From the Flight Deck

Among the many skillsets of Shoreline Aviation stablemates is a rather remarkable talent on the links. From Shoreline President Keith Douglass and throughout his team, one is apt to find some pretty good golfers. And one thing these pretty good golfers often do is hit the links for the cause. In fact, for many causes.

This month you’ll find a father-son team of Shoreline pilots teeing off at the Overlook Golf Club in Hollis, New Hampshire, overlooking the beautiful Nashua River. In fact, Shoreline is proudly supporting the third annual Boston Center ATC Scramble to Benefit Boston Children’s Hospital as a Silver Sponsor. Shoreline also sponsored last year. The event takes place Wednesday, October 7.

Boston Center

Let’s back up. Boston Center ATC stands for Boston Center Air Traffic Control, which is short for Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center – or simply Boston Center. It’s also known as its FAA location identifier ZBW.

Boston Center is responsible for airspace overlying a giant area of the Northeastern United States, according to Brandon Messier. Brandon is a Certified Professional Controller at Boston Center, where he’s been for 15 years.

“Much of the eastern part of our airspace handles international flights to and from Europe,” he said. “We control traffic flows into and out of the busiest airspace in the world. Each area has its own specialized set of flows and procedures to manage the complexity of what we do. Whether it’s clearing aircraft into and out of remote non-towered airports or managing traffic spacing requirements into JFK airport, we handle it all.”

Boston Center is located in Nashua, New Hampshire, thus the tournament fundraiser being held in nearby Hollis. And as it covers all of New England and New York state, as well as part of Pennsylvania, Shoreline pilots know it well, as do other area aviation firms. Thus, the significant support among the aviation industry for Boston Center’s fundraiser. Take a look at the many businesses and organizations helping the cause.

Shoreline Aviation participates

Shoreline pilots Mike James and Colin James will showcase their talents at the scramble. Mike has also been a regular golfer for other Shoreline outings, such as the annual Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield annual Golf Classic at Marshfield Country Club.

“I’ve been a pilot for a long time,” Mike said. “Colin is a few years in. Shoreline is a great small operation that’s close to home. My desire to participate was in a large part an appreciation for the job that Boston Center ATC has done for my whole career.”

Mike flies Citation 560XL series jets for Shoreline’s charter business. His son, Colin, 29, flies the Pilatus PC-12 series turboprops for the company’s charter business, as well as flight instructs for Shoreline.

Shoreline Aviation pilot Mike James, left, and company President Keith Douglass prepare to head out to shoot a round in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield.

“My Dad and I are excited to be playing in the Boston Center scramble for our second year in a row,” Colin said. “It’s great, because Dad gets to meet up with his old Delta buddies; that’s how this all started for us. Also, very cool that we get to represent Shoreline as an official sponsor this year. Fundraiser tournaments are the best, it’s a great cause, and everyone is there to have fun.”

The James gents will be accompanied at Overlook, which will have hosted the event all three years, by Shoreline General Manager Travis Barth, who has been assisting in planning the event and will volunteer at it.

Boston Center ATC Scramble

Brandon coordinates the Boston Center ATC Scramble to Benefit Boston Children’s Hospital. This is the third year a group of controllers from Boston Center has organized this event.

“Many years ago, controllers from Boston Tower would host an event similar to what we started,” he said. “To piggyback on their format, it was decided we should try to fill a course with controllers and pilots to benefit a charity. Boston Children’s Hospital was chosen to be our partner, since they have such a great reputation in the Northeast for cutting edge care. Everyone I have talked to about Boston Children’s Hospital has a friend or family member who has a story connecting them to the care they provide.”

Brandon graduated in 2005 with a degree in Flight Operations and worked as a flight instructor for three years. Over the last three years he has taken it upon himself to turn this into an event bringing pilots and controllers together.

“I understand some of the challenges faced on both sides of the frequency,” he said. “There are not enough local outreach programs to get aviation professionals together, and this is an attempt to build community between pilots, controllers, and behind-the-scenes aviation professionals. I began reaching out to my former classmates and coworkers, and the response has been amazing. We have added so many sponsors this year who believe in what we’re doing.”

The Boston Center Scramble’s fundraising goal is $30,000. Donations to the cause may be made here.

Cover photo: Golfers ignore the inclement weather at last year’s Boston Center ATC Scramble to Benefit Boston Children’s Hospital. Photo by Patten Photography, courtesy of event organizers

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About Shoreline Aviation

Shoreline Aviation Inc. has been offering premier aviation services for 45 years. An FAA Certified Air Carrier since 1981, Shoreline operates a versatile fleet of turboprop and jet aircraft. The company is headquartered in Marshfield, MA, where it is the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at Marshfield Municipal Airport. Shoreline also has an office at Palm Beach. The company offers aircraft management, sales and acquisitions, executive and personal charter services, FBO services, aircraft maintenance, airport management services, flight lessons, and more. To learn more about Shoreline Aviation, call 888.291.JETS (5387), visit www.shorelineaviation.net, or email info@shorelineaviation.net.

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