The Sea Ranch Reader editorial staff is pleased to announce that we placed a 7-figure dollar deposit on a brand new Pilatus PC-12 on February 23rd, 2024–one day before The Sea Ranch Association Board of Directors placed a moratorium on any new large planes at The Sea Ranch.

For those of you who that haven’t been keeping up with the new rules surrounding The Sea Ranch Airstrip, we’ll try our best to summarize the history here: The Sea Ranch Airstrip has been used for decades by residents and some visitors with very small, piston engine planes. That’s because the airstrip is right in the middle of a residential neighborhood and it’s not long, flat, or safe enough for larger planes. Since The Lodge changed ownership, and with the pandemic influx of new residents and increasing home costs, there has been an increase in turboprop traffic, with large planes arriving more frequently, making more noise and generating more smells. After several years of complaints from the hundreds of homeowners adjacent to the airstrip, The Sea Ranch Association Board of Directors passed new rules restricting aircraft to 8,500 pounds or less which would exclude much of the problematic aircraft landing at The Sea Ranch.

Amazingly, the rule was amended to continue allow any current member aircraft over 8,500 pounds, including the very popular 10,000 pound Pilatus PC-12. And this is the important part: you didn’t actually have to have the PC-12 in your possession by the time the rules changed. All you needed to do was order one before the new rule went into effect on February 24th, 2024.

We understand that you’re probably disappointed by the board’s decision to restrict the aircraft weight from, well, any weight at all to 8,500 pounds. Because, if you’re like us and like to fly large and expensive planes into the residential airstrip, you’re super bummed that you didn’t order your PC-12 in time.

But don’t worry. It’s not too late. We spoke with Pilatus and they’re happy to take retroactive orders and backdate the order forms to February 23rd– the day before the new rule went into effect. Pilatus, like some other Swiss businesses, don’t mind operating in an ethically gray zone.

We also understand that you might be asking yourself, “why do I need to spend $5 million dollars on a plane that exceeds the new weight limit at The Sea Ranch Airstrip?” We have answers for that. Clocking in at 10,000 pounds, the PC-12 is a perfect combination of: 1) being safe enough to not alarm too many people at The Sea Ranch, 2) being loud enough to irritate people who live near the airstrip, but not so loud it causes The Sea Ranch Association offices to shake, and 3) being expensive enough to draw the ire of most do-gooder full-time residents at The Sea Ranch.

To that point, we want to brag a little bit about our new, customized PC-12. It’s not only very expensive, it’s also very sustainable. For one, it’s built from recycled material– reclaimed redwood cladding from The Sea Ranch Lodge remodel.

But the sustainability doesn’t stop there. Our PC-12’s cabin includes also cedar cladding, providing weight savings and reducing fuel costs. It also features many nods to The Sea Ranch architecture, such as loft. It also features a large screen television and 200 bottle capacity EuroCave wine fridge.

It’s an exciting time to fly large aircraft into The Sea Ranch Airstrip, which has made much-needed new improvements to enhance passenger experience and safety.

The Sea Ranch Lodge made a significant financial contribution to create clearly defined pick-up and drop-off areas at the airstrip. Curbside pick-up by ride sharing services is now allowed as well.

Security has also been tightened up. You know how at most private airports, the captain just checks your driver’s license before letting you on the plane? Well, the TSRA has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in new biometric screening devices that ensure you’re either a member or a member’s guest before getting on or off any aircraft at The Sea Ranch Airstrip. No more funny business.

No more waiting outside in inclement weather for your flight either. The terminal gates have been redesigned to create comfortable spaces to unwind, relax, or catch up on a little “work from home.”

The Sea Ranch Lodge is also working hard to increase interest in aviation at The Sea Ranch (and sticking to its PR mantra, “do something for the kids”) by opening a new plane-themed playground at nearby The Farm.

Like we said, it’s a very exciting time for aviation enthusiasts and jet-setting at The Sea Ranch. We hope to see your brand new, retroactively ordered PC-12 tied down at The Sea Ranch Airstrip soon. Safe flying.

The Sea Ranch Reader Editors