AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - (Page 135) America’s Airports Y IN THE LIF A DA E Tale of a gem Tahoe’s ‘Lake In The Sky’ airport turns 50 BY MACHTELD A. SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE FIZER Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL) South Lake Tahoe, California January 15, 2008 “O ther airports may have ‘Tahoe’ in their name, but there’s only one airport on the lake,” declares Michael Golden, owner of Mountain West Aviation, the new FBO at Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL). It is 9:45 a.m. on a chilly, brilliantly sunny day as Golden steps from the wing of his Mooney. He just flew in from Truckee, California, only 10 minutes by air. Behind him a gigantic snow blower pumps massive mounds of snow off the ramp after a major winter storm pounded the region days before. Golden enters the FBO where fresh coffee, pastry (baked by Golden himself ), and Swiss chocolate truffles work their charm, and an attentive staff makes everyone feel welcome. The unicom crackles briefly when Bob Howell announces his arrival in an experimental Murphy SR-3500 Moose. Soon, Howell emerges in pursuit of the FBO’s coffee and baked goods. He has flown in from Carson City to escape the Democratic caucus in town. The FBO parking lot is chockfull of cars covered by several feet of snow. FBO General Manager Joel Waddell explains: The cars belong to patrons who live elsewhere, but want their own transportation handy when returning to AOPAPILOT years Lake Tahoe Airport today (top). In the early 1960s, a Super Lockheed Constellation parks in front of the terminal (above). AOPA PILOT • 135 • MARCH 2008
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