OAA | OAA

OAA Scholarship Winner Returns for Visit with his First Airman’s Medical Examiner (AME), George Merkle M.D

Carlsbad CA— The Oceanside Airport Association (OAA) garners community support for our local airport by administering a flight scholarship for area high school students. The first of our scholarship recipients was Kevin Williams, who at the time of award was a fifteen-year-old sophomore at Oceanside High School.

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After his high school graduation, Kevin “joined the Navy” and shipped off to Annapolis to attend the U.S. Naval Academy where he graduated with a degree in Systems Engineering. Kevin is now a USMC officer and is in the Navy’s training pipeline to become a F-35 pilot.

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Students who are awarded our scholarship must pass a physical exam conducted by OAA member and FAA designated Airman’s Medical Examiner (AME), George Merkle M.D. Over the years George has provided these exams to our students on a pro bono basis.

This week Kevin returned home to enjoy the Thanksgiving holidays with family and friends and took a few minutes to stop by and thank George for helping launch his aviation career.

First OAA Scholarship Recipient Learning to Fly the “Navy Way”

These are the latest pictures from Kevin Williams, first recipient of our scholarship. Kevin was 15 when he started his training. He soloed on News Year’s Day 2010 with a crowd of well wishers as witnesses. (Jerry Kern was there.) After graduation from Oceanside High Kevin was accepted into the US Naval Academy where he studied Systems Engineering. He was a competing member of the USNA flight team. A few days after his graduation Kevin married his high school “sweetheart”, Hunter Dawn, in a ceremony held in a hangar at Oceanside Airport. Afterward Kevin reported to the USNavy flight school as a to start learning how to fly the “Navy Way”! The pictures are from Kevin’s recent experiences in flight school and flying the 1100 hp Beechcraft T-6B “Texan II”.

Oceanside Mayor Commended for Declaring May ‘General Aviation Appreciation Month’

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Oceanside CA— On Tuesday, The Alliance for Aviation Across America commended Mayor Jim Wood of Oceanside, California for proclaiming May “General Aviation Appreciation Month.” In California, general aviation contributes over $30.2 billion to the state’s total economic impact.

“Mayor Wood’s proclamation helps highlight the economic benefits and valuable service that general aviation provides to Oceanside and the State of California,” said Selena Shilad, Executive Director of the Alliance for Aviation Across America. “We sincerely thank the Mayor and the City of Oceanside for recognizing this vital industry.”

About The Alliance for Aviation Across America

Formed in 2007, the Alliance for Aviation Across America is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition of more than 6,300 individuals representing businesses, agricultural groups, FBO’s, small airports, elected officials, charitable organizations, and leading business and aviation groups that support the interest of the general aviation community across various public policy issues.

Spring 2016 Newsletter

OAA Hosts Two MiraCosta College Interns

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Last summer the Oceanside Airport Association joined forces with faculty members at Mira Costa College to develop and award two paid internships. Learning objectives were established which required study of FAA organizations, processes and funding mechanisms, flight standards and Voluntary Noise Abatement Procedures (VNAP), airport design standards & planning, and more. Justin Morris a student in the Computer Science program, was selected and given the collateral project of increasing the Association’s “web presence”.

Our second intern was Gilberto Perez, a decorated USMC veteran and student from the Mira Costa’s Architecture & Design program. Gilberto attended the public reviews of the draft Airport Master Plan, then developed an alternative airport design that emphasized community desires. He has prepared an architectural model of that design which is temporarily located at the School of Architecture & Design at Cal Poly Pomona, where Gilberto now studies.

Flight Scholarship for Local Teens

It’s that time of year to get the word out about our Jack Cassan flight scholarship, open to North County high school students. This flight scholarship is given in memoriam to Jack Cassan, a community leader and activist who aggressively supported the Oceanside Municipal Airport. The scholarship is designed to promote the aviation interests and career pursuits of local high school students and will only be awarded to those who have demonstrated a strong interest in aviation and are passionate about becoming a pilot. Our members are encouraged to “Spread the Word” about our offerings. Please direct interested teens to our online application [Here]

From the President

The Oceanside Airport Association is excited to make this another successful year, as we prepare to offer the Jack Cassan flight scholarship to local high school students. The success of our organization comes from the hard work of members and volunteers. Our board wants you to know that your participation and support makes a difference. Without your donations and hard work Oceanside Airport would have long ago become an auto-plex or shopping mall.

Volunteers interested in supporting the airport and local aviation are always needed. All of our efforts are focused on ensuring that the airport is operated and developed to it’s full potential as a community asset that can be enjoyed by both the flying and non-flying public.

