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For the fifth consecutive year, the California Pilots Association (CalPilots) is participating in an event highlighting the importance of aviation to state elected officials. Titled California Aerospace & Aviation Days, the 3-day program at the Capitol in Sacramento will include activities engaging state Senators, Assemblymembers in discussions educating them on the industry’s value to the…
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December 10, 2015 — Aviators filed a class action lawsuit Monday against the City alleging that landing fees at Santa Monica Airport – which were doubled in 2013 – were illegally adopted by the City Council.
Read MoreThe Federal Aviation Administration ruled Friday that Santa Monica Airport must stay open at least until 2023 — a decision that could frustrate the city’s efforts to reduce flight operations and then shut down the historic facility in the near future.
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December 5, 2015
The fate of the Cloverdale Airport is up in the air as city officials grapple with whether to grant a developer’s demand to close it in order to accommodate a proposed $200 million resort next door.
Closing an airfield involves a lengthy federal application process with an uncertain outcome, but developers of the 254-acre Alexander Valley Resort say they are willing to foot the bill, as well as pay for more than $7 million in improvements to repurpose the airport into a sports park.
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Industry sources estimate that 1 million drones will be sold this holiday season. Their increasing numbers has pilots concerned about their proper use, especially where they may interfere with aircraft operations. Even a very small drone can cause a catastrophic accident, if it collides with an airplane.
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Bulletin Issued on Noise-Cancelling Headset Use
On November 20, 2015, the FAA issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB CE-16-08) that advises GA pilots and operators of concerns with the use of noise cancelling headsets. In many cases, pilots are using the noise cancelling headsets as supplementary equipment during operations. When wearing these headsets, the pilot may be unaware of environmental sounds and audible warning annunciations in the cockpit that do not come through the intercom system.
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“On the urging of 13 speakers, the Chico City Council unanimously rejected a proposal from Washington D.C.-based AvPORTS to manage the Chico Municipal Airport… despite a modified proposal for a smaller cost, shorter time span and less risk, which were among the objections cited when the Airport Commission recommended rejecting the proposal in October.”
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Hard to believe Oceano Airport Toys for Tots is right around the corner! December 5th 10-2. Come and make a child smile for Christmas. Please share with your friends. Friends of Oceano Airport are a proud chapter of Cal Pilots. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib_7TWjhKg8
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Biweekly FAA Safety Briefing News Update
Final Rule Issued to Remove Certain Instrument Approach Procedures
On November 10, 2015, the FAA issued a final rule that removes certain redundant or underutilized ground-based nondirectional radio beacon (NDB) and VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). Removing these NDB and VOR SIAPs (334 in total) is an integral part of right-sizing the quantity and type of procedures in the NAS, especially as a growing number of area navigation (RNAV) instrument approach procedures are made available. The complexity and cost of maintaining the existing ground based navigational infrastructure while expanding RNAV capability is not sustainable. To view the rule and the list of affected SIAPs and their removal dates, go to www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-11-10/pdf/2015-28478.pdf.
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