Website: http://co-opa.com	 December 2012, Vol. 12, Issue 12
President's Message:

Our November meeting was jam packed.  Jay Bunning gave a short, but
very interesting presentation on the differences between fixed wing and
helicopter FARs pertaining to cloud and obstacle clearance.  If nothing
else Jay convince me to spend more time refreshing myself on the FARs.

Also thanks to Kelly Coffelt, Prineville Airport manager, for dropping
by with some other are pilots.  It sounds like we have pilots at S39
we can profitably do some outreach to.  We are, after all, the Central
Oregon chapter.  Our new years resolution should be to see if we can
reach out and expand our ranks a bit.

As has been our custom for many years, our December meeting will be off
the airport at a fine local restaurant.  This time we'll meet at 6pm at
Johnny Carino’s, in the same parking lot as Staple and Home Depot.
There will be a Yankee Gift Swap of aviation trinkets, new and used.
Bring a wrapped gist if you wish to participate.

Calendar:

20 December – Annual Partay!
22 December – Monthly Flyout

17 January – Monthly Meeting
19 January – Monthly Flyout

21 February – Monthly Meeting
23 February – Monthly Flyout

21 March – Monthly Meeting
23 March – Monthly Flyout

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”

Norma's Christmas Charity:

This years charity project is moving right along thanks to the diligence
of Don Wilfong and his friends at the Pilot Butte Middle School.  Almost
all the gifts have been purchased and wrapped.  Everything is scheduled
to be delivered Sunday evening.

Many thanks to those that contributed to Norma's Christmas Charity and
to Don for coordinating everything.  It is a good thing we do in Norma's
memory.  As always 100% of the donations go to the kids.  We'll hear in
January how it all went.

My INBOX:

Good news happening at the local airports this month.  Epic Aircraft,
now funded by Russian venture capital, has finalized the purchase of the
Cessna building and plans to add dozens of employees.  Let's hope they
are successful and can keep their knee caps.

Aero Facilities has started construction on a new 7 unit, 14,300 square
foot hanger on the east side of the Bend Airport.  No sales have been
reported yet but they must be confident the market for hangers is about
to improve.  

Up in Madras, Aero Air has already flown in the first of their planned
air tanker fleet of a dozen jets.  The airplanes will be based and
maintained at the Madras Airport.  Due to runway limitations at Madras
they will need to operate out of the Redmond Airport when conducting
fire fighting operations.

It has been a long recession but things are starting to brighten just a
tad in Central Oregon.  Fingers crossed.  Guess who left his seatbelt
dangling?

Pacific City Airport:

At the November meeting of CO-OPA, Sisters member John Dunlap reported
that the Oregon Dept. of Aviation is evaluating its 16 non-federally
funded airports for financial and safety issues. The airport at
Pacific City has been identified for potential closure due to safety
concerns. Dunlap frequently flies his Cessna 180 into the airport, and
believes that the closure of the air strip would severely impact the
local economy and limit emergency evacuations for the coastal community.
The airport currently serves as an emergency landing strip for planes
departing from Tillamook and Newport airports and the surrounding area.
Dunlap encouraged OPA members to express support for Pacific City and
other small airports by contacting ODA Director Mitch Swecker. 
	- Robin Holdman

November Flyout

As one would expect, the weather for our November Flyout was pretty
iffy.  Rather than brave the intermittent snow squalls in the air we
wisely retreated to the warmth and companionship of the Airport Cafe.

After breakfast Jerry Campbell put his glider away for the year so you
know it is now officially winter.  Any bets on when he assembles it for
spring?

As I write this the December Flyout forecast is for 60% chance of snow
with 1 to 2” of snow Friday night and another inch Saturday.  Sounds
like another good fly-out not to fly.

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	gem@rellim.com