through the club, as did Suzanna Darcy-Henneman, 777 chief nology Associate Technical Fellow, and Klug, Commercial test pilot. Joe Walker, the son of a Boeing employee, received Airplanes director of Brand Marketing. They came to Boeing his private license through the club and went on to become from outside the aviation industry and wanted to know more the youngest U.S. Army Apache helicopter pilot, at age 19. about their new field. The club is one of almost 170 organizations of Boeing “We were interested in learning more about aviation employees—including flying clubs in Philadelphia, Mesa and since joining Boeing in 1998, and this is a personal way to St. Louis and one that is being formed in South Carolina— connect with our industry and interests,” Dalby explained. that are part of the Boeing Enterprise Recreation Program Avid bicyclists, hikers and campers, Dalby and Klug each (www.boeing.com/companyoffices/aboutus/recreation). have a private pilot’s license and instrument rating gained These organizations include chess clubs, model airplane through the association. Now they often can be found pack- clubs, scuba groups, car clubs, ski clubs and amateur radio ing bicycles and camping gear into one of the club’s larger groups, to name just a few. airplanes to make their escape from the heavily populated But a group that teaches people about civil aviation is a natural Puget Sound region of Washington state. for Boeing, and employees often get more out of the association Established in 1954 under Boeing bylaws, the association than background knowledge—and that’s helpful at work. for more than half a century has allowed co-workers, family That was the case for Dalby, a Boeing Research & Tech- members and contractors to earn their wings or continue From training to testing The Boeing Employees Flying Association not only continues to train pilots; it sometimes supports Boeing developmental testing projects. The group helped perform developmental testing on a Boeing-patented software package called SAFE, for Safe Area Flight Emergency, that uses airplane data to confirm safe places for emergency landings, including runways and open terrain. When considering test-bed options, the club’s Cirrus SR20 was deemed the most economical and maneuverable aircraft for the testing. The association was “a great supplier to work with,” said William Pflug, Boeing Research & Technology configuration engineer. BOEING FRONTIERS / SEPTEMBER 2012 19
Frontiers September 2012 Issue
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