Archive for August 2014
Palo Alto: Council approves deal to take over airport
A deal to transfer Palo Alto Airport from Santa Clara County to the city has all but been cleared for take off.
As midnight approached Monday, the Palo Alto City Council unanimously approved a complex set of documents that would place the city in control of the airport, known as PAO. The State Lands Commission and the Federal Aviation Administration still need to weigh in on the deal.
“This is an outcome that we’ve had strong interest in for some time,” said Councilwoman Gail Price.
The county has operated the airport on land leased from the city since 1967. In 2006, the county announced it wasn’t interested in continuing the arrangement past the lease’s expiration in 2017.
Read MoreMather Airport master plan charts a reasonable path
Editorial: Mather Airport master plan charts a reasonable path
The future of Mather Airport is a balancing act – between priming an important economic engine and preserving peace and quiet for residents, between doing what’s best for Mather and what’s best for Sacramento International Airport.
The Mather master plan endorsed by Sacramento County supervisors Tuesday isn’t perfect, but it gets close to striking the right balance. And as was made clear repeatedly, the specific projects to bring the airport up to current aviation standards – a runway extension, new hangars and others – would have to be approved separately.
Read MoreSkyWest to leave Chico airport
Chico City Manager Mark Orme confirmed Thursday that the only commercial airline serving the city’s airport would discontinue flights in December. SkyWest Airlines will no longer serve the Chico area citing poor financial performance as its reason for leaving. SkyWest flies under contract withUnited Airlines as United Express out of Chico. Orme said that the city is…
Read More2014 Annual Meeting
2014 Annual Membership Meeting of the California Pilots Association CalPilots’ is having its annual membership meeting at Castle Airport (KMER) in Atwater on Saturday, October 4. This is a great opportunity to hear about the state of general aviation in California, hear interesting speakers and socialize with your fellow aviators. And the venue…
Read MoreAre Unreasonable Policies Killing Airports?
On August 13, 2014 the dedication of the rebuilt taxiway at Watsonville Municipal Airport was heralded by a ribbon cutting ceremony. The ribbon cutting was done by Don French, previous Airport Manager.
The rebuilt and repaved taxiway is located west of the north south runway and goes to and from the approach end of runway 9. The finished project culminated 10 years of frustrating delays and red tape caused by the California Fish and Game Department and US Fish and Wildlife Service. (CalPilots Editor’s Note: We have been questioning the role of these government ‘environmental’ agencies for years. They have been over stepping theie role and causing major issues for the very user base they are supposed to serve).
Read MoreCessna 172 and 172S AD
New SAIB Addresses Alternate Method of Compliance to Cessna AD
The FAA issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) last week to inform the public about an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) to an airworthiness directive (AD) issued in 2001 that affects certain Cessna 172 and 172S airplanes. This AD (2001-06-17) requires a one-time inspection for proper engine idle speed and fuel control mixture setting and adjustment, as necessary. This AD also requires incorporating engine operating procedures into the pilot’s operating handbook/airplane flight manual.
Santa Monica Airport is an Asset
Have you had discussions with those who are misimnformed about the value of SMO, or other airports? Check out this extremely well done video on SMO and educate yourself and others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ78vL16FvA&feature=youtu.be
Read MoreNew FAA hangar policy causing confusion
Two weeks after the FAA unveiled its draft policy for allowed uses in hangars at airports that receive federal grant funding, much confusion has emerged regarding the overall effect of the policy and what it means for hangar tenants. That’s particularly true for homebuilders, who have heard conflicting stories about what it means for building…
Read MoreJohn Wayne Airport can do more, grand jury finds
Supervisor Moorlach finds the results puzzling and says runway extension is unrealistic.
John Wayne Airport’s flights and parking are expensive, and if it wasn’t hampered by decades-old structures, it could make the county’s economy move and work faster.
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