FLIGHTLINE EAA CHAPTER 119

Transcription

1 EAA CHAPTER 119 FLIGHTLINE EAA Chapter 119, 60 Aviation Way, Watsonville Airport, Watsonville CA March 2011 Baja Whales by Sean Farrell Every year the Baja Bush Pilots put together several trips to Mexico, Sometimes further south. Last year for Christmas Mercedes took me on one of those trips to see the whales in Baja. The first thing I would need was a passport. How does one get to be my age and not have a passport? Lucky for me I was born not too far from here as I also didn t have my birth certificate. I needed the birth certificate to get the passport. Now this wouldn t just be a trip to Mexico, we would be flying Mercedes RV 6A to Mexico. She still had her international-size N numbers on her plane from her trip to the Cayman islands and the little sticker that would let us back in the states. Weather in Baja is mild in March, so we packed light and departed Rosamond Skypark at sunrise. We filed a flight plan that would let us exit our country and enter Mexico. We landed At our airport of entry, San Felipe. Going through customs in Mexico is quite a treat, three rooms, three people and they don t talk to each other. You get to spend an hour walking between the three over and over until you have all your paperwork in order and pay all your fees. Once in the air again it was a beautiful flight down the east coast of Baja. Little fishing towns dotted the shoreline. We flew low by one town that had a dirt strip, but decided it looked a little rough, lunch would have to wait. We continued on until we reached our destination, Mulege and the hotel Serenaded. The airstrip was dirt, but with 50 planes coming in, it had been well groomed. After registratering and getting our room it was off to town. It was a 2 mile walk along the river. The effects continued on page 5

2 EAA CHAPTER 119, 60 AVIATION WAY, WATSONVILLE AIRPORT PAGE 2 President s Corner (831) On February 16th I attended the Monterey Bay 99 s meeting along with other Chapter 119 members and members of the Watsonville Pilots Association for a forum discussion of a proposal to allow a parachute drop zone on field. I ll give a short description of the forum for those that weren t able to attend, but in short there will not be any skydiving activity onto the field any time in the near future. Volker Haag, the owner of SkyDive Surf City (also known as Santa Cruz Skydiving) and airport manager Don French were present to answer questions. Don French started the forum with the announcement that he d already talked to Volker about his decision not to allow a drop zone on the field at Watsonville. Volker nonetheless gave an informative presentation on how they conduct skydiving activities, using their current dropzone on the beach west of the airport. One of our chapter members, Mike Nelson, also answered questions about radio calls that pilots should expect to hear starting five minutes before skydiving operations, and also about how the jump plane joins the traffic pattern when returning to KWVI. Concerns were voiced about the proposed location of the on-field dropzone, which would be located approximately abeam the runway 8 numbers to the right of runway 20. One concern was about aircraft needing to go-around on a runway 20 approach. However it was pointed out that aircraft generally do not sidestep the runway far enough to be near the proposed dropzone. Volker also explained that modern steerable chutes are highly maneuverable, can be turned and can descend very quickly. Pilots should nonetheless remain vigilant for parachuting activity along the shoreline west of the airport at 10,000 and below (and particularly below 5,000 where parachute canopies will be open). Regardless of the decision not to allow an on field dropzone, as pilots we are all responsible for flying safely and with all available information relative to our intended flight. With that in mind, Volker welcomes questions and can be reached at On a separate topic, some of you may have seen the February 3, 2011 article on AOPA Online entitled Sanctuary Overflight Rule Seen Usurping Airspace Authority. Even if you haven t read that article, I invite you to attend our March 1st meeting to find out firsthand about NOAA s Seabird Protection Network and ask questions about what this means for flight operations out of the Watsonville airport. Mai Maheigan, outreach specialist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will be presenting on how pilots can minimize their impact on seabirds in National Marine Sanctuaries such as the Monterey Bay, and answering our questions. I hope you ll join us for this informative presentation. Lastly, I want to remind anyone who s interested in helping out with this year s B-17 visit to contact Rob Wyland or Ken Locke-Paddon to sign up for a volunteer shift, or simply to sell some raffle tickets for a ride on Aluminum Overcast. As always, I invite each of you to contact me directly at info@eaa119.org with comments and suggestions, and of course, to come to the March chapter meeting - and bring a friend or prospective new pilot along if you can! Annual Dues and Google Group by Richard Yee This is a reminder that the chapter member dues are due in January. The annual dues are $15 and members must also be a current member of the EAA National organization. Payments can be made at any chapter meeting or can be payable by mail by sending a check payable to "EAA Chapter 119" and send to: EAA Chapter Aviation Way Watsonville, CA Annual chapter dues help pay for chapter activities, food, equipment, and expenses. EAA 119 members are also entitled to be a member of the eaa119 Google Group. This online group is used to host discussions and send to the EAA 119 members. The monthly chapter newsletter is sent to all of the members of the group. The address of the site is: If you are a chapter member and are not a member of the eaa119 Google Group, you can go to the address and request to be added or you can contact me with your address and I can add you to the group.

