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Rockport Publishers’ publication features Greteman Group logos

Rockport Publishers’ new book, Design: Logo An Exploration of Marvelous Marks, Insightful Essays and Revealing Reviews includes 20 Greteman Group-created identities.

  • Botanica Gardens
  • Botanica Gardens Downing Children’s Garden
  • Chris Brunner
  • City of Derby
  • City of Wichita Nomar
  • Greteman Group
  • Horses to Humans
  • Hutton Construction
  • Kansas Aviation Museum
  • Klausmeyer Natural Medicine
  • Lewis Energy Group “Lewis Air Legends”
  • Real Men, Real Heroes
  • Royal Caribbean “Fit4Life”
  • Royal Caribbean “Healthy Workplace Alliance Advancing Employee Wellness”
  • Royal Caribbean “Wellness Warrior”
  • Signature Flight Support
  • Skyfish Energy
  • Spay|Neuter Kansas
  • Wichita AeroClub
  • Wichita Economic Development “Final Friday”

Design: Logo, by Von Glitschka and Paul Howalt, showcases more than 300 logo designs chosen by two leading identity designers. The book also includes information such as “Close Ups,” in which the authors dissect 20 projects and identify the details that make each so successful. Rockport’s books present the best in design from around the world and the inspiration that lies behind each featured piece.


Top Suppliers Share Outlook at Wichita Aero Club Summit

This week’s Wichita Aero Club On-Air Summit proved the value of being nimble. Which is apropos since it was a recurring theme of the panelists: Rod Wilson, Air Capital Interiors; Jason Cox, Cox Machine; Woody Cottner, Global Aviation Technologies and Daniel McCoy, Wichita Business Journal.

Panelists agreed that the market will remain soft in 2014. When asked what their measure of success will be this time next year, Cottner got a laugh when he said, “If we’re still in business.” All agreed that emerging technologies promise to transform their businesses – making education critical. All extolled the training offered at the National Center for Aviation Training, Wichita Area Technical College, Wichita State University and the National Institute for Aviation Research. In this area, Wichita has a leg up.

Aviation Summit
Pictured Left to Right:  Rod Wilson of Air Capital Interiors, Jason Cox of Cox Machine, Woody Cottner of Global Aviation Technologies and Daniel McCoy of Wichita Business Journal. Photo by Dan Moore.

The speakers stepped up when congressional leaders scheduled to speak had to step down. A schedule change had both houses in session this week, keeping them in D.C. Wichita Business Journal aviation reporter Daniel McCoy did a commendable job moderating. You can read his coverage here: http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/blog/2013/12/aero-club-suppliers-see-change.html?ana=e_du_pub&s=article_du&ed=2013-12-16&page=al

Wichita Aviation Summit
Woody Cottner of Global Aviation Technologies answers an audience member’s question during the Wichita Aero Club On-Air Summit. Photo by Dan Moore.

* Photos provided by Dan Moore.


Greteman Group work featured in international design publication

HOW Magazine recently selected creative developed by Wichita-based Greteman Group for inclusion in its design annual.

HOW’s International Design Awards featured Greteman Group’s aviation-inspired “Gift of Lift,” a three-dimensional holiday mailer and web gallery. The mailer contains everything needed to create a flying machine – wings, stabilizers, fuselages, propellers and engines. Recipients could create a modest bird or something magical. The Gift of Lift campaign benefitted the Lindbergh Foundation’s Aviation Green initiative. By raising awareness of past earth-friendly technological advances, the agency hoped to inspire even more.

HOW’s International Design Awards will prominently recognize winners in its March 2014 issue as well as on its online gallery. Designs categories include posters, packaging, gifts, illustration, photography, infographics and more. The issue features both winning design and designers. Winners span the globe and represent design innovation on an international scale.

About HOW Magazine Founded in 1985, the HOW brand began its life as a print magazine. Today, the brand still includes an award-winning magazine, but has grown to encompass a host of products and events including several design competitions, HOW U’s online design courses, design books at MyDesignShop.com and more.

