^CA( ^

RONAL D J . COZA D - C A BA RNO . 11392 0 LA W OFFICE S O FRONAL D J . COZA D 210 0 Palomar

Airport Road , Suit e 21 4 Carlsbad , C A 9201 1 Telephon e (760 ) 431-820 0 Facsimil e (760 ) 454-170 5 roncozad(a) , gmail . co m Attorne y for

Complainant s

UNITE D STATE S DEPARTMEN T O FTRANSPORTATIO N FEDERA L AVIATIO N ADMINISTRATIO N

WASHINGTON , D.C . Orang e Count y Soarin g Association , Mar y Rust , Larr y Tuohin o an dChri s Mannion , COMPLAINANT S V . Count y o f

Riverside , RESPONDEN T Docke t No . 16-09-1 3 COMPLAINANT' S REPL Y BRIE F • • ; / J

c 3

1 . Th e Count y Faile dt o Prov e Entitlemen t t o th e Limite d'^Reasonabl e an dNecessary " Exceptio n t o Gran t

Assuranc e 22 . Th e County' s Answe r

reveal s that

it s justificatio n for

excludin g al l non-powere dglide r aircraf t fromHemet-Rya n Airport afte r mor e tha n fifty-six year s o f activ e an dongoin g operation s i s base dentirel y o n th e limite d"reasonabl e an dnecessary " exceptio n t o gran t assuranc e 22 , "Economi c Nondiscrimination, " (RA * p2) . Incredibly , th e County relie s exclusivel y o n jus t

on e conclusor y declaratio n (R A ExG ) an don e self-servin g lette r (RA ExU ) t o th e FA A fromit s Assistan t Airpor t Director , Colb y Catald i (RA p 3 fii2).

"RA " Refer s t o "Respondent' s Answer. " Page l o f 7r

Notabl y absen t fromhi s declaration , i s an y proffe r o f Cataldi' s qualification s o r expertis e t o conclud e "Closur e wa s absolutel y necessar y for th e continue dsaf

e operatio n o f

th e airport " (R A Ex G p3) . Whil e h e assert s tha t that safet y i s " ato p priority " (R A Ex G p2 , R A p9 ) an dtha t th e County "wrestled " with glide r coordinatio n issue s ove r

th e years , ther e i s an utte r failur e t o establis h that

th e FA A o r

CalTran s support

th e exclusio n a s claime do r that alegitimat e safet

y stud y was eve r

performed . O n th e contrary , Mr . Cataldi' s ow n testimon y an dexhibit s from CalTrans , th e FA A an dfromunname dconsultant s sho w that th e "safet y issues " resulte dfrom th e County' s ongoin g isolation an dnegligen t managemen t

an dit s refusa

l t o collaborat e i n goo d fait h with glide r

operators , th e FA A an dCalTrans^ . Respondent' s exhibit s M - T consist primaril y o f

routin e post-inspectio n report s an dcorrespondenc e betwee n th e County an d CalTran s tha t

stat e th e neede deffort s b y th e County t o assur e saf e glide r operations . CalTrans ' recommendation s ar e clearl y designe dt o promp t th e County t o implemen t an dpromulgat e rationa l operatin g rule s ye t Mr . Catald i suggest s th e County merel y passe dth e recommendation s alon g t o Howel l wh o eithe r ignore do r

operate di n spite o f

the m(Se e Catald i Letter , R A ExU) . N o wher e doe s CalTran s o r th e FA A advocat e th e bannin g o f glide r operation s a s Catald i suggests . Cataldi' s admitte dpractic e o f dealin g exclusivel y with former glide r FB O confracto r Larry Howel l (R A Ex G p2 ) i n ligh t o f Howell' s repeate dan dacknowledge dfailure s establishe s onl y th e County' s dereliction . If , o n th e othe r

hand , th e County ha dtrul y "wrestled " i n goo d fait h with glide r

safety , wh y then , di di t

admittedl y neve r

collaborat e with th e glide r operators , thei r club s o r thei r representatives ? Why di dth e County ru n an dhid e whe n Mr . Howel l suddenl y declare da n earl y retiremen t an dcautione dtha t

"Th e County ha s requeste dtha t peopl e d o not cal l lookin g for

deal s o r exemption s a s ther e wil l b e none" ? A critica l readin g o f

th e exhibit s attache dt o th e Answe r reveal s that

th e County blatantl y too k the mou t o f contex t an dmisquote dthe mt o falsel y impl y suppor t for th e exclusion . In RA ExU , Mr . Catald i represente dt o FA A Airport Complianc e Specialist , Anthon y Garci a(Western Pacifi c Regio n Airport s Div. ) tha t th e Count y ha d"extensiv e dialogu e with curren t occupant s o f th e premises , unpowere dglide r pilot s an dvariou s partie s claimin g t o represen t th e interest s o f

CalTrans , citedth

e airpor t seve n time s ove

r the preceding seve

n years fo r allowin g unauthorizedus e of makeshif t landing area s utilize db

y glide r operations . A

t n o tim e wer e Complainants advise

do f thes e inspection report s an dth e continuedunpermissible us e of area s adjacen

t t o the permittedrunwa

y 4-22 . Pag e 2 of 7th e unpowere dglide r community... " an dimplie dFA A an dCalTran s disapproval ^ o f glide r further operations . Bu t

thos e statement s wer e not true . In hi s emai l date dNovembe r 21 , 200 9 (E x V) , Mr . Garci amad e i t clear tha t soarin g activitie s can an dshoul dcontinu e with appropriat e operatin g guidelines :

