The WINGS Safety Seminar, slated from 2 to 4 p.m., is themed “Uncensored Answers From the Tower.” Questions and answers in-the-round with retired SOCAL Tower Controller David Wittenburt, author of “Unwritten Rules,” will highlight the event. Eligible participants can earn FAASTeam WINGS Program credit.

     The suggest seminar donation of $10 will benefit the Cable Airport Foundation, a non-profit organization, for aviation-related scholarships.

     Cable Airport (KCCB) is located at 1749 W. 13th Street in Upland, Calif. (91786). The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with breakfast beginning at 7 a.m. For more information, call 909/917-5851.

A work group of the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee, an FAA/industry panel dedicated to reducing fatal general aviation accidents, has completed its report on loss-of-control accidents in the approach and landing phase of flight, including recommendations for safety improvements.

AOPA’s Air Safety Institute co-chairs the joint steering committee, and AOPA participated in the working group. A second work group – focused on en route and departure loss-of-control accidents – is chaired by AOPA and the FAA.

The work group focused on loss-of-control accidents because an FAA overview of fatal general aviation accidents from 2001 to 2010 concluded that 40.2 percent of fatal accidents during that period had loss of control as a cause.

By EAA Staff

EAA has strongly criticized the Federal Communications Commission for its latest attempt to curtail future use of 121.5 MHz emergency locator transmitters (ELTs), frankly telling the commission that it is infringing on aviation safety policy that rightly belongs to the FAA.

EAA’s comments came in response to the FCC’s third further notice of proposed rulemaking that invited comments on whether the FCC should prohibit the certification, manufacture, importation, sale, or use of 121.5 MHz ELTs.

The Federal Communications Commission should “immediately abandon” its bid to prohibit the certification, manufacture, importation, sale, or use of 121.5-MHz ELTs, AOPA said in a regulatory filing.

From its technological shortcomings to its costs – estimated by the FAA as $500 million – the proposal initiated by the FCC in January should be dropped, and the FCC should defer to the FAA on this and any future regulatory actions where aviation is concerned, AOPA said in extensive formal comments submitted April 1.

As the Federal Aviation Administration prepares to close 149 air traffic control towers as part of more than $600 million in spending cuts required by the sequester, a new Reason Foundation study shows how the FAA could save $1 billion a year by consolidating air traffic control centers and Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities.

More than 45 percent of U.S. air traffic control centers and 39 percent of TRACONs are over 35 years old. Instead of spending money upgrading these old and often isolated air traffic facilities, the Reason Foundation plan shows how air traffic control operations could be merged into large hubs that would guide air traffic throughout regions of the country.

“Imposing a $100 per flight user fee on commercial and general aviation is the wrong approach, and we respectfully request that you abandon this idea once and for all,” said the letter signed by 223 members of the House.

The letter, which was spearheaded by House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) and Ranking Member Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), as well as General Aviation Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) and Rep. John Barrow (D-GA), was sent days before the scheduled release of the President’s 2014 budget proposal. It noted that a user fee has been included in President Obama’s two most recent budgets, but was “overwhelmingly” rejected by Congress each time.

“Rarely do we see so many members of Congress so united on an issue,” said AOPA President Craig Fuller. “The message is loud and clear – user fees are the wrong way to fund our aviation system and Congress won’t support them.

“We are grateful to all the members of Congress who stepped forward to protect aviation by signing this letter. And we are especially thankful to Reps. LoBiondo, Larsen, Graves, and Barrow for their strong bipartisan leadership on this issue,” Fuller added.

The letter pointed out that the aviation industry is an important economic engine that could be harmed by user fees.

“Commercial and general aviation, including aviation manufacturing, are vital industries in our nation, providing millions of jobs and making important contributions to our economy,” the letter said. “We should work together to support policies that encourage job growth and strengthen U.S. economic activity.”

AOPA has staunchly opposed user fees, noting that pilots and aircraft operators already pay to support the system through fuel taxes. Imposing user fees would require the creation of an expensive new bureaucracy to manage and collect them. In addition, while tax increases must be approved by Congress, no such congressional oversight would be required to raise fees once they are in place.

