Who We Are

This post is meant to give a deeper understanding of what this little historic airport is all about. With some notes and an outline provided by A.H., Charlotte Vincent put together the following. I believe it will clearly show the value to the community, especially for those who have wondered if 2B2 is just a playground for a few. Following this post will be a series of question and answers submitted by Ted Russell, our airport and regional historian, clearing up some facts and myths that are related to the history of flying around Plum Island.

PLUM ISLAND AERODROME, INC.

Who We Are

Plum Island Aerodrome, Inc. (PIA) is a Not For Profit 501(C)3 organization which manages the Plum Island historical airport in a lease arrangement with Historic New England.

Plum Island Aerodrome has a two-fold mission:

• To restore and preserve the historic character of Plum Island Airport
• To educate the public on the history of Plum Island Airport, as well as on its impact on aviation and the community today.

Steve Noyes is President of Plum Island Aerodrome, Inc. and the Flight Base Operations (FBO) manager responsible for the day to day operations at Plum Island Airport.

Volunteers provide the backbone both for airport operations and for the fulfillment of PIA’s mission. More specifically, volunteers perform all of the work required:

• To maintain and upgrade the airport for day to day operations
• To maintain, update and expand airport museum facilities and related services including the historical Burgess Museum and the Working Museum for the restoration of classic aircraft
• To provide, expand and diversify PIA’s educational and community services
• To maintain communications and public relations with adjacent neighbors, surrounding communities, government boards and agencies, regional Historical Societies, Historic New England and the public at large.

As a strong nonprofit organization, Plum Island Aerodrome relies on both earned and contributed income to offset the costs of day to day operations, ongoing maintenance and authorized improvements:

• Parking Tiedown Fees
• Fuel Sales
• Office Space Rental
• Minor Aircraft Maintenance
• Membership Dues
• Fund Raising Events
• Tax Deductible Donations from the public.

An appointed Board of Directors provides the governing direction and oversight for Plum Island Aerodrome, Inc.



Services We Offer

Plum Island Aerodrome, Inc. offers a variety of services to a diverse and growing user base.

PIA provides the following aviation services to the Flying Community:

• Aircraft Fueling Station with 100LL Fuel
• Parking Tiedowns
• Airframe Service (Minor)
• Powerplant Service (Minor).

Recreational services are available year-round to the General Public, weather permitting. These include:

• Glider Rides
• Scenic Flights.

Plum Island Aerodrome offers a broad range of Community Services for schools, youth groups, community organizations, and the general public. The following are examples of the community services which PIA hosts:

• Educational field trips with museum tours, educational presentations, and viewing of aircraft restoration work in action; Mothers of Little Farm, Newburyport High School, and Bagnall Elementary School in Groveland, MA are some of the organizations for which PIA has hosted educational tours
• Tours of Burgess Museum which displays the rich history of Plum Island Airport, its pioneering role in the aviation industry, and airplane and pilot models and memorabilia; Both walk-in, self-guided tours and scheduled historian-led tours are available
• Tours of Working Museum which provides both displays of renovated classic aircraft and live-viewing of aircraft restoration work underway
• Workshops providing hands-on training and experience in Aircraft Restoration
• Annual “Sails and Trails Weekend” sponsored by Essex County Heritage Commission which includes Plum Island Airfield on its list of historic site stopovers
• Annual Bird Dog and Tail Dragger Fly Ins with pancake breakfasts, all day cook-outs, and free parking.

Plum Island Aerodrome also accommodates non-PIA sponsored community events. In these cases, PIA closes airport operations and makes its grounds available to community groups and private citizens. The following are examples of the one-time or recurring community events which have been held at Plum Island Airfield:

• Annual Scouting Events, e.g., Explorer Scout Camping Expeditions; Boy Scout Lone Tree Rocket Launch and Pancake Breakfast
• Special Ceremonies, e.g., 2009 Award ceremony sponsored by Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission to present state awards to Newburyport High School for their first place finish in the national Real World Design Challenge sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy; 2008 private wedding ceremony and reception
• Annual Benefit Concert - “An Evening of Rock”, e.g., open air concert sponsored by the Evening of Rock Foundation to “preserve our natural wildlife resources… support our communities’ rich history … and to provide an atmosphere to formulate partnerships, share ideas and innovations in a social and entertaining environment”; Proceeds from the 2008 first annual benefit concert went to Parker River Wildlife Refuge and Plum Island Airfield
• Annual Youth Kite Flying Day
• Annual All Day Demonstration of Model and Radio-Controlled Aircraft sponsored by Northeast Radio Control Model Club and the Cape Ann R/C Model Club.