3 PAGE 3 Chapter News EAA Chapter Minutes by Tom Hail 1 Feb 2011, 7:30 PM PST EAA 1119 Hangar, 60 Aviation Way, Watsonville, CA How called: Regularly scheduled. How notified: Chapter Newsletter and Website calendar. Names of those present: Sean Farrell, Tom Hail, Gryphon McArthur, Mary Doherty, Tracy Laws, Chris Laws, Sharon Espinosa, Dennis Thomas, Mike Nelson, JR Warmkessel, Ken Locke-Paddon, and general membership. Proceedings: Introduction by Gryphon McArthur New members, none Visitors, none Motion to approve January meeting minutes Moved by JR Warmkessel Seconded by Jim Carter Approved by membership Treasurers report $5290 in checking $8206 in savings Deposits sent for two EAA Air Academy reservations Question: What is Cisco stock status? Do we have control of it? Answer is no. Treasurer will look into it. Events: March EAA Sport Air Workshops B-17 April 30 with DitS being a separate event Dinner on Sunday, May 1st for Chapter and Crew Raffle ticket sales by members, $10 per ticket, 100 tickets Air Venture - Make plans, get together and share rides EAA CHAPTER 119, 60 AVIATION WAY, WATSONVILLE AIRPORT New business: Hangar Boss - Dennis resigned, looking for a new hangar boss. Gryphon acting in the interim Hangar updates - New screen, move WEAC sign, move magazines to loft area Event - Airport Blvd pickup on 5 9am, meet at Tom Hoyt Park Next pickup on 23 April Parachute discussion February 7pm in WEAC Thank You Dennis Thomas for work as hangar boss! Especially for the clean-out and organization of the tool room. Meeting adjourned Presentation from Sean Farrell on 2010 trip to Air Venture Chapter 119 Membership Flightline is published monthly and sent to all Chapter 119 members either by or in hard copy. Membership in Chapter 119 is $15 per calendar year. Checks payable to EAA 119. Mail to: 60 Aviation Way, Watsonville, CA 95076

4 EAA CHAPTER 119, 60 AVIATON WAY, WATSONVILLE AIRPORT PAGE 4 EAA Builder s Workshops WVI - March 19th & 20th, 2011 Composite Construction Fabric Covering Sheet Metal Electrical Systems & Avionics What s Involved in Kitbuilding For more information, log onto: PICNIC LUNCH TOM HOYT PARK Volunteer Cooks And Paying Customers Welcome SATURDAY MARCH 19TH 11:30 1:00 BURGERS/SALADS/DRINKS & DESSERT 2011/Chapter 119 Officers and Position Holders President Gryphon McArthur info@eaa119.org VP Scott Randolph scott@randolphs.net Secretary Tom Hail thail.@sbcglobal.net Treasurer Tracy Laws tracy@k6rmw.net Treasurer Sharon Espinosa shaesp7133@santacruz.k12.ca.us Director Chris Laws chris@k6rmw.net Director Ken Locke-Paddon kenpaddon@aol.com Director Richard Yee ryee@cruzio.com Director Sean Farrell spfarrell10@yahoo.com Young Eagles Coordinator Tom Hail thail@sbcglobal.net Tech Advisor / Hanger Boss Dennis Thomas Dthomas773@sbcglobal.net Tech Advisor / Flight Advisor J.R. Warmkessel Flying@warmkessel.com Flight Advisor Larry Baker larrybaker@arthlink.net Webmaster Richard Yee webmaster@eaa119.org Newsletter Brian Moffet moffetb@cruzio.com Copy Editor Naomi Brokaw wordstakewing@skyhighway.com