CalTran s post-inspectio n letter s hav e disclose danee dt o implemen t saf e operatin g procedure s for

glide r operation s at

HMT . Federa l obligation s requir e that HM T b e availabl e for

aeronautica l activitie s includin g glide r operation s o n reasonabl e term s an dwithou t

unjus t discrimination . . . Presently , justificatio n fo r acomplet e ba n o n al l glide r operation s at

HM T ha s no t bee n established . I t

appear s tha t

glide r operation s ca n b e accommodate di n th e near ter m i f rule s ar e establishe dtha t ensur e saf

e glide r operations.. . W e ar e makin g th e followin g recommendatio n becaus e acomplet e ba n o n al l glide r operation s at

HM T doe s not

appear justifie da t

thi s time . Rather , i t

appear s th e airport ca n accommodat e glider s a s lon g a s the y operat e safely , alway s cognizan t o f th e othe r aeronautica l user s o f

th e airport . T o permi t

saf e airport operation s an dallo w glider s t o operat e safel y at HMT , th e County shoul destablis h glide r operatin g procedures . W e recogniz e tha t

th e County ha s plan s t o redevelo p th e airport . However , w e don' t kno w whe n th e redevelo p wil l actuall y begin . I t doe s no t appear reasonabl e t o en d al l glide r operation s wel l before redevelopmen t activity get s started . A s with othe r aeronautica l activities , w e recommen dtha t th e County allo w glide r

operation s a s lon g a s the y operat e safel y an di n complianc e with reasonabl e safet y rules.. . Eve n th e County' s ow n consultant s neve r suggeste dendin g glide r

operations . In RA ExA , a n unauthenticate dsectio n fromth e 198 4 Maste r Plan , th e autho r

assume s asignifican t growth i n glide r

operation s an dexpresse s aconcern tha t th e usefu l nmwa y lengt

h may decreas e o n abus y day i f

man y sai l plane s ar e line du p waitin g for thei r tows . He/she , therefore Accordin g t o CalTran s Assoc . Environmenta l Planne r Davi dCohe n (CalTran s lette r o f Augus t 13 , 200 4 (R A ExP)) , glide r

operation s may b e limite dt o th e permitte dglide r runway 4/22 . To w plan e landing s may safely b e restricte dt o powe r

runwa y 5-23 , causin g n o conflic t with genera l aviation . "Instea do f usin g unpermitte drunways , al l landing s an dtake-off

s for aircraft , includin g thos e fo r gliders , shoul db e limite dt o Runway 4-2 2 an dRunwa y 5/23 . A s apart

o f th e long-rang e maste r

plaimin g process , ahigh-spee dtax i way betwee n th e tw o permitte drunway s may b e considere dt o increas e th e efficienc y o f th e glide r

operations . In addition , th e airport shoul dsponso r

apla n t o brin g Runway 4-2 2 u p t o airport desig n standard s for

a n A- I runway. " Give n th e choice , glide r

pilot s woul dprefe r

t o tak e of

f an dlan do n runway 4-2 2 a s oppose dt o th e conventio n previousl y establishe db y FB O Sailplan e Enterprise s an dacquiesce dt o b y Respondent s ove r a7-yea r period . Thus , Complainant s ar e in agreemen t with CalTran s tha t

safet y dictate s 0Q\

y permitte dnmv/ay s b e used . Pag e 3 of 7recommende dlittl e mor e tha n constructin g ashort 45 5 foo t extensio n t o runwa y 4-2 2 an d institutin g som e simpl e launchin g rule s (RA Ex A p5-4) . Similarly , th e attache dreference s t o th e imadopte ddraf

t Maste r Pla n o f 200 4 mak e n o reference s t o closin g th e gliderport . I t state s that a s o f 2004 , ther e ar e onl y 6 0 base dglidercraft , si x helicopter s an d2 jet s an dthat "Sailplan e operation s wil l remai n a

t it s presen t

leve l an dpossibl y declin e du e t o th e sam e factor s affectin g th e curren t

base dpowe r

aircraf t owne r population , howeve r

are apopulatio n growth couple dwith increasin g visibility o f

th e Sa n Jacinto Valle y a s arecreatio n are a(e.g. , reservoir, upgrade d casino) , wil l resul t

i n a n increas e i n sailplan e operations " (RA Ex D p2-3) . Unde r it s "Analysi s o f Soarin g Issues " section , th e autho r conclude s tha t

glide r operation s may b e conducte db y wa y o f an FA A standar dmodificatio n allowin g continuin g operation s fromrunway 4-2 2 alon g with rule s settin g fort

h arriva l an ddepartur e procedure s (p p 3-2 4 t o 3-25 , 3-29) . Respondent s als o tos s i n severa l othe r unsupporte dargument s t o justif y th e expulsio n o f glide r operations . W e addres s the mbelow : A . "Runwa y 4-2 2 wa s no t buil t o r improve dwith Airport

