[JYO] Ed's Corner (scribbles from the Airport Commission Meeting 7-15-03)

Since there is no longer and airport director writing a column, I thought I 
would jot you all a few notes from tonight's airport commission meeting.

Mr. Bob Hepp, president of Aviation Adventures 
(http://www.aviationadventures.com/) spoke to the commission and announced 
plans to extend his Manassas 
based flight school to the Leesburg airport.  They have a mixed fleet of planes 
and promise to keep the fun in aviation.  He exclaimed that he has the fastest 
growing flight school in the state and plans to start operations at Leesburg 
next month.

Mr. Dennis Boykin expressed concern that the ADIZ is still in effect at 
Leesburg and also that we do not yet have self service fuel. Dennis and Ed 
Levine 
also reminded everyone that AOPA needs to hear from pilots that have ADIZ 
operational problems. For more info on how to report the problems, go to: 
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2003/03-3-021.html

Mr. Kevin Bridges gave an update that Heidi Williams at AOPA and Bill Carver 
at Potomac TRACON are still in constant communication to keep the "Class B 
floor raising" project at Leesburg on the drawing table.

Mr. Sam Legard expressed that the airport should offer "clusters" of pilots 
flying clubs and similar alternatives for those pilots that just want to fly 
with their Private Pilot certificate and not continue on with an aviation 
education with a flight school.

The next meeting will be held in town hall as the existing terminal building 
will be closed.

Bob Zoldos, the councilmatic member talked about future airport improvement 
plans:
- ILS funding as per Congressman Frank Wolf
- Runway renovation
- Medium Intensity runway lights replaced with High Intensity lights
- Land acquisition
- Air Traffic Control Tower, FAA or Contract
- Community Outreach programs
- Keep Leesburg airport a fun, friendly place

Old business was deferred.

Chair and Co-chair positions were reelected.

Jackie Seipel has a copy of the AOPA Airport Watch video if anyone wants to 
watch it. You can also watch it online at: 
http://www.aopa.org/asn/watchindex.shtml 

Ed Levine expressed if we challenge and meet strangers, we can police 
ourselves and possibly avoid regulation that ads more security measures to our 
environment.

Interim Airport Director, Cindi Martin was not at the meeting.

Leesburg Today reporter Andrew Parker will be forwarding me some questions 
that I will send to the e-mail list for pilots to respond to for a story that 
he 
is working on.

Blue skies and tailwinds,

Ed Levine

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