Watsonville company aims to bring flying to the masses

WATSONVILLE, CA. — A Watsonville light sport aircraft company is attempting to fuel excitement about the possibilities of local aviation. West Coast Sport Aircraft, which opened at the Watsonville Municipal Airport in February, specializes in a two-seater aircraft called Tecnam. The Watsonville business, which sells airplanes, conducts training courses and provides Santa Cruz County tours, held its official grand opening last week, which was attended by about 100 people.

ProPublica, the news organization that won a court case in February to force the FAA to release aircraft tracking information previously kept secret, has released the results of its investigation in a story published on its own Web site and on the front page of Friday’s USA Today. ProPublica said the aircraft operators who requested…

What is The Aviators? The Aviators is a new weekly magazine-style TV series featuring interesting people, the latest aircraft, the coolest technology and the best fly-in destinations. Check it out.

On Monday evening,March 22, 2010 the Livermore City Council held a public meeting to review, discuss, and act on several different airport resolutions. There was a nice showing of concerned pilots from the aviation community. Of the nine citizens who addressed the City Council regarding the airport issues, all but two spoke in favor of supporting the airport resolutions. The main concern of those two who had concerns pertained to noise.

The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has updated its guide explaining the required electronic Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) used by pilots flying into the U.S., with consideration given to suggestions from EAA. The new guide clarifies certain requirements first published in 2008 and adds instruction designed to help pilots deal with real-world complications they may encounter.

Dozens protest (developer proposed) Oceano airport changes
Developer is trying to get county to close Oceano property, but supervisors have ‘no interest’

Los Osos developer Jeff Edwards’ desire to see the Oceano County Airport closed and redeveloped has caused a groundswell of opposition from local pilots, about 50 of whom showed up to a meeting Wednesday in Grover Beach to protest any change to the airport.

Please read the following and plan accordingly. I have never carried my pilot’s license in my wallet, but I needed it yesterday. Returning to my plane at San Luis Obispo Airport, I couldn’t get back on the tarmac without a driver’s license ID and a pilot’s license. I said my license was in the plane….

Developer Jeff Edwards has scheduled a March 17 meeting to discuss his unsolicited plan to turn Oceano County Airport, near San Luis Obispo, Calif., into a non-airport property. Meanwhile, Bill Robeson, a city planner who works with the city’s Airport Land Use Commission, told SanLuisObispo.com that when it comes to closing the airport, “none of the hearing bodies for the county are considering it.” But Edwards, a private land planner, sees “enormous potential” for the nearly beachfront property that he says could translate into “significant cash flow to the county if they were to close the airport and lease it for development.” He has advertised his upcoming meeting through a press release, has invited representatives from San Luis Obispo County and candidates running for local positions, and said “the public is encouraged to attend.” Oceano operates a 2325-by-50 foot paved runway and is home to 13 aircraft (10 singles and three ultralights). The facility serves transient pilots and its land-use plan estimates 12,500 operations per year.

A Los Osos developer who hopes to see the Oceano County Airport closed so that it can be redeveloped met with substantial opposition at a meeting on March 17. And, while the developer attempted to keep out most of the pilots who showed up, he didn’t succeed in barring AOPA
(Editor’s Note: This developer stated in advance that he was going to limit the number of pilots attending the meetings. The important point here is for pro-aviation people to attend every meeting he has scheduled and to inform all non-aviation people attending the meetings just how important the airport is).

Local groups stand firm against encroachment
The city of Watsonville, Calif., violated state law when it approved a plan to eliminate safety zones around Watsonville Municipal Airport to develop the area, an appeals court affirmed March 15.