Posts by Andy Wilson
Long Beach Airport to Unveil Major Facelift
Bob Hope Airport Noise-impact Zone to Shrink
The clock is ticking for residents living around Bob Hope Airport to tap a federally funded program to soundproof their houses before a shrinking noise-impact zone renders them ineligible, officials warned last week.
With fewer flights coming in and out of the airfield, and quieter aircraft taking to the skies, the noise-impact zone is expected to shrink significantly at the north and south ends of the runway, meaning homeowners who currently qualify for grant-funded soundproofing may soon find themselves outside the boundaries for the program.Dan Feger, the airport’s executive director, said homeowners who qualify should act quickly.
Read MoreVictorville Airport Authority to Default on Bonds
VICTORVILLE – The Southern California Logistics Airport Authority announced Thursday that it plans on issuing a notice to its bondholders informing them the authority expects to be $2.9 million shy of its debt obligation come Dec. 1.
“The default has been anticipated by SCLAA largely due to legislative maneuvers by the state of California to shift redevelopment funds and eliminate redevelopment agencies to satisfy the state’s budgetary shortfalls,” said Victorville Mayor Ryan McEachron, who is SCLAA chairman, in a statement Thursday.
Read MoreStockton City Council Ignores Land Fill Caused Airport Bird Issues
Sully’s take on landfill expansion: For the birds
STOCKTON – A pilot who knows a thing or two about bird strikes is condemning the proposed expansion of a large landfill near Stockton Metropolitan Airport, saying it would be “stupid” to increase the risk of a collision.
Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger was sitting in the captain’s chair on Jan. 15, 2009, when his U.S. Airways jet plowed through a flock of migrating geese, lost both engines and landed on the Hudson River in New York.
All 155 passengers and crew survived in what was christened the “Miracle on the Hudson.”
Sullenberger did a lot of things right in the 208 seconds between collision and splashdown. But he admits he was lucky too – skies were clear and the strike happened during the daytime, making a river landing much easier.
“We can’t rely on miracles,” he said in an interview Monday. “Having a landfill near an airport is just an incredibly bad idea. You’re creating a risk where one did not exist before.”
Read MoreFAA – Last Call for GA Activity Survey
The opportunity to participate in the FAA’s 34th annual General Aviation and Part 135 Survey for 2011 is ending soon. Nov. 30, 2012, is the last day selected aircraft owners/operators may submit information for the 2011 calendar year. For more information visit www.aviationsurvey.org/faqs, call toll-free at 888.672.4493, or send an email to InfoAviationSurvey@faa.gov.
Read MoreSanta Monica Airport – Visioning Process?
Fight Continues Over Airport Visioning Process – Goal of study’s Phase 3—transparency and trust—remains elusive as clock moves toward 2015.
Nearly seven months into the third phase of Santa Monica Airport’s “visioning process,” the struggle continues between the Airport Commission and city staffers over how comprehensive the process should be.
Specifically, the commission wants staff to be more assertive in studying scenarios for closing the airport in mid-2015, upon the expiration of the city’s operating agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration, or mitigating its negative impacts even sooner. (The FAA insists the 1984 agreement is binding until 2023).
Read MoreTruckee Tahoe Airport Considers Leasing Portions of Property
TRUCKEE, Calif. – The Truckee Tahoe Airport District is accepting land leasing proposals for both public and private development, following an inquiry by one of the area’s largest employers.
Truckee-based Clear Capital, a national provider of real estate analytics and valuations, has approached the airport district with the idea of leasing property since it is looking for a long-term facility, preferably in Truckee, to house its headquarters, said Kevin Marshall, co-founder and president of the company.
Read MoreSan Jose Considers Airport Wildlife Management Plan
Birds Beware: San Jose Airport to Consider Bringing in Crews to Clear Airspace – Fear of birds flying into engines and causing potentially fatal plane crashes has prompted one California airport to consider bringing in crews to shoot at the flocks.
Read More Santa Maria Airport Gets Hawaiian Route
Friday, November 23, 2012 – Allegiant’s first flight to Hawaii leaves Santa Maria airport Nipomo resident among group of first passengers. (CalPilots Editors Note: This is good news for the airport, and just a heads up that there may be new airline traffic coming to an airport you use or plan to visit.)
Read More Sacramento International Airport
We are posting this article because the state returns only 2% of the aviation generated taxes collected, back to support aviation. It is an interesting view into what happens when politicians and state officials are forced to get “creative” to fund projects that may not have been thought all the way through. We should all become more aware of this statewide problem to help us recognize when it is happening, then asking the difficult questions before, rather than after the damage is done to our airports.
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