RENO STEAD AIRPORT ASSOCIATION Meeting Minutes
August 9, 2016
The Reno Stead Airport Association (RSAA) monthly meeting was called to order by President Tom Hall at 5:25 pm at the Reno Stead Terminal Conference Room, Tuesday, August 9, 2016 as follows:
1. Welcome and Attendance: Tom Hall, President, welcomed all of those in attendance which included: Ken Wiegand, Vice-President, Dave Miller, Treasurer, and Dan Ross, Secretary. Board Members: Tracy Rhodes, IT Manager, Jack Buchold, Mike Dikun, Stead Airport Manager, and Terry Matter, RARA Representative. Board Member(s) absent: Mike Walsh, Don Osborne, Lin Manning, Alby Redick, Aviation Classics, and Lew Gage. Guests/Members: Jan Bishop, Steve Katzmann, Rex Livesby, Bob Meurer, RTAG, John Parker, American Air Racing, Greg Stanley, Jerry Thurman, Jack Suierveld. Special Guest(s): Bill Eck, RTAA Trustee and RSAA Liaison, Tina Iftiger, RTAA VP of Economic development, Ken Moen, RTAA GA Property Specialist, Pete Parker, Pathways to Aviation, Dean Schultz, RTAA Executive Vice President, Steve Silva, RARA Chief of Security, Laurie Weeks, RTAA Property Manager. President Hall opened the meeting with comments about his fifty year membership in AOPA, and the pin acknowledging such, which he had just received.
2. Minutes of Last Meeting: The Approval of the Minutes of July 12, 2016 meetings was unanimous.
3. Financial Report: Dave Miller reported that: Cash on hand was: $2,768.80. Dave asked that all members be reminded that we are now in the new membership year with dues now payable. The new membership year has changed. The new membership year begins January 1, 2016 and ends December 31, 2016, dues are $20 per year. Dues can be paid: check or cash by mail at:
Reno Stead Airport Association
5499 Alpha Avenue
Reno, NV 89506
or PayPal from the Website (www.steadusers.org), or cash/check to Dave Miller at the Miller Speed Sports hangar.
4. Membership Report: Dave Miller further reported that currently there are 129 members, an increase of 20 over the last four months; several members have not yet renewed their membership for the current fiscal year.
5. Pathways to Aviation Report: President Tom Hall introduced Pathways to Aviation, a program for which he served as co-founder and chairman for several years, which had previously been the Reno Ari Racing Foundation, but which has recently changed its name and orientation to that of a more workforce development operation, and there were very exciting things happening. Pete Parker reported on various affiliations with Washoe County School District (WCSD), Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC), and the University of Nevada Reno (UNR). He spoke of UAS programs, A&P programs, as well as local kids’ activity groups and state and county contacts with 365 day programs. He said that Pathways could be a catalyst for encouraging learning and aerospace oriented careers and to that end they have three to five thousand students scheduled to attend the Air Races and participate in their five learning center tents. Available will be contests, workshops, famous flyers portrayals, Blue Angel’s speeches and guidance, a Flying Tigers talk, a Civil Air Patrol presentation, all of which are free to students. He expects more businesses to join in presentations over this year, and next.
6. RARA Event Security: Steve Silva was introduced by Terry Matter, who said that Steve had 25 years working security, and had been Chief of RARA Security since 2008. Steve talked about access during the races, starting with contracted night security on the 9th. He said that two gates, 3 and 9, would be open and staffed 24/7. The hope is to allow access closest to your hangar, but that is not a guarantee. We tenants were also reminded of “see something, say something” and our responsibility to remain attentive during the races. He said that the grandstands would be the same as last year, as the Blue Angels need a certain amount of space for their activities. Steve said that they would put out an email, noting appropriate deadlines for access and certain other security related activities. He answered a few specific questions from the audience on various subjects. He gave his personal cell phone as 775.230.1717 should any of us have further questions.
7. RTS Manager’s Report: Mike Dikun, Airport Manager, said that this year’s schedule for runway opening and closing times for the Races would be the same, open 6AM, close at 8PM and there would be free relocation of aircraft to RNO after coordinating with Atlantic Aviation. He reported on the extensive airport use by BLM and their approximately 25 aircraft during last week’s fires with about 200 sorties per day, and the set-up and installation of a temporary tower within 24 hours. He said Carl Scribner’s, RNO Tower Chief, help was very beneficial to the overall operation, and reminded everyone that it will be a long hot, dry summer for fire activity, and expect fire aircraft to return. He also noted that Aug 17-19 and 22-25, NASA will be flying drones again, starting about 9AM. Further, he and downtown will be doing a number of procedures and maps to show drone activity areas. This will be done within the next few days and will get it to Tracy for inclusion on our site. He anticipates being on the radio during those periods. There was a question on a “calm wind runway” (there is none) and Stead had no preference designated, however Straight In approach landings are not recommended. There were 4925 operations in July (last month. Help improve the traffic count, GO FLY. He reminded everyone that during normal business hours, both the mission planning room and associated bathroom are accessible from the flight line side. The flight lounge is available after hours by card lock (the same card issued to tenants) or using a code posted as previously located. There is an EXIT ONLY door from the mission planning room to the south land side parking lot. Open WiFi is available. The Terminal Building is available during and after hours for training, seminars, and other activities. Contact Patty at the Airport Manager’s Office at 775-328-6570 or pedgington@renoairport.com for details.
