Clifornia City Gider ops in jeopardy

Soarist

It is thanks to the many hundreds of hours of research, investigation and
dedication by the California City Glider Pilots Action Group and the
soaring community in general. That we at least temporarily have some hope
of Caltrans re-permitting Cal City Airport to return to the safe, sane and
functional operations of the past three plus decades. So that viable
operations can continue while we wait for the major runway glider
staging/launch apron project to be completed. One of the most
disheartening aspects of this fight, was when we found out that AOPA and
Calpilots were not interested in offering any support whatsoever in keeping
70% of the operations and 50% of the aircraft based at Calif City Airport.
For the time being we encourage those interested to go to Walt Rogers Blog
and get some idea of the history of what has been going on, and you can
scroll down to the bottom of the page and post comments.

http://scriptogr.am/wrogerswx/post/c...der-operations

We are asking that you hold off sending any comments to the politicians
because that will be our last line of defense if needed.

Marty and the Calif City Glider Pilots Action Group

Marty,
I contacted AOPA and they claim no knowledge of issues at Cal City Airport regarding gliders. Here is their reply to me.

Hi Guy,

Thanks for contacting AOPA's Pilot Information Center. I am not aware of any AOPA movement to drive off any operations at L71. AOPA represents all pilots, including glider pilots. Is there a situation at California City Municipal that we should be aware of? Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any other concerns or questions.

Safe Flying,

Paul Feldmeyer | Pilot Information Center
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
800-872-2672 | www.aopa.org

So, Marty...can you explain this?

I have no idea what you actually said to AOPA but your posted reply from
them that references them not being aware of any AOPA movement to drive off
any operations at L71. Is confusing at best. Apparently AOPA's left hand
doesn't know what it's right hand is saying or doing.

So to clearly show that AOPA was contacted regarding the issues please read
the following.

AOPA contact including descriptions and numerous attachments regarding the
issues faced by the California City glider pilots, commenced on 8/24/13
with and 8/28/13
and , 9/5/13 and
, 9/12/13 9/12/13

On Sept 11,12,13 there was a California Airports Association meeting in
South Lake Tahoe which was attended by Tom Weil the California City Manager
(past Calif City airport manager) who also happens to be a member of the
board for California Airports Association. Also in attendance was Caltrans
Division chief, FAA LAX ADO chief, Cal Pilots rep and AOPA rep. Following
this meeting Mr. Weil made it a point to tell me that regarding the issues
with Caltrans that the AOPA rep (that I believe was Bill Dunn) said that
“while the FAA can set safety standards, Caltrans can require higher
standards�.

The concept that AOPA has no issue with Caltrans using selective
enforcement and ambiguous safety standards as a means of discriminating
against a particular sector of aviation, is disgraceful. For my own part,
AOPA’s total lack of concern and inaction means that I will no longer
remain a member of that organization.

If anyone wishes more specific info regarding those email communications
with AOPA you contact me directly at and I will
forward you copies.


At 04:07 29 October 2013, wrote:
Marty,
I contacted AOPA and they claim no knowledge of issues at Cal City
Airport
=
regarding gliders. Here is their reply to me.

Hi Guy,

Thanks for contacting AOPA's Pilot Information Center. I am not aware of
an=
y AOPA movement to drive off any operations at L71. AOPA represents all
pil=
ots, including glider pilots. Is there a situation at California City
Munic=
ipal that we should be aware of? Please do not hesitate to contact us if
yo=
u have any other concerns or questions.

Safe Flying,

Paul Feldmeyer | Pilot Information Center
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
800-872-2672 | www.aopa.org

So, Marty...can you explain this?

A local soaring club near me provided free soaring instruction to the new state airport manager. He paid for the tows. He soloed last summer. It all started with a complementary ride in a nice glider back in January.

The education process best starts before a conflict develops, and it probably would not have helped at Cali, but there are other airports where the proactive approach might benefit.

Very nice answer. I have copied it to Mr. Feldmeyer from AOPA and am asking for an explaination why he claimed no knowledge.

On Friday, October 25, 2013 10:10:22 PM UTC-7, Martin Eiler wrote:
Soarist



It is thanks to the many hundreds of hours of research, investigation and

dedication by the California City Glider Pilots Action Group and the

soaring community in general. That we at least temporarily have some hope

of Caltrans re-permitting Cal City Airport to return to the safe, sane and

functional operations of the past three plus decades. So that viable

operations can continue while we wait for the major runway glider

staging/launch apron project to be completed. One of the most

disheartening aspects of this fight, was when we found out that AOPA and

Calpilots were not interested in offering any support whatsoever in keeping

70% of the operations and 50% of the aircraft based at Calif City Airport..