Jim Wallace Completes 25,000th Jump at KOKB

Temecula resident and legendary skydiver Jim Wallace completed his 25th thousand jump at KOKB in November. Wallace was inducted into the National Skydiving Museum Hall of Fame in September 2013. He became a USPA-rated instructor in 1982 and opened his own skydiving instruction school in 1992. He holds 11 world formation skydiving records and is a commercial pilot. Congratulations, Jim!

“The airport runway is the most important Mainstreet in any town.”
— Norm Crabtree, former aviation director for the state of Ohio.

Andy Hansen Receives Aviation Leadership Award

Last month during a surprise ceremony, Board Member, Andy Hansen, was given the OAA’s “Aviation Leadership” Award in recognition for his more than ten years of service to Oceanside Airport and our association. Andy became a board member in 2004 and was elected to VP the following year. Over the years Andy has also served as chairperson for our Scholarship Committee and has been the lead organizer for the numerous community outreach events held at the airport.

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Andy and his wife Nancy have done everything from flipping burgers to parking show cars in order to help the airport increase it’s standing with tenants, neighbors and local elected officials. Andy retired from the USMC in 1998 after 20 years as a fixed-wing and helicopter pilot. Shortly after retiring Andy began flying for Lusardi Construction where he is now Chief Pilot captaining a Challenger 300 business jet.

On weekends you can find Andy and Nancy at local car shows where they won’t be far away from an immaculately restored 1962 Chevy Impalla SS. Thank you Andy and Nancy for your years of tireless support.

OAA General Membership Meeting

The Oceanside Airport Association Board of Directors has scheduled our next annual General Membership Meeting for 10:30 Saturday morning on 4 June. The meeting will be held in the Oceanside Library Community Room located at 3861-B Mission Ave. (“Sandwiched” between the Oceanside Police Department and the Library’s Mission Branch.) The agenda for the meeting will include a briefing on Master Plan status & issues, association, 2016 planning and an election of officers. Seating is limited and is reserved for current members of the association only (ie dues current 15 days prior to meeting).

City Adopts New System for Input of Public Comments On Agenda Items

Oceanside citizens may now submit comments on city council agenda items in advance of council meetings by using a new web portal recently launched by city clerk’s office. All comments received via the web will be compiled and provided to council members prior to council meetings. This will provide an excellent way for OAA members to let our council know how we feel regarding agenda items which focus on the airport or on issues which will affect the airport. For more information use the link below.

www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/gov/clerk/position.asp

“For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. “
– Leonardo da Vinci

National Security Areas Over San Diego Bay?

The U.S. Navy is proposing to “discourage” civilian VFR traffic over the San Diego Bay by creating three new National Security Areas (NSAs). The NSAs would be continuously active for aircraft at or below 2800 ft. The NSAs would serve to protect “High Value Units” (HVU) including submarines, aircraft carriers and other ships moored at Pt. Loma, Coronado and South Bay by reducing over flights of low level GA traffic. Local pilots who utilize the San Diego VFR corridor will want to review this proposal carefully. The FAA has published the proposal and has taken public comments. Expect to hear more on the Navy request after FAA completes additional bureaucratic steps. So “Stay Tuned”!!

OAA Free-Use Bike Program, Call ahead

The Oceanside Airport Association has a stable of “Free-Use Airport Bikes”. Pilots, crews and families are encouraged to borrow our bikes and enjoy a ride along the San Luis Rey River to the beach. A dedicated bike trail leads from the airport to the coast, marina and pier. We also have “loaner” helmets and locks.

Specialty bikes are available including tandems, bikes with surfboard carriers, and children’s bikes. There is no fee, all we ask it that you help us spread the word about our great little airport and coastal community.

Visitors who are familiar with our Free-Use Bike program should note that the bike program was temporarily suspended due to hangar construction but is alive, well and now back in business. Aircraft owners and pilots wishing to reserve a bike (or bikes) should call 760-525-0808 a minimum of 24 hours in advance of their ETA.

CBO Installs New Spokesperson

The community group representing homeowners in the neighborhoods north of the airport have appointed a new spokesperson. Joe Webber now heads the Citizens for a Better Oceanside CBO (formerly know as “Citizens Against the Airport ”) and has become vocal about airport issues that impact the community.

