TRACY (NorCal) -- Tracy sky diving plan still up in the air -- Press Clips

[quade 4]

http://www.trivalleyherald.com/Stories/0,1413,86%257E10671%257E1109220,00.html

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Tracy sky diving plan still up in the air
Airport manager sees some delay before matter reaches City Council
By Dave Myhra
SAN JOAQUIN BUREAU

TRACY -- The airport has a long way to go before opening up a drop zone for sky divers.

Last week, the Airport Advisory Committee considered allowing Bay Area Skydiving to open a drop zone over the Tracy Municipal Airport.

Because of concerns from the committee, the public and pilots, a focus group was formed to address questions raised.

"We have a long road, and a lot of issues to overcome before we take this to the City Council," said Rod Buchanan, airport manager.

Questions were raised about the change in air traffic patterns, the landing area and general safety.

To allow sky divers to fall safely to the ground, airplanes would have to approach the airport from only one side, a change from the current pat tern.

Pilots are afraid that this will cause a backup in the air.

But, "we have to keep an area clear for the divers," Buchanan said.

A landing space will have to be constructed for the skydivers, the airport has to make a decision on where to put that.

"We have to look at the landing area proposed, and discuss it further to see if it is the safest area, it needs to be convenient and safe," Buchanan said.

People who live near the airport want it to be safe for them and no louder than it already is, which is the city's goal as well.

"We want to make sure anyone who goes out there is safe," Buchanan said.

The plan fits with the Airport Strategic plan, so it's just a matter of addressing the questions on the table.

"It's a fit (with the plan) because it brings in additional revenue and it will bring people to our airport to watch sky diving," Buchanan said.

If it is approved by both the Airport Advisory Committee and the City Council, sky diving could add as much as $3,500 to the airport enterprise fund.

The airport focus group will meet at 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan 16, at 400 E. 10th St. For further information dial the Parks and Community Services Department (209) 831-4200.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Deuce 1]

Yeah, Mike, our DZO, took the Cessna over to Tracy and did some demo jumps and the crowd loved it. They kept wanting autographs from the jumpers he brought over.

[lummy 4]

What're they thinking? Moving BAS to Tracy? Or opening another DZ? Isn't it just as windy?

Lodi is right around the corner too

I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. eat sushi, get smoochieTTK#1

[Deuce 1]

I think he could run the 206 over there when he's using the Kingair at Byron.

The wind/cloud situation is usually marginally better at Tracy. On a day when we were socked in at Byron he could IFR the plane over to Tracy and we could jump, rather than everybody bailing to Lodi.

I think it's a real tentative idea.

[lummy 4]

makes sense, i guess ;)

I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. eat sushi, get smoochieTTK#1

[riggerrob 643]

Sounds like the airport manager/airport council is waffling about a subject they don't understand.

In comparison, the new DZ at Dunville, Ontario, Canada designated a landing area and changed the airplane landing pattern before telling Transport Canada. Transport Canada got all flustered because they had not been consulted two years in advance yada yada, but they eventually agreed to publish the new landing pattern.
It helped that Dunville is a privately owned airport with hardly any airplane traffic.

[jsaxton 0]

I bet they got a kick out of Dennis's Mal and the reserve opening into line twists