Supporting visuals can be downloaded at: https://www.gretemangroup.com/press/Holiday-2013/images/GiftOfLift.jpg


This Holiday, Test Your Love and Knowledge of Flight

Greteman Group, an agency based in the Air Capital of the World, has designed an online aviation trivia game that it hopes flight enthusiasts will play again and again. And that it will inspire some good-natured competition.

It’s called Plane on the Brain. The game’s free, fun and fast. Responsive design allows you to play it on any platform: desktop, tablet or smartphone.

Powering Connection

For its clients, Greteman Group created a custom deck of aviation trivia cards that ties into the online game. The game functions independently of the cards, though, so anyone can play. Social-media-sharing functionality spreads the joy – and potentially some genial one-upmanship.

As is its yearly custom, Greteman Group is also making a donation to a deserving nonprofit. This year the beneficiary is the Kansas Aviation Museum. This national gem promotes the living heritage of flight. Teaching the next generation (and reminding the rest of us) how aviation gives wing to dreams.

“A common creative thread unites all of our holiday campaigns,” says Sonia Greteman, agency president and creative director. “Each encourages interactivity. Which, when you think about it, is the very meaning of the holidays. Sharing moments that build memories.”

Upon learning of this year’s gift, KAM President Lon Smith, immediately sent the game-site link to his board, members, staff and friends of the museum. “I’m hoping the fun people have with it prompts them to come out to the museum,” says Smith. “And, for the competitive gamers, think of the advantage they’ll gain by ramping up their aviation knowledge.”

About the Kansas Aviation Museum

The Kansas Aviation Museum preserves and promotes the birth and living heritage of flight. It is housed in the historic, art-deco terminal that once served as Wichita’s municipal airport. During the 1940s, it was one of the busiest airports in the nation. In 1944, a take-off or landing occurred every 90 seconds. Luminaries including Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Gregory Peck, Howard Hughes, Wiley Post and many others crossed the ramp. It’s said that Fred Astaire once entertained fellow passengers by dancing in the atrium while waiting for his flight. Today, the museum houses a world-class collection of significant aircraft; a huge archive of records, schematics, photos and books; and wide-ranging aviation memorabilia. It is also home to the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame. Building on this solid base, the museum is tackling its next challenge – to build an aircraft display facility to protect and display its priceless collection of preserved and meticulously restored aircraft, and to transform the interior of the historic terminal building into a center for aviation history, research and education to match its irreplaceable assets and to do justice to Wichita, the Air Capital of the World. To learn more, visit KansasAviationMuseum.org.

Image: https://www.gretemangroup.com/press/Holiday-2013/images/planebrain.jpg

URL: PlaneOnTheBrain.com

COVERAGE

General Aviation News
January 8, 2014

GigaPilot
January 8, 2014

BlueSky Business Aviation News
December 19, 2013

Wichita Business Journal
December 13, 2013

Wichita Eagle
December 13, 2013

Wings over Kansas

Kansas Aviation Museum
December 13, 2013

SiloBreaker
December 13, 2013

Airsoc
December 13, 2013

Newshour24
December 13, 2013

BizNewsIndex.com
December 13, 2013

P3air Aviation News Blog
December 13, 2013

Rotorcraft Pro
December 12, 2013

EAA
December 12, 2013


A Win for General Aviation

The U.S. aviation industry celebrated this week at a rally in Wichita, Kansas. There were Republicans and Democrats. CEOs and union workers. Leaders of industry and government.

What brought these diverse groups together? It was legislation the U.S. Congress actually passed. And President Barack Obama signed.

The Small Airplane Revitalization Act (SARA) is worthy of celebration. Indeed, it has the potential to launch a new era in general aviation. U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan.; the Wichita chapter of the International Association of Machinists; representatives of the major Wichita manufacturers and others gathered to acknowledge this truly bipartisan effort and its global impact. EASA and the regulatory agencies of most major manufacturing nations are working together to create a similar integrated approach.

