California Airports

LIVERMORE, Calif. — Five Rivers Aviation has broken ground on a new FBO and hangar complex for the Livermore Airport (KLVK).

The initial phase of the $5 million project includes 25,000 square feet of hangar space, as well as a 6,000-square-foot FBO complete with pilot and charter support amenities.

WATSONVILLE  Six months after Props Restaurant & Lounge shuttered at the Watsonville Municipal Airport, a new restaurant is looking to fill the vacant space. Ella’s at the Airport will seek approval by the Watsonville City Council Tuesday to lease the space on 100 Aviation Way for three years.

In August, the airport submitted a request for proposals, and after receiving various responses, selected a proposal by Sergio Angeles and Tiffany Ella King, according to a report by Steve Palmisano, director of Public Works and Utilities, and Rayvon Williams , airport manager. King also owns Cafe Ella at 734 East Lake Ave. Since its 2007 opening, it has amassed a sizable base of loyal customers who snap up the lunchtime offerings, but who have also beseeched her to offer dinner. While the small space made such endeavors a difficult proposition , moving into the new digs will not only allow for the expanded menu, but will also let King grow her burgeoning catering arm of the restaurant. “We’re very excited about it,” King said.

Caltrans shouldn’t try to overturn SLO’s attempt to build near the county airport

Read more here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2015/04/15/3587443_construction-near-airport-is-right.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

The city of San Luis Obispo is following the right course in standing by its decision to allow residential development in the airport area at the south end of town, over objections of the county Airport Land Use Commission and Caltrans’ Division of Aeronautics.

It’s not the biggest aviation event around, but the Mojave Experimental Fly-In, coming up April 17-19, is surely one of the most unique. The two-day event brings out homebuilders who have been working on their own designs over the last year, to show off their work and share their expertise in the California desert. This is the fourth year of the fly-in, and this year’s edition adds a slumber party complete with pizza and movies, a “bug-smasher poker run/flour bomb” event, an indoor free-flight RC flying competition, and showings of an in-progress documentary film about the Mojave pilots.

The Santa Monica City Council has shortened ground leases for tenants at Santa Monica Municipal Airport (KSMO), limiting most businesses to month-to-month leases.

Exceptions were FBO Atlantic Aviation, Adelman, a law firm, and the Museum of Flying, which received three-year leases to June 30, 2018, with the option of one-year extensions at the discretion of the city.

You know the drill. The neighbors complain about the airport because it’s populated entirely by spoiled, rich white guys who get their kicks by flying low over the neighborhood and making lots of noise. We can disagree, we can explain, we can put thousands of hours of effort into going door to door to tell…

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Built for an age when 800-foot-long flying aircraft carriers were the cutting edge of aviation, the colossal hangars of the Moffett Federal Airfield are about to become roosts for Silicon Valley’s latest ideas.

Google on Wednesday formally takes over the 1,000-acre site with plans to repurpose its three airship hangars as laboratories for developing robots, rovers, drones, Internet-carrying balloons and other cutting-edge technology. The company will also manage the airfield’s two runways and upgrade an old military golf course for public use.

NBAA Warns Local Officials About Legal Obligations Regarding KSMO

Issue Was On The City Council Agenda Tuesday Night

The NBAA on Tuesday cautioned the mayor and city council of Santa Monica, CA about the questionable legality of proposals that seek to limit the viability of Santa Monica Airport (KSMO) for aviation operations, as well as for businesses located on the airfield.

At a city council meeting Tuesday night attended by more than 100 people, local officials considered the Santa Monica Airport Commission’s recommendation that the city move ahead with proposals to implement costly new leases for tenants, close a portion of the airport’s runway and enact a new emissions ordinance at KSMO. Public comments extended well into the night, according to television station KTLA. Dozens more protested outside, complaining about noise, pollution, and perceived safety issues. Some said that the airport should be completely closed. Airport advocates also gathered outside city hall to defend the facility, saying it meets all federal and state requirements for noise abatement, safety and environmental issues, and accounts for hundreds of millions of dollars in the local economy.

It’s important to understand how some anti-airport types operate. We posted the following article on Chicago O’hare as it also applies to smaller airports. This strategy is frequently used by a few anti-airport neighbors. Now, you will know what types of questions to ask of the city or county when they are faced with airport noise.

The March/April 2015 issue of FAA Safety Briefing focuses on weather forces, sources, resources. Articles review some basic causes of weather activity, how certain conditions can affect pilot safety, and the tools you can use to aid your weather decision-making process.

Feature articles in this issue include:

· “Air Masses and Fronts – The Movers and Shakers of Weather” (p 8),

· “Cloud Dancing and Thunder Singing – Developing Strategies to Avoid Inadvertent Peril” (p 16),

· “I’ve Got Weather (…Now What Do I Do with It?)” (p. 26)