Archive for October 2012
Airport Land Use Commissions (ALUC)
We are continuously posting articles about airport sponsors, city or county, ignoring the state’s Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) function. This commission was created to mitigate issues between inappropriate land development around our state airports. The following, while a bit long, is a primer on ALUC’s. The entire Division or Aeronautics manual on is also attached as a PDF file. While you may not wish to read the entire manual, it is an excellent reference for protecting your airport. Please download it for reference.
Read MoreShuttle Endeavour's flyover Southern California
In case you haven’t seen it here is a video (about 15 minutes long) of the shuttle flyover in SOCAL. Enjoy. Shuttle Endeavour’s flyover Southern California
Read MoreXCOR – One of Mojave's Space Companies
(Photo Credit: XCOR)Outer space just seems a bit closer these days. Just weeks after Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner awed the world with a stratospheric skydive, a California aerospace firm is hoping send even more people to the edge of space with a hypersonic aircraft capable of cruising at 3.5 times the speed of sound.
Mojave-based XCOR is currently busy constructing the “Lynx,” a two-seater commercial craft supposedly capable of cruising 62 miles above the Earth’s surface at speeds of more than 2,500 miles per hour.”I’m excited as hell,” XCOR Chief Operating Officer Andrew Nelson told ABC News. “It’s going to be the most exciting suborbital space flight you will ever take.”
The ride, the entirety of which takes about 30 to 45 minutes, consists of a rocket-powered ascent, several minutes of microgravity coasting near the edge of space, re-entry and a gliding landing similar to that of a space shuttle. Read MoreOnline calculator Sums up Aviation Benefits in Washington (State)
Re-lined runway means more aircraft for Tracy
Turbo jets and turbo propeller aircraft will now be more common at Tracy Municipal Airport, following a four-foot addition to its main runway on Oct. 2.
According to airport coordinator Bruce Ludeman, it wasn’t until a recent measurement that airport officials discovered the actual measurements for the east-west runway — officially Runway 12/30 — was 3,996 feet. Ludeman said the goal was to ensure the runway was at least 4,000 feet, which would designate Tracy as a medium size airport under Caltrans and allow more pilots to land their planes at the airport at the southern end of Tracy Boulevard.
CalPilots Mojave Annual Meeting Wrap-up
For those who were unable to attend our Annual Meeting in Mojave, CA. Oct 19-21 2012, you really missed out. Not only did we have a great line up of speakers, and some interesting tours, Mojave Spaceport is truly an innovative, mysterious and fascinating place.
Where else can you find a Convair 880 and F4 Phantom guarding the airport gate? The mothballed airliners are parked everywhere, and the airport staff are willing to provide a tour of the airport for a small fee, for those who land there.
During our weekend meeting there was a retired 747, in old United Airlines colors, sitting right there on the ramp without its engines. The cowls were on but no engines. We saw an old 727 parked on the ramp too, and it left sometime during the weekend.
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FAI International Aviation Art Contest
Since 1989 the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) has sponsored the International Aviation Art Contest to challenge young people to illustrate the importance of aviation through art. Demonstrating the impact of aeronautics through an interactive, fun medium such as art motivates youth of all ages to become more familiar with aeronautics, engineering and science. The U.S. portion of the contest is sanctioned by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), managed by the NASAO Center for Aviation Research and Education and sponsored by Embry-Riddle Aeronautic University – Prescott, Ken Cook Co., the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education with additional support from NASAO members.
The California Pilots Association at AOPA Summit 2012
The California Pilots Association (again) attended the AOPA Summit 2012. We want to thank all of those members who stopped by to say “hi” and those that renewed. And, we would like to welcome all of our new members who took advantage of the sign-up gifts at Summit 2012. Want to see some pictures………. click read more
Read MoreNOTICE: 2012 California Pilots Association Annual Meeting
The California Pilots Association is holding our Annual Meeting on Saturday October 20th and Sunday the 21st. And……
Read MoreMojave – A Desert Town on the Way Up to Space
MOJAVE, Calif. — The sign into town, slightly weathered, says “Gateway to Space!” (Location of our 2012 Annual Meeting October 20th)
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