I have put this word out before but now things seem to be falling into place. We (AMA District X and some of us East Bay Area RCer's) are forming a new club (Alameda Hornet Squadron RC) to fill the S.F. Bay Area void. Some final details are currently being worked out with the City of Alameda/Alameda Point Redevelopment to locate a 400' RC facility on the old Naval Air Station runways. But now it's time to start showing a membership and get the AMA charter completed. This is a rare flying site with excellent weather conditions, views, tons o' room (a 400' runway with a 10,000' runoff sounds good to me)! and a tie to the Naval Air Museum and float fly area. The club won't start asking for dues until the membership grows. The early members/pioneers don't need the added stress of dues. ARE YOU IN?!

Mike Simi

925-362-4242

[email protected]

[email protected]

I know there are quite a few Northern California modelers who would love another place to go fly. Your site sounds like a prime spot for a permenant site that can be built up and maintained as a professional quality flying site. The museum and large open area should deter any complaints from the average citizen.

I live on Beale AFB, CA East of your location and would love to bring my planes and camper down for a weekend of flying. Let us know when you are going to have your Grand Opening Fly-In!

Good luck!

Thanks very much for your support. The Alameda site is just about as good as it gets. I hope we can get through the beuacracy and get it done. I'm sure that once we are up and running there will be lots of room for our fellow flyers.

Hi Mike,

I live in San Jose and it's good to see another club is forming around the bay area. I fly at Tomcats field in Morgan Hill. Check out the website in my signature.It looks like you've found a prime spot and congrats!

Happy Flying!

Hi Mike,

Congrats !

I'm trying to understand your description of the runway ... do you mean that its kinda like the club at Tracy, where there is thousands of feet of old taxiway / runway surface, with a section of that (400' in your case) being properly finished for the RC club ? If so, any chance of it becoming little longer than 400 ft?

Cheers,
Gordon

Sounds great! Are turbines welcome?

Think of it this way. You're on an island in SanFrancisco Bay. The West end of it was once the largest Naval Air Station on the west coast! The navy gave it up to the city of Alameda. The concrete and asphalt runways are undamaged, clean and flat. 8,000 ft runways everywhere. We are applying to the city for a short 400-500 ft BUT a 7,500' runoff sounds enough to me. Ya' can fly your jets all the way to horizon at SF if you have the range. We just have to keep the pressure on the planning board. Turbines will work great there!

Do you which part of which runway the field will be on? It would be nice to get one of the wind-predominent runways where we can fly over land as much as possible...just in case something goes wrong and you lose your model in the bay...

Here's the google earth coordinates 37 47'10.58N 122 19'04.93W

Actually, the best runway is, in fact, the only one that is really available. and the one that we will hopefully be able to use. That's old runway 25 at the east end of the old Navy base. And nowhere are you ever going to get close to any bay waters. When contractors or tenants ocassionally leave a gate open I get right out there and it is awesome. Some of you might remember a huge 1/4 scale fly-in that took place there a few years ago courtesy of the Navy.

Sounds good, Mike. Will it be at the east end of 25 or near the middle where all the cars are in the satellite pic?

Hopefully near the east end. A bit clear of the last building. About where the first taxiway crosses in front of the buildings. The cars are probably new car dealer demonstrators. Mazda occasionally has a drivers rally to test their new cars. Also the Oakland P.D. has used the west end for training drives. The dark curving surfaces are from a highway movie set from the film "Matrix".

Looks like you make it no problem on the FAA 3 mile 400' ceiling limit. Definately very nice pavement. Looks like about 6+ miles from OAK airport referencing Google. Only one thing to keep in mind is to watch how high in that area. The standard departure for full scale aircraft off of runway 29 at OAK has a restriction to remain at or below 2000' until 4 miles NW of OAK VOR located on the airport. That gets it within a mile or so of the range of models and certainly possible in height. I recall someone list 1500' was recorded on a GPS unit on a standard flight. Those two things together if the flying was to the SW of the naval station should be noted.
Most likely not a factor but may be worth making a note about when setting up the club. Most of the time that restriction is relieved as soon as we get airborne out of OAK but if traffic is departing SFO we end up staying at 2000' usually headed towards the golden gate for more than that 4 miles.
On the other side is arrivals to runway 11 may also be a problem the outer marker for runway 11 is right over the Alameda Naval air station. 6.3 miles out is shows. The glideslope at that reference point is 1800' MSL meaning you will almost all traffic crossing the air station at 1800'. The good side of that is it seems 90% of the time or more we use runway 29.
Mark

Hi Mike
On behalf of the Valley RC Flyers of the Sepulveda Basin, I would like to congradulate you on the new site.
Also would like to offer any help from our Charter.
To start we have 17 turbine members that would like to join your club. This includes a few CD's and all the support
and help we can offer.
Thank you for all the hard work and look forward to fly at your new home field.


