RENO STEAD AIRPORT ASSOCIATION Meeting Minutes
October 8, 2013
The Reno Stead Airport Association (RSAA) monthly meeting was called to order at 5:15p at Dave Miller’s Hangar October 8, 2013, (The Stead Pilot Lounge is closed for the new Terminal construction) as follows:
1. Welcome and Attendance: Tom Hall, President, Ken Weigand, Vice-President, Dave Miller, Treasurer, Dan Ross, Secretary, and Tracy Rhodes, IT Manager. Board Members: Lin Manning, Lew Gage, Mike Walsh, Alby Redick, Terry Matter, RARA Representative, Steve Katzmann, RSAA liaison and member RTAA Board of Trustees, and Mike Dikun, Reno-Stead Airport Manager. Board Member(s) absent: Don Osborne. Guests/Members: Dean Shultz, RTAA Executive Vice President/COO, Bob Meurer, RTAG, and Robert Ratkin.
2. Minutes of Last Meeting: Approval of the Minutes of September 10, 2013 meetings was unanimous.
3. Financial Report: Cash on hand: $3481.45. Dave asked that all members be reminded that we are now four 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 74 members.
5. RTS Manager’s Report: Air race was a good year safety/operationally. The attendance was about average with Saturday and Sunday the big days. Clean up went smoothly and is complete. The BLM Fire folks have stopped flying for the year. The crack sealing program is just about complete and the snow removal equipment is serviced and ready for operation. The SCCA have had their last race event for the year, they have provided the Airport with a steady revenue stream this year. Mike reported that 12,000 operations for the month of September, 13,000 for July. He says a noise counter located mid-field on Rwy 08-26 detects the takeoffs and he adds 10% for Rwy 14-32 operations then multiplies by 2 to get an approximate total takeoff and landings per month. UNR ROTC cadets will be training in the Stead Airport area this fall, so don’t get excited if you see young troops practicing land navigation and survival skills in the Northern half of the airport and in the surrounding hills. The F-5 operation is training Botswanian pilots to fly F-5s in their Air Force. They are working with several agencies, including Amedee Army Air Field for pattern work and the C-130 Reserve Unit’s Reno MOA north of Lake Pyramid for air work. Mike said the new Terminal/EOC Building is still on schedule for completion December 12th, plans are being made for a grand opening celebration (maybe there will be cookies).
6. RTAA Trustee Liaison Report: Mr. Katzmann said the Airport Authority had approved a $180K snow thrower for Stead that has an expected 20 year life span. The Air Guard was approved the use of 63 additional acres with a total of 108 with no impact on airport operations. He mentioned that the Authority was looking at qualifications for a new law firm contract and performance objectives were being formulated for bonus awards to the new CEO. (For a complete list of current Trustees and their bios, go to www.renoairport.com/airport-authority/board-trustees).
7. RARA Trustee Liaison Report: Terry stated that sales were up over last year as were attendance figures for Saturday and Sunday. Some sad news, Terry said the RARA BOD lost one of their own last week, Tom Gribbin. He designed numerous air race courses throughout the US, including the Stead Course.
8. Guest Speaker—
9. Webmaster Report: Tracy reported that he: Published 4 articles, deleted 41 SPAM registrations and 42 SPAM comments on the Forum, updated website software 6 times. The website had 370 unique visitors, averaging 3:53 each, and viewing 1.8 pages per visit. The busiest day was September 12, 38 visits with 50 pages viewed. Most visited pages, 921, were in order: Home page, For Sale, Aviation Medical Examiners, Hangar Availability, Airport Businesses, Where is Stead, Calendar of Events, and About/Officers.
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 in the next week or so and the second on the Aviation Classics MIG Hangar shortly thereafter. Robert expects that the Miller transmitter will cover the 08 Hammerhead and quite possibly extend WiFi coverage to the 14 Rwy 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 Wi Fi expenses, and set a policy of reimbursing him 50% of any future costs or increases
11. Newsletter Report: The next issue of the Reno-Stead Newsletter will focus on the new RTAA Strategic Plan and an interview with RTAA Trustee Steve Katzmann.
12. General Discussion: Tom 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. The next General Membership and Safety meeting is scheduled for TBD, location TBD.
13. Next Meeting: Nov 19, 2013, 5:15p location TBD.
14. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 6:37p.
________________________
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.