Since announcement of the appointment, our board has had several meetings with Mr. Webber where we have outlined a vision for the airport that includes facilities designed for noise attenuation, a common architectural theme, public participation in ALL airport planning activities, changes in helicopter flight patterns, and development of facilities that will better serve the community AND a desired spectrum of aviation users. We are happy to report that OAA and CBO are in full alignment on these and other airport related issues and we look forward to working closely with Joe and the CBO in creating a community asset that all Oceanside residents an enjoy.

Oceanside Now Represented On Palomar Airport Advisory Committee (PAAC)

OAA president, Gordon Nesbitt, was approached by the San Diego County Division of Airports and subsequently asked to serve 3 year term on the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee (PAAC). Topics addressed in recent meetings have included review and approval of airport operational guidelines, minimum standards for airport businesses, polices & procedures, and runway / taxiway redesign & scheduling. The final draft of the Palomar Airport Master Plan will be considered by the PAAC later this year. Gordon has also been interfacing with the Fallbrook Airport Advisory Committee on topics of interest to all North County pilots.

Airport Layout Plan (ALP) Submitted to FAA- Master Plan Drags On

An Airport Layout Plan (ALP) provides a notional airport design and identifies improvements grouped into projects, each of which is to be uniquely funded by FAA, Cal Trans and/or the airport owner/operator. The Oceanside city council approved submittal of the KOKB ALP to the FAA earlier in 2015.

Meanwhile, there is still more work to be done to complete the master plan including adjudication of the last set of public comments. The next meeting of the Master Plan Technical Advisory Committee (where the adjudication process will take place) has yet to be announced. The OAA is a participant and has provided numerous comments, concerns and potential issues relating to the development and content of the draft master plan and the subordinate ALP.

Stay tuned…

Pay your Dues online-It’s quick and easy

Whether you are a pilot or not, whether you own a plane or just love aircraft and flying… You can support the future of General Aviation in Oceanside! Your membership dues, just $15/year will support the operations of the OAA and allow us to continue our scholarship. Donate through our PayPal link or by mailing a check to OAA, P.O. BOX 172 Oceanside, CA 92049. Thank you for your support! Donate $100 or more and receive an OAA pilot’s ball-cap adorned with our distinctive gold winged logo.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Oceanside Airport

Q: What is the Oceanside Airport Association?

A: The Oceanside Airport Association (OAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public-benefit California Corporation and a local chapter of the California Pilot’s Association (CPA). We support preservation of the Oceanside Airport (ICAO Airport identifier KOKB) through education and communication. We accept membership from pilots and non-pilots interested in supporting aviation in Oceanside. We are a resource for pilots, the public, the press and city government. We encourage calls from the community on subjects related to general aviation and the Oceanside Airport. Volunteering for the OAA is a community service and donations are tax deductible.

Q: Where is the Oceanside Airport located?

A: The Oceanside Airport is located 2 miles east of the Interstate 5 and Highway 76 intersection, on the north side of Highway 76 and Airport Road. Please see the Visitors page for more information.

Q: How can I get involved?

A:Become and member and fill one of the many volunteer positions. Become a member by filling out a membership application you can print from our Join page. Then volunteer for one of our committees you can read about by going to our Committees link.

Q: What benefits does Oceanside Airport bring to our community?

A(1): Local Education.
You can learn about aviation at the airport. The EAA’s Young Eagles program and the OAA host regular educational events open to the public at the airport. Even if you may not care to learn to fly, a son or daughter, relative or friend, may someday wish to learn. Many airline and military pilots got their start right here at the Oceanside Airport.

A(2): Oceanside Airport Saves Lives–A part of North County’s Emergency Medical System.
Since we have no Emergency Trauma Center in North County, the Oceanside Airport allows Mercy Air Critical Care helicopters to quickly evacuate critically injured patients to the nearest trauma center within the all-important Golden Hour. According to Mercy Air, their response time would be significantly increased without unhampered access to the Oceanside Airport. Unfortunately, helicopters cannot land just anywhere. They need to be sure that their landing spots are safe and secure, for the benefit of their patients and the public, as well as the crew and their aircraft. With the airport available to them they are not forced to use precious time searching for an appropriate landing spot then waiting for safety crews to clear and secure the area. On average, Emergency medical airlift operations occur at Oceanside Airport every day of the year.

A(3): Disaster preparedness.
In the event of a natural disaster (earthquakes, etc.), the Oceanside Airport would be critical to our City’s rescue and recovery efforts. According to the Oceanside Fire Department, the Oceanside Airport would be absolutely essential if all roads and bridges in our city were to be destroyed or made impassable.

