AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - (Page 16b) AOPAACTION | California Edition the alarm in case of trouble from developers, city officials, or other threats. However, it should be an easy job. A local story in The Tehachapi News on January 21 recognized the airport as a strong economic asset with 12,000 operations per year. There are 129 aircraft based there, making it eligible for $400,000 in federal airport improvement fund money. When there were fewer than 100 airplanes there, the airport was eligible for only $150,000 from the federal government. Improvements now reaching the airport include precision approach and runway lighting, LED lights for taxiway and wind sock illumination, and direct density-altitude readouts for pilots. There are numerous businesses on the airport, but the one causing the most excitement is Icon, Inc., a firm that plans to build light sport aircraft. The airport is a backup to Bakersfield Meadows Field when that airport is fogged in, bringing additional revenue to the airport from air cargo carriers. A new taxiway is to be built in the coming year. It will open the northwest corner of the airport up to aviation-related development, including the possibility of a residential air park for home owners who want to live with their airplane tucked in the garage. “How nice it is to have good things happen,” said AOPA California Regional Representative John Pfeifer. If you want an important job AOPA PILOT • 16-B • MARCH 2008 AOPA steamed over power plants near Hayward A OPA is concerned about not one but two proposed gas-fired turbine power plants near California’ s Hayward Executive Airport. The latest project, the Eastshore Energy Center, would have a negative impact on safety because of obscuration and turbulence created by the exhaust stacks. AOPA said in a letter to the California Energy Commission from AOPA Vice President for Airports Bill Dunn that these concerns are grounded in fact. A similar plant was built near another California landing facility, Blythe Airport, and pilots have reported a detrimental effect on their ability to land safely there. Mitigation measures were promised but not enacted at Blythe. AOPA previously asked the energy commission to reject the Russell City Energy Center near Hayward. AOPA is doing the same for the Eastshore proposal, hoping for a better outcome. The AOPA letter from Dunn to the California Energy Commission said, in part: “While the Association can understand the need to meet the ever-growing demands for electric energy in Northern California, and Hayward, based on the information we have reviewed regarding the above referenced project, AOPA is strongly opposed to approval and construction of the Eastshore Energy Center at the currently proposed location which is roughly one mile from Hayward Executive Airport (HWD). HWD, with over 477 based aircraft and nearly 125,000 operations each year, is a major reliever airport in the Bay Area.” that adds aviation expertise to your resume, call the AOPA Airport Support Network office in Frederick, Maryland, 301-695-2000 or 800/USA-AOPA and ask for Government Affairs. Tell them you want to be an airport support volunteer. Watsonville support group formed he Watsonville Airport (WVI) Pilots Association and AOPA Airport Support Network (ASN) volunteer Rayvon Williams, formed the Watsonville Regional Airport Promotion-Political Action Committee (WRAP-PAC) to ensure their airport has friends in the political arena. T WRAP-PAC provides a sanctioned resource for airport supporters to offer financial backing to local candidates for the City Council, County Board of Supervisors, and other public offices that affect Wat- sonville Airport. The PAC’s 2007 efforts included several successes. In May, the city council members who received donations from the WRAPPAC prevented a biased Airport Land Use plan. And to ensure this vote is not overturned, WRAPPAC raised thousands of dollars at its annual donation dinner in November 2007 to continue supporting local pro-airport candidates. According to Williams, Watsonville’s WRAP-PAC has been a key driver in protecting the airport from several potentially detrimental votes.
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