5 PAGE 5 continued from page 1 EAA CHAPTER 119, 60 AVIATION WAY, WATSONVILLE AIRPORT Fish tacos were waiting when we returned to shore. Later that night we attended the street party in town. Plenty of food drink and dancing. The next day was spent with our new-made friends taking in the sites. Old churches, the mission and the back roads around town. The Baja Bush Pilots put together a very inclusive trip, from the whale trip to the food and drink. The street party is even set up for the pilots. Fuel was brought to the field so you wouldn t need to go further south, another airport experience. of 3 hurricanes in the last 5 years was amazing. Pieces of concrete bigger than cars were in places they should not have been. The cleanup has been slow. When we made it to town we found a small quiet town with people just trying to get by. This was not a resort town, little restaurants and shops, nothing fancy but friendly. The next morning after breakfast, a real Mexican breakfast, we headed west across Baja to the Pacific Coast side. About 30 planes made the trip, the rest the following day. Another dirt strip, it really tests your soft field technique, and a van ride down a washboard road and we were ready to get wet. EIght to ten people in a small boat. We were not just going to be seeing whales, we were going to touch the whales. Once in the sanctuary it didn t take long before we saw heads and tails. Then it happened, what we came for. Momma and baby came right up to our little boat as if to play with us. They were as curious about us as we were about them. I was amused listening to people trying to make whale sounds to attract them. They left when they were tired of playing with us and we watched from a distance as they played with other boats. When it was time to depart for home, we exchanged phone numbers and addresses and said our goodbyes. The weather was not the best, but with airplanes thirty to forty miles apart up the coast giving updates, we felt comfortable with what was up ahead. There was a chance we would need to overnight in San Felipe, but again we had in flight weather updates and headed back to Calexico and US Customs. With our paperwork in order we headed back to Rosamond via the Salton Sea and Big Bear. A really fun trip and a good time. Adventures are out there. Go get one! CLEAN 1957 CESSNA 182A. TT Engine 730 SMOH, prop 10 since prop rebuild. Only $38,000. King Avionics, Complete logs since new. Annual due Aug Ready to fly! Contact Doug Glass at (831) or (831) Wanted / For Sale TECNAM P92 Eaglet LSA, 350 hours since new, GTX327, SL40, Garmin 496, night lighting & toe breaks. Strong, fast, & fun to fly! Contact Erin at (831)

6 Watsonville Chapter 119 Experimental Aircraft Association Watsonville Municipal Airport 60 Aviation Way Watsonville CA Events Calendar Mar 1, 2011 EAA Chapter Meeting, 7:30 pm EAA Hangar. Watsonville Airport. Mar 19, 2011 Picnic at Tom Hoyt Park, 11:30-1:00 Mar 16, 2011 Monterey Bay Ninety-Nines meeting. 7:00 pm start, 60 Aviation way, Watsonville. Mar 30, 2011 Engine Management, New and Improved... OWTs? WPA Meeting 7:30 Mission: April 29 th (Fri), 30 th (Sat) & May 1 st (Sun) Target: Watsonville Airport (WVI) Location: EAA Hangar, 60 Aviation Way Mission Times: 10:15a.m. 11:00a.m. 11:45a.m. 12:30p.m. 1:15p.m.