Western Pacific Region

2013 Issues and News

March 25, 2013 — California airports support 117,000 jobs

California's top 30 airports support 117,273 jobs that provide $7.6 billion a year in wages, says a new report by the California Airports Council. — Read More >>

January 10, 2013 — Sanctuary boundary study raises new overflight concerns

The possible expansion of boundaries of two national marine sanctuaries in California could result in new restrictions on overflights of the affected areas, AOPA said. — Read More >>

January 9, 2013 — Pilot input sought on modernizing Phoenix airspace

The FAA is embarking on a three-year effort to modernize the Phoenix airspace utilizing NextGen and performance-based navigation (PBN) technologies. AOPA is asking pilots to speak up. — Read More >>

2012 Issues and News

December 10, 2012 — GPS testing could interrupt signals in Nevada (PDF)

GPS testing is scheduled for Mina, Nev., as follows and may result in unreliable or unavailable GPS signal December 10, 2012 – December 20, 2012, centered at 393835N/1174702W or the MVA VORTAC 010 degree radial at 66 NM. — Read More >>

November 6, 2012 — Las Vegas airspace plan remains short on solutions

The FAA has published a notice of proposed rulemaking for the redesign of the Las Vegas Class B airspace that makes minor concessions to general aviation's concerns but fails to adopt a majority of GA's safety and efficiency recommendations, AOPA said. — Read More >>

October 31, 2012 — GPS signals disrupted in California (PDF)

GPS signals disrupted in California (PDF) — Read More >>

October 25, 2012 — Pilots may experience GPS problems in California (PDF)

Pilots may experience GPS problems in California (PDF) — Read More >>

October 24, 2012 — GPS signals could be jammed over AZ (PDF)

GPS signals could be jammed over AZ (PDF) — Read More >>

October 17, 2012 — GPS testing over California (PDF)

GPS testing is scheduled as follows and may result in unreliable or unavailable GPS signal. — Read More >>

October 4, 2012 — Pilots urged to weigh in on sanctuary boundary expansion

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) should analyze the impact on general aviation of its proposal to expand the boundaries of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. — Read More >>

September 13, 2012 — GPS testing over Nevada (PDF)

GPS testing is scheduled as follows and may result in unreliable or unavailable GPS signal. — Read More >>

August 15, 2012 — Flight restrictions seen from possible sanctuary expansion

A federal agency has opened a study of expanding the boundaries of California's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, with possible ramifications for overflights of the area. — Read More >>

August 14, 2012 — GA concerns remain with large military airspace plan

The Navy's plan to expand a sprawling block of airspace near a Marine Corps installation in Twentynine Palms, Calif., poses problems for general aviation that should be mitigated before the proposal moves forward, AOPA said. — Read More >>

July 19, 2012 — Pilots urged to save Death Valley's Chicken Strip

Pilots now have an opportunity to help the Recreational Aviation Foundation keep a valuable California airstrip open to the public. The National Park Service has begun the process to develop a new management plan for the Saline Valley Warm Springs area of Death Valley National Park that includes the Chicken Strip, an uncharted 1,350-foot dirt strip that provides fly-in access to the warm springs. — Read More >>

July 16, 2012 — GPS signals may be unreliable over Nevada (PDF)

GPS signals may be unreliable over Nevada (PDF) — Read More >>

June 27, 2012 — Airport programs survive deficit battle

When a California budget bill appeared to target airport grant programs by transferring fuel-tax revenue away from aeronautics accounts, AOPA and other organizations took quick action to protect aviation's interests. — Read More >>

June 21, 2012 — Landfill would create bird hazard, raise approach minimums

Expanding a landfill near California's Stockton Metropolitan Airport could create hazards for pilots and render the airport less useful during poor weather conditions, AOPA told the San Joaquin County Aviation Advisory Committee June 19. — Read More >>

June 13, 2012 — Get 'em out to the airport

It's no surprise that people don't support an airport when they don't understand it. That's why Hayward Executive Airport Support Network (ASN) volunteer Claude Goldsmith hosted an AOPA booth during the California airport's open house. — Read More >>

