Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Techniques for Landing a Light Aircraft in Crosswinds


A respected Merced, California, entrepreneur, Greg Opinski served as the head of Greg Opinski Construction, Inc., and completed more than 350 total projects. Having started piloting as a way of reaching projects quickly, Greg Opinski enjoys flying in his free time.

One of the most challenging aspects of piloting a light aircraft is landing when crosswinds are a factor. One strategy for doing so is the crab method, which involves turning the airplane into the wind at an appropriate degree.

This allows the plane to maintain centerline as it approaches the runway. Just before touching down, the pilot can step on the rudder, which brings the nose into alignment with the runway as aileron flight-control surfaces on the wings are activated to avoid drifting. While 737 pilots commonly rely on the crab method, the main issue for pilots of smaller aircraft is that failure to time this maneuver precisely can result in the nose bouncing and jumping on the runway.

A less variable crosswind landing strategy is the wing-low method, which involves positioning the aircraft by positioning ailerons in one direction and the rudder in the opposite direction. This cross-controlling technique helps ensure that the nose is stably aligned with the runway during landing and not drifting.

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Measures to Protect Air Quality in School Construction Projects


In his former role as project manager and estimator for Greg Opinski Construction Inc., Greg Opinski leveraged his extensive background in construction to provide services for large-scale public projects. Today, as the president of OP Development, Greg Opinski focuses on commercial work in addition to rehabilitating distressed properties. OP Development provides a wide array of master planning services for large projects, including school renovations.

School construction projects that occur while buildings are occupied require construction teams to be mindful of air quality concerns. The US Environmental Protection Agency has provided guidelines that aim to protect the health of those in school environments.

There are four main causes of indoor air problems during a renovation:

1. The release of toxic materials such as lead, asbestos, and mold.
2. Construction dust and fumes.
3. Designs that interfere with ventilation systems.
4. Off-gassing that occurs when new materials are installed.

In order to reasonably protect a building’s occupants, construction crews should take several precautions. First, they should test for harmful substances. If they are aware of the presence of lead, asbestos, or mold, they can take appropriate measures for containment. They should also complete work during off hours, such as school breaks or weekends, when possible. 

When work cannot be completed during off hours, managers should include temporary barriers such as plastic sheeting to help contain pollutants. In addition, they should work to keep the site relatively free of debris, dust, and scraps to lessen risk of exposure and injury.

Building officials can also help by keeping occupants away from the construction zones and reducing the likelihood of exposure to harmful airborne items.

Monday, October 22, 2018

Carpenters Must be Detail-Oriented and Have Mechanical Skills


Real estate developer Greg Opinski is a proven construction project manager and estimator. To complement his professional work, Greg Opinski learned carpentry skills that were essential to his responsibilities as a contractor. 

Carpentry is an essential part of construction work. Carpenters require a number of skills to perform well at their job. Two of the most important are eyes for detail and mechanical skills.

Good carpenters have an undeniable eye for detail. Work such as skirting boards and putting finishing touches on kitchen surfaces requires a keen eye. On top of that, carpentry itself requires precision. Carpenters work with architects and engineers to develop structural plans that need to be accurate up to the millimeter. An eye for detail will assist carpenters to get exact measurements for roof and window frames, and other home wooden structures.

Mechanical skills encompass the ability to work with tools and to read technical drawings. Carpenters often work with tools such as laser levels, framing boards, power sanders, and power saws. Therefore, they need to have the mechanical skills to operate these construction tools in their craft while following technical instructions from blueprints and diagrams drawn in collaboration with architects.

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Charitable Giving to Fresno State Increases in 2017-2018 Academic Year


The current president of commercial construction project firm OP Development, Greg Opinski began his career as an industry executive with the foundation of Greg Opinski Construction Inc. (GOCI), in Merced, California. Prior to establishing GOCI, Greg Opinski attended Fresno State University, where he earned a bachelor of science in industrial technology.

One of the California State University system’s 23 campuses, Fresno State is a centrally-located school noted for its research excellence and reputation for the development of pioneering agriculture programs. Recently, the president of Fresno State announced that the amount of charitable donations to the school increased by more than 20 percent in the 2017-2018 academic year.

