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The articles will find a home here temporarily; and depending upon the long-term relevance, the commentary may subsequently be republished on our INFO WAREHOUSE pages. Do you have relevant comments concerning Airspace Design and/or Aviation Safety that you feel others can benefit from? For instance, do you have a recommendation for us to link to? Please let me know! Use scauwg@earthlink.net and address your input to Ron Berinstein, webmaster. IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Opinions and views expressed in the following commentary are those of the authors &/or publishers alone; and may or may not reflect SCAUWG.ORG or SCAUWG.
Let's Begin:
Control Thy Airspeed - "Airspeed control is a key skill, but we often forget the need for coordination when we manage it. - If you studied aviation accident reports as much as we do, one of the many phrases you’d often see is “failure to control airspeed.” It crops up in runway overruns a lot, but primarily appears when discussing in-flight loss of control accidents, of which there are enough the probable cause has earned its own acronym: LOC-I. The classic LOC-I accident might involve a stall/spin event at the low end of the airspeed indicator or airframe failure at the other. But the bottom line is someone wasn’t paying attention to a major thing that’s critical to controlling the airplane. - As the saying might go, “Everyone talks ..." Read More Here.
The Lost Art of Circling - Webmaster; I have included this article from Aviation Safety Magazine here as many refer to circling approaches as a dangerous way to spend your time, and those folks might term this pro-circle position as controversial - "With the rise in quality and quantity of GPS approaches, especially at smaller airports, the beloved circling approach is becoming an infrequently used maneuver. That’s a shame, since circling to a preferred runway after breaking out on an approach can help resolve many challenges in the IFR environment. Having the confidence to circle is one more arrow in your quiver for that dark and stormy night." Continue Here.
Press Release: WHITEMAN AIRPORT OPPOSITION GROUPS NEED A BETTER CRYSTAL BALL! - LOS ANGELES, CA – Some of the airport closure advocates present during CAC presentations say that they want representation and justice for a neighborhood that deserves better. For them, closing a valuable enterprise that provides jobs, education, and community services, in the Pacoima area is their answer. Recently their airport noise concerns were not substantiated by the now-concluded study. The new FAA acceptance of both 94UL and 100UL unleaded avgas should pummel their concern with regard to leaded Avgas. But the future is greater than presently addressed, and has been ignored. Whiteman airport may be an important gateway to the next generation of neighborhood development. As published by NBAA:
“Washington, DC, Oct. 18, 2022 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) welcomed President Biden’s signing into law this week of the Advance Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act, which will promote policies, procedures, and programs to support the integration of this emerging aviation sector into America’s transportation infrastructure.
Advanced air mobility (AAM) is an air transportation system that moves people and property by air between places using electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, in local, regional, intraregional, rural, and urban environments.
AAM utilizes aircraft ranging in size from single-passenger vehicles to large shuttles to make cities, underserved communities and geographically distant regions more accessible.”
NASA, Major Airlines, our Armed Forces, and big business have invested millions of dollars toward this next-generation air travel potential. Contracts and plans for thousands of eVTOLs are inked and scheduled. Private industry and government planning agencies are in motion. The question is, do the organizations that feel Pacoima deserves better, also feel that they deserve to be left behind? Should Pacoima erase the already existing Whiteman Airport pathway to the future that will allow their neighborhood to join with the rest of LA, and participate in the transportation and blossoming economic future?
Those that don’t recognize the onset of the sustainable transportation era, and the support for and the benefits of future economic development need to seriously consider shopping for a new crystal ball. - SCAUWG.ORG
An OPEN LETTER to CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS and to CONGRESSMAN TONY CARDENAS
New Data, A New Time- Whiteman Airport Shouldn't be Under Siege!
LOS ANGELES, CA - Whiteman Noise Study Revealed - A New Perspective - An Open Letter to Elected Officials
"Whether we are a father or a friend or a community leader, we need to make sure that we are impeccable with our words and that we constantly be mindful of what we say and always try to be loving and caring with everything that we say," Congressman Tony Cardenas
"City Hall hits a New Low. Is this a Turning Point?" LA Times.
SCAUWG.ORG, the aviation safety website operated on behalf of the Southern California Airspace Users Working Group, is issuing this open letter to Los Angeles Council Members and to Congressman Cardenas and asks that they should no longer be moved in the direction City Council previously determined regarding Whiteman Airport.
Whiteman Air Park was established in 1946, and purchased by LA County in 1970. City zoning has allowed building residences and businesses right up to the airport boundaries. Ironically, the LA County owned airport is blamed by city closure supporters for it's proximity to residents. Now is the time for unity, not division in Los Angeles, now is the time for real community service, for community resident support, and not community misrepresentation, or political jockeying. Now is the time to take advantage of the local airport already in place, to reap it's obvious benefits, and to plan future enhancements that will multiply it's value for the neighborhood.
The recent Whiteman noise study results appeared to disappoint two vocal community organizers that promote airport closure. One, who has been aided by a City Councilwoman with a real estate background, already has plans rendered for airport closure and land development. SCAUWG.ORG wonders if implementing those plans might promote future area gentrification, and as a result, force current residents from their homes.
The second closure advocate initially called for the expensive noise study to be done again after hearing that there is no real noise to hear! The result as reported: Out of over 17000 Pacoima residential units, only 335 (less than 2%) are qualified for noise relief services under the part 150 process.
Additionally, the railroad noise from the tracks that closely parallel Whiteman's runway, and train whistles (both appear much louder than the aircraft) were not requested to be evaluated, and neither was a study evaluating noise resulting from busy San Fernando Road which parallels the runway. Nor were any noise restrictions upon rail and road traffic requested at the recent Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting when the noise study results were announced, but a nighttime curfew was proposed by closure advocates for the airport, who were dismayed when the consulting firm expert revealed data that indicated only a voluntary curfew might be feasible.
Now those who may be biased against the airport whilst purporting to represent the local residents have a possibly uncomfortable choice to make. They can either support pursuing the Part 150 soundproofing for those units located very close to the airport that experience a sound level a little over the acceptable 65 Db, or they can choose to not pursue the relief, pursue closing the airport, and leave the current residents subjected to the noise that the anti-airport advocates have complained about for years, as Whiteman cannot be closed any time soon due to the County's previous acceptance of Federal Airport Improvement Grants.
Closure advocates may be disappointed on the pollution front as well! Not only are aircraft LESSOR POLLUTERS than San Fernando RdDiesel trucks right now (EPA 2007- citing more lead is located near freeways than at KWHP), a fact not accented by those who refer to that report, but GAMI 100 Octane UNLEADED fuel (Just FAA approved) is being looked into for KWHP. That fuel would replace the 100 Low Lead fuel currently in place, hence, it is possible that within a reasonable time period there may be no lead argument at all that those who claim pollution can advocate.
Finally, airport operators do not cause accidents. Think of a car low on gas with the driver knowing that there is a gas station a few blocks ahead. The driver continues toward the gas station, but the car runs out of fuel and slows. The car then gets hit by a vehicle following behind it. Does anyone conclude that the gas station should be closed? However, that is essentially the argument critics point to who accuse Whiteman Airport as a threat instead of a refuge, because a pilot experiencing mechanical difficulties in 2020, tried to reach Whiteman Airport, but failed to do so.
To our elected officials: SCAUWG.ORG is hopeful that you will be able to review your positions regarding Whiteman. Include Pacoima and Whiteman Airport in the healing process, and work together, not for personal interest, but for community interest.
The "privileged few" (those closure advocates criticize for having an aircraft at KWHP) are really those that live within easy airport access and take advantage of the community perks the airport offers. EAA Chapter 40 even invites area youth to help build an airplane that they will fly when completed! They offer free flying for youth monthly as well! The EAA Young Eagles program has flown over 9000 free flights at Whiteman.
These examples do not even begin to touch upon the KWHP Air Explorers program, Glendale Community College's aviation program, the local jobs, aviation training and the GA flight community, the search and rescue facilities, the firefighting headquarters, the police activity facilitated, the public press helicopter support, the financial benefit for area businesses, plus the monthly free aviation safety programs sponsored by the FAA Safety FAASTeam, and more.
EPA MOVES FORWARD WITH PROPOSED LEAD FINDING - NO IMMEDIATE EFFECT ON GENERAL AVIATION - From AOPA - "The Environmental Protection Agency released on October 7 a long-anticipated proposed finding that lead air pollution endangers public health, and that emissions from "certain aircraft cause or contribute" to lead pollution. The FAA and aviation stakeholders are years ahead on this issue. - The release of the proposed findings is a first step in the federal regulatory process that..." Continue Here.
WHITEMAN Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) - Any parallels to the LA City Council? SCAUWG.ORG's 10/11/22 Letter to the LA County Public Works Aviation Division sponsored WHP CAC:
Councilwoman Monica Rodriquez and the Los Angeles City Council have played a significant role in lobbying for the closure of Whiteman Airport. Pacoima Beautiful has already produced renderings for airport land development, and many might assess that the group’s leadership has maintained a point of view that was not likely to change during any part of the CAC process.
In August I requested that in the interest of Honesty and Full Disclosure the CAC members voluntarily disclose if they, their families, or their business interests would profit from an airport closure. I now amend that request and address the elected officials that serve on, or have representatives that participate in the CAC. I request that they disclose their campaign donors that will profit from an airport closure.
At present, the Los Angeles City Council has been criticized widely for alleged racism and other allegations that legitimate parties have asserted. The Council President has resigned from Presidency. President Biden has called for three Council Members to resign their offices. Per the Washington Examiner, activist Najee Ali is quoted as saying, “They were meeting for personal and political gain.”
There is no better time than now to demonstrate to the community that the Whiteman CAC is above such suspicions, not guilty by association, and above the tarnish that will be the subject of press interest for some time, by CAC members openly disclosing their financial interests, or their independence from fiscal motivation.
Those, if any, who will profit from an airport closure via financial or personal gain, should resign from the CAC now, prior to any possible future investigative reporting, similar to that which will no doubt follow the current affairs of the Los Angeles City Council. - Ron Berinstein, Webmaster SCAUWG.ORG.
Accident Probe: Flocking Together - Hitting one or more birds with your airplane doesn't always have a miraculous ending. - "I hit a bird once. I was flying a Piper Arrow II, on short final, with landing gear and full flaps extended, when I saw the bird ahead of the airplane. It was maneuvering and, from my perspective, flew in a circle as we neared each other, then disappeared under the left wing. I heard a muffled thump as it went by. I still had three green lights and the airplane remained controllable, so I landed. - After shutting down, I inspected the left wing and landing gear, finding a..." Continue.
TWO MINUTE DRILL - Proficiency Under Pressure - I’m departing Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK) in Bonanza N4GA, AOPA’s flagship aircraft. The weather is low IFR, radios are popping at a rapid cadence in busy airspace, the Washington, D.C., Special Flight Rules Area to my left, presidential TFR around Camp David to my right, and I’m anxious to get the autopilot engaged to help me through the intensity. Read the Sory Here.
A HEALTHY DOSE OF SKEPTICISM - From AOPA - "One of the world’s greatest skeptics was Alfred Nobel (1833–1896), founder of the Nobel Peace Prize, who said, “I intend to leave, after my death, a large fund for the promotion of the idea of world peace, but I am skeptical as to its results.” "One of the world’s greatest skeptics was Alfred Nobel (1833–1896), founder of the Nobel Peace Prize, who said, “I intend to leave, after my death, a large fund for the promotion of the idea of world peace, but I am skeptical as to its results.” READ MORE Here.
Security Concerns Temporarily Scuttle Washington Seaplane Service - "A proposed seaplane service between New York and College Park Airport near Washington, D.C., has been delayed at least two weeks while federal officials assess security concerns." Russ Niles in AVweb Here
Remembering 9/11 at the Flight School Level - The day the world changed. - "The announcer came on saying that all flying in the United States was grounded—anything in the air could be shot down. I immediately called my father to let him know I was safe on the ground. I was a few days away from my commercial check ride and had been flying every day. Dad knew this, and was relieved to hear my voice. He warned me not to fly over any military establishments—Dad was an aerospace engineer and a military man. Before I was born, he built missiles..." Do Flight Schools still have security concerns? Discover this opinion Here.
It’s Time to Stop Shaming an Essential Business Tool: Ed Bolen - OPINION NBAA - RE: Washington Post - "Re: Chris Bryant’s column “Don’t Cancel Private Jets. Here’s a Better Idea” (Aug. 30): Chris Bryant’s recent article sets up a false debate about the value of business aviation. - Let’s get the facts on the table: Business aviation is a critical component of our nation’s economy and transportation system, with important societal benefits and a plan for a net-zero carbon future.
Business aviation has, for decades, helped companies of all sizes – particularly small and mid-size enterprises – gain key advantages in efficiency and productivity. The ability to access more than 5,000 airports – usually in communities with little or no airline service – helps local businesses compete with big-city counterparts. This fosters job growth and economic opportunity..." Continue Here.
Hone Your Short-Field Skills - From Flying - "However, the sight picture spooked me once I’d turned on to short final—those trees looked a lot more menacing than they appeared in the notes section of the airport entry. As I went around, I climbed back up, noting that the almost 3,000-foot strip was effectively less, owing to those copious trees. I set up for a short-field landing with airspeed control tightly on..." Tips for Short Field Success Here.
SCAUWG.ORG Commentary Regarding KWHP Community Advisory Committee (CAC) August 25, '22 Meeting: It turns out the August 25 meeting recording is most revealing.
Several Positive Comments that proposed to immediately engage in some short and long-term goals were met with the overall disregard for the CAC Program and certain false statements. When asked to identify certain grievances, two speakers failed to do so.
Resistance came from Veronica Padilla-Campos who expressed total dissatisfaction and that the input regarding airport proposals wasn't coming from those who live in the airport neighborhood. Ironically she does not live in the airport neighborhood. Disdain for the Brown Act also became subject matter.
Resistance came from Yvonne E. Mariajimenez, neighborhood attorney, who echoed Veronica's (Pacoima Beautiful) opinion. Expressed was displeasure for the carefully structured County of Los Angeles PW's effort to obtain community opinion. She advocated for bypassing the CAC effort and advocated for getting Congressman Cardenas to navigate the FAA quickly in order to impose her concept regarding how re-envisionment should proceed. She stated that no other airports (including VNY in a later conversation - a flight path she lives under) are open 24/7 and that a curfew at KWHP could be enacted right away. Both assertions are nonfactual.
Those two voices, and possibly some community input that may have been influenced by those voices, occupied a good deal of the total meeting time. Noted is that they paid no obvious attention to what might be assumed to be community-friendly, positive momentum goals expressed by others. Rather, in the name of those they referred to as angry, renderings of plans to replace the airport with development were stated as ready to be introduced now, in spite of the real possibility that in the event of airport closure, gentrification would force current residents who rent out of their homes. That direction was denied by the LA County team, who stated that airport closure was not the charge of the CAC.
The recorded meeting is at "Past Meetings" > August 25 Mtg.:
36:30 Ryan Antoon Aviation Commissioner invites community contact and stands ready to provide answers
38:20 Penny Alderson Vista Aviation
39:35 Bobby Arias Veteran Educator
41:20 Jeanne Fenimore KWHP Pilot - previous aircraft owner
43:45 Veronica Padilla-Campos
50:30 Yvonne E. Mariajimenez
I personally believe the LA County Public Works team that among others includes Jessica Padilla-Bowen, Kelly Moulton and Paul Maselbas were professional, accommodating, and deserving of credit.
Notes:
Some of the community input focused upon lead pollution - for which there has been no study to date, I have information obtained from a knowledgeable source that LA County is looking into the feasibility of the now approved 100UL.
I believe two inputs were made regarding Pacoima Beautiful OBJECTING to proposed safety improvements for KWHP.
Community Input included a statement of opinion from Santa Monica's Eve Lopez
I have information obtained from a knowledgeable source that Congressman Cardenas has 'navigated" the FAA, and has lobbied as desired ostensibly on behalf of the local community's benefit, which would be the same community that could possibly be displaced in the event of area gentrification, in the eventuality that the County votes to close the airport.
It is interesting that as an attorney, Ms. Yvonne E Mariajimenez after sitting on the CAC panel for a year is by her admission, not familiar with the "process," and in fact seeks Federal representation in order to promote what might be her position advocating airport closure in favor of Pacoima Beautiful's renderings for development. As an attorney, one might think that she would recognize the airport is not owned by the FAA or any Federal entity. Rather, it is owned by LA County.
References were made in this meeting calling the airport an "eyesore." New hangars, a well-designed County Office building with plenty of available parking, and a modern tower for a field this size are not obvious examples of an eyesore even if there is water rationing and the grass is not golf course ready. However, many observers might assess some of the buildings on the south side of San Fernando Blvd. as eyesores. One community caller made a similar reference. - Editorial Comment by the Webmaster.
Getting Reacquainted With Taildraggers Is Time Well Spent - "On Sunday morning we rolled the rag-and-tube machine onto the tarmac, completed preflight checks, and were ready to taxi. Taxiing a taildragger is not just a leisurely drive to the runway, however. And my heart sank when I realized that this Citabria had heel brakes instead of the more familiar toe type. Still, we got past the runup and onto the runway without too much meandering. - A crosswind greeted us..." Story Here.
Should You Buy an Airplane for Training and Time Building? - "FLYING does the math for you to provide some answers to the question. - Recently, I’ve seen several threads on Reddit’s “r/flying” forum regarding the feasibility of purchasing an aircraft for training and time-building purposes from the perspective of an aspiring professional pilot. It’s an interesting and somewhat complex question that deserves a closer look." Continue Here.
Should Your First Airplane Be a Taildragger? - A pilot who recently acquired one weighs the limitations and benefits of owning a tailwheel airplane. - "A taildragger’s downsides are few in number but pretty consequential in nature. The primary downside is, of course, the lack of stability on the ground as compared with a tricycle-gear airplane." Explore More Here.
Should The LA County's Whiteman Re-envisioning - a Community-driven Process be "Re-envisioned?" - SCAUWG.ORG addresses the CAC 8/25 /2022 meeting and suggests that seated members disclose and anticipated fiscal benefits should Whiteman be closed. The following statement will be read at the meeting:
The relevance of the KWHP re-envisioning CAC and the obvious amount of employed energy to solicit and popularize input regarding changing the presence of Whiteman Airport, as the name "re-envisioning" seems to imply, proves the very real importance of this endeavor.
The perceived importance of the CAC is exemplified in visual form via the CAC's very well-produced website and the regularly held and publicized meetings.
As such, I offer there is considerable demand in the interest of HONESTY and FULL DISCLOSURE that those now in a position to advise LA County officials sit under the veil of expert opinion and could affect legislative action. In the interest of both HONESTY and FULL DISCLOSURE, these participants should voluntarily DISCLOSE any and all of their REAL ESTATE holdings or those of their families or their related business interests that could be fiscally affected by a Whiteman airport closure.
