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Women in Aviation: Katarina Matanović, First Croatian Female Pilot
Mar 08 2013March 8th is the International Women’s Day, and so it seems appropriate to remember a woman in aviation. There are many well known female pilots, starting with Harriet Quimby who was the very first woman in the US to receive a pilot license. Today, we commemorate the first Croatian female pilot, born this month a hundred years ago.
Katarina Matanović
Katarina Matanović was born in March 1913 in what was then the Croatian province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. When she saw an advert about a pilot school opening in Zagreb in 1935, that was it for her. She enrolled and received her pilot certificate the next year, becoming the first Croatian (and Yugoslav) female pilot.
Not satisfied with simple flying, she also became the first Yugoslav woman to sky-dive, and an acomplished sky-diver. She performed as a pilot and as a sky-diver and became a well-known attraction at airshows around the country.
Avia/Lombardi FL-3
At the outbreak of the Second World War she became a Liutenant in the Croatian Air Force flying the Avia FL-3 liaison airplane. During the war, in 1944 she lost her husband, also a pilot, shot down by the Allies, and a few days later she herself was injured in the British bombing of Zagreb.
After the Second World War, the Communist authorities in Yugoslavia were not greatly keen on her since she fought on the losing side, and she slipped into obscurity. However when Croatia became independent again, she was remembered, awarded a service medal, became an honorary member of the Zagreb Aeroklub and finally given the recognition she deserved for her achievements in such a male-dominated field.
Katarina died in April 2003.
See also Wikipedia article on Katarina Matanović and a more detailed biography (in Croatian)
A pilot could be fined up to $100,000 – so read this!
Feb 26 2012
Do not disturb it!
By Jim Moore
AOPA and EAA have joined forces seeking to at least delay implementation of a new rule that could bring six-figure fines to pilots who traverse airspace that federal officials have yet to depict in graphic form.
Both organizations remain committed to protecting wildlife and educating pilots about noise-sensitive areas. Absence of clear graphic depictions of the newly regulated areas has made that task impossible.
In a joint Feb. 21 letter to the FAA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the organizations noted NOAA’s refusal to provide a map of affected wildlife sanctuary boundaries in the Pacific Northwest. Slated to take effect Feb. 27, the new regulation would enable NOAA to impose fines of up to $100,000 for flying at low altitude (1,000 to 2,000 feet msl) over sanctuaries in the Channel Islands, Monterey Bay, and Gulf of the Farallones National Marine sanctuaries in California; and the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary in the state of Washington. The boundaries of the new protected areas—effectively regulated airspace though both agencies deny that is the case—differ from the boundaries depicted on current charts.
In response to a request for a graphic depiction of the new protected areas, NOAA on Feb. 7 stated that the agencies are still working to develop the charts.
“We are working with the FAA and are in the process of determining the best way to depict these zones on their charts, and expect that the FAA will update them according to their regular schedule,” NOAA wrote.
NOAA also promised future “press releases” to educate the pilot community. In the Feb. 21 letter, AOPA Vice President of Air Traffic Services and Modernization Heidi Williams and EAA Vice President of Advocacy and Safety Sean Elliott protested NOAA’s refusal to clarify boundaries and facilitate pilot education efforts.
“Pilots simply cannot be expected to avoid marine sanctuaries if NOAA is unwilling to share the boundaries of the sanctuaries in their rule that do not align with currently charted boundaries,” Williams and Elliott wrote. “A federal register notice and press release does not constitute proper education or adequate outreach—especially when neither includes a graphic depiction.”
AOPA and EAA continue to oppose the regulation for other reasons; including the dangerous precedent it sets of ceding authority over airspace to agencies other than the FAA.
AOPA and EAA remain committed to helping NOAA educate pilots to “fly friendly” over sensitive areas, provided that safety of flight remains the top priority. The organizations also opposed the final rule’s provision that pilots who stray into the ill-defined airspaces are presumed to have disturbed wildlife, a presumption that, in practice, is impossible to disprove.
The Feb. 21 letter urges both agencies to work collaboratively with the aviation community, delay implementation of the final rule, and for NOAA to pledge—in writing—that no enforcement action will be taken until proper education and mitigation of remaining concerns are addressed.
Going Solo: Tyler Nieland
Dec 17 2011
Tyler and 32G
A new fledgling has fled the nest! Congratulations to Tyler Nieland who sucessfully completed three solo takeoffs and landing in Citabria 5032G under AeroDynamic Instructor Jim Grant’s watchful gaze.
Well done Tyler and Jim.
New taildragger: Steve Huston
Dec 11 2011
Steve and CItabria 06G
We have a new tailwheel pilot, Steve Huston. Steve flew with AeroDynamic instructor Jim Grant and earned his tailwheel endorsement in Citabria 1806G.
Well done Steve and Jim.
News: Customer Appreciation Holiday Quiz
Dec 05 2011
Puzzled?
We are trying something new!
On our Web site, you’ll find our Customer Appreciation Quiz. Real questions which will challenge, educate and amuse you. And real prizes – a $100 gift card for Harris Ranch Restaurant Inn and Shop, “The Proficient Pilot” boxed set of three books by Barry Schiff, and three AeroDynamic T-shirts.
Who can try the quiz? Anyone, but not everyone can win.
Who can win? Any customer who has flown with us during 2011.
Who cannot win? Staff and families of AeroDynamic Aviation, or anyone who has not flown with us in 2011. But of course you can still try the quiz and maybe win bragging rights for your erudition.
Other rules are on the Quiz Web page. Quiz closes midnight PST on Dec 25 and results will be announced on Dec 27.
Enjoy!
Zdravko
Going Solo: Matt Claudius
Nov 22 2011
Matt and Rich with 91L
Congratulations to Matt Claudius, who took to the skies on his own for the first time on November 20, 2011.
While his watchful CFI, Rich Digrazzi, paced the ramp, Matt took Citabria 9091L for three successful takeoffs and landings.”