We have a newly resurfaced runway! I’m going to let John chronicle the details of how it all went down, but I will say thanks to him, we have this project finished, and didn’t have to wait several more weeks for the needed resources to line up. We’re continuing to look into longer-term solutions that will increase the longevity of the surface. Some of you have asked if we’re still trying to install a geotexile fabric. It may not be the right solution for us, since we are in a public field, and it can be cut up and damaged, and hard to repair. We’re looking at some environmentally friendly dust control products that are more practical for our site.
Phil is coordinating with the Civil Air Patrol so they can do an event here this summer at the field. Working with the youth gets younger blood into our club, and is a requirement for maintaining our AMA Gold Leader status. I remember when I was the youngest member of our club, and I’m happy to say that is no longer true!
Lastly, I want to offer some strategies for dealing with non-members that continue to fly, despite many people telling them they need to join. The non-member may continue to insist that it is a public space, and they have the right to be there, and so on. While that fact is true, SEFSD has a Special Use Permit with the City of San Diego that states:
“PERMITEE (SEFSD) shall not allow any person to participate in Permit Use (ie: fly model aircraft) without having signed and delivered to [SEFSD] a “City of San Diego Waiver of Liability”. Furthermore, it is only possible to sign this waiver by becoming a member.
If you see a vehicle driving into the field where they should not be, that is also prohibited in our permit:
“All vehicular traffic shall be confined to concrete, asphalt or decomposed surfaces…”
As a very popular club, we will inevitably run into rule-breakers who think they can do whatever they want. We just all have to apply continuous pressure upon them using the legal tools we have until they comply and remove themselves from the premises.
See you guys at the field!
Your President
-Quan Nguyen
