Lost Nation Regional Aviation Association

1885 Lost Nation Road
Willoughby, Ohio 44094
Voice: 216-975-5459
Fax: 216-269-2323

Our gole is to continue communicating the importance of the Lost Nation Airport to the people making the immediate and future decisions: Willoughby City Council and Lake County Commissioners. Also, communicate to everyone the existence of LNRAA and ask them to support us.

Earlyer newsletters are avalible here


Lost Nation Regional Aviation Association NOTAMS

Issue #3 - September, 1997

 "DON'T BE EXPEDIENT"
Those were the words of caution on the IFR Test Audio tapes many of us listened to a few years ago.  As relevant as they were for testing purposes, they are no less so now, concerning LNN's future.  OK, so you've seen the newspaper reports that three bids have been received by the County to run LNN.  That doesn't let any of us off the hook.

If--and nothing is certain in this world, especially where politics are involved -- one of those bidders gets the nod, the fun really begins.  What about the closed tower?  What about the rumored plans to close 9/27?  Who will maintain the VOR and NDB?  What about the price of tie-downs, fuel, and other minor details like these?  We've made it through so far pretty well, thank you, but to be blunt, your Association needs more of the members to help us through the deep low that's on the edge of the screen.  The work we have yet to do isn't glamorous or exciting, but it is essential.  There's no monetary reward, of course, but feeling good about what you do isn't a bad feeling, so come and join us.  See below.

NEW DAY, NEW TIME, SAME PLACE
We now meet on Monday, from 5 to 6 P.M., in the LNRAA offices at the LNN Terminal Building.  Wednesdays at 4:40 P.M. became a scheduling problem for many of us.

SHOW ME THE PLANES
We thought you'd be interested as we are in the truth about Aircraft Registrations; just where are those birds?  We sent a full-color versio of this "map" and supporting data to the Lake County Commissioners, because guess what?  There are almost 2 times more registered aircraft per 10,000 population in Lake County than there are in Cuyohaga County.  Next time someone says aviation doesn't mean much to Lake County, show them the map.

TOO BAD NOBODY'S INTERESTED IN FLYING ANYMORE
Totally ignored by the news media and the naysayers is the fact that during the 4-1/2 days when the B-17 Heinkel, Gee-Bee, and other rare aircraft were on display at LNN, fully 12,000 people walked around the place.  And if someone says, "Yeah, but there was no admission pricce!"  Tell them about the two Stearman pilots who flew every day, 3 trips per hour.  The passenger paid $65/person for the pure fun it is to fly open cockpit over this part of the country.  That's $65 per 15 minutes for what all those passengers knew would be an unequaled thrill.  They weren't disappointed, either.  Too bad nobody's interested in flying anymore.

IF YOU FLY RIGHT, YOU'RE WRONG
Well, not exactly.  But remember, since LNN is now a non-tower field, you fly left-hand patterns.  And do watch your altitude.  If residents carped about noise when  the tower was responsible for keeping us at appropriate altitudes (and certain cared residents did too), guess what we all face now.  Many complaints will not likely have any more merit than before, but we don't want more of them.

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE THE OLD WAY
For those of you planning to use LNN at night, be aware that the runway lights still operate on 120.7.  The same 3/5/7 clicks that cranked up the lights before still do their thing.  How long this frequency remains in use for night operations is one of the dicey things to be decided once things settle down to a dull roar.  We'll keep you posted.

AOPA (AND RUSTY) TO THE RESCUE
Just in case you're a bit inexpert on what it says in AIM about the proper procedures for using a non-tower field, stop at the desk in the LNN Terminal Building and pick up a copy of AOPA's 16-page Safety Advisory, Operations at Non-towered Airports.  We've included a sample page with this issue of NOTAMS, to give you a taste; there's considerable and excellent detail in the document.  We've also enclosed a frequency crib card developed gratis for you by Rusty Bliss, one of LNRAA's more active memebers.

CAN WE TALK?
The unattended UNICOM frequency 122.725 has been in use for a month now, and everyone has been doing a pretty good job in its use.  If you want to talk to someone plane-to-plane to just chat, please use MULTICOM frequency 122.9 once clear of the area.  Also, and this may be new to you, the use of a hand-held transceiver from the ground (while not in an aircraft) to someone in an aircraft violates an FCC rule, since ground-based use of UNICOM is restricted to LNN's base station or a transmitter in your aircraft.

LNRAA SPEAKS OUT
We're tired of the misinformation and misleading statements about LNN that are appearing in local media.  Up to now, we've turned the other cheek to these grossly inaccurate messages, but enough is enough.  We're now going to take the truth to the public.  Watch the papers.  It's our turn at bat, and we'll take a few lusty swings, letting the hits fall where they may.