There is directed motivation that anyone declining to accept that responsibility should be identified and should exit the panel. Otherwise, just how is the public to be fully informed with regard to the entire veracity of any opinions offered, and the weight that should be applied by LA County officials when considering their relevance?
There exists regulation that requires certain government officials to file Form 700s. Those who professionally lobby for interests are regulated. As this panel's members have not been asked to make such disclosure, and the same may or may not be legally required, voluntarily disclosing any fiscal bias that might motivate their CAC participation with the full public interest in mind, would hopefully be in good faith not be objectionable.
With the public interest in mind, and demand considered, I request this issue to be agendized.
Where’s It Say That? - FARs IN THE SPOTLIGHT - "Many FAA rules that we think apply to us actually don't, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't comply with them.- Just as with any other complex endeavor that’s developed over time, aviation has many myths. That’s especially true when it comes to FAA regulations—the FARs. To be fair, there are a lot of regulations, and many of them are written for attorneys, not pilots. Especially for newer pilots or those who fly different aircraft in different operations, some of it can seem overwhelming and confusing. In other words, bad interpretations or outright falsehoods—either of which we’ll label as myths—can be created and persist. - One of our all-time favorite myths was..." Continue Here.
KWHP - In the Interest of Honesty and Full Disclosure - "Please join us for the August Virtual Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting for Re-envisioning Whiteman Airport: A Community-driven Process:" is the request that was just received from Jessica Padilla-Bowen. This notification email is notable as for some time now a selected group of "community representatives" are by representation selecting a reenvisioned future for KWHP. The SCAUWG.ORG position is reflected in our reply via e-mail today 08/11/2022:
Hello Jessica,
A VERY IMPORTANT rule of thumb is HONESTY and FULL DISCLOSURE.
I propose that in the interest of both HONESTY and FULL DISCLOSURE, those occupying a seat on the re-envision committee should DISCLOSE any and all of their REAL ESTATE holdings or those of their families that could be fiscally affected by a KWHP airport closure.
Anyone refusing to accept that responsibility in good faith should exit the panel.
THANK YOU, Ron Berinstein CFII - Webmaster/Director www.scauwg.org
Would Allowing Airline Pilots To Fly Until 67 Be a Mistake? - The Good, Bad & Ugly - "No doubt, the flying public is frustrated with enduring the extraordinary volume of cancellations and flight delays. Mainstream media has certainly shone a spotlight on the situation, giving additional anxiety to those who are still formulating their travel plans. - Fingers have pointed at the “pilot shortage,” as a major factor. In that regard, on July 25, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) introduced the “Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act,” which would increase the mandatory airline pilot retirement age from 65 to 67. - The legislation seems to be a knee-jerk reaction in response to justifiably frustrated constituents. Although..." Continue.
Pelton’s ‘Welcome To Oshkosh’ Featured A Menu Of Positive Indicators - EAA - AVweb - "EAA Chairman and CEO Jack Pelton delivered a touching tribute to past-EAA President Tom Poberezny at his introductory press briefing earlier this week. Poberezny had passed away just hours before at 2:00 a.m. on opening day, timing that touched many who knew him and appreciated his accomplishments for personal aviation. - Getting to the business at hand, Pelton was demonstrative in his optimism..." Read the Story.
U.S. air controller union chief says FAA staffing not keeping up - OPINION - Reuters - "WASHINGTON, July 26 (Reuters) - The president of a union representing federal air traffic controllers said Tuesday the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) needs to do a better job of ensuring adequate staffing to oversee the nation's airspace. - Rich Santa, who heads the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said the FAA had over 15,000 total controllers in 2011, including over 11,750 fully certified controllers, but at the start of 2022 "there were more than 1,000 fewer (certified controllers) and 1,500 fewer total controllers on-board." Continue.
Nothing To Fear But Everything Itself - COMMENTARY - AVweb - "Inside a windowless cubicle beneath the FAA’s Oklahoma City HQ, there’s a GS-12 federal employee named Katherine “Kate” Strauss, who catalogues aviation fears. Her job isn’t to invent them, nor to act upon the infinite varieties. We pilots do that. She merely assigns labels to the willie-givers that make us choose “No-Go” when “Go” might’ve been reasonably safe. Reason and Safe being two muses who tease the decision-making process along with their sisters, Guilt and Impatience." Continue.
Airbus CEO Envisions Hydrogen Power As The Long-Term Solution For Aviation - OPINION - "Faury said the company’s first hydrogen airplane is likely to be a regional jet, but also acknowledged that the transition to aviation’s next source of energy will not be a quick one. “Hydrogen won’t deliver a great contribution to CO2 reductions in the year 2050,” he told the paper, “but there will be a time after that.” Read it Here.
What do you call an airport with Two Carriers with Heavy Cargo Jets and an Airline and NO Radar? KSBD - WEBMASTER'S Answer: An accident waiting to happen. That is the case at San Bernardino International in San Bernardino, CA. Prime Air, UPS, and as of August 4th, Breeze Airlines. The tower is on a list of over 40 towers that are nationally qualified to receive radar, but radar by all reasonable accounts is years away due to what has been reported as a shortage of the latest technology radar equipment.
If this airport was located in a non-congested area, perhaps the circumstance would seem less dire. That is not the case. Within a few miles from the runway at KSBD is KREI Redlands airport, a non-towered, Class G airport that welcomes General Aviation, which has become maybe less welcome at KSBD. As jets are faster than your normal Cessna 172, their turning radius is wider, and by report, Redlands' pilots might find a 767 at pattern altitude in their pattern whilst the 767 intends a landing at KSBD, as has happened.
The circumstance is made more complicated by Redlands' higher airport elevation than KSBD, and that the visiting pilots overflying Redlands do not regularly announce themselves on CTAF creating a mid-air opportunity, not to mention the additional potential danger of a wake turbulence disaster. The local Riverside FSDO has a vigorous desire to assure that the jet company's approved SOPs are maintained. I am told that perhaps the commercial carriers have a special pilot training program in place to try and mitigate the danger, but I am also told the current lack of communication noticing Redlands' pilots of the danger is daunting.
Area pilots have the option of monitoring the times when the KSBD flights might be expected, though that should not have to be the first line of defense. Those arriving from out of the area may not be so savvy.
I am hoping that the pilots of incoming and departing jet traffic be more proactive and engage in preemptive manner communications with the Redlands's traffic. I am hoping that the recognition of this dangerous hotbed of potential disaster does not result in death prior to the attention it deserves, and a radar installation is realized. One can note the LA TAC chart depicted IFR departure route that crosses ever so near the REI runway numbers.
SCAUWG.ORG has made some suggestions for consideration that may assist. These are in the form of an appropriate chart notice and additional data that can be included in the Chart Supplement Bulletin for KSBD. This situation going forward will be addressed by SCAUWG as an agenda item.
Get The Lead Out - SAFETY - INSTRUCTION - "Sometimes, though, the problems we’re looking for don’t reveal themselves when it is convenient for us, and we have to diagnose engine issues in the air. Urgently. And fly the airplane at the same time. It is not a comfortable experience. I was recently reminded of this while flying with a fellow pilot, whom I’ll call Roger, who simply needed some instrument dual..." "Did you feel that too?" Learn about it Here.
HAZARDOUS ATTITUDES - ACCIDENT CASE STUDY - VIDEO - LESSONS THAT CAN BE LEARNED - ASI - "Join the AOPA Air Safety Institute as we follow the flight that four minutes after departure encounters instrument meteorological conditions—weather air traffic control had warned the pilot about. Within another two minutes things turn from bad to ugly, in microburst conditions, turbulence, and rain showers. Learn how hazardous attitudes can betray pilots who don’t heed warnings." The 414 departed Fullerton - View the fatal accident recreation Here
State of GA? Fuel, Workforce, and Supply Chain Remain Hot Topics - OPINION - "The U.S. House Subcommittee on Aviation offers perspective on general aviation—and asks industry leaders for additional support in these areas to maintain the safety record. - Unless you’re a C-SPAN junkie, like my mom, you probably haven’t taken the time to watch one of the more functional elements of the U.S. government in action—a Congressional subcommittee hearing. - And no, we are not talking about the hearings making the big news these days. - There are more quotidian opportunities that give legislators the chance..." Full Story Here.
Overcoming Bad Habits - SAFETY OPERTUNITY - From Aviation Safety Magazine - "Our life experiences and the things we learn in two dimensions can force us to employ habits that are inappropriate when operating in three dimensions. - Habits are learned things that we do when certain cues or trigger events are recognized by our senses and sent to the brain. Almost everything we do routinely eventually becomes habit. The problem is our brain can’t quickly tell us the difference between a good habit and a bad one." This article was written by Richard Eastman, a one time very active SCAUWG member, and the first webmaster for SCAUWG.ORG years ago. Read his commentary Here
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR VOLUNTEER PILOTS - LEGAL OPINION From AOPA - "Therefore, for a volunteer flight involving the transportation of persons or property to be conducted under Part 91, the pilot must pay for every dollar of the operation, without any financial assistance whatsoever from a volunteer pilot organization, crowdfunding platform, or any other source." Read the particulars about the motivation for a flight, tax deductions, etc. Here.
SANTA MONICA CITY COUNCIL Appoints an Airport Commisioner for KSMO with No Aviation background to Open Position This past week (7/01). SCAUWG.ORG inspired several email recommendations to the City Cuncil members via notice sent to our site's member list. We promoted GA advocate and pilot, Eve Lopez. Eve is recently known for writing a scathing "Letter To The Editor" addressed to a Santa Monica Newspaper revealing some facts about the council. Eve was one of three candidates for consideration. The Airport Commission has no members serving with any aviation experience, and the two other candidates had none either. The following is a response letter to her supporters from Eve:
From: Eve Lopez Sent: Friday, July 1, 2022 10:54 PM Subject: SMO / Airport Commission
Thank you for supporting my efforts to be appointed to the SMO Airport Commission. The outcome at this week's council meeting was disappointing, but so long as the anti-airport groups maintain local control, this outcome is not unexpected. The anti-airport contingency nominated their candidate, Diane Reynolds, who is aligned with the airport closure group and she is who was appointed.
To be fair, the Airport Commission appointment was overshadowed by a separate, and huge, political appointment contest to unseat three incumbent Board members of the organization that controls downtown Santa Monica, including the Promenade. Interestingly, the downtown battle appears to be about the same issue that is driving SMO's challenges - conversion to housing,
What this episode made very clear is that trying to achieve balance, let alone change, is going to require a much more orchestrated and comprehensive approach.
With the baseless development laws passed by the state, the irony is that with each passing day, the benefit to the city's residents of the ultra-low density legally-protected aviation land use grows more valuable to them by the day. Yet, the closure group continues to work against their interests. This is one opportunity we can focus efforts to figure out how to align our interests.
This week was a skirmish that went against us. But we are focusing on developing a long term strategy that can win the war. To highlight positive SMO events including the upcoming Palms to Pines Air Race, on Sunday, July 3, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. KTLA and our own Christina Pascucci will be reporting live from the observation deck at SMO (3233 Donald Douglas Loop South, Santa Monica, CA 90405). Come out and join us!
Blue skies and tailwinds,
Eve Lopez
Pilot,SMO Tenant
Santa Monica Resident
The July 3 air race promotion was featured on KTLA 5. See the VIDEO segment Here. Palms to Pines Air Race will be held this year on August 11-13 See EVENTS for details.
GOOD NEWS at WHITEMAN (KWHP) ! - the 75TH ANNIVERSARY Open House was a Success! - Here is the text of an email written by a SCAUWG / Cal Pilot's member to Meg Godlewski Flying Magazine:
Meg,
Per your request and for your article on organizing airport promotions, here are 38 pictures from Whiteman Airport’s 75th Anniversary Day yesterday, June 25th. https://photos.app.goo.gl/6FG5AbT7deaphyaw8
According to estimates, there were over 3000 attendees. Jim Miller can give you more statistics. From my perspective, it was very well organized with quite a variety of aircraft (over 20 different ones at least), classes in hangars, booths under tents, food trucks, water (it was hot), shelter in the hangars, a mariachi band (!), a KTLA TV interview, a good spread of people from the community, knots of folks near this or that (one of the first pictures shows folks congregating for free intro flights). Many young folk from the Civil Air Patrol guided attendees into the area and across taxiways. County was involved in putting out a lot of the rails, tables, tents, etc. plus recovering all at the end of the day.
Jim can give you an idea of how the Friends of Whiteman Airport (originally assisted in organizing by Melissa McCaffery and Bill Dunn of AOPA) personnel (about ten at least) divided up responsibilities. CalPilot’s Whiteman Airport Chapter was well represented by Don and Shellie Hagopian.
Great variety. Good feeling. Looked like an outstanding success to me! - Ed
Why Twilight Can Be a Complicated Time for Pilots - SAFETY DURING TWILIGHT FLIGHT - From Flying - "It's the same as the daytime, except for the trees." - ACCIDENT ANALYSIS - "The owner of a farm a mile past the airstrip heard the sound of an impact, but saw nothing, since, she said, it was “dark and foggy.” The GPS history, recovered from the wreckage, showed that the airplane had initially flown at 2,000 feet agl, descending a few minutes before reaching PA01. It passed over the strip at 300 feet and continued northward for a mile before striking 50-foot trees and crashing into an isolated patch of woods, killing both men." Read the Full Story Here.
What Would a Recession Mean for Aviation? - BUSINESS - From Flying - "As talk increases about an economic downturn, two economists weigh in on possible impacts for the industry. - Jerome Powell, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, is not a pilot, but recently, he’s been talking like one. - Specifically, Powell says he has been trying to “land the plane softly,” and that “plane” is the U.S. economy. It’s the biggest economy in the world, and with us passengers on board, a lot is at stake because unless he sticks that landing, the effects—and an economic ground stop—could be felt worldwide." Continue Here.
That Darkstar in Top Gun: Maverick—Was it Real? - Another very good article by Meg Godlewski of Flying - filled with lots of story, history, and video. A great read. Read/view it Here.
Regarding FLYING Newsletter Pro KWHP story by Meg Godlewski, Scauwg.org tweeted her 3 CHEERS! (6/15/2022) In addition, SCAUWG.ORG emailed LA TIMES staff writer Rachel Uranga (who wrote about KWHP) the following: Thurs 6/16/2022 1:03 AM
Hello,
Juat in case you have not already seen this story, just click the banner image I published on www.scauwg.org that links to it. (see below) - I sent a tweet to the author Meg Godlewski mentioning that she deserves 3 cheers! - I have been hoping that you might drill down and embrace a little investigative reporting that maybe could reveal ulterior motives held by those folks that have influenced the neighborhood and press participation. These perhaps have propelled the idea that closing the airport will benefit those living in the neighborhood and/or the community at large when possibly their arguments are false, and their idea of the future may not at all be what some have been influenced to believe.
Maybe you will share your thoughts?
scauwg.org banner:
With the very best of regards, Ron
WHAT A CFI WANTS YOU TO KNOW- The Things You Need to Know Before You Solo - Learning to fly an airplane is not like learning to drive a forklift or a stick shift. - From Flying - "As a student pilot you don’t know what you don’t know. There is so much information coming at you, so many skills to learn, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and buried—especially when it comes to what you need to know before your first solo.
Your instructor will appreciate it if you take ownership of your training by insisting on and following a syllabus. The first part of the syllabus will consist of tasks listed under FAR Part 61.87—the aeronautical knowledge and skills required for solo flight.
Your instructor needs you to understand that learning to fly an airplane is not like learning to drive a forklift or a stick shift—it takes more than an afternoon to learn the maneuvers and procedures required for solo flight, and even more time to become suitably proficient in them." Read More Here.
Subsequently SCAUWG.ORG sent a comlimentary response email to Meg Godlewski on 6/23 - It Follows:
Hello,
Very happy to have read a competent piece about KWHP! It deserves 5 smiles! 😊😊😊😊😊
Attached is a copy of the KWHP 75th anniversary promotional poster.
Not mentioned, but also scheduled is a presentation honoring the Police Officers that recently pulled the Cessna pilot out of his plane just seconds before a speeding train turned the aircraft into pick-up sticks. Info regarding that can be obtained by contacting Dennis Lord, LA County Airport Commissioner and LA Fleet Week Producer. dclord@hotmail.com.
It would be nice to find out more about the "mothers" quoted as concerned and organized as "Pacoima Beautiful." Do the ladies of Pacoima Beautiful have vested area real estate interests? Particularly noting that should the airport be closed, properties would no longer be subject to the airport proximity statements contained in escrow papers causing property values to then increase, leading to area rental fees to increase, no doubt causing current residents to be forced out, and area gentrification in.
Digging a bit deeper beneath the cover story might help airports everywhere, as I believe the schematic is essentially the same in all of the "let's close the airport" scenarios. You probably saw The Mercury News story re: unearthing the county soil survey that showed no unacceptable lead levels near Reid-Hillview contrary to the charges made by the anti-airport contingent.
Bottom Line: I'm a fan of your work. I have linked to a few of your recent stories from the aviation airspace and education website I manage. They send beneficial messages that readers are sure to profit from.
Continued success,
Ron
www.scauwg.org
Sent to LA TIMES Staff Writer Rachel Uranga 6/11/2022
Hello Rachel,
re: Your LA Times article about Whiteman Airport
Thought you might like this link to a story about how county-ordered tests in Santa Clara that were conducted in response to the movement to close Reid-Hillview airport proved that toxic claims were without merit.
My opinion is that many of the claims made that are designed to create neighborhood unrest are "copycat" in nature and are all similar, no matter the airport.
Furthermore, [my opinion] the claims that support closing airports are perpetuated by those who profit financially from the closures. Those folks prey upon the axiom "if it bleeds it leads," and try to dupe the press to further their pursuits, even if it means innocent others fall prey to their tactics as well.
A Santa Clara County-commissioned study released Wednesday found that soil samples taken at Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose did not contain lead levels that exceed local, state or federal standards.
www.mercurynews.com
Thanking you in advance for your interest, and happy to touch bases with you again,
Ron Berinstein CFII
Webmaster SCAUWG.ORG
SEE AND BE SEEN - FOREST CANOPY HIDES A LOST AIRCRAFT - Safety Opinion - From AOPA - "All searches are ultimately visual. When you’ve gone missing, your electronics will only get your rescuers so close. At some point, they’ll actually have to see you. I learned this lesson the hard way." Read About It Here.
Coping With Fear - COMMENTARY - From AVweb - “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” —Frank Herbert, Dune - "Because a person can get hurt or killed, it is natural for anyone involved, especially those in the flying machine itself, to feel fear. Since fear is a natural instinct—somewhat inseparable from the act of aviating—the question we have to ask is not “How can we keep from being afraid?” but rather “How do we cope with fear when it arises?” Continue Here.
