Summer 2012 Newsletter
Stead EOC/Terminal Building On Hold
A hearing was held before the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority Board of Trustees on May 17, 2012. At that meeting, the RTAA Staff reviewed the proposal and detail, together With the funding mechanism. The size of the Project was 12,000 square feet in a two-story building, parking areas, utilities and site Work. The total fiscal impact to RTAA was $4,767,430. The project would be funded from tax-exempt subordinate lien airport revenue notes, with a debt service paid by airport system revenues, primarily from the airlines. The item for Board approval was a construction Contract in the amount of $4,767,430, with a total Project cost estimated at completion in the amount of $6,513,146.
SAUA President Tom Hall presented the RTAA Board with a narrative discussion regarding the need for the facility and a SAUA Resolution in support of the Project.
After further discussion, several of the RTAA Board felt the Project was oversized and over-priced. Ultimately, a motion was passed to defer consideration of the Project until it could be re-considered, perhaps with a reduction in size and cost.
Subsequent to the May 17 hearing, discussion and comments have been received from many sources, one of which was from Bill Dunn, Vice-President, Airport Advocacy for AOPA. In a letter dated May 31, 2012, he stated, however, just as we Were pleased to see forward movement in making facilities at Reno available for use by general aviation, we were equally disappointed to see agenda topic X, Item E #12(05)-29,. pertaining to the construction of a new terminal building and emergency operations center at Reno-Stead Airport (RTS) be defeated. We do not agree with the decision to reject this Project at this time for a number of reasons.”
He continued, ”Having personally visited Reno-Stead Airport during my May visit, I found the airport sorely lacking any real terminal building for pilots Visiting the area. A dedicated terminal building is the first a transient aircraft operator will develop and remember about the airport community”
Several Years ago, the State of Texas acting at the direction of the legislature undertook an effort to construct a new terminal building at every general aviation
airport in the state. They realized that this first impression needed to be a positive one te keep visitors Coming back to the local area. In this way, this first impression can drive economic development in the local economy.”
”Additiona1ìy, having spacious terminal buildings with adequate facilities for meeting space also provides an inviting building which should be made available to the local community to host meetings and events. It provides a mechanism to draw the local community into the airport environment to make them part of the airport – not excluded from it.”
While We recognize there may be some concern as to the size of the proposed terminal for Stead, it is our opinion that the proposed size is indeed appropriate
to the size and operations of the airport.”
AOPA urges the Board of Trustees to reconsider the staff request for approval and grant approval for this Project. Not only will approval ef this new terminal
bring a new and improved image of the airport to the traveling public, it will provide a meeting space for civic minded local organizations and create jobs for the
local economy during construction.”
“We appreciate your consideration of our views and truly hope the Board will move forward this much needed project.”
A discussion will be held before the SAUA Board Meeting on 10, 2012, and further consideration will ensue.
Model Airplanes Storm Lazy 5 Park Nevada Seeking Aviation Status
Reno Gazette-Journal
Local Life
April 14, 2012
That buzzing of model airplanes by the Lazy 5 Regional Park wasn’t a mini Blitzkrieg. The Reno Sparks Control Liners, a model airplane club, held an exhibition flyover. The public was welcomed to
attend and bring model airplanes.
Nevada Seeking Aviation Status
Reno Gazette-Journal
Business/Today’s Briefing
April 3, 2012
The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development formed a 15-member panel to seek “Center of Excellence” status from the Federal Aviation Administration for unmanned aerial systems.
Earning the designation will give the state and its higher education institutions access to financial grants from the FAA for use in Setting up one of six regional research centers across the country. Such a center will help bolster Nevada’s aerospace sector and create quality, high-paying jobs, according to the state’s economic development office.
”We are in the middle of a 60-day comment period right now, and there’s really robust competition going on,” said Tom Wilczek, an aerospace and defense industry specialist with the state.
“Sometime in early or midsummer, we expect the FAA to start issuing (requests for proposals), which is when we need to have our business plan ready.”
Surf Air Mulls Tahoe Expansion
Northern Nevada Business Weekly
Staff Report
April 23, 2012
A membership-based, all-you-fly airline hopes to add service to the Lake Tahoe market next year.
Surf Air, headquartered at Santa Monica, California, is signing up members for its first routes, which will link Palo Alto, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.
But expansion into the Lake Tahoe market is one of the c0mpany’s priorities, says Wade Eyerly, a former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney who is Surf Air’s chief executive officer. The carrier hopes to
tap a market of Bay Area residents who want to avoid the hassles of driving to second homes at Lake Tahoe.