View a copy of the letter at: http://download.aopa.org/epilot/2013/130405-User-Fee-Letter-to-President.pdf

For more information from AOPA, visit www.aopa.org.

The event provides information about California’s aviation industry and the multitude of activities and businesses that it supports. Displays will include a mobile command unit, light fixed wing aircraft, aircraft simulator, table top displays with information about the numerous private and public sector aviation contributors, along with engines and other aircraft items from the California Aerospace Museum.

California Aviation Day is the combined effort of numerous aviation industry groups from across California.  Sponsors include the California Aviation Council, California Pilots Association, National Business Aviation Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Reach Air Medical and the Air Med Care Network, Southern California Aviation Association, Northern California Business Aviation Association, Truckee Tahoe Airport District, Paramount Citrus Aviation, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Tartaglia Engineering, Aeroplex & Aerolease Group,  C & S Companies, Mead & Hunt, and Association of California Airports.

For more information about Aviation Day and the role of aviation within the state, please visit
www.caaviationday.com

About Association of California Airports (ACA)
The Association of California Airports or ACA represents both publicly- and privately-owned airports in the state of California and organizations and individuals working to foster, promote, and develop the air transportation system. For more information, visit www.calairports.com



There are car shows, airshows, motorcycle shows, tractor shows, county fairs, music festivals, food festivals and living history festivals galore. Mix them all together in one venue on one weekend and you’ve got Half Moon Bay’s beloved, one and only Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show, coming up April 27-28, running both days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Half Moon Bay Airport. An added bonus this year: with the opening of the brand new Devil’s Slide Tunnels on Highway 1, driving to the show will be easier and more interesting than ever!

Whimsical, fascinating, amusing, educational, curious, and utterly unique are a few words that folks use to describe this massive annual celebration of mechanical ingenuity, power and style known as “The Coolest Show on Earth.” It’s a remarkable show-and-tell spectacle, an outdoor museum-for-a-weekend, featuring 2,000 magnificent driving, flying and working machines from the 20th and 21st centuries. In short, a feast for the senses for motorheads!

World-class cars of every era and style, Model T fire engines, vintage buses, custom motorcycles, tricked-out trucks, supersonic World Land Speed Record streamliners, state-of-the-art SWAT vehicles, one-of-a-kind antique engines and tractors and historic military aircraft will be among the mesmerizing displays. 

Proud owners show off cars in all shapes, colors and sizes. Spectators will get a rare up-close look at antique horseless carriages and Ford Model T’s, fanciful touring and luxury cars, powerful sports cars, custom cars and street rods, muscle cars, vintage and modern-era high-performance race cars, quirky art and pedal cars, modified street machines with cutting edge styles, exotic high-performance cars, stylish European cars, ultra cool low-riders, sporty compacts, modified imports with flashy graphics, fashionable hip-hop urban show cars, homebuilt kit cars, super-charged turbo cars and trucks, “green” technology vehicles, streamliners, dragsters, funny cars, gassers, and jet cars.

Hundreds of aviation wonders are expected to be on display – stylish homebuilts, classics from the ‘40s and ‘50s, vintage warbirds, sport and ultralight aircraft. Highlights include jaw-dropping, shock and awe flyovers by historic military aircraft; the massive Douglas DC-4, a World War II humanitarian aircraft now used for U.S. government disaster relief missions, which will do a special take-off and landing at 3 p.m. both days; “Mustang Madness,” a spectacular display of America’s premier World War II fighter; the Estrella Warbird Museum’s historic Douglas C-47 (regarded as the World’s Greatest Aircraft of its time), YAK Russian fighters and an impressive array of T-6 and T-28 military fighters and trainers. Thrilling rides will be offered in helicopters, vintage bi-planes, along with Beech 18 and T-6 military trainers.

The Military Vehicle Technology Foundation (MVTF) brings a piece of “living history” to this year’s show. The MVTF will have a large display of rare military vehicles, including two Joint Light Tactical Combat Vehicles making their first public appearance, and also plan to conduct blank firings of their vehicle mounted machine guns. MVTF tour guides, dressed in military garb, will be on hand to talk about their historic machinery providing excellent photo opportunities. The MVTF in association with the West Coast Armor Association also plan to perform mock battle re-enactments during the show titled “Rescue of a Downed Pilot.” These staged battles will be performed by professional re-enactors trained in “presentation stunt combat” regularly used in television and movies.