Almost 10,000 individuals gave an impressive $22.4 million during the year. Of the funds, $18.3 million were dedicated to the university’s academic functions and $4.1 million were dedicated to its athletic programs. The school saw an overall 14.5 percent increase in alumni donors during the year.

Along with alumni and friends of the school, nonprofit organizations and businesses also contributed to the total. Some of the largest single gifts included $450,000 from the Chevron corporation, $1.8 million from the Frank and Roxie Moradian trusts, and $1 million from an anonymous donor. Others who are interested in supporting the Fresno State University community can easily give to the school through a virtual portal on its website at www.fresnostate.edu.

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Greg Opinski Commended for Work with Delhi Unified School District


An expert in construction and remodeling, Greg Opinski leads a dedicated team of professionals at OP Development, a California-based construction company that builds and manages commercial projects from schools to community centers, gymnasiums, and stadiums. Mr. Opinski also founded Greg Opinski Construction Inc. and had received several positive reviews due to his professionalism and commitment to delivering high-quality construction including several projects for the Delhi Unified School District.

Located in California, the Delhi Unified School District is a community comprising five elementary and secondary schools. The district has been actively involved in construction and modernization projects that benefit the community. 

To handle the project delivery, Greg Opinski Construction Inc. was hired to serve as the construction management at risk firm wherein Greg Opinski and his team performed lump sum bidding and design-build. Superintendent of Delhi Unified School District, Kirk McCandless praised the company for working professionally and honestly with the district. The firm was commended for completing the project on time and within the budget. Mr. McCandless has also expressed the district’s intention to use Greg Opinski Construction’s services for future projects.

Thursday, August 2, 2018

The Castle Science and Technology Center at UC Merced


An entrepreneurial presence in the Merced, California, community for a quarter century, Greg Opinski guided a prominent commercial public works company and oversaw more than 350 high profile projects. Among the construction projects Greg Opinski and his team completed was The Castle Science and Technology Center (CSTC) at the University of California, Merced. 

A vital community asset, the CSTC is situated at the entrance of what was previously Castle Air Force Base and focuses primarily on education for grade four through six learners. It is within the scope of the Castle Challenger Learning Center Foundation, which guides the sole Challenger Learning Center region wide. 

CSTC encompasses unique spaces including a planetarium, simulated space flight, and a crime scene investigation scenario. Students taking part in CSTC programs start the experience with a 45-minute Scavenger Hunt that encourages young learners to explore and begin to interact with exhibits. 

Many of the exhibits bring focus to critical local topics, such as the Planet Polluto exhibit, sponsored by the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District. University of California Merced’s Energy Transfer Exhibit allows visitors to simply “pull a lever” and witness how energy transfers to wind, heat, motion, and light.

Friday, July 27, 2018

Four Advantages of the Design-Build Construction Method




Greg Opinski is an accomplished construction executive and project manager with more than 20 years of experience completing commercial projects in California. As the former project manager and estimator for Opinski Construction in Merced, Greg Opinski became adept at using a variety of constriction delivery methods. This includes design-build, a system in which a single entity handles both design and construction responsibilities. The method possesses a number of advantages, as explored below: 

1. Single-entity accountability. Accountability for the entire project falls to a single team in the design-build method, offering a greater sense of cohesion and cooperation between the design and construction phases. Singular accountability also motivates the team to produce a successful project and reduces financial risks for the project’s owner. 

2. Streamlined communication. A design-build method gives the owner a single entity to communicate with throughout the project, as opposed to two separate contractors. It also streamlines communication between the design and construction crews and allows for the creation and alteration of specific details as the project progresses. 

3. Time and cost savings. The design and construction phases overlap in the design-build model, which can lower expenses and reduce the time it takes to complete the project. Owners need only hire one contractor instead of shopping around for separate design and construction firms, and the team effort involved in design-build fosters value engineering and constructability. The overlapping nature of the method also allows the construction crew to acquire equipment and materials as the design is finalized. 

4. Enhanced quality. The design-build method involves a lot of collaboration as designers and the construction crew work together to deliver a successful project. This allows personnel on both sides to identify and address problems conjointly and reduces the chance for miscommunication or ambiguity. In addition, their shared responsibility serves as motivation to produce a quality product.