Minutes of the 6/21/2002 Little River Airport Advisory Comittee 1. Open meeting: 9:00am 2. Attendance: A. Present Tim Scully, Trey Loy, Steve Schoolman, Willow Trent, Tom Goncharoff B. Visitors: Stephen Ford of DOT C. Excused - Susan Winding D. Absent - Dennis Vest 3. Minutes of previous two meetings - approved 4. Correspondence: A.email from Bob Rodriguez about the dog park B. letter to Bob Rodriguez about maps for the dog park C. email exchange with Steve Schoolman - he asked for an agenda item to be added regarding possible right traffic for runway 11 D. an email exchange with Tom Peters regarding a proposed meeting with Shutt Moen, the airport consultants E. a FAX from DOT regarding a FAX from Caltrans F. the Caltrans FAX, about possible grants for GPS approaches G. the DOT response regarding the possible grants for GPS approaches H. a brief report on the LRAPA June 15 meeting and its discussion of the proposal for right traffic for Runway 11. I. an email exchange with the Clerk of the Board regarding Dennis Vest's application for the LRAAC and his eventual appointment to the committee. 5. There was a discussion of the correspondence with CalTrans. Tim Scully said that the LRAAC GPS report recommends nonprecision GPS approaches and states that a possible future precision approach would need more investigation and discussion. Stephen Ford explained that he had drafted the response in a very short period of time due to the short deadline and didn't have time for anyone to review the letter for accuracy. He said that he'd simply tried to include everything we might ever want on the theory that it is easier to narrow a request that it is to broaden one. The committee thanked him for the timely response. 6. There was a very brief discussion of right traffic for Runway 11. Steve Schoolman withdrew his suggestion based on the input from Dave Thorpe. 7. There was a discussion of the location of the 16 new hangars. Trey Loy reviewed the decisionmaking process the LRAAC used when it recommended placing the new hangars adjacent to the taxiway. Stephen Ford said that DOT will evaluate all of the sites, including the "desert" which is several acres of land that has been cleared for many years. It would probably cost more to develop this site, but it would have room for more expansion. There was discussion of an access road, fencing and bridging the ditch. 8. Stephen Ford reported on the status of clear zone acquisition. The appraiser has made a site visit and the appraisal is nearly done. One remaining issue is certification that the site has not been used to dump toxic wastes. 9. There was a brief discussion of alternate committee members. The consensus was that two alternates, one pilot and one nonpilot, would probably be enough. We agreed to defer a decision until next month's meeting. 10. next meeting will be Friday July 19 at 9am at the Clubhouse at the Woods 43300 Little River Airport Road 11. Agreed on agenda for the next meeting. Adjourned at 10:50am The agenda for this meeting is: Approve the minutes of the last meeting Communications (letters, FAXes, etc, sent/received since last meeting) status reports and discussion on: * The GPS approach, vegetation management plan * additional hangars at the airport * clear zone acquisition * Airport consultant status * LRAPA application for a pilot/tourist supply shop * possible selection of two alternate AAC members (one pilot and one non-pilot) to fill in for absent members Reports from subcommittees Public comment Agree on a date, time and place for the next meeting Agree on agenda for next meeting Members of the Little River Airport Advisory Committee ------------------------------------------------------ Tom Goncharoff Trey Loy non-pilot, lives near airport Steve Schoolman pilot, flight instructor & woodworker Tim Scully inactive pilot (lost medical), computer programmer, lives near airport Willow Trent airport neighbor, non-pilot Susan Winding airport neighbor, non-pilot, business owner Dennis Vest airline pilot ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: lisa orselli Sent: May 28, 2002 7:58 AM To: tim.scully Cc: lisa orselli Subject: Re: airport maps with photos Tim, Hey, this is good news. If there is any cost to you please let me reimburse you or your committee. Our board of directors is in the midst of change and has caused our process to bog down while we re-organize, which is why you have not heard from us lately. Mailing address: Bob Rodriguez xxx Little River, Ca 95456 Thank you for you help. Bob ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tim Scully 5/28/02 Bob Rodriguez Little River, Ca 95456 Dear Bob: I am enclosing two maps. They both cover the same area, the only difference is the underlying photographs. One has the phots from DOT which we believe are roughly circa 1994. The other has the photos which Dick Ahrens and various assistants took over the last several months. These were taken from a lower altitude and have better resolution but were taken with a consumer camera so there is more distortion. All in all, I like Dick's pictures better. There is a green line which shows where the boundary of the non-aviation use area is located. I got this by overlaying the Airport Layout Plan on the other maps (in AutoCAD) - I traced the boundary from that map. For various reasons, I think it would be