June 13, 2012 — Fly-casting ponds raise airport's bird-strike risk

An unpermitted fly-fishing school that excavated two ponds on property next to the Sonoma Valley Airport in Schellville, Calif., in defiance of official concern about bird-strike risks should be ordered to cease operation, AOPA said. — Read More >>

May 23, 2012 — GA resurgence continuing at Reno-Tahoe

Policies supportive of general aviation are continuing to re-emerge at Nevada's Reno-Tahoe International Airport, and advocacy efforts by pilots helped make it happen, AOPA said. — Read More >>

April 26, 2012 — Airway changes, routes planned for Southwest

AOPA will submit formal comments on an FAA proposal to modify several airways in the Southwest and establish RNAV routes (T-routes) in connection with the scheduled decommissioning this fall of the Cochise, Ariz., vortac. — Read More >>

April 17, 2012 — Calif. airport repairs could squeeze safety

Flight operations at the Tracy, Calif., Municipal Airport could have a higher risk profile if efforts to fix deteriorating pavement shorten the runways, allowing a reduction in the airport's safety zone. — Read More >>

April 5, 2012 — Expanding landfill could increase bird strikes

The proposed expansion of a commercial landfill across the extended runway centerline would bring more birds, and bird strikes, to California's Stockton Metropolitan Airport, AOPA said in a letter to county officials. — Read More >>

March 19, 2012 — GPS signals may be unreliable over Nevada (PDF)

The FAA has issued flight advisories for potentially unreliable GPS signals in areas around Beatty, Nev. between March 22 and 30. — Read More >>

March 13, 2012 — GPS signals may be unreliable over California (PDF)

The FAA has issued flight advisories for potentially unreliable GPS signals in areas around Fort Irwin, Calif. between March 16 and March 21. See the flight advisories for details on location, duration, and size of the affected areas. Pilots are encouraged to report anomalies to the appropriate air route traffic control center to help determine the extent of signal degradation. Please share your reports with AOPA. Notams will be published at least 24 hours in advance of any GPS test, but may change with little or no notice. — Read More >>

February 24, 2012 — GPS testing over California (PDF)

Flight advisory GPS testing CHLK GPS 12-01 February 27, 2012 – March 23, 2012 Ridgecrest, Calif. — Read More >>

February 2, 2012 — West Coast sanctuary overflight now a dangerous gamble

Pilots could face stiff fines - up to six figures - for violating new overflight regulations that place the National Airspace System on a slippery slope. The FAA has ceded to another federal agency - the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - authority to enforce what amount to new airspace restrictions. — Read More >>

February 1, 2012 — GA input sought in Reno-Tahoe survey

A general aviation resurgence is under way at Nevada's Reno-Tahoe International Airport, and pilots can support it by participating in a survey to measure potential use of GA facilities on the field. — Read More >>

January 26, 2012 — Guidelines to help pilots navigate busy Phoenix airspace

Tips and recommended procedures for navigating the busy airspace near Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport could help obviate the need for Class C airspace over the airport. — Read More >>

January 26, 2012 — Rarely used Camp Pendleton restricted airspace activated

A rarely activated restricted airspace area will be activated and expanded Jan. 26 and Feb. 1 in conjunction with an amphibious military exercise near the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in southern California. — Read More >>

January 23, 2012 — GPS outages centered in Nevada (PDF)

GPS testing is scheduled as follows and may result in unreliable or unavailable GPS signal. — Read More >>

