L.A. airport police see firsthand the benefits of AOPA's Airport Watch
Four officers from the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Police made a special visit to AOPA Expo last October specifically to learn more about AOPA's Airport Watch.
The four are part of the airport police contingent assigned to Van Nuys Airport, the busiest GA airport in the country. Invited by Elliot Sanders, AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer at Van Nuys, and AOPA Vice President of Airports Bill Dunn, they arrived at AOPA Expo in time to hear the head of the Transportation Security Administration, Rear Adm. David M. Stone, tell members how highly his agency values Airport Watch.
Afterward, the officers met with Dunn to learn more about the program. They indicated that they already use the AOPA Airport Watch training video at Van Nuys and were impressed with how the training video presented important and valuable information on identifying suspicious activity. Sanders and Dunn then provided the officers with a tour of the exhibition center and escorted the team to the AOPA Expo static display at Long Beach/Daugherty Field to help them gain a better understanding of general aviation.
"Airport Watch uses the strength of the pilot community to aid law enforcement in enhancing security at GA airports," said Andy Cebula, AOPA's senior vice president of government and technical affairs. "Hosting the officers from Van Nuys Airport really gave us the chance to show them how the program can be a major asset for them."
AOPA attends aeronautics meeting
AOPA Regional Representative John Pfeifer attended a recent meeting of the California Transportation Commission (CTC) Advisory Committee on Aeronautics to represent California AOPA member interests and learn about upcoming issues.
While attending the meeting he also met with key legislators and talked about protecting the aeronautics portion of the state budget in the future.
Pfeifer also reported back to AOPA headquarters on issues facing the committee. These include supporting legislation to provide a stable source of funding for general aviation airport programs from the existing sales tax on jet fuel, amending the constitution to protect the aeronautics account from transfers to the general fund, and further strengthening the compatible-land-use statutes by requiring that proposals for privately funded schools be subject to Caltrans and Airport Land-Use Commission review. AOPA is beginning an evaluation of those issues.
Proposal submitted for Concord airport
A process that could close Concord's Buchanan Field is continuing, despite long opposition from the FAA, members of Congress, and even a citizens group. The Contra Costa Board of Supervisors is reviewing the one response it received for a request for proposals to develop the airport for housing.
The move would require the airport to be moved perhaps to a landfill atop a hill a few miles from the present airport — currently a leading candidate for a new site — where the longest runway would have nearly constant crosswinds. The landfill is dotted with methane manifold pipes that capture the gas created within the landfill. The gas is processed and used commercially. The pipes would have to be placed beneath ground level. While the present airport has an oil refinery near it, the proposed site has two in close proximity.
The present airport land, estimated to be worth $1 billion, would be used for housing and related development.
AOPA Airport Support Network volunteers, AOPA Regional Representative John Pfeifer, and officials at AOPA headquarters in Frederick, Maryland, are reviewing the proposal.
The local newspaper, the Contra Costa Times, reports this about the proposal: As a $2.6 billion proposal to develop Buchanan Field takes shape, residents near the airport seem as divided as the runways. A development team calling itself Buchanan Field Partners LLC envisions re-creating the 495-acre airport site to include more than 6,000 residences, a park, a college campus and library, offices, hotels, and more than 8,000 new jobs. Although some residents support relocating Buchanan Field from the area near the junction of Highway 4 and Interstate 680, many longtime homeowners have grown accustomed to the airplanes and want the 58-year-old airport to stay where it is. Before anything can progress, the FAA has to approve an alternative airport site. Suggestions include the Acme Landfill or Tesoro Golden Eagle refinery property near Martinez.
Garberville volunteer nominated to advisory group
Dennis Lichty, Garberville Airport's AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer, has been nominated to the Humboldt County Airport Advisory Committee, a group that participates in the decision-making for Garberville Airport. The group's current project is to improve 24-hour fuel availability for transient pilots. Action on the nomination is expected soon.
City of Long Beach attempts to delay appeal
A plan to build the Douglas Park residential development near Long Beach/Daugherty Field got an underhanded boost from the city planning department recently. The department attempted to delay an appeal of the project, which is opposed by the Los Angeles Land Use Commission (LALUC), until the same day that it is making a decision.
In formal terms, AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Candace Robinson was asked to extend her appeal window from 60 to 90 days, the latter date coinciding with the same day as the decision. Robinson declined to extend her appeal and has asked for a hearing within the original window of time.
Although the LALUC did oppose the project, it unfortunately has no authority to stop this project, which involves residential development adjacent to an airport. AOPA Regional Representative John Pfeifer has warned that the presence of any residential development next to an airport ultimately leads to pressure on the airport to limit operations. The Long Beach airport already has restrictions on its operation.
Sacramento looking for FBO operator
The Sacramento County Airport System is seeing proposals for a full-service fixed-base operator at Sacramento International Airport. Request for proposal documents are available for download from the Sacramento County Airport System Web site at www.sacairports.org/int/opportunities/, or may be picked up in person at the Sacramento County Airport System Administration Building, 6900 Airport Boulevard, Sacramento, California 95837, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST.
Watsonville crosswind runway safe, for now
City officials have backed off their request to close the crosswind runway at Watsonville Municipal Airport, but there is a possibility the proposal may reappear, according to AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Dick Steinkamp.
That doesn't mean the runway is safe from proposals that would tinker with the effectiveness of the runway. Currently city officials are discussing an option to shorten the runway by 500 feet in order to squeeze in a residential development to the west of the airport in the Buena Vista area.
Upcoming aviation events in California
January
2 — Avalon. Catalina Airport (AVX). Third Annual First Flight to Catalina. Call 760/754-0152.
8-9 — Upland. Cable Airport (CCB). 30th Annual Pomona Valley Air Fair. Call 909/238-4508.
13-16 — Palm Springs. Palm Springs International Airport (PSP). National Gay Pilots Association Winter Warm Up. Call 214/336-0873.
29 — Agua Dulce. Agua Dulce Airpark (L70). Cessna 120/140/170 Fly-In Lunch, co-shosted by California representatives for Cessna 140 and 170 organizations. Call 661/916-5399.
"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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