California Airports

Airport Commission no place for pilots
March 15, 2011 SMO — As city officials begin to look toward the possibilities of a post-2015 Santa Monica Airport, the commission that is meant to advise them on all things aviation received its fifth member, who has a history of involvement with an anti-airport neighborhood group and, like his four colleagues, has no background in aviation.

Every aviator knows that our nation’s airports are misunderstood.What we typically hear is what airports cost, versus what they provide to the community. Here is a great article in General Aviation News (GAN) on what Sun and Fun means to the community monetarily. When studies are done, airports are better seen as a stimulus for the local economy.

THE global economic downturn dealt a painful blow to the general aviation industry.

At Van Nuys Airport, a major economic engine of the San Fernando Valley, the airfield’s largest employers have cut jobs by an unprecedented 41 percent. Since 2003, takeoffs and landings have declined an average of 10 percent per year. To put this in perspective, the last time operations dipped this low was in 1962 – when John F. Kennedy was president and man had not yet walked on the moon.

• February 26, 2011 5:00 p.m.
• L52 Oceano Airport Fly-In Movie Night

Come enjoy a day at the beach and watch a double-feature under the stars.
Camping available. Bring your chairs, blankets, and a festive attitude.

At the Board of Supervisors Meeting 2/22/11, the Flea Market proposal was denied on a vote of 3 to 2. At the very start of the meeting, Chair person Margie Barrios stated she was against the proposal. After much discussion, Jaime De LA Cruz wanted a vote now. Margie Barrios then made a motion to deny the application, and seconded by Anthony Botelho.

The vote went as follows – Margie Barrios, Anthony Botelho, Jerry Muenzer – – against Jaime De La Cruz, Robert Rivas – – – for.

Sub-Divsion and Water Park Development northwest Tracy Airport is Denied – A judge invalidated a developer agreement Wednesday, Feb. 16, between The Surland Cos. and the city of Tracy that had paved the way for the planned Ellis subdivision and a water park southwest of tow Judge Lesley Holland, in a two-page minute order issued this week, sided with Tracy Region Alliance for a Quality Community, which in 2009 filed a suit alleging that the agreement was illegal and that there were serious deficiencies in the project’s environmental review.

Number : FDC 1/7062 Issue Date : February 15, 2011 at 1422 UTC Location : San Francisco, California Beginning Date and Time : February 18, 2011 at 0115 UTC Ending Date and Time : February 18, 2011 at 1700 UTC Reason for NOTAM : Temporary flight restrictions for VIP Movement http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html

A general aviation terminal with a military look at the former March Air Force Base near Riverside could be approved in the next few months and built by late next year, according to Lori Stone, executive director of the March Joint Powers Authority.

Click on the link below to see the web banner proclaiming the California Pilots Association sponsorship of the California pages of the Abandoned & Little Know Airports website. The California Pilots Association understands the importance of having the ability to archive which airports have already been lost so history doesn’t continue to repeat itself.
Editor’s Note: CALPILOTS hopes that other statewide flying organizations follows our lead and supports this web site.
Click here to access the California specific pages of this important website.

This week, the Torrance City Council directed that helicopters in-bound and out-bound from the airport climb to or descend from 1400 AGL, through the fixed-wing traffic patterns (at 1000 AGL) when landing at the airport (see articles from the Daily Breeze).  Torrance helicopter operators had previously agreed to fly at 600 AGL within the class D airspace to avoid the faster fixed wing traffic, but a few residents have complained about the helicopters flying over their houses and the City Council blindly blundered into the realm of air traffic control.  Their Airport Commission unanimously recommended against this move.  For a map of the helicopter routes, check http://www.taainfo.org.  (See update at the end of this article)