Valdez Fly In May 11-13

[jprax]

Hi All
Plans are underway for the Fly In again this year, everything is coming into place. This year the state is requiring that we have many more people to help with groud traffic and crowd control for safety. We are hoping to get enough volunteers to break up the shifts. Let me know if you can help it would be appreciated.

Also remember if you are planning on competing that the registration closes on Friday night!

I will keep updates on this thread as we get closer.

We appreciate everyone who makes the trip!
Joe Prax

[Clayton Harper]

Joe, I'm planning to be there. I've never been to the Valdez Fly In, so I don't know much but if I can help I will. I have been around airplane since 1964.

Clayton Harper
281-300-0891

[cpthazard]

Hi Joe, we are renting a Motor Home in Anchorage, is there going to be camping on the airport or do we need to find a place to park down by the Harbor?

[jprax]

Captain
There is A LOT of snow this year around the airport. It is melting fast but I don't think it will be gone. I think that one of the RV parks will be plowing their lots clear for parking.
Joe

[jprax]

Is there interest in bringing back the Light Sport class? This would be J-3, PA-11 etc. In the past we have not had enough particpants to have the class. We would like to have a minimum of 5 planes. Perhaps there is more interest now than the last time we tried to have it.

[akconor]

Hey Joe,
Was searching around for a schedule of events for the fly-in but had no luck. Anything out yet? Gonna be in Cordova with the cub that weekend and would love to make it up there for a bit.

Thanks,
Conor

[RobS]

+1 for light sport in 2013. Is there any plan to remove any snow in the overflow parking areas on the Northeast side of the runway up on the high ground if mother earth doesn't melt it off by fly-in time?

[skukum12]

My gang and I are hoping to get there Thus. afternoon/evening. I won't speak for them but I don't mind volunteering for things. Jprax pm me iffn you still need folks.
Joe

[jprax]

The schedule is not finalized at this point but won't be too different from last year. Friday will be the pilot round table and Friday night will be the deadline for entry into the STOL competition. Saturday might get a later start than normal due to tides on the beach. We might move the Experimentals to Sunday after the flour bombing to make more time. The snow is melting fast, it has been hot here and the state has plowed many areas too. The problem will be the mounds of snow will take awhile and the ramp may be wet from melting snow. There should be plenty of room for parking. Standby volunteers, and we could use more, I will be contacting you when I have specifics. Looking forward to seeing everyone it should be another great show.

[snowyriver]

I will be there also, flying in for the first time. Am available if needed. Craig

[Clayton Harper]

Any suggestions on where to stay if I ride the ferry from Whitter (no car, just me)?

[jprax]

As I posted here in April we are putting the Experimental Bush class on Sunday. The thought was to try and feature them more as a class. The Bush Challenge and the ENTIRE Experimental Bush class will all be Sunday.

NEXT YEAR repeat NEXT YEAR we are looking at doing a semi-final in the Bush Class on Saturday and have a final on Sunday of the top five all competing in the same heat rather than the Bush Challenge with just a loaded take off. They would all have the same wind and the top ones competing with each other. Also we will look at a semi final and a final heat for the top Bush class planes. People put a lot into them so it would be nice to see them fly more. BUT THIS IS A THOUGHT FOR NEXT YEAR NOT THIS YEAR.

Not to yell, but yes the Bush Challenge (top three from the Bush Class) and entire Experimental Class are Sunday. This will also make Sunday more interesting of a show. We were looking at having to limit entries in the bush class on Saturday so this was another way of giving it more time.

There will be fuel. A company from Palmer will be here with a truck. We are greatful! There are a lot of hoops to jump through to be able to sell fuel and we are glad they are making it.

[RobS]

The experimental class needs to run earlier in the day to allow more time for the land based brethren to drive home and not have a smaller weather window for the fliers to depart. The schedule shows it ends at 2 with the big assumption it ends by 2. Switching with the flour bombing makes a lot more sense to me.