prudent to assume there is a +-50 foot error in the location of things. It looks to me as though there is a roughly rectangular area starting roughly at the edge of the nonaviation use area which has fewer tall trees. I hope these are helpful. Yours, Tim Scully, Ph.D. Chair, LRAAC ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Tim Scully Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2002 3:16 PM To: 'Kathie Sarin & Steve Schoolman'; Tim Scully Subject: RE: New Agenda Item We can discuss it. This has come up before and there have always been objections to changing it, but it doesn't hurt to discuss it again. Normally I would have already posted the agenda for the next meeting, but I am running behind so I can add this before I get it posted. > -----Original Message----- > From: Kathie Sarin & Steve Schoolman > Sent: May 23, 2002 3:02 PM > To: Tim Scully > Subject: New Agenda Item > > > Tim, > > At the next LRAAC meeting I'd like to talk about the traffic pattern > direction for Runway 11. It seems to me that it ought to be right > traffic. If others think this is a good idea we ought to invite > community input before we ask Dave to publish a NOTAM to make the > change. > > Steve > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Tim Scully Sent: June 12, 2002 4:00 PM To: 'Tom Peters'; Tim Scully Subject: RE: Little River Airport meeting with Shutt Moen Associates Thank you for letting me know about this. Do you have a sense of the timing and approximate duration of the site visit? Would it be all day or part of the day? I can ask my employer if I can take the time off, but I'd like to be specific about the expected time I'd be away from work. Tim > -----Original Message----- > From: Tom Peters > Sent: June 12, 2002 3:59 PM > To: Tim Scully (E-mail) > Subject: Little River Airport meeting with Shutt Moen Associates > > > Hi Tim, > Maranda Itchener and Dave Heal from Shutt Moen Associates are planning a > site visit to the airport on Friday June 28. I was wondering if you would > be available on that day to meet with them. Steve Ford and I were planning > to meet them around noon at the Airport office. They will be there a little > earlier to scope out things first. I am sure they will have some questions > on the proposed hangars and other issues. Please let me know if you can > attend. > > Thanks, > > Tom Peters > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 06-18-2002 02:57PM MENDOCfNO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION FAX TRANSMITTAL SEND TO FAX NUMBER: 937-4008 NUMBER OF PAGES: 5 TO: Tim ScuIly .DATE: 18 Jume 2002 FROM: Tom Peters, Deputy Director Department of Transportation SUBJECT: GPS-RNAV APPROACH FUNDING Attached is a letter announcing funding for GPS-RNAV approach procedures and our response. Steve Ford talked to them after we faxed in our letter of interest and they said it looked favorable. I thought you could share this with the committee. There was no indication of how much or when funding is available, however our hat is in the ring. Please note the limited response ti.tne. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact me at your convenience xxx ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DIVISION OF AERONAUTICS -M.S.#40 ll20 N STREET . P. 0. BOX 942873 SACRAMENTO, CA 94273-0001 PHONE (916) 654-4959 May 28, 2002 Dear Airport Manager; Is your airport in need of a Global Positioning System-Radio Navigation (GPS-RNAV) instrument approach procedure? The California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics, and the FAA would like to help airports in need of such procedures get them. Federal funding for new GPS-RNAV procedures at non-FAR Part 139 airports is currently available. However the funding is limited and will be awarded on a priority basis. Priority will be based in part on a verification of need and justification submitted by applicants. To be considered to have a procedure funded this year please respond to this letter and include a brief description of your facility's needs with justification. For example: Who will benefit (e.g. Air Ambulance/Life Flight, air freight and air taxi/charter operators, flight schools, aircraft maintenance/repair FBOs), and what types of aircraft (e.g. jet, turbo-prop, helicopters, light aircraft) will use the procedure. This response can be as simple or detailed as you like, in nearly any format (mail, fax, e-mail), as long as it is received by Aeronautics no later than the close of business on June 5,2002. If you cannot meet this deadline, please respond anyway and your airport will be considered next year. Mailed or faxed submissions should use the address shown above in the letterhead attn: Glen Rickelton or via e-mail to glen.rickelton@dot.ca.gov Sincerely, J. GLEN RICKELTON Aviation Planner ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- COUNTY OF MENDOCINO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 340 LAKE MENDOCJNO DRIVE UKIAH, CALIFORNIA 95482-9432 5 June 2002 J. Glen Rickelton Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics -M.S. #40 1120 N Street Sacramento. CA 94273-0001 RE.:: GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM-RADIO NA VIGA noN (GPS-RNA V) FUNDING Dear Mr Rickelton: Thank you for request for interest in assistance for obtaining the above-referenced assistance. I trust the following