Small Airplane Revitalization Act (SARA) Rally
The Right Idea at the Right Time
A diverse group gathered to acknowledge the recent signing of the Small Airplane Revitalization Act (SARA) and what it means to general aviation.

Unanimous Support

In an era of near-gridlock in U.S. politics, Pompeo’s bill passed both the U.S. House and Senate without a single vote against it. What a testament to its strength and unassailable value.

The bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration to adopt new rules governing certification of light general aviation aircraft by the end of 2015. The worthy goal: increasing safety while reducing costs.

Everyone at the rally agreed that, for years, the industry has suffered from excessive regulation that drives up the cost of producing new aircraft.

“It’s become more expensive than our traditional markets can afford,” said Beechcraft CEO Bill Boisture. He added that manufacturers can’t always justify the cost of developing new products. The new regulations should help change that.

Solutions and Standard-Bearers

Pete Bunce, president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, said the new law could cut manufacturing certification costs in half. He also talked about how general aviation had long needed a champion and went to Mike Pompeo three years ago as an incoming congressman. “We went to the one man who knows this business right down to his core,” Bunce said. Together they sat down, strategized and identified legislators who would co-sponsor a bill focused on safety, jobs and the American people.

I can vouch for Pompeo’s passion and knowledge of aviation. He founded Thayer Aerospace and served as its CEO for more than a decade. Our agency worked with him. Before leaving that position for new challenges, he learned a thing or two about manufacturing and delivering aircraft components.

Upon taking office in January 2011, Pompeo set about tackling the problem of overregulation. “The industry I’d been in for 17 years was in trouble,” he said.

Mike Pompeo and Sonia Greteman
Man of the hour, Congressman Mike Pompeo. — with Gail Bowen, Sonia Greteman, Mike Pompeo, Ashley Bowen Cook and Deanna Harms.

More Planes, More Jobs

Pompeo predicted that the legislation will help foster new jobs in aviation manufacturing clusters such as Wichita. Business aviation already accounts for $150 billion in economic activity and nearly 1.2 million jobs in the United States alone.

SARA delivers some seriously good news to the global aviation sector, and the folks who attended this rally were definitely celebrating.

“This is a lot of fun,” Pompeo told the crowd. “And as a member of Congress, I don’t often get to have a whole lot of fun.”

Aviation Revitalization Rally
Jim Walters, SVP, human resources, Cessna; Don Pufahl, CFO for Learjet Wichita; Debbie Gann, VP, communications & public affairs, Spirit AeroSystems; Congressman Pompeo; Frank Molina, president, IAM District 70; Pete Bunce, General Aviation Manufacturers Association president; and Bill Boisture, Beechcraft CEO.

Legends of Flight

Question. Does aviation have more than its share of legends and heroes? Or does aviation just dole out more honors and awards? I’m biased, but I believe it’s the former. Aviation draws people who climb higher and go farther than most. I was reminded of this recently when I attended the International Air & Space Hall of Fame induction at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.

Legends of Flight
NBAA President Ed Bolen accepted the Hall of Fame award on behalf of his organization. NBAA was acknowledged for its 65 years of advocacy.

Celebrating 50 Years

Since its inception in 1963, the International Air & Space Hall of Fame has honored nearly 200 of the world’s most significant members of the aviation community. Their contributions and innovative spirits have left a mark on our world. The class of 2013 includes my father, internationally renowned air-to-air photographer Paul Bowen. Our family was there en masse. Beaming. As were the families of the other honorees. The complete list:

