Some pilots and an airport need our help

[joea]

Everyone, an airport and pilots really could use some support here.

Some idiot has started a fly fishing operation next to a long time airport in Sonoma Valley California. The state would not give him a permit to run a fishing operation out of there, so he bypassed the rules and applied for a "ag-permit" for a fishing operation, which was granted. He then built a store and school on the property, all without any legal permits.

Just what every airport needs is a lake next to the runways attracting more birds. Then this idiot decided to build a skeet/trap shooting range... you guessed it, with the range pointing towards the airport and runways.

Finally this jerk decided to build a log fence across the over-run on the runway that borders on his property. Now the DOT has gotten involved saying that the fence blocks the over-run on the runway and either "move the fence or face possibly closing the airport down!" Of course he could care less what the DOT says, and instead of removing the fence he gets lawyers involved and now wants to fight it in court!

Please sign the petition below to offer some support for the airport!

https://www.change.org/petitions/leland ... ay-overrun

Excellent video about this jerk and how he has been doing things illegally and getting away with it.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=8828014&pid=8828011

His website is: http://www.flyfishingoutfitters.com/son ... ing-center

Email is: LelandRanch@flyfishingoutfitters.com

Am sure he would love to hear from us in emails how we will not be coming to learn how to fly fish...

Joe A

[james gevay]

Done!
Thanks for posting Joe.

[MikeB]

Done and thanks, Joe

Mike Berg

[EDGEFLY]

I signed it. Certainly pilots and airports need to defend themselves against this type of poorly planned and intrusive development. This is not an unusual thing. The airport and the pilots using it should have taken protective actions to preclude this type of problem but, didn't.

At the same time, immature characteristisms of someone as an "idiot" and a "jerk" is hardly a worthwhile means to stimulate concerned people in the aviation community. If you took the time to view the newsclips and involved governmental officials you discovered that there is sensitivity to the arguments amongst them for both party's positions. So while I avidly support the airport and pilots desires, it is principally up to them to marshal local people to achieve an acceptable solution. Is there a similar problem brewing around your local airport ? Are you involved in preventing a situation from arising off the end of your active ?

Dale

[joea]

Dale,

I am on the board of directors of our local airport pilot group and also on the board of directors for the Arizona Business Aircraft association, so you might say that I am fairly active in our local aviation scene.

This never would have been allowed to go this far had it been our local airport...

As far as my comments, I wanted to call him an arrogant asshole but restrained myself and called him an idiot and jerk. As this evidently bothers some people, will revert back to my original thoughts...

Joe A

[EDGEFLY]

Joe,

I never doubted your level of involvement in local aeronautical facility issues and have no doubt that you hold significant, responsible positions in important organizations. My comments with respect to "what's happening at the end of your active......" was to bring to mind the possibility of such a situation arising for other members of the Association no matter wher they live. We all need to be proactive in our approach to things which threaten our right to fly.

Insofar as your choice to revise your description of the individual involved, the Internet gives everyone the eopportunity to say almost anything with almost any words. That is your choice. I personally doubt that calling him "an arrogant asshole" versus "a jerk and an idiot" will have any positive impact on the outcome of this problem.


Dale

[EDGEFLY]

Joe,

I never doubted your level of involvement in local aeronautical facility issues and have no doubt that you hold significant, responsible positions in important organizations. My comments with respect to "what's happening at the end of your active......" was to bring to mind the possibility of such a situation arising for other members of the Association no matter wher they live. We all need to be proactive in our approach to things which threaten our right to fly.

Insofar as your choice to revise your description of the individual involved, the Internet gives everyone the eopportunity to say almost anything with almost any words. That is your choice. I personally doubt that calling him "an arrogant asshole" versus "a jerk and an idiot" will have any positive impact on the outcome of this problem.


Dale

[Holcombe]

This is a pretty safe place to let our emotions run a little, though politics might be a little far at the moment.
Staying alert and passing the word is the lesson here.
And forming or joining an airport support group for your home field.
We have a morning "coffee time" here in Florence at the airport office which is now being staffed by a volunteer group. We put a donation "kitty" next to the pot and welcome any and all. Mostly ex airline and military pilots, but including hangar and current plane owners.
For a number of years we met in the lounge corner of a hangar, but with the City cutting back funding for a Manager we now get to keep clean and open the main office. Real uptown.
And we are having fun. Money may be short, but life is good.

[Ed Clark]

I signed and now it's up to 644 supporters, I hope more of our group sign too.

[Richard Murray]

I signed the petition. I respect each other's rights, however Leyland seems to have his best interests at heart without regard for his neighbors. I fly from an airport near a large lake where ducks and geese are always an issue. See and avoid.

[jc pacquin]

"See and avoid" did not work well for Sully Sullenberger. A Canada goose thru the windshield of an Aeronca and the pilot is a history lesson. Landing a Mooney on the eastern shore of Maryland in the 80's, I had one pass directly in front of me. Very LUCKY! This locale is loadedwith geese,always a grave danger.JC

[dikholder]

You guys should check out AOPA. They have some kits they give out that are designed to support small airports. Do your airports have FBOs or flightschools on them. Those seem to add some stability to small airports, plus we need more young pilots. Most of us are getting older, and we need to involve youth if we want to see these airports and our aviation traditions survive nationally. The EAA young eagles program and CAPs Cadet program are a help in this regard, but without abundant local flightschools, aviation seems to wither on the vine. Every where you look there are airports being squeezed out of existence by real estate developments or political changes. I am glad I live in Alaska, but even here, strips are in decline.

Dik

[joea]

Well we thought that the idiots had learned their lesson. After a letter from the DOT telling them that they were blocking a runway, they started to remove the fence. Idiots, they took it part way down then left it there, with the logs pointing in the direction that the airplanes land so if you ran into one it would be like a large stake going right into the plane and occupants.

Time for more emails folks. Please send one to the addresses below asking for them to do the right thing and clear the runway and over-run as demanded by the city, state, DOT and pilots at the airport.

Thx,

Joe A

~~~~~

From: David Mace
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2012 9:20 PM

Subject: Update about "Leland Fly Fishing Ranch: IMMEDIATELY Remove the Solid Log Fence & Trees Across SVAs Runway Overrun"

This message is from David Mace who started the petition "Leland Fly Fishing Ranch: IMMEDIATELY Remove the Solid Log Fence & Trees Across SVAs Runway Overrun," which you signed on Change.org.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sadly, the fence removal stopped! The middle section, across the runway was disassembled and logs piled and left, but the sides fencing remains erect all the way to the threshold of 35. The DOT letter regarding the fence violation was specific, all three sides must be removed, especially the side fencing which {DOT states} "presents a hard stop (death) hazard to all aircraft operating at the Sonoma Valley Airport."

The side fencing, (zig-zag patterned) with log ends pointed straight at aircraft can impale the windshield and.... The bigger question here, why not just comply with DOT, especially when you have full knowledge of the hazard the fence poses?

Email Mr. & Mrs. Frazier (Leland) laurel@flyfishingoutfitters.com and joshfrazier@me.com and request they finish the job completely (all three sides) and correctly (remove debris from overrun) and give aviators and the airport back the safe airport operations deserved.

Thanks again. If you would like a copy of the DOT letter, email me dmace1020@gmail.com