Minutes of the Little River Airport Pilots Association 7/20/2002

We met in the airport office at 9am. Dick Ahrens, Tim Scully, Kathie Sarin, 
Dave Thorpe and Merlin Tinker, and Jeffrey Osier-Mixon where present. Andy
Becker joined us for part of the meeting.

Tim Scully reported that there has been no response yet to the LRAPA proposal 
for an "honor system" display case in the airport office. It seems likely
that this may be in limbo until after budget season.

Kathie Sarin reported that Steve Schoolman was accepted in a workworking class
which lasts for the next 9 months, so he will be missing the next 9
LRAAC meetings. Hopefully the committee will approve a pending proposal for
alternate members.

Tim Scully report that on June 28 Tom Peters from DOT, Tim Scully and 
Trey Loy met at the airport with two representatives from Shutt Moen, the 
aviation consulting firm retained by the County. The consultants had spent 
the morning walking around the airport, making measurements. We walked around 
the area currently designated on the ALP for new hanagrs (the former fireman's
park) and explained why we felt this was not a good location for hangars. 
Then we walked East down the taxiway to look at the proposed hangar location 
there. On the way the consultants pointed out that the tiedowns adjacent to 
the taxiway were too close to the taxiway, they should be set back further.

The existing hangars along the taxiway are just outside the BRL (Building
Restriction Line). The consultant's concern was whether a aircraft or car 
parked in front of a hangar would cause problems for a large aircraft
trying to taxi past. We said that this has not been a significant problem
so far. After looking at the proposed site next to the taxiway, we all climbed
over the ditch to walk around "the desert" which has been proposed as an
alternative location. This site is located in a bowl-like depression which
is separated from the taxiway by both the ditch and by a small hill. The
consultants expressed concern over drainage in this area.

We discussed removing the old segmented circle. We discussed relocating the
AWOS/ASOS on the ALP to the infield, the location shown on the ALP is on
a little hill which would have atypical winds.

We returned to the airport office where we were joined by Dave Thorpe.
Dave said that the largest aircraft regularly using Little River was a
King Air 200, with less frequent flights by a G5 and a Citation 10.

The consultants had several comments about the CalTrans low interest loan
program for building hangars. The paymnents are not always flat - CalTrans
often requires larger payments early in the loan period, tapering off to
smaller payments. Also, the pyments start as soon as the loan is funded,
so it is prudent not to apply too early. Certainly there will be a period
during construction when we will have to make loan payments with no income
from hangar rentals. The consultants strongly encouraged DOT to call Mike
Farmer of ClaTrans and start talking over the loan program.

AAAE also has a loan program, but their minimum is $1,000,000.

The consultants spoke in favor of box hangars as opposed to T hangars.

That's the end of the report on the June 28 consultant visit.




We plan to meet again on Saturday August 17  at 9am in the airport office. 
We are meeting on the 3rd Saturday of each month.

NOTE: if you send me an email about LRAPA affairs, please let me know if I can
forward it to the rest of the members. Thanks.

If you see any errors or omissions in the minutes, please let me know.