San Luis Obispo County Airports Commitment to Oceano County Airport
Courtney Johnson, mgr. of San Luis Obispo Airports has made a commitment to improve the infrastructure of Oceano Airport. The improvements include: new pilots lounge, with shower and restroom [handicap accessible]; campground refurbishment including power, stage, camp spots and more; taxiway and runway improvements; apron slurry re-application.
We applaud the County's commitment to our little slice of Paradise, Oceano Airport. These improvements will enhance our events as well as our visitor's experience.
OCEANO COUNTY AIRPORT (L52) RECEIVED AWOS-3
Submitted by Greg Morton, L52 ASN
118.375 805-489-1305
An Airport Improvement Project (AIP) Grant has funded Oceano County Airport (L52) in California with the installation of an AWOS-3 (Automated Weather Observing System-3) and the replacement of the airport beacon. The old beacon had become corroded with years of the salt air on it. Our new beacon replacement and AWOS 3 is now fully operational.
Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS)
The AWOS-3 is a major asset to all pilots at Oceano County Airport due to the airport's vicinity to the coastline at Oceano Beach, CA. Pilots will be able to receive a computer-generated voice message which is broadcast via radio frequency to pilots in the vicinity of the airport. The message is updated at least once per minute. This will be a great benefit to departing and arriving aircraft at Oceano County Airport due to the possibility of developing weather including winds, marine layer, stratus clouds, or fog.
The San Luis Obispo County Airport elected to go with an upgraded AWOS-3 to receive ceiling and visibility information for their coastal airport vs. the AWOS-1; The FAA AIP Grant totaled $360K leaving an additional cost of $145K for the AWOS-3 upgrade, which was self-funded by San Luis Obispo County Department of Airports. The AWOS-3 system will have greater in-depth weather information than the current nearby (SBP) ASOS system. The AWOS-3 system Installation is nearly complete and once the FCC has issued the applicable discrete frequency it will be operational. When complete and operational, the airport plans to hold a celebration commemorating their new AWOS-3 system.
Oceano County Airport gives pilot's access to one of the state's most beautiful beach vacation and recreational areas. The airport also has a campground available year-round. Oceano County Airport is located within walking distance of the Oceano Dunes, restaurants, beach house rentals, ATV rentals, as well as bi-plane rides over the California Central Coast. There's also free use of the airport bicycles for a bike ride to the beach. With the implementation of the new AWOS-3 at Oceano's County Airport, visiting aircraft will have real time weather information which will help generate more frequent visits to the area by pilots and their families to better support the local businesses.
Courtney Johnson, mgr. of San Luis Obispo Airports has made a commitment to improve the infrastructure of Oceano Airport. The improvements include: new pilots lounge, with shower and restroom [handicap accessible]; campground refurbishment including power, stage, camp spots and more; taxiway and runway improvements; apron slurry re-application.
We applaud the County's commitment to our little slice of Paradise, Oceano Airport. These improvements will enhance our events as well as our visitor's experience.
OCEANO COUNTY AIRPORT (L52) RECEIVED AWOS-3
Submitted by Greg Morton, L52 ASN
118.375 805-489-1305
An Airport Improvement Project (AIP) Grant has funded Oceano County Airport (L52) in California with the installation of an AWOS-3 (Automated Weather Observing System-3) and the replacement of the airport beacon. The old beacon had become corroded with years of the salt air on it. Our new beacon replacement and AWOS 3 is now fully operational.
Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS)
The AWOS-3 is a major asset to all pilots at Oceano County Airport due to the airport's vicinity to the coastline at Oceano Beach, CA. Pilots will be able to receive a computer-generated voice message which is broadcast via radio frequency to pilots in the vicinity of the airport. The message is updated at least once per minute. This will be a great benefit to departing and arriving aircraft at Oceano County Airport due to the possibility of developing weather including winds, marine layer, stratus clouds, or fog.
The San Luis Obispo County Airport elected to go with an upgraded AWOS-3 to receive ceiling and visibility information for their coastal airport vs. the AWOS-1; The FAA AIP Grant totaled $360K leaving an additional cost of $145K for the AWOS-3 upgrade, which was self-funded by San Luis Obispo County Department of Airports. The AWOS-3 system will have greater in-depth weather information than the current nearby (SBP) ASOS system. The AWOS-3 system Installation is nearly complete and once the FCC has issued the applicable discrete frequency it will be operational. When complete and operational, the airport plans to hold a celebration commemorating their new AWOS-3 system.
Oceano County Airport gives pilot's access to one of the state's most beautiful beach vacation and recreational areas. The airport also has a campground available year-round. Oceano County Airport is located within walking distance of the Oceano Dunes, restaurants, beach house rentals, ATV rentals, as well as bi-plane rides over the California Central Coast. There's also free use of the airport bicycles for a bike ride to the beach. With the implementation of the new AWOS-3 at Oceano's County Airport, visiting aircraft will have real time weather information which will help generate more frequent visits to the area by pilots and their families to better support the local businesses.
