CALPILOTS Accomplishments

CalPilots

What has the California Pilots Association done for you lately? To address that question we need to review a huge amount of data. CALPILOTS was formed in 1949 when the Founding Fathers became concerned about the growing developer encroachment on the state’s general aviation airports – yes, it has been a long time, and the…

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Learn To Fly Day – Saturday

CalPilots

May 15, 2010, is national Learn to Fly Day, which means that participating flight schools, airports, flight instructors and aviation enthusiasts across the country will host Learn to Fly seminars completely free of charge. Hundreds of venues across the country are expected to host Learn To Fly events, Saturday, in what may be the largest push for pilots in recent memory.

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First ''Learn To Fly Day'' – learntofly.org

CalPilots

We’re asking every pilot and aviation enthusiast to introduce someone new to aviation on Learn To Fly Day,” EAA’s Ron Wagner told AVweb at Sun ‘n Fun this week. “It’s coming up soon … May 15 … and pilots around the country are making plans to participate.” Participation can be as simple as inviting a friend or neighbor to visit the airport or go for a flight, or as robust as planning a weekend-long community festival, as one group in Louisiana is doing, Wagner said. “This is not just an EAA initiative,” he added. “It’s aviation-wide.” There are so many barriers to discovering the world of flight today, from fences to finances to fear of the unknown, Wagner said. “If each of us just got one person interested, the aviation community would double.”

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The Defeat of the Proposed Power Plants at French Valley Airport

CalPilots

The defeat of the proposed power plants at French Valley Airport – How we did it!
by Robert Eppers and Troy Childs

French Valley AirportBefore we became involved in this action, we didn’t understand how much of a threat power plants could present to flight operations at general aviation airports. This is the story of our fight to prevent eight (8) 60 megawatt power plants (a total of 480 MW) from being built inside the pattern of the French Valley Airport in Murrieta California.

It all started March 17, 2009 when I received a bid notification for this unheard of project. Being an electrical contractor experienced with this type of work I was asked to quote on it. I am also a pilot, and a property owner, whose property lies under the downwind leg for French Valley Airport.

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Flight School Opens at Salinas Airport

CalPilots

When Arnold Failano was ready to realize his childhood dream of learning to fly an airplane last fall, he had to leave Salinas to do it. Salinas was without a flight school since Air Trails/Verticare closed after the death of owner Jim Cheatham early in 2009 and Light Sport Airplanes closed later in the year. Failano started his training in Watsonville. But when San Jose-based AeroDynamic Aviation opened at Salinas Municipal Airport in April, he switched.

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Santa Monica, FAA Spar Over Airport Traffic Patterns

CalPilots

New IFR Departure Procedure Is Basis For Complaints
The city of Santa Monica is not happy about new IFR departure procedures being tested by the FAA at Santa Monica Airport (KSMO), and says it will “aggressively pursue all avenues” to force the FAA to conduct a full environmental impact study before any change is made permanent.

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Watsonville Backs Off Buena Vista Growth Plan

CalPilots

WATSONVILLE – The city will not appeal a judgment against its 2030 general plan to the state Supreme Court, officials said. Watsonville backs off Buena Vista growth plan; City Won’t Appeal Ruling Against 2030 General Plan
The City Council instead is expected on May 11 to rescind the development blueprint that called for building hundreds of homes north of the airport and an accompanying environmental study.

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