The company expects to add Lake Tahoe Service by early 2013. lt expects to launch its first service in California this summer, although it still needs approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Eyerly, who founded the Company with his brother, David, a licensed commercial airline pilot, says Surf Air executives haven’t decided which airport in the Lake Tahoe area the company might use. Possibilities include the airports at South Lake Tahoe and Truckee.
The company expects to employ about 30 people at each of its service locations. Among them will be an on-site concierge.
Members of Surf Air get unlimited flights. For $790 a month, for instance, a member has unlimited travel while making two advance reservations at a time. For $1,490 a month, travelers can book up to six reservations at a time.
The company will begin service with Pilatus single-engine turboprop aircraft with capacity for eight passengers. It has two aircraft now and will add more as it extends its service, Eyerly says.
Safety Corner
General aviation accidents up
General Aviation News
May 11, 2012
NTSB.gov
The National Transportation Safety Board (”NTSB”) released preliminary aviation accident statistics in late April, showing a slight increase in civil aviation accidents for 2011. All fatalities were in general aviation and On~de1’nand Part 135 operations, such as charter, air taxi, air tour and air medical operations. For the second year in a row, there were no fatal accidents involving airlines.
Accidents rose from 1,500 in 2010 to 1,550 in 2011. Fatalities increased from 469 in 2010 to 485 in 2011.
Total accidents involving on demand Part 135 operations climbed from 31 in 2010 to 50 in 2011, while fatal accidents rose from 6 to 16 and fatalities rose from 17 to 41.
General aviation accidents, which continue to account for the greatest number of aviation accidents, increased from 1,439 in 2010 to 1,466 in 2011. GA fatalities declined from 454 in 2010 to 444 in 2011. While the number of general aviation flight hours increased in 2011, the accident rate per flight hours decreased from 6.63 in 2010 to 6.51 in 2011.
FAA Safety Seminars
Wednesday July 25, 2012
Flight maneuvers De-mystified
7:00 pm Start
Register online at www.faasafety.gov
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Hangar Fire Inspections
A reminder from Airport Manager Mike Dikun –
All hangars must pass an annual fire inspection
by July 31, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012 The Blue Max (1966)
Thursday, August 23, 2012 Battle of Britain (1969)
Thursday, September 27, 2012 633 Squadron (1964)
Crash Victim Taught at Yerington
Reno Gazette-Journal
Staff Report
April 22, 2012
Cranfill A. HBuster” High, 65, who died in early April in a plane crash near Rock Springs, Wyoming, owned Winnemucca Air Services and Served as the Winnemucca Municipal Airport’s fixed-base operator.
He also served as the Yerington High School agricultural teacher and Future Farmers of America Chapter Advisor for about five years, Starting around 1973, and then operated a local custom hay
operation before moving.
High was the sole occupant of the airplane, which left Sidney, Nebraska, en route to Riverton, Wyoming, about 3:30 p.m. on April 12. The wreckage was discovered about noon April 13, the Sweetwater County (Wyoming) Sheriffs Office reported.
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Last “Spruce Goose” Crewman Passes On
Record-Courier
June 22, 2012
by Kurt Hildebrand
John Hayes Glenn, 94, the last crew member of Howard Hughes’ ’Spruce Goose” died June 20, 2012, in Carson City.
John retired from Hughes Aircraft Company and was the last surviving flight Crew member of the famous, 1947 flight of-the “Spruce Goose”.
He and fellow flight engineer, Gardnerville resident, Don Smith, were interviewed in 2001 by Staffer Laura Brunzlick about the flight. Eighteen people were required to fly the eight-engine
aircraft.
The big seaplane sounded like it was sliding on gravel when it was on the water.
will never forget it,” Glenn told Brunzlick. “I had a porthole to see, and all of a sudden I d.ídn’t hear the sound.”
John was born in El Cajon, California, and served in the U.S. Navy as an aviator during World War II. He moved to Nevada in 1960, and settled in Minden in 1988, according to Brunz1ick’s story.
An Eagle Scout, he graduated from Grossmorlt High School in 1936, and spent several years Working in the oil fields of Southern California. He married his late wife Phoebe in 1946 and lived in the Los
Angeles area before moving to Carson City in 1960. John was a World War II Naval Aviation Veteran, and a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club.
A graveside service was held on June 24, 2012.
IN MEMORIAM
Evelyn Johnson
Not that long ago, female pilots were scarce and woman flight Instructors virtually nonexistent. But if you learned to fly in Morristown, Tennessee, chances are Evelyn Johnson was your teacher.
