Councilman Garcetti Acts to Save Aviation Mechanics School

CalPilots

Van Nuys AP SchoolGarcetti urges effort to save aviation mechanics school. The councilman says he will ask the city airport agency and L.A. Unified to explore ways to keep the program running at Van Nuys Airport – Los Angeles City Councilman Eric Garcetti on Friday called for measures to keep a highly regarded aviation mechanics school at Van Nuys Airport from shutting down or being moved to smaller facilities elsewhere.

Garcetti said he will request at the Jan. 4 council meeting that Los Angeles World Airports, the operator of Van Nuys, and the Los Angeles Unified School District explore ways to ensure the continued operation of the vocational school, which has produced thousands of mechanics during its 40-year history. Because of tight budgets, the district might close or relocate the school.

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Number 1 Request from ATC

CalPilots

ATC asked that we send this recent Briefing Sheet, normally issued only to airline pilots, to General Aviation (GA) pilots as well. As you can see in the 1-page document, ATC wishes that pilots are aware of the problems caused by not reading back their call sign. The Briefing Sheet is available here: https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2012/Dec/ATSAP_Briefing_Sheet_(December_20_2012).pdf Let’s…

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Palm Springs International Airport

CalPilots

Palm Springs_Airport_Palm Springs International Airport plans better welcome for military – In the coming months, soldiers assigned to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms likely will get a treat when passing through Palm Springs.

The Palm Springs International Airport is proposing a $165,000 renovated and expanded USO facility for traveling service members.

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Hollister Airport 13/31 Closed Dec 26th – 29th

CalPilots

Runway 13/31 will be closed on December 26th to December 29th 2012. Please check the NOTAMS before your flight.NOTAMS will be posted shortly. This information may change with the weather but we will keep you posted with the most up to date information as possible.

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Happy Holidays from the California Pilots Association

CalPilots

christmastree(With Apologies To Major Henry Livingston, Jr.) ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and out on the ramp, Not an airplane was stirring, not even a Champ.The aircraft were fastened to tiedowns with care, In hopes that come morning, they all would be there.

The fuel trucks were nestled, all snug in their spots, With gusts from two-forty at 39 knots. I slumped at the fuel desk, now finally caught up, And settled down comfortably, resting my butt.

When the radio lit up with noise and with chatter, I turned up the scanner to see what was the matter. A voice clearly heard over static and snow, Called for clearance to land at the airport below.

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Longstanding Angel Flight Volunteer Recognized

CalPilots

bob tucknottTri-Valley Heroes: Bob Tucknott wins lifetime achievement award – Around Pleasanton (CA.), Bob Tucknott is known as a go-to guy. Whether it’s flying a search-and-rescue mission or transporting a sick child to a hospital or giving a speech, ask him and he’ll be there.”I guess I’ve got a reputation for getting things done,” Tucknott said.

Tucknott has been a member of too many organizations to list. He’s been chairman of the board or the president of the Dublin Rotary Club, the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce, the San Leandro Boys and Girls Club, the Eden area YMCA, the San Leandro Exchange Club and a commander of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Air Squadron — just to name a few.

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Watch Your Downwind

CalPilots

Troutdale SectionalTROUTDALE, Ore. – You drive out to the hangar one afternoon, it’s a great day to be in the air and you can’t wait.  You make the turn onto the airport and what do you see?  Construction cranes?  In the pattern?  Hey, what gives?  Who the heck is building here? What are they thinking?

They’re thinking buildable land, folks.  I’m hangared at Troutdale, TTD, a mostly VFR airport (okay, we have a crummy NDB approach but the minimums are 1,050 msl).  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that somebody wanted to build a power generating plant about 1/2-mile north of the runway.  I’m a member of the TTD chapter of the Oregon Pilots Association and I’m president elect of that, so I figured I’d better show up at the informational meeting.

 

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Appeals Made to Let Business Stay at SMX

CalPilots

jolieJolie Lucas, Region 3 Vice President testified before Santa Maria Airport Board to encourage solution versus eviction for long-time airport business ArtCraft Paint.

Teresa Venegas Arredondo has been doing business at the Santa Maria Public Airport for 28 years as the owner of ArtCraft Paint Inc., and Thursday night friends and business associates made an appeal to the Board of Directors to let her continue.

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Golden Opportunities and Bitter Pills

CalPilots

Participating in politics is, in essence, an exercise in dealing with people. The goal is to establish a method of governing or providing management services. But in the end it all comes down to developing and utilizing your ability to talk to, listen to, and work with a staggeringly diverse group of people. Like most…

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