INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Airport News ......................... 2-3 Get Involved with WPA ............ 4 Angel Flight Celebrates 10th Anniversary...................... 5 Toys for Tots ............................. 6 Events Calendar ...................... 7 Control Tower Saves the Day .. 7 Membership Application ......... 8 February - March, 2007 Presidents Message Happy New Year! (and Snow and Icing Conditions) Bigger Is Better Renew On-Line! And with the New Year comes your opportunity to renew your membership with Annual Convention to Feature Mike Melvill WPA. We are making great headway in representing General Aviation in Washington State. Remember, the bigger we are, the stronger we are. When you join WPA, you no New Date New Location! longer have only one voice you have the voice of thousands! Put on your calendar May 12th at the Future of As we move further into the 21st century, WPA is moving forward with a new Web- Flight, Paine Field. This year the Board has agreed based integrated database/management system. A special thanks goes to Bill Reith, John to a new date and a new format for our annual Dobson, Colleen Turner, and the rest of their team for getting the dues billing out by meeting. Although many of the daytime activities November 1st. are still being developed, confirmed and imagined, If you have not yet renewed your WPA dues, please go to www.wpaflys.org and click what we do know is that we will have seminars and on the membership tab. If you are not a member yet, you can choose one of our many an afternoon annual business meeting followed by chapters or become a member at large. Remember, WPA represents the General Aviation a reception and a presentation by guest speaker community whether you wish to be socially active or not. Again, bigger is better! Mike Melvill. As most of you know Mike is the first civilian astronaut, flying SpaceShipOne into outer space. 2007 Retreat Scheduled for June Shortly thereafter SpaceShipOne flew again Thanks to Past State President Kirk Kleinholz, WPA has had an annual retreat of State winning the X Prize. Board members. Everyone who has attended the event has agreed that it has been a very Be sure to monitor the WPA Web site worthwhile, rewarding experience. This year we will be holding the retreat in Yakima. Not (www.wpaflys.org) for further details as we get only does our retreat help develop our leadership team, it helps unite the east and west Mike Melvill closer to the event. side of the WPA state. All local presidents should plan to attend or send a representative for the weekend. Exact date and details will follow. Bremerton Pilots Great People Party Animals Party Animal might be a bit excessive of a term, but they certainly know how to throw a Stuart Island and Sad News great party, have fun, and raise scholarship money for budding young pilots. Sherry and I were For many years WPA has been fortunate to have George Konrad to head up and honored to attend their gala and left some of our money behind at their auction. coordinate our Stuart Island cabin. George lost his fight with cancer on September 17th and will be missed by us all. George was a fine example of someone who was dedicated to aviation and selflessly served WPA. Were In the Mountains And That Requires Special Mountain Flying Techniques As we move into winter, we are reminded of the hazards associated with the winter months. When the air is crisp and the skies are Pacific Northwest blue, there isnt any PAID better flying anywhere. But please review cold weather flying procedures and attend one Permit #5 Permit PRSRT STD PRSRT of the many safety seminars offered. Snohomish, WA Snohomish, U.S. POSTAGE U.S. Presidents Message continues on page 7 SpaceShipOne Visit WPA in Booth #56 at the 2007 Northwest Aviation Conference & Trade Show in Puyallup on February 24-25. Washington Washington Pilots Association NE Way Bellevue 227 397, PMB 98004-9721 WA Bellevue, Address Service Requested Page 2 - WPA Wings February - March 2007 Airport News from Around the State Bowerman Field at Risk By Fred Winge, WPA Twin Harbors Chapter President Airports are one of our nations most valuable transportation commodities and yet, of Washington; Bowerman is a vital part of the national aviation system of airports; and, week after week one hears of airports being closed or operations significantly restricted by the airport is obligated federally. politicos bowing to the clamor of a largely non-flying community and/or special interest Further, the FAA said a new and equally adequate replacement airport would have to groups coveting the land the airport sits on to use for their own purposes. At this time, be constructed and operational before release of the present facility would be considered, Bowerman Field at Hoquiam is one of these