All The Best
Jason Pakfar
Valley Flyers Turbine Director

Mark...all good information. When SFO/OAK are southeast plan (11 at OAK) there is almost always WX in the area that would certainly keep us (models) grounded. I didn't think about aircraft departing OAK on the PORTE or SKYLINE (I think) would be held down to 2000'. Almost certainly, keeping our models AOB 1500' is not that big of a restriction.....

Mike, the east end would be good...I would just worry if it were too far to the East end we might be overflying the buildings.....

Bob,
Yep, not that big a deal but I thought it worth mentioning. Besides, with the flying on the East end of Benton 25 would help as well. You know how some guys love their vertical, so I thought the information may be beneficial to the guys organizing the club.
Out of all the times I have gone into OAK I have only had to land on 11 twice..both times it was visual approaches. Not really the weather but just the rare east winds.

(The departures that get held are the Coast Five, Nuevo Five, Oakland Five, and Skyline Three)

I wish all the best of luck with the city to get the field going. Now if they could only change the schedules back to the long layovers instead of the day sleep I would love to come by and visit. Nice a close to where we layover.
Mark

Bob,
Good point! Whenever I can get in these days I do move UPFIELD to stay away from the old hangers.

Not sure I understand what you all are talking about with the conflict of traffic from SFO/OAK?? We are so clear of those places and even OAK rarely uses an approach to 11.

Everyone,
Thanks so much for your support of our new venture. If anyone feels strongly enough about this historic and "beautiful" flying site send of a message to the folks in Alameda encouraging them to get behind this new club.

The City of Alameda web sites are www.ci.alameda.ca.us
and www.alameda-point.com

The e-mail addresses of city officials and redevelopment personnel are on these sites. In years past others have tried to start RC clubs in Alameda with little success. This time will be different.

Thanks
Mike

Mike, what Mark is saying (I think) is when aircraft depart rwy 29 from OAK sometimes Norcal will hold them down at 2000' if there is an SFO departure off of rwy 1.

When the WX is rainy, the wind typically shifts and aircraft arrive at OAK on 11 and SFO on 19 (and increasing delays). This very occasionally happens in clear WX but its not unheard of.

It shouldn't be an impact on the club....if it comes up (don't ask questions you don't want the answer to or don't already know the answer), LMK. I can get some data from work. I work at Oakland ARTCC.

Everyone,
This is an update regarding our attempt to form the Alameda Hornet Squadron at old NAS Alameda.
This was the e-mail exchange between the planning department and myself this morning.

>>> "Mike Simi" <[email protected]> 02/16/06 1:51 PM >>>
Andrew,
Any reason to believe there might be strong opposition to our plan for a use permit to start the Alameda Hornet Squadron flying club??
I have been trying to reach Mike Hampen. Left messages but have not had my calls returned.

Thanks
Mike Simi

If we are talking model airplanes, then no. Submit a use permit application with the Planning Department. Provide a two page description of the club, where you want to hold your activities/events, when you want to do these activities. This will force the process to get moving.

Andrew Thomas, AICP
Supervising Planner
Planning and Building Department
2263 Santa Clara Avenue, Room 190
Alameda, CA 94501
Phone: 510.747.6881
Fax: 510.747.6853
Dedicated to Excellence, Committed to Service

Sounds great Mike.

Everyone,
LATEST UPDATE!!
The future of Alameda Hornet Squadron is looking pretty good. AMA now has our charter application. The City of Alameda has recieved the application for use permit (although the fee for that is $1857.00 The city planner is looking into ways to waiver that. Otherwise it might take awhile to put up the money). Speaking with city officials daily. Since we will only be occupying the airfield, Andrew Thomas, the city planner, assures us that there won't be very much for the city to do with the use permit except sign it. So we are all hoping for an early approval. Right now we look o.k. If anyone at city hall has a negative response we may have to make a presentation or meet with the city. Your continued support will help alot.

Mike

MAN THIS IS AWESOME!!!!!! I went and tried to talk to Mike Hampen from PM Reality group at the old Naval Airstation. He's involved with ARRA (Alameda Reuse & Redevopment Authority). I sent him an email and he replied that he's already working with somebody from "my organization", which I took to mean somebody from the AMA.

THIS IS SO AWESOME I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M SO GLAD I CHECKED IN HERE TODAY AS www.rcgroups.com is down right now.

DUDE, WE HAVE TO HOOK UP!!!! I'LL PM YOU MY INFO!!!!

Here's a Google Earth pic of the area. Man, I'm so excited about this I just can't stand it!!!!

Another Update! (They are not always good news)

Everyone,
I guess I should have anticipated this. That $1857.00 fee is going to stand and AMA is saying no to throwing in the bucks. Anyone got any ideas? We might have to start doing a membership drive. Don't worry! this club WILL happen!
Alameda Hornet Squadron Website is being started this week. Hang in there!!

Mike