California City Airport Manager Tom Weil

</head> <body> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> <br>  <br>  <p>Big year for Cal City Airport Manager puts together series of grants to improve facility <br>This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Monday, March 15, 2004. <br>By ALLISON GATLIN <br><a href="http://www.avpress.com">Valley Press Staff Writer</a> <p>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- <br>CALIFORNIA CITY - This year is shaping up to be filled with changes and improvements for the California City Airport, many due to the grant-gathering success of Manager Tom Weil. <br>"The airport is doing a lot this year," Weil said, with projects ranging from the first phase of the airport's master plan to numerous construction upgrades. <p>In December, work began on the master plan, which will outline the course the facility will take over the next 20 years. This phase of the master plan effort is funded by a $110,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration. <p>Several construction projects are planned this year to improve and expand the airport's capabilities. <p>The main runway will be resurfaced with a slurry seal, and nonprecision global positioning satellite markings will be added. The FAA is adding these markings to all airports to assist pilots in finding the airports, "at least to get you within the general vicinity," Weil said. <p>A $78,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation's Aviation Division will pay for the runway improvements. <center><caption><script type="text/javascript">  </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </caption> </center> <p>A second major construction project is replacing the 7½ acres of apron that fronts the airport buildings. This project will replace the existing asphalt laid on bare earth with asphalt on a base, increasing the apron's weight capacity to 40,000 pounds and adding drainage, Weil said. <p>The new apron also will get new airplane tie-downs. <p>Some airport tenants have heavier aircraft that require the sturdier surface. The new surface also will allow the airport to accommodate the California City medical evacuation helicopter - now based at the Fire Department - and Learjet traffic generated by the California City Correctional Center, Weil said. <p>This project, funded by an FAA grant, will total $1 million when finished, he said. <p>The airport's neighboring industrial park also will benefit from Weil's grant-seeking. A $65,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will help pay for installation of utility infrastructure at the nascent park. <p>The 40-acre industrial park does not yet have any tenants, although some companies have expressed interest in the two, 30,000-square-foot semi-finished buildings there, Weil said. <p>"We're awaiting tenants as we speak," said Kari Tapia, economic development director for California City. "We're getting lots of interest. We hope it's just a matter of time." <p>The industrial park is ready for tenants, with water and sewer service already in place and electricity, gas and telephone connections on the way, Tapia said. <p>"You can pull building permits on it tomorrow," she said. <p>The park can accommodate approximately 20 businesses, depending on size. The area is zoned for manufacturing and could easily house businesses involved in import-export activities, warehousing, assembly and other similar activities. <p>"We've tried to cover all the bases," Tapia said. <p>The industrial park is in a foreign trade zone, which can lower costs for tenants. <p>The Valley's foreign trade zone, established in 1993 in Palmdale, allows qualifying companies to save money by deferring, reducing or eliminating duty fees and by streamlining U.S. Customs clearances. <p>Businesses in the zone can defer customs duties owed on parts or raw materials imported into the United States until those materials or parts leave the zone. <p>Planners hope to see aviation-related industry go in on the northside of the industrial park, where there is access to the airport, Tapia said. <p>Weil's plans for the airport go beyond those in the works this year. <p>"We're already looking to next year," he said. <p>Future plans include purchasing land on the north side of the airport to relocate glider operations from the south side. <p>This will help segregate the airport's various activities: glider operations, general aviation and skydiving. <p>Once acquired, the new land will require road access, a small runway and other infrastructure, actions that will take about two years to complete, Weil said. <p>"We've been really blessed; Caltrans and the FAA seem to like us right now," Weil said. "There's opportunity right now to do a lot of good projects." <p><b><a href="http://www.califcity.com/avnr.html">More California City News Events</a></b> <p><b><font color="#000000"><a href="http://www.califcity.com/edc.html">California City Economic Development Corporation Homepage</a></font></b> <p><b><a href="http://www.califcity.com/about-calcity.html">Check out California City the best known secret in the High Desert!!!!!!!!</a></b> <p><b><a href="http://www.califcity.com">Real Estate for sale in California City</a></b> </body> </html>