Santa Monica Airport is an Asset

CalPilots

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

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New FAA hangar policy causing confusion

CalPilots

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…

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John Wayne Airport can do more, grand jury finds

CalPilots

john wayne airportSupervisor 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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Meadows Field – Renewed Investment?

CalPilots

William M Thomas Terminal Meadows FieldAirport director: It will take money to make money at Meadows Field County Airports Director Richard Strickland had some sobering news for the Kern County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

Debt is outpacing revenue.

But with renewed investment in Meadows Field Airport and the William M. Thomas Terminal, Strickland believes new airlines can be recruited and new revenues generated.

The Kern County Department of Airports has been gaining some elevation after losing altitude for years following the Great Recession. But challenges continue to loom.

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FAA Stalling Continues on Third Class Medical Reform

CalPilots

eaaExperimental Aircraft Association Chairman Jack Pelton called FAA delays on third class medical reform “deeply frustrating” and said at a press conference July 28 that the aviation industry may have to pursue a “legislative solution” if the stalling continues.

“We had been told for quite some time that there would be an (FAA) proposal no later than May,” Pelton said. “We have seen nothing. There’s great intent—but nothing has happened.”

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Decommissioning the Maxwell VORTAC

CalPilots

faaThis notice is from FAA about decommissioning the Maxwell VORTAC. It will be considered part of the transition to NextGen.

In all, FAA will reduce the number of VOR’s by nearly half in this first wave which is expected to take several years to complete. Opportunity for public comment is required for these closures.

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Friday Harbor Airport Opens Pilot Welcome Center

CalPilots

(Editor’s Note:  Knowing that many Califorinia pilots visit Washington’s San Juan islands, our friends at Friday Harbor Airport asked us to share this announcement). Friday Harbor Airport is pleased to announce the opening of the new Pilot Welcome Center in the northeast corner of the airport next to the guest tiedown area. Like many small…

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What You Can Do to Help Save Santa Monica Airport

CalPilots

Santa-Monica-AirportIf you have been following this ongoing issue, you know that the City of Santa Monica, driven by “Special Interests”, has been trying to close this airport for years. Why? That’s easy. Regardless of what the city says, it’s really about money.

Special Interest groups will make millions off of developing the land and the city stands to make money too.

The city is skillfully hiding these efforts behind safety issues, unproven health issues, and false accusations of the airport costing taxpayer’s money. Of course the city hasn’t told the taxpayers that they are not counting all of the revenue from the airport, because then taxpayers would know that the airport actually does support itself.

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John Wayne Airport prepares to change runway designations

CalPilots

john wayne airportSANTA ANA, Calif. – For nearly half a century, John Wayne Airport (JWA) has operated two runways, a commercial runway – one left and one nine right (1L-19R) — and a general aviation runway – one right and one nine left (1R-19L). Runways can be used in both directions, and therefore have opposite 180° headings at each end (e.g. 1L-19R, 1R-19L). The two numbers always differ by 18 (= 180º).

Effective July 24, 2014, due to a gradual shift of the Earth’s magnetic poles, JWA’s runways will get new number designations. JWA’s commercial runway will become two left and two zero right (2L-20R), and the general aviation runway will become two right and two zero left (2R-20L).

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