The attractions for kids are amazing and endless: a super-cool new zip line, a bungee jump, a mechanical bull ride, a climbing wall, carnival rides, walk-on-waterballs, henna tattoos, face painting, and a remote-controlled NASCAR race track. There will be plenty of festive food and delicious drink with the special Motorhead Ale from Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Sauza margaritas and Barefoot Wine & Bubbly.

The sensational lineup of music includes Bill Kirchen, The Inciters, Big Cat Tolefree & His Hipnotic Band, Pel & The Pelicans, plus Robert Powell, Charlie Powell & Grant Walters performing throughout the weekend. Plus, there’s enchanting storytelling by the Gypsy Time Travelers backdropped by their quirky traveling rig, Florence 

This year’s Pilots Association Saturday Night Hangar Dinner (April 27) will feature a special tribute to Ray Martini, a decorated World War II veteran and treasured Coastsider. The dinner is at Eddie Andreini’s hangar at the airport. Tickets are $30 per person, available at the door. Parking is on the airport field; enter off Capistrano Road.

Spectator admission to the show is $20 ($30 for 2-day pass) for adults, $10 ($15 for 2-day pass) for ages 11-17 and 65-plus, and free for kids age 10 and under. Tickets are available at the gate only. Half Moon Bay Airport, at 9850 N. Cabrillo Highway, is located on Highway 1, about 20 miles south of San Francisco and five miles north of Highway 92. For information, call 650-726-2328 or visit www.miramarevents.com

Headline attractions scheduled to appear include:

• Jaw-dropping, shock and awe flyovers by historic military aircraft throughout the event.

• Riveting military vehicle blank gun firings and mock battle re-enactments by the West Coast Armor Association.

• Super sleek speed machines in “World Record Wonderland” including legendary builder Jack Costella’s Nebulous Theorem streamliners that have set more than 100 land speed records.

• Spine-tingling take-off and landing by the massive, Douglas DC-4 at 3 pm both days.

• A special display of nostalgia dragsters to honor the former Half Moon Bay Drag Strip.

• Magnificent military aircraft including the Estrella Warbird Museum’s Douglas C-47 (regarded as the World’s Greatest Aircraft of its time), YAK Russian fighters and an impressive array of T-6 and T-28 military fighters and trainers.

• World land speed record holders, the “Ack Attack” motorcycle streamliner, Lightning Motorcycles solar-powered SB2 Super Bike, and the world’s second fastest “Dirtboat” landsailer.

• “Mustang Madness,” a spectacular display of America’s Premier World War II Fighter.

• The one-of-a-kind Blastolene Brothers extreme, mega-modified machines.

• Aerobatics great Eddie Andreini doing fly-overs in his bi-plane, YAK Russian fighter and P-51.

• “El Diablo,” an astonishing jet-powered flame-effects device designed for “Burning Man.”

• Ultra thrilling rides in helicopters, bi-planes, Beech 18 and T-6 military trainers.

• Rare, meticulously restored vehicles from the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation including two Joint Light Tactical Combat Vehicles making their first public appearance.

•1 904 Holsman Hi-Wheeler, antique automobile part of Coastsider’s family tree.

• Refurbished fly-wheel engines from the Early Days Gas Engine & Tractor Association.

• Roots of Motive Power’s collection of restored logging equipment.

• Zip-line, bungee jump, mechanical bull, remote-controlled NASCAR racing, kid’s amusements.

• Fabulous food and drink with Half Moon Bay Brewing Company’s special Motor Head Ale.

• Live music with headliners Bill Kirchen, The Inciters, Big Cat Tolefree & His Hipnotic Band, Pel & The Pelicans, plus Robert Powell, Charlie Powell & Grant Walters.

• Enchanting storytelling by the Gypsy Time Travelers and their quirky traveling rig, Florence 

• Pilots Association Saturday Night Hangar Dinner (April 27) at Eddie Andreini’s Hangar. Featuring a special tribute to Ray Martini, Decorated World War II veteran and Treasured Coastsider. Tickets are $30 per person, available at the door. Parking is on the airport field; enter off Capistrano Road.