Model Airplanes

Oct. 02–Paso Robles stakeholders and officials are divided over whether to change the way the city’s airport is operated, creating a new Airport Commission that could have the power to approve leases, construction project designs and special events.

The City Council on Tuesday will consider an ordinance that would replace the existing Airport Advisory Committee with a seven-member Airport Commission appointed by the City Council. The new commission would function much like the city’s Planning Commission — members would oversee some matters directly but would sometimes make recommendations to the City Council.

The ordinance came before the City Council on Sept. 20, but the issue was pushed to the next meeting because of objections from several public speakers, a divided council and Councilman Fred Strong’s absence.

“I’m hearing testimony that it’s not a good idea to move forward,” Councilman John Hamon said at the meeting.

Commission origins

The city, which took over the airport in 1973, recently began to consider how to best govern and manage the facility, as well as to encourage economic development. The proposed commission is the result of this directional shift.

New governance models were first discussed in 2013, when the Paso Robles Airport Association, an independent organization composed of pilots and others involved in the airport, helped create the Paso Robles Airport Business Improvement Plan with the city and the Airport Advisory Committee.

The City Council in May directed staff to draft an ordinance that would create a commission. Council members in July then referred the new model back to the

Article source: http://www.aviationpros.com/news/12264381/paso-council-stakeholders-at-odds-over-proposed-airport-commission

Paso Robles stakeholders and officials are divided over whether to change the way the city’s airport is operated, creating a new Airport Commission that could have the power to approve leases, construction project designs and special events.

The City Council on Tuesday will consider an ordinance that would replace the existing Airport Advisory Committee with a seven-member Airport Commission appointed by the City Council. The new commission would function much like the city’s Planning Commission — members would oversee some matters directly but would sometimes make recommendations to the City Council.

The ordinance came before the City Council on Sept. 20, but the issue was pushed to the next meeting because of objections from several public speakers, a divided council and Councilman Fred Strong’s absence.

“I’m hearing testimony that it’s not a good idea to move forward,” Councilman John Hamon said at the meeting.

Commission origins

The city, which took over the airport in 1973, recently began to consider how to best govern and manage the facility, as well as to encourage economic development. The proposed commission is the result of this directional shift.

New governance models were first discussed in 2013, when the Paso Robles Airport Association, an independent organization composed of pilots and others involved in the airport, helped create the Paso Robles Airport Business Improvement Plan with the city and the Airport Advisory Committee.

The City Council in May directed staff to draft an ordinance that would create a commission.

Article source: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article105482186.html

“I’m on five, I’m waiting,” said Flying Francis over his controller.

“OK, I’m on eight. Going up,” replied CDrama, engaging the copter’s thrust.

The two copters lifted off with a squeal of mechanical delight.

It was a clear Monday evening. The high white clouds and cobalt sky of early summer contrasted against the expanse of green grass so crisply as to suggest we were standing in a Microsoft Windows desktop, rather than in a field on the UofL ShelbyHurst Campus. But while it might have appeared digitally rendered, this was definitely a real-world environment.

The two copters swooped through a series of gates and then banked to follow the contours of the field. Zipping back along the line of a drainage ditch, they came into the curve that would take them into a second lap. It wasn’t an official race, however. There was no ground station set up with a screen to show the pilot’s-eye view. Fellow flyers Zelkien 69, BigZ, Wangel and Bluegrass Multirotor offered line-of-sight commentary instead.

“Is he getting some sag?”

“Shouldn’t be. I just charged that pack.”

“He’s going up — he’s going for a dive!”

CDrama’s copter rose as it approached a stand of trees next to where we stood in the parking lot. And then just as suddenly, it disappeared. The excited chatter turned into a collective “Oh!” of dismay. CDrama’s copter was hung up — almost out of sight.

Everyone ran toward the tree.

Eye in the sky?

Whether you call them quad-copters, multi-rotors or UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), drones are taking off. They

Article source: http://www.leoweekly.com/2016/09/build-crash-repeat-snare-drone/