Meeting the Ventura 99s at the Valentines Day Fly-Out in Santa Ynez on Feb 18
The mission of The Ninety-Nines is to promote the advancement of aviation through education, scholarships, and mutual support while honoring their unique history and shared passion for flight.
Letter from the Chair
By Dana Davis
The sentiment, Life is a journey-- Enjoy The Flight, seems particularly appropriate this month. Our meeting plan didn’t go as expected and we had to punt, weather didn’t cooperate on the original date for the Valentine’s flyout, so we had a slight delay, and we had an unanticipated opportunity to share about the 99s at the Civil Air Patrol conference, and we were able to divide and conquer. Isn’t that what flying is all about? Going with the wind. Shifting with the breeze. Avoiding the clouds. Always having a backup plan, a backup airport, and a backup for your backup. And identifying your limits in advance, knowing your limits, and sticking to your limits(thanks Jolie). February may not have been what we expected, but it was filled with good information, fun times with our flying community, and a lot of learning.
On February 1, the San Luis County Airport presented, to the local GA(General Aviation) community, their new Master Plan including detailed information about the Preferred Development Plan.
The meeting was originally announced as an“Open House Format” and I anticipated we would be able to visit the Open House then complete our regularly scheduled monthly meeting. Turns out the airport consultants had a well prepared presentation(see link above) that ran beyond our meeting time.
Although a preferred plan has been selected by the airport administration, many steps remain prior to complete implementation of the plan, including FAA approval and funding, land acquisition, and environmental approvals. Susan Steeb and I have discussed working with other GA groups at the airport to draft a consistent response and list of suggestions to be included in the implementation. Individuals could then sign on to support this recommendation if they choose. Your feedback and ideas are welcome. We look forward to discussing at our March meeting.
→ See also Anele’s more detailed information on this topic below(here).
Our March meeting will be held Wednesday, March 1, on the patio at the Spirit of San Luis restaurant at the airport. Join us at 5:30 for dinner* and to socialize, and we’ll start the meeting at 6:00. We do not plan to have a remote option for this meeting, please contact Dana directly if you would like to join remotely.(*order and pay for what you like, but no purchase is required).
We are excited that our Cal Poly Aerospace Engineering students have developed a short class on The Aerodynamics of Flight that they have offered to share as an education opportunity offered by the SLO 99s. We have tentatively scheduled the training for Saturday, April 15, 10:00 AM – Noon. Stay tuned for more details and registration information.
As February ticks along, my airplane is grounded for its Annual Inspection and a few minor upgrades(new lights, 500 hour magneto rebuild + adding an electronic magneto, etc.). I’m getting very dirty. I’m learning a lot, but of course I would rather be flying than making daily trips to UPS to send off another part…). I’m looking forward to blue skies, and being back in the air in March!
See you at the airport,
Dana
Anele’s Report on The New Master Plan
By Anele Brooks
Members of our local chapter who came to our regular meeting attended the Airport Administration's“Open House” instead. The topic was the proposed update to the airport's Master Plan. Six versions of the new plan were posted for viewing, but the administration has chosen one to focus on. The plan changes the airport in many significant ways.
The controversial“Preferred Development Alternative” for our airport. No runway 7-25 anymore, hangars removed and new ones built. Many tie-downs removed. Taxiways removed and replaced. Roads removed. Old terminal building and restaurant removed?
Perhaps the most impactful change for general aviation will be the closure and removal of Runway 7-25. According to the spokesperson for RH&S who is the contractor for the design of the new Master Plan, this is a non-negotiable change and is required by the FAA. The runway isn't used often enough to warrant continued funding for maintenance. In addition to losing runway 7-25 taxiway Echo will be closed at runway 29. It means general aviation aircraft based on the West Side will have to taxi to the end of Mike to cross 29. There isn't enough room between runway 29 and Buckley Road to add a new taxiway for aircraft to taxi to runway 29.
Runway 11-29 will be shifted 740' to the Northwest, the length will remain 6,100'. The commercial jets flying in and out of San Luis Obispo have longer wings than the old jets and they are quieter. This means that taxiway Alpha will be shifted north. Several hangar sites will be lostas well as the old terminal and the building the Spirit Restaurant is in. A new three story building will replace those buildings and will house airport administration offices as well as a new restaurant(not necessarily the Spirit). The demolished hangars will be replaced with new hangars where runway 7-25 was.
Making these changes requires the acquisition of land to enable the runway 11-29 runway shift and potentially realigning or closing Hoover Avenue. The plan is currently in the environmental determination phase, once this phase is completed it will be presented to the Board of Supervisors who will vote on it. Completion is planned for between 12 and 18 months once the project begins.
Letter from the Chair
Anele’s Report on The New Master Plan
SLO 99s Monthly Meeting
Valentine’s Day Fly-Out to Santa Ynez - Meeting The Ventura 99s (2/18)