s target area was ninety Five ships

anchored in the lagoon of Bikini Atoll. Two bombs were

detonated. The first was dropped from a B-29 and

exploded 500 feet above the surface. A second exploded

underwater, sending skyward a column of sea water and

spray. The tests helped answer the world’s questions about

this new and spectacularly lethal weapon. To have

witnessed these tests as Louie did was indeed an

experience of a lifetime!

After serving on the Haven, Louie was stationed at the

Navy’s Regional Accounts Office in Washington, D.C. His

duties included handling accounts for military contractors

and managing travel expenses for Navy personnel. His

service included work in a special department that

collected amounts of excess profits from contractors and

requiring these amounts to be paid back to the government.

During Louie’s service in Washington, D.C. he met his

future wife, Elaine. She was the daughter of Vladimir K.

Zworykin, an engineer, inventor, and pioneer of color

television. After their marriage in 1949, Louie and Elaine

lived in several cities because the Navy’s standard tour of

duty was two years. They raised four children, each being

born in a different city and each attending at least two

different schools.

One son, Peter, was born in Iran in a U.S. Army

hospital across the street from the Shah of Iran’s palace.

Louie served in Iran as an advisor on the several support

ships provided to the Shah by the U.S. Navy.

At the end of his 20-year Navy career, Louie went to

work for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena,

California. As in the Navy, he was involved with logistics

at JPL. Under contract to NASA, JPL engaged in “Task

Orders” for the design and conduct of projects in

unmanned space exploration. One program involved the

“slingshot” effect. That is, a spacecraft is directed to a spot

where a planet’s gravity would accelerate and redirect (as a

slingshot) the spacecraft to a another planet farther out in

the Solar System. Examples of successful programs using

this effect are Voyager 1 and Voyager 2.

Louie’s career at JPL spanned 24 years. After JPL, he

and Elaine moved to Missoula where their son, Peter, and

daughter, Valerie lived. Louie heard from an acquaintance

about an opening on the Missoula Airport board. The

position sounded interesting with needs that closely

matched those of his military and JPL careers so he applied

and was accepted. During his 16 years as an active Board

member Louie served as Chairman for a year. He became

an Honorary Board Member about 6 years ago and still

regularly attends meetings, occasionally offering a

comment or observation. Thank you, Louie, for your

service to your Country, science, and your communities!

Knudsen (Continued from page 1)

From an anniversary publication of the U.S. Naval Academy.

From the book documenting “Operation Crossroads.”

Page 3

known for. The same critical care team configuration, a

registered nurse and nationally registered paramedic, staff

each transport.

The Metro Aviation staff at MSO remains the same.

Metro Aviation has been the aviation services provider and

operator to St. Pat’s since 2000 and to Northwest MedStar

since 1994. Northwest MedStar will continue to serve

Missoula’s hospitals as well as others in the state. Each

medical facility keeps a list of contacts for emergency

medical transportation need. MedStar responds to requests

from all regional medical facilities and EMS

organizations.

With the base being relocated to MSO, all MedStar and

Metro modes of transport and staff are now stationed at

their leased hangar. MedStar medical teams are housed at

Minuteman; fixed wing and helicopter pilots in the hangar.

Metro employs 4 fixed wing pilots and 4 helicopter pilots

as well as additional maintenance staff. MedStar medical

personnel will reach 16 when staffing is complete.

Northwest MedStar invested in a new Airbus (formerly

Eurocopter) EC 135 helicopter for its Missoula base. The

helicopter replaces an AStar AS350 . The twin engine

EC135 offers some advantages to the AStar.

On the fixed wing aircraft side, Metro currently flies a

1984 Beechcraft King Air. A new Pilatus PC12NG aircraft

is being considered. The Pilatus’ turbine powerplant is

among the most reliable in the industry and has a state of

the art avionics suite, more capacity for an additional

patient or family member, and greater short-field

capability. Patients can be brought through a large rear

cargo hatch and moved by an overhead crane instead of

manually, a great help to EMS personnel.

Air ambulance services to the Montana region remain

unchanged. The helicopter responds to on-scene accidents

and emergencies. The fixed wing aircraft accommodates

patients needing longer distance transports and during

inclement weather when the helicopter is unable to fly.

MedStar also provides critical care ground transports.

Patients are transported to the most appropriate facility to

provide the needed care. This decision is based upon the

medical providers on scene or in the hospitals.

