Hello 2021!!! Happy New Year all my 99s friends. We have finally made it through the year that seemed to take 5 years. The new year is always a time for me to reflect and remember all the things I’m thankful for and to remember all that’s been accomplished. In 2020 we continued to do regular fly-outs, and went to Van Nuys, Santa Ynez, Paso Robles, Lompoc, and a few others.
Thank you to everyone who flew on the fly-out and to everyone for joined in on those. I’m looking forward to continuing to do our monthly fly-outs. We also had a record number of applicants for our scholarship. This is so exciting that we had so many people apply. Most importantly, I’m thankful to each and every one of you. Cheers to the New Year!
Fly-out to Paso Robles
December Fly-out to Paso Robles
By Grace Crittenden
It was a lovely day for social distancing and everyone wore a mask. We started the day Saturday, Dec 5, 2020 putting together trays of treats for“Cookies to the Tower” and to the CalFire station, ACI, and The Spirit - The airport administration requested that we just send a card this year.
Then we were off for Paso! The weather was perfect for flying - beautiful and sunny. Grace Crittenden with her dog Kay and Therese Theiler flew from KSBP, and Cynthia Douglas joined the take-out picnic at the One-Niner Diner at Paso. There was a surprising number of planes in the pattern but Susan Mercer handled it beautifully and made a fine landing on her first solo flight to Paso to join the party. Jolie Lucas arrived in her Mooney with her dog Mooney. It was a fun gathering at social distance(except for photos it seems… ).
Stovepipe Wells Airport L09 in Death Valley is being threatened by the NPS
New Cuyama Airport L88 Being Resurrected
By Charly Schaad
If you’ve recently flown over the shuttered Lost Hills airport(L84), you might have shed a tear for another airport lost, and another town no longer accessible by air.
Then in December we were shocked to learn that the National Park Service intends to close one of the two Death Valley airports - Stovepipe Wells L09 - losing us access to this part of the park, it’s hotel and campground, and losing one of our favorite airports(see the AOPA article calling for action and support here).
New Cuyama’s Airport is shiny and clean again(taken on December 5, 2020)
But every now and then there’s good news, too. You might have noticed that New Cuyama L88 is no longer part of your current aviation database, but that might soon change. The airport’s owner - Blue Sky Center - has worked with volunteers to clean brush from the runway surface and surroundings, and is currently in the process of filling in the remaining potholes. They’re still looking for donations to fund the remaining repair work. But soon, the airport will be open again!
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, all dates below are tentative. Please keep looking for updates on cancellations and postponements and check before taking off.
Date
Event
January 23
9 am PST
SW Section Winter Workshop, held ONLINE
SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE SW SECTION 99S
Registration is required to be admitted to the meeting. Please send your full name and Chapter affiliation to this email address to register:
→ see the invite email above
POSTPONED
Fly-out to Tish’s home in Nevada City/Grass Valley, CA
Chairman’s Message
December Fly-out to Paso Robles
New Cuyama Airport L88 Being Resurrected
Dates and Schedules