Improvemen t

progra m("AIP" ) funds . Ther e ar e n o federal obligation s tha t requir e th e County t o kee p th e runwa v open. " Response : I t i s wel l settle dtha t

onc e an airport

become s "obligated, " th e sponso r i s require db y contrac t an ddee drestriction s t o observ e th e gran t assurance s a s t o th e entir e airport . It may no t pars e ou t variou s independen t

feature s base do n whic h wer e pai dfor with th e federal funds.' * Thi s i s especiall y tru e whe n th e lan dfor th e airport

i s acquire da s surplu s federa l land . B . "Glider s als o historicall y display alac k o f Radi o Telephon y (RT ) communication s an d adherenc e t o standar doperatin g procedures. " Response : Heme t airport i s an uncontrolle dfield. Althoug h n o radio s ar e required , man y glide r aircraf t us e radio s t o communicat e o n th e CTA Fan dComplainant s hav e repeatedl y indicate dthei r

support an y reasonabl e proposa l that al l aircraft , includin g gliders , utiliz e radios . C . "Complainant s wer e abl e t o mov e thei r operation s t o anearb y airport withi n Riversid e County , Skylar

k Airport , Lak e Elsinore , CA. " Response : Skylar k Airport i s aprivat e airport

an dglider s ar e permitte donl y at th e pleasur e o f

th e propert y owne r

for afee . A s th e recipien t

o f federal lan dan dgrants , th e County o f 4 See , FAA rulin g unde r nearl y identica l fact s i n Mr . Willia mDea n Bardi n d/b/ aUltralight s o f Sacrament o V . County o f

Sacramento , CA , FA A Docke t No . 16-00-11 , fina

l Agenc y decisio n Augus t 9 , 2001 . Pag e 4 of 7Riversid e mus t provid e acces s t o th e publi c fo r al l classe s o f

aeronautica l activit y o n reasonabl e terms . It

ma y no t advocat e tha t

responsibilit y sinc e alternat e temporar y accommodation s ma y b e mad e throug h aprivat e party . Currently , th e County provide s N O accommodation s for

glide r operation s at

an y o f it s airports . D . "Mos t

glider s ar e not

designe dfor

landin g o n har dsurfaces , causin g damag e t o glider s an dt o th e runwav. " Response : Thi s assertio n i s false . Mos t glider s ar e designe dfor

landin g o n sof

t o r hardsurfaces ; th e optimu mlandin g surfac e for aglide r alway s bein g asphal t

o r concrete . Onl y antiquate d glider s lac k

afront whee l (i.e. , ameta l ski di s present) ; i n an y event , thi s objectio n i s easil y solve dthroug h impositio n o f areasonabl e restrictio n o n glider s with skids . E . Complainant s ha dn o interes t i n continuin g an organize dglide r operatio n at

Hemet:".. . whe n th e County staf

f me t with Complainant s abou t thes e issue s the y (Complainants ) requeste dacop y o f

th e County' s for

mleas e agreement....Howeve r Complainant s neve r followe du p o r

mad e areques t

for alease , an dnon e was offere db y th e County. " Response : Thi s clai mi s patentl y false . Complainant s wrot e t o Respondent s o n Augus t 6 , 200 9 an d agai n o n Augus t

22 , 200 9 offerin g t o undertak e aleas e an dt o operat e afixed-base glide r operation . Complainant s als o repeatedl y offere dt o develo p an dinstitut e reasonabl e safety guidelines , but

wer e routinel y rebuffe d(Complainant s Exhibit s 12 , 14 , 21 , 2 2 an d 26) . Complainant s stan dread y t o mov e forwar dwith discussio n o f operationa l an dleas e arrangements . 2 . Th e County' s Undisclose dPlan s t o Mak e Roo mfo r Commercia l Developmen t o f th e Airport' s Sout h Side . Notably , th e County fail s t o disclos e fact s tha t sugges t it s motivation s ar e not

s o nobl e o r safet y drive n - tha t

it s rea l goal i s t o remov e glide r operation s t o mak e roo mfor commercia l developmen t

o f th e airport' s South sid e b y movin g Californi aDivision o f Forestry ("CDF" ) operation s t o th e no w destroye dglide r port . Althoug h denie dhere , th e redevelopmen t plan s ar e wel l know n t o th e Wester n Region ^ an dwer e discusse di n arecen t medi aintervie w with a county representativ e (Complainant' s Exhibi t 34) . Indeed , th e County ha s eve n commissione d architect s drawing s o f

th e planne dredevelopmen t (Complainant' s exhibi t

35 ) bu t faile dt o publicl y disclos e them . Exhibit s 3 4 an d3 5 ar e attache dt o th e Declaratio n o f Christophe r Mannion . "W e recognize tha

t the Count y ha s plan s t

o redevelo p th e airport . However, w

e don' t kno w whe n th e redevelo p will actuall

y begin . I t doe s not appea r reasonable t

o en dall glide r operation s wel

l befor e redevelopmen

t activit y get s started. " Email o f

Anthon y Garcia , FA

A Wester n Region , Septembe

r 9 , 2009 , Respondent' s E

x V . Pag e 5 o f 73 . Th e County' s Mis-Citatio n t o th e Pacifi c Flyer s Cas e t o Avoi dPaymen t o f Reasonabl e Relocatio n Expenses . Th e County mis-cite s Pacifi c Coas t Flyer s v Count

y o f Sa n Dieg o (16-04-0 8 ) i n it s attemp t t o avoi dliability fo

r relocatio n expense s unde r th e Unifor

mRelocatio n Assistanc e an d Rea l Propert y Acquisitio n Policie s Ac t o f 197 0 (4 2 U.S.C . 4601) . A t McClellan-Palomar , an existin g FBO , Palomar

Airpor t Cente r "PAC, " determine dt o demolis h tw o doze n Worl dWa r II vintag e hangar s t o mak e way for th e ne w "Premie r

