A lot has changed at 8D4 in the last year, least of all the completion of the new runway 7-25. As good as this is, lets not forget other very important developments. The Village conducted an election at which a new village president was elected. New village officers and committee heads were appointed and a new airport manager was hired. A new village manager is also being searched for. Time will tell how all of this will play itself out. As pilots and renters, we need to stay alert to any impact these changes may have on 8D4.
Talk about change, I hope all of you have been following the dialogue between AOPA and congress in reference to user fees and GA. The new budget contains our worst fears. As I understand the proposal, we have much higher gas taxes and new user fees to add to the already high cost of flying. Every place in the world where user fees have been put into place, GA activity has just about ceased to exist. Just look at Europe! Private flying is so expensive it’s rare. Even Canada with it’s limited user fees is much more expensive to fly in. We all need to follow this issue and contact our congress reps to voice our opinions. Do it now before it’s too late.As of this writing, the VOR-A is finally available for our use, however you must have DME. This is due to issues with the Grand Rapids VOR and our distance from it. Once again, thanks Kathy for keeping us posted on this information as well as TFR’s, and other aviation news via e-mail.
I would like to thank all those who attended the Christmas Party. We had a good turnout and fun for all. Thank Kathy the next time you see her for arranging all of the food and drinks. Thanks Kathy!
Many years ago, there was held at Sparta a blessing of the airplanes. I understand that the response was very good. We have an opportunity to revive this blessing and turn it into an annual event if it goes well. Father Dan Depew from Holy Trinity Catholic Church has offered to do the blessing. We just need to make the commitment and confirm a date. A few weeks after Easter would work for him. What do you think? Sound interesting? If we are going to do this, much planning needs to be done and volunteers will be needed very soon to pull it off. Let’s talk it over at the Wednesday’s meeting.
A discussion at the last EAA meeting about the “rash” of aircraft unintentionally leaving the runway before the taxi way led to the suggestion that there may be something “different” going on with the new runway. Are we letting our taxing skills get a little sloppy with the big new runway or is there really something to it? Who knows, just be careful.
I have pushed the organizational meeting back to April. Very simply, this is to allow our southern (snow birds) time to migrate back up North. At this meeting, new officers will be appointed. I will not be running for the presidents position again so please consider stepping up to the plate. All other positions will need to be filled with new folks with new ideas and new energies. We have come alone well so far and much still needs to be done. Please be part of it.
Remember, it is our goal to keep Sparta a friendly airport and fun place to hang out and fly from.
Paul Kovalak
cell: 616-240-4289
p k o v a l a k @ c i t y s i g n e r e c t o r s . c o m
