Posts by Andy Wilson
San Carlos Airport Day 2014
The San Carlos Airport is hosting our 2nd annual San Carlos Airport Day event on Saturday, May 31st from 10am until 3pm. We hope you can attend! I have attached an event flier – we would greatly appreciate it if you would post it on your Airport Facebook page(s) and/or website(s) to help us spread…
Read MoreStopping Grandma And Grandpa – Is the CBP Backing Off?
Federal border security agents have sharply reduced intercepts of general aviation aircraft, following complaints by pilots that excessive police action at small airports is restricting the freedom to fly.
An official with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Air and Marine Operations told NPR his agency has heard pilots’ grievances and the program is being altered so as not to needlessly affront law-abiding pilots.
Read MoreOcean Ridge Airport (E55) – Needs Your Help
CALTRANS THREATENS CLOSURE OF OCEAN RIDGE AIRPORT (E55)
Ocean Ridge Airport in Gualala, California is vital to its small community, not only for the private pilots there, but also for tourism (essential to the community’s economy), emergency medical helicopter service, and disaster relief and operations in major fires, earthquake, etc. CalTrans has mandated runway repairs by 9/30/2014 or it will pull the airport’s public permit.
The Ocean Ridge Airport Association (ORAA) has undertaken certain measures to improve the airport’s economic outlook, but no local funding can pay for the slurry-coat, which will run around $60,000. So ORAA is asking other pilots for help, including CalPilot members. Nearly $15,000 has been raised far. But as the repair deadline is drawing close, ORR needs to the finish fundraising so a contractor can be lined upto do the repairs.
Read MoreBIG BEAR WINDS
(From the Long Beach Flying Club and Academy Newsletter)
Saturday, May 24, we had two planes ground loop or depart the runway and damage themselves; a beautiful C-195 and a Cirrus S-20 . The primary reason for the problems was the wind from the north at 10 kts, gusting to 18 kts. Whenever we get north winds above 15kts crossing the runway, it produces turbulence in excess of the wind velocity because of the close proximity of mountains north of the field that concentrate/funnel winds.
Read MoreWhen in doubt, panic
Last week news organizations gleefully trumpeted the near collision of two airliners. Their coverage was spotty at best, with few, if any, first hand accounts from anyone with actual knowledge of the event, other than the description of a passenger. Fortunately for editors and news producers who are too busy or disinterested to assign actual…
Read MoreGPS signals may be unreliable over California
San Diego – The FAA has issued a flight advisory for potentially unreliable GPS signals in areas around San Diego, Calif., May 19 to June 1. See the flight advisory for details on location, duration, and size of the affected areas.
Read MoreLong Beach Airport Association
Long Beach Airport Association revitalizes board, embarks on new initiative – LONG BEACH, Calif. — The Long Beach Airport Association (LBAA) — a collaboration of Long Beach Airport businesses, private aircraft owners and community supporters — has launched a new effort to promote business diversity and preserve aviation as a vital contributor to the Southern…
Read MoreJ3 Cub Lands Near Sandia National Laboratories In CA
LIVERMORE, Calif. A small plane has made an emergency landing at the Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore.
One taken into custody after emergency landing
There have been no reports of injuries, but witnesses tell ABC7 News they saw the pilot taken away in handcuffs and that security approached that plane with guns drawn (later returned to the plane to collect personal belongings).
Read MoreICON to relocate to Vacaville
LOS ANGELES — ICON Aircraft will relocate to the City of Vacaville in Northern California, located approximately 50 miles northeast of San Francisco. Beginning in the first quarter of 2015, the company will begin operating in a 140,000-square-foot facility adjacent to the Vacaville airport, also known as the Nut Tree Airport. ICON intends to consolidate…
Read MoreGPS Interference Testing
FLIGHT ADVISORY GPS Interference Testing NSAWC 14 – 03 13-22 May 2014 Mina, NV. Additional information available via download at: https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2014/May/NSAWC_14-03_GPS_Flight_Advisory.pdf
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