information will assist in your evaluation of our request. The Mendocino County Department of Transportation would like to acquire funding for a GPS nonprecision approach at Little River Airport. This remote field is the only public airport serving the Mendocino coast and has the largest runway, 5249 feet x 150 feet, between the San Francisco bay area. and Eureka. In addition to regular use by local pilots, visitors to the area and charter operators the Coast Guard uses it as an emergency landing field for patrol planes and a base for search and rescue operations. Aircraft based at the field are prirnarily single engines or light twins. Visiting aircraft are usually twin turbo-props or smaller with the occasional business jet. The nearest comparable facility is in Ukiah) about an hour and a half drive inland. The effective population increase during the summer tourist season places additional pressure on local emergency rescue and medevac capabilities. When visibility is reduced by fog or inclement weather helicopters can not fly directly to and from the hospital in Fort Bragg. Patients must be transported and evacuated from Little River Airport. If the airport is closed, the alternative is a long ambulance ride. This is a matter of particular concern because summer is also the fog season. The County DOT has hired Shutt Moen Associates to prepare a new Airport Layout Plan and Airspace Plan to help us obtain funding for airport upgrades, including nonprecision GPS instrument approaches to Runway 11 and Runway 29. Their effort will include developing a Vegetation Management Plan to create and maintain the required clear zones on the approach paths. The runway has had dusk to dawn lighting for many years but. because of its distance from the airport. the existing VOR approach has very poor minimums. When the FAA makes it available, we also want Little River Airport to be considered for a precision GPS approach. Local pilot groups and the County DOT have been trying to get nonprecision GPS instrument approaches at Little River Airport for over five years. The attached newspaper article shows some of the history and concerns. In November 2001, one of the local pilot involved in the effon was killed three miles east of the airport while attempting to get in under the weather. Past requests to the FAA were based on a larger category of aircraft than nonnally operates out of Little River Airpon. Per the consulant's recommendation, the County will be resubmitting the requests using more appropriate aircraft. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact me at your convenience. Sincerely, Tom Peters Deputy Director cc: File 21-38 encl: (a copy of the January 18, 1997 Mendocino Beacon Community Forum letter from Dr. Joanne Imperial titled "In the Public Interest" was enclosed). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Little River Pilots Association met on June 15 and discussed Steve Schoolman's proposal for right traffic for Runway 11. Dave Thorpe explained that recently he has been receiving a large number of very irate phone calls from people living on Albion Ridge who complain of noise whenever anyone flys a left base entry to 29. Since the 45 for right traffic for 11 would overlfy the same area, this is a good indication that this alternate traffic pattern would increase noise complaints. The pilots at the meeting agreed that we should stay with the current traffic pattern. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Janelle Rau Sent: June 11, 2002 10:32 AM To: tim.scully Subject: RE: Little River Airport Advisory Committee Hi Tim sorry it took so long to reply. Dennis Vest was appointed on March 19, 2002. Let me know if you need anything more on that... As for the members missing meetings and the ability to appoint alternates, I would recommend that you seek County Counsels advice/direction. As US Citizens and registered voters - any appointments to a Board and/or Commission requires that the interested party be a registered voter in Mendocino County... Hope that this helps... Janelle -----Original Message----- From: tim.scully Sent: Monday, May 27, 2002 10:08 AM To: rauj Subject: Little River Airport Advisory Committee I'm writing to ask about two things. 1) Is there any update on the status of Dennis Vest's application? 2) The committee has had difficulty with members missing meetings. We failed to have a quorum at our last meeting. One committee member pointed out section 4i of the resolution forming the AAC. This allows the AAC to appoint alternate members who may serve when a regular BOS-Appointed member is unable to attend a meeting. We'd like to know if you know of any other Board which uses alternates and how they handle this. Also, we are wondering if these alternates need to be US Citizens and registered voters in Mendocino County. Any insight would be helpful. Thank you. Respectfully Yours, Tim Scully, Ph.D. Chair, LRAAC > -----Original Message----- > From: Janelle Rau > Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 1:36 PM > To: tim.scully > Subject: RE: Airport Advisory Committee terms of office > > > Yes, I still have an application pending for Dennis Vest. > The Board has not > made that appointment as of this date. There are no other outstanding > applications that I am aware of. > > Thanks for the information! > > Janelle > >