washington skies - content.govdelivery.com
TRANSCRIPT
Washington State Department Of Transportation Aviation Division Oct. 15, 2021
Washington Skies
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information: This material can be made available in an alternate format by emailing the Office of Equal Opportunity at [email protected] or by calling toll free, 855-362-4ADA(4232). Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may make a request by calling the Washington State Relay at 711.
Title VI Statement to Public: It is the WSDOT’s (WSDOT) policy to assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin or sex, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise discriminated against under any of its federally funded programs and activities. Any person who believes his/her Title VI protection has
been violated, may file a complaint with WSDOT’s Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). For additional information regarding Title VI complaint procedures and/or information regarding our non-discrimination obligations, please contact OEO’s Title VI Coordinator at (360) 705-7090.
Newsletter Feedback
Please provide any feedback or comments for this newsletter to Christina Crea at [email protected].
UPCOMING EVENTS
• Commercial Aviation
Coordinating Commission has an
online open house that opened Sept.
20 and is extended past Oct. 3 until
further notice to allow for more
translations in other languages.
• Washington State Community
Airports Association Conference
Oct. 20-21.
If there are any other events you would
like us to distribute, please email
Aviation News around Washington State Airbus Says Single Pilot Flight Crews Are The Long Term Future - Simple Flying
More pilots going to apps and online for weather — General Aviation News
New NTSB Website Goes Live - AVweb
Neste announces new global partnership to supply SAF | Biofuels International Magazine (biofuels-news.com)
Airports Turn To NASA Technology To Reduce Delays | Flying (flyingmag.com)
Aircraft Noise: FAA Could Improve Outreach Through Enhanced Noise Metrics, Communication, and Support to Communities | U.S. GAO
New plant in Germany aims to cut flying's carbon footprint (wsls.com)
How the Advanced Air Mobility Revolution is Gaining Momentum | Business Aviation News: Aviation International News (ainonline.com)
NBAA Single-Pilot Safety Standdown Emphasizes Effective ADM Skills | NBAA - National Business Aviation Association
WUR developing new aviation fuel based on mixture of acetone and alcohol from wet bio-waste streams - Green Car Congress
GPS Jamming Tests Frustrate Pilots, Controllers - AVweb
Poll: What Concerns You Most About AAM Integration in the NAS? | NBAA - National Business Aviation Association
A New Kind of Blown Diamond Box-Wing 9-Seat eVTOL Is Coming (interestingengineering.com)
Honda Announces Plans to Create eVTOL Aircraft | Flying (flyingmag.com)
An historic first time for general aviation occurred Sept. 25 when the Disaster Airlift Response Team (DART) and Emergency Volunteer Air Corps (EVAC) pilots of the West Coast General Aviation Response Plan (WCGARP) did a training where they airlifted an entire Search and Rescue team (Empact NW) along with their equipment from Bellingham International Airport to Point Roberts—a location that has been physically isolated due to the border restrictions since the start of the pandemic.
This is what the WCGARP is about, helping isolated communities in need.
“What we learned from this is invaluable in our understanding of how to tap into general aviation as a mobility resource in the aftermath of disasters and a historic moment in this effort,” said Sky Terry, NW Regional Emergency Services Director. “Sometimes in life we witness leaps forward in understanding of things and get a rare privilege to be a part of that leap. Together we all stand as trail blazers and pioneers that in so doing helped pave a far better future.”
The main purpose of this exercise was to learn how to move an entire search and rescue team and equipment as in the aftermath of a disaster.
This was also an opportunity to work a large number of aircraft into a limited forward airstrip, which the principles learned will lay a solid foundation, Terry said.
There was about 48 landings and takeoffs at each airport a day. Point Roberts is a grass strip of just over 2,200 ft with limited parking, so this was a major operation in coordination of aircraft movement.
They had 13 planes making the runs and about 50 people combined between the two locations with 11 on the search and rescue team.
This was the first airlift by general aviation on the west coast of an entire search and rescue team along with all their equipment from a logistical base out to a remote forward drop point.
Search and rescue training from Bellingham International Airport to Point Roberts first of its kind
“Then to make it even more real, we flew pizza out for lunch along with cake and drinks before we flew them back in the afternoon,” Terry said. “This coordination was so successful that all crossings during the insertion of the team and the extraction occurred in the air and nearly the same spot each time. That’s a huge achievement in controlled release/coordination in a general aviation operation between two points.”
Terry said the limitation of having to ensure they didn’t overload Point Roberts became quite the accomplishment to have pulled this off so smoothly.
“With this now under our belts, we can say with certainty that general aviation can contribute significantly to disaster response,” Terry said.
An all-new WSDOT.wa.gov is coming this fall!
This fall the Washington State Department of Transportation is launching its redesigned website,
created with you in mind. We’re rewriting our web content so you can quickly find and understand the
information you need. And, we’re improving our website to make it more mobile and user-friendly, as
well as accessible to everyone.
We listened to you.
WSDOT.wa.gov is designed to make it easier to find what you’re looking for. We tested our site with
users like you and made adjustments to better meet your needs, based on user feedback.
Our all new Travel Center will help travelers get the information you need quickly and efficiently.
No matter how you travel, you’ll find everything you need – roadway and travel conditions,
ferries, cameras, weather information, toll accounts, commercial vehicle restrictions, bike
routes – all in one place.
Whether you are a contractor, subcontract, or consultant; a city or county partner; business or
service provider – you’ll find information on how to do business with us all conveniently located
in our Business with WSDOT section highlighting contracting, consulting and product sales
opportunities, how to qualify for a grant and services we can provide to local agencies.
Our Engineering & Standards section will get you to the tools and guidance you need to deliver
projects and meet rules and requirements – everything from standard specifications, to plan
sheets, engineering manuals and design topics including environmental, hydraulics/ hydrology,
utilities, traffic and ADA. No more searching the website to piece it all together – we’ve done
that for you.
For those who are interested in learning more about WSDOT – our mission, our CEO, how we are
performing, our research projects, and employment opportunities – you’ll find it all in About.
If you want to know where your tax money is being spent, our Construction & Planning section has
information on WSDOT projects, funding, planning studies, revenue forecasting and financial
planning. All designed to help you find what you need, quickly.
Watch for more details coming soon!
REPORT SUMMER FIRES
Summer fires happen, and you could be the first to spot a fire from above. If you spot a fire while flying, please use the Wildfire Reporting Instructions found on page 151 of the Washington State Airport Guide. Thank you for your help!
Ranger Creek State-Managed Airport supports student pilot flight training
Student pilot Caleb from Seattle sent in a selfie (below) standing next to a Robinson R22 he is training in to get his Private Pilots License. Caleb and his instructor visited Ranger Creek State Airport September 22.
Ranger Creek State Airport is located in Pierce County 30 miles southeast of Enumclaw on State Route 410, just outside the northeast boundary of Mount Rainier National Park. The airport was constructed in the early 1940’s as a Civil Conservation Corporation Project and was used by the Army during and after the Korean War as a base for winter training operations. The Army discontinued use of the field in 1957 at which time the forest service and WSDOT Aviation reached an agreement that the airport would remain open as an emergency landing facility. The U.S. Forest Service issued a 30-year Special Use Permit (SUP) authorizing WSDOT Aviation to operate, maintain, and develop the airport as part of the divisions system of emergency landing
facilities. The 30-year SUP was due to expire May 1998 and a new 15 year SUP was issued in July 1995 after extensive efforts by Airport Sponsors from the Washington Pilots Association (WPA) Green River Chapter in concert with other user groups. In 2015 WSDOT Aviation was able to secure another 15 year SUP to include an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service to allow WSDOT to conduct longer range planning. In February 2018 an Airport Layout Plan Report was finalized, giving first priority to a tree obstruction removal project for safety enhancement.
Ranger creek supports access for both fixed-wing and rotorcraft recreational and flight training purposes and is an excellent remote airport that provides one of Washington State’s best scenic approach and departure views of the Evergreen State.
Check out Ranger Creek’s website and contact State-Airports Manager Paul Wolf at [email protected] or 360-618-2477 for any questions.
Upcoming commercial drone registration program
Dear Aviation and Drone Enthusiasts, The last Washington state legislative session saw the enactment of SHB 1379, entrusting the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Aviation Division with the establishment of the State Unpiloted Aircraft Systems Coordinator position and commercial drone registration. WSDOT Aviation is in the process of establishing the commercial drone registration program as outlined in the legislation. This work will occur over the next several months with implementation in the Spring of 2022. The program will mirror the registration process that is currently in place for regular aircraft registration but tailored for drones used for commercial purposes. We plan to use our WSDOT Aviation website to facilitate the registration process. You can find information on the program and updates on our website as we move closer to bringing the registration application online. Our goal is to foster the advancement of UAS technology where it adds value to our current transportation system and enriches the lives of Washingtonians. If you have input you feel is important to advancing UAS operations in the State, please reach out to us, we want to hear from you. Commercial drone owners will also need to check with their local county assessor’s office to see if their drone is subject to personal property tax. Most personal property owned by individuals is specifically exempt. However, if these items are used in a business, personal property tax applies. The county assessor will make the determination if personal property tax is due and explain any actions that need to be taken. For detailed information about personal property tax, please refer to the Department of Revenue’s Personal Property Tax publication. For updates, latest information, and news regarding UAS, please subscribe to “Drones & Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)” option by visiting our website and clicking in the upper right corner the link that says “Email/text updates.” Contact Eddy Hensley, State UAS Coordinator and Aviation Emergency Management Planner, [email protected] or (564) 999-3337 for questions or comments. With Regards, Eddy Hensley State UAS Coordinator and Aviation Emergency Management Planner
The Community Aviation Revitalization Board (CARB) announces a Call for Projects/Applications for
new loans effective July 30, 2021!
$5M is available for loan requests.
Loans can be up to 20 years in duration at a fixed rate of 2.0% and a maximum loan amount of $750,000.
Applications and program information are available at https://wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/funding/CARB-Loan.htm or contact David Chenaur, Aviation Loan Program Manager at [email protected] and
360-628-1767.
To allow for submittal of loan applications, the initial deadline has been extended to Nov. 1.
The Aviation Specialty License Plate features a Boeing Stearman Model 75 with Mount Rainier in the
background, both symbols of Washington state.
The cost for the Aviation Specialty License Plate is $40 for the original plate in addition to specialty
license plate fees and annual tab fees.
Plate renewals are $30 for the subsequent years in addition to annual tab fees.
You can find out the total cost by contacting your local vehicle licensing office.
To purchase your own, please visit: www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/specialdesign.html.
Celebrate Washington Aviation Heritage!
