Posts by Andy Wilson
Is GA Under Attack by the White House?
CalPilots Editor’s Note: AOPA’s strongest words regarding sequester to date – “GA is under assault, and we have every reason to believe the next attack is coming soon”.
Read MoreSequestration May Threaten California Commercial Aviation Economy
Airport Board to Consider Palmdale Lease
The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners was scheduled to vote Monday on transferring the lease on the terminal building at LA/Palmdale Regional Airport to the City of Palmdale.
A staff report recommended the commissioners approve the transfer of the 9,000-square-foot terminal building located on 61 acres in the Antelope Valley city. The facility had been leased by Los Angeles World Airports from the U.S. Air Force.
Getting commercial service to the airport has long been a struggle for the city and LAWA. Palmdale officials have said that city control of the terminal would make it easier to bring regular service to the airport. Read MoreJohn Wayne Airport Noise Plan Would Add Flights
The number of passengers and flights at John Wayne Airport would gradually increase starting in seven years under a noise agreement proposed Thursday by the city of Newport Beach and local airport-noise groups. The early morning and late night curfew on operations would remain in effect until 2035.
Thursday’s announcement marked the beginning of a process to modify and extend the existing airport-noise agreement that is due to expire in 2015.
Newport Beach Mayor Keith Curry said the proposal struck a balance between the needs of the communities surrounding the airport and federal law, which restricts the local limits that can be placed on airports. Read MoreWhite House and Congress Continue to Play Politics with Aviation Safety
FAA plan to close towers a ‘flawed policy assault on pilots’ – DUPAGE, Ill. — A federal plan to impose across-the-board spending cuts by closing 149 active control towers nationwide will compromise air safety and “should not stand,” according to Craig Fuller, president and CEO of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). “The White House…
Read MoreYuba County Airport Finance Issues
Grand jury finds lack of funds at Yuba County Airport – Yuba County is being asked by a grand jury committee to put more money into the airport to fix conditions it describes as “unsafe and very unsightly.”
A Common Sense Look at Airport Encroachment
Guest Commentary: Airport compatibility and seat belts – Most all auto accidents (95 percent) are caused by driver error. Nevertheless and regardless of who is at fault, the State of California requires that you always wear your seat belt. If you choose not to wear your seat belt, you get stopped by the police, you should expect to pay a $200 fine. Wearing your seat belt is the law because statistics show that you really don’t know when an accident may happen and who may be at fault. Because of those unknowns, State intervention was needed to protect life and limb. Seat belts do save lives.
Pressure Mounts on Unnecessary Sequester Tower Closure
Blumenthal Blames FAA for Airport Control Tower Closures; Says they’re Unnecessary – HARTFORD, Conn. – A group of U.S. Senators is working to keep the airport control towers from closing due to a lack of funding under sequester cuts. (CalPilots Editor’s Note: There are numerous articles such as this one, so it is obvious that Congress is putting the pressure on the Administration as well as themselves, to deal with this “political game of chicken” they are engaged in).
Read MoreYou can make a difference
General Aviation News Staff – Hangared at the Portland-Troutdale Airport (TTD) in Oregon, I got involved when I found out that a power generating plant, proposed for a site less than a half mile from runway centerline would seriously hamper operations at the airport by creating a fog plume from its cooling towers, as well as locating a dangerous, high velocity, high temperature thermal plume directly beneath the north pattern.
Read MoreFAA to announce final [Sequester Tower closure] list Monday
(CalPilots Editor’s Note: Airline served ATC Towers are also included – therefore, the current 
Administration and Congress had better figure it out and soon) – SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —Two Sacramento airports will find out Monday whether their air traffic control towers will face closure and reduced service due to federal budget cuts.
Sacramento International Airport was listed by the FAA among more than 60 airports nationwide to lose overnight staffing of the tower.
Sacramento Executive Airport was named along with Stockton Municipal airport on the list to have their towers closed.
The FAA announced 238 airports that may have their towers closed.
Read More