2011 Issues and News

• December 8, 2011 - Class C airspace at Long Beach seen unjustified
• December 6, 2011 - DOT, FAA intervention sought in avgas case
• November 30, 2011 - GPS testing continues in West: Beatty, Nevada
• November 30, 2011 - GPS testing continues in West: Alamogordo, N.M.
• November 10, 2011 - GPS testing centered in California (PDF)
• November 9, 2011 - Van Nuys airport management study proposed
• November 4, 2011 - GPS testing in Nevada in November, December (PDF)
• October 26, 2011 - Judge dismisses FBO group's injunction request
• October 19, 2011 - Deadline on Salt Lake Class B changes draws near
• October 7, 2011 - Pilots attend safety seminar in Santa Monica
• September 29, 2011 - Las Vegas airspace redesign: Think outside the box
• September 28, 2011 - GPS testing near China Lake, Calif. (pdf)
• September 21, 2011 - CFIs, students win training relief
• September 13, 2011 - Southwest GPS interference (pdf)
• September 1, 2011 - Second try at LGB airspace
• August 25, 2011 - CA training fix heads to gov.
• August 24, 2011 - Multi-state swing touts GA
• August 22, 2011 - NBAA show fly-in procedures (pdf)
• August 8, 2011 - Ariz. VOR decom bad idea (pdf)
• July 20, 2011 - Calif. avgas lawsuit to await fed ruling
• July 20, 2011 - Independent management urged for Van Nuys
• July 20, 2011 - LAX airspace change a 'Band-Aid' approach
• July 19, 2011 - SoCal pilots speak up!
• July 14, 2011 - Wind turbines proposed near Nevada airports
• July 12, 2011 - GPS testing prompts Las Vegas flight advisory
• July 7, 2011 - GPS testing prompts Beatty, Nev., flight advisory
• July 6, 2011 - Better solution for LAX airspace needed
• June 29, 2011 - Calif. flight training reg fix advances in legislature
• June 21, 2011 - FAA sets meetings on Las Vegas airspace modifications
• June 21, 2011 - Revised Class C floor proposed for Palm Beach
• June 15, 2011 - Luke AFB radar service hours extended
• June 15, 2011 - Navy sets meetings on China Lake Naval Air Station
• June 14, 2011 - Nev. MOA plan squeezes airway, won't threaten soaring event
• June 14, 2011 - Final push seeks to fix Calif. flight training threat
• June 2, 2011 - Santa Monica drops legal battle to ban jets
• June 1, 2011 - Pilots urged to submit comments on Nevada MOA plan
• May 25, 2011 - Calif. flight-school bill moves forward
• April 26, 2011 - GPS testing in Utah prompts FAA flight advisory
• April 26, 2011 - Bill could fix California flight training fiasco
• April 26, 2011 - Fuller meets with Friends of Santa Monica Airport
• April 21, 2011 - Active pilots, robust community: 'As good as it gets'
• April 20, 2011 - Sonoma County, Calif., rallies GA
• April 20, 2011 - AOPA slams L.A. attack on Santa Monica
• April 13, 2011 - GPS testing in Nevada prompts FAA flight advisory
• April 13, 2011 - GPS testing in New Mexico prompts FAA flight advisory
• April 6, 2011 - Instructors can help find fix for Calif. flight training
• March 23, 2011 - FAA, Air Force, users meet on Luke special air traffic rules
• March 22, 2011 - CAP squadron breaks ground at Arizona airport
• March 14, 2011 - Public meetings set on Grand Canyon noise rules
• March 9, 2011 - Navy seeks input on special-use airspace expansion impact
• March 9, 2011 - Salt Lake City airspace plan seen squeezing GA
• March 9, 2011 - Northern California pilots' help sought in NextGen planning
• March 9, 2011 - Navy to study Calif. base options for Joint Strike Fighter
• March 7, 2011 - Ariz. tethered balloon proposal is dropped
• February 25, 2011 - CA bill could ease concerns of flight school certification
• February 18, 2011 - Hemet-Ryan can't ground gliders, FAA rules
• February 10, 2011 - Tethered balloon hazard needs further study
• February 9, 2011 - Fuller briefs Van Nuys pilots on state of GA
• February 2, 2011 - Public meetings set on Joint Strike Fighter base planning
• January 21, 2011 - Court backs FAA: Santa Monica can't ban jets