Copalis Beach airport and NOAA wildlife refuge rules

[TomD]

It appears that NOAA, the FAA, and WSDOT Aviation have arrived at an agreement that will not impact arrivals and departures at Copalis ( S16 ).

The wildlife sanctuaries along the West Coast are strange birds ( pun intended ). They have airspace above them that is regulated by NOAA who can access fines for busting their airspace. I still don't see how this fits with the regulatory authority given to the FAA.

In any case here is the accommodation:

http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/protect/wi ... light.html

The key phrase here is: To be in compliance, pilots traveling north from Copalis Airport and flying along the shoreline should ascend to 2,000' as soon as it is safe and practicable.


That is at the pilot's discretion. At some point we will need to turn inland, but depending on the ceiling it is up to us to determine where this point is. Be reasonable and NOAA will have no reason to complain or reopen the issue.

More info at: http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/protect/wi ... light.html

Cheers,

Tom

[Mountain Doctor]

Thanks for the information, Tom.

As soon as its not WINTER here in Washington I hope to make it up there to land on the beach.

Where do you get the tide information from?

[TomD]

Enjoy Junuary in the PNW

There are a number of sources for tide data here is one:

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/gmap3/ ... ns&region=

Point Grenville is the closest secondary station on the ocean near Copalis. Most of the other stations are in a harbor and will be behind the ocean beaches.

Here is a bit more straight forward tool:

http://www.saltwatertides.com/dynamic.d ... sites.html

You will find Pt. Grenville tables just after the Grays Harbor list.

TD