A DIFFERENT LOOK
Take a look at the very updated airport website - nrairport.com. The circa 1995 website was replaced with an all new format that actually looks like it belongs in this century. The site has links to flightaware.com, airnav.com and most importantly, liveatc.net. A live feed of the New Richmond CTAF and clearance delivery frequency can be found at the end of the link. You can now listen to the radio traffic at NRRA on your iPhone, iPad, Droid, or computer. The photo page was also drastically modified. The photos are now in galleries. A user-submitted photo gallery will be added shortly. If you have any photos you want included in the website, please e-mail them to me and I will post them. A section for hangars for sale and rent will be re-included as well. The ultimate plan is to give hangar owners the ability to log-in to the site and update his/her listing. Once again, it's a work in progress. The airport website is funded completely with private funds. No airport money is used to provide or maintain the site.
FLY-IN
The annual fly-in lunch was held June 25th at NRRA. The TV show The Flightline was on hand to film the event. The show appears each Saturday morning at 10:30 on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Midwest. The episode with the fly-in aired on August 20th. You can also watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMasJfWMjUU
Overall, the fly-in was a huge success. We completely sold out of the food. The proceeds from the event went to New Richmond Area Ambulance Service. They are in the process of building a new station here in New Richmond. Congratulations to Kirby Crawford from Rice Lake for winning the shortest take-off competition.
BRIGHTER STRIPES
All taxiway and runway markings were repainted this summer by airport personnel. The runway markings were also shadowed in black paint left over from a few years ago. New, ultra-bright reflective beads were applied to the fresh runway markings making them very visible at night. New markings were also applied in the hangar areas indicating the boundary between air operations and ground operations.
NEW APPROACH MINIMUMS
October 20th is the big day for the updated RNAV 14 and RNAV 32 approaches. The FAA issued a report in late June indicating the new instrument approach minimum altitude for runway 32 will be 250' above ground level and runway 14 will be 276' above ground level. This is a considerable improvement over the non-directional beacon (NDB) days of the 1990's. Speaking of the NDB, unless anyone sees a good reason to keep it going, October 20th will mark the end of service for the New Richmond NDB. To my knowledge, only two aircraft have conducted an NDB approach in actual instrument conditions this year, compared to several hundred using the RNAV approaches. It's time to flip the switch on this 1930's era equipment.
OVERHAULED PAPI
The precision approach path indicator lights near the approach end to runway 14 were beginning to show their age. Pilots were reporting difficulty determining proper glide slope when using the device - all of the lights appeared to be pink instead of the standard red or white. The units were realigned, re-lamped, and completely cleaned. 19 years worth of the most disgusting filth had accumulated and baked on the red lenses making things slightly unclear. After flying a few approaches to runway 14, I can say with certainty they are good as new.
SURVEY
Please take the time to complete a short survey relating to a new, airport-based business coming to NRRA: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z9JTZLY
FUEL PRICES
Self service 100LL is $5.19 per gallon. Jet A is $4.47. Full service is available anywhere on the airport for another $.25 per gallon. Call Griggs Aviation at 715-246-5338 for full service.
THE ENGINE GUYS
Engineered Propulsion Systems in New Richmond is developing a diesel engine for aviation use. You may have read about them in various aviation publications as well as the local newspaper. I'm happy to report things are coming along and appear to be picking up speed. EPS will be testing their engine here at the airport this month. The engine will be mounted on a trailer and operated in a secured area near the south end of the corporate hangar area.
FAIREY GANNET
The locally based and world famous British sub hunter aircraft, the Fairey Gannet, appeared on the History Channel UK show Monster Moves this spring. The episode showed the rescue of the aircraft from an airport in northeast Canada, transport on board the largest cargo aircraft in the world to MSP, followed by transport via truck to New Richmond. Production company Windfall Films sent me a copy of the episode. It was awesome. The episode will be appearing in the US within the next year and re-titled Mega Moves. Stay tuned for details. Catch up on the latest info on the Fairey Gannet at http://www.faireygannetxt752.com/
FBO WSI COMPUTERS
The airport has provided weather computers at both the full service and self service FBO's for many years. That service will soon come to an end. Pilots seem be moving towards other internet based weather. Therefore, NRRA will be providing internet accessible computers instead. Pilots will be able to access various sites, such as fltplan.com, or adds. Wi-Fi is available in each FBO as well. The move will save the airport several hundred dollars each year.
Have a good weekend!
Mike Demulling
Airport Manager
New Richmond Regional Airport
715-246-7735
Airports Mean Business!
