Low-cost housing could threaten Long Beach
Residential encroachment on airport operations is reaching new heights at Long Beach Airport/ Daugherty Field, according to AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Candace Robinson. Boeing is reportedly seeking permits to build more than 450 low-cost housing units on the north side of the airport. The proposed building site is directly adjacent to airport property. Pilots are concerned that the City of Long Beach will grant permission for the development, creating a conflict between the needs of residents and those of airport operations.
AOPA battles proposed transfer of aeronautics funds
AOPA California Regional Representative John Pfeifer has been busy working with elected state officials to determine the true impact of a proposed $5.2 million transfer of funds from the state's aeronautics account to its general fund. Recently Pfeifer and Tom Weil, representative of the Association of California Airports and manager of California City Municipal Airport, met with state assemblymen Kevin McCarthy and Bill Maze in Sacramento. During the meeting Pfeifer asked the legislators to task legislative analysts with preparing a report on the impact of the proposed budget cuts on California's airports.
In addition, after briefing a conference of airport executives on the anticipated impact of the transfer on general aviation airports, Pfeifer received commitments from numerous city and county representatives to contact their legislators to oppose the transfer.
The Assembly passed its version of the budget bill, including the funds transfer, on January 29. The measure then moved to the Senate for debate.
If the transfer is ultimately approved, the money would be used to offset a tiny portion of the state's $10 billion budget deficit, but would effectively end numerous aviation programs and could cost the state as much as $70 million in lost federal grants to general aviation airports.
Among the programs that would be most severely affected is one that provides annual grants of $10,000 each to 149 eligible airports. That program would be eliminated, leaving airports without money for maintenance, salaries, insurance, and federal grant matching.
Also eliminated would be the direct grant program, which supplies 90-percent grants for eligible development projects, and the local match program, through which the state provides part of the local matching dollars required for federal airport grants.
Last May, another $6 million was transferred from the aeronautics account to the general fund.
Airport executives learn about AOPA's Airport Watch
AOPA California Regional Representative John Pfeifer recently educated members of the Southwest Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives about AOPA's Airport Watch program and how it can help them manage security issues at their airports. Pfeifer's briefing was part of the group's forty-third annual Airport Management Short Course, held earlier this year in Monterey. The theme of the course was "managing in a re-regulated environment."
Panel discussions focused on post-September 11 flight school operations, relationships with the Transportation Security Administration, and airport minimum standards. Of particular interest to many attendees was the issue of future general aviation security requirements.
Solano County rejects background checks for student pilots
The Aviation Advisory Committee for Solano County has rejected a proposal that would have led to a county ordinance requiring criminal background checks for flight students. The ordinance was to be modeled after one passed by San Mateo County in November 2002.
But San Mateo's background check law has come under fire from AOPA for usurping federal authority. AOPA legal counsel Kathleen Yodice wrote a letter to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors warning that the body had overstepped its authority and noting that only the federal government can make such regulations. While AOPA has consistently supported reasonable security measures, such as comparing student pilot names with those on terrorist watch lists, the association has opposed creating a patchwork of local laws that restrict access to aviation in the name of security.
In rejecting the proposed ordinance, members of the Solano County Aviation Advisory Committee cited consultations with the FAA and AOPA, and presented a list of reasons why such an ordinance is not necessary and would be ineffective. Among those reasons are:
- The ordinance would create additional work for the county sheriff's office but would not yield a significant amount of information on the applicant;
- Such an ordinance would only affect the county-owned airport; students would be free to use other nearby airports, thus taking business from the local FBOs;
- Determining whether student pilots should be required to undergo a background check is a federal issue, not one for local governments to decide; and
- Such an ordinance could lead to a finding of noncompliance with the
- county's federal grant assurances.
As a result of the advisory committee's vote, the proposal will not be forwarded to the Solano County Board of Supervisors.
Report highlights general aviation needs in Bay Area
The Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission recently published a draft of the general aviation element of its updated Regional Airport System Plan. Although the plan has been in development for several years, lack of funding delayed release of the general aviation analysis.
The report analyzes regional general aviation interests, provides recommendations for actions by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Regional Airport Planning Committee, and presents a detailed inventory of the general aviation airports in the nine-county Bay Area region. Detailed recommendations for future action fall in seven issue areas, including airport system requirements, land use compatibility, institutional relationships, information resources, airport access, airspace, and airport funding.
The next step in the process will be to analyze economic data for the Bay Area airports. That step is scheduled for completion this spring.
AOPA members urged to help save Oceanside Municipal
The City of Oceanside is continuing its efforts to close Oceanside Municipal Airport and force pilot-users and more than 75 based aircraft to move. The City Council recently canceled the lease with Seawinds, the FBO, and there are currently no fuel services available at the airport.
At a meeting scheduled for just after press time, city officials planned to discuss and vote on the future of the hangars and the property on the north side of the airport. The group also could vote to close the airport altogether.
AOPA is urging members who use the airport to voice their concerns. AOPA sent a letter to Mayor Terry Johnson expressing strong opposition to closing the airport. For more information, contact AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Arty Sternberg at 760Z729-2762 or Alan Cruise, president of the Oceanside Airport Association, at 760/635-3378.
Upcoming aviation events in California
Apr 16, 18 — Fairfield. Jimmy Doolittle Air and Space Museum, Travis AFB (SUU). 61st Reunion of the Jimmy Doolittle Raiders. Contact Dr. Gary Leiser, 707/424-5051.
Apr 21, 22 — Visalia. Visalia Municipal Airport (VIS). Vintage Years Air and Car Show. Call 559/787-3659.
May 15, 17 — Hayward. Hayward Executive Airport (HWD). Hayward Proficiency Air Race. Call Eric Helms, 925/373-0137.
May 17 — Oakdale. Oakdale Airport (O27). Aviation Discovery Day. Call Rob Miller, 209/848-4590.
May 30, June 1 — Ramona. Ramona Airport (RNM). Air Fair. Call Chris Cooper, 619/517-5867.
May 31 — Hemet. Hemet-Ryan Airport (HMT). Airshow. Call Elisa Grey, 800/984-1000.
May 31 — Modesto. Modesto City-County Airport-Harry Shamm Field (MOD). Airport Appreciation Day. Call Jerry Waymire, 209/529-8254.
Calendar is updated weekly on the Web ( www.aopa.org/pilot/calendar/). Weekend flying destinations are posted each Friday in AOPA ePilot.
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