A(4): A Community Center.
Oceanside Airport is a small, public, and community airport. The airport hosts community service aviation related events and there are public seating areas where you can go to enjoy the airport and aviation activities. Many people who enjoy the airport are not pilots and appreciate the relaxing views, open space and activity at the airport. Much like folks who like to go to the harbor and watch boats, there are folks who like to go to the airport and watch planes. However, the airport can be made friendlier by performing renovations that increase public seating and viewing areas and make the airport a more inviting public resource. The Airport Master Plan provides for this with a proper terminal building, public restaurant and public seating area. If you live in the area, you may want to become involved in this renovation.

A(5): Open Space.
The airport contributes to maintaining open spaces in our beautiful valley. Many folks have moved into the area because of it’s character, look and feel. Without the airport this area and it’s surrounds could certainly be subject to uncontrolled growth and turned into a very high density and possibly multi-story developments and issues that come from overdevelopment.

Q: Does the Oceanside Airport affect property values in the surrounding residential areas?

A: Because the Oceanside Airport is, and will remain, a very small airport, it has never affected property values in the past. The new homes, directly north of the airport, sold for approximately $240,000 in 1997. In 2001 they were selling for about $400,000. That is a 60% increase, which appears to be a typical increase for most properties in Oceanside. It is the economic forces of supply and demand, not the Oceanside airport that affects property values. Actually, some people choose to house-hunt and move to Oceanside because we do have an airport.

Q: Is it true that no money earned at the airport can go into the General Fund?

A: No. It is true that the proceeds from the hangar and tie-down rentals must remain in the Airport Fund, by law. However, the General Fund receives moneys from sales and personal property taxes (aircraft are taxed at 1% of their value as personal property) and revenues that the businesses and pilots on the airport create. That is why it is essential that we improve the airport to attract new businesses and new based aircraft.

Q: Wouldn’t it be better to have a Car Country or a shopping mall such as those in Carlsbad?

A: There will never be a Car Country like the one in Carlsbad because automobile manufacturers and distributors do not allow competing dealerships within a 10-mile radius of existing dealerships. The same might be said for a shopping mall. The massive increase in traffic would be reason enough to not have either, not to mention 24 hour lighting necessary for both car and shopping malls.

Q: How much money can the airport generate?

A: According to the City of Oceanside, the airport has the potential of generating 1.5 million dollars (annually) from hangar and tie-down rentals alone. That does not include sales tax and personal property tax revenues that go directly into the General Fund. The restaurant, a possible museum and additional businesses will dramatically increase revenue to the General Fund.

Q: Is it true that no schools can be built near the airport?

A: No. There are no State laws that prevent schools from being built near an airport. There are already several schools in close proximity to the airport. The California Division of Aeronautics (CDA) can and does allow new schools to be built close to airports, after site approval by the CDA.

Q: Is the Oceanside Airport safe?

A: Yes. According to aviation statistics, Oceanside Airport has, throughout it’s over 40-year history, enjoyed an excellent safety record. Statistically, air travel is one of the safest modes of transportation.

Q: Is it true that with the new airport improvements, the runway will be made longer to accommodate larger private airplanes and jet aircraft?

A: No. Benet Road to the West, and Foussat Road to the East can never lengthen the runway because it is landlocked. The airport was designed to accommodate only light single and twin-engine aircraft.

Q: What is the 1997 Master Plan?

A: The Airport Master Plan was approved by the City Council in 1997, and calls for the upgrade and improvement of the Oceanside Municipal Airport. The 1997 master plan has three phases.

Q: How will the Master Plan be implemented?

A: Phase I – replaces the 21 hangars that were demolished to make way for Highway 76 construction.

Phase II – replaces the 30 existing hangars that are badly in need of repair. In addition, the existing airport offices will be replaced and a small caf� will be added. Also, two large maintenance hangars (also demolished to make way for Highway 76) will be replaced.

NOTE: Phases I and II will simply bring the airport back to it’s capacity prior to the construction of Highway 76.

Phase III – On May 26, 2003, the property (14.7 acres) on the north side of the airport was purchased with a Federal Grant of 2.5 million dollars. Per Federal law, the property can only be used for aviation related purposes. This new area is mostly for parking locations that will be moved from the south side of the airport to make a larger taxiway requested by the FAA for safer ground movement. The FAA wants a larger taxiway on the South side and this is a large reason for the FAA grant.

Q: How will the three phases of the Master Plan be funded and will Oceanside General Fund money be used?