Je t Center. " There , th e Directo r reasone dthat Sectio n 460 1 doe s no t

appl y becaus e th e projec t was purel y privat e an ddi dnot involv e th e takin g ofpersona l propert y b y agovernmenta l agency . Ou r cas e i s th e opposite . Confraryt o Respondent' s assertions , th e closin g o f privat e FB O Sailplan e Enterprise s an dexpiratio n o f it s leas e with Responden t

wa s no t th e caus e o f

th e glide r

ban . Here , th e County itsel f i s removin g th e gliderport

an dth e persona l propert y o f sailplan e operator s t o mak e roo mfor th e County' s redevelopmen t

plans . Tha t

th e County refuse s t o disclos e it s developmen t plan s i n earnes t

i s o f n o matter . Sinc e th e County canno t support it s evictio n o f

al l glider s an dth e bannin g o f glide r operations , at

th e ver y least , i t

i s liabl e for

reasonabl e relocatio n expenses . DATED : January 4 , 201 0 Respectfull y Submitted , Ronal dJ . Coza d LA W OFFICE S O FRONAL D J . COZA D

Pag e 6 o f 7Certificat e o f Servic e I certif y tha t I hav e thi s da y serve dth e foregoin g repl y brief , declaration s an dexhibit s o n th e followin g person s at th e followin g addresse s an dfacsimil e number s b y first clas s mail , postag e prepaid . Offic e o f th e Chie f Genera l Counse l ATTN : FA A Part

1 6 Airpor t

Proceeding s Docket , AGC-61 0 Roo m92 5 Federa l Aviatio n Adminisfratio n 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S W Washington , D C 2059 1 Facsimile : (202 ) 267-576 9 Origina l Plu s 3 Copie s Pamel aJ . Wall s County Counse l COUNT Y O FRIVERSID E 396 0 Orang e Sfree

t Riverside , C A 9250 1 Anit aC . Willi s LA W OFFICE S O FANIT A C . WILLI S 40 0 Corporat e Pointe , Suit e 30 0 Culve r City , C A 9023 0 Counse l fo r

Responden t

Count y o f

Riversid e Dated : January 5 , 201 0 Ronal dJ . Cozad , Esq .

Pag e 7 of 7UNITE D STATE S DEPARTMEN T O FTRANSPORTATIO N FEDERA L AVIATIO N ADMINISTRATIO N

WASHINGTON , D.C . Orang e Count y Soarin g Association , Mar y Rust , Larr y Touhin o an dChri s Mannion , COMPLAINANT S Count y o f

Riverside , RESPONDEN T Docke t No . 16-09-1 3 DECLARATIO N O FLARR Y TOUfflN O I N OPPOSITIO N T O RESPONDENT' S MOTIO N T O DISMIS S AN D DECLARATIO N O FCOLB Y CATALD I Titl e 1 4 Cod e o f

Federa l Regulation s (CFR) , Par t 1 6 I , Larry Touhino , declar e a s follows : 1 . I amth e Presiden t

o f th e Orang e County Soarin g Associatio n (OCSA) , an dals o a Complainan t

herein . Th e testimon y herei n i s basedupo n my persona l knowledg e i n my capacity a s Presiden t

an drepresentativ e o f

th e Complainant , OCSA . 2 . O n Augus t

5 , 200 9 an dagai n o n Augus t 19 , 2009 , I me t

with representative s o f

th e Economi c Developmen t

Agenc y (EDA) , Riversid e County , t o explor e both th e feasibility o f continue dglide r

operation s a t

Hemet-Rya n airport , an dth e feasibility o f enterin g int o aleas e agreemen t

wit h th e County t o continu e glide r operations . 3 . Ever y meetin g was initiate db y myself . I wa s tol db y Mr . Cha dDavies , ED A Airport Developmen t

Specialis t

an dMr . Harry Oliver , ED A Airport s Supervisor , tha t n o leas e woul db e offere dan dthe y wer e shuttin g dow n Hemet-Ryan airport t o glide r operations . 4 . I n on e o f

ou r meetings , Mr . Davie s tol dm e very directl y tha t th e Sailplan e Enterprise s Fixe dBas e Operato r

(FBO ) leas e was no t

availabl e t o b e assumed . Pag e 1 of 35 . 1 di das k for an dreceive dth e County' s blan k leas e for magreement , but

tha t documen t was give n t o m e with n o offe r t o lease ; indeed , th e conversatio n was quit e th e opposite . My reques t

wa s preface db y th e hypothetical , "sa y th e FA A agree s with u s an dnot wit h th e County , w e wan t

t o understan dth e term s no w rathe r tha n later" . Thi s wa s als o th e tim e i n whic h I ha drequeste dacop y o f Mr . Larry Howell' s (principle . Sailplan e Enterprise s FBO ) the n un-terminate dleas e at whic h w e wer e tol dthat i t woul dno t

b e transferre dan dan y "hypothetical " leas e with u s woul db e unde r ne w terms . 6 . Therefore , o n Augus t

6,2009, 1 prepare dan dsen t alette r addresse dt o Mr . Colb y Cataldi , Assistan t Directo r fo r Airports , EDA , County o f Riverside , stating , i n pertinen t part : "Orang e Count y Soarin g Association , anon-profi t 501c(7 ) corporatio n for

ove r 5 0 years , i s intereste di n openin g negotiation s i n regard s t o continuin g th e glide r operation s a t

Heme t Ryan Airport' s north sid e previousl y manage db y Sailplan e Enterprises . Yo

u ma y contac t th e undersigne di n regard s t o thos e negotiations . " (emphasis supplied)(Complainants ' E x 22) . 7 . I di dnot

receiv e an y respons e fromMr . Cataldi , Mr . Davies , Mr . Oliver , th e ED A o r th e County o f Riversid e t o m y Augus t

