FAA Extends Comment Period For Southern CA Metroplex

CalPilots

Comments Now Accepted Through October 8

The FAA is extending the public comment period for the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) of the Southern California Metroplex project by an additional 30 days. The comment period will now run until midnight on Oct. 8.

The latest extension allows for a full 120 days of comment on the proposed project. The FAA previously extended the comment period by 60 days in July.

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FAA Extends SoCal Metroplex Comment Period

CalPilots

Deadline Now September 8, Allows For A Full 90 Days Of Comment

The FAA is extending the public comment period for its Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) of the Southern California Metroplex project to September 8, 2015, to allow for a full 90 days of comment.

The project is a comprehensive proposal to improve the flow of air traffic into and out of Southern California by making the airspace safer and more efficient. It proposes to replace dozens of existing conventional air traffic procedures with new satellite-based procedures, which are a key component of the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). The Metroplex proposal encompasses most of Southern California and includes six major airports.

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GPS Notification – Ridgecrest, CA

FAA flight advisory GPS testing Ridgecrest California

GPS Notification – Ridgecrest, CA Notice Number: NOTC6175 Sep 08-11, 2015 Ridgecrest, CA 43 – 138 NMR / 50 AGL – FL250 https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2015/Sep/CHLK_15-10_GPS_Flight_Advisory.pdf  

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Watsonville air show grounded after 50 years

CalPilots

WATSONVILLE — A 50-year-old air show will be grounded this year, with no aerobatics and no performances, after the nonprofit Watsonville Fly-In and Air Show decided to hand over the reins to the city.

Hank Wempe, the fly-in and air show’s board president, said declining attendance and corporate sponsorships forced board members to donate funds out of their own pockets to keep the event going the past few years.

The board was tired of just scraping by, Wempe said.

“What we need is movers and shakers and we didn’t have them on our board,” Wempe said.

Now the Watsonville Municipal Airport, which is owned by the city of Watsonville, will run the show.

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FAA 45-day comment period on Airspace

CalPilots

Did you know? 11 rules affecting airspace proposed in August? It is amazing how efficient the FAA can be at times. In August 2015, the FAA posted 11 proposed rules to the Federal Register regarding airspace. Did you know that? Until Sept. 1, I didn’t either. On each proposed rule is a 45-day comment period.…

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Airports Are Important

CalPilots Editor’s Note: Airports are much more than parking lots for aircraft –

VAN NUYS  — The Los Angeles Fire Department is ramping up its aerial firefighting arsenal for a busy brush fire season.

On Thursday afternoon, the Fire Department received two Canadian Super Scooper firefighting airplanes that are now based at Van Nuys Airport. Super Scoopers are amphibious and fight fires by collecting water from lakes then dropping that water onto fires from above.

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2015 Big Bear Air Fair

Big Bear Air Fair poster with airplanes

Welcome to the 2015 Big Bear Air Fair!

 

The Big Bear City Airport is pleased to welcome you to its 2015 Air Fair! This exciting event is a longstanding tradition in the community. For more than thirty years, the airport has welcomed audiences young and old to experience the thrill of aviation.

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California Modifies Proposed UAV Trespass Bill

CalPilots

Would Consider Any Flight Under 350 Feet As A Violation

The California general assembly is considering a modified UAV trespass bill that would make any flight over private property at an altitude under 350 feet a violation of the state’s trespassing law.

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Heads Up – Pilot Reports Of UAS Sightings On The Rise

CalPilots

Pilot reports of unmanned aerial systems have topped 650 so far this year – well over the 238 reported for all of 2014, the FAA said this week. The agency said there was a big jump in sightings this summer, with 138 pilot reports in June and 137 in July. Meanwhile, there were just 52 reports for the June-July 2014 period. The sightings were at altitudes up to 10,000 feet and came from a variety of aircraft, from large air carriers to helicopters, the FAA said. On Wednesday, a medical helicopter reported having to maneuver to avoid a UAS while flying at 1,000 feet AGL. Over the summer, unmanned aircraft interfering with aerial firefighting operations prompted the FAA and the National Interagency Fire Center to issue a warning to UAS flyers to stay clear of fires, reminding them that unsafe operations could result in jail time and fines up to $25,000. The FAA, while wrangling with forming UAS safety rules in the personal and commercial sectors, has attempted to curtail problems with similar public safety announcements for airports and sports venues.

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