FAA Continues To Stall On G100UL - COMMENTARY by Paul Bertrorelli - From AVweb - "At Sun ‘n Fun, George Braly told us he was assured by the FAA’s Earl Lawrence that STCs for General Aviation Modification Inc.’s G100UL would “almost certainly” be approved by early May. It’s early June and not only is Lawrence gone from his job overseeing certification at the FAA, he’s gone from the FAA. A new person, Lirio Liu, now has Lawrence’s old job, and evidently has to start over again with the final review. She has declined to respond to Braly’s request for either an update or a face-to-face meeting." Read the account Here.
A Pilot Races Weather, and Weather Wins - SAFETY INFO - From Flying - "A Navion crash in November 2016 could have been avoided by breaking an old habit. - As they flew, the two pilots communicated on 123.45. It was a dark, clear night. The pilot of the 182, on reaching Melfa about 35 minutes after leaving Hummel, attempted an approach but encountered wind shear sufficiently strong that he decided to divert to Salisbury Regional Airport (KSBY), Maryland, where he landed without incident.
Between Melfa and Salisbury, the 182 pilot twice talked with his friend in the Navion. He told him about the strong wind shear he had encountered, which the other acknowledged, and he checked in with him one more time before landing. At that point, the Navion pilot reported that he was at Delaware Bay and all was well. It did not remain well for long. The scattered wreckage of the Navion was found the next day in a wooded area 16 miles south of KMJX." Windshear is Dangerous. Read the story Here.
How Pilots Can Deal With the Dreaded Summertime Heat - SAFETY & VIDEO - From Flying - "With warmer months around the corner, it's important to know that heat management isn’t just about comfort. My least favorite time of year to fly has been the summer. Why? Heat. Like a nagging nemesis, summertime heat has been the source of many unwanted events in the summer. It affects both airplane and pilot performances. Most pilots are acutely aware of how the heat will degrade performance and create adverse weather, but how it affects human physiology doesn’t get the same attention. Read/View it here.
After plane crashes and close calls, pressure mounts to close this L.A. airport - LA Times - Read it Here. SCAUWG.ORG responded. You can read it Here.
SCAUWG.ORG Response to Congressman Tony Cardenas Who Called for a 30 Day KWHP Closure] - Sent Via his Website Email - "I am the Director/Webmaster of SCAUWG.ORG, the independent website published on behalf of the Southern California Airspace Users Working Group, originally established under the aegis of SCAG, and that via collaboration with the FAA, has been responsible for many important airspace safety innovations in the LA Basin.
I responded to your request for a temporary closure of Whiteman airport [as published by mynewsLA.com] with essentially the following notes. I am sending this for your reference, as I would like to see your office on the correct side of this issue.
"It is a shame that the congressman addressing the KWHP airport has not done his homework. The quote: “These incidents have demonstrated that Los Angeles County is failing to achieve the required safety standards and, as a result, trust with the community has been broken,..."
The gentleman referred to three incidents: the 337, the Cessna Hit by a Train, and a CAP Plane.
The 337 was flown by a Torrance Pilot, not Whiteman. The cause of the accident has not been determined, but neither L A County, nor the airport, was responsible for that plane's maintenance, the pilot's employment, or his certification as a pilot.
The Cessna landing safely will no doubt be found to be caused by airplane failure, complicated by train operation/communication failure. In neither instance was the circumstance caused by an airport operation failure. In fact, the FAA instructs pilots to, in most cases, land straight ahead with less than 30 degrees of deviation, in the event of an engine failure low to the ground. The pilot landed per the process recommended by the FAA.
Voice recordings indicate that the CAP pilot apparently chose to ignore present engine warnings, possibly exercised poor judgment, and chose to try stretching his flight to KWHP as a refuge. This appears to be a pilot error accident, as well as a mechanical circumstance, but certainly not an airport operation failure.
Closing the airport for any amount of time will not address successfully the concerns as the congressman addressed them.
The congressman and the community would be better served by his support of pilot proficiency programs such as the FAA WINGS program, which encourages pilot recurrent training, maintenance quality, and proper aeronautical decision making. Also, other community programs like the EAA Young Eagles, allowing area youth to become aviators and aviation industry leaders deserve support."
This data is sent to you with a positive motivation hoping that you might be influenced to learn more about the facts that surround a vital airport that benefits the community, and has done so effectively.
By contrast, the legacy 13 incidents referred to certainly pale in comparison to the 2021 numbers just released from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a division of the Department of Transportation, which estimates 42,915 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021, a 10.5% increase from the 38,824 fatalities in 2020. The deaths include pedestrians, cyclists, and others who may have died during a crash.
Bottom line: Using the logic as written regarding Whiteman Airport, how many freeways would you propose to close for 30-day safety study?
Sent really with the very best of regards, Ron Berinstein CFII - Director/Webmaster SCAUWG.ORG website - Proponent of Aviation Education & Safety"
YOU can respond to the Congressman as well. His office is located at 9612 Van Nuys Blvd Suite 201 in Panorama City,
FAA PUMPS BRAKES ON EVTOLS - AIRCRAFT APPROVAL ONE THING, PILOT RATING ANOTHER - From AOPA - "A May 10 statement from the FAA cast doubt on ambitious timelines for bringing a new generation of electric vertical-lift aircraft into service, as the agency shifted attention to how pilots will be trained and qualified to fly them." Continue Here.
NTSB Blames FAA, Pilot for Fatal Helicopter Crash in Hawaii - ARTICLE - From Flying - "Helicopter tour pilot entering IMC, lack of weather cameras cited as contributing factors." Read More
How Two Air Traffic Controllers Helped a Passenger Land an Airplane - From Flying - "One controller’s experience as a pilot and instructor came into play. - What seemed like a routine charter flight from the Bahamas to Florida on Tuesday took an unexpected turn for two passengers in a Cessna 208 Caravan when the pilot became incapacitated, slumped against the controls, and sent the aircraft into a dive. - The day also changed for air traffic controllers Chip Flores and Robert Morgan." Raed the story Here.
Trent Palmer Says His FAA Penalty Could Pressure Pilots - OPINION & THE REGS - From Flying - "YouTube personality and backcountry pilot says if his certificate suspension is upheld, people may be forced to make dangerous landings. - Palmer is an 1,100-hour private pilot and YouTube personality from Reno, Nevada. Most of his videos involve backcountry flying. The November 2019 incident occurred in what Palmer said was an inspection pass of a friend’s backyard runway, which he contends is standard procedure for pilots conducting backcountry landings." Read it Here.
Is This the Beginning of the End for Helicopters? - From Flying - "One industry expert says disruptions in the economy and emerging technologies have put the industry in a challenging position. - It may not seem obvious, but the helicopter industry might be in a battle for survival.
When Enstrom Helicopter, a 64-year-old company with a storied history, unwound its operations in January, it was a signal that something was amiss in the market. If this were just an anomaly case of pandemic forces, there would be no cause for alarm. But that isn’t the case. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) tracks and publishes quarterly and yearly aircraft shipment and billings. It indicated recently that over the past decade, the global helicopter market has been contracting at an incredible rate. Read the Entire Article Here.
Does the FAA Need New Regulations for the Social Media Age? - From Flying - "Some wonder if the agency has sufficient enforcement power when pilots break rules. - Many people have expressed concern online and elsewhere that the FAA might need to change its regulatory approach to properly address what looks to some like a trend toward increasingly dangerous flying in a quest for views, likes, and comments on social media.
William Voss, a pilot and former FAA official, says the agency’s regulations are “very clear,” but that in some cases, the options for enforcement are less so because 'there is no clear category' for the types of violations that arise from certain types of stunts, especially when the pilots perform them without permission and choose to disobey regulations." Read the entire article Here.
Tuskegee Airman Wants Cards For 100th Birthday - From AVweb 4/28/2022 - "One of the last surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen is hoping his next birthday on May 21 will be one to be remembered by thousands. Sgt. Victor Butler, who was a mechanic for the famed squadron, is asking people to send him a card." Learn More Here.
Aviation Stunts: A History Lesson - From Flying - "Almost from the start of aviation, and well before the advent social media, people have been pushing the boundaries of aircraft. A stunt is defined as an unusual or difficult feat requiring great skill or daring, especially one performed or undertaken chiefly to gain attention or publicity.
Recently, we’ve seen two “stunts” involving aviation—the YouTuber who intentionally crashed his airplane for video views and the Red Bull midair airplane swap. The FAA has taken a dim view of both events, and there have been discussions that the stunts were encouraged by social media. However, stunts involving aircraft go back to the early days of aviation, well before the invention of social media, the computer—and the FAA. - In the 1920s, pilots flying surplus World War I aircraft toured the country as barnstormers." History of stunts continue and some great photos Here.
A Pilot Gets Caught Between Procedure and Instinct - ACCIDENTS & WHY - From Flying - "Doing what comes naturally as a pilot includes making mistakes. - Although FAA regulations set quite precise requirements for familiarity and currency—becoming more rigorous for more complex and higher-performance airplanes—it is really hard to tell how much familiarity is enough and, for that matter, whether there is such a thing as too much familiarity. A pilot may know an airplane very well but..." This is a good read, finish it Here.
On the subject of EARTH DAY 2022 : The FAA is accountable for how aerospace impacts our planet. We join businesses, other governments, and citizens on a mission to “Invest In Our Planet,” the theme for Earth Day 2022. We will continue to take bold actions, be innovative in our approaches, and implement solutions equitably.
Just last year, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg released the U.S. Aviation Climate Action Plan, which aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. aviation by 2050. Transportation produces the most emissions, and the FAA is committed to doing its part to build a cleaner, quieter and more sustainable aviation system.
In this special Earth Day edition podcast episode, we’re talking to the experts about sustainable fuels, new technologies, noise reduction and operational efficiency. You’ll hear from Jim Hileman, the FAA’s Chief Scientific and Technical Officer for the Environment; Greg McDougall, CEO, Harbour Air, Vancouver; and Dave Atwood, Structures and Propulsion Branch Manager, FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center. - Operation Invest In Our Planet is underway. Tune in to learn how we’re doing our part.
Careless Pilots & Instrument Failures - OPINION - From Flying - "When their equipment doesn’t work, pilots need to work a little harder. - In January 1998, a Learjet 25B crashed 2 miles short of the runway at Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). It was on a positioning flight from Houston Hobby, across town, to pick up passengers for a Part 135 trip to Fargo, North Dakota. Both pilots died when the Learjet descended hundreds of feet below the glidepath, struck trees, disintegrated and burst into flames." Read the article Here.
Van's Celebrates 50 Years! - From AOPA - "A special celebration is planned at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July, honoring Richard VanGrunsven and the many Van's Aircraft models his company created, including the much-anticipated latest. Read more."
UNLEADED FUEL - A summary article describing positions on the subject as presented at SUN N FUN 2022. "As frustration builds over certifying a replacement for leaded avgas, the leaders of three GA advocacy groups met in a Town Hall setting... Then there was the GAMI press conference... Read about the controversy Here.
OPINION: Critical Cleaning Helps to Propel Avionics Reliability - IDEA FROM A CHEMIST - "It is critical that the PCBAs (Printed Circuit Board Assemblies) inside avionics systems work long-term, and continue to work, without interruption. A key step in the challenge to guarantee reliability is precision cleaning. - Contamination – A Main Cause of PCBA Failure..." Continue Here.
FAA, Do Your Damn Job - Paul Bertorelli on GAMI UL Fuel - "In an exquisite master class in the absurdity of FAA oversight Tuesday, George Braly of General Aviation Modifications Inc. ran down in dreary detail how the agency has dragged its feet, obfuscated, delayed, ignored, changed the rules and simply abandoned its charge to oversee the certification of GAMI’s G100UL unleaded avgas. On some of his slides detailing this 12-year odyssey—yes, 12 years—were emails with my name on them. I started covering this story in 2010—January, as Braly reminded us at the forum, whose venue, appropriately, required a treasure map and numerous detours for directions to even find." Read the story Here.
AND THAT’S THE WAY IT IS - SIGNING OFF AFTER 34 YEARS AT AOPA - Tom Haines Retirement - "This is my last regular column as AOPA editor in chief. For me it’s a moment for which I have long planned, but which, nevertheless, comes with some sadness. For almost three decades, after all, we’ve been meeting on this “Waypoints” page, and I’ll miss that." Continue Here.
The Hidden Airport Crisis in SoCal: How One Airport Closure Is Creating Major Problems - From Catalina Globe - "Santa Monica did the most selfish thing possible and decided to close it and screw over everyone else." Webmaster: An interesting twist that adds to the important commentary describing the still continuing drama.Read it Here.
How Ukraine’s Outgunned Air Force Is Fighting Back Against Russian Jets - N Y Times- "VIV, Ukraine — Each night, Ukrainian pilots like Andriy loiter in an undisclosed aircraft hangar, waiting, waiting, until the tension is broken with a shouted, one-word command: “Air!” - Andriy hustles into his Su-27 supersonic jet and hastily taxis toward the runway, getting airborne as quickly as possible. He takes off so fast that he doesn’t yet know his mission for the night, though the big picture is always the same — to bring the fight to a Russian Air Force that is vastly superior in numbers but has so far failed to win control of the skies above Ukraine.
“I don’t do any checks,” said Andriy, a Ukrainian Air Force pilot who as a condition of granting an interview was not permitted to give his surname or rank. “I just take off.” Nearly a month into the fighting, one of the biggest surprises of the war in Ukraine is..." Continue Here.
READOUT: Final Women in Aviation Advisory Board Meeting - FAA - WASHINGTON— The Women in Aviation Advisory Board held its final meeting today and voted unanimously to submit its report to the FAA Administrator at the meeting. The FAA will post the report on its website later this week after the board transmits it to the agency. - The meeting can be viewed on the FAA’s YouTube channel.
Russian Adventurers Fined After Flight To Northern Canada - NEWS STORY - "A Russian billionaire adventurer and an associate were stopped at Yellowknife Airport in Canada’s Northwest Territories last week for busting Canada’s ban on Russians in its airspace. Apparently, the ban transcends just aircraft since the Falcon 900 the duo arrived on after a direct flight from Geneva Switzerland is registered in the Cayman Islands and owned by a company in the British Virgin Islands,..." Webmaster: Russ Niles make the point clear thatCanada has banned all Russians in the airspace, not just Russian aircraft.Read the Story Here.
Did A Taiwanese Training Crash Lead to Yet Another Chinese Airspace Incursion? - From AVweb - "Analysts have suggested that China could follow the Russian Ukraine playbook with its own invasion of Taiwan. Whether the grounding of Taiwanese Mirages had anything to do with the most recent Chinese airspace incursion is unclear." Read More Here.
Overcoming Multiple Checkride Failures - From AVweb - "In this airline pilot hiring boom, we are seeing up-and-coming pilots post in online forums that they have worked hard to train and achieve all the certification and credentials to become airline pilots and are frustrated to discover that their multiple training and checkride failures are preventing them from landing at an airline. - To qualify for an airline pilot job, one has to have passed at least five checkrides: Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi-Engine, and Airline Transport or ATP. Many also become Certificated Flight Instructors (CFI), which is a popular entry-level job and step on the career ladder." Read about failures and alleged descrimination and sexual improprieties Here.
AIRLINES NOT FOR YOU? BECOME A FIRE PILOT - "A career as a fire pilot can be a nontraditional but worthwhile and lucrative path for an aviator, says Brent Conner, a seasoned tanker pilot who offers a look at the career's day-to-day tasks and the skills needed to be successful. Conner notes that there is no "normal" routine in aerial firefighting and says, "You might sit for days and days and days and do nothing and then all heck breaks loose and you're flying all day every day." Full Story:AOPA Online
Flight-Tracking Freshman Adds Russian Oligarchs To His Twitter Menu - Comment - From AVweb - "Jack Sweeney, the 19-year-old college freshman who made recent headlines for tweeting the real-time whereabouts of Elon Musk’s Gulfstream, has taken his pastime a big, perhaps more dangerous, step forward. With the ongoing economic and airspace sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, the University of Central Florida information technology major has now established a Twitter account tracking 39 private aircraft operated by Russia’s richest and most powerful oligarchs..." Read it Here.
New York (New Jersy) Helicopter Tour Company - Noise Concerns? "Manhattan helicopter tour didn’t end soon enough for NYC council member who’s heard years of chopper noise complaints" - https://share.smartnews.com/zwYBc - Webmaster: Perhaps the tour compnaies could fly higher and offer complimentary telephoto lenses? 🙂
Off-Field Landings - Instructional - From AVweb - "When your aircraft is in tip-top shape and everything is working properly, you should be able to reuse the plane after each landing. Unfortunately, every now and then our beloved flying machines let us down." Explore several considerations Here.
Why Electric Airplanes Face Such A Tough Haul: Joby Edition - VIDEO - Paul Bertorelli / AVweb - "Electric airplanes are coming at us a mile a minute with claims that seem to defy the laws of physics and maybe even Ohm’s Law. In this AVweb video, Paul Bertorelli takes a critical look at what most people in the industry consider to be a leading contender to own the urban air mobility market: the Joby S4. It’s a remarkable design and appears surprisingly mature. But can it make it..." View it Here.
Jason Blair: Modest Growth In Pilot Population - VIDEO - W/Paul Bertorelli - AVweb - "Some of us in aviation obsess about pilot population growth because it, more than anything, signals the future health of the general aviation industry. In this AVweb news video, Paul Bertorelli talks to veteran pilot examiner Jason Blair about the state of pilot certification. The good news? There’s modest growth in the overall pilot population." Watch the Video Here.
Which Aircraft Fits Your Traveling Plans? - INFO to CONSIDER - Thoughts upon buying a GA Aircraft - From Flying - "When you tell fellow pilots you are shopping for an airplane that can cover serious distances, some are likely to respond with a short list of “traveling machines.” That’s general-aviation shorthand for fast models like the Beechcraft Bonanza and Mooney 201.
But those suggestions might stem from a lack of creativity or a sense of adventure. The most thoughtful flying friends will probably ask three things:
WHY ME? - MEDICAL HEALTH - From AOPA - "Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of disability and mortality in the world. The statistics on cardiovascular heart disease are sobering to say the least and here in the U.S. heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women of all racial and ethnic groups. Statistically CAD accounts for 1 in every 4 U.S. deaths. One person dies every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease; that adds up to about 900,000 deaths each year." What CAN YOU DO? Some answers gained by reading Here.
Does The FAA Seem Nastier Than Usual? - From AVweb - "Stories about confrontations with the FAA are legion among just about every sector in aviation but I seem to be detecting an even more combative stance by the agency that everyone loves to hate. - The MAX debacle put the agency on the ropes and it seems to be fighting its way back into the ring with a kind of nasty attitude toward fellow government agencies that inevitably overlap its jurisdiction. That’s not to say the FAA has a reputation of playing nice with anyone but there’s an edge there that I haven’t noticed before." From Russ Niles - Read the opinion Here.