6 , 20 9 letter . 8 . Thereafter , o n Augus t 22,2009, 1 prepare dan dsen t asecon dlette r

t o Mr . Ro b Field , th e Directo r o f th e Riversid e County Economi c Developmen t Agenc y (Exhibi t

33 , attached) , i n pertinen t

part : "Thi s i s t o follow-u p o n aserie s o f conversation s betwee n Larry Touhino , President , OCSA , ChadDavie s (ED A Airport Developmen t

Specialist ) an dHarry Olive r (ED A Airport

Rea l Property Supervisor ) o f you r office s o n Wednesda y Augus t 5 , 2009 , an do n Augus t

19 , 2009 , regardin g leasin g th e glide r are aa t Hemet-Rya n Airport' s north sid e previousl y manage db y Sailplan e Enterprises. " Pag e 2 of 3Ja n 0 4 1 0 07:27 p Chri s Mannio n C303)439-955 3 p . l

And , "OCS A i s prepare dto undertak e th e following action s in order t o secur e th e abilit y o f th e publi c t

o continu e operatin g glide

r categor y genera l aviatio n aircraf

t fro mHeme t airport : 1 . OCS A agree s t o tak

e th e lea di n developin g goodfaith , reasonabl e protocol s an dsafet y procedure s to ensur

e saf e integrate doperation s wit

h al l genera

l aviatio n an demergenc y respons e aviatio n a t Hemet-Rya

n Field . 2 . OCS A woul dagre e t

o undertak

e ane w leas e wit

h th e Count

y base do n the County' s sampl e leas e contrac t wit h certai n modifications , an din tur n leas e ti e dow n an dhangar

spac e t o glide r

tenants , (emphasi s supplied) . 3 . I n th e alternative , OCS A woul dfindacceptabl e simpl y th e abilit

y t o continu e leasin g ti e down an

dstorag e spac e directl y fromth e County . 4 . OCS A woul dwor

k wit h Count y planner s i

n th e reconfiguratio n o f

runway s an dtaxiway s i n th e propose dexpansio n o f Heme t airpor t s o a s t o preserv e acces s t o Heme

t airpor t b y unpowere dgliders."(Attachment 2) . 9 . I di dnot

receiv e any respons e fromth e Respondent s t o m y Augus t 22 , 200 9 letter . I declar e unde r penalt y o f perjur y pursuant

to th e law s o f

th e Stat e o f Californi atha

t the foregoing i s tru e an dcorrect . Execute dthi s lO" ' da

y of December , 2009 , a

t Orang e County , California .

yfouhffno . 3siden

t Orang e Connt

y Soarin g Associatio n Complainan

t Pag e 3 of 3

### \5(ytears ) fcjrj-^-t^;

Ro b Fiel d Director Riverside Count

y Economi c Developmen

t Agenc y P.O.Bo x 118 0 Riverside , CA 9250 2 Augus t 22 , 200 9 Re : Continue dAcces s t o Hemet-Rya n Gliderpor

t b y Unpowere dGlider

Aircraf t Dea r Directo r Field , Thi s i s t o follow-u

p o n aserie s o f

conversation s between Larr y Touhino , President , OCSA , Cha

dDavie s (Airpor

t Developmen

t Specialist) an

dHarr y Oliver (Airpor t Rea l Propert y Supervisor) o f

your office s o n Wednesda

y Augus t 5 , 2009 , an

do n Augus t 19 , 2009 , regardin g leasin g th e glide r are aa t Hemet-Rya

n Airport' s nort

h sid e previousl y manage db y Sailplan e Enterprises . Orang e Count

y Soarin g Association , anon-profit 501(c)(7 ) corporatio n fo

r ove r 5 0 years , i s intereste din continuin g th e glide r operation s a

t Hemet Rya n Airport' s nort

h side previousl y manage db y Sailplan e Enterprises . Soarin g ha s along histor y a t Hemet-Rya

n Fiel dandou

r organizatio n wouldlik

e to se e tha

t traditio n continu e fo

r th e benefit

o f th e public . OCS A i s prepare dto undertak e th e following action s i

n orde r to secur e th e abilit y o f th e publi c t o continu e operatin g glide r categor y genera l aviatio n aircraf

t fromHeme

t airport : 1 . OCS A agree s t o take th e lea di n developin g goo dfaith , reasonabl e protocol s an dsafet y procedure s to ensur

e saf e integrate doperation s wit h all genera

l aviatio n an

demergenc y respons e aviatio n a t Hemet-Rya

n Field . 2 . OCS A woul dagre e t o undertak e anew leas e wit

h th e Count

y basedo n th e County' s sampl e leas e contrac t wit h certain modifications , an di n tur n leas e tiedow n an

dhanga r spac e t o glide

r tenants . 3 . I n th e alternative , OCS A wouldfindacceptabl e simply th e abilit y t o continu e leasin g tiedow n an

dstorag e spac e directl y fro mth e County . 4 . OCS A woul dwor

k wit h Count y planner s i

n th e reconfiguratio n o f

runway s an dtaxiway s i

n th e propose dexpansio n o f Heme t airpor t s o a s t o preserv e acces s to Heme

t airpor t b y unpowere dgliders .



