Corona area hit by mud slides
Corona Municipal Airport suffered from mud slides and flooding in mid-January. Airport users and tenants joined forces to save the aircraft that could not be flown out prior to the storms. The airport property and runways were covered with several inches of mud that also got into hangars (see " California Flying: The Rescue of the Corona 500," page 20-C).
Airport Support volunteer Woodrow Anselen kept AOPA headquarters informed of the condition of the airport. That required visiting the airport daily to keep track of progress during the recovery. The information was beneficial in alerting AOPA members as to when the airport could reopen, allowing those who took their aircraft to safer locations to return. Information was also distributed on the stability of the saturated soil so that aircraft owners would know when airport land was firm enough, and clear of mud, to support normal operations.
Pilots organizing at Santa Barbara
Pilots nationwide are realizing the benefit of creating an organization to deal with airport issues. The latest organization is taking shape at Santa Barbara. Airport Support Network volunteer Gordon A. Feingold is helping to form a new pilots group that will be involved in upcoming issues at Santa Barbara Municipal Airport. Currently, the issues include hangars (still in progress), FBO service improvements, and aviation safety matters.
Rialto airport defended
Rialto Art Scholl Memorial Field, under fire from proposals to close, downsize, or relocate the airport, was defended before a city-sponsored workshop January 20 by AOPA Vice President of Airports Bill Dunn. Dunn, from AOPA's headquarters in Frederick, Maryland, said AOPA favors keeping the airport in its current configuration. Obligations associated with federal funding received by the airport play a key role in keeping it open.
More than half of the $15 million in federal funds invested in the airport was used for land acquisition and carries the obligation to keep the airport open in perpetuity. Such funding can't be repaid by the city to avoid restrictions.
Dunn said the city's "relocation" of the airport, in the city's own definition, actually means moving the tenants to other airports, rather than moving the airport to a new location or expanding a nearby existing airport. AOPA also objects to any attempt to downsize the airport or its operations.
Dunn's remarks brought cheers and applause from the more than 150 airport supporters in the audience. Airport Support Network volunteer Lyn Mattox arranged the visit.
While in California, Dunn filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the city for additional information on all proposals that would adversely affect the airport.
Long Beach fight continues
Did Boeing withhold the full extent of its plans for residential development near Long Beach Daugherty Field to aid in winning the project's approval by the city government? Whatever the answer, it is clear that airport supporters are continuing their opposition to a proposed new residential development project near the airport.
AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Candace Robinson said Boeing might have timed release of its full plans for the residential community to avoid an environmental study. Boeing is the principal investor in the project.
The aircraft manufacturer had told the City Council that it intended to stay in Long Beach and build aircraft, thus using much of its property for its factory. Another portion was included in a development project presented for city approval.
Just a month after a pivotal vote favoring the project, Boeing said it would halt commercial aircraft manufacturing of the Boeing 717 and 7E7, creating additional land for the project.
Had the information about the additional land been disclosed, an environmental impact study would have been required, Robinson said. AOPA Vice President of Airports Bill Dunn has confirmed Boeing's handling of the proposal.
Local residents say they plan to appeal approval of the planned Douglas Park residential community near Long Beach Daugherty Field.
Cessna accident near Fullerton investigated
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the location of a tower involved in a fatal accident near Fullerton Municipal Airport in late December. In the accident, a Cessna 182 severed a support wire for a local radio station tower operated by Fullerton. The crash, according to The Associated Press report in the San Jose Mercury News, killed a husband and wife on board and knocked the radio station off the air for an hour.
The aircraft was about a mile from the airport and on a base leg of the airport traffic pattern, the newspaper quoted FAA officials as saying. The 850-foot-high tower tumbled to the ground. It was the taller of a two-tower array located in La Mirada.
The NTSB sent a survey to airport businesses and pilots to explore the level of hazard posed by such a tower. AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Hal Raish has obtained a copy of the survey from a local flight school and will answer questions about it from local pilots during the course of the investigation.
He is getting assistance from AOPA headquarters to keep pilots and tenants informed as the NTSB develops its report.
Placerville Airport to have hearing
AOPA's Airport Support Network played a key role in an effort that could benefit Placerville Airport.
A local real estate agent who is on the local Realtors association board of directors contacted AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Claudette Colwell to ask whether the airport or its users could host a class or seminar on the importance of airports in El Dorado County.
The realtor noted that with nearby airports closing towers or reducing other services, it would be beneficial for the community and real estate agents to be informed about the benefits of airports to the general public. Such a move could increase awareness among the public that airports can aid, not hinder, development in a community.
Colwell helped the real estate agent to contact the local airport advisory committee. The result is a public meeting on April 4 to provide information for real estate agents and the community that could be beneficial in future support of county airports.
Upcoming aviation events in California
March
2 — Camarillo. Camarillo Airport (CMA). Ventura County Ninety-Nines IFR refresher course. Call 310/457-2926.
13 — Borrego Springs. Borrego Valley Airport (L08). Gay Pilots desert excursion. Call 760/458-6787.
13 — Lancaster. General William J. Fox Airfield (WJF). St. Patrick's Day Poker Run. Call 661/949-8872.
30 — Camarillo. Camarillo Airport (CMA). Ventura County Ninety-Nines course. Call 310/457-2926.
April
6 — Camarillo. Camarillo Airport (CMA). Ventura County Ninety-Nines course. Call 310/457-2926.
13 — Camarillo. Camarillo Airport (CMA). Ventura County Ninety-Nines course. Call 310/457-2926.
20 — Camarillo. Camarillo Airport (CMA). Ventura County Ninety-Nines course. Call 310/457-2926.
27-May 4 — Camarillo. Camarillo Airport (CMA). Ventura County Ninety-Nines GPS clinic. Call 310/457-2926.
30-May 1 — Woodland. Watts-Woodland Airport (O41). Sunrise Rotary Great Valley Fly-In. Call 800/353-6375.
"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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