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…

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AOPA 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…

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WAKULLA 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…

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LISA 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…

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Troy Tirrell

As a kid living in Minnesota, Troy Tirrell was introduced to aviation by his father, a Northwest Airlines pilot. They vacationed in Alaska when Troy was a kid. Troy’s own experience included glider lessons in Australia and Hawaii.  His father’s form of recreation included cruising his motor sailboat throughout the Caribbean, Florida’s Keys, and the…

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KEVIN 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

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TERRY 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…

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STEF GOZA JOINS ALASKA LIAISON TEAM

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 to knock out…

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