Lead FW Pilot Ken Griffith could not say enough about

his employer, Metro Aviation for whom he has worked

since 1999. Prior to that time, he was a contract pilot to

UPS and has flown extensively throughout Montana.

His experience has made him very aware of the

importance of aviation safety, an awareness that is

prevalent in the safety conscious culture of Metro and its

crews. Here is a quote from a letter to Metro aviators from

the company president on the subject of safety: “…despite

a strong safety culture, advancements in technology, and

advanced training – the decisions made by our crews

before and during a flight remain the key to our success.”

Those of us who have the pleasure of sharing interest

and activity at MSO can expect to see continued growth

and development at the Metro hangar site. For more

information about Metro and MedStar:

http://www.metroaviation.com/

https://www.nwmedstar.org/

Metro (Continued from page 1)

Metro Lead Fixed Wing Pilot and RIC (Rider in Command) Ken Griffith shows good “cockpit resource management” by cycling with a proficiency consultant. Also shown is a Pilatus PC-12NG which Metro expects to someday be using in place of its MSO-based Beechcraft

King Air. Photo courtesy of Metro’s Nicole Stewart. ☺

Metro’s Airbus/Eurocopter EC 135. Photo courtesy of Metro Aviation.

Page 4

A robust national historical and educational

development neighboring the Airport is well underway

just northwest of the departure end of Runway 29. A multi

-faceted, 36 acre museum campus will include an

impressive structure, the National Conservation Legacy

and Education Center. There has never before been a

central place where Forest Service historical artifacts

could be stored, preserved, displayed, and interpreted. The

mission of the Museum and its Center is to provide a place

for the stories and artifacts of the Forest Service and its

conservation legacy.

Those of us familiar with our Missoula International

Airport (MSO) know about the essential and growing role

aviation plays in the Forest Service. MSO GA News staff

Gary and Judy Matson recently enjoyed a visit at the

Museum campus with Dave Stack, Museum Vice

President and

Executive Director.

Dave himself has an

aviation connection.

He served in the

Navy as a CIC Watch

Officer & Bridge

Watch Officer aboard

the aircraft carrier

USS America CVA-

66 before he began

his full career with the

Forest Service. Now

“retired,” he is the

Museum’s full time Director.

Dave brought along a unique aviation historical artifact:

A panel from the fuselage of the first “Flying Fire Truck,”

the Boeing Stearman Caydet N75081. The year was 1955.

Dave gave us documents describing a pioneering event.

Forest Service Fire Control Officer Joe Ely had witnessed

the loss of 15 firefighters in a major Mendocino National

Forest wildfire. “Ranger Joe” knew there had to be a way

to fight fires without such loss of life. He asked crop

dusters Floyd and Vance Nolta (Willows Flying Service,

Willows, California) if they could modify their Stearman

crop duster to drop water. They could, and they did. After

successful tests the aircraft made the first airdrops on

wildfires. It later became Air Tanker No. 1.

The Stearman panel and thousands of other artifacts are

currently being stored in Forest Service warehouses and in

the Museum’s offices now housed on 14th street in the

structure that was once the Missoula trolley barn. Among

the more unusual artifacts is a wedding dress made from a

parachute. During WWII, some conscientious objectors

served as Smokejumpers. One of these fellows took his

parachute home with him to Ohio after his service. His

bride used the fine silk fabric for her wedding dress.

Artifacts like these come to the museum when donors

discover it as a place for their historical pieces.

Aviation dreams? There are some. One idea is to

construct a small aircraft parking area adjacent to the

Museum and accessible to fly-in pilots and their

passengers. It could even include a camping area (in our

dreams!). Another link between the airport and the

Museum could come via an extension of the frontage road

beyond the Smokejumper base and Fire Lab. Another idea

is a visitors’ shuttle from the FBO’s or terminal to the

museum. As always, the realization of these dreams will

depend largely upon funding.

Want to take a look at the present Museum? Go

almost exactly 1 mile west past the Airport Broadway

entrance. Turn left into a driveway just past the brick

DeSmet School building. The site is not yet open to the

public, so the gate is locked. However, you can see the

broad acreage and two structures now on site. One is a

Bungalow Ranger Station Cabin moved from the

Clearwater National Forest in Idaho. It was beautifully

remodeled by Museum volunteers and will eventually be

furnished to show visitors how a USFS Ranger and his

family lived and shared duties as forest managers and

caretakers. A second structure visible from the gate is the

Fire Lookout of the type found in the 1930s. It was a

display for the Smithsonian’s Folk Life Festival, moved

and reconstructed here.

