It was a great turnout for the “When Bad Things Happen” seminar held at Geiger international. Thanks to all the Inland Northwest Pilots, Managers, Ops, and Crew who attended this fantastic, fun & very informative event. EMT Chris Wetherell and Lt. Tim Lively were very edu-tational!  Look forward to even more in the MAY edition of “The Flyer” at the Spokane WA Pilots Association’s WEBSITE. Check out THIS VIDEO:

SEE PICTURES POSTED HERE, just remember to PASS:

1. PULL the pin
2. AIM the unit (at the base of the fire)
3. SQUEEZE the trigger
4. SWEEP the Fire, from the windy side~

….Keep your face to the fire & your head in the clouds~ be safe, everyone.
-=Gs=-

Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 11:40 PM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Subject: Congratulations! It’s an airport!!

Folks,

After several years of studies and riding the ups and downs of the tides of opinions on the fate of Vista Field, today was the big vote.  In a unanimous decision by the three port commissioners, they voted to keep the airport open!

To the many of you who attended the Monday night hearing, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

Thanks to all of you who stepped up to the podium and spoke on behalf of keeping the airport open.  Thirty-six people spoke in favor of keeping the airport and six wanted it closed.

The meeting was orderly, the speakers were eloquent, considerate, and courteous.  A wide variety of points were made with many speakers from outside the area, as well as locally.  John Sibold of the WSDOT Aviation Division, Carol Moser chairman of the state Transportation Committee, and John Dobson of Washington Pilots Association were among the notable speakers in favor of keeping Vista Field open.

- Marjy Leggett/AOPA Airport Support Network Volunteer

* FLASH!* SSB 6603 passes Senate, moves to House

Senate Substitute Bill 6603 that addresses compatible land uses adjacent to public use airports passed on the Senate Floor. The bill now moves to the House and will be heard by the House Local Government and Housing Committee on Monday, February 22, at 1:30 pm.  This is a “good” bill from the perspective of WPA, and should be on the “must pass” list of anyone who is concerned about the “ring of death” that develops around airports as unchecked development occurs.  The bill would significantly strengthen the hand of those of us who resist incompatible developments (such as cell towers, wind turbines, hospitals, day care centers, residential areas, churches, etc.)  around airports.

WPA asks you to contact your House of Representative members and to support SSB6603. Current Bill information;  http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6603

( UPDATE TO PREVIOUS COVERAGE)

WPA reminds you (Opinion):

1.        Since 2005 Washington has lost three public use airports.  Incompatible land use around the airports was a major contributor to their loss.

2.       The Longterm Air Transportation Study completed in July 2009 found that continued incompatible developments around airports is a major threat to continued viability of Washington’s airports.

3.       Airports are an essential lifeline for rural communities, and an economic engine for large cities.

4.       Local governments continue to permit incompatible land uses adjacent to airports.  Residential areas, hospitals, schools, and other developments near airports reduce the long term viability of airports.

5.       Airports are recognized in State law as “essential public facilities”.  A network of well airports is essential for public safety.  For example, Haitian airports are critical to saving lives and recovery from the earthquake.  Airports in Washington are used for fire fighting, search and rescue, disaster relief, and medi-vac.  They are key assets in the State’s emergency response plans.

6.       SB 6603 has a workable mechanism to achieve land use solutions appropriate to the different circumstances of communities around the State.  It does not use a “one size fits all” cookie cutter.

7.       The bill must be sent forward as soon as possible so it can be enacted in the current legislative session

contact info for the committee: http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/LGH/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx

THIS WEEKEND: NORTHWEST CONFERENCE TIME!

Location:  Western Washington Fairgrounds

110 9th Avenue SW

Puyallup, WA 98371

Not too late to get in on the Northwest’s premier mid-winter aviation event!  The 27th Annual Northwest Aviation Conference & Trade Show With Safety Seminars, the latest in Aircraft &  products, anyone who is anybody in aviation~ and airport proximity for easy in and easy out. Complete description of events, times, showcases, sponcers, airport parking, hotels, etc….on the NAC OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.washington-aviation.org/

AOPA – Pilots sharing skies with UAV

Pilots ask Air Force to limit unmanned aircraft restricted space
Pilots in North Dakota have asked the Air Force to limit airspace restriction plans for unmanned aerial vehicles to as small an area as possible. At hearings Friday, pilots said the restriction on a large area near Grand Forks, N.D., would harm the private air business and restrict people from flying in. ED: The USAF has begun similar discussions with other areas around the country as un-manned/remote aircraft appear to be meshing with the nation’s traffic flow.

-AOPA Aviation eBrief <aopa@smartbrief.com>

———————————————————————————-

FLASHBACK: THE ORIGINAL “METAR MAP”

Although *NOT TO BE USED FOR CURRENT NAVIGATION* this pretty cool interactive national surface map was the original template for today’s popular ADDS Service (Currently upgrading to the next generation, already) As you roll over the airports you get the current hourly METAR, plus a good “visual” clue as to the real time status around the country. Click on the map, and you are taken to a close up of the control area or region!  (Now, we have JAVA and 9 pages of links from the ADDS site to do this…Submitted by former FAA admins  programmer A. Gooding of Boston)

Like to watch lightning but afraid to fly thunder? New NATIONAL WX SERVICE RADAR “sees” between the mountains..  (As reported previously on AV8NEWS.NET)  Soon, all radar will be transgressed to this “nex-gen” of Doppler.

Well, Keep the 3^rd Wednesday in May free; looks like we have live guest speaker form the NWS to get us updated and help to hopefully help keep us out of the clouds. And for FAA (FAAST) “wings” credits too. Stay tuned.

———————————————————————————————————————————————-

COMING SATURDAY:

Our next Podcast featuring Curt Gurling; Curator – Tillamook Air Museum.

Roll Out The RED CARPET: It’s the PILOTS CHOICE AWARDS

FltPlan.com announces the first annual Pilot’s Choice Awards. They want to know what you, the pilots, have to say. Go to www.FltPlan.com starting March 1st and make your opinion heard. Let us know your favorites in such categories as Best FBO, Best Tower location, Best ATC Center and more.  The winners will be announced online in April.