President’s Report for October and November, 2006 

Ann Sasaki 

Rolf Bienert reported a successful pilot summit in conjunction with the USHPA Board of Directors meeting in early October.  The event was well attended and pilots and guests enjoyed the buffet dinner and the convivial company. 

We had some good coastal flying days in October, surprisingly good for this time of the year.  Folks who went to Dunlap and Potato Hill in mid-October reported flyable but not overly soarable conditions.  It seems like some of the best flying was at Slide recently.  Mission also provided some decent soaring here and there.

James Smyth launches - photo by Tom Bair

 

There have been favorable developments at the Stables and Mori Point.  In a short while when our Stables permit is renewed, non-commercial tandems will be allowed at the Stables if the tandem pilot gets on the list of approved pilots.  This will be a simple procedure analogous to getting a sticker for a site.  Only non-commercial tandems flights will be allowed.  At Mori Point, an official permit for P3s and above to fly will most likely be approved by the GGNRA in the not-too-distant future.  Pilots will need to get a sticker to fly there.  Mori can provide some nice wintertime soaring, or at least scenic sledders when the wind is northerly.  Mori is a hike-up site and we will need to be careful to land only in the designated LZ because there are two endangered species that make their home at Mori Point. 

At the November BAPA meeting we had a good turnout of 26 members, including many newer pilots and members.  Seven experienced pilots and instructors participated in a discussion of Safety Tips for coastal, mountain and XC flying, especially geared toward newer and intermediate pilots.  There was so much to talk about that we didn’t get through the whole list.  The discussion will continue in January at the SSF meeting.  (The December meeting is in Milpitas.)  If you couldn’t make it to the November meeting, come in January to hear the second half of the discussion. 

Officer nominations took place at the November meeting.  An online ballot will soon be available at www.sfbapa.org and members will vote by December 6 to elect the 2007 officers.  One position actually has two candidates in the running!  Please be sure to vote by noon on December 6 so that the new officers can be announced at the BAPA meeting that evening in Milpitas. 

BAPA 2007 calendars are also available for order – the deadline is November 22 (probably before this edition of the Ridge Dancer comes out). Go to www.sfbapa.org to order.  All calendars will be mailed directly to you.  They will not be ready by the holiday party as originally planned. But you WILL receive them before the end of this year. 

The BAPA holiday party will be on Saturday, December 9 at Tom Moock’s house in San Leandro  starting at 6:30 p.m.  Please RSVP to Ann Sasaki at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it by December 1 to say what you will bring and how many people will be coming.  BAPA will provide some of the main dishes.  Members can contribute appetizers, side dishes, salads, desserts and drinks.  The holiday party is always lots of fun – this will be the third year at Tom’s house.  Last year there were over 80 guests and everyone had a great time eating, drinking, socializing and applauding the XC League participants as Jug awarded the annual prizes for the league.   

Please be sure to RSVP by December 1 and let me know what you will bring and how many people are coming.  Tom’s address is 1586 Daniels Drive in San Leandro 94577. 

Directions to 1586 Daniels St, San Leandro are as follows:  

From the Peninsula:  

Take the San Mateo Bridge, then take 880 N.  See below - 

From the South Bay:  

·        Take 880 N

·        Go East on 238

·        Go Northwest on 580, toward Oakland

·        Take the Estudillo Exit, Turn right on Grand

·        Turn right on Estudillo, go under Freeway

·        Go two blocks, then turn left  to stay on Estudillo Ave

·        Turn left on Brookvale

·        Turn left on Daniels

·        The fourth house on right is 1586 Daniels  

From San Francisco:  

·        Take the (80) Bay Bridge

·        Take highway 580 Southeast, toward Hayward

·        Take the Estudillo Exit

·        At the second traffic light, Turn left on Estudillo Ave

·        Go two blocks, then turn left to stay on Estudillo Ave

·        Turn left on Brookvale

·        Turn left on Daniels

·        The fourth house on right is 1586 Daniels  

Come to celebrate the holiday season and toast to another great year of flying! 

As the winter season is upon us, we can look for flying around the storm fronts, easterly soaring at Benicia, northerly flying at Mori once it opens, and traveling further south to warmer climates for thermals, margaritas and sunshine. 

Fly often and fly safely.

Lorie Teichert-Smyth launches at Kealakekua