Obama Cabinet Member Visits Napa

Congressman Mike Thompson, D-Napa, and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will break ground at the Napa County Airport this afternoon on a new guidance system that will allow pilots to land there in adverse weather.

The airport's current landing system uses only a localizer that provides pilots with horizontal guidance when landing, airport manager Martin Pehl said

The new Glidescope Antenna System will provide pilots with vertical guidance, Pehl said.

"This will provide a precision approach and allow landings in lower visibility," Pehl said.

The system will be used on one of the airport's three runways, Pehl said.

The Federal Aviation Administration is providing $1.5 million for the Glidescope system, which should be operational by the end of the year, Pehl said.

Thompson helped secure federal funding for the project.

"We are grateful for the leadership shown by Rep. Thompson, on behalf of the residents of Napa, in ensuring that this improvement to our airport is funded," Napa County Supervisor Bill Dodd said in a statement.

Napa County officials will also talk to LaHood about much-needed local infrastructure improvements and how to obtain more federal funding for those projects, said Larry Florin, Napa County's community and intergovernmental affairs manager.

After their visit to the airport this afternoon, LaHood and Thompson head Upvalley to Yountville, where at 3 p.m. LaHood will speak to supporters of the Napa Valley Vine Trail, a planned 44-mile public biking and walking trail.  

According to Shannon Kuleto of the Vine Trail, after the speech in the town's Veterans Memorial Park the public is invited to join LaHood, Thompson, Vine Trail Executive Director Chuck McMinn and Yountville Mayor John Dunbar in walking or bicycling the Vine Trail's first official segment, the Yountville Mile.

“This level, paved trail stretches from California Drive, directly across from the park, to Madison Street on the north, and takes about 15 minutes (each way) to cover at a leisurely walking pace,” wrote Kuleto in the invitation, continuing

“If you would like to make arrangements to borrow a bike for the event, please contact Kellie Macway at Napa Valley Bike Tours (kellie@napavalleybiketours.com, (707) 944-2953), located in Washington Square on the north end of Yountville.”

For more information about the Napa Valley Vine Trail,, visit www.vinetrail.org and the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/NVVineTrail

By Bay City News Service.