Buying A Used Aircraft: Decathlon And Citabria - From AVweb - "The Citabria is a proven design, based on the Champion 7-series airframe. The more rugged 8 series is the more fully aerobatic Decathlon. Pre-1990s Citabrias have wooden wing spars, and with that comes the possibility of strut corrosion. The aerobatic 7GCBC model, with slightly longer wings and flaps, is arguably the most popular with first-time aerobat pilots, followed by the 7KCAB, a more capable aerobatic ship with a fuel-injected 150-HP AEIO-320-E2B Lycoming engine and inverted fuel and oil systems." Read a lot about this fun series of planes Here.
‘It’s Embarrassing’: FCC-FAA Skirmish Over 5G Leads to Lawmaker Frustration - From AviationPros - "WASHINGTON — Lawmakers on Thursday sharply criticized the process leading up to the deployment of 5G wireless technology around airports last month, repeatedly questioning how the Federal Aviation Administration and Federal Communications Commission had such a disconnect. - “There’s no excuse for us to be in this situation,..." Continue Here.
747 Damaged After Hitting Cargo Pallets - VIDEO - Opinion - Webmaster: Contaminated runways and taxiways with snow present a REAL DANGER. Reduced braking due to surface considerations, which may include hydroplane danger becomes a reality. China Airways ran into a big taxiway movement problem. Watch it HERE.
Little Shops of Horrors - From Aviation Safety Magazine - "The first sign of trouble was when ATC couldn’t radar-identify the Archer. That was a problem because the Archer’s base was an airport at which one needs a transponder. The KT-76 was working fine when the airplane was dropped off, but now, after the inspection, it wasn’t. If it had been during the shop’s normal working hours, I would have turned around and given it back to them, but that wasn’t in the cards." Continue Here.
Most Of Us Know How To Stay Alive In An Airplane: Until We Don’t - Paul Bertorelli, AVweb - "When I was learning to fly more years ago than I care to reveal, the accident rate was 18.1/100,000, more than three times what it is now. Just 10 years before that, in 1960, the rate was a whopping 36.5. Crashes occurred at the rate of more than a dozen a day. Lots of causes, of course, but drunken flying was common then, as was driving while stewed. It was a different era then and we should all be glad it’s gone. The current overall accident rate, at about 4.9, has ticked up a little recently, but..." Continue HERE.
Shooting the Gap - From Aviation Safety Magazine - "Poor weather has always topped my list of potential aviation hazards. But after earning the instrument rating, I was much more willing to go out and tackle low ceilings and visibility, which inevitably led to poking around thunderstorms and frontal activity. I quickly learned there were no iron-clad rules or procedures for safely penetrating them and that the best strategy was to remain in visual conditions and avoid getting too close. - Every now and then, however, I was sorely tempted to poke through a narrow gap between storms. Invariably, doing so “violated” the FAA’s admonition to remain at least 20 miles away from such weather. But, I rationalized, if I could see through the gaps to blue sky on the other side, how bad could it be? Pretty bad, it turned out a few times." Continue Reading
Sleepwalking To 100UL - From Paul Bertorelli at AVweb - "In yet another milepost in the galactically slow train wreck that is finding a replacement for lead-spiked avgas, the EPA has finally announced its intent to declare leaded fuel environmentally hazardous. And this time, says EPA, we’re serious so all you FAA footdraggers better pay attention. No, really. We mean it. But wait, hold up. What the press release headline said was this, exactly: “EPA to Evaluate Whether Lead Emissions from Piston-Engine Aircraft Endanger Human Health and Welfare.” The waffle word here is “whether.” If the answer is no, no endangerment, then what? Or was this just sloppy prose? Try not to think about it." Continue HERE.
FUEL FOR ALL UNLEADED AVGAS PROGRESS REPORT - From AOPA - "The ability to create an unleaded avgas that meets the needs of the entire general aviation fleet has been vexing the industry for decades. There has been recent progress, but challenges remain. - In an effort to continue progress, the FAA hosted an industry roundtable discussion on unleaded avgas on November 15 in Washington, D.C. AOPA attended, as did a cross section of oil companies, independent unleaded avgas developers, Textron Aviation, a smattering of independent experts, and other trade associations representing airport operators, FBOs, and manufacturers." Continue HERE.
Take A Minute - CHARTER PILOT STORY - From AVweb - "Stop me if you’ve heard this story before. Some of the details may vary here and there, but the general plot is always the same. I had a morning departure time, right in that sweet spot where you are going to hit rush hour traffic no matter what time you leave. We rush to get the airplane pulled out, fueled and stocked. Complete the preflight, the paperwork and a quick recheck of the weather and NOTAMs, and we are ready to go." Continue With the Chain of Events as they unfold HERE.
Now we are waiting for the passengers. The departure time comes and goes. About 45 minutes later, the passengers show up, disheveled and clearly ready to go. Murphy’s Law kicks in, and despite probably 1000 successful starts in a row, we get a hung start.
Non-Precision Stability - IFR PROCEDURE Discussion - From Aviation SafetyMagazine - "Constant-angle non-precision approaches are all the rage, thanks to GPS. But there are times when an old-school dive-and-drive approach can come in handy. - I presented a webinar recently about techniques for flying stabilized approaches. During the question-and-answer period, one of the viewers asked me for a technique for flying a traditional non-precision approach profile, that is, a steep descent from the final approach fix (FAF) to leveling off at the minimum descent altitude (MDA) and flying level until reaching the missed approach point (MAP). I answered the question with recommended pitch attitudes, power settings, airplane configurations and airspeeds appropriate to his airplane type for the old-school “dive and drive”-style approach.
The next morning, I opened my email to find a long missive from another webinar viewer, taking me to task for describing this “unsafe” descent profile. After all, the viewer wrote, the FAA now calls for a constant angle, constant-rate descent from the FAF to the MAP—a stabilized approach—even on an approach procedure that does not include an electronic glidepath. I answered that person’s question as well, and thought it worthwhile to delve deeper into the skills and procedures needed to fly a stabilized, non-precision approach." Continue reading HERE.
The Wrong Way To Teach Forced Landings - OPINION - From AVweb - "The airplane is out in the practice area and the instructor pulls the throttle to idle and tells you the engine just failed. You then frantically look around for a field to land in, quickly mumble the engine failure checks and concentrate on flying a gliding approach that will hopefully set you up for a landing on the field." "And this is the wrong way to teach about engine failures." Read the opinion why HERE.
Why Light Sport Airplanes Suffer So Many Crashes - VIDEO - OPINION - From AVweb - "Light sport airplanes were supposed to be a cheaper alternative to certified aircraft and they are. But AVweb’s look at the accident record of these airplanes confirms what many skeptics worried about: They suffer more crashes than standard category aircraft. This video, first published in 2018, explains why." SEE it HERE.
Unpleasant Surprises - Are Flight Plan REMARKS important? COMMENTARY - From AVweb - "Surprises in the cockpit aren’t generally good things. To avoid them, you absorb data, whether it’s a preflight weather brief, the information on the ATIS, or what your instruments are telling you. You take these disparate pieces and assemble them into what you hope will be a predictable, successful flight. - What if you didn’t know a key piece of data was missing?" Read This.
NBAA Lauds Passage of Infrastructure/Jobs Legislation - From NBAA - "National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen welcomed Congressional passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on Friday. He called the legislation “a victory for America’s transportation sector and a recognition of NBAA’s successful advocacy efforts.[…]" Read this article
Undersea and surface drones work autonomously to explore, investigate, and work in difficult marine environments. - VIDEO - From The American Society of Mechanical Engineers - PLYING THE DEPTHS - Watch it HERE.
"Compression readings are garbage" - PODCAST From Ask the A&Ps - A lot covered in this podcast - You can regularly check out this podcast our podcast page here at SCAUWG.ORG. In this edition Mike (Mike Busch - Savvy Aviation), Paul, and Colleen tackle everything from radio gremlins to the big questions of aviation, such as an overall maintenance philosophy and the reliability of our aircraft. - Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. - And please take our survey to tell us how we're doing. You can find it at https://aopa.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cZSqTKSpaOTVjdI?Referral=APS
Picking Up The Pieces - SAFETY ARTICLE - From Aviation Safety Magazine - "The tales an aircraft salvage expert has to share include lessons we all need to learn. Some pilots learn them the hard way, however." “Successful flights all have the same outcome, but every aircraft crash site can tell a unique story story of aviation failure,” he told me. “It is never any one thing; it is always a combination. Even when the cause is fuel exhaustion, there is always a unique reason that the pilot either failed to get enough fuel or forgot to switch tanks.” Read the Story Here.
Universal Hydrogen Secures Enough Funding for 2022 Regional Airliner Flight Test - From Aviation Today - "Universal Hydrogen has secured a new $62 million funding round that the California-based startup says will be enough to conduct the first test flight of its hydrogen fuel cell powertrain on a regional airliner next year, according to an Oct. 14 announcement.
The latest round of funding comes from a collection of aviation and non-aviation industry investors, including Mitsubishi HC Capital, Tencent, Stratos, GE Aviation, Waltzing Matilda Aviation, Fourth Realm and Hawktail among others. Universal Hydrogen launched its concept of using the global intermodal freight network to eliminate the need for infrastructure to provide hydrogen power for passenger carrying aircraft last year, and has continued to expand its operations, establishing a headquarters in Los Angeles, an engineering center in Toulouse and a flight test center in Moses Lake, Washington." Continue Here.
Busting the Bravo - From Aviation Safety Magazine - "It was a good day for flying, and I had agreed to fly a fellow pilot/neighbor and his wife an hour or so away so he could conduct some personal business. The destination airport was a non-towered facility southwest of and outside a nearby piece of Class B airspace. Our flight down was uneventful and my neighbor was able to conclude his business.
The route back to home plate I put into my GPS navigator was to an outlying airport to the east, so I could top off with some cheap gas. As a result, the route was oriented slightly more to the north than had been the inbound flight. - After an uneventful run-up and takeoff, we soon were..." Find out More Here.
WRITING THE GREAT AMERICAN NOTAM - ARTICLE - From AOPA - "Pilots have a short but unambiguous wish list for how the FAA can make notices to airmen (notams) and the system that delivers them more user-friendly, according to the results from a recent AOPA survey." Read About It Here.
SCAUWG.ORG Friend Wayne sent this referral: 10/04/21 "Hello everyone, Here's some nice photos from a good friend of mine, "Louie the Lens" ... of the Pacific Airshow Media Day at Los Alamitos AAF last Thursday. Louie is an excellent photographer and I highly recommend his professional services. https://www.louiethelens.com/p376847223/hc226d241#hc2254bce- Enjoy, Wayne
Capt. Kirk Reportedly Headed For Space - From AVweb - "After all these years, it seems that actor William Shatner, almost as well known as Capt. James Tiberius Kirk, is heading to the final frontier. The 90-year-old actor, who played arguably the world’s second most famous astronaut (Neil Armstrong has to be number one) in the cult classic 1960s TV series “Star Trek,” is reportedly taking a 15-minute hop to the Karman Line (62 miles ASL) courtesy of Jeff Bezos and Blue Origin. It will make him the oldest person to go to space." Story Here.
POPULAR HAWAII AIRPORT GETS EXTENDED LEASE ON CIVIL LIFE - SUCCESS STORY! - From AOPA - "AOPA rallied support for Dillingham Airfield (also known as Kawaihāpai Airfield) soon after the Hawaii DOT confirmed to AOPA in April 2020 that it would move to terminate its lease of the airport property from the U.S. Army ahead of that agreement’s 2024 end date. The state ordered tenants to vacate the airport long used for flight training, skydiving, sightseeing, and glider operations, putting businesses and tourism resources at risk." Read More about the effort led by Melissa McCaffrey, SCAUWG associate, HERE.
SCAUWG.ORG Friend Wayne wrote: "I remember when the then CA ANG 146th Air Transportation Wing (Heavy), Van Nuys Air National Guard Base flew the C-97s until they received the C-130A in 1970 and then became the 146th Tactical Airlift Wing, ANG. - Living right under the downwind pattern of runway 16R/34L I so enjoyed the whine and rumble of those 28 cylinder P&W R-4360 Wasp Major radial engines as the C-97s flew over my house.
ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT? EXPLAINING AIRCRAFT DAMAGE ASSESSMENT - When an aircraft crashes, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) air safety investigators and aerospace engineers must determine if the event can be classified as an accident or an incident, as defined by Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 830. Read More Here.
Don't Ignore Service Bulletins - Service Bulletins and the Aircraft Owner
Manufacturers issue Service Bulletins to inform owners and operators about critical and useful information about aircraft safety, maintenance, or product improvement. Read this to learn more about their importance and the dangerous consequences of ignoring them.
IFR FIX: SIX OF ONE - SAFETY INFO / COMMENT - From AOPA - "Yes, it’s that question about recent flight experience required to act as pilot in command under IFR (FAR 61.57(c)), which, no matter how frequently pilots go over the rule, causes much head-scratching and uncertainty:..." Read the short article HERE.
Archer and Lilium to Become Publicly Traded - From Aviation Today - "Two electric aircraft companies, Lilium and Archer Aviation, have announced completed business mergers resulting in the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft companies becoming public.
Joby Aviation became the first publicly traded eVTOL company last month after a completed merger with Reinvent Technology Partners. Lilium and Archer will become the second and third eVTOL companies to go public." Continue Here.
FAA Invites Public to Comment on Draft Environmental Review of SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Program - FAA - WASHINGTON-The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today invited the public to provide its input on the draft environmental review for the proposed SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy program in Boca Chica, Texas. - The draft document, formally called a Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA), evaluates the potential environmental impacts of SpaceX’s initial mission profile for the program, including launch and reentry. It also reviews debris recovery, the integration tower and other launch-related construction, and local road closures in Boca Chica, among other issues. - The FAA plans to hold virtual public hearings on Oct. 6 and 7 as part of the 30-day public comment period that ends on Oct. 18, 2021.
SpaceX cannot launch the Starship/Super Heavy vehicle until the FAA completes its licensing process, which includes the environmental review and other safety and financial responsibility requirements. The proposed Starship/Super Heavy operations fall outside of the scope of the existing 2014 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision for the Boca Chica launch site and requires this additional environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Minorities And Women In The Air Force Face Harassment And Bias, A Study Finds - STUDY - NPR - "WASHINGTON — About a third of the female service members in the Air Force and Space Force say they've experienced sexual harassment and many can describe accounts of sexism and a stigma associated with pregnancy and maternity leave, a study released Thursday has found. - The review, done by the Air Force inspector general, also concluded..." Read the details HERE.
Becker Teams with Iris on Collision Warning System - PR INFO - SAFETY - From AINonline - "Becker Avionics and Iris Automation have formed a strategic partnership to jointly develop a non-required safety-enhancing equipment (Norsee) collision avoidance safety system for general aviation aircraft and UAVs. It will use computer vision and machine learning to identify aircraft approaching from outside the pilot’s field of view that pose a potential risk and issue pertinent 3D audio warnings." Continue.
The Space Industry Needs Its Own Regulator - ARTICLE - From AVweb - "I wonder what the vetting process is for items that reach FAA Administrator Steve Dickson’s desk. There’s a lot going on at the agency these days and he’s just one guy. Something I’m sure he’s noticed, however, is how many of his valuable seconds and minutes are expended on the issues of the day that involve space operations." Read the rest HERE.
Video of Kern County FD Huey doing night water drops on French Fire - VIDEO - KCFD doing night water drops on the French Fire near Lake Isabella, with their two 50+ year old Vietnam Vet Hueys. - Note: These type drops may one day be conducted in a few years by the brand new fleet of Cal Fire Firehawks, (which currently only operate during daylight hours), when/if they ever get appropriately trained. See it HERE.
Oil Filter Inspection - Maybe a Good Idea? - From Aviation Safety Magazine
"Changing engine oil and filters is a task private pilots can do on their own airplanes, along with examining the filter for foreign material. - One of the easiest and most worthwhile tasks pilots can perform to maintain their airplanes is changing an engine’s oil and filter. It’s allowed by the FAA under the preventive maintenance provisions of FAR Part 43 Appendix A, it usually doesn’t require special skills and typically can be accomplished by one person in less than an hour, depending on what’s involved..." Read More Here.
From SCAUWG.ORG Friend Wayne:
Hey Everyone,
A suggestion has been made and with the assistance of George Heulett, Congressman Mike Garcia has been contacted to help name the control tower at Van Nuys Airport as the Phil Aune Memorial Control Tower.
Imagine a nice bronze plaque with Phil's smiling image.
Please help spread this information out to all the aviators and organizations that you know. QBs, 99s, EAA, AOPA, etc.
Many of us desire to make this idea happen.
Thanks,
Wayne
Infrastructure Bill Clears Senate with Aviation Funding - ARTICLE - From AINonline - "After months of negotiations, the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act comfortably passed the Senate yesterday in a 69-30 vote, moving forward a package that would include $25 billion in airport and air traffic control infrastructure spending. The bill must next be taken up by the House, which is on its August break but may return this month to consider it. - The bipartisan infrastructure package has largely garnered broad industry support for additional funding marked for airports and aviation infrastructure." Continue Here.
SCAUWG.ORG friend Wayne has sent us this link to the 8/08/2021 Blancolirio VIDEO.: "I send this video out for educational purposes. For all of us aviators, it is a sad day when we lose one of our own. Thoughts and prayers for Snort's family and friends." - Wayne
"On July 24, 2021, an SIAI Marchetti SM.1019B, registration N28U, was destroyed following a loss of control and collision with terrain shortly after takeoff from Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport (KLWS), Lewiston, Idaho. The pilot, Navy aviator Dale “Snort” Snodgrass, was fatally injured. The Marchetti was owned by 717 Aviation Inc, and was being operated as a Part 91 flight. - With nearly 5,000 flight hours in the F-14 Tomcat, Snodgrass was the highest-time Tomcat pilot in the world. Snodgrass commanded Fighter Squadron 33 during Desert Storm, after which he was promoted to Navy Captain."
Webmaster Note: Just last week I taught the importance of checking the elevator trim rigging to a seasoned pilot. He, like many pilots I have presented this material to, always checked the elevator trim tab for fastened integrity, but not for correct rigging. The initial question to my student was, "When the Cessna's 172 trim wheel is pulled down, will the elevator trim tab be UP or Down?" Was he surprised when after walking to the elevator and observing the tab? Yes. - I believe this segment check should be added to all pre-flight inspections. Also, dealing with the flight ramifications of incorrect rigging (flight control and power management) can be discussed as well when addressing recurrent training.
Dale 'Snort' Snodgrass Siai Marchetti UPDATE- Elevator Trim System 8/8/21
INSPIRATIONAL PILOT JESSICA COX PURSUING THIRD CLASS MEDICAL AND FOUR-SEAT AIRCRAFT - ARMLESS PILOT ANNOUNCES FOOT-CONTROLLED RV–10 BUILD PROJECT - ARTICLE - From AOPA - "Cox and her husband Patrick Chamberlain said that building an airplane from the ground up to address her special needs would “dial down the difficulty of flying” and help pave the way for others with physical limitations." Continue Here.