The Museum has gotten good traction in its $14.5

million fundraising effort. About $4 million has been

raised so far. Once there are enough funds, the National

Conservation Legacy and Education Center will be built. It

will house exhibits, meeting rooms, classrooms, a theater,

and other facilities. It will be a “green building” with

LEED Gold Certification. Its construction, climate

See Museum (Continued on page 6)

Aviation and the National Museum of Forest Service History By Gary Matson

National Museum of Forest Service History Executive Director Dave Stack and the Bungalow Ranger Cabin relocated from Idaho’s Clearwater National Forest. Gary Matson photo.

Fuselage panel from Forest Service Tanker No. 1, a Boeing Stearman Caydet converted sprayplane which made the first successful water drops on a wildfire. Gary Matson photo.

Page 5

The most attractive new digs award goes to the

recently completed outdoor deck upstairs at the terminal’s

gate area. Passengers waiting to depart now have a close-up

view of aircraft and airport operations while enjoying

outdoor leisure and snacks. The deck is another example of

the continuing efforts to make our Airport a most pleasant

travel companion. The number of airports nationwide

having outdoor observation decks can be counted on the

fingers of one hand. Two of them, Atlanta (ATL) and New

York (JFK), have decks accessible only to Delta Sky Club

members. Ours is open to all the air traveling public.

Two construction seasons later the east GA ramp

reconstruction near Northstar Jet has been completed!

Runway 25/7 is again open after having been closed during

construction but having served admirably as a taxi route to

Runway 29/11.

Digging never seems to stop at our progressive and

developing Airport! Further east ramp GA construction is

now underway with completion expected sometime this fall.

The reconstruction will enable increased traffic and will

accommodate larger aircraft at that end of the Airport.

There will be another period of runway closure later this

fall when rehabilitation of the apron at the Washington

Corp. hangar will take place. The FAA requires closure of

Rwy 25/7 whenever there is construction activity within

120 feet of the Runway’s centerline.

Great Digs at MSO By Gary Matson

The MSO terminal outdoor deck is one of fewer than 5 in the nation and possibly the only one with free access for the flying public. Photo courtesy of Shaun Shea, Morrison-Maierle Inc.

Homestead Helicopters expands

Increased operations at Homestead created the need for

more hangar space. A new hangar is under construction

adjacent to the existing one and will be completed sometime

this fall. Congratulations to owner Todd Donahue and to the

Homestead staff for their dynamic roles in growing general

aviation at MSO!

Museum of Mountain Flying

The Museum’s July newsletter announced the donation

of a Bell 47 helicopter which is now on static display. Two

of these historic aircraft were owned by Missoula’s Johnson

Flying Service. Jack Hughes of JFS became the first

licensed helicopter pilot in Montana. Join the museum and

support the work of its hard-working volunteer staff at this

unique MSO asset:

http://www.museumofmountainflying.org/the-museum.html

A new hangar is under construction adjacent to the existing one at Homestead Helicopters and will be completed sometime this fall. Gary Matson photo.

Extensive reconstruction of the east general aviation ramp near Northstar Jet is now complete! The apron is now larger and stronger. Photo courtesy of Justin Hubbard, Knife River.

Page 6

Missoula GA Organizations

EAA Chapter 517 meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of

each month, January through November, scheduled at the

hanger at Stevensville Airport (32S) odd-numbered months

and at the conference room in the Missoula airport terminal

(MSO) even-numbered months. For information, contact

Sherry Rossiter, President, ssrossiter@aol.com or visit the

Chapter web site www.eaa517.org

Montana Pilots Association (MPA), Five Valleys Hangar

meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of each month. For

information, contact Jim Younkin, President,

jcyounkin@msn.com

conditioning systems, and other aspects will make it the

first “Green Globes” certified building in the State of

Montana and the first Green Globes certified museum in

the nation.

Want to give a boost to a wonderful project and

growing asset to our Airport and the Missoula

Community? Go to the Museum’s web site to not only

learn about lots of cool Museum stuff but also to become a

member or contribute!

http://www.forestservicemuseum.org/involved/membership.html

Museum (Continued from page 4)

The lookout tower on the National Museum of Forest Service History campus. The departure end of Runway 29 is in the background. Gary Matson photo.

