Redlands Airport Association

Redlands Municipal Airport is once again demonstrating it’s value as a community asset.  US Forest Service contract firefighting helicopters are now operating from the West Ramp at Redlands Municipal Airport to support efforts to fight the “Valley Fire” burning near Forest Falls CA. These crews began arriving at the airport on Friday, July 6th. All of the firefighting aircraft belong to contractors. Some are from as far away as Atlanta, GA.

If you are flying into Redlands Airport, please be aware there are Notices to Airman (NOTAM’s) filed for this activity. Please exercise caution if you are using the airport during their stay. These folks are flying heavy helicopters that create significant rotor wash. They are also flying irregular traffic patterns. Please give them the right of way as they are engaged in firefighting activities.

Information about the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) for the Valley fire can be found at this link: http://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_8_9184.html

Do you remember the deteriorated sign welcoming visitors to the transient ramp at the REI Lobby?  Well there has been a spare one collecting dust for years in our airport supervisors office. We guess they made two signs years ago. After at least a year of multiple requests, the City of Redlands installed the new sign and painted the mounting posts.             Thank you to the City of Redlands for this much needed maintenance! 

                       Before                                                                               After                       

On Saturday, August 19th, members of the RAA grilled burgers, hot dogs while EAA Chapter 845 took some potential future aviators on free airplane rides to celebrate National Aviation Day. A total of 33 children and 5 adults experienced flight courtesy of some generous EAA 845 pilots.

This was second year the RAA celebrated National Aviation Day. The holiday was created by proclamation in 1939 by President Franklin Roosevelt. The holiday coincides with the birthday of Orville Wright, one of the designer and pilots of the first successful airplane, the Wright Flyer.

This year’s celebration also honored the 70th birthday of Redlands Municipal Airport. A special cake was made for the occasion and served to those in attendance.

Happy B’day KREI!

The Redlands Fire Department attended the RAA monthly meeting on August 24th, to give all in attendance a great fire safety demonstration.

Members learned the importance of proper communication when calling 911 operators to request emergency services at the airport. Communications should be detailed and include the location of the incident on the airport and the nature of the emergency to help them to determine who will respond (police or fire) and the level of response. They also stressed the importance of having someone meet them at the gate to guide them to the accident location.

Fire department personnel also instructed those in attendance on how and when to use the large dry fire extinguisher that Hangar 24 donated to the airport.

And finally we had some hands on fun understanding the forces involved with line pressures. Go Jim Hoyt!