Summer 2016 Issue
San Bernardino County 
Department of Airports
FEATURED ARTICLE
Many of you may have received a tax bill for the property you lease from the Department of Airports. An explanation of possessory interest taxation is set forth below for your reference.

Taxable Possessory Interests:
"A taxable possessory interest is created when a private party is granted the exclusive use for private benefit of real property owned by a non-taxable entity. An expanded definition may be found in Revenue and Taxation Code Section 107.
The key criteria that must exist to have a taxable possessory interest are the possession or right to possession of real property owned by a non-taxable entity. The possession must be independent, durable, and exclusive of the rights held by others, and provide a private benefit to the possessor above that which is granted to the general public.
Taxable possessory interests can be created in virtually any use of government owned real property. Common examples would be campgrounds, government employee housing, forest cabins, golf courses, ski resorts, airplane hangars and terminals, anchorages, restaurants, grazing rights, stores, homes, apartments, cable television rights-of-way, easements and boat slips.
Property Tax Law covering possessory interest can be found in Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 61, 107 - 107.9, 480.6, and property tax rules 20-28."

These taxes are not under the control of the Department of Airports.  We do not receive any portion of this tax for our operational costs.  The revenue generated is part of the County General Fund account.
 
County Airports and the Greatest Generation

As America prepares to commemorate the 75th anniversary of its involvement in World War 2, history hasn't forgotten the significant role several of our San Bernardino County Airports played.

In early 1941, before American involvement in the war, nearly $400,000 was spent to enlarge the then-Daggett Airport to support bombing and antiaircraft operations by the U.S. Army Air Corps. New runways were built, and in March 1942, the War Department chose Daggett as a modification center for adapting airplanes for combat duty.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Needles Airport became known as the Needles Army Airfield and was used by the renamed Army Air Forces' Fourth Air Force. It opened in May 1941. With the end of the war the base returned to civil control.

Twentynine Palms Airport was activated in January 1942 by the Army Air Forces, initially for contract glider training. Basic flying training was conducted at the Twentynine Palms Air Academy until 1944, when the airport was transferred to the Navy and used as an auxiliary airfield.

Chino Airport - then known as Cal Aero Field - was contracted to provide primary flight training for Army Air Cadets. The airport also served as a movie set for the Abbott & Costello draft-time comedy, "Keep 'Em Flying."

New rules governing drones

The FAA has released its first comprehensive plan to ensure that commercial drones safely share the skies with other aircraft. The new rules, which go into effect August 1, permit low-altitude daylight flights of unmanned vehicles weighing less than 55 pounds. Drone pilots much be at least 16 years of age and receive certification every two years. However, they won't have to obtain a commercial pilot's license - a reversal of what the FAA initially had recommended. That requirement, many felt, would have held back the commercial drone industry. For more information on the new FAA rules, please click here www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/long-last-new-faa-rules-drones-180959544/
For information on Cal Poly Pomona's Small Systems UAV Operator Certificate program, please visit: www.cpp.edu/~ceu/professional-development/courses-and-certificates/unmanned-aerial-vehicle/small-systems-uav-operator-certificate.shtml


News & Notes

The Army's National Training Center conducted a large-formation exercise of UH 60 Black Hawk helicopters and CH-47 Chinook helicopters at the Apple Valley Airport on June 22.

Save the Date: The 15th Annual Apple Valley Airshow and Car Display is scheduled for October 8, 2016. Last year's show, featuring aerobatic pilots, wing walkers and war birds, attracted more than 16,000 visitors.

Chino Airport became a stopping point on the presidential campaign trail May 21, when former President Bill Clinton flew in for a pre-primary visit to Southern California. Threshold Technologies provided aircraft services.
AIRPORT NEWS
APPLE VALLEY AIRPORT:
Fuel provided 24/7 and is self-serve.
  
APV Manager Office Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
Holiday Closures: September 5, 2016

BARSTOW DAGGETT AIRPORT:
Fuel provided 24/7 and is self-serve.
DAG Lobby Hours 24/7 utilizing a cypher lock with the three digit airport identifier code.

CHINO AIRPORT:
Fuel provided 24/7 and is self-serve.
CNO Office Hours: 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Thursday; 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM Friday.
Holiday Closures: September 5, 2016
 
NEEDLES AIRPORT:
Fuel provided 24/7 and is self-serve.
Lobby Accessible 24/7

TWENTYNINE PALMS AIRPORT:
Fuel provided 24/7 and is self-serve.

Lobby Accessible 24/7

BAKER AIRPORT:
Baker Airport continues to be viable in the County of San Bernardino system of Airports. The Airport remains a valuable tool in supporting law enforcement and emergency services between the City of Barstow and Las Vegas.
EVENTS
Airports Commission meetings are conducted on the fourth Thursday of each month:

July - Dark; August - 25th; September 22nd; October 27th

APV - Events Calendar
1st Saturday monthly:
Experimental Aircraft Association..... 9:00 AM
Young Eagles..............................10:00 AM
1st Wednesday monthly
High Desert Pilots' Association......... 6:00 PM
2nd Sunday monthly:
Aircraft Display Day..................... .9:00 AM


CNO - Events Calendar
1st Saturday monthly:
Historical Aircraft Display................8:00 AM
Planes of Fame
"Living History Flying Days"............11:00 AM
2nd Saturday monthly:
CNO Advisory Group....................11:00 AM
3rd Saturday monthly:
Yank Air Museum Event Day...........10:00 AM
3rd Sunday monthly:
Historical Aircraft Display................8:00 AM
4th Tuesday monthly:
So Cal Pilots @ Yanks Air Museum...6:30 PM check in -- 7:00 Meeting
James Ramos, Chair, Third District Supervisor; Supervisor  Robert A. Lovingood, First District Supervisor; Janice Rutherford, Second District Supervisor; Curt Hagman, Fourth District Supervisor; Josie Gonzales, Fifth District Supervisor 

Gregory C. Devereaux, Chief Executive Officer