### EntZ- ^We wis h all partie s t o se e thi s new opportunit y a s amomen

t to correc t man y o f th e misunderstanding s o f

th e past . Time i s o f

th e essence ; therefor

e w e reques t

your reply by wa y o f acceptance , counter-offer , or negotiatio n agreemen

t within five (5 ) busines s days . Sincerely , Larr y Tuohin o Chri s Mannion OCS A President

OCS A Vic e President 714-319-998 8 951-551-619 7 larswan(g),aol.co

mzoomie83(S),roadrunner.co m www.ocsoaring.org CC : Harr y Oliver , Cha

dDavies , OCS A Boar

do f Directors , Ro

n Coza dUNITE D STATE S DEPARTMEN T O FTRANSPORTATIO N FEDERA L AVIATIO N ADMINISTRATIO N

WASfflNGTON , D.C . Orang e Count y Soarin g Association , Mar y Rust , Larr y Touhin o an dChri s Mannion , COMPLAINANT S Count y o f

Riverside , RESPONDEN T Docke t No . 16-09-1 3 DECLARATIO N O FCHRI S MANNIO N FO RTH E PURPOS E O FAUTHENTICATIN G EVIDENC E Titl e 1 4 Cod e o f

Federa l Regulation s (CFR) , Par t 1 6

I , Christophe r

P . Mannion , declar e a s follows : 1 . I amth e Vic e Presiden t o f th e Orang e County Soarin g Associatio n (OCSA) , an dals o a Complainan t

herein . Th e testimon y herei n i s base dupo n my persona l knowledg e i n my capacity a s Vic e Presiden t an drepresentativ e o f

th e Complainant , OCSA . 2 . Th e attache dnewspape r articl e entitle d"Glide r

pilot s wan t

t o kee p sharin g th e ai r a t Hemet-Rya n Airport " i s atru e an dcorrec t cop y o f th e origina l articl e compose db y reporte r Mik e Perraul t

tha t appeare di n th e Riversid e County Press-Enterpris e newspape r o n Tuesday , Septembe r

18 , 200 9 (Complainants ' Exhibi t 34) . I n that

article . Riversid e Economi c Developmen t

Agenc y (EDA) Spokesman To mFreeman i s quote da s saying : "Th e plan call s for

Cal Fir e t o mov e int o th e are awher e glider s operate Onc e vacated , th e sout

h sid e o f th e nmwa y wil l b e freedu p for fiiture commercia l developmen t opportunitie s an drentals. " I hav e persona l knowledg e o f thi s fac t becaus e a ) I discusse dth e articl e with reporte r Mik e Pertaul t

prio r t o publication ; and , b ) I purchase dacop y o f th e Tuesday , Augus t

18 , 200 9 Press-Enterpris e newspape r whe n I learne do f

th e article' s publication . Pag e 1 of 23 . Th e attache darchitect' s drawin g rendere db y Dean F . Unger , AI A Inc. , entitle d"Count y o f Riverside/Cal Fir e Hemet-Rya n Air Attack/Helitac k

Bas e Replacement

Project , Hemet , California " i s atru e an dcorrec t copy o f th e drawin g I receive dfrom representative s o f

th e Economi c Development Agenc y (EDA) , Riversid e County , o n September

26 , 2009 , i

n respons e t o m

y September

25 , 200 9 writte n reques t under th e Californi aRecord s Ac t

(Govt . Cod e 6250-6270 ) fo r "Al l correspondenc e .. . regardin g th e possibilit

y o f relocatin g th e Heme t

CD FAi r Attac k facilit y fromth e curren t

locatio n o n th e sout

h side o f th e airpor

t t o th e nort

h sid e o f runwa y 4/22 " (Complainant' s exhibi t 35) . 1 declare under

penalt y o f perjur y pursuant

t o th e law s o f

th e State o f

Californi athat

th e foregoin g i s tru e an

dcorrect . Execute dthi s 4 * da

y o f January , 201 0 at

Riversid e County , California . stopher P . Mannio n Vic e Presiden t Orang e Count

y Soarin g Associatio n Complainant

Pag e 2 of 21/4/201 0 Glide rpilot s wan t t o kee p sharin g th e ai. . 

# co m Glide rpilot s wan t t o kee p sharin g th e ai r a t Hemet-Rya n Airpor t 110 T P M PP T o n Tuesday , Augus t 18,200 9 B yMICHAE L PERRAUL

T Th e Press-Enterpris e

Phot o Gallery : Gildin g t o ne w height s A n eclecti c grou p o f glidin g enthusiast s ha s fo rdecade s swoope d i n an d ou t o f Hemet-Rya n Airport , maneuverin g sailplane s int o therma l ai rpocket s tha t launc h the m o n world-clas s soarin g adventures . Tak e 83-year-ol d Heme t residen t an d forme rAmerica n Airline s pilo t Le o D'Roach . Fo r3 5 year s th e forme rBoein g 74 7 pilo t ha s bee n par t o f Hemet Ryan' s glide rcultur e ~ h e call s i t a "family " ~ o f teenag e beginners , forme r airlin e pilot s an d hundred s o f other s wh o trave l fro m acros s Souther n Californi a t o soa rou t o f th e Riversid e Count yfacility . Bu t th e glidin g er a a t Hemet-Rya n I s slate d t o com e t o a n abrup t en d o n Oct . 1 . stor ycontinue s belo w

Ten yPierso n /

Th e Press-Enterpris e Th e runvay s o f Heme t Ryan-Airpor t ar e visibl e unde rglide rpilo t Mar y Rust , 60 , o f Hemet , a s sh e make s a bankin g righ t tur n o n he rwa y bac k t o th e fiel d las t weekend . Glide rowner s wh o hav e calle d Hemet Rya n hom e fo rdecade s wil l hav e t o fin d ne w dig s a s o f Oct . 1 . Member s o f tw o soarin g club s an d glide rowner s wer e notifie d i n earl yJul y tha t they'r e bein g evicted . Th e Riversid e Count yEconomi c Developmen t Agency , whic h own s an d operate s th e airport , say s th e gliders ' departur e wil l mak e wa yfo rexpande d operation s b yCa l Fire/Riversid e Count yFir e Department' s firefiqhtin q pe.com/.../PE_News_Local_S_gliderl9.44.. . 1/ 5 