Cleared for the MSA? - INSTRUCTIONAL - From Aviation Safety Magazine - "Shortly, I got my own distraction. We received an approach clearance recently that I’d never heard before, one that made me doubt one of the basic precepts of IFR flight. It may be something Aviation Safety readers look at and say, “Duh, everyone knows that.” I suspect, however, that many or most will not have received this clearance before, and ..." Continued Here.
California man arrested after firing gun at helicopter - NEWS REPORT 7/23/21 - From KCRA 3 -
"The helicopter crew was flying around 9:15 p.m. Wednesday in Lake Casitas, about 80 miles north of Los Angeles, for training operations, the sheriff's office said. The crew realized there was gunfire aimed at them, and the pilot took evasive actions and saw..." Read The Story Here.
Decisions In The System - From Aviation Safety Magazine
"The hands-on part of flying an airplane, even single-pilot IFR, is easy. Managing your flight - making decisions in real time - is the hard part." Read this safety scenario lesson here.
Cutting Through All the Noise
For decades, the FAA has been committed to mitigating and reducing aircraft noise. This includes efforts to accelerate the development of more noise-friendly aircraft and engine technologies and engage directly with communities impacted by noise. To read more on the FAA’s strategy for noise mitigation, as well as how recent survey data is helping to inform these decisions, see the article “Cutting Through All the Noise” at https://medium.com/faa/cutting-through-all-the-noise-4f99910f918c. To view our entire “Embracing the Environment” issue, go to www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing.
Best Of The Web: When Yeager Wasn’t Famous - STORY & VIDEO - "Famed test pilot Chuck Yeager was a household name through much of his career. But not always. In his first book, “Across the High Frontier,” Yeager said his work during the X-1 project to exceed Mach 1 gave flight test pilots a profile—and respect—they never enjoyed before that. In 1949, he became instantly famous when Time magazine put him on its cover. But, as this video from the popular television program “What’s My Line” shows..." Continue Here.
A 737 Home Sim -When flying your own airplane becomes too expensive. Build yourself a Boeing 737 and fly the world from inside your garage - These links were sent to us by Wayne. See the videos illustrating the homebuilt sims - the installation, and when in action, Here:
Bad Bounce - Airspeed control and managing the flare help prevent bounces, but we also have to know how to go around. - ARTICLE From Aviation Safety Magazine - "If the primary yardstick determining what constitutes a “bad” landing is the number and magnitude of its bounces, my worst landing ever was in a Cessna 182 at a beachside airport in North Carolina, with all the seats filled. I dropped it in pretty good, and the airplane’s eloquent reflection of my ineptitude resulted in a series of maybe five more bounces, becoming less harsh each time until—finally—all three wheels decided to stay on the ground at the same time. I had little to do with the eventual outcome, but at least I maintained directional control. I haven’t bounced one like that since. - That was long ago and far away from what I’d do now... Continue Here.
A July 4th Holiday Safety Gift! The Possible vs. The Impossible. Many are the stories about returning to the runway after an engine failure. Some Pro and some Con are usually expressed with vigor! Here are two presentations that may help you to formulate a method that works for your circumstances.
* THE RUNWAY BEHIND YOU - REALITY CHECK - VIDEO - ARTICLE - "The AOPA Air Safety Institute decided to test the disputed turnback theories, using a Piper PA-18 Super Cub, a Van’s RV-4, a Cessna 172N, and a Beechcraft Bonanza A36. Our study was conducted by highly experienced and proficient pilots flying predetermined profiles in near-perfect conditions. But the different results of turning back to the runway were surprising for each of us flying these profiles. You’ll see why in this Reality Check video." You Can Watch the Results HERE.
* The POSSIBLE TURN by Captain Brian Schiff - WEBINAR - From NAFI - "And the turn shouldn’t be a decision you make on the spot, but one that’s made before takeoff and with plenty of practice and forethought." - Janice Wood, General Aviation News. Brian details a conservative and safe method that a pilot should consider when preparing for the "possible turn." EVERYONE should benefit from this presentation. Watch the Video Here.
5 Flying Cars Take to the Skies - ARTICLE - From The American Society of Mechanical Engineers - "While the future of mobility on the road shapes up to be electric vehicles, flying cars look to dominate in the sky. Vertical take-off and landing aircrafts (VTOLs) and road vehicles that can transform into winged air- craft are growing in popularity and becoming mainstream.
VTOLs are small in design when compared to commercial aircraft. Instead of fixed wings, many are designed with rotors and wings that fold. This allows them to be more efficient in forward flight and useful in urban areas with their ability to hover off the ground. According to the study, Role of Flying Cars in Sustainable Mobility, conducted by the University of Michigan’s Center for Sustainable Systems, there are several advantages to VTOLs that, alongside electric vehicles, could help society reach a sustainable mobility system." Continue Here.
If The Wright Brothers Started In The Age Of Electric Airplanes - ARTICLE - From AVweb - Paul Bertorelli writes, "Kitty Hawk—The Wright Cycle Exchange announced today that it has firm commitments from several airlines to purchase 50 Wright Flyer machines with options on 100 more. The airline companies will be announced as soon as such companies have actually started and it can be determined what an airline actually is, which is expected by the first quarter of 1904, second quarter at the latest.
The company said the Wright Flyer, powered by a single 600-horsepower Taylor Dragon engine, is capable of carrying 30 passengers over a distance of 500 miles...." Continue Here.
Second Look: Why Light Sport Aircraft Suffer So Many Crashes -VIDEO - From AVweb - "Light sport airplanes were supposed to be a cheaper alternative to certified aircraft and they are. But in this republication of AVweb’s analysis of the accident record of these airplanes, the data confirms what many skeptics worried about: They suffer more crashes than standard category aircraft. This video explains why." See it HERE.
"We’re putting it in the trees."
On a flight back to his home airport in a single-engine Piper Cherokee 140, pilot Truman O’Brien ran into engine trouble. FAA air traffic controllers at the Portland, Oregon, TRACON were in close communication with the pilot, offering him multiple landing options and working hard to help guide him to safety. But, flying at 8,000 feet, the aircraft lost altitude quickly. Even with top-notch air traffic control services, O’Brien had no choice but to make an emergency landing in the trees, deep in the forest of southwest Washington.
In this episode, we hear from the people on both ends of the transmission – Krissy Lewandowski, Portland TRACON Controller; Patrick Elmore, Portland TRACON Operations Supervisor; and the pilot himself. It’s a story that underscores why clear pilot-controller communication is so critical.
Don’t Fear the Drone!
There’s a false belief that drones will eventually replace traditional pilots with faceless robotic automatons. But drones are not performing the same jobs as traditional pilots. They’re creating entirely new ways to solve practical problems that might otherwise be insolvable or dangerous for people and pilots to perform. Drones are not only having a positive impact on society, they’re also providing a huge boost to the U.S. economy. But just like traditional aviation, this industry must show that it can be safely integrated into the National Airspace System (NAS). To hear the “buzz” on the many benefits that drones provide and to learn how the FAA is working to safely integrate, not segregate, these new entrants to the NAS, read, “Don’t Fear the Drone! Let’s Reap the Benefits that Drones Have to Offer,” at https://medium.com/faa/dont-fear-the-drone-dc9056d5ef3d. You’ll find the entire issue on new entrants to the NAS at www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing.
REPORT: Plane in fatal crash had part installed upside down - "IMPORTANT LESSONS CAN BE LEARNED HERE!!!" -webmaster . "MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — A small private plane that crashed in South Carolina last month, killing the pilot, had a key part installed upside down and backward after maintenance, according to a federal report." Read the Story Here
Webmaster Comment: Besides the obvious observation that notes an extensive preflight is necessary after any maintenance, my experience as a CFII has demonstrated to me that few pilots associate the trim tab settings in the plane, with the correct direction of movement of the tab itself, and do not include that trim tab check in their routine preflight.
THE THREE P'S - ADVICE re Medical Renewal - From AOPA - "...when pilots start flying again, many of them need to renew their medical certificates, and sometimes those pilots aren’t issued medicals at the time of the exam. That results in a 'deferral'..." Read this opinion Here
INTO THE ALLIGATOR’S MOUTH: FINAL CHAPTER- SAFETY OPINION - From AOPA 5/2021 - "Right now, as pro-pilot flying a single engine—it is all on me. I have to make sure I am good to go with health and wellness. Additionally, I have 1-12 passengers on board that are my responsibility. They don’t necessarily understand minimums the way I do. It is my job to make the best decisions I can based on the advanced planning and the reality of the flight conditions. One thing I’m firm on is that I won’t go unless I see minimums or better forecast at the destination airport. To depart I need to see an upward trend in the weather." Read Opinion from Jolie Lucas re; Personal Minimums Here
RUDDER MISAPPLICATION CITED IN FATAL KING AIR CRASH -MNTSB DETERMINES PROBABLE CAUSE OF 2019 PLUNGE INTO HANGAR - ARTICLE - From AOPA - "Investigators found no faults in the left engine of a Beechcraft King Air 350 that stopped producing power just before the aircraft rolled to inverted and crashed into a hangar 17 seconds after takeoff from Addison, Texas, on June 30, 2019. The crash killed both pilots and eight passengers on a private flight to Florida." Read the Accident Summary Here.
What To Do About UFOs? Change The Name - ARTICLE - From AVweb - "In my (sometimes) fevered imagination, I can conjure tense meetings in a windowless government conference room where well-meaning functionaries and assistant sub-secretaries are arguing about who’s going to do it." “Well, I’m not doing it. You do it.” “I’m not doing it. You have to do it.” “No way. Someone else has to do it.” The “it” in this case will be done by the poor bastard who has to push the send button next month on the report detailing what the government knows about UFOs." Continue Here.
Knee Jerking Against The New - From AVweb - "Douglas Adams, the noted author of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” was a prolific writer whose creative work encompassed essays, books, screenplays and television. I can’t say I’m a devoted fan, but I think I read Hitchhiker some years ago. After his death in 2001, an unfinished novel called the “Salmon of Doubt” was published by his estate. I saw a quote from it recently in an essay attempting to explain our sometimes knee-jerk response to the remorseless march of progress." Continue Here.
'SPECTACULAR' FLIGHT ACROSS NORTH POLE - From AOPA - EICHHORN LOGS NEARLY 20 HOURS NONSTOP DURING BEECHCRAFT BONANZA V35 FLIGHT - Beechcraft Bonanza V35 pilot Adrian Eichhorn deflected personal kudos to favorable weather and his support team after completing an “absolutely spectacular” 3,239-nautical-mile flight from Reykjavik, Iceland, across the North Pole to Fairbanks, Alaska, May 11. Read the Article Here.
The New IFR: Train For How You’ll Fly - SAFETY OPINION - From AVweb - "However, for the pilot seeking to get an instrument rating, trying to figure out whether to learn behind an aging six-pack or in a partial glass or full glass cockpit can be paralyzing." Read this in depth article Here.
INTO THE ALLIGATOR’S MOUTH: INSTALLMENT 3 - SAFETY OPINION - From AOPA 4/2021 - "Planning for a 4.5-hour trip over some beautiful but inhospitable terrain is a challenge. With no de-icing or anti-icing systems on my vintage Mooney, weather can be a friend or foe. For this trip 30-35 knot headwinds were forecast at my “normal” altitude of 10,500-12,500. Typically, I leave my fuel stop in Northern California and climb right up to cruising altitude. Due to the forecast winds I decided to fly low until reaching Redding, CA, then up and over the terrain." Read The Rest Here.
New study: Pilots downplay the impact of stress on flight safety - SAFETY OPINION - From General Aviation News - "New research from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland has found that general aviation pilots do not consider stress to be as great a risk to flight safety as other factors, such as weather. - This is contrary to guidance from flight safety bodies that state stress can compromise performance, according to the researchers.
A team of researchers from the Applied Psychology and Human Factors (APHF) group at the university, led by Dr. Amy Irwin along with PhD researchers Nejc Sedlar and Oliver Hamlet, set out to examine the risk perception of GA pilots and how this impacts decision-making in relation to takeoff — specifically in deciding whether it is suitable, and safe, to takeoff or not. Read More Here.
AINsight: Runway Excursions and Crosswind Landings - Safety - From AINonline - "Runway excursions have become one of the most common types of aircraft accidents worldwide. Most of them occur during landing with lateral excursions and are becoming a growing concern. -Typically, poor pilot technique or aircraft handling errors combined with environmental factors such as weather contribute to these events. Crosswinds in particular have proven to be a challenge. While these events are rarely deadly, lateral runway excursions, or veer-offs, often result in a hull loss.
INTO THE ALLIGATOR’S MOUTH: INSTALLMENT 2 - SAFETY OPINION - From AOPA 3/2021 - "Last month we began our journey into the mindset needed for the functional implementation of personal minimums. As I pondered minimums in a pandemic, I reached into my address book of pilot friends, to ask questions about minimums, guidelines, self-restrictions and the like.
I spoke to range of folks from pretty newly minted private pilots, to those working on an instrument rating, commercial, CFI and DPE. I talked with female and male pilots with hours ranging from low hundreds to 25,000." Continue Here
Aviation Columnist has Pilot Certificates revoked. - Webmaster Opinion - All over the aviation news sources during the last few days (April '21) is the story of how an elder aviator / writer known to be a relative influence on readers over the years took an opportunity to fly carelessly, and was videoed by security cameras. So, why do I mention it? A couple of years ago that same writer wrote a blistering story critical of the FAA WINGS recurrent training program. I kept that magazine issue. It resides undignified on a shelf somewhere.
You have a great site, something that as a webmaster myself I appreciate. Here is the “but…”
The Pacoima Champlin article though written with no doubt good intentions, just is not real good.
Using the reference to Whiteman Airport maybe as an easy reference to bolster an argument for pollution maybe works as an eye catcher for the less informed, but it doesn’t do anything for the real community benefit that KWHP provides, and/or the recipients of that benefit, and in fact might further negative community benefit.
I am hoping that Caroline Champlin continues to write; but that she can more carefully think through the arguments she presents that may cause others to be influenced by. There is little excuse for just a little research.
Continued success to LAist.
Sent with the best of regards,
Ron Berinstein cfii - Member S.A.F.E., NAFI, SCAUWG - Director SCAUWG.ORG website -www.scauwg.org"
Bill Berle (Aviation enthusiast and local EAA chapter 40 member) also replied.
I'm compelled to address one of the air quality issues that is inferred in the article, Whiteman Airport (KWHP). I also found the following statements in your section on ethics:
"We build trust. Our journalism is independent, non-partisan, fact-based and rigorous. We build trust by delivering news and information that is of the highest quality and done with the highest standards. We believe in verification and on obligation to the truth."
"Our editorial ethics and guidelines are currently under revision to better reflect issues of race and gender as they apply to our news coverage."
So I have a question or two, an opinion that might differ from a narrative and/or agenda some may hold dear, and a challenge for you, from one working writer to another...
(Full Disclosure - I am a pilot and aircraft owner at Whiteman Airport, a 59 year old white man, center-right politics, and strongly pro-airport)
Questions: If your journalism is non-partisan, fact based, and is obliged to the truth, why does the truth need to be "revised" to reflect anything involving of race and gender? The laws of physics don't get revised because of a political climate, the laws of nature don't get revised because of a political climate. What facts and truths are changed by anything involving race and gender?
Opinions: The air quality in Pacoima is affected 100X more than anything else by a million cars and thousands of smoke-belching18 wheel DIESEL cargo trucks that are on the freeways, and working around the HUGE number of small and medium sized businesses in the northeast valley region.
The diesel turbine Metrolink trains and freight trains are a VERY efficient means of transportation overall, but they do put tons and tons of pollutants into the air in the northeast valley. All of the airplanes at Whiteman Airport over the 75 years of its existence amount to a tiny fraction of the pollutants from other sources. Focusing attention on the airplanes as high-priority polluters is misleading.
The misguided activist group called Pacoima Beautiful is making a lot of noise toward shutting down the Whiteman airport. If your news outlet is in fact non-partisan and not supporting anyone's political agenda, please have the integrity to honestly consider that the airport is a FAR greater asset to the northeast valley than the Pacoima Beautiful group, and any park or strip malls they want to put in that location.
Pacoima Beautiful does not and has not created any educational or career opportunities, has not created one job, and has not contributed one dollar to the local economy. Please read that again. Whiteman Airport HAS put tens of millions into the local economy, has created or directly supported hundreds of ABOVE-MINIMUM-WAGE jobs, and has directly provided SIX THOUSAND educational and career-oriented youth outreach experiences for local kids in the northeast valley.
And make NO mistake, these kids were and are of all races, colors, genders, socio-economic, and cultural backgrounds.
The youth educational programs at Whiteman Airport provide desperately needed economic empowerment, confidence-building, career pathways, and promote positive life choices. The "under-served youth" served by these educational programs are the ones who are far more drug-resistant and resilient, become interested in higher education, and have gone on to careers in aerospace, aviation, military officers, airline & corporate pilots.
The kids exposed to aviation through these types of programs are kids who stay in school and out of gangs. They're the boys who don't settle for working at a tire shop, and the girls who go to college instead of getting pregnant at 17.
A new program being launched on Saturday will offer yet another huge benefit in job skills, self-confidence, drug and gang resistance, and build career pathways to high-paying jobs in aerospace, electronics, manufacturing, engineering. Youth, teens, kids, and parents will actually learn how to construct a real, flying aircraft. Once completed (and FAA safety-inspected) these same kids will be able to fly in the airplane they built. The hands-on skills they learn are a direct pathway to employability in aerospace manufacturing jobs.
There is nothing Pacoima Beautiful, strip malls, or parks can ever do to come anywhere near this level of economic benefit, quality of life improvement, and RACE / GENDER EQUALITY. The airport has DELIVERED results in these areas.
Who is reporting on that?
There are dozens of parks in the northeast valley. The majority of "jobs" created by these parks are for drug dealers, prostitutes, and gang criminals.
There are hundreds of strip malls in the northeast valley. They do create jobs, but they create minimum wage jobs that keep people of color impoverished and under-employed, with no ambition or economic future. No strip mall ever created a pathway for a person of color to become an airline pilot, astronaut, or an aerospace engineer. Maybe that needs to be looked into by a journalist with integrity and ethics?
The Challenge: Come to Whiteman Airport this Saturday and see local kids of all colors being given free STEM youth education flights, and a future that includes higher achievements. Come to the airport and see a free program being offered to local kids, where they learn to build an airplane, acquire life skills and job skills, and take the first step on a pathway to economic empowerment.
Sometimes "social justice" looks like an airport, and sometimes the ones "keeping people of color down" are activists desperately looking for something to oppose.
