Are you tired of paying high prices for avgas? Would you like to save 10 percent on your fuel costs from this day forward? To take advantage of this good deal all that's required is a few minutes of your time to sign up for it — of course, there's a catch. You have to commit (in writing) to abide by all the tenets of a noise-mitigation program. And you have to fly to Truckee-Tahoe Airport to get the good deal. But that's not such a hardship — the Truckee airport is right in the middle of a year-round recreation wonderland.
Truckee is one of nine independent airport districts in the state of California. One of the advantages of an airport district is that elected local citizens govern its operation and management. Since airport maintenance and improvements are expensive, many airports that accept federal funds soon learn that they've lost some of their decision-making autonomy.
Where?
Truckee-Tahoe Airport is located two miles east of the city of Truckee in the Sierra Nevada area of Northern California. Elevation at the airport is 5,900 feet. The area is surrounded by national forest, large lakes, and ski resorts.
Soaring, skiing, and that big blue lake
The attractions start at the airport. Amy's Deli and Catering in the terminal is open every day from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., except weekends when the doors open at 8 a.m. On the west side of the airport is Soar Truckee, a stockholder-owned corporation that's a haven for soaring enthusiasts. Good soaring conditions and a comfy campground draw soaring fans from around the state. Soar Truckee is also set up for sightseeing, introductory flights, and flight training. Visit the Web site ( www.soartruckee.com).
Truckee averages 30 feet of snow each winter, and that draws winter-sports lovers from all over the west. World-class downhill, cross-country, and snowboard areas abound. The local accommodations and resorts are finely attuned to the care and feeding of their guests after a day in the sparkling snow.
Summer days are blessed with clear skies and moderate temperatures. Mountain biking, hiking, water-skiing, horseback riding, golf, and swimming are favorite activities.
Since the elevation of the lake is more than 6,000 feet msl, flatlanders who are accustomed to their sea-level energy levels soon realize that density altitude takes a toll on airplane and human performance.
The quiet plan pays off
Recently, nonpilot Truckee residents attended an airport board meeting and asked the pilots to be quieter. Noise is the largest environmental issue that airports face today. The board realized that ignoring noise-relief requests, or mumbling that the airport was built before any of the surrounding homes, had never worked at other airports. So they invited the citizens registering the noise complaints to join a noise study group, which met monthly for 14 months and came up with a solution. They decided to print and distribute, free of charge, a map showing preferred landing and takeoff routes that avoid overflying residential areas.
Two runways are used at Truckee-Tahoe Airport — Runway 28 at 7,000 feet long and Runway 19 at 4,650 feet long. The noise-abatement handout calls for all arrivals to enter a gateway over the junction of U.S. Interstate 80, the major east-west highway, and State Highway 89 from the south. From this point pilots should turn toward the east to track along Highway 267, a local road that parallels Runway 28 on the south side. This will set up a left downwind approach to 28.
When Runway 19 is the active runway (CTAF is 122.8 MHz) enter a right downwind by turning 90 degrees over Highway 267. Be prepared for the possibility of wind shear, down"rafts, and turbulence off the approach end of 19.
Departing fliers are directed after liftoff to fly toward a bypass point that is located one and a half miles off the departure end of 28, on a 300-degree heading. You're over the bypass point when you cross over Interstate 80. After crossing the highway, turn on course.
To obtain a copy of a Truckee airport guide, call 530/587-4119 or search the Truckee-Tahoe Airport Web site ( www.truckeetahoeairport.com).
The second part of the action plan is an incentive to follow these procedures — the 10 percent fuel discount mentioned earlier. To qualify for the discount each pilot fills out (name, address, phone, and e-mail address) and signs a three-leaf application. Every time the pilot buys fuel he presents his copy and receives his reward for being a quiet flier.
Hangar headaches
Another issue the airport board is dealing with is the assignment of the 205 hangars on the airport. The bone of contention is whether local county residents should receive preference for hangars over noncounty and nonstate residents.
Local airplane owners argue that it isn't fair that they are not first to have hangars — they live in the county and pay taxes. Only 70 of the hangars house local airplanes and many of the hangar holders don't live in the county; in fact, some don't even live in California.
AIP funds equal federal opinions
Although the Truckee airport is an independent district, it is eligible for public funds. Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds are available from the federal government for airports, and the Truckee airport has applied for, and received, AIP funds in the past. The federal government has some strings attached to those funds.
One of the strings that applies to Truckee's hangar woes is the federal government's nondiscrimination policy — when a nonlocal pilot complained to the FAA that he had been passed over on the hangar list, an FAA counsel wrote that any discriminatory action would result in the airport "being found in violation of its federal obligations."
Is this letter an opinion, or is it binding? The airport legal counsel said that the airport district "must adhere or appeal." Other concerned Truckee pilots argue that they can cite examples of other airports that are discriminatory in their hangar-leasing practices. The embers of this debate are alternately fanned by anger and banked by experience.
Solutions?
Is there a solution that will please everyone? No. Locals want hangars where they live, and nonlocals who are at the top of the waiting list say they've waited and the locals can wait too. Sitting board members receive little ($100 per meeting) compensation and occasionally have to calmly endure personal attacks on their integrity and honesty from disgruntled citizens.
Why would anyone want to subject themselves to such treatment? Good question. The board consists of five members. Every two years there's an election and anyone can run — last year nine people ran for two seats. The candidates in each election who receive the most votes sit on the board. The present board is comprised of all pilots — they've volunteered (and spent their own money to get elected) to bear the responsibility for their airport.
Because of this group of volunteers, the Truckee airport users will solve their hangar-assignment dilemma, just like they worked together with other members of the community to establish a creative solution to the noise complaints.
After touchdown at Truckee-Tahoe for work or play, nod to the airport office — there are unsung heroes working behind the scenes to keep the airport open.
E-mail the author at [email protected].
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