## £y3 y1/4/201 0 Glide rpilot s wan t t o kee p sharin g th e ai.. . tankers . Thei rexodu s wil l als o resolv e runwa ysafet yissue s and'mak e wa y fo rfutur e commercia l development , sai d To m Freeman , agenc yspokesman . "W e fee l it' s i n th e bes t interes t o f th e airpor t an d it s primar yuser s includin g Ca l Fire , th e sheriff' s aviatio n uni t an d genera l aviatio n t o than k th e glide rpilot s fo rthei rpatronage, " Freema n said . "Bu t it' s tim e t o mov e o n —fo rbot h parties. " Close-kni t soarin g clu b member s se e themselve s a s primar yusers , however , an d believ e th e 90-da ynotic e seem s "sudden , arbitrar yan d possibl y politicall ymotivated, " sai d Chri s Mannion , vic e presiden t o f th e Orang e Count ySoarin g Association . "(Th e notice ) wa s no t t o jus t ceas e flying, " Mannio n said . "I t wa s pac k u p you rgliders , mov e everythin g of f th e field , dismantl e you rhangars. " Th e notic e als o affect s Cypres s Soarin g Clu b an d glide rpilot s wh o aren' t affiliate d wit h clubs . They'r e al l scramblin g t o mee t th e county' s deadlin e an d fin d alternativ e airports . "Whe n yo u conside rwe'v e bee n ther e sinc e th e lat e 1960s , that' s a lo t o f stuf f you'r e tryin g t o ge t ri d o f i n a shor t perio d o f time, " sai d Larr yTouhino , presiden t o f th e 50-year-ol d Orang e Count ySoarin g Association . stor ycontinue s belo w 

### Hemet-Rya n Airpor t |

ORANG E GO : Hem t

TH E PRESS-ENTERPRIS E Flyin g wit h bird s Touhin o i s a Cost a Mes a residen t wh o drive s t o Hemet-Rya n roughl y4 0 weekend s a year . Hi s flight s durin g th e pas t 1 7 year s hav e take n hi m ove r Moun t Sa n Jacinto , eas t t o Twentynin e Palms o rsout h t o th e Mexica n border . Occasionally , Touhin o enjoy s a "Zen " experienc e a s h e quietl yglide s alongsid e flock s o f birds . "The yaccep t you, " sai d Touhino , wh o describe s th e pe.com/.../PE_News_Local_S_gllderl9.44.. . 2/ 51/4/201 0 Glide rpilot s wan t t o kee p sharin g th e ai.. . spor t a s "stayin g i n th e ai rb yyou rwits. " Mar yRust , a longtim e glide rinstructo ra t Hemet-Rya n an d a foundin g membe ro f th e internationa l Women' s Soarin g Pilot s Association , doesn' t understan d wh ysailplane s can' t co-exis t wit h Ca l Fire' s wildfir e operations , sheriff' s helicopter s an d genera l aviatio n pilots . Suc h operation s wor k sid e b ysid e a t othe rairports . Rus t said . "W e sta you t o f thei rway, " sai d Rust , a Heme t residen t an d forme r elementar yschoo l principa l i n Anz a wh o ha s soare d th e Alps . "It' s alway s bee n ver ysafe. " Touhin o ca n remembe ronl yon e glide rfro m hi s clu b ever yhavin g a n accident , an d tha t wa s whe n a sailplan e ra n int o a hors e fence . Nobod ywa s injured . Cha d Davies , senio rdevelopmen t specialis t wit h th e Riversid e Count y Economi c Developmen t Agency , sai d i n a n e-mai l tha t Lak e Elsinor e Airpor t an d Warne rSpring s Ranc h Airpor t allo w sailplan e operation s an d ma yb e alternatives . Soarin g clu b member s sai d th e Perri s Valle yAirpor t i s anothe roption , bu t i t i s crowde d wit h skydivers . They'r e als o checkin g ou t Redland s an d th e Barstow-Dagget t Airport . On e reaso n glide renthusiast s ar e draw n t o Hemet-Rya n i s it s natura l terrain , whic h provide s column s o f therma l ai renablin g sailplane s t o gai n momentum , sai d Mar c Forsyth , a Covin a residen t wh o ha s bee n glidin g fo r 2 7 years . A 25-foot-wide , roughl y2,000-foot-lon g runwa yparalle l t o th e mai n 4,315 - foot , 100-foot-wid e genera l aviatio n runwa yha s lon g bee n use d fo r sailplan e operations . Dependin g o n th e season , a s man ya s 5 0 sailplane s ar e parke d i n hangar s an d trailer s nea rth e shorte rrunway , Mannio n said . Wha t irk s Mannion , Forsyt h an d othe rglidin g enthusiast s i s th e apparen t lac k o f a n imminen t reaso n t o boo t glider s of f th e runway . They'v e du g u p safet yreport s an d hav e foun d a fe w runwa yviolation s severa l year s ag o bu t "nothin g o f substance, " Mannio n said . Davie s sai d th e runwa yha s no t bee n i n complianc e wit h stat e aeronautica l regulations . stor ycontinue s belo w

Terr yPlerson/Th e Press-Enterpris e Mar yRus t insist s tha t sailplane s ca n co-exis t wit h Ca l Fire' s wlidflr e pe.com/. . ./PE_News_Loc a l_S_g l iderl9.44.. . 3/ 51/4/201 0 Glide rpilot s wan t t o kee p sharin g th e ai.. .