Bill Berle
‘CITIZEN OF THE WORLD’S’ STEM EDUCATION MAKEOVER!- ARTICLE - From AOPA - "The goal was to prepare her for a new high visibility mission for the year ahead as a STEM Education platform. The Citizen of the World will be visiting various aviation events across the United States including the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo, EAA AirVenture, the NBAA Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, as well as various museum events... I would like to share what I learned about the difference between a good paint job versus a great paint job with those of you that feel it’s time to spoil your aircraft as well." Read the Story Here.
Air Taxis Likely to Not Deploy in Early to Mid 2020s as Predicted, New Report Says - ARTICLE - From Aviation Today - "PitchBook’s Mobility Analyst, Asad Hussain, writes in the report that the eVTOL industry will have to overcome issues such as battery density, manufacturing competition from high-volume automakers, lack of infrastructure, certification hurdles, and a possible pilot shortage. However, the industry can be successful with the support of non-traditional investors funding research and development of these aircraft." Full Story Here.
Subaru Working On A Flying Motorcycle - ARTICLE - From AVweb - "Drawings show a heavily faired gas engine-powered motorcycle with conventional throttle, clutch and front-brake controls on its handlebars. It also shows a piggyback airframe component with a pair of wings folded back against the side of the fuselage, each with a propeller driven by five electric motors." Full Story
'AN AMAZING JOB YOU HAVE DONE' - CAP MARKS YEAR OF COVID-19 RELIEF OPERATIONS - "Small airplanes have done mighty things in the hands of the Civil Air Patrol in the first 12 months of coronavirus pandemic response. The U.S. Air Force auxiliary marked a full year of moving food and critical supplies on March 24, having transported blood, meals, masks, test kits, test samples, and vaccine doses by the thousands." "Small airplanes have done mighty things in the hands of the Civil Air Patrol in the first 12 months of coronavirus pandemic response. The U.S. Air Force auxiliary marked a full year of moving food and critical supplies on March 24, having transported blood, meals, masks, test kits, test samples, and vaccine doses by the thousands." Continue Reading.
Hold Everything - INSTRUCTIONAL OPINION - From Aviation Safety Magazine - "Holding patterns are aviation's equivalent of hurry up and wait. They can appear complicated, but they all have some basic features in common." Author describes common problems, and offers tips. Read it HERE.
R44 Emergency Autorotation - From Website Contributor Wayne - "A good friend of mine sent me this video of Robinson R44 performing an emergency autorotation. Great outcome even though the Robbie was bent." See the Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYBf3XPwvaU
"Several comments: At the start of the video, the altimeter displays approximately 1,200 ft. MSL, the field elevation. The cell phone is mounted whereas the video viewer cannot see the cluster of warning lights at the top of the instrument panel, and blocks the top portion of the airspeed indicator. All the engine instruments are in the green. The main fuel tank is full and the auxiliary fuel tank is half full (think about the fuel load and the weight of three men and equipment - most likely very near gross weight).
The pilot flies a normal takeoff profile and accelerates to 60 Kts and climbs up to and level's off at 1,300 ft MSL (100 ft AGL) and maintains 60 Kts. The next photo is right when the engine quits.
The pilot immediately dumps the collective, brings back the cyclic to set up for autorotation with the desire to land straight ahead. One can hear he's adjusting the collective to maintain optimum rotor RPM by the on and off buzzing from the Low Rotor RPM alarm. - During the decent, he notices a set of wires ahead and decided to turn 90 degrees to the left to avoid a wire strike. The turn bleeds off forward airspeed. The pilots notices this and made a mistake by lowering the nose. During autorotation, one does not want to lower the nose because that will "unload" the rotor and cause rotor RPM to decay. In the video we hear the Low Rotor RPM alarm now buzzing constantly because of this action.
The aircraft is too low to regain lost rotor RPM even though he's aggressively flaring trying to "load" the rotor. The aircraft is now within the avoid operational zone of the Height Velocity Curve.
During the flare, he hits the tail cone/tail rotor and it separates from the aircraft. The resulting high decent spreads the landing skids. This last photo back on the ground, the altimeter displays 1,200 ft MSL
Never-the-less, all in the aircraft were uninjured and it was a very successful emergency. - A good day!
Further Comment: I have an update on the R44 Emergency Autorotation video I sent. - In the video, I did look at the position of magneto key switch. Because the image was not very clear, I searched the internet for a good photo of a R44 instrument panel to compare.
In the video, I couldn't see the printing for OFF, R,& L, and when comparing to the above photo, I reasoned that over time, perhaps those labels have been rubbed off by normal wear and tear and in my mind left it at that.
What I have since learned is that Robinson Helicopters has used more than one manufacture of magneto key switch in the R44, and there's a variance of positions.
.So, referring back to the original before take off photo that I posted from the start of the video, one can clearly see the mag switch is in the OFF position while the engine is operating. How can this be?
For those non-aviators who may not know, by default magnetos on an aircraft engine are always HOT, meaning always able to produce a spark to the spark plugs when the engine is turning. The job of the magneto switch is to either allow the magnetos to produce the spark or not allow to produce the spark by grounding the P-lead on the magneto.
Ah-HA! The magneto key switch was faulty! Perhaps, but not necessarily in this instance. Mostly likely, the ground lead to the engine was at fault. An intermittent no contact of the ground wire could allow the engine to operate and through vibration then made contact during flight, grounding both magnetos at once and thus shutting down the engine.
Did the pilot perform a MAG CHECK on the check list? We didn't see that performed on the video. With the engine being able to operate in the OFF position it is safe to reason that a MAG CHECK was not performed, because during the MAG CHECK, the pilot would have found that the magneto key switch was not operating properly.
Slips: Forward Or Side, What’s The Difference And Why Care? - INSTRUCTIONAL OPINION - From AVweb - "This article’s title would’ve been killer material in the third grade, and since pilots never grow up, let’s consider what is barely whispered in polite aviation society: Slips. Forward or side, the terms are casually interchanged while illustrating uncoordinated maneuvers with ambiguous hand gestures that compound uncertainty. So, after decades of teaching them, I’m determined to attempt to learn the difference." Continue HERE
AIRPORT ADVOCATES PUSH BACK ON RUNWAY-SHORTENING PLAN - ARTICLE - From AOPA - "Organized opposition to shortening the runway at Glenwood Springs Municipal Airport in Colorado helped persuade city councilors to walk back that idea. (Photo courtesy of Lamp Post Camera Works.)" Read more
HITTING THE GLOBAL RESET – BACK TO FUNDAMENTALS - ARTICLE - From AOPA - Commentary from ROBERT DELAURENTIS - "When I was flying over the North Pole my critical flight systems started failing. First, my two GPS systems dropped offline, next my attitude heading and reference systems, next my autopilot, and finally HF and VHF communications. It literally felt like the world — my world — was falling apart. What could I rely on?" Finish His Commentary Here.
Accident Probe: Mountain Obscuration - SAFETY ARTICLE - From AVweb - "These pages regularly urge new private pilots to go on to earn their instrument rating. Especially if you ever want to use a personal airplane for regular, reliable transportation, the rating is pretty much mandatory. If you’re content to only fly on good-weather days in search of expensive hamburgers and to abandon the peace-of-mind the rating confers, you also have to accept that not having it leaves you with fewer options, even when it’s clear and a million." Read the Story Here.
Still no answer on unleaded avgas 30 years on - ARTICLE - From General Aviation News
"A new study from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on getting the lead out of general aviation fuel gave me a sense of deja vu. Sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, the study found that getting rid of lead in avgas was going to be difficult and maybe we should push an unleaded 94 octane fuel along with the 100LL now on the market.
INTO THE ALLIGATOR’S MOUTH: INSTALLMENT 1 - SAFETY OPINION - From Jolie Lucas - AOPA 2/2021- "For the next few months this series will center on the psychology of personal minimums. Like most relationships, we will focus why we create them, why we commit them to paper [or not], when we fudge on them, what we learn from them, and what we hope never to again experience." "In regard to minimums a DPE pondered, “How far do I put my head in an alligator’s mouth before I can’t get it out?” Read the first installment of the series Here.
A Note from SCAUWG Member R.E. - Many of you will have seen this … and many will not. Further, few of you are at present flying Internationally. HOWEVER … it’s important to remember that FAA rules and guidelines sometimes remain in effect long after their relevance is needed. As the threat of COVID-19 diminishes, cross-border flight may become possible again – and you’ll want to double-check to see if this NOTAM FDC 123431 is still in effect. The rule has been fairly well publicized as applicable to airline flights – BUT as noted below, it also applies to general aviation flights … even the leisure or personal flights that we in general aviation might undertake!
Here is the NOTAM:COVID-19 Pandemic NOTAM Highlighting 12 Jan CDC Order for all Passengers Entering the U.S.
Notice Number: NOTC1682
The FAA Safety Team would like to draw your attention to NOTAM FDC 1/2431. It can be accessed on the Defense Internet NOTAM Service Defense Internet NOTAM Service (faa.gov) To locate the NOTAM please find and select the "FDC Notices" button and then keyword sort for the term 2431.
FDC 1/2431 (KFDC A0014/21) FDC Special Notice of Public Health Requirement for All Air Passengers Entering the United States (U.S.) and its Territories.
All air carriers and other aircraft operators departing a foreign country intending to land in the U.S. or a U.S. Territory are advised the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order, effective 26 Jan 2021, prohibiting the embarkation of any air passenger on a flight to the U.S. from a foreign country unless the passenger, in accordance with the specific terms of the CDC order, presents documentation of:
1) A negative result for a pre-departure test for SARS-COV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) taken no more than 3 days in advance of departure; or
2) Recovery from COVID-19 within the previous 3 months or as specified in CDC guidance.
Effective immediately, all affected operators are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with this CDC order, which provides important details, including info on: applicability; exemptions; criteria of a qualifying test; requirements for documentation of recovery, including a positive test result for SARS COV-2 and confirmation from a licensed health care provider or health official that the individual is cleared to travel; passenger attestations; and compliance implementation, including requirements levied directly on operators. This CDC order and a link to FAQs may be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/fr-proof-negative-test.html
Non-urgent questions regarding the CDC order may be directed to eocgmftcommsme@cdc.gov Operators should also refer to FAA SAFO 20009, as discussed in the CDC order. - Urgent questions may be referred to the FAA Washington Operations Center at (202) 267-3333. - The FAA is issuing this NOTAM in support of extraordinary public health measures in the face of a global pandemic.
Author, Vietnam veteran reflects on time as helicopter pilot in war - From Forsyth County News - "Freeland served one tour in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division as an Infantry Officer and CH-47 helicopter pilot. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star and other military service medals. Throughout his time in Vietnam, Freeland wrote letters home, had tapes and a diary that he used to document his thoughts and experiences, which helped him pull together a story with powerful emotions that readers could understand." Read a Review Here.
Bolen: Innovation Will Drive Industry Forward, Even in Pandemic Moment - From NBAA - "NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen recently met with three regional groups to discuss the state of business aviation today and share his optimism for the industry’s future. In virtual events, Bolen met with the Chicago Business Aviation Association (CBAA), the Colorado Aviation Business Association (CABA) and the newly formed Iowa Business Aviation Association (IBAA), presenting themes the industry can build upon in 2021: sustainability, emerging technologies and workforce development, in part through diversity and inclusion." Read More Here.
You Could Hear an Autopilot Announcing its Intention to Land - Notice Number: NOTC1667
Emergency Autoland Overview
Three aircraft have been certified with Emergency Autoland (EAL) systems in 2020: the Piper M600, the Daher TBM 940, and the Cirrus Vision Jet SF50.
EAL systems can perform an emergency landing in the event of suspected pilot incapacitation. When these systems are activated, the autopilot will begin to announce its intentions on air traffic frequencies. Here’s what other pilots in the area should know about EAL systems.
EAL can be activated in three ways:
EAL senses erratic flying, stabilizes the aircraft, and checks for pilot responsiveness; if no input, EAL activates.
Emergency Descent Mode (EDM) activates. After descending, EAL checks for pilot responsiveness; if no input, EAL activates.
EAL can be manually activated by a pilot in distress or a passenger.
EAL will squawk 7700 and broadcast a Mayday advisory on the aircraft’s last pilot-selected frequency and on Guard (121.5) as follows:
“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, November One Two Three Four (N1234), Emergency Autoland activated, standby for more information.”
After the initial broadcast, there will be a 25-second pause for Air Traffic Control (ATC) to move conflicting traffic. Twenty-five seconds after activation, EAL broadcasts the following:
“N1234, pilot incapacitation, XX miles southwest of KABC, landing KXYZ airport. Emergency Autoland in XX minutes on Runway 00.”
The aircraft then begins maneuvering to the selected landing airport.
Subsequent broadcasts will be on Guard. After initial activation, it will immediately broadcast on Guard if EAL changes destination due to weather or other factors. As necessary, the aircraft descends in the hold at the final approach fix for landing at the emergency airport.
EAL will broadcast on the appropriate ATC frequency or Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) within 12 miles of the landing airport. Subsequent broadcasts at intervals repeat information and update time to landing. After landing, EAL broadcasts at 90-second intervals on Tower/CTAF and 5 minutes on Guard as follows:
“Disabled aircraft on Runway 00 at KXYZ airport.”
Once activated, the EAL system will make verbal announcements to passengers in the cockpit on upcoming maneuvers, and indicate the route of flight and ensuing maneuvers via a video map display. A push-to-talk button is available for passenger communications to ATC.
EAL will avoid: prohibited areas; known obstacles and terrain; and significant You CC Areas, or Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR).
Turn on aircraft lights (lights that are already on when EAL activates will stay on).
See and avoid other traffic.
Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) is not linked to EAL.
EAL Operational Considerations:
Only selects airports with a published Global Positioning System (GPS) or Area Navigation (RNAV) Approach
May cross international boundaries
Does not exit the runway
May land opposite direction to current traffic
Does not receive braking action reports
Does not know about personnel and equipment on the runways
Will not alter route of flight per ATC instructions
Must have a terrain database loaded (may be out of date)
The EAL system selects a suitable landing airfield based on several factors: weather, wind, runway length, and towered/non-towered airport status. EAL selects towered airports over non-towered airports where possible, and uses runway requirements that depend on the aircraft type. If the system loses the GPS signal, the airplane continues straight flight without attempting to land until GPS coverage resumes.
CDC Updates Guidance for Transporting Individuals with COVID‑19, or Virus Exposure - From NBAA - "The CDC recently published updated guidance on transporting individuals who have COVID-19, or have been exposed to the virus.
The guidance states individuals with COVID-19, or exposed persons who meet the definition of a close contact, are prohibited from traveling on scheduled passenger airline flights. “Close contact” is defined as, “Someone who was within six feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period* starting from two days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, two days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.” See the Guidance and the story Here.
INVENTION AUTOMATES WEIGHT-AND-BALANCE CALCULATION - 'A SANITY CHECK' - From AOPA - "Imagine seeing weight and balance depicted graphically, automatically, in real time, based on actual weight. Aviation writer and inventor Tim Kern has a patent pending." Continue Reading Here.
Pattern Rage? Why Bother? - Opinion - Video - Paul Bertorelli, AVweb - "In the long sputtering arc of my life, I’ve never gotten around to suffering from road rage. Which is kind of surprising, given how much stuff gets up my nose on an average day before breakfast. I just don’t get annoyed at drivers who cut me off, drive at the speed of snail trails or fail to use signals. Similarly, I don’t snipe at people for flying traffic patterns like the morons many of them are nor do I respond if they snipe at me when I do something imbecilic. The best revenge is silence. That also allows deep contemplation with a like-minded simpleton."So in this week’s video, I amused myself by regurgitating every traffic pattern sin I could think of. Continue Reading Here.
St. Barts Photo: AVweb
Twin Otter Knocked Camera From Photographer’s Hands - France’s civil aviation investigations organization, the BEA, issued a report (French only) last Thursday saying a Twin Otter was a little low when it knocked the camera out of the hands of a photographer while landing at the Saint Barthélemy (St. Barts) Airport in January of 2014. St. Barts is a French island in the Caribbean. The photographer was knocked off balance but not injured. The BEA didn’t explain why it took seven years to finish the report. Continue Reading Here
Record Year for FAA Commercial Space Activity - PR NEWS - WASHINGTON — A record number of launches, new streamlined launch and reentry licensing regulations, and a historic licensed crewed mission are some of the noteworthy commercial space transportation achievements of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2020. The FAA will build on these accomplishments in the coming year.
“This record-setting year in launches, and the new streamlined launch and reentry licensing regulations, bode well for continued rapid growth of America’s commercial space sector,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
In 2020, the FAA licensed 41 commercial space operations (launches and reentries), the most in the agency’s history. Those operations included a record 39 FAA-licensed launches, including the first-ever NASA crewed mission to be licensed by the FAA. For 2021, the FAA is forecasting the number of licensed operations could reach 50 or more.
“The FAA is well positioned to keep pace with the dramatic increase in commercial space operations and support the innovation driven by the aerospace industry while keeping public safety a top priority,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson.
Contributing to this year’s accomplishments are the benefits of a recent reorganization of the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation. The changes increased the efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of the office, allowing it to dynamically scale its processes to meet the burgeoning private sector licensing demand.
The organizational changes will help the FAA implement a new rule that modernizes how the agency regulates and licenses commercial space launch and reentry operations. The rule consolidates multiple regulatory parts to create a single licensing regime for all types of launch and reentry operations, replaces prescriptive requirements with performance-based criteria, and allows the aerospace industry to continue to innovate and grow.
In 2021, the FAA will continue to provide policies and guidance to support the streamlined licensing rule by publishing advisory circulars that will identify possible means of compliance. Working with the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Council (COMSTAC), the FAA also will prioritize its other regulations for updates and streamlining. Additionally, the agency anticipates the private sector will make notable progress toward commercially viable space tourism.
In the coming year, the FAA also will continue to test new technologies to further enable the safe and efficient integration of space-vehicle operations with other types of air traffic in the National Airspace System. Additionally, the FAA will establish an interagency working group to develop a recommended National Spaceport Strategy to advance a robust, innovative national system of spaceports. It will also support the directives and other tasks of America’s National Space Policy (PDF).
An FAA license is required to conduct any commercial space launch or reentry, the operation of any launch or reentry site by U.S. citizens anywhere in the world, or by any individual or entity within the United States. Once the FAA issues a license or permit, the agency works with operators to make sure they are meeting the requirements to conduct launches and reentries. This includes having FAA safety inspectors monitor licensed activities.
