Because of the virus pandemic we are going through, it looks like this is again going to be a rather brief report from a news standpoint. It seems like everything is still in somewhat of a standby mode. There are a few aviation meetings that are becoming somewhat active again by going to virtual meetings on the web. These type of meetings are good, but they certainly are not as good as a face to face meeting for promoting open discussion of issues at hand. All the FAA offices are still closed, and it’s hard to say when they will be open again. I would say we are moving into a new world, and it will be interesting to see what this new normal will be.
Thank goodness they didn’t close the airports on us. From a business standpoint, it can’t be good for the flight schools. There do not seem to be the numbers of school planes waiting to take off like there had been. However, once airborne, and looking at the number of airplanes on my iPad, the ADS-B tells me there are a lot of airplanes out there around me near the airport, and it doesn’t look like too much has changed. One of the big things I miss is being able to fly someplace for breakfast. I’m just not comfortable with the ignoring of social distancing with a group of people at a restaurant. So, now I just go someplace I haven’t seen for a long time, or just make a bunch of touch and go landings and practice some flight training maneuvers to sharpen the coordination.
The NTSB hasn’t been reporting very many accidents lately, and I’m wondering if a lot of people, or at least the marginal pilots, are not flying, or is everyone just being extra cautious, or is it a combination of both. I would hope everyone is still flying. The weather has been fairly good, so why not? I would encourage everyone to at least get enough time in to maintain their proficiency and be safe. When things open up more, and everyone comes out of hiding, I would certainly hope our accident list doesn’t suddenly go wild because everyone had been in hiding, and letting their flying skills deteriorate. So let's keep flying!
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
FAA
Perhaps you may have heard, to ensure the continued safe operation of the air traffic control system during the COVID-19 pandemic, the FAA is planning to temporarily adjust the operating hours of approximately 100 control towers nationwide (PDF). Making these adjustments allows for continued safe operations throughout the national airspace system while minimizing health risks to the ATC workforce. As far as I’m aware, in Arizona, this will only impact Grand Canyon Airport. If you are traveling, check the list and Airport NOTAMS so you don’t have a surprise.
AIRSPACE
Some meetings have been happening online, but I’m not aware of any airspace issues that have come up, other than an old noise complaint issue that has again resurfaced from some of the residents in the Pinnacle Peak area north of Scottsdale. In this area just east of Pinnacle Peak, the area is slightly higher than the surrounding terrain, and planes flying over the area that get a bit low are being complained about to the SDL FSDO. If you are flying in that area, just make certain you are well over 1,000 ft. AGL. It is suspected some of the tenants are “capturing” ADS-B information from airplanes flying over the area and using it as a basis for some of their complaints. Just remember, you are not allowed to turn off your ADS-B or transponder while in flight, besides, I haven’t heard of the FAA issuing any low flying violations to anyone flying over the area as a result of these complaints. So just pay attention to your AGL altitude when traversing the area.
SAFETY
Because of the pandemic shut down, aviation safety information from the NTSB in this past reporting period has been rather meager, and as a result, aviation safety is somewhat of an unknown. In the last reporting period, while the NTSB didn’t report any accidents, we did become aware of a few via the Aviation Safety Network and other sources. The NTSB did however release a couple of reports on accidents that that had occurred in a previous reporting period. See my June Accident Summary for this month’s details.
CONSTRUCTION
Coolidge Municipal Airport (P08) has had runway 5-23 closed for rebuilding, and it’s now scheduled to reopen on June 2. However, as with major runway construction projects, there will always be a bunch of minor items that will require correction/adjustment that may require a very short term intermittent closing of the runway. The new runway will now be approximately 6,000 feet long, including blast pads at each end, and the width will now be increased to 200 feet wide. With that width of runway, does anyone want to make bets on when someone is going to lose control landing, and run off the side of the runway?
17-35 is open for use. Use extreme caution in using runway 17- 35 because of skydive operations on the south side of the airport. Please keep the approach legs of the RWY 35 pattern short! This could be a challenge for some pilots, but please be safe. Because minor adjustments may be in process, be sure to check NOTAM’s before using P08.
There are still many airports around the state having construction projects in process or planned to start. Unfortunately, we don’t have the latest details of what projects are coming up, but at the moment, the best advice we can offer is to check for NOTAMs at your destination airport, and when you get there, use extra caution. Always fly informed.
As you are aware, APA is working with several airports around the state to update their Airport Master Plans, providing the pilot and aircraft owner’s perspective in the process. All the update program meetings are presently on hold due to the Corona Virus pandemic. Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD), Kingman Municipal Airport (IGM), Page Municipal Airport (PGA), Lake Havasu City Municipal Airport (HII), Superior Municipal Airport (E81), Sedona Airport (SEZ), Flagstaff (FLG), Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport (IFP), and Grand Canyon Airport (GCN) are currently in their Master Plan update process.
THINGS TO DO - PLACES TO FLY FOR BREAKFAST:
- The fly in breakfast at Coolidge Municipal Airport (P08), normally on the first Saturday of the month, has stopped for the summer. The next Fly In Breakfast season is being scheduled to restart October 3, 2020.
- The Falcon Field EAA Warbirds Squadron fly in breakfast, and car show was on the third Saturday of the month. Due to the Coronavirus crises the event is on indefinite hold.
- Grapevine Airstrip group fly-ins are on summer break. Please check the Facebook page and NOTAMs as the airstrip is currently being used for firefighting aircraft.
- The last Saturday of the month there was a fly in breakfast at Casa Grande Municipal Airport (CGZ), but due to the Coronavirus, only take out is now available. Hours are 7:00 am to 2:00 pm
Check with the APA Getaway Flights program and online calendar for fun weekend places to fly.