A: All construction will be funded through low interest loans from the California Division of Aeronautics’ “Aviation Trust Fund.” The State Aviation Fuel Tax paid by pilots when fueling their airplanes generates the Trust Fund money. These loans will be repaid with proceeds from hangar and tie-down rentals. Federal Grant money comes from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) Aviation Trust Fund, generated by a Federal Aviation Fuel Tax, also paid by pilots when buying aviation fuel. Federal Grant money is essentially FREE MONEY and need not be repaid provided the airport remains open and viable. NO OCEANSIDE GENERAL FUND TAXPAYER MONEY is required to implement the Airport Master Plan.

Q: Has the General Fund ever loaned money to the Airport Enterprise Fund?

A: Yes. Those loans funded the Environmental Impact Report and the engineering required for the 1997 Airport Master Plan. The Airport Enterprise Fund is in the process of repaying those loans. The loans would have been fully repaid, long ago, if the Master Plan had been implemented when it was approved in 1997.

Q: How long has there been an airport in the San Luis Rey Valley?

A: This airport has been in the San Luis Rey Valley since the 1930’s. The airport was established as a U. S. Navy alternate landing field. In 1962 the runway was shifted a few hundred yards to the north to it’s present position.

Q: Why do some people want the airport closed?

A: It appears because they are sensitive to noise aircraft create. Per studies by California Department of Transportation, a small amount of the population is abnormally sensitive, or “annoyed” by noise. Some just don’t like airplanes. Professional noise studies have determined that the aircraft and Oceanside Airport operations are all within acceptable limits. However, there will always be some people who live directly under a departure path that do not like airplanes. Folks sensitive to aircraft noise that do not live adjacent to the departure path should know that much of the air traffic near Oceanside is not generated by Oceanside Airport traffic. The entire San Diego area and especially the coast have some of the busiest airways in the world.

Q: Can the airport ever be closed?

A: The practical answer is no. The theoretical answer is a discussion of what is remotely possible. Could the city break federal laws and get away with it? Could the US Government ever be overthrown? Possible? Yes. Practical? Not. Closing Oceanside’s airport is impractical because it is a Federally Obligated Airport. The City accepted Federal Grant Money from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to purchase real estate for the Oceanside Airport and signed a binding contract called the Federal Grant Assurances. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Grant Assurance Manual, the City of Oceanside is required to keep the airport open indefinitely. The process of trying to close the airport would cost the General Fund millions of dollars to repay the FAA grants, legal fees, and actual demolition costs, if it were even allowed by the FAA. But even after a long and exhaustive battle, closure would probably be refused. In fact, there is no precedent for the FAA allowing a federal land grant or AIP-funded airport to be closed. So where does this leave the city? In a conservative view, it would be much easier and profitable for the City to implement the Master Plan, attract new businesses and services, and make the airport and surrounds attractive to both residents and visitors. Why try to argue against, close or cripple the airport? The highest and best use of any Federally Obligated Airport land is to meet the demands of aviation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT THE OCEANSIDE AIRPORT ASSOCIATION

E-mail: oceansideairport@hotmail.com

Telephone: (760) 635-3378

About the OAA

Welcome to the OAA

This is the home for news and information about the Oceanside Airport Association (OAA) and the Oceanside Airport. The OAA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public-benefit California Corporation and a local chapter of the California Pilot’s Association (CalPilots).

Mission Statement

The mission of the Oceanside Airport Association (OAA) is to support the continued operation and growth of the Oceanside Airport. To raise community awareness regarding benefits derived from General Aviation and the use of the Oceanside Airport. To enhance flight safety in the skies over Oceanside and help ensure good relations between the residents of Oceanside and OAA pilots.

OAA also strives to:

Promote youth interest and education in STEM areas and aerospace, promote and provide aviation scholarships
Protection of environmentally sensitive areas around the airport (San Luis Rey river).

Airport Future

Small public airfields are a community resource for everyone. Pilots know the value of local airfields like Oceanside and understand that these valuable General Aviation airfields can disappear quickly without the backing and continued support of everyone in and around Oceanside. Aviators, people who love flying, those who love airplanes and those who see what this airfield means today and what it will mean in the future to the people of Oceanside must embrace its existence and band together to make sure it is always maintained as an aviation asset to our city and region. With that in mind, I urge you to join with us and join the OAA today. Your membership fee supports the contining education efforts we sponsor to inform the people of our city about the value of having this airport in Oceanside, and your membership supports our efforts to protect and preserve our airport from any who wish to see it closed. Your OAA Membership dues and donations are tax deductible. Just print a Membership Application from the Join page and send today. For frequently asked questions see our FAQ page. Email us or contact us any time. Hope to see you at the airport.

Smooth landings,