UPDATE 12/14/2020 Whiteman Airport (Los Angeles) - LA City Council seems to be possibly inappropriately assesing the community value of KWHP and has stated that the airport should be closed. The airport is not under the LA City juristriction. KWHP is owned and operated by LA COUNTY. There appears to be a feud brewing between the two spearheaded by 7th district councilwoman Monica Rodriquez. Same is not an admirable circumstance. AOPA has commented on Twitter as follows:
"We are aware of comments made by the LA City council. We are confident that LA County Airports Aviation Division and Aviation Commission, who have sole authority and jurisdiction over KWHP, will continue to operate the airport."
More on KWHP: A resolution calling for the eventual closure of Whiteman Airport was unanimously supported Wednesday by the Los Angeles City Council. Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez called the 182-acre general aviation airport a blight on the Pacoima neighborhood, where it was founded as Whitman Air Park in 1946 and eventually purchased by Los Angeles County in 1970. Continue Reading More About This by Clicking HERE. We at SCAUWG.ORG believe that if you are in favor of aviation at KWHP, and if you recognize that KWHP IS A COMMUNITY ASSET, Monica Rodriquez should not be re-elected. Waging such PR Campaigns that seem to bring attention to the councilwoman. but have no basis in reality, should not be rewarded with public office. - (WEBMASTER OPINION)
Industry Letters Show Ongoing Concern with Pilot Records Database Proposal - Political Advocacy - From NBAA - "Industry representatives continue to express wide-reaching concerns over the FAA’s proposed electronic Pilot Records Database (PRD) through letters to Congress and the agency.
Phil Roberts, president of PAR Travel Tech, Inc., along with Robert Tamble, city manager of Smithville, TX and the South Dakota Pilots Association, separately wrote the FAA, expressing their concerns with the PRD requirements. The letters were also sent to the chairmen and ranking members of the U.S. House of Representative Transportation Committee and Aviation Subcommittee and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and Aviation and Space Subcommittee." Continue Reading More.
Regarding Councilwoman vs. KWHP:
NEW:Current RESPONSEs motivated by Councilmember's action and this opinion email is published below.
Close WHITEMAN Airport Effort - An Exercise in Silly and Stupid - OPINION - From Ron Berinstein CFII - Letter to Monica Rodriguez, Los Angeles City Councilwoman, 7th District - sent to her 11/21/2020 via email on her website.
Hello,
My name is Ron Berinstein. I am the director and webmaster of SCAUWG.ORG, an independent website produced on behalf of the SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AIRSPACE USERS WORKING GROUP originally organized under the aegis of SCAG – Southern California Association of Governments, as a primary response for solving airspace concerns arising from the 1986 Cerritos air disaster.
Someone tried to use WHP as a way to save their life, and because of their allegedly bad aeronautical decision making (ADM), attempted a landing at WHP, and landed on a street nearby.
Had that pilot not been on a flight originating from Bakersfield, but rather from say Santa Barbara intending Catalina as a destination, and experiencing a mechanical failure in flight chose to try a glide to LAX, but landed on a street nearby, would you suggest closing LAX?
The fact is: Airports Save people from landing in streets. Not all pilots make poor decisions. That pilot might well have made a better decision and landed at Aqua Dolce… I personally do not know all of the pertinent accident facts. What I do know is that I support woman in business and politics. I support minorities. I also support SMART DECISION MAKING.
Glendale College’s Aviation program is at WHP, besides the obvious LA COUNTY FIRE Dept. and CAP, private business and hundreds of pilots make WHP their home base.
Perhaps a future headline could read: HOMES DESTROYED BY FIRE because LA COUNTY HELICOPTERS WERE DELAYED by RELOCATED DISTANCE caused by Monica Rodriquez.
I strongly advise you to rethink your effort to close what is truly a benefit to the community, and because of your position what will no doubt bring you the wrath of many, including several national organizations, besides the local advocates for aviation safety and community enhancement such as my endeavor visited by thousands monthly..
With the best of regards,
Ron Berinstein CFII - Member of SAFE NAFI AOPA SCAUWG - Director SCAUWG.ORG website - www.scauwg.org
I thank Bryan Hudson CFII for bringing this to my attention.
11/23/2020 Response from the Councilmember to my e-mail published above:
Thank you for your email. I understand your frustration and will look at all possible options for the betterment of the people in the district I represent.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, 7th District , 200 N Spring Street, Rm 455, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Phone: 213-473-7007 Fax: 213-847-0707 - www.monicarodriguez.org
11/23/2020 RE: response to Councilmember's timely response:
Dear Councilmember,
Here is a fact: If an airplane has a substantive mechanical failure, it will land.
It can either land at an airport or elsewhere.
What is your preference?
Mine has been to offer complimentary pilot seminars under the aegis of the FAA Safety Team WINGS program at airports all over the LA Basin. I have co-produced during the past years over 100 safety seminars annually, speaking at over half of those. These seminars were (prior to in-person restrictions) attended by every level of certificated pilots. I emphasize proper decision making and recurrent training programs.
Unless you would advocate doing away with roads because society has traffic accidents, advocating for eliminating airports is hypocritical.
And that argument does not address the public services that a local airport provides... e.g. search and rescue, fire suppression, a pathway for emergency response (medical and otherwise) private business, pilot eductaion and recreational support.
I will publish your response on our SHORT TAKES Commentary Page.
I urge you to not succumb to those profiteers who have alternate plans that involve self-interests and NOT those of the community.
Full Disclosure: though I am a flight instructor, my primary income is derived from non-aviation sources, almost no income, and no net income whatsoever is from aviation.
I am hoping THAT YOU will be a part of the solution and not the problem.
Global Leaders Fear Toll of Economic Duress on Aviation Safety - ARTICLE - From AINonline - "As the Covid-19 pandemic takes an economic toll on the airline industry, global leaders are wary about how financial stressors could erode safety. When airlines look at organizational changes, they must consider unintended consequences of those decisions, said Mark Searle, global director of safety for the International Air Transport Association (IATA), during the recent Flight Safety Foundation International Air Safety Summit." Continue reading Here.
Multigrade vs. single grade oil: Which is better for your engine? - ARTICLE / OPINION - From Genral Aviation News - "In the fall, farmers think of harvest, young boys think of football, and pilots’ minds turn to whether to use single grade or multi-grade oil in their airplanes for the winter. So which one is better for your engine? If we look at the benefits of a multigrade oil, most of the pluses are in cool or cold weather. Multigrade oils flow better during a cold start, so the engine cranks faster, which is easier on the battery and starter. Another plus: Multigrade oil gives you a better chance of starting, especially if pre-heat is not available. Read this author's opinion Here.
Is It Safe To Go Outside Yet? - ARTICLE - From AVweb - "As staggering as that was, it got worse. On April 14, 87,534 passengers checked in—96 percent lower than the previous year’s volume. If anyone predicted this, I haven’t seen the verified quote. What’s almost as surprising is how little the passenger traffic has recovered. The chart at left shows the directionality. Best case, only a little over a third of the business volume has resumed. And if you extrapolate that line out to meet a like line drawn through the previous year’s traffic, it intersects in two years, if it intersects at all. Delta recently warned investors it would be at least two years to recover lost business, but that might be optimistic." Read the Paul Bertorelli story Here.
Wild owl rides shotgun as helicopter pilot fights Creek Fire in Sierra National Forest - ARTICLE - From KTLA - "I wonder if the Owl wanted to see up close how we humans fly. Professional courtesy. - Interestingly, the UH-1 was being flown as a single pilot from "the left seat" and not from the normal "right seat. The right seat is the seat back the Owl is sitting on. With that glare, maybe the Owl is declaring he's the pilot since the seat is empty. LOL" -Wayne "It’s odd to have an owl enter an aircraft. It’s unheard of to have it enter while the helo is in-flight,” Sky Aviation said." To read the story and see a picture of the owl, Click Here.- Webmaster Note: Nice to see this, thanks for sending it Wayne!
Maintenance error leads to loss of control - ARTICLE - From General Aviation News - "The commercial pilot was practicing approaches and touch-and-go landings in the Piper PA28 at the airport in Simsbury, Connecticut. - The pilot reported that, during taxi for takeoff, the wheel brakes were “sluggish.” When he was attempting a full-stop landing at the destination airport, the brakes “failed.” Webmaster Note: From experiece, if something is wrong, it probably won't fix it yourself, and the RIGHT decision is not to try and prove yourself involunerable, it's NOT to take off. Read this pilot's story HERE.
NBAA, Others: FAA Should Reconsider Unmanned Hypersonic Drone Tests Over Denver - ARTICLE - OPINION - From NBAA - "Citing threats to aviation safety, NBAA and other aviation stakeholders this week urged the FAA to reconsider an agreement with New Frontier Aerospace to test unmanned hypersonic drone rockets at the Colorado Air and Space Port (CASP). - The former Front Range Airport is within 6 miles of Denver International Airport (DEN), and industry leaders believe these tests “will create unnecessary safety hazards and airspace conflicts in proximity to a commercial airport that is critical to the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS).” - Read the entire position here.
Fight breaks out on plane after passenger refuses to wear face mask - ARTICLE & VIDEO - NBC NEWS - "Rylie Lansford captured the ensuing argument between the two men on camera while waiting for the flight's departure Saturday at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Salt Lake City NBC affiliate KSL reported. Lansford was seated near the passengers, but when someone threw the first punch, she said she immediately retreated and started recording the incident." You can see the video here.
It’s Time To Sunset The ELT Requirement - OPINION - From AVweb - "In the midst of plowing through almost 300 accident reports for my research on ELTs, I took a break to actually look at a couple of installations in real airplanes. One word came to mind: ridiculous." Continue Reading Here.
The LA Speed Story - VIDEO - "One Day it was really cool being an SR-71 Pilot" - A nice way to spend a few minutes, compliments of website friend Wayne. Watch it Here.
19-Year-Old Helicopter Pilot joins the Fight Against Wildfires in California - Video - From CBS News
Young Pilot gets to do serious flying as a co-pilot of a Chinook helicopter with her father. Sent to us by website friend Wayne, who often sends great aviation content. See the story Here.
AOPA RECONVENES MEDICAL-EXPERT PANEL TO PRESS FAA REFORMS - From AOPA
The AOPA Board of Aviation Medical Advisors is a six-member body that is developing solutions to help the FAA reduce delays, eliminate outdated review processes, bring technology online, and eliminate redundant steps often required in medical evaluations.
“We have assembled a distinguished board of aviation medicine professionals and aviators who fully understand that the FAA’s medical certification processes need serious attention,” said AOPA President Mark Baker. “They will advise us in the development of long-overdue commonsense solutions to benefit the pilot community and the FAA.” Read about the AOPA strategy Here.
Air Force Eying Supersonic Air Force One - From Avweb - Article
The Air Force is toying with the idea of giving the president a supersonic ride to his or her international appointments. According to military.com the Air Force’s Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate has awarded a $1 million small business innovation research contract to aerospace start-up Exosonic to nail down the basics of a low-boom supersonic aircraft that could serve as Air Force One. The aircraft would be a derivative of Exosonic’s 70-seat Mach 1.8 airliner that the company is hoping to roll out in 2025. Read More Here.
"Blocked ILS Signals Prompt Whistleblower Complaint" - ARTICLE & VIDEO - From AVweb
"The FAA is apparently resisting moving a localizer at Detroit Metro Airport whose signals are sometimes blocked by taxiing aircraft. According to WXYZ, an air traffic controller at the airport filed a whistleblower complaint after he and fellow controllers, as well as pilots who suddenly lost the signal on final, were ignored by the agency." What is "acceptable risk? Is sometimes losing a final approach signal acceptable? WHAT IS YOUR OPINION? SEND IT TO CONTACT US@SCAUWG.ORG - Read About This Case Here.
Guest Blog: New Jersey Needs The Maryland 3 Airspace Rules - Aviation Opinion by Steven Parker in AVweb
"As we in central New Jersey endure a fourth year of summer Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) covering the area surrounding the Trump Bedminster Golf Course, I have to reflect on the fight those of us in general aviation have waged to bring a sensible solution to a situation that has damaged the aviation community in our area.
When President Trump was elected, it became obvious he would spend significant amounts of time at Mar-a-Lago in Florida and his Bedminster, New Jersey, Golf Club. Mid-Atlantic Aviation Coalition (MAAC) and the New Jersey Aviation Association (NJAA) promoted the idea of using the existing rules governing the three Maryland airports near Washington, D.C., shut down initially after 9/11 (aka the “Maryland 3 Rules”). The FAA provided a program to screen pilots who wish to fly to/from these airports and provide them a code to allow regular entry. This program has been successful for nearly 20 years and the background check process has promoted aviation and ensured security around our nation’s capital." Continue Reading Here.
From Learjet To Cessna 150 In The Same Day - Story by John Mahany in Air Facts Journal
"My concern: I was planning to fly myself back to Long Beach in my Cessna 150 if we weren’t too late getting back to Sacramento. Otherwise, I would spend the night somewhere. I was not going to push it! It’s two, two-hour legs for me with a fuel stop. About four hours and four hundred miles total. Hopefully the weather would hold and Long Beach (LGB) would not go IFR with the marine layer before I arrived. I was keeping my fingers crossed." Webmaster Note: John has had a long career in Avaition streching from Alaska to an Instructor's spot at Flight Safety Long Beach. He is a founding member of S.A.F.E. and is very active to this day at SoCal Pilots Association. You can read his article Here.
Safety Shouldn’t Be Negotiable - Opinion from Russ Niles and AVweb
"...there are some jobs in which doing a good job is the only option. The roles performed are so fundamental to public safety or security that to do anything else amounts to negligence and might even be criminal." - "In the wake of the revelations from the investigation into the certification process of the Boeing 737 MAX, the FAA was ordered to carry out a survey of safety division staff to see how they felt about the way things were going out in the field."
"When the bosses start moving the goalposts and overtly suggesting that ways be found to make those rules less onerous on the companies— and maybe not all companies—they are essentially co-opting the inspectors into a fragmented process where safety is assigned a monetary value. That’s bad enough in itself because it makes safety a commodity that is open to negotiation." Read More about this very important subject Here.
Ag Pilots - From Aviation Safety Magazine - "Flying low and heavy, dodging obstacles."
"The old stereotype of crop dusters—excuse me, aerial applicators—is that they are scofflaw daredevils, perhaps with behavior issues. That caricature is a relic of the past, when an enterprising farmer would buy a $300 war-surplus Stearman, put a hopper in the front cockpit and fly the plane hard until it broke.
It follows that some might think ag pilots are an unlikely source of safety wisdom, and have fallen far behind aviation’s cutting-edge technology, but the truth is quite different.
With the conversion from piston to turbine engines nearly complete—today, more than 90 percent of the fleet is turbine-powered—the modern ag aviation industry is dominated by $1 million-$3 million aircraft equipped with sophisticated GPS systems." Knowlegable Opinion from a former 121 pilot who now during the season flies Ag from Morning until Night. Good Stuff... Read it Here.
Ask Paul: Are Lycoming O-320s available with roller cams? - From General Aviation News
Q: Given Lycoming’s propensity for cam lobe spalling, are O-320s available with roller cams? - More details and the answer from Paul McBride Here.
Proposed sytem would gather data about helicopter noise in the D.C. region - The Washington Post
D.C.-area lawmakers are pushing a measure that would create a centralized system to track complaints about helicopter noise in the region similar to ones used to collect information about airplane ... This is a Washingtom Post story and may be accompanied by a subscription request. Link to it Here.
Ask Paul: Why is our engine running hot in the summer? - From General Avaition News
Q: Our flying club’s airplane, a 1976 Cessna 172 Model M, has a Lycoming O-320 E2D engine that runs hot only during the summer months of June, July, and August near Grand Rapids, Michigan. - More details and Read the possible answer Here.
Preparing to Fly Again after a break due to the Covid-19 Virus?
Here is an opinion expressed by NAFI - National Association of Flight Instructors - about what you might consider. Read it Here.
A Pervasiveness of Disservice - published in General Aviation News
"This morning I got up and out early to keep a doctor’s appointment. The plan was to discuss an MRI my doctor had requested the previous week. I donned my mask before entering the building, where a nurse took my temperature and directed me to the hand sanitizer all patients are required to use upon entry.
I made my co-pay, then waited. I waited some more. As the first patient of the day I assumed I would be whisked in quickly to discuss the findings of the MRI. I was wrong. The bulk of my visit involved waiting. Lots of waiting." - Reflection upon this gentleman's day (Gold Seal CFI) led to a comparison with a recent experience with alleged poor CFI instruction - You can read about the author's experience Here.
WRONG FREQUENCY - Can cause an accident!
"An airline transport pilot in an aerobatic low-wing airplane, an Extra 300, with a passenger on board was landing while an airline transport pilot in a high-wing airplane, a Cessna 172, near maximum weight with two passengers on board, was conducting a short/soft-field takeoff from the non-towered runway on North Fox Island, Michigan, which was surrounded by tall trees." Be careful! Read the rest of the story Here.
NBAA Comments Support FAA’s Supersonic Aircraft Noise Standards -
"In comments submitted this week, the association underscored its support for the development of new noise standards for supersonic aircraft. Washington, DC, July 14, 2020 – In comments submitted this week, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) reiterated its support for guidance outlined in a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to develop new standards for noise certification of supersonic aircraft operating in the United States." Read More Here.
Lack Of Assertiveness
'Unable' is a perfectly acceptable response when ATC is distracting you from flying the airplane. By Jeb Burnside for Aviation Safety Magazine - "Any pilot who’s flown “in the system” much knows air traffic controllers can be intimidating. The very use of the term “controller” implies a level of authority over pilots, which often translates into the mindset that pilots always must comply with a controller’s instructions, or else. That’s true to an extent, but the pilot is always the final authority as to the operation of the aircraft. It says so, right there in FAR 91.3" This is a case study of a relatively well know tragic Cirrus accident that all of us can benefit from. Worth the read. See it Here.
Tips for that first flight after down time
By JAMES B. BLAKLEY of General Aviation News - ARTICLE - Have you been flying lately? If not, and even if you have, this piece may help provide some good advice about getting current and proficient so that being safe stays goal #1. You can view Mr. Blakley's tips Here.
Reference AC 90-66B – Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations
Please give special attention to safe operations at non-towered airports during flight planning, student through advanced pilot training, Practical Tests, WINGS/Flight Reviews, airmen currency checks; whenever a pilot is being trained and/or evaluated by a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), Designated Pilot Examiner ( DPE ), Chief Pilot, Chief Flight Instructor, Check Airman, etc..
With the safety concerns at non-towered airports (the U.S. has approximately 500 airports with control towers compared to about 20,000 non-towered airports) along with temporarily reduced hours of operation for towers across the country, this is especially timely and will serve safety now and later.
Thank You!
Lee Unger
FAASTeam Representative
Scottsdale FSDO
AOPA OPPOSES FAA’S NEW RULE ON PILOT RECORDS
"AOPA raised concerns over the FAA’s proposal of an electronic database intended to replace the longstanding Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA) for air carriers and to verify certification, training, and currency of pilots. AOPA and other aviation organizations believe that the Pilot Records Database (PRD) described in a notice of proposed rulemaking will place an undue burden on many individual pilots." NBAA has also raised significant concern over this matter. You can read about it here.