8. RTAA Report: Ken Moen spoke of the few vacant hangars at RNO available to Stead tenants who move their aircraft to RNO, to be coordinated with him and then through Atlantic Aviation. He spoke about the Burning Man aircraft related activities where it may be a circus on their BM’s uncontrolled airport. He said they are expecting about 14 aircraft, some of which may be larger.
9. RTAA Trustee Liaison Report: Bill Eck lauded Mike Dikun for his support and the strength of his correct decisions. He also said that the meeting downtown was “kinda” slow. The RTAA President & CEO Marily Mora had been authorized to do a retroactive lease from March 2014 through September 2021 with the BLM, for the Stead facilities. Bill further said if anyone wanted to contact him, his email address is Bill.Eck@sbcglobal.net
For more information about the Board of Trustees and their bios, go to www.renoairport.com/airport-authority/board-trustees).
10. RARA Trustee Liaison Report: Terry Matter extensively discussed matters surrounding the Air Races. He reiterated Steve Silva’s security concerns and that the number of registered aircraft was at 140, with 47 sport racers, 16T-6’s, 19 jets and about 12 unlimiteds. No Strega. On Tuesday, Blue Angel #7 will arrive for the site survey, the team arrives Wednesday. Thursday there will be a Stead area familiarization show, Friday there will be a practice show, and then Saturday and Sunday we get the full performance. Terry will be applying a five thousand foot long by four feet white gypsum “sightline” north of runway 8/26 for the Blue Angles show line. Overall ticket sales are going well, but security is an ongoing concern.
11. Webmaster Report: Tracy Rhodes said he was short of stats for this meeting, but would let us know later. During the month of June, He published 2 articles, deleted 870 spam attempts to access the site, and updated the website software 10 times. There were 317 visits by 319 users with a 1:40 minute average duration, viewing 5.0 average pages. 178 (48%) of those visits were by mobile devices. Tracy said there were 1884 pages visited with the most visited pages: Home Page 327, For Sale 613, Calendar of Events 53, Airport Businesses 46, fuel prices 30, Aviation Medical Examiners 62, About 56, Contacts 22, Join/Renew 18. Tracy will get the Air races schedule on the web site as soon as he receives it.
Tracy is now in the Web Hosting business, if you need web site assistance or a new web site developed, please give Tracy a call.
WiFi Status: Current Stead_Users_West Password is: Jan2015-SteadU. The Stead Users internet transmitter is intended to be Ramp Access WiFi Only and coverage is not expected to extend to hangars located south of the parking apron. If you experience your navigation devices timing out before download is complete, please contact the secretary, RSAA.
For those desiring their own personal high speed internet connection, please contact Robert Andrews at: robert@avantwireless.com.
12. RTAG Report: Bob Meurer, President, stated that they are having a BBQ at the Reno Flying Service location from 11AM to 1PM on Saturday, August 13 which will be free of charge. The primary event at that BBQ will be the presentation of the $2,500 Pagnano Scholarship to a deserving student. Flyer to be emailed.
13. Other Matters: Tina Iftiger said that they had just appointed a new manager of economic development, whom we would meet later. Dean Schultz reminded everyone that POTUS would be flying into the area August 31 for a conference, and all pilots should be alert for multiple, layered TFRs which will severely restrict local airspace availability during his visit. Additionally, expect road closures as the convoy moves about the local area.
14. Next General Meeting: President Hall said thanks to all in attendance, and noted the Air races schedule, our meeting room would not likely be available at our regularly scheduled meeting for September. As a result, the next regularly scheduled meeting will be in October.
The next General Meeting is scheduled for 5:15p October 11, 2016 at the Freedom Center (Terminal Building) Conference Room located upstairs.
15. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 6:15p.
________________________
Jack Buchold, Recording Secretary
RENO STEAD AIRPORT ASSOCIATION (RSAA) MISSION STATEMENT
To represent the interests of all Tenants on the Reno-Stead Airport including Aircraft Owners, Fixed Base Operators, Aircraft Repair Facilities, United States Government Agencies and all parties of interest;
To ensure that all Tenants have the opportunity to speak with a united voice to the Reno Tahoe Airport Authority (owner of the airfield facility), the Federal Aviation Administration and the Local Governments relative to safe and affordable flying in Northern Nevada;
To enrich and promote the reputation of General Aviation within our community; and
To promote a “Good Neighbor” policy with the Nevada National Guard, support facility improvements that enhance the Tenant experience and encourage affordable services, fuel prices and hangar rentals from all service providers operating at the Reno Stead Facility.