Eastern Slopes Regional Airport Will Help Shape Fryeburg's Future

 

Eastern Slopes Regional Airport, Fryeburg Maine

FRYEBURG, Maine - It was my pleasure to sit down and speak with Mary Build last Friday at Eastern Slopes Regional Airport in Fryeburg. Mary is the FBO (Fixed Base Operator). I had called earlier and asked if I might interview her about both pilot training and the valuable asset located just outside of Fryeburg's village center. She said, “Come on over!” I did and was met by a tall charming woman with a wide smile. She welcomed me into the small terminal building and we sat in the reception area and proceeded to chat for nearly an hour about why the airport is need and its bright future.

Mary Build, FBO

   About Mary (from the Western Maine Aviation web site): Mary found her passion in life when her children were 5 and 10 years of age respectively, and it wasn't until Lisa, the youngest was in college that she finally had an opportunity to learn how to fly.  That was back in 1991 and she has been flying for business and pleasure ever since.  She is now an FAA Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI), Certificated Instrument Flight Instructor (CFII), Advanced Ground CFI &CFII, a Designated Pilot Examiner, FAA Safety Representative and the Director of Operations of Naples Seaplane Charter, Inc.  This year is the 3rd year she will judge the International Women Pilots Association Air Race Classic.

   In the past she has received many awards such as; “The Pilot Who has Done The Most for General Aviation in the State of Maine” from the Aero Club of New England, “The Woman Pilot who has done the most for Women in Aviation” from the New England Section of the 99s and FAASTeam Representative of the year in 2008 from the Federal Aviation Administration in Portland, Maine.
    She has flown to Alaska 4 times in a Cessna 172XP and several times has had other pilots join her in their planes en-route to Alaska with her.  She flies a variety of planes from a Cessna 150, 172, 182, 180, 185, 206, Piper Cubs on wheel, skis and floats.  She also has time in a King Air 90 and a Kodiak on amphibious floats.

 

 Mary explained to me why smaller regional airports are needed. One of the things airports like Easter Slope do is train pilots. To be eligible to receive a certificate in a single-engine airplane, there are a few minimum requirements. You need to be at least 16 years of age to solo in a plane and at least 17 to earn a certificate. 

You also need to read and speak English and have at least a third class medical certificate. If you are interested in flying ultralight vehicles, you don't need a pilot's license. Mary said, “Now is the time to start flight training. She further stated that the besides the very real need for pilots, there also a similar need for air frame mechanics and technicians. When I told Mary of my life-long dream of learning to fly. She offered to take me up on my next visit. I can't wait!

Mary Build and Matt McFadden

The following Monday I had the pleasure of interviewing another fixture at Eastern Slopes, David Cullinan, airport manager. David has been at the airport of over 17 years and has done everything from washing planes to refueling them. That is how he earned the money to pay for flight training.

We chatted for over an hour about planes, runways and services. We got around to talking about my favorite subject – Fryeburg's soon to be rebounding economy and how the airport will play an important role. 

Suffice it to say I will cover all of that in a future with a more detailed article about Fryeburg's coming resurrection.

  
 As I left Manager Cullinan, I asked him for a quote. He remembered one that I think is a great promotional tag-line:

"A mile of road will take you a mile, but a mile of runway can take you anywhere." 

-       Unknown

I found another and I think that many pilots feel this way - as I hope to find out very soon 

"Because I fly, I laugh more than other men.  I look up and see more than they.  I know how clouds feel.  What it's like to have the blue in my lap.  To look down on birds.  To feel freedom in a thing called the stick.  Who but I can slice between God's billow-legs and feel them laugh and crash with His step?  Who else has seen the unclimbed peaks?  The rainbow's secret?  The real reason birds sing?  Because I fly, I envy no man on earth."  

-       Unknown