Website http://co-opa.com March 2016, Vol. 3, Issue 16 President's Message: Winter briefly roared in early March, but the weather should be in the 60s for our fly-out day. The winds should be light and variable with partly cloudy skies. At least on our side of the Cascades. But not so good on the other side. Salem ( KSLE) is forecast overcast. Aurora (KUAO) and Eugene (KEUG) are forecast mostly cloudy and rain. Contribute your weather prognostication with us in the Professional Air lounge downstairs in the KBDN Flight Services Building this Thursday, the Third Thursday, 17 March, around 6pm. Bring some food for the potluck at 6:30pm, and the usual 'formal' meeting at 7pm. We’ll pick a fly-out destination, Maybe Wasco or K-falls? Calendar: 17 March – Monthly Meeting 19 March – Monthly Fly-out 21 April – Monthly Meeting 23 April – Monthly Fly-out 19 May – Monthly Meeting 21 May – Monthly Fly-out 16 June – Monthly Meeting 18 June – Monthly Fly-out Newsletter Inputs: Send your newsletter tidbits to: February Fly-out: Three airplanes made it to Grant County Airport (KGCD). And all Cessnas! As usual there were clouds 500 feet over the ridge just before the John Day River valley. One plane went under, one over, and one around. Just to make sure no one was still hiding up there. Good thing they had a nice big crew car to get us all down the mountain together to brunch in John Day. We ate at The Outpost, then took a short trip down Highway 395 to Canyon City to peek a bit at the fire damage. There are two fine museums in John Day, but for some strange reason they are always closed on weekends... My Inbox: I keep hearing rumors about the traffic pattern changing at Bend (KDN). The helicopter pattern would always be to the East. The powered fix wing to the West, and I assume the gliders on the East with the choppers. Can anyone confirm or deny? Seems to me to be a good thing, except Cimmaron City complaints will certainly rise. At least then the complaints will all be about helicopters. Leading Edge Aviation has been holding Wings workshops every month at the Redmond Jet Center. Now that they are no longer scheduling on top of the CO-OPA meeting we can head up there for more aviation fun. You can get on their newsletter, and get more info on the workshops by emailing: info@flybend.com. Salem Airspace: Once again, there is a new airspace plan for Salem Mcnary Field (KSLE). Heated complaints from the Independence Airport (7S5) led to changes so the KSLE Class D no longer interferes dangerously with the 7S5 pattern. In an unexpected development, the Class D to the North and Northeast has also been greatly reduced. It seems there are a number of Christmas Tree farms there that do helicopter forestry. Who tree farmers had clout with the FAA?? And we all need to pay attention. None of this is on the charts yet and ATC still expects us to be complying. Web doings: Check out current and past CO-OPA newsletters, view our membership list and view hot aviation links on our website at: co-opa.com To access the members only areas the username is “BDN” and the password is “123.0”