Airport Access Denied?

Gary -

Here at Arlington Airport ("AWO", near Seattle, WA) we operate at a
pretty busy GA airport that has powered airplanes, helicopters, small
jets, ultralights, and gliders.

There are instrument approaches being practiced, helicopter auto-
rotations being practiced, close formation-flying by the "BlackJack
Squadron" (a big association of RV pilots), first flights of
experimental aircraft are being attempted... And through it all we
have no problems staging our gliders using the main taxiways, and on
our parallel grass strip about 150 feet from the centerline of the
main paved runway.

We use golf carts to move the majority of our gliders around, but a
few individuals use tow-bars and their cars to bring the gliders down
the taxiways. As long as people are cautious and keep an eye in the
rear view mirror to ensure that they're not holding up a small plane,
we don't have any problems.

Our club also regularly goes on "encampments" for a weekend or a whole
week to some other airports in the area - and at all of those places
we also operate in a similar manner. At small airports with a single
runway we usually stage the gliders just behind the hold lines until
the last moment, when we roll them out (pilot already secured for
takeoff), hook up the rope, and launch them.

I think getting the SSA and the AOPA involved is a *very* good idea at
this point!

Good luck,

--Noel
Evergreen Soaring
http://www.evergreensoaring.org/airc...ports/?page=12 (overhead
view of AWO and links to other airports we fly at)