  • WWII Flying Ace and quintessential fighter pilot Dean “Diz” Laird
  • WWII 357th Fighter Group “Yoxford Boys” Triple Ace Bud Anderson
  • Red Bull Stratos Project/High Altitude Jumpers: Felix Baumgartner, retired Air Force Colonel Joe Kittinger and Art Thompson
  • NASA’s Mission Control, with Glynn Lunney, Gene Kranz
  • Apollo 16’s lunar-visiting team: John Young, Ken Mattingly and Charlie Duke
  • Air-travel pioneer and former American Airlines Chairman/CEO Bob Crandall
  • National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) with President Ed Bolen accepting
  • US Airways Flight 1549 Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and the “Miracle on the Hudson” crew
  • And my stunning-image-capturing dad, Paul Bowen
Legends of Flight
2013 International Air & Space Hall of Fame Honorees gather for a pre-event press conference. Photo courtesy James Maciariello, Masterwork Image.

Pushing Us Forward

This diverse group of moonwalking, skydiving, lifesaving, freedom-protecting, icon-building individuals share common traits. Courage. Passion. Skill. Patriotism. The actions they’ve taken and the example they’ve set inspire the rest of us.

The Future of Aviation

Perhaps what I took away most from this evening with family and friends old and new was how the actions of others affect us. The humble men and women inducted into the Hall of Fame were quick to credit and acknowledge others as equally deserving of recognition – and to rally the crowd to reach out to the next generation. Over and again, I heard them talk about the need to inspire young people. To spark their curiosity. To ratchet up the cool factor for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. The human spirit, once ignited, can accomplish most anything. For proof, just look at the 2013 Hall of Fame inductees.

The San Diego Air & Space Museum is one of the leading providers of K-12 STEM education in Balboa Park. Proceeds from the induction ceremony benefit SDASM youth educational programs, which help educate and prepare more than 11,000 children for careers in STEM fields.

Legends of Flight
The Legends of Flight gala felt extra special as it also celebrated the museum’s 50th anniversary.

Published in the November 28 edition of BlueSky Business Aviation News.


Why Test Your Website? Ask the Government.

The launch of the America’s healthcare.gov had a few glitches. And by “a few glitches,” I mean an enormous number of horrendous, insurmountable failures at all levels of the site. Why did this happen? Because the site wasn’t properly tested before it went live. And when problems became apparent during the testing that was done – such as the fact that the site crashed when only a few hundred people had logged on – those problems were ignored. The whole thing was rushed, and the result was headlines proclaiming the end of the world. And no one wants that.

Web Design for AirRowe
A full-flood image such as the one on AirRowe.com could cause the site to load slowly. If testing shows a problem, graphics can be optimized – as this one has – to greatly reduce load times.

While your website probably isn’t as large or complicated as the healthcare site, it’s still crucial to your business. The impression visitors have of your site will affect your bottom line, good or bad, and it’s largely under your control. By taking the following steps before you launch, you can eliminate obstacles that cause visitors to moan and mutter – and leave with an, um, uncharitable opinion.

Responsive Mobile Website
Sites that automatically scale to accommodate everything form desktop to tablet to smartphone can cause graphics to display improperly. When testing shows issues, they can usually be addressed. Here, the moves independently to optimize the layout for mobile-size screens. By the way, these days virtually every site should be responsive, which means it’s able to seamlessly scale to match the user device – whether that’s a smartphone, tablet or desktop.

Usability Testing

Testing should start before the site is even built. That’s often overlooked in web design processes, but it’s the most crucial step. You’re looking to see whether visitors can find what they’re looking for, and that the website’s features are easy to use. Because a site that’s confusing translates into unhappy visitors who can, and will, say horrible, terrible things about you on Facebook. And no one wants that.

Usability testing is simple and painless. You put real live human beings in front of a prototype of the site and give them tasks to complete that represent typical things a visitor might want to do. A moderator watches the user interact with the prototype and marks the time it takes to complete the task. If a task takes too long or can’t be completed, the information on the site needs to be reorganized and retested until the task can be completed quickly.

