Muleskinner

Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Drew Woolery: Muleskinner [Click to enlarge]

Alpha Eta Rho continues to thrive as an aviation fraternity at the University of Central Missouri.

The president of Alpha Eta Rho, Blake Brashear, said the fraternity is a group of individuals with a "common interest and common backgrounds."

"I'd say that making contacts would be the number one reason people join," Brashear said. "We want to promote aviation and all its aspects."

Treasurer Adam Hoatson said they receive money from parents of members, fundraisers and pilots who come through the airport.

"Pilots are quick to help out their fellow pilots," he said.

Hoatson said most of the money comes from fundraising projects. The fraternity will host various events, like a fly-in day, where the public, including pilots, are welcome to visit the airport, get some food and help support Alpha Eta Rho. The fraternity also hosts air shows to raise money.

Hoatson, who has been the treasurer since he has been in the fraternity, for two years, is in charge of promoting activities, keeping track of the $25 per semester dues and finances in general. He said the upcoming trip to Oklahoma City is something every pilot should experience.

In Oklahoma City, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has a hyperbaric chamber where pilots can feel the effects of hypoxia, or altitude sickness. It is used to test pilots to see how they react to such a change in elevation.

When the fraternity takes the test, a group of pilots enter the chamber. When they each peak altitude at 25,000 feet, they take off their oxygen masks. Half the group takes a written test and the other half takes a motor skills test. The results are then compared to a pre-test taken before the pilots entered the chamber.

"Each individual reacts differently to altitude sickness," Brashear said. "It is important for pilots to know how to overcome their effects to be able to handle it."

A favorite trip of many members is the "Sun 'n Fun" trip in Lakeland, Fla.

Vice President Sami DeWesse said, "Seeing the things you love, with the people you love," is why Sun 'n Fun is her favorite trip. She said you are able to look at planes all day and learn about aviation in a nontraditional way.

Hoatson said the experience of driving 20 hours with eight people packed into a van was an experience in itself.

"It's just fun being with each other the whole time."

Sun 'n Fun lasts for five days each May. Alpha Eta Rho has 11 people going this year.

"We aren't like the Greek frats on campus. We are a professional fraternity and mostly network with each other," she said.

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