The Show Must Go On April 2013 AOPA Pilot
Read an article for AOPA that Friends Founder, Jolie Lucas wrote about the cancellation or downsizing of air shows this year.
http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2013/April/25/The-show-must-go-on
AOPA Online: Become an Ambassador for GA
Click here to read Jolie Lucas' article for AOPA about adding a charitable aspect to an aviation event, or starting a charitable event at your airport. Oceano is used as an example!
http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2012/April/26/Become-an-ambassador-for-GA
Read an article for AOPA that Friends Founder, Jolie Lucas wrote about the cancellation or downsizing of air shows this year.
http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2013/April/25/The-show-must-go-on
AOPA Online: Become an Ambassador for GA
Click here to read Jolie Lucas' article for AOPA about adding a charitable aspect to an aviation event, or starting a charitable event at your airport. Oceano is used as an example!
http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2012/April/26/Become-an-ambassador-for-GA
AOPA names Jolie Lucas as the 2010 Recipient of the Crotti Award
A self-described “Mooney Girl” is this year’s recipient of AOPA’s Joseph Crotti Award for service to general aviation in California. Jolie Lucas, Founder of the Mooney Ambassadors, was honored for her work to protect Oceano Airport in San Luis Obispo County. A local developer decided he had a better idea of how to use the land Oceano sits on and, over the objections of county officials, pressed ahead with highly controlled “public” meetings to try to win community support to close the airport and let him build on it.
Lucas organized local pilots to attend those public meetings. With her encouragement and constant communication with pilots and AOPA, the developer’s meetings were overwhelmingly stacked against closure of the airport. She recruited pilots and began a campaign to win community support, organizing a beautification project for the airport, which had become somewhat rundown. Buildings were painted and drought tolerant plants planted, all with volunteers and donated materials. She and her fellow pilots also hosted a “movie night” at the airport, inviting pilots and the public to watch movies in a campground adjacent to the airport.
“2010 is AOPA’s Year of Engagement, and Jolie has certainly gotten engaged—with her fellow pilots and her community’s leaders,” said AOPA President Craig Fuller. “Her efforts in support of Oceano Airport in particular, and more broadly, of all of general aviation through the Mooney Ambassadors, are shining examples of what we can do when we work together.”
The Mooney Ambassadors’ threefold mission is to support the Mooney Airplane Company, promote general aviation, and ensure pilots have someplace wonderful to fly. Lucas has flown her Mooney throughout California, giving presentations on how to promote GA. She blogs for Forbes magazine on her passion for general aviation and was interviewed this summer on AOPA Live at EAA’s AirVenture at Oshkosh.
California is home to 255 public-use landing facilities and fully 10 percent of the U.S. pilot population, or 61,709 pilots. The Crotti Award, named for Joseph Crotti, longtime California State Aviation Director and AOPA Regional Representative for that state, is given to a California resident who has demonstrated the same unbridled passion for promoting GA and protecting community airports as Crotti always did. —AOPA Communications staff
A self-described “Mooney Girl” is this year’s recipient of AOPA’s Joseph Crotti Award for service to general aviation in California. Jolie Lucas, Founder of the Mooney Ambassadors, was honored for her work to protect Oceano Airport in San Luis Obispo County. A local developer decided he had a better idea of how to use the land Oceano sits on and, over the objections of county officials, pressed ahead with highly controlled “public” meetings to try to win community support to close the airport and let him build on it.
Lucas organized local pilots to attend those public meetings. With her encouragement and constant communication with pilots and AOPA, the developer’s meetings were overwhelmingly stacked against closure of the airport. She recruited pilots and began a campaign to win community support, organizing a beautification project for the airport, which had become somewhat rundown. Buildings were painted and drought tolerant plants planted, all with volunteers and donated materials. She and her fellow pilots also hosted a “movie night” at the airport, inviting pilots and the public to watch movies in a campground adjacent to the airport.
“2010 is AOPA’s Year of Engagement, and Jolie has certainly gotten engaged—with her fellow pilots and her community’s leaders,” said AOPA President Craig Fuller. “Her efforts in support of Oceano Airport in particular, and more broadly, of all of general aviation through the Mooney Ambassadors, are shining examples of what we can do when we work together.”
The Mooney Ambassadors’ threefold mission is to support the Mooney Airplane Company, promote general aviation, and ensure pilots have someplace wonderful to fly. Lucas has flown her Mooney throughout California, giving presentations on how to promote GA. She blogs for Forbes magazine on her passion for general aviation and was interviewed this summer on AOPA Live at EAA’s AirVenture at Oshkosh.
California is home to 255 public-use landing facilities and fully 10 percent of the U.S. pilot population, or 61,709 pilots. The Crotti Award, named for Joseph Crotti, longtime California State Aviation Director and AOPA Regional Representative for that state, is given to a California resident who has demonstrated the same unbridled passion for promoting GA and protecting community airports as Crotti always did. —AOPA Communications staff
AOPA Pilot Magazine, October 2011 Edition
Jolie Lucas wrote the article "Come one, come all" Community events that make your airport a good neighbor for AOPA Pilot magazine. The three page article describes many ways to prove that your airport is a good neighbor. As well, Oceano Airport is featured in the three-page spread.
Jolie Lucas wrote the article "Come one, come all" Community events that make your airport a good neighbor for AOPA Pilot magazine. The three page article describes many ways to prove that your airport is a good neighbor. As well, Oceano Airport is featured in the three-page spread.