Code Testing

Begin the second stage of testing after the site is built, but before it goes live. At this point you’re making sure the site does what it’s supposed to. Check each link to make sure it goes where it should. Fill out and send contact and other forms to see if anything breaks along the way. Click every single thing that does something when clicked. Crosscheck the site with various browsers and operating systems to ensure that the design holds up. At the end of this stage you should be confident that your visitors won’t end up viewing “Page Not Found” screens or getting error messages, both of which plagued the healthcare website at launch.

Homepage Responsive Design
When your business model is all about “Right from the start” like Dallas Airmotive’s, the launch of the new DallasAirmotive.com needed to go off without a hitch.

 

 

Performance Testing

You might not have millions of visitors to your site to gum up the works, but other hidden factors can cause it to load slower than it should. And a site that loads one second slower than visitors think it should will cause them to abandon it and go somewhere else. This is especially true when dealing with the mobile version, since there’s extra loading time involved while the smartphone contacts a cell tower.

You can take steps to make your site as speedy as possible, like making sure that all the graphics on the site are optimized. Or reducing the number of Javascript files that need to load. Every little bit helps, so leave no stone unturned in whittling down the time it takes for your site to load.

Redesigned homepage
Sites such as SignatureFlight.com that tie in to large user databases can present a whole set of performance issues. Proper testing can identify the problems so they can be addressed before the site goes live.

Test or Risk the Wrath of the Internet

Don’t let the government’s “test, schmest” policy influence your own decisions about testing your website thoroughly. The moral of this cautionary tale is that even though you might have a tight launch deadline or limited testing resources, failing to take the time to properly test can be a larger issue than pushing your deadline back a day or two. And by “larger issue,” I mean an angry mob with pitchforks and torches.

*This article originally appeared in the November 21 issue of BlueSky Business Aviation News.


Bombardier Learjet Salutes 50 High-Flying Years

Bill Lear brought his impossible dream to Wichita and willed it to life 50 years ago. Creating the first business jet put our world into a faster spin. Bringing movers and shakers face to face. Anytime. Anywhere. Bombardier celebrated the half-century anniversary of this iconic jet just as you’d expect. All out.

Telling an Epic Story

Bombardier entrusted us to chronicle the game-changing Learjet story – in a book and an environmental display. We felt gratitude and tremendous responsibility to get it right. The birth of the Learjet is part of our heritage as citizens of the Air Capital.

Learjet History Wall Display
Prescient words from Bill Lear, “If it looks good, it will fly good.”

Bombardier Learjet Book Cover
The Business Jet That Changed the World was created specifically and exclusively for the people of Bombardier Learjet.
Learjet Timeline Book Spread
The legendary Learjet 23 delivered speeds up to 552 miles per hour and sold for $595,000.

Genius-inventor Bill Lear originally planned to build and certify his plane in Geneva, but yanked everything to Wichita when things weren’t moving fast enough. Here on the Kansas prairie the pace quickened. He moved his fledgling team into a new facility in January 1963 and sat an audacious goal: to build the plane and get it in the air. In less than a year. The company motto: “Charge!”

Audacity Backed by Brilliance

The industry guffawed saying it would take 10 years and multiples of the capital Lear had to spend. But not only did the team achieve the impossible – following the first flight on Oct. 7, 1963, the Learjet 23 earned FAA type certification in a record-breaking 10 months. Even better, within a year the aircraft had generated more than 100 orders. It seemed everyone wanted a Learjet. Lear perhaps said it best: “The Learjet is more than a masterpiece. It is living proof of what free men can still do in a free world.”

Within the book’s spreads, the story unfolds from the Learjet 20 series up to the Learjet 85. The people of Bombardier Learjet possessed the imagination, talent and vision to start a revolution. And half a century later, the people of Bombardier keep dreaming and pushing boundaries. The legend flies on. The revolution never ends.

1963 Learjet at NBAA 2013
The Bombardier static display at Henderson Executive Airport served as a NBAA show highpoint. A major draw: Clay Lacy’s original Learjet 23, flown by test pilots Hank Beaird and Bob Hagan on that historic day in October 1963. Retro touches – from vintage luggage to ’60s-inspired flight-attendant uniforms – added to the vibe. Bill Lear would have approved.

