Popular Scottsdale Pilot Shop Gets New Name, Owners
Scottsdale Aero Supply will be the new name for the pilot store known as Romeo Kilo Aviation at the Scottsdale, Arizona, airport. New owners Richard Lujan and Tommy Thomason bring over 30 years of combined business management experience and over 35 combined years of aviation experience to the company. Managing the store on a day-to-day basis will be Carol Eichert. Carol is a private pilot and has been working with Mike Straley, former owner of Romeo Kilo, for approximately two years. You may also visit the store on-line at www.sdlaerosupply.com.

Colorado to Install AWOS on Continental Divide
Celebration of the new century begins for the Colorado aviation community with the passage of significant legislation. At the conclusion of the 2000 session, the Colorado General Assembly passed House Bill 1069, initiated by Representative Matt Smith of Grand Junction, which provides a breakthrough in aviation safety by setting the wheels in motion to construct and maintain a series of Aviation Weather Observation System (AWOS) sites in some of the state’s most critical mountain terrain. Positioned along the Continental Divide and linked to the National Weather Service, FAA Flight Service Stations, and the CDOT-Aeronautics Division website, the AWOS system will deliver current information to pilots in the air and on the ground.

Implementation of the AWOS program will begin at the onset of the state’s fiscal year 2001 on July 1; the impact of additional grant funds will impact the 2001 CDAG award hearings in October. Through the wisdom and foresight of legislators, Colorado aviation is the stronger, with benefits that will endure for many years to come.

Guidelines for Safe, Courteous Flight-Seeing Over Sedona, Arizona
During the summer season many pilots fly to the Sedona area for vacation and sightseeing. The entire Sedona area is very noise sensitive, so it is requested that pilots on scenic flights maintain an altitude above 6500 feet in the Sedona area. Considerably higher altitudes will be necessary to clear the wilderness area in the high terrain north of town. If you do choose to sightsee the back country near Sedona at lower altitudes, be aware of the many daily commercial tour flights — fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters — sharing the airspace in and around the Red Rock area. The tour helicopters, in particular, are navigating in and around the rugged canyons north and west of Sedona. The advisory frequency they use is 123.02 (note the difference from the airport frequency of 123.0).

These tour operators ask you to consider the following three things to ensure everyone’s safety: 1) Fly at or above the canyon rims (several of the canyons are narrow, steep-walled and difficult to maneuver in). 2) Familiarize yourself with the terrain before you fly, by checking a topographical map or stopping in at any of the tour operators at the airport to speak with a pilot. 3) Monitor 123.02 when entering the canyon area (tour operators give position reports as they enter and leave various canyons).

Also, the Sedona airport has an unusual traffic pattern for noise abatement purposes. Listen — carefully — to the AWOS on 118.525 for landing advisories. It is recommended that landing aircraft use a standard left traffic pattern for uphill landings on runway 03 (up to a 10-knot southerly wind). Departing traffic commonly uses the downhill runway 21, with a left turnout as soon as safely possible after takeoff. Communicate all intentions on 123.0.

New Prop Lock on the Market
The manufacturers of the indestructible Pit Bull Tire Lock have introduced a new anti-theft device designed exclusively as a propeller lock for small aircraft. The Pit Bull Puppy Prop Lock offers a tamper-proof, streamlined design that attaches to the prop in seconds and provides highly visible theft protection. The locking arms are covered with a non-abrasive surface to avoid scratching propeller blades. General aviation security consultant Mario Mercier recommends the Pit Bull Puppy Prop Lock in his aviation crime prevention seminars. “I have never seen anything before that I thought could stop a thief,” Mercier said, “the Pit Bull is the best thing on the market to stop aircraft theft.” For more information call 1-888-304-LOCK (5625), or visit the company’s web site at www.tirelock.com.

New Mexico Sunsets Featured at Airport Restaurant
The popular Flight Deck Deli, located upstairs above Mountain Sun Aviation at the Alexander-Belen airport, will be open for Sunset Dinner every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. this summer. “Chef Jeff’s” weekly steak and seafood special will be featured, in addition to their regular menu. Enjoy an informal, home cooked meal and beautiful New Mexico sunset on their rustic outdoor rooftop seating area, overlooking the picturesque Rio Grande Valley. Located just south of Albuquerque, Belen-Alexander’s (E80) Flight Deck Deli is also open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday for breakfast and lunch, and serves one of the finest green chile cheeseburgers on the planet. Fuel will be available after hours for fly-in dinner customers, at the same low price that has made Belen a popular refueling stop for years. Call Mountain Sun Aviation at (505) 864-0822 for more information.

Texas’ Hangar 25 Air Museum Announces New Summer Hours
The Hangar 25 Air Museum in Big Springs, Texas, will be open on weekends this summer. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday hours are 1:30 to 4 p.m. The museum will continue to be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closing for lunch between noon and 1 p.m. Additionally, the museum has scheduled an Air Fair fundraiser to take place on Saturday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with static displays of military aircraft, children’s activities, and food concessions. The museum is located at the McMahon Wrinkle airport (T49). Fly-in visitors are welcome, call the Museum at (915) 264-2362 for courtesy transportation from the aircraft parking area to the Museum.

Management Change at Cutter, Santa Monica
Cutter Aviation Inc. announces the appointment of Joe Moss as acting General Manager of their Santa Monica, California, facility. Cutter, Santa Monica specializes in New Piper Aircraft sales, and also offers airframe and engine maintenance, parts, and avionics installation and repair. Joe Moss began his career with Cutter as Service Manager for the Albuquerque location. Joe moved back home to Colorado where he represented Cutter as Outside Sales for service, parts, and avionics for Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. Most recently Joe served as interim Service Manager for Cutter, San Antonio.

Bode and Blue Skies Aviation Join Forces
Two well respected New Mexico aviation companies, Blue Skies Aviation, specializing in Aircraft Maintenance, and Bode Aviation, Inc., operating Air Charter and Flight School services, have joined together to provide customers with a full range of cost-effective aviation services. Operating as Bode Aviation, Inc. out of the freshly remodeled Aerowest facility at Albuquerque’s Double Eagle II airport, the newly formed team’s goal is to be the best maintenance facility in the Southwest. In conjunction with the new maintenance facility, Bode Aviation will expand their operations at Albuquerque International with the addition of a Cheyenne II turboprop. Bode will also be providing charter service at Double Eagle, and will begin flight school operations there as soon as sufficient training aircraft are acquired.

Eclipse Aviation Corporation selects Albuquerque as Location for its New Corporate Headquarters
Eclipse Aviation named Albuquerque, New Mexico as home to its new corporate headquarters. The decision comes after an extensive evaluation of finalist cities competing to become headquarters for the company, which will manufacture the Eclipse family of next-generation aircraft.

Eclipse Aviation will relocate to Albuquerque this year from its temporary headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona. The company plans to build its headquarters and manufacturing facilities at Double Eagle II Airport, but will initially occupy existing facilities located at Albuquerque’s Sunport Airport.