EAA Young Eagles Program Starts Another Year

     The Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) Young Eagles Program was developed to welcome young people into the world of aviation.  Children can experience a safe and enjoyable flight that will give new perspectives on the world and life in general.  Participation in the Young Eagles Program will help them understand that an individual's potential is limitless.
     The Young Eagles program allows young people ages 8 through 17 to go on a free airplane ride.  The EAA has set a goal of flying 1 million Young Eagles by December 2003.  Currently the number is almost 900,000.  You can see the tally changing at www.youngeagles.org. 
     Flights are given the first Saturday of each month.  Young Eagles rallies were held

April 5, May 3, and June 7.  Upcoming dates are July 5, August 2, and September 6.   Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and continues until 11:30 a.m.  Volunteer pilots will fly as many kids as time and weather permit.  The meeting location for the rallies at Buchanan Field Airport is the old terminal building at 181 John Glenn Drive, just south of the Concord Air Traffic Control Tower. 
     Rallies are designed for people who are not already Young Eagles.  Current members may attend the rallies, but  may not participate in the free flights.
    General Chuck Yeager, the Honorary Chairman of the Young Eagles states it best: "Through the Young Eagles Program kids can learn to set high goals in all walks of life."

Aviation Noise Symposium

     The UC Berkeley Technology Transfer Program and Institute of Transportation Studies host an annual Aviation Noise Symposium to explore new technologies and lift efforts of maintaining the Air Transportation System while doing what is right for the environment.  Some ideas explored at this year's symposium were:

• Community relations programs' vital importance to effective noise management programs.
  
• Airports as a community asset, not simply a

community cost.

• The airport's responsibility to show the stakeholders what the benefits are.
  
• Noise Management & Community Involvement:
  
• Daily noise monitoring
  
• Proactive approach
  
• Airport, FAA, neighbors (The Players) must work together
  
• Critical role of educating the public
  
• Imperative continuation of dialogue and compromise between all stakeholders
  

Aviation Noise Symposium was held in Berkeley, March 9 --14.

Concord Hosts The CHRMRO Transportation Conference

     The Coastal Region Hazardous Materials Response Organization (CHRMRO) hosted its annual Transportation Conference at the Concord Sheraton Hotel April 1-3, 2003.  The organization was formed by a small group of hazardous materials handlers in the early 1990s. 
     Some of CHRMRO goals include team work within a joint command system, communication between agencies, common response practices and procedures, disaster preplanning, and training to respond together.

     The conference offered 22 different classes ranging from Up-righting Cargo Tanks to Placarding and Marking Requirements to Highway Transportation of Hazardous Package Freight. 
     There were numerous static displays of different types of tankers and response equipment on the Airport transient ramp behind the Sheraton Hotel.  CHRMRO also performed demonstrations of how to upright tankers after a roll-over accident.  Providing space at the airport is another way the airport is able to support the community.

      Up-righting full tankers will save hours of     
      clean-up  and commute time.