operations , sheriff' s helicopter s an d genera l aviatio n pilot s a t Hemet Rya n Airport . "W e sta you t o f thei rv«By, ' sh e says . "It' s alway s bee n verysafe. ' County' s Decisio n Neithe rth e Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n no rth e Californi a Departmen t o f Transportation' s Divisio n o f Aeronautic s hav e demande d glider s ceas e operation s a t Hemet-Ryan , official s a t bot h governmen t agencie s said . Thi s i s th e county' s decision . "We'v e ha d severa l FA A citation s issue d fo rviolatin g FA A rule s wit h th e glide rrunwa yi n operation, " Freema n said . "I t i s ou ropinio n tha t onc e w e addres s th e issue s o f th e unsaf e runway , tha t w e us e ou rmai n runway . W e wil l b e directin g helicopte ran d fixed-win g an d tanke rair-attac k mission s of f a singl e runway. " Th e airpor t ha s bee n a mai n bas e t o launc h Ca l Fir e ai rtanker s t o suppres s wildfire s sinc e 1959 . I n 200 7 th e Riversid e Count yBoar d o f Supervisor s approve d a multimillion-dolla rpla n t o improv e Ca l Fir e air-attac k operation s rathe rtha n mov e the m t o Marc h Ai rReserv e Base . A runwa yextensio n wil l accommodat e heavie rfirefightin g aircraf t an d mor e expecte d corporat e je t traffic . Abou t 25 0 aircraf t ar e base d a t Hemet-Ryan , bu t tha t i s expecte d t o gro w t o 33 5 b y2025 , accordin g t o th e airpor t maste rplan . Ai rtraffi c i s expecte d t o reac h 100,00 0 annua l flight s withi n abou t 1 5 years , u p fro m 80,00 0 flights . Th e maste rpla n note s tha t th e stat e airpor t permi t doe s no t allo w fo ra to w plan e landin g are a northeas t o f th e smalle rrunway . Th e permi t doe s no t allo w fo ra sailplan e landin g are a betwee n th e tw o runways . Ove rth e year s ther e hav e bee n concern s tha t glide roperation s a t th e runwa yparalle l t o Ca l Fir e operation s wer e conducte d withou t radi o communicatio n wit h othe rai rtraffic . Airport' s Lif t facto r Also , glider s us e hill s northwes t o f th e airpor t fo rconvectio n lift , wher e Ca l Fir e tanker s lade n wit h fir e retardant s mak e thei rinitia l climbs . Mannio n an d othe rglide rpilot s sai d ther e ar e eas yfixe s fo rsuc h concerns . Radio s ca n b e use d i n al l gliders , an d Ca l Fir e tanker s lade n wit h fir e retardant s ca n avoi d flyin g int o th e hill s whe n makin g initia l climbs , Mannio n suggested . Fontan a residen t Nic k Ounania n ha s bee n soarin g sinc e 199 1 an d sai d ther e ar e n o clos e airpor t alternatives . "It' s jus t sad, " Touhin o said . "It' s a mindles s destructio n o f a culture . I trul ybeliev e ther e i s enoug h roo m fo r everybody. " stor ycontinue s belo w

pe.com/.../PE_News_Local_S_gliderl9.44.. . 4/51/4/201 0 Glide rpilot s wan t t o kee p sharin g th e ai.. .

Terr yPierson/Th e Press-Enterpris e Orang e Count ySoarin g Assodatro n Presiden t Larr yTouhin o an d Mar y

Rust , right, celebrat e Cherr i Orr' s fir^ t glide rride. Sailplan e Enterprise s owne rLarr yHowel l opte d no t t o rene w th e leas e an d sen t ou t letter s t o glide renthusiast s notin g h e woul d retir e Oct . 1 . Th e leas e terminatio n opene d th e doo rfo rcount yaviatio n official s t o mov e forwar d wit h long-ter m plans . Th e pla n call s fo rCa l Fir e t o mov e int o th e are a wher e glider s operate . Onc e ^^ ^ vacated , th e sout h sid e o f th e runwa ywil l b e free d u p fo rfutur e commercia l developmen t opportunitie s an d rentals . Freema n said . Glider s i n th e are a tha t nee d t o lan d won' t b e denie d acces s t o th e airport , Freema n emphasized . Count yaviatio n official s envisio n usin g a singl e runwa yfo rCa l Fir e tanke r air-attac k

missions , a s wel l a s th e sheriff' s aviatio n unit . "Th e glide rpropose s a challeng e t o thos e operations , particularl ybecaus e o f to w plane s involved, " Freema n said . Mannio n sai d pilot s ca n avoi d to w plane s an d us e motorize d winc h cable s t o launc h gliders , alread ya commo n practic e o n man yweeken d afternoons . Glide renthusiast s hop e t o persuad e count yaviatio n official s an d count y supervisor s t o reconside rth e eviction . Th e newl yforme d Sav e Soarin g a t Heme t Toda ygrou p wil l mee t thi s mont h a t th e Civi l Ai rPatro l buildin g a t th e airport . "I f ther e wer e ver ypaten t safet yissues , w e woul d b e th e firs t one s t o sa y w e don' t wan t t o fl yi n a n unsaf e environment, " Mannio n said . Reac h Michae l Perraul t a t 951-763-346 4 o rmperrault@PE.co m

pe.com/.../PE_News_Local_S_gliderl9.44. . 5/ 5E^SJ T