 


Signature’s Focus on Service Extends to the Web

Signature Flight Support services begin long before you land at one of the company’s 100-plus worldwide locations. As soon as a flight is contemplated, planners begin checking a wide range of information – from airport locations to fuel prices to car rentals and much more.

Increasingly, they’re finding what they need right on the Signature website.

The dynamic new site delivers. No matter what type of device you’re using – desktop, tablet, smartphone – responsive design scales accordingly to present readable, easy-to-find and easy-to-navigate information and services.

A One-Stop Service Center A review of website analytics helped guide design for the site’s intuitive navigation and ensure an optimum user experience. It’s easier than ever to keep abreast of Signature’s constantly changing bonuses and promotions.

The site serves as the gateway to a range of valuable services.

  • Search locations – sort by airport code, city, state, country.
  • Handle reservations and pre-arrival notifications.
  • Take advantage of a built-in fuel price calculator.
  • Easily access links to flight planning websites.
  • Use a proprietary hotel booking tool – get preferred rates.
  • Check out local weather conditions and forecasts.

In sum, Signature’s new online presence is far more than just a website – it’s a comprehensive customer service portal. Proving that beauty can be much more than skin deep.


A Winning NBAA 2013

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Except if you’re NBAA. What takes place at its turbocharged tradeshow ripples throughout the world. GiGi loves it all. From the grand-opening session right down to the last walkabout at the static.  And, yes, GiGi accompanied us this year. Did you catch sight of her? She cropped up in the most unusual places.

While GiGi was scoping things out, our team provided on-the-ground, media-relations support for USAIG and Colt International’s product launches, attended industry briefings to stay in-the-know, evaluated our clients’ competitors, and talked, talked, talked. We listened, too.

To Wheels Up CEO Kenny Dichter, whose bold venture is generating big buzz. To Honda Aircraft CEO Michimasa Fujino, who grinned like the engineer he is when saying his light jet starts with a sports-car-like touch of a button. To NORDAM CEO Meredith Siegfried, who does her father’s memory proud as she expands the company’s global footprint.

Honors for Harrison Do the Industry Proud

NBAA hit the jackpot by presenting Harrison Ford with its 2013 Al Ueltschi Award for Humanitarian Leadership. Ford played many heroes – Han Solo, Indiana Jones, Jack Ryan – but his real-life efforts propel him above anything on the big screen. And, his acceptance speech pledges even more to come.

 

“I have done what I’ve been able to do,” Ford said, “and upon receipt of this high honor I promise to redouble my efforts to be of more use, to try and make myself available for more of the good missions that can provide service to people in need.”

Ford and Bolen
NBAA President Ed Bolen said Ford “channels his passion for flight into demonstrating the vital humanitarian role that general aviation provides every day, in places all around the world.”

Harrison Ford at NBAA
The Al Ueltschi Award for Humanitarian Leader was created in 2006 in recognition of its namesake’s lifelong dedication to philanthropic causes. Ford accepted the award during the NBAA opening ceremony.

Not only does Ford deserve this honor, but his fame will help spread the word about the many contributions aviation makes to better our world. This award especially resonates with Greteman Group and our client FlightSafety International. Its founder, the late Al Ueltschi, devoted equal drive to humanitarian pursuits. Celebrating the industry’s efforts for good, said Ford, “can only help to bring credit and proper understanding to the role that general aviation plays.”

Visitors enjoy the Bombardier Challenger 350 mockup on display.

In celebration of Learjet’s 50th anniversary, iconic aircraft were displayed from over the years.

The Learjet static display gleams in the Las Vegas sunshine at NBAA.

Playing the Cards

Aviation was dealt a bad hand in 2008, from which it’s still recovering. But we saw many encouraging signs at NBAA2013. Things that will influence future aviation purchasing decisions. Positively. The industry holds some sure aces.