While the community events above require PIA to close down airport operations, PIA also opens airport operations and makes the Plum Island Airfield available for several critical and life-saving community services. These include:

• Emergency medical evacuations to transport injured accident victims and medical patients to premiere medical facilities in Boston and surrounding areas; The fourth and most recent evacuation took place on May 27, 2009
• Emergency Coast Guard Rescue Operations
• Massachusetts National Guard flights to bring in Emergency Management Staff for their evaluation of Plum Island beach erosion
• Massachusetts New England Mosquito Control for environmentally safe spraying of surrounding communities as a matter of public health, safety and comfort.

Our Economic Impact

Through its community services, Plum Island Aerodrome contributes both indirectly and directly to the economies of our local communities at numerous levels and in varied ways.

There are no admission charges or parking fees for any of PIA’s community services. Private citizens – young and old – can come together as individuals, groups, or families to take part in PIA’s educational and community events without tapping into their individual and family wallets.

There are no venue charges for holding a community event at Plum Island Airfield. Schools, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies do not incur costs for the time and effort put forth by PIA volunteers in preparing for, conducting, and breaking down the event. Nor do they incur costs for utilizing the PIA grounds and facilities. Local schools, nonprofits, and government entities can make these events available to their students, members, or citizens without the need to fund-raise or draw down their budgets.

Whether for an hour museum tour, a morning Boy Scout rocket launch, a family day of kite flying, an all day demonstration of Radio-Controlled Aircraft, an evening concert, an overnight of boy scout camping, a weekend of historical stopovers, or an all day, all weekend Fly-In, PIA’s community events draw people not only to Plum Island Airfield but to the surrounding communities as well. This influx of people brings customers into the doors of our local businesses and communities. The following always stand to yield positive business benefit from PIA and its community events:

• Local beaches and state parks; MASS Audubon and National Wildlife Refuge
• Retail Shops
• Restaurants, Lounges; Fast Food, Take-Outs; Coffee Lounges
• Bakeries, Ice Cream/Gelato Parlors, and Candy Stores
• Food Markets, Convenient Stores, Drug Stores, and Wine and Spirits
• Cinemas and Theaters
• Street Performers: Actors, Mimes, Musicians, Singers, Magicians, Comedians
• Boating and Fishing; Water Rentals, Tours, and Cruises
• Sightseeing and Historical Tour Businesses
• Taxis and Livery Services; Car Rentals
• Town and City Parking Fees
• Hotels, Inns and Bed & Breakfasts.

Through this cascade effect from its community events, Plum Island Aerodrome has had, and will continue to have, a direct, positive and broad-sweeping impact on the economies of our surrounding cities, towns, and communities.

Our Commitment to Being a Good Citizen and Good Neighbor

Plum Island Aerodrome is committed to being a good citizen and a good neighbor. PIA consistently backs up this pledge with action.

• Plum Island Aerodrome offers a diverse and growing portfolio of community services as was highlighted in the previous section.

• As a public use airport, Plum Island Aerodrome is compliant with and stays current of all safety and security regulations issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission.

• Plum Island Aerodrome has been proactive in controlling and minimizing noise at the airfield. Guidelines for noise abatement flight patterns are prominently posted at strategic locations around the airfield. These guidelines are consistently followed and enforced. As a result, complaints about noise have become nonexistent.

• Plum Island Aerodrome has also been proactive in initiating and maintaining good communication and relations with adjacent neighbors, surrounding communities, government boards and agencies, regional Historical Societies, Historic New England and the public at large.

Our Solid Reputation as a Vital Community Member and Partner

Comments from adjacent neighbors and surrounding communities offer solid evidence that Plum Island Aerodrome has established a solid reputation for living up to its mission statement and commitments, as well as for being a vital member of and contributing partner with surrounding communities. The following are examples of these acknowledgements.

• “We have been pleased to see the progress at the airfield in blending in the local aviation history, with the vintage/golden age fly-ins and the contemporary aviation flights and flight training…. The airfield had good informative articles in the press along with event interviews…We are also willing to help on airfield or museum programs and projects … and with your museum displays, the family open house events and the other airfield community activities that proved so popular…”. (Massachusetts Aviation Historical Society, Inc.)

• “The Plum Island Airfield is an important asset to the communities of Newbury and Newburyport. It serves not only to support the local economy but provides a significant educational and recreational component to the fabric of life on the North Shore.” (Town of Newbury, Office of the Board of Selectmen)

• “… we have found the operators to be careful, responsible and responsive in their management of the airfield. They strive for good community relations and professional operation and have, in our opinion, succeeded. ….Plum Island Airfield has made every effort to work responsibly, and to make the site as attractive and well run as possible. We have enjoyed partnering with them for special events, where we have been able to outreach to the community about the refuge and the wildlife habitat of the area.” (Parker River National Wildlife Refuge)

• “… Airfield personnel have been very responsive to issues we have raised and have shown understanding and consideration of our goals and mission…We appreciate the cooperation and community spirit evidenced by the Plum Island Airfield.” (Mass Audubon)