endangered facilities. and lastly, Unless the FAA determines closing of an airport to be in the best interest of The Port of Grays Harbor commissioners, whether acting on their own opinion or by aviation, we will take whatever action we deem appropriate to prevent closure of an obligated listening to bad advice from the Port staff, had authorized the executive director to petition airport. the FAA to be released from federal surplus property disposal restrictions at Bowerman Does this mean the Port will now abandon closure plans for the airport? I seriously Field, in order to explore other opportunities to develop Terminal 3, the former Rayonier doubt it. The Port has hired Pacific International Engineering as a consultant and this property on Moon Island, and adjacent land, including the airport. company has a pretty good pipeline to Congressman Norm Dicks who is a powerful entity The FAA only needed five days to reach a decision. In a brief but strong denial of the in the other Washington and the FAAs decision can be overridden by Congressional Ports Nov. 1 request, the FAA responded in a Nov. 6 letter written by Paul Johnson, civil action. engineer and compliance specialist with the Seattle office of the FAA, that the department So what can we do? We all need to work together to preserve the airports we have left rejected the release because: Bowerman Field is a vital and integral part of the Harbors and our right to fly and we need to support WPA and AOPA to continue the fight against transportation infrastructure, not only for Hoquiam and Aberdeen, but for the entire coast these threats on the local, state and national levels. Columbia River Crossing and Pearson Airfield (VUO) By John Townsley, WPA Legislative Director Last September I received an email from Nisha at the Washington Aviation Division Loughran, VUO airport manager, the design team is well aware of aviation safety concerns. announcing a public meeting in Vancouver. The meeting was part of the scoping process In public meetings Sean has pointed out that the bridge design, particularly the vertical for replacing the bridge. It seems the I-5 Bridge over the Columbia can no longer handle elements, is a significant concern in maintaining a safe and viable airport. existing traffic. Replacement alternatives include provisions for light rail, special bus lanes, Of course, the height of the bridge is only part of the problem. A brightly lighted bridge and more capacity for autos. There are basically three options: reconstructing the existing may make it difficult for pilots making night landings. If the structure is built to be bird bridge, building a new structure to the west of the existing bridge or building a new structure friendly with lots of inviting perches, that also will create unsafe conditions for aircraft. to the east of the current bridge. Navigation interests would like to see a higher bridge, with Sean needs WPA and concerned pilots to explain why improving river navigation must a lot more river clearance. Think about that for a moment. not degrade aviation safety. The project continues to ask for public input on alternative The Columbia River I-5 bridge project started nearly seven years ago. According to bridge designs. Explain why aviation safety is so important, and why you, personally the project timeline several alternatives will be fleshed out in 2007, the preferred alternative would like the new bridge to be aviation friendly. will be selected in 2008, and construction could begin as early as 2009. All alternatives Visit the project website and give them your input at: http:// considered are compared to the existing bridge (the no action alternative). www.columbiarivercrossing.org/contactus.aspx. Or call (503) 256-2726 or Toll Free (866) The existing bridge could be improved, from an air safety standpoint. The existing 396-2726. You can also write to them at: Columbia River Crossing Project, 700 Washington bridge towers already intrude into the VUO approach. Because of the good work by Sean Street, Suite 300 - Vancouver, WA 98660. An Airport for a Trail? By Jim Combs, Chairman, King County International Roundtable In November 2006, Ron Sims, County Executive for King County, and Mic Dinsmore, expertise and staff (20 times that of Boeing Field) to manage an airport. There are many in CEO for the Port of Seattle, announced a proposal to enhance recreational opportunities in the community who may not like the Ports policies, but SeaTac operates as smoothly as King County and to make several improvements to the rail transportation network in the any other commercial airport in the country. Most of the community dislike for the Port region. The portion of the proposal that has garnered most of the headlines is the transfer regarding SeaTac is in relation to the third runway.