Monthly Newsletters
June 11, 2022
I (Bob Hartunian) promised to write a newsletter each month to keep our BBAPA pilot members informed of local activities.
1. Very sad news last week about Butch Waymeier’s passing in a flying accident. He was doing aerobatics at APV and crashed. He was a most competent pilot as Top Gun instructor, American Airlines Captain and general friend at the airport. Our sincerest sympathies to his family.
2. Last week, one of our local C-182 pilots had a bird-strike on upwind at 8100' over the lake. A pelican dove down onto his cowling and caused major damage. He brought plane back ok and is dealing with insurance requirements to get plane flying again. Be very cautious about the threat of large birds near the airport. If my plane had been hit, I wouldn’t be writing this note.
3. Our first Assn dinner meeting will be next Tuesday, June 14, at 5 pm with a Border Patrol Officer as speaker.
This Saturday, June 11, there was a Rusty Pilots program at the Fuselodge building at noon.
4. We still do Wed morning breakfast flights at 8am and all pilots are welcome.
Bob Hartunian
Monthly Newsletters
April 22, 2022
I (Bob Hartunian) promised to write a newsletter each month to keep our BBAPA pilot members informed of local activities.
The April Newsletter
Our first dinner meeting is Tuesday June 14th.
1. The Airport new Terminal is progressing with the Manager and Board arranging the required loans to pay for the demolition of the old building and the erection of the new Terminal. Most of the work to setup the modular temporary buildings has been completed. The airport staff will occupy the buildings during the construction process. Manager Ryan Goss indicates that progress continues slower than he likes but that is the way with State and Federal permitting requirements.
2. Don Shade and his family visited the Yaamava Casino in Highland to sample their special lobster buffet at $65/person. They served large lobster tails in pairs with clarified butter plus all kinds of excellent foods. Don returned at least 4 times and added heaps of breaded shrimps to the plates. Any mortal would have fallen over from the cholesterol dose but Don still walks and speaks of a return engagement. He says it was worth twice as much.
3. For a month, our Wed breakfast flight to Hemet had to be cancelled due to either winds or poor visibility. But today, we found the “forecast" to be favorable so at 8:15am, we had 4 planes launch from Big Bear. As we cleared the south ridge, we could see a solid white layer of clouds near the ground and extending to the horizon. But Jack Williams persisted and as he got closer to Hemet above the overcast, he found breaks and could see the ground. We all followed and managed to land easily to indulge in their blueberry pancake special. The clouds resceded by the time we took off for Big Bear and all returned safely. Except that I received a call from ATC that my ADS-B was showing an altitude of 28,800’. Now the plane climbs fast but not up to that level, so I’m diagnosing the problem for a fix.
4. The EAA Chapter at Apple Valley did a Young Eagles flight on May 21 at 8:30am and they are looking for EAA approved pilots. I’m planning to attend.
5. Don Shade and Jack Williams will co-coordiante our participation in the Tour de Big Bear, staffing the aid station at Onyx Summit on August 6th. ***ALSO, the BBCA Board voted to donate to each organization that develops a THEME for their station an ADDITIONAL $300--BE CREATIVE but legal!!
SEND YOUR IDEAS TO DONSHADE@AOL.COM
Bob H
Monthly Newsletters
March 17, 2022
I (Bob Hartunian) promised to write a newsletter each month to keep our BBAPA pilot members informed of local activities.
1. Dinner Meetings
Our Assn dinner meetings will start in June on second Tuesday and continue thru September.
I’m still working on speakers and have the following booked:
June- Border Patrol Report, Bob Carney
July- CEO Big Bear Hospital
Aug- Congressman Jay Obernolte
Sept- Open for now.
2. Wed Breakfast Flights
Had flight to Flabob on 3/16 with weather at Big Bear and Riverside showing favorable winds, but in between, had strong bumps over south ridge. Still had 3 planes make it down.
On return, climbed up to 10K’ and avoided most of the turbulence at south ridge and winds low at L35. Spring weather often has strong northerly winds that generates turbulence around ridges.
We have also been trying for Saturday breakfast flights a little later in mornings to nearby airports like APV and Flabob and Hemet.
Still working on an ATV ride at Jean, NV on dry lake for $80/person. Plan is to fly out to Jean, ride ATVs and return in afternoon. Should finalize by April 1.
3. Pilot Assn Zoo Tour
Our tour of the Big Bear Zoo is set for Tuesday, March 29. We need to meet at the Airport Terminal by 9:30am, take the free bus to the zoo and sign in at 10:15 am. The fee will be $10 per person. We will have two docents assigned to guide us thru the zoo for about 90 minutes.
After the tour, there is The Moonridge Coffee Shop about a 1/8 mile away for those who want a bite/drink. Then we will take the bus back to the airport by 2pm at latest.
I have the following folks signed up:
1. Bob Hartunian-1
2. Jack Williams-1
3. Roger Schmidt-1
4. Jerry Muszynski- 1?
5. Syd Blue-1
6. Don Shade-1
7. D. Gardiner-2
8. G. Dokter-1
9. S. Hackney-2?
10. T. O’Connor-2
Total = 13
We can still take a few more by contacting me <bobh5@earthlink.net>.
If we get bad weather that day, tour is cancelled.
Should be a great outing.
Bob H
Monthly Newsletter
February 11 2022
I (Bob Hartunian) promised to write a newsletter each month to keep our BBAPA pilot members informed of local activities.
1. Presidential Visit
There was a possibility that the Govenor and Vice President might stop here in Big Bear on business so the Secret Service visited to check the grounds and premises for security. Everything was ok. I’m unsure when the possible visit is planned.
2. Fireworks
There will be 3 fireworks events this summer; Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day. It’s funded by the commercial interests locally at around $180K.
3. TFR Superbowl
There will be a very large TFR in place around the superbowl stadium so be aware and don’t violate it.
4. Airport Activities
The airport is in the slow process of replacing the Terminal building. The management staff needs temporary housing so the Manager made arrangements for spare modular buildings from the school system.
10 units have been delivered and are being setup on the airport. Buildings may be sold off when not needed. The arrangement saved taxpayers around $120K.
5. Breakfast Flights
We have had Wed bkfst flights for years and I received a request for a Saturday bkfst flight for those members who work on Wed. So I picked the first Saturday of the month for the flight but couldn’t make it myself.
We had 10 people show up at Apple Valley, which is more that we get on Wed. So perhaps we will expand the weekend events?
6. Monthly Dinners
We will start our Assn monthly dinners in June-Sept when weather is comfortable and we have enough money in our treasury to avoid dues for this year.
7. Zoo Trip
I’m working on a weekday trolley ride to the Zoo from the airport when weather gets a little warmer. I think we can get an admission price around $10 per person. And we get a docent for the tour.
The trolley ride is free under the new Big Bear Transit arrangement.
Bob Hartunian
