RENO STEAD AIRPORT ASSOCIATION Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2014
The Reno Stead Airport Association (RSAA) monthly meeting was called to order at 5:15p at the new Reno-Stead Terminal Building, Conference Room, February 11, 2014 as follows:
1. Welcome and Attendance: Tom Hall, President, Ken Wiegand, Vice-President, Dave Miller, Treasurer, Dan Ross, Secretary, and Tracy Rhodes, IT Manager. Board Members: Lew Gage, Mike Walsh, Don Osborne, Terry Matter, RARA Representative, Steve Katzmann, RSAA liaison and member RTAA Board of Trustees, Mike Dikun, Reno-Stead Airport Manager. Board Member(s) absent: Alby Redick. Guests/Members: Dean Schulze, COO RTIA, and John Parker, President American Racing, LtCol Richard Ferguson CDR/AASF NVANG. and Robert Robkin.
2. Minutes of Last Meeting: Approval of the Minutes of January 14, 2013 meetings was unanimous.
3. Financial Report: Cash on hand: $3518.51. Dave asked that all members be reminded that we are now seven months into the new membership year dues are past due. The new membership year began July 1, 2013 and ends June 30, 2014, 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: Currently there are 76 members.
5. Webmaster Report: Tracy reported that he: Published 3 articles, added 11 items to the website calendar, deleted 20 SPAM registrations and updated the website software 6 times. The website had 297 unique visitors, averaging 2:00 each, and viewing 2.1 pages per visit. The busiest day was January 17, 21 visits. Most visited pages, 897, were in order: Home Page, For Sale, Aviation Medical Examiners, Airport Businesses, and Newsletter.
6. RTS Manager’s Report: The Terminal Building will continue to be locked during non-business hours until all the security devices are operational, awaiting updated card reader. During normal business hours, the mission planning room and bath rooms will be accessible from the flight line side. The goal is to have the flight lounge available after hours by card lock(the same card issued to tenants) or using a code. The code will be posted as previously located. There also will be an exit only to the front side of the building parking lot available from the mission planning room. Open WiFi is available in the building now. The new Terminal Building will be made available during and after hours for training, seminars, and other activities. Contact the Airport Manager’s Office for details.
A Request for Qualifications Notice has been distributed, due back the middle of March, for a Master Developer to manage and develop the airport property. The objective is to advance aviation and other related enterprises. This program will not exclude individual parcel development. UAV activity over the last month has increased. Lease inquiries are showing greater detailed interest, a Range Control Manager has been assigned and his office will be on the bottom floor of the Terminal. Nevada’s assigned objective as one of six sites choosen for UAV development is: Air Traffic Control and Integration, Operations, and NexGen.
Mike estimates that Stead is no more than 8-10 hours from full operation after a normal snowfall of 6-10 inches. Again, just as a reminder, current snow removal priorities are as follows: Fire lanes, runway 8/26, taxiway Alpha, taxiways between hangars, runway 14/32, taxiway Bravo, in that order. If individual circumstances dictate priority attention, Mike asks that you contact him as far in advance as possible.
7. RTAA Trustee Liaison Report: Mr. Katzmann reported that the FAA has made $4.3M in matching funds (93.25% of the cost)available to rebuild Taxiway C and install edge way lighting. The Board of Trustees are studying the proposal closely. No decision yet. Additionally, The Board of Trustees is studying a plan to sell a small corridor of property near RNO and McCarran for transit development. Additionally, the Trustees have approved financial incentives for new cargo operators to locate there. Steve also noted that the Reno Tahoe Airport users group plan to start publishing a quarterly newsletter, similar to the RSAA Newsletter which is written by our President, Tom Hall. For a complete list of current RTAA Trustees and their bios, go to www.renoairport.com/airport-authority/board-trustees).
8. RARA Trustee Liaison Report: Planning for the 2014 Air Race is proceeding as normal. The current schedule of events is as follows: PRS is set for June 12-14 and Race Week is September 8-14 with all race aircraft on site NLT September 6.
9. Guest Speaker: LtCol Ferguson, gave a 15 minute slide presentation highlighting the activities of our local Nevada Guard Unit located on the airport. The presentation was very interesting and obviously well presented. If you get an opportunity to see this slide show, see it. LtCol Ferguson offered a tour of the Guard Facility, which was enthusiastically accepted for the site of the March 11, 2014 RSAA meeting.
10. WiFi Proposal and Action: Robert Andrews, owner of Avant Wireless, will install two WiFi transmitters for the Stead Ramp; the first will be mounted on Dave Miller’s hangar and the second on the Aviation Classics MIG Hangar. Robert expects that the Miller transmitter will cover the 08 Hammerhead and quite possibly extend WiFi coverage to the Rwy 14 Hammerhead also. The Aviation Classics transmitter will cover the Rwy 27, 32, and 14 hammerheads. This has been a year-long Safety of Flight initiative of your RSAA. The intent is to provide WiFi ramp coverage to members and transient pilots using portable tablets, handheld GPSs and aircraft EFIS systems at the Reno-Stead Airport to update weather, check NOTAMs, TFRs, and file flight plans. Mr. Andrews, a pilot himself, is providing the equipment at his cost and is installing that equipment free of charge. Alby Redick, a pilot and owner of Aviation Classics is graciously funding the purchase of the two WiFi transmitters. The RSAA will partially offset the costs of the internet subscriptions. Both transmitters will be password protected with the Aviation Classics password expected to be available on AWOS and at the gas pump. The Miller transmitter’s password will be made available to RSAA members. These transmitters are intended to be Ramp Access WiFi Only and coverage is not expected to extend to hangars located south of the parking apron. For those desiring their own personal high speed internet connection, please contact Robert Andrews at: robert@avantwireless.com/. The Board approved reimbursing Dave Miller $25 per month for the WiFi expenses, and set a policy of reimbursing him 50% of any future costs or increases
11. Newsletter Report: The next Newsletter will focus on the Reno-Stead Nevada Guard unit.
12. General Discussion: President Hall reiterated that all Airport Authority Board Trustees and their Staff are always welcome and encouraged to attend the monthly RSAA meetings as are all association members and tenants-at-large.
13. Next Meeting: The next General Membership Meeting is scheduled for March 11, 2014, at the Nevada Guard Facility.
14. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 6:40p.
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Herman D. Ross, 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.