Local skydivers will kick off another action-packed parachuting season by gathering for a day of refresher training and jumping. Established by the U.S. Parachute Association in 1997, the annual nationwide Safety Day event focuses on making the sport safer and prepares jumpers for the year ahead. Seasoned skydivers and rookie jumpers alike can evaluate equipment, brush up on basic skills and learn new procedures that will keep them safely soaring through the skies.

Safety Day includes a series of skydiving seminars and training drills that serve as both a refresher course and an introduction to new developments, equipment, disciplines and training methods. And, of course, there will be plenty of skydiving, weather permitting.

Non-skydiving aviators aren't left out of the parachuting awareness and safety programming. Those not engaged in falling through the sky are encouraged to participate by attending a 10:00 am session at Skydive Sacramento that will allow pilots and skydivers to exchange information about each other's operational procedures and requirements. Those not wishing to go to the Skydive Sacramento facility may participate in a "hangar side" review of FAA and local air traffic procedures established to allow skydiving and non-participating aircraft to safely operate concurrently. FAA Safety Team Representative (and LHM-based aircraft owner) Corl Leach will be in the Karl Harder Pavilion (the shelter north of the fuel pumps) from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon to address the topic. Drop by for some discussions, enlightenment, and, of course, a cup of coffee or two!

This afternoon, Austin, Texas became the national face of General Aviation and it wasn't wearing a smile. I'm not going to delve into the issues that led to Joseph Andrew Stack flying his Piper Dakota into an office building; we'll be hearing about that for days or weeks to come. However one thing is factual: this General Aviation pilot has given us all a reason to pause and think about what we as fellow aviators do to promote our activity and assure that it is not perceived in a negative way. Do we "fly friendly"? Do we avoid overflight of congested areas when possible? Do we avoid making abrupt maneuvers or unpredictable course changes? When we're not in the air are our aircraft safely secured in their tiedowns or hangars?

These are not only questions that we want to answer for ourselves, they are also questions the public wants to know ... and that means the news media has a new task. For most people, having a microphone shoved in your face while the lights glare and the cameras roll is an intimidating proposition. It creates a situation where they are not comfortable and, unfortunately, rarely able to express their thoughts the way they were intended. We've seen other pilots actively seek the spotlight with the resulting boastful and exagarated remarks tarnishing General Aviation's image even further. So what's my message? Simply this: be prepared and know what you want to do if approached by a media representative. In most cases, this may be to simply refer the reporter to someone more knowledgeable about the specific topic, or even just to someone who has more experience in talking to reporters.

If, on the other hand, you feel competent and capable of addressing the media personally, the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association has put together a brief video highlighting a few ideas to help you. Follow this link to view AOPA's Guide to Talking to Reporters.

In any situation, as you'll learn in the AOPA video, the first goal is to have had an opportunity to think about the questions that will be asked and formulate your responses before you get in front of the camera. Write notes if necessary (hire a teleprompter if you're so inclined!) but do your best to avoid surprise. Isn't that one of the first lessons we're taught when learning to become a pilot: plan your flight; fly your plan. Speaking to the media is no different.

If you have questions, or simply want to pass media inquiries along, the LRAA President, Corl Leach, is willing to take your call at any time of the day. He is in contact with not only the AOPA Media Relations office but can get support from the state California Pilots Association as well. The goal is to keep Lincoln and its aviation community free from emotional journalistic attacks and ambush reporting. It can be done effectively, but it will take all of us working together and knowing when to speak up or say nothing.

The Lincoln Regional Airport boasts an impressive number of aircraft hangars. Very few aircraft spend their time tied down on the ramp. While this is great from the perspective of protecting the aircraft from the elements, it creates a very poor environment for airport bums and other aviation enthusiasts who enjoy looking at aircraft. Fortunately, there is a way to make everyone happy, especially since it has been announced that there will not be an airshow in 2010.

Beginning on Saturday, January 23rd from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon, then continuing on the third Saturday of each month thereafter, the LRAA and the Lincoln Regional Airport will co-sponsor monthly "Aircraft Display Days". Plane owners will be encouraged to pull their birds out of hangar and congregate in the open for the purpose of sharing our pride with members of the local community. Fly-in participants will be welcome, too! To support our local antique and classic aircraft owners, these events will also qualify as "display periods" for those seeking exemptions for Aircraft of Historical Significance.

During the year, various themes will be combined with the general aircraft displays. For example, the May Display Day falls on "Armed Forces Day" and efforts will be made to invite warbirds to attend. Other months may emphasize narrower interests such as experimental projects, rag-wings, or aircraft types (think a fly-in of Mooneys or the like). In each case, the public will be invited during the morning hours to share our passion, engage in the camaraderie, and enjoy what we already know -- the fun of aviation!

On Monday, December 28th, the California Supreme Court eliminated the last challenge that would have kept the Elk Grove Airport (E27) open and operating. In 2004 the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors had denied the renewal of the airport's Conditional Use Permit stating the airport "has been determined to no longer be compatible with its surroundings." Their intent was to let the permit expire upon which time the airport would cease to operate and neighboring properties, free from the restrictions of the State's Land Use Compatibility Program would be eligible for increased development.

The Sacramento Bee newspaper provides additional information related to this situation in THIS ARTICLE.

This page updated: 03-11-2010
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