The August/September/October 2008 issue is now on-line!
To be notified of future issues and upcoming Region 12 events, click here.
Region 11 - ATC Procedures Update
Pacific Area Soaring Council has recently published updated guidance for soaring pilots for interactions with Reno TRACON, on the PASCO website. This seven page document includes a map to show arrival and departure swaths through the Carson and Palomino Valleys.
All pilots intending to soar in the Minden, Reno, Truckee, AirSailing area should review this document for best practices and simple directions to make yourself known to the heavier concentration of fast, passenger-carrying airplane traffic into Reno and Tahoe airports. Reno TRACON is the ATC facility with the dubious distinction of having the only glider-biz jet midair (2006). All persons survived that event, but the traffic density requires soaring pilots to exercise more vigilance and better protocol during legal use of the airspace.
Samples of radio terminology and etiquette, inclusion of GPS coordinates for ATC intersections and local ATC frequencies make this a compendium of information which shortens flight preparation time for Nevada soaring pilots. Please see the link on the PASCO web page at http://www.pacificsoaring.org/documents/Glider-pilot-procedures-Revised-May-2009.pdf
In addition, cross-country pilots crossing south out of Reno TRACON's area should leave the 0440 transponder glider code of Reno-PASCO's agreement and return to a 1200 VFR transponder code when passing south of an east west line through Mono Lake.
C. Brickner, SSA Govt.Liaison Committee
Region 12 Soaring Council - hosts
Soaring Safety Foundation Flight Instructor Revalidation Clinic
April 17-18, 2010
8 am to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday
$150 registration fee, must preregister.
Send checks payable to Soaring Safety Foundation to
Cindy Brickner
Caracole Soaring
22570 Airport Way
California City, CA 93505
Site
AirFlite Inc., 3250 Airflite Way, Long Beach, CA 90807
Third floor conference room.
Coffee and refreshments will be served daily.
This FAA approved flight instructor revalidation clinic is a classroom session, for which all materials will be provided. Renewal documents will be provided on completion for submission to the attendees' FSDO for renewal. Renewal can be effected for ALL categories of instructor certificates, even though the course material focuses on glider training. CFIs must bring photo ID and their FAA certificates for processing of completion certificates.
All pilots are welcome to attend. Flight instructor applicants will find the sessions relevant and informative. Registration will be accepted at the door on a space available basis. Please pre-register to assure materials and seating availability.
Fly-ins to Long Beach airport are welcomed to attend the clinic.
Driving directions are available at http://tiny.cc/LlUiu
Dust Devil Dash 2009 Results
Results of the 2009 Dust Devil Dash are now available here. This year's winner, Doug Levy beat out the competition in his 1-26. Nice job Doug!
Threat to Mountain Valley Airport (KL94)
& General Aviation at KTSP in the Tehachapi Valley
Kern County Planning is reviewing a Draft Environmental Impact Report for a project entitled "Alta-Oak Creek Mojave Project" by Terra Gen. The proposal is for the construction of 320 wind turbine generators approximately 500 feet tall.
The project is comprised of 3 subareas, two of which (Subarea 1 and Subarea 3) are located close to MVA. Details of the project are available on the Kern county Planning website (co.kern.ca.gov.us/planning) if you click on Alta-Oak Creek Project. The pertinent maps are in the Project Description Section.
MVA's concern is that Subarea 3 is located approximately one-third of a mile from the southeast end of our horizontal surface and penetrates well within the 20:1 glide slope surface. While the DEIR demands compliance with FAA Notices of Proposed Construction and Obstruction Lighting, such compliance does not negate the threat to all air traffic (gliders and general aviation) approaching from the southeast or transiting the Tehachapi Valley.
We are urging pilots to respond to the DEIR with concerns and objections. Kern County DOES respond to sheer numbers of responses. The only problem is that responses MUST be made by Monday, September 21 at 5:00 pm. They may be emailed or faxed to the following individual. Please carbon-copy us too.
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Kern County Planning Department
Attention: Christopher Mynk
Fax: 661-862-8601
Email: mynkc@co.kern.ca.us
Please include in your response a brief description of your aviation qualifications. If you are a visiting or Southern California pilot, and have flown with us or through the Tehachapi Valley, enumerate your transitions. Speak to the issues of flight safety in glider approaches upwind from the west, VFR transitions of the valley under winter skies with lesser visibility (on mountain wave style days) and under cloud ceilings, the concentration of VFR traffic through a lower elevation route, the lessened visibility even in daylight of white turbine blades against a bright sunlit westerly route and specifically against lowered clouds as a typical local meterological phenomena.
Placement is the issue, not renewable power production.
Mitigation efforts with night lighting do not compensate for a high-traffic route, a construction style that provides extremely minimal visibility and extreme risk, recalling the German's Rommel's Asparagus of Normandy.
We are sorry for the short notice. But we've only had about a week to respond ourselves. Thanks for your help and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Larry and Jane Barrett
Mountain Valley Airport
Skylark North
mva7@earthlink.net
September 17, 2009