Johnson, who died May 10, 2012 at 102, Set the World record for training the most pilots (more than 5,000) and at 92, became the world’s oldest Flight Instructor. Along the Way, she racked up 57,635.4 flight hours-the most ever by a woman and the second most in history – While covering 5.5 million miles. The woman known as Mama Bird flew even after she developed glaucoma and quit only When a 2006 car accident led doctors to amputate her leg. But even after being grounded, she managed the local airport.
“I don’t know if anybody loves it more than I do,” She said at 101 about flying. ’I’ve flown that long because God has been so kind as to let me.”
IN MEMORIAM
Roger Richard Block
1949 – 2012
Roger Richard Block passed away on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 15, 2012, in the home he shared with Gayle, his wife of 37 years. He was born and raised in southern New Jersey, graduated from Gloucester Catholic High School, Gloucester City, New Jersey, in 1967 and Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1971. He is predeceased in death by his parents Walter and Grace, and is survived by his two brothers, W. Ronald Block of Clarksboro, New Jersey, and Robert Block, Sr. of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Family, faith and friends were most important to Roger. Roger and Gayle traveled all over the world for business and pleasure. He was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Community in Carson City; a member of the Knights of Columbus, serving as its Grand Knight 2007-2009,’ an avid pilot, having flown more than 125 missions with Young Eagles sharing his love of aviation with children; a member of the Carson City EAA Chapter 403; served on the Education and Outreach Committee of the Reno Air Racing Foundation; an Amateur Radio Operator, KD7UT, for more than 40 years; loved
astronomy, serving as President of the Orlando Astronomy Society in 1973-1974. He was awarded two U.S. Patents and one Canadian Patent. Other hobbies included scuba diving, with more than 200 dives, golfing, tennis and bowling.
Roger and Gayle have been active in the northern Nevada business community since 1984. He will be missed by those who knew him. R0ger’s Current community service activities include: Corpus Christi Kitchen Fund, 3597 Sunridge Dr., Carson City, NV 89705,’ EAA Chapter LL03», 2500 College Pkwy., Suite 403, Carson City, NV 89706; and Reno Air Racing Foundation, Education and Outreach Committee, 14501 Mt. Anderson Street, Reno, NV 89506. Any donations made in his memory would be appreciated.
Services were held April 24, 2012, at Corpus Christi Catholic Community Church.
IN MEMORIAM
Roy Powers remembered for love of family, Nevada
1922 – 2012
Reno Gazette-Journal
By Guy Clifton
gclifton@rgj.com
Roy Powers, a gifted artist and longtime local advertising executive and civic leader, died June 5, 2012, at a Reno hospital.
His Values were simple, his talents immense. He loved his family and he loved Nevada. He spent the majority of his 89 years cherishing and honoring them both. He always had a Warm smile and a handshake, including for his doctors in the final days of his life.
”He Was an incredibly gracious man who was very passionate about our state,” said Gov. Brian Sandoval.
”He was a great husband, daddy and grandfather,” said Jackie Powers, his wife of 52 years. “He really cherished his friends, and I think the older he got, the more special they became to him. He loved Reno. He traveled all over, but he couldn’t think of any other place, he would rather live. He was so happy for our home and happy for our family and our friends.”
A native of Seattle, Roy Powers was born November 19, 1922. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II and was aboard the first ship to sail unescorted from the mainland U.S. to Hawaii after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
He arrived in Reno in 1946 and soon became the publicity man for the Riverside Hotel and, shortly thereafter, Harolds Club during a time when the biggest stars in entertainment performed in downtown Reno.
”He said Harolds Club Was the best job he ever had,” Jackie Powers said. In 1959, he met Jackie Powers, then Jackie Manoukian, at the Riverside Corner Bar – the hangout for local businessmen and community leaders at the time. Three weeks later, he gave her an engagement ring in the same place, and they married seven Weeks later.
“We just jumped in and it went perfectly,” Jackie said. “We had a wonderful, wonderful marriage.”
Roy Powers’ retirement from the advertising world led him to follow his passion for art, and he spent considerable time documenting the history of the state through painting buildings and landmarks iconic in their communities.
He and Jackie ran Powers Frameworks, a frame shop and gallery, for many years.
His final painting was of the Governor’s Mansion in Carson City, a work commissioned by Sandoval.
“I’ve always made it unique and special, and it’s something I will always cherish.” Sandoval said.
Powers is survived by his wife, Jackie; children Robyn, Reed, Alan and Corinne; grandchildren Taylor, Ross and Jeff; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family.
Donations in memory of Roy Powers memory can be made tot he Roy Powers Scholarship, Reno Air Racing Foundation, 14501 Mt. Anderson Street, Reno, Nevada 89506.
