Posts by Lisa Ellington
RAF GRANT AWARDED FOR NEW CUYAMA, CA
New Cuyama, L88 is located between the Southern California coast and Sierra mountain range about 32 nm north of Santa Barbara. Privately owned by The Blue Sky Center, a nonprofit community development organization that promotes an “offbeat but comfortable camping, retreat, or event experience,” it is open for public use. Built by Atlantic Richfield Company in…
Read MoreAOPA REGIONAL MANAGER TEAM FEATURED AT RAF SEPTEMBER ONLINE MEETING
AOPA’s entire State Advocacy team anchored a second annual online meeting with RAF key volunteers on September 22. More than 40 RAF volunteers were brought up-to-date on current efforts of AOPA Regional Managers, and engaged in collaborative discussions about issues critical to both organizations. AOPA’s Mike Ginter, VP of Airports and State Advocacy, introduced each…
Read MoreWAKULLA VOTE TABLED – CLOSURE NOT IMMINENT
On Monday September 19, the Wakulla County Commissioners were to make their final vote to terminate the Wakulla County Airport license, essentially walking away and closing the Florida airport. Due to public comment opposing closure, the commissioners tabled the vote, postponing action and leaving the many airpark landowners with an uncertain future. The Tarpine Owner’s Association is the local…
Read MoreLISA BALLANTYNE
Lisa Ballantyne married into a flying family and earned her private pilot’s license in 1977. She flew a Piper Tomahawk until it was sold in preparation for a move to Alaska in 1980. Once in Alaska and since that time, husband Ray Ballantyne (WA Ambassador) has done all the flying in the various planes they…
Read MoreKEVIN RUDISILL
West Virginia Ambassador Day Job: C-17 Pilot West Virginia Air National Guard Favorite Strip: High Rock, MD Next Adventure: Somewhere in Montana and Idaho
Read MoreTERRY CROSS
California Ambassador Day Job: General Counsel for North America operations of a global semiconductor company. Favorite Airstrip: How can you ask that question?! I am constantly dreaming of every airstrip in the Frank Church Wilderness! Next Adventure: My next flying adventure is a return trip to Alaska for one month just flying and fishing with my wife…
Read MoreSTEF GOZA
Alaska State Liaison New Alaska Liaison Stef Goza started flying as a teenager in Iowa’s flatlands, where she was born and raised. She earned her pilot certificate in her 20s and flew for the next few years, but like a lot of us, flying was set on the back burner. “I returned to aviation with grit and determination…
Read MoreUSFS, NMPA AND RAF ADD FEATURES AT NEGRITO
RAF New Mexico Liaison Ron Keller reports that volunteers from New Mexico Pilots Association, the RAF, and three US Forest Service Reserve District employees completed work at Negrito airstrip, 0NM7 in the Gila National Forest in mid July. “Rainy weather chased us out a day early, but the work was mostly finished,” Keller said. The…
Read MoreRAF COLLABORATION WITH USFS PRESERVES SILVER LAKE
RAF Oregon Liaison Richard Mayes reported that continued collaboration in Oregon between the RAF and the US Forest Service has resulted in the preservation of Silver Lake airfield, 45S. “The Silver Lake Ranger District team recently mowed and re-established its edge markings and the 3,000 foot long runway is currently in excellent condition and ready…
Read MoreSULLIVAN LAKE ANNUAL CLEANUP AND POTLUCK
“Enough work has been completed in past years that this year was pretty light,” RAF Washington State Liaison Dave Whitelaw said of the tasks scheduled at Sullivan Lake state airport, 09S. A group of about a dozen volunteers arrived early on the July 15-17 weekend and joined Washington State DOT Airport Manager Paul Wolf on…
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