For the time being we encourage those interested to go to Walt Rogers Blog

and get some idea of the history of what has been going on, and you can

scroll down to the bottom of the page and post comments.



http://scriptogr.am/wrogerswx/post/c...der-operations



We are asking that you hold off sending any comments to the politicians

because that will be our last line of defense if needed.



Marty and the Calif City Glider Pilots Action Group

I like to disagree with Marty on the issues with AOPA.
They offer discount on glider insurance which more or less equates the cost of membership. In addition one gets a pretty good publication and I think some insurance as well.
They are a first rate organization when it comes to GA however the soaring community being on the fringes; must be a pimple on their butt. Still I'm sure they could be persuaded to jump in to the rescue but of course that needs to happen at a higher level.
The organization I have a heartburn with however is the SSA. Outside of a third rate magazine that is hardly worth reading anymore (far more information on RAS) I'm not sure of the benefits if any of the SSA.
When this thing at Cal City blew up local glider pilot John Shmoldas volunteered to champion contacting the SSA (and turns out he did far more than any, documenting and presenting all the facts available to the many bureucrats.)
He first contacted Steve Northcraft in early September, the higher up at the SSA who simply passed the buck and suggested getting help at the "local level".
The "local level" basically offered some suggestions and helped with facts, an SSA letterhead with the "local level" John Henry signature but basically John Shmoldas facts, research and circumstances.
This than went to the SSA, AOPA,CalTrans, FAA etc. and now we are all waiting without much clue as to the faith to Cal City glider operations .
California City is one of the few premier and historic glider operations in existence and one would think that if one of these sights is in jeopardy (especially in this case as the reasons are not clear and even may be bogus) the SSA would drop all the b/s and jump all over it, utilizing all it's clout; legal and otherwise. And than perhaps the higher ups might have enough clout with AOPA and their legal staff to get involved but I guess it's easier to kick the can down the road to the "local level".
My 5 C worth
6PK

Nice rant but no meat on the bone.
SSA doesn't deal with airport issues. That is an AOPA issue.
Was AOPA brought in fairly early in the process?
What was the AOPA opinion/advice?
I expect that they would push it down to the local level as far as people doing things but I would hope that AOPA would provide advice on actions/FAA control/legal advice/etc.

On Wednesday, October 30, 2013 8:33:42 PM UTC-7, wrote:
Nice rant but no meat on the bone.

SSA doesn't deal with airport issues. That is an AOPA issue.

Was AOPA brought in fairly early in the process?

What was the AOPA opinion/advice?

I expect that they would push it down to the local level as far as people doing things but I would hope that AOPA would provide advice on actions/FAA control/legal advice/etc.

The mere suggestion that the SSA does not get involved with airport issues to me is outer nonsense.
That is exactly the type of issues they need to get involved in along with the AOPA.
6PK

Well said, I totally agree!


I am a CFIG and Commercial Power pilot who has flown from Cal City as an instructor, tug pilot, and private glider pilot continuously since 1989. The status quo operation there is safe and sane, as evidenced by 50 YEARS of incident and accident-free glider operations. Back in the early 1990's, the airport was a veritable aerial rodeo: Dozens of gliders, 2-3 tugs, Folland Gants doing high speed passes, two skydiving operations, and a plethora of general aviation traffic. And No Significant Safety Issues!

CalCity Airport is essentially a ghost town today: No warbirds, no skydiving ops, no general aviation traffic. You could sleep on the runway most days, save the launching of a half dozen gliders on good days. What exactly is endangered by the status quo operation methods? The aircraft junk yard? The new kitty litter factory? Tumbleweeds rolling down the ramp? Coyotes?

As others have stated, FAA studied the situation in years past and found it to be safe. So much so that it suggested that CalCity be used as a model for other airports. For those 50 YEARS, CalTrans has allowed three operators to use the status quo mode of operation. Maybe class-action lawsuit against CalTrans for risking my life for the last 50 YEARS?

The current attempted ban all in the name of "safety" is just one more case of governmental overreaching in the name of protecting us from ourselves. That the CalTrans representative is factually wrong and unwilling to discuss this with outside parties is completely telling and absolutely wreaks of external agendas and governmental hubris.

As the motorglider pilot stated at the end of his article in Soaring, outlining air-air combat with a FL State Trooper, "We are the Government, We Do What We Want.

Indeed.

Apparently, the airport manager, CalCity and Caltrans are unaware of the FAA Advisory that specifically allows glider operations adjacent to the runway and within the OFZ (Object Free Zone).

Email me at mark at mmfabrication dot com and I will send it to any interested party. We have used this document at Moriarty, NM on several occasions to silence the protests from other users who incorrectly assume that glider operations next to the active runway somehow make the earth stand still or revolve backwards.

These folks also include a number of FAA personnel, including one who was SHOCKED, absolutely Shocked to discover that airplanes were taking off tied together with rope.