Summer is certainly here, and it appears the monsoon season has also started. It would appear that most of the bugs have also gone into hiding. The breakfast flight on Saturday seemed to be rather bug free. Good thing, because it was too darn hot to spend much time scrubbing them off. Getting up for a dawn takeoff doesn’t seem to help a whole lot to beat the heat, but no matter, let’s get up and go for that early morning breakfast, or just go flying.
I don’t know if you have heard the rumors or not, but the City of Cottonwood is getting a bit upset with the large number of aircraft that are doing touch and go operations at their airport. Because of the heavy traffic at the Prescott Airport, many Embry Riddle Students tend to go to Cottonwood to do touch and go operations. Apparently, the airport has established a policy that there should be no more than three ERAU airplanes in the pattern at a time. Because of the ERAU student traffic, the city council is discussing more stringent rules, like possibly charging landing fees. If this were to happen at Cottonwood, when would the people who complain about aircraft noise in Sedona want to have fees at Sedona Airport to reduce traffic, or for that matter, any airport in the state at which the general public may have an airplane issue. To head this problem off, pilots need to be proactive and do something! A start might be to encourage and support city council candidates that are knowledgeable about aviation issues, and most importantly, that are friends of general aviation. We need to stop hoping someone else will do something. We personally need to get involved and do something. The APA and AOPA have drawn up and are sending joint letters to the city council outlying Federal Statutes governing the allowable purposes for fees at federally subsidized airports, and offering to help resolve underlying council issues at the Cottonwood airport.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
FAA
Fortunately, the FAA hasn’t made any major changes to the regulations or airspace we use or made proposals for changes. Let’s hope it stays like this.
The end of July will be the EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh. The FAA Administrator will be there, and it will be interesting to hear what he has to tell us. It will also be interesting to hear what they may be doing with their MOSAIC plan, and if they will be introducing the final product at the 2025 EAA AirVenture. The implementation of this plan promises to have a major impact on the aviation community.
AIRSPACE
We have not become aware of any changes or proposals to change any of the airspace that we normally use. As usual, APA will continue to be on alert for any changes that may occur and will inform you.
We all need to be aware that there has been a significant increase in parachute drop activity throughout the state. Much of it is advanced tactical training of foreign personnel, and it will be occurring at any of the parachute sites throughout the state. Please be aware that some of this activity may be high altitude jumping with high altitude opening which could result in the parachutists descending through airspace a bit removed from the final landing site. Always be sure to check for NOTAMS for this activity along your proposed route of flight, and also monitor en-route facility frequencies for parachute activity.
SAFETY
As you know summer is here, and the monsoon season has started, so be very wary of the afternoon dust storms, and be alert for Dust Devils that may pop up. These rapidly rotating columns of air are usually very visible by the dust and debris they have pick up from the ground. While often harmless, they can be a serious risk to small aircraft operating at lower altitudes. Always give them a wide berth.
In this past reporting period aviation safety has again not been very good because of the number of accidents/incidents that have occurred, and unfortunately, we again had a fatality that was incurred in one of the accidents. At least in all of the other occurrences nobody was seriously hurt. As we go forward, I hope things will improve.
For the details of these accidents/incidents in this past May - June reporting period see my Accident/Incident Summary Report located elsewhere in this newsletter, and please fly safely.
Members, please continue to send accident information to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the date, location, aircraft make, if anyone got hurt, and with as much detail as possible. Thank you.
It was unfortunate that in this past reporting period the FAA reported a Near Mid Air Collision (NMAC) between a Piper Cherokee and an Extra EA-300. The incident occurred southeast of IWA and required evasive maneuvers. Both aircraft involved were outside of controlled airspace and were not in communication with ATC.
The number of pilot deviations improved a bit this last reporting period. These deviations were committed by pilots with pilot certificates ranging from Student Pilot through ATP. Apparently, there were also some out of state pilots that committed some of these deviations. Some of the deviations were serious enough to warrant the issuance of a Brasher notice to the pilot. In many of the cases it was apparent the pilot was unaware of what type of airspace they were flying in or were about to enter. Pilots must listen very carefully to ATC instructions, and follow them, and if they can’t comply, immediately tell the controller why they can’t comply. When flying in controlled airspace, pilots need to always comply with ATC instructions, and advise ATC first before they do anything that may differ from the instructions given. When on the ground, pay attention to airport signs, and runway markings, and know what they mean, and comply with them.
In summary, the general aviation deviations this reporting period are as follows:
6 IFR Deviations - 2 Brashers
4 Class Bravo Airspace Deviations - 3 Brashers
4 Class Delta Airspace Deviations - 3 Brashers
8 Runway Incursions - 3 Brashers
1 Air Traffic Instruction - No Brashers
2 Surface Incidents - No Brashers
2 Restricted Air Space - 2 Brashers
3 TFR Deviations - No Brashers
For all the details of these deviations see my Pilot Deviations Report located elsewhere in this newsletter.
CONSTRUCTION
Mesa Falcon Field (FFZ) has numerous taxiways being replaced, and one of the runways has been closed from time to time. Be sure to get NOTAMS before arrival. Other airports around the state have numerous construction projects in progress, or have projects that will be starting soon. Unfortunately, we don’t have the specific details on all these projects, and we would urge you to always check for NOTAMS at your destination airport so you won’t have an unexpected surprise when you arrive.
APA is working with airports around the state assisting with the updating of their Airport Master Plans by providing the pilot, and aircraft owner’s perspective in the process. The Airport Master Plan Update process usually requires about a year for completion.
THINGS TO DO - PLACES TO FLY FOR BREAKFAST:
The fly-in breakfast at Coolidge Municipal Airport (P08) was on the first Saturday of the month, but ended in April. They will restart in the fall.
On the second Saturday of the month, consider flying down to Ryan Field (RYN) near Tucson for breakfast or lunch at Ritchie’s Restaurant. They are open daily from 6 am to 2 pm to serve you.
The Falcon Field Warbirds Squadron normally had a fly-in breakfast on the third weekend of the month. Because of several complications the breakfasts had been halted, and presently it’s undetermined when they will restart in the fall. We will advise when we have new information.
Grapevine is open full time, but the weekend camping, and cookouts have been discontinued for the summer. Grapevine, which lies within a National Forest, is heavily used by the Forest Service for fighting wildfires, and the Military for Special Training.
On the last Saturday of the month a fly-in breakfast is continuing to be put on by the Casa Grande Masonic Lodge in the air-conditioned Terminal of the Casa Grande Airport.
When you fly to any of these venues, be sure to look for the Fly Arizona Passport Placard at the restaurant, and at the airport terminal. Scan the placard with your smart phone to get credit on the passport program for being there.
Check with the APA Getaway Flights program and online calendar for fun weekend places to fly.