Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "sacramento executive airport"

Learn to Fly Day lands in Sacramento area

2010-05-14T02:33:44Z

Don Campbell, a pilot for more than 30-years, took several members of the press thousands of feet in the air Thursday morning. He pointed out different landmarks and roads where the Amgen Tour of California will be held Sunday. The roughly 30-minute flight passed over Auburn, Grass Valley and Nevada City.

The number of pilots in the air has been free-falling in the last few years, he said. Campbell, Sierra Vista Aviation founder and flight instructor, said 70 percent of flight students worldwide don't finish their flight training.

"It boils down to the economics," he said, adding that completing pilot training can cost up to $7,500. Add that to the cost of fuel at $4.95 per gallon and the cost of a new plane at $260,000, and you've got a hefty bill.

So the folks at Sierra Vista Aviation and Samson Motorworks, creator of the Switchblade Multi-Mode Vehicle (flying motorcycle), decided to participate in the first international "Learn to Fly Day" being held Saturday. Sponsored by the 160,000-member Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the day was created to "increase interest in flying and to encourage the aviation community to get others involved in aviation," according to its website.

But don't get the name wrong. "Experimental aircraft" are not all like the Samson Motorworks flying motorcycle (though it is an experimental aircraft). The term refers to the Experimental Airworthiness Certificate given by the FAA, because they are homebuilt kit planes, or ex-military - as opposed to company-built planes, which instead receive the Standard Airworthiness Certificate.

Homebuilt and kit planes are becoming more popular, said Campbell. Samson Motorworks is depending on that trend to become a viable kit plane manufacturer, while trying to make flying more accessible.

"It's going to make flying more approachable," said Martha Bousfield of Bousfield Motorworks, wife of flying motorcycle inventor Sam Bousfield. She added that the Switchblade Multi-Mode Vehicle will save money because it only costs $80,000, saves you from renting a hangar for storage and gets around 50 mpg on the highway in motorcycle mode.

She also mentioned that the flying motorcycle could enable you to beat local traffic by flying to other small airports in Stockton, Lodi, Woodland, Sacramento, Auburn, Placerville, Grass Valley and Lincoln.

A quarter-scale model of the plane will be available Saturday as will its inventor, who will be answering questions about it. There will also be a special price for an introductory flight at $34.95, a flight simulator and Sierra Vista staff will answer questions about learning to fly.

So what's the best part of flying?

"It's the look on a student's face when they first fly solo," said Tim Hinkle, Sierra Vista general manager and flight instructor. "The instructor signs off and they're scared, but excited and happy."

Sierra Vista Aviation is located at the Auburn Airport, 2410 Rickenbacker Way. International "Learn to Fly Day" will be celebrated from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Auburn Airport with muffins and juice in the morning and hot dogs, chips and soda in the afternoon. Free flights will given to youth ages 7 to 17 courtesy of the local EAA Young Eagles program.

Sacramento Executive Airport (6151 Freeport Blvd. Suite 151) and McClellan Airport (3028 Peacekeeper Way, McClellan) will also be giving free seminars on flight instruction from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Photographs:
1. Auburn Airport
2. Don Campbell in plane
3. Don Campbell
4. Instrument panel
5. Martha Bousfield
6. The Aerocar in the Auburn Airport

Photographs 1 and 2 by Jonathan Mendick, 3-6 credit Kati Garner

The Big Build at Sacramento International Airport

2010-04-27T20:03:52Z

A United Airlines passenger jet makes a landing yesterday just to the west of the new expansion project, The Big Build, at Sacramento International Airport.

According to a press release, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded an $8.6 million Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant to Sacramento International Airport the first week of April. It is the second installment in the seven year $59 million FAA Letter of Intent (LOI) funding program for the Big Build at Sacramento. AIP funds support construction of terminal aprons, taxiways and overnight aircraft parking for the Big Build project.

“On a project as large as the Big Build, funding is a critical piece of the overall program and the support of the Federal government is very important, “said Roger Dickinson, Chairman of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. “Every dollar of grant money helps reduce the amount of bond funding we have to borrow and helps us complete the project on time and on budget.”

The Big Build is designed to meet current and future air travel demands by replacing the outdated Terminal B with a 669,000 square foot multi-story terminal. The new Central Terminal B will offer 19 aircraft gates, a two-level roadway system, 42,000 square feet of concessions space, an international arrivals facility and an automated people mover. The airside construction projects supported by the AIP grants are necessary to facilitate movement of aircraft around the new terminal.

“One of our goals for this project is to create an even more efficient airfield,” said Interim Sacramento County Executive Steven Szalay, “and the aprons and taxiway funded by this grant will help us achieve that goal.”

The Letter of Intent program is designed to provide annual grants over a seven-year period concluding in fiscal year 2015.
Sacramento County Airport System is responsible for planning, developing, operating and maintaining the county’s four airports: Sacramento International Airport, Executive Airport, Mather Airport and Franklin Field.

The Big Build Facts:

    •    Approximately 1 million labor hours have been spent on the Big Build. That equals $38.6 million in straight wages for the people working on the project.
    •    Over the course of the Big Build, approximately 2400 jobs will be created
    •    On any given day, about 400 people are working directly on site
    •    The total economic impact for the Big Build construction project is approximately $2 billion
    •    By the year 2020, the new terminal will produce $2.6 billion in economic impact and 16,500 jobs annually

Since construction began on the Landside project: 13,750 truckloads of dirt were excavated to form the basement for this new terminal. 5.1 million pounds of rebar have been used, 32,565 cubic yards of concrete have been poured, 609 piles have been driven, and 5000 tons of steel have been erected.

Also see: www.sacramentopress.com/headline/25728/Sacramento_International_Road_Closure_Returns

For more information on the system, visit www.sacairports.org.

SacPress Photo | Kati Garner

Juvenile burglar apprehended by police K9

2009-07-01T00:02:13Z

Sacramento, CA -- Police K-9 "takes a bite out of crime" today and apprehends a juvenile after a brief man hunt.

Two juveniles were seen trying to break into a Freeport home in the Belleau Wood Lane area, late Tuesday morning. When police arrived in the area, the would-be burglars ran.

One subject was apprehended immediately while the other led police on a neighborhood foot pursuit. When the subject evaded officers, a tight neighborhood perimeter was established by inbound officers.

After officers verified and had evidence that a crime had been committed, public address announcements were made warning neighbors that the police dog was going to be deployed and to give the evading juvenile a chance to give up.

When the police dog was deployed, he quickly picked up the sent and led officers to the location of the hiding youth in the area of Atherton Street and McLaren Avenue. After the youth was given a chance to surrender, the dog was sent in to do his job. Seconds later the subject was in custody.

Neighbors who witnessed the capture recognized the youth as a local neighbor who lives in the area with his family, and grandparents also reside in the neighborhood.