GA BBQ – The tradition continues Saturday, Sept 20

You won’t want to miss this annual FLIGHT, FUN, AND FOOD event! The finest burgers and brats expertly prepared

by our own Chefs Extraordinaire Airport Director Cris Jensen and Deputy Director Brian Ellestad. Saturday, Sept 20,

noon to 4 PM, Runway 25 Hangars. The hangars are located on

the east side of the Airport right by an entry gate. Turn off West

Broadway onto Aviation Way about 0.8 mile east of the main

Airport entrance. The hangars are a short distance uphill from the

turn.

Highlights include the beautifully restored or modified cars of

the Garden City Rods and Customs car club. Hangar doors will be

open for looks at aircraft. There will be displays from the Museum

of Mountain Flying and from neighboring Northstar Jet. Big Dipper

Ice Cream will be there to add to the enjoyment. For the first time,

the “GA BBQ” will be advertised to invite fly-in guests from

around the State. Hope to see you there for this most enjoyable

celebration of general aviation at the Missoula International Airport.

Chef Cris and Chef Brian hard at work creating BBQ cuisine at the 2013 BBQ. Roger Shaw photo.

Page 7

West Fork Lodge – Close, challenging fun for aviators

The News asked MSO pilots to recommend their favorite nearby destination. Chuck Bloom right away named the

West Fork Lodge (4U7). The News staff decided to investigate and one fine summer morning saddled up the staff

Cessna 150 and headed south on the 70 mile jaunt. As always, the Bitterroot’s valley and peaks offered fine scenery.

Como lake passed below, then our trusty GPS pointed us towards a distant valley. At first invisible nestled among trees

the grass airstrip was soon revealed. After enjoying Missoula’s almost 2 miles long Runway 29/11, the Lodge’s 2600

feet was a bit intimidating to our staff pilot. A long downwind for Rwy 20 with a very short base and long final worked

out just fine and the landing was “uneventful.”

The reward of landing in an unusually challenging spot was quickly outweighed by the friendly welcome from Tex

and Heidi Irwin, owners of the Lodge. We enjoyed a fine breakfast served in a most pleasant dining room. Before long,

we were joined by a group of backcountry fliers arriving in 4 planes. They had been camped at the Moose Creek airstrip.

We enjoyed being with this good-natured bunch, toured the Lodge interior noting its attractive furnishings, and then bid

our farewells. We agree with Chuck and give this destination and its people a high recommendation. The usual cautions

about weather, wind, and weight should be applied even more diligently for this trip. Inexperienced pilots should make

their first flights with an instructor. Overall, flying doesn’t get more fun than this!

http://www.westforklodge.com/

5225 HIGHWAY 10 WEST MISSOULA MT 59808

MSO GA News thanks Louie Knudsen; Ken Griffith, Metro Aviation; Dave Stack, National Museum of Forest Service History; Justin Hubbard, Knife River; and Shaun Shea, Morrison-Maierle for contributing to this newsletter! If you have something interesting to write about we'd like to put it in the newsletter and share it with the Missoula aviation community! Long (about 500 words), short, funny, serious, whatever. The News is published intermittently. Interested in contributing? Contact the editor (see below). MSO GA NEWS is published in Missoula Montana by Missoula International Airport and The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 517.

Editor and reporter: Gary Matson, Box 308, Milltown MT 59851 • 370-6584(c) • gjmatson@montana.com

Missoula International Airport: 5225 Highway 10 West, Missoula MT 59808 • 728-4381 • www.flymissoula.com

EAA Chapter 517: eaachapter517@aol.com • www.eaa517.org

MISSOULA AVIATION WEB SITES Missoula International Airport: http://www.flymissoula.com Homestead Helicopters: http://www.homesteadhelicopters.com/ Minuteman Aviation: http://nkmamuzich.wix.com/minutemanaviation Neptune Aviation: http://www.neptuneaviation.com Northstar Air Express: http://www.northstarmso.com

Aerotronics: http://www.aerotronics.com/ Museum of Mountain Flying: http://museummountainflying.org/ Nat’l Museum of Forest Service History: http://www.forestservicemuseum.org/ Metro Aviation: http://www.metroaviation.com/ MedStar: https://www.nwmedstar.org/ EAA Chapter 517: http://www.eaa517.org MPA: http://www.montanapilots.org/ WINGS: http://www.faasafety.gov