NRRA NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 28TH, 2004

Welcome to the 58th issue of NRRA News - an almost weekly, sometimes monthly, occasionally quarterly, summary of events at New Richmond Regional Airport. This newsletter is sent to approximately 245 individuals associated with NRRA.

WEB SITE ADDRESS . . . Check out the airport website at: http://www.nrairport.com . . . . 

It's been a while since the last newsletter - September to be exact. Here's the latest.


NEW NAME
On January 1st, New Richmond Municipal Airport officially became New Richmond Regional Airport. Thus, we have the NRRA News. The name change is a reflection of the economic impact of several million dollars annually on the New Richmond region. 

BIG PLANS THIS SUMMER
Approximately $750,000 will be spent on improving NRRA this summer involving two separate projects. The first project is courtesy of the fine folks at the Department of Homeland Security. Homeland Security notified me on March 3rd we are going to receive a $300,000 grant to be used for security fencing, security gates, and other security related items around the airport. Kenosha Regional, Wausau Downtown, and Sheboygan County airports are also receiving similar grants this year from Homeland Security. The fence project will begin in the late spring and will be completed this year.

The second project at the Airport includes a much-needed addition to the north hangar area and construction of a corporate/aviation business area. Sixteen new private hangar spaces will be available following construction of another taxilane in the north hangar area. The corporate/aviation business area is initially designed for five large hangars. The area is located along the parallel taxiway to runway 14-32. 

go to http://www.nrairport.com/2004project.htm for construction diagrams.

If you are interested in leasing one of hangar lots in the expanded north hangar area, here's the info you've been waiting for. The Airport Commission approved a hangar allocation procedure. On Saturday, April 24th beginning at 9 AM, NRRA will officially take deposits on the hangar lots. The first person in line outside my office (hangar 6-1 in the south hangar area at NRRA) will get the first choice of the lots. We will keep going until the spaces are gone. I expect all 16 should go fairly quick. Additional information will be posted on the airport website by Friday of this week. You can also call me at 715-246-7735 or zip off an e-mail if you have any questions. 

SPREADING THE NEWS
NRRA is featured in the just released February-March issue of Midwest Flyer magazine. Tom Lifto, owner of hangar 1-3 is shown on the cover in his experimental aircraft. A great article describing the changes occurring at NRRA appears on page 33. 

NEW MAINTENANCE BUILDING
The Airport reached an agreement to purchase hangar 5-7 in the south hangar area last November. The hangar will be used to store and maintain airport vehicles and other equipment. We hope to occupy the building in May.

NEW BUSINESS @ NRRA
RC Avionics opened a branch operation at NRRA last fall. RC has a main facility in St. Paul and other satellite operations in Rochester and Anoka. RC has two full-time employees working at their local facility performing aircraft maintenance and avionics work, including transponder checks. You can find RC Avionics in hangar 14-4 in the north hangar area. Watch for an upcoming advertising flyer from RC with an unbelievable special offer. 
http://www.nrairport.com/FBO/rca.htm

NEW APPROACHES
December 25th was a good day at NRRA. That was the day the FAA published new instrument approach procedures for arrivals into NRRA. NRRA is now served by three approaches, including the RNAV Runway 32 (minimum descent altitude of 384' AGL), RNAV Runway 14 (minimum descent altitude of 444' AGL) and the NDB Runway 14 (minimum descent altitude of 624' AGL). The new approaches have much better minimum descent altitudes than the previous approaches. You can view the approach procedures at http://www.nrairport.com/profile.htm . The airspace surrounding the airport was also modified to accommodate the new approaches. Look for the revised Class E airspace in the next edition of the Green Bay sectional chart scheduled for June 10th. 

NEW & IMPROVED
The ground communications outlet (GCO) at NRRA was replaced by a new, updated unit in the fall of 2003. The GCO allows pilots to communicate with Minneapolis Approach Control while on the ground at RNH. The old GCO experienced multiple outages throughout the six years it was in service. The new unit has been trouble free so far. Users of the GCO should be aware you still need to click your microphone four times on frequency 121.725 to activate the system. Four normal clicks are all it takes for this unit instead of the 1 second on, 1 second off like the old unit. VFR pilots can contact Green Bay Flight Service to open and close VFR flight plans by clicking the microphone six times. Also, make sure you key your microphone at least once every minute to keep the system active if approach or flight service places you on hold. 

AIRSHOW & FLY-IN
Saturday, June 26th is the big day for a fly-in breakfast and airshow at NRRA. The event is planned in celebration of the 40th anniversary of NRRA. (history of NRRA http://www.nrairport.com/history.htm)

LOCAL PILOT, NATIONAL MAGAZINE
Brian Anderson, owner of hangar 8-3 in the south hangar area made Les Abend's "Jumpseat" column in the February issue of Flying Magazine. The column describes how Brian and Chetek pilot Tim Knutson, who both own N3N bi-planes, give a ride to 92 year-old David Niven of Iola, WI. David is a current Cessna 150 pilot and a former N3N instructor during WWII. It's a great story. You should be able to view the article on-line within the next few weeks at http://www.flyingmag.com . A few extra issues of the February Flying Magazine are also available in the pilot lounge at Griggs Aviation. 

TWO NEW
Griggs Aviation, the fuel provider at NRRA, announced the recent purchase of two - 2000 gallon fuel trucks. One truck will haul 100LL and the other Jet A. Both trucks will feature dual pumps and hose reels. The new vehicles will replace the existing 1500 gallon Jet A truck. The trucks will be placed into service this spring. 

BY THE WAY
100LL is still only $2.07 per gallon and Jet A is $1.89 per gallon at NRRA.

IT'S FIXED
The runway end identifier light (REIL) at the approach end of runway 14 experienced a scuffle with the airport snowblower this winter. The unit is now repaired and back in service. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 15th - GPS database update day, IFR terminal procedure & enroute chart update day
April 17th - Aviation Safety Seminar at Forest Lake High School 9 - noon, http://www.faa.gov/fsdo/msp/gl15mtg.htm for more info
April 24th - Hangar allocation day at NRRA
June 26th - Fly-In & Airshow at NRRA
July 4th - Fireworks at the Airport

Fly-in's around the area: 
Wisconsin http://www.dot.state.wi.us/travel/air/fly-ins.htm
Minnesota http://www.dot.state.mn.us/aero/avoffice/events/fly-ins.html

Call me at 715-246-7735 or e-mail me if you have any questions.

Thanks!

Mike Demulling
NRRA Manager
mike@nrairport.com