LAWA PR Email - Another promoting "Starbucks" and the "Clipper Café," - Retail business okay/FAASTeam volunteers, not so much.
It is a shame that the PR department for LAWA Van Nuys created a roadblock for what was the very successful FAASTeam WINGS Aviation Safety Program held for free at the Van Nuys Flyway, and is more concerned with promoting commercial efforts related to the Airtel Hotel such as: "The Airtel Café and Starbucks are ready to serve you! - For more information click here. (Link disabled for this post) - The menu listed below reflects a 30% discount off all original priced items. - Breakfast served from 7am to 11am - Lunch served from 11am to 6pm - Starbucks is available all day - To place an order, please call 818 -xxx-xxxx." Then the entire menu is included. This was sent by VNYPR@lawa.org.
Is advertisement PR? They are in fact different animals! Advertisements are paid for via a charge from the publication. Honest PR is not charged for by the publication.
My point: If LAWA's PRVNY office is going to provide what appears to be advertising for independent ventures, then maybe they could have promoted the FAASTeam WINGS Aviation Safety Programing Events held at the Flyaway, wherein thousands of WINGS credits were awarded over the years that preceded the VNY PR office from effectively closing it down. This via the PR department's refusal to return to the presenter a "hold harmless" agreement signed by that flight instructor, who at the time was unaware of its implications, and per policy, as it was later explained in a department email, currently as a representative of a government agency i.e. FAA WINGS, is not required to currently sign. The refusal to return the old agreement caused the presenter to cease what was the current volunteer effort.
Disclaimer: I own Starbucks stock and would love to see the Airtel Plaza store successful, but not at the expense of the lack of attention given to WINGS programing at te VNY Flyaway that truly brought honor and credibility to the LAWA organization, not to mention the net safety results.
I have received several such advertisements for the Airtel recently from LAWA PR. I am not naïve, I understand why they are being sent. I only ask that LAWA PR become a better citizen-centric department, and correct possible past inappropriate behavior. - authored by Ron Berinstein cfii - authored as an individual, and the personal opinion contained herein may or may not represent any other individual or organization.
An afternoon at Weiser Airpark before it closed. - Letter to the Webmaster
Since the start of the Pandemic, I've been spending some time watching various VLOGs (video logs) on YouTube on various subjects that I enjoy,. Aviation, Travel, and History.
One series of VLOGs is from a young gentleman named Ian who owns a nice Experimental Amateur Built RANS S6S Coyote ll that he purchased and flies around the State of Texas. The aircraft is Sport Pilot Compliant (1320 Lb gross weight) and is powered by a Rotax 100 hp 912 engine. The cabin width is a comfortable 44" wide (four more inches than a C-172) with side-by-side control sticks and dual set of brakes.
Around this country, there's literally thousands of small privately owned airports and airparks that are in danger of closing. Weiser Airpark was one of them. It was located NW of Houston, TX about 11 nautical miles.. The airpark closed in the summer of 2019.
I've visited Weiser back in 1990 when I was in Houston for three weeks on business. I spent one full Sunday afternoon hanging out, having lunch, and managed get an hour of flight time with a local gentleman at his invite in his Stinson Station Wagon.
Sit back and enjoy Ian's good videography and editing skills as he spends an afternoon at Weiser Airpark before it closed.
NBAA Challenges FAA’s Dismissal of Additional Comment Time for New Pilot-Reporting Proposal, Sounds Call to Action
Washington, DC, June 19, 2020 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today called upon the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to rethink its questionable decision to deny requests from NBAA and others in the industry for additional time to comment on new, onerous pilot-reporting requirements.
The FAA’s new data-gathering criteria, outlined in a 200-page Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), introduce sweeping new mandates for certain Part 91 operators and others to submit a raft of additional pilot data to the agency, through the use of an electronic Pilot Records Database (PRD). Although the FAA’s new rule was issued March 30, the agency has elected to disallow additional time for pilots and other affected parties to offer first-hand perspectives on the proposal’s most-troubling elements.
“Make no mistake: this plan raises serious privacy, administrative and other concerns in an era of big-data gathering, sharing and use,” said Brian Koester, NBAA’s director of flight operations and regulations. “Certainly, the proposal has the potential to create efficiencies for air carriers under current data-reporting laws. That said, the rules would not enhance safety for everyone, they propose substantial new regulatory burdens for a large segment of the Part 91 community, and for many NBAA members, the plan could create more problems than it solves.”
Koester noted that the new FAA rules would expand the data-collection requirement provisions outlined in the Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA). That legislation, enacted in 1997, was intended simply to establish requirements for airlines to conduct pilot-background checks – including aviation experience and history, drug and alcohol testing results and driver-registration records – as part of the hiring process.
As a result of congressional updates to PRIA in 2010, the FAA’s newly proposed rule would widely broaden this mandate, in the process layering on a new administrative burden for Part 91 operators, which often count only a handful of employees in their ranks.
The flaws in the FAA’s new mandates are all the more troubling, given the nearly decade-long effort on pilot-reporting requirements, in which NBAA has been a supportive partner to government. In 2011, the FAA chartered a government-industry Aviation Rulemaking Committee to explore reporting criteria, partly in response to the fatal 2009 Colgan Air accident in Buffalo, NY.
Over the ensuing nine years, a concerted effort was undertaken to examine options for increasing the efficacy of the information in the database, while mitigating concerns raised by NBAA and others. Nevertheless, the resulting rule from the FAA looked past many of those concerns, and only 90 days have been provided for stakeholders to comment on the plan, including its exhaustive list of more than 20 additional technical questions for affected stakeholders.
“It is exasperating that the FAA has given industry just 90 days to unpack a complicated plan amassed over nine years, and released as the aviation community fights for its survival during COVID-19,” said Koester. “It would not seem unreasonable to allow another 30 days for discussion, so we are pursuing other means to encourage the FAA to provide for this minimal, reasonable accommodation.
“Further, given the FAA’s request for industry input on over 20 technical questions, it seems this rulemaking process would have benefitted from an Advanced NPRM to allow the FAA to receive preliminary industry feedback, and include those perspectives in a more thorough and polished proposal.”
With that in mind, Koester pointed to a new NBAA resource association members can use to digest the massive proposal and develop their individual responses for the FAA to help ensure industry’s voice is heard.
The NBAA Regulatory Alert provides operating members with an overview of the proposed rule, highlights concerning provisions, and includes instructions for submitting comments to the FAA. Link to NBAA’s Regulatory Alert and make your voice heard.
“The public comment period for the NPRM ends June 29, 2020, so we need everyone to make their voices heard today,” Koester concluded.
NBAA-Supported Workforce Legislation Included in Major Infrastructure Bill
Washington, DC, June 19, 2020 – NBAA today welcomed action last evening by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to advance the Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act, and applauded the inclusion of an amendment promoting diversity and workforce development in business aviation, and all transportation sectors vital to the nation’s economy.
Transportation has been pivotal to America’s safety and security during the COVID-19 pandemic, with business aviation key to the delivery of medical supplies, and a crucial connection for thousands of communities across the country without commercial airline service. As the COVID-19 pandemic has spread, the trucking, maritime and general aviation sectors also reminded congressional leaders of transportation’s essential role in our lives, and highlighted the need to strengthen the country’s supply chains to enhance disaster-response preparedness.
The INVEST in America Act recognizes the importance of the U.S. transportation industry with the addition of the bipartisan Promoting Service in Transportation Act (H.R. 5118) as part of the Manager’s Amendment. The legislation supports and strengthens the transportation industry by authorizing the Department of Transportation to develop a series of targeted broadcast, digital and print public service announcements to attract a new, diverse and inclusive generation of transportation workers.
“On behalf of NBAA and the broader transportation community, I thank Chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee Rick Larsen (D-2-WA) for his dedication to H.R. 5118, and commend the work of the bill’s original co-sponsors, Don Young (R-AK) and Angie Craig (D-2-MN), to help build a brighter future for the transportation industry in the INVEST in America Act,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.
“It is imperative that all of us protect the future of our nation, and by providing people of all races, genders, ethnicities and socioeconomic status an opportunity to enjoy a rewarding and fulfilling career in transportation, we ensure the future success of a vital part of our economy,” Bolen added. “NBAA members have been vocal supporters for H.R. 5118, and I encourage all of our members to continue this advocacy by engaging with members of Congress to support the transportation workforce.”
Now that the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has completed its markup of INVEST in America Act, the bill will continue moving through the legislative process.
To learn more about NBAA’s congressional outreach, please visit the association’s Contact Congress resource.
NBAA is dedicated to bolstering the business aviation workforce of today and developing and diversifying the next generation of industry leaders. Find out more about the organization’s Workforce initiatives.
New FAA policy allows special flight permits for home-builts needing condition inspections
Reflections upon New Zealand & Building New 100-Year Old Gnome Rotary Aero Engines & Castor Oil
I have spent time in New Zeland. A beautiful country with wonderful people. While I was there, I spent my weekends visiting various airfields and automotive events just to be around like-minded aviators, restorers, and tinkerers. I quickly discovered that the Kiwis are exceptional craftsmen.
Unlike the current mindset here in the U.S. that everyone must attend University/College, the Kiwis still follow the old European model that not everyone can obtain a degree, but most everyone should learning a craft/trade. This leads an exceptional population of highly intelligent and capable craftsmen.
Building New 100-Year Old Gnome Rotary Aero Engines In NZ
Tony Wytenburg from CAMS (Classic Aero Machining Service) talks to HAFU about the replica Gnome rotary aero engines that the company has been building for the last few years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtMu8mrwM2k
P.S. A little bit of Aerospace Medicine:
The Gnome Rotary Aero Engines are true two-stroke engines with no oiling system. Therefore the fuel must be mixed with a lubricant. Since gasoline is a byproduct of distilling oil it cannot be mixed with petroleum based oil for added lubrication because gasoline and oil are of the same hydrocarbon molecule chains. A non-petroleum based oil must be used.
Castor oil, a non-hydrocarbon based vegetable oil, had already been in use for thousands years. Most importantly, castor oil can be mixed with gasoline and retain it's lubricating properties. Unfortunately, there was an unforeseen problem in using castor oil as a lubricant within a two-stroke engine.
For centuries, castor oil has been used as a stimulant laxative, meaning that it increases the movement of the muscles that push material through the intestines, helping clear the bowels. I remember my mother giving castor oil as a child several times. Yuck! Ingesting too much will cause diarrhea.
WW1 aviators that were flying behind Gnome engines were ingesting residual castor oil from the exhaust, and started to experience diarrhea while flying. Not a happy experience. Never-the-less, castor oil must be retained as a lubricant since there was not other alternative.
Physicians at the beginning of the last century already knew medically that diets full of non-soluble fiber (residual diet) will provide healthy bowel moments. They quickly reasoned that if an aviator ate a no residual diet before they fly will reduce the change of experiencing diarrhea after ingesting the castor oil. So aviators were "prescribed" to eat a steak or bacon and egg diet (all protein diet/no residual diet) with coffee (a natural diuretic) before each mission. Problem solved.
As engines and lubrication technology advance, and aviators were no longer ingesting castor oil, one would think the eating of an all protein/no residual "aviator's breakfast" before flight would be unnecessary. It was also discovered that an aviator's breakfast slowed the motility of one's bowels and thus reduced the chance in having a bowel movement while flying a mission. A tradition was born out of medical necessity.
Believe it or not, this "aviator's breakfast" tradition continued into the U.S. Space Program out of medical necessity. Early Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo Program Astronauts ate an aviator's breakfast before every launch into space.
And all of this became because of using castor oil as a lubricant.
Cheers Mate,
Wayne
(a very knowledgeable aviator and contributor to SCAUWG.ORG - Webmaster Note)
Will General Aviation Climb, Descend Or Hold Altitude In The Months Ahead?
"Despite the national paralysis, COVID-19 hasn’t put a stop to GA flying. Federal regulations require private pilots to maintain proficiency to fly safely, so their flying activity has been deemed “essential”. But the number of airplanes flying is definitely fewer." From Forbes - Read Eric Teglder's opinion about where GA is pointed toward and what you can expect Here.
DOCTORS REFINE ADVICE TO VOLUNTEER PILOT GROUPS - Patient Needs May Justify Coronavirus Risk in Some Cases
"Volunteer medical transport flights have been curtailed for months in keeping with social distancing advisories, but as states begin to ease restrictions on the general population, physicians advising the Air Care Alliance said that resumption of high-priority flights may be indicated, with appropriate precautions and a mission-specific risk assessment." Read the article written by Jim Moore for AOPA and gain insight to this very important and timely topic by Clicking Here.
College flight schools adapt to new learning environments
ERAU to resume flight training with precautions - April 29, 2020By David Tulis - College flight schools are adapting to learning environment changes by implementing virtual reality options, wellness checks, social distancing, mandatory face mask usage, and other personal safety measures during the coronavirus pandemic.
Three top aviation educators shared drastic changes that are underway as colleges and schools that specialize in flight training prepare to resume classes with a modified educational experience for students, instructors, and staff. Webmaster Note: CP Aviation re-opened for Flight Training May 1. Read the AOPA Article Here.
Flaps or Gear First? - From Aviation Safety updated December 2019
Depending on what you’re flying, its manufacturer may have placed specific go-around recommendations in the POH/AFM. If so, it’s always a good idea to follow them and conform to the listed sequence of actions. Going around can be a busy time, and scrounging around for the balked-landing checklist is a no-no. You should have the appropriate sequence of actions memorized from your previous landing-practice sessions. Read the Opinion Here
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So Unfortunate: April 6 Air Facts - "Be Afraid of Stalls" by Mac Maclellan - Opinion from Ron Berinstein cfii
From a longtime aviator who certainly has more jet time than I, this treatise depicts a very sad approach to flight training. "Seems to me we should all be very afraid of stalls when they claim so many lives. I’m afraid of thunderstorms, super strong winds, icing, slippery runways, and a list of other hazards to aviation safety. Why shouldn’t I be afraid of stalls?" To read this article here is a link. Suffice to say, he feels pilots should be "afraid" of a stall.
Air Facts solicits comments, and this article a lot of them, none the least of which was/is mine. Here is how I replied (with a couple of small typos corrected).
Mr. McClellan, politely offered, there are some real circumstances with this article and your positions regarding stalls… Though I compliment you upon your first airplane pick; a Cessna 140 is a great way to begin… though hardly anything to fear in the air, on the ground, it can help keep you awake.
#1 recovery – Please do not allow the suggestion that GA prop pilots should add power first and then lower the nose as you associated with jets. Please advocate to reduce AOA first, then use power as appropriate so that spin departures can be avoided.
#2 Pilots who stall airplanes in maneuvering flight kill, the stall itself is just the honest result derived from a poorly trained pilot.
#3 Stalls are your best friend when trying to make a proper landing. Pilots train to make “full stall” landings, or at least should… Perhaps you remember flying that Cessna 140 tailwheel craft and holding it inches off the deck until it purred to the runway tail held full back and power off?
#4 There were a lot of well written comments already typed, so I without being redundant, will assign a certain amount of blame to our teaching structure when it comes to stalls. Most stalls during ground prep and in the air are illustrated and flown stalling the (upright) plane nose high above the horizon, stick back… followed by recovery. However, that is NOT the stall that chiefly kills folks. The often touted “base leg to final approach” stall does not happen that way. The nose is not way up above the horizon, rather it starts BELOW the horizon (and in a turn). Unless we teach pilots the actual ways stalls occur and how to sense them – and NO you do not need to wait for buffet to know there is a stall event occurring (even in craft w/out AOA meters or warning devices), we will continue to see pilots repeat the very same errors as those who have gone before them.
#5 Pilots need to be able to determine relative wind direction. Think that’s easy? Nope!
Most pilots have no idea while on a final approach where the relative wind is. They do not associate reducing power with level wings as an increase in AOA. Nor do they associate the flaps, or perhaps lowering a landing gear with same.
#6 What you have attacked is just a piece of physics. (and by the way – re: physics “…wing can stall at just about any airspeed…” that should be “at any airspeed.”
#7 You advocate being scared of stalls… I direct you to read a bit about the Yerkes - Dodson law. Studying Startle reflex might be good as well. Being afraid rarely makes a poor pilot better, rather it makes them a funeral expense.
#8 Good Instruction incorporates ADM and Situational Awareness skills that are reinforced with scenario based flight so that pilots are not scared, but prepared. The imagery that otherwise could kill is properly already stored in their brain's toolbox (think amygdala).
#9 Add training as a cfi to your resume. Hopefully, choose a good cfi to learn from. Then, add some EMT to the repertoire. Important though: you’ll need to make room for the experience, i.e. an open mind. Drawing only upon old anecdotal observations and patterns long since revised just shouldn’t be the stuff we need to currently write about.
Be well and safe.
Webmaster Note: This response was published by Air Facts, and presumably a copy was forwarded to the story's author, Mr. MacClellan. To date 4/26/2020, there has been no response from the author.
Quieter GA LA Skies
3/29/20 Thoughts from SCAUWG.ORG Director Ron Berinstein CFII - FAASTeam VNY
Responding to a note that asked if air traffic was reduced in our LA area. I had these reflections:
With regard to GA... Flight Schools, including CP Aviation in Santa Paula, CA where I am affiliated with are closed! In part citing all of the published recommendations.
A note about those...
It would seem (possibly) that many "safety first" stories recently published address in-flight instruction, and why it should be halted, rather than continued as the letter of the law referring to essential activity allows.
I would think this "closed door" might be a perfect stimulus for "opening a door" to video conferencing for CFIs that wish to further reinforce previous flight training with their students, to introduce future lessons, conduct ground school and continue earning income during these stay-at-home moments.
A further extension of that idea: If CFIs could become accustomed a bit to video conferencing, and maybe "web" training via graphic material production, some might be more inclined to apply for a position within, and participate in FAASTeam programming. Doing so might help to convince CFIs that their income as well as pilot safety will improve when folks schedule ahead for recurrent training programs. Those schedules should be initiated immediately upon a Private Pilot or other course completion, and before the pilot walks out the flight school door with their new certificate and a big smile.
I Almost Died Flying Into A Mountain Near Kobe's Crash: Veteran Navy Pilot Explains The Risks - The truth is that accidentally flying into clouds happens more than anyone wants to admit. I break down the Kobe crash and my own brush with death.
By Chris Hammer From Feb. 19. 2020
"My crew and I escaped that near catastrophe with our lives by the narrowest of margins. The reality is that it can happen to anyone, from the private pilot on a weekend recreational flight to the passenger-carrying helicopter pilot on a routine hop with a beloved sports star and his friends and family on-board to the most capable and well-trained military pilot. Here’s what we know about the Kobe flight and why it reminded me of my own brush with death."
Based upon