[jprax]

There are a lot of considerations in the schedule. People come for two days of activity so we want to give them that. Some people can't be here on Sunday with Mother's Day but since the Airmen's show switched weekends we are stuck where we are at. We can't go earlier and people who come from outside can't stay for two weeks. So here we are on this weekend. Switching around who goes where just seems to move the issue. We would like to feature the STOL more and not cut the time for it. We think the other other events are important too so we have to work them in as well. Right now for this year the schedule is what it is. We certainly will take all these thoughts into consideration for next year and see how it works for this year as well. Please do keep your input coming.

[jprax]

FUEL as of right now we ARE NOT certain about a fuel vendor. Something came up with the Palmer supplier. ERA helicopters is not suppling either. There are a lot of hoops to jump through because we are a Part 135 airport with ERA Aviation coming in here. That ups the requirements for the fuel vendors and there are plans and inspections that have to happen to satisfy the state regulations as well. We are trying to get another local vendor to help out. I will post here as soon as we know.
Joe

[jprax]

FUEL WILL BE AVAILBLE. Crowley is bringing a truck from Kenai to have fuel in Valdez. Last minute but we are glad they are helping. Hopefully Crowley will be able to take over the ERA fuel pumps in the future and have fuel available year around in Valdez.

[jbush97]

Joe,

Do you have any issues with extending the experimental class registration deadline to Saturday night, since the experimental time was bumped to Sunday? We are all scrambling to juggle our schedules and work around weather. I would like to see as many EXP pilots make it as possible. I'm planning to fly over for Friday night dinner, but we will all need a break in the weather first.

[jprax]

Let me check on that. Sounds reasonable to me but I am not the final answer.

[5 Rivers]

and people who come from outside

Joe,
Could it be assumed that most of these guest from the outside are attenting the STOL Competition to see the spectacular show that the EXPERIMENTAL CLASS offers???
And how can you have a awards dinner on Saturday night without completing the entire STOL Competition???
And what about the working man that has to go to work on Monday morning???

[jprax]

The deadline for the Experimental Bush class sign up is 2pm on SATURDAY. Hope this helps people make it and hopefully the weather looks better too. We have a few planes here now.

Randy
Could it also be assumed that we "working men (and women)" have been working to make a complete event that includes everyone's interests? That is what we are trying to do. Also we are trying to make more exposure for the planes and have things for people that DO stay around on Sunday. There are quite a few who do. We will see how it works and go from there for next year.
Hope you can make it, You are welcome to come talk on Friday to the Pilot's Round table about Doug's flap mod too. I bet people would like to hear about it.
Joe

[Bob Breeden]

Hey joe
I am catching a flight to valdez in about an hour. I got into anchorage last night. My dad however is en-route and camped at the north end of the copper river canyon. He tried for the pass, i believe he said it was called the marshall pass(?), last night and said it was just barely covered at the top but he could not tell of it was socked in on the west side. This is the pass that is due east of valdez. Could you give a pirep to see if that pass looks relatively clear? I think that is an option for a lot of guys coming into valdez.

I cannot wait to see everyone. I will be in a blue jacket and i will be there at 8 assumming the era floght gets in.

Great idea with extending the deadline to saturdqy for the EXP class !

Bobby

[J5Ron]

Hey joe
I am catching a flight to valdez in about an hour. I got into anchorage last night. My dad however is en-route and camped at the north end of the copper river canyon. He tried for the pass, i believe he said it was called the marshall pass(?), last night and said it was just barely covered at the top but he could not tell of it was socked in on the west side. This is the pass that is due east of valdez. Could you give a pirep to see if that pass looks relatively clear? I think that is an option for a lot of guys coming into valdez.

I cannot wait to see everyone. I will be in a blue jacket and i will be there at 8 assumming the era floght gets in.

Great idea with extending the deadline to saturdqy for the EXP class !

Bobby

Think you need 2400' to get through Marshall Pass...here is a link for the weather cams off Thompson Pass...didn't look to good...
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/iways/roa...Id=1&siteId=26

Safe travels...

[jprax]

The registration deadline for all certified STOL comps is now 11am Saturday morning. Expermimental is 6pm Saturday night. Weather should be better Saturday. Not bad in Valdez but blowing in the mountains. Thompson Pass is not open, Marshall pass might be better but still a lot of wind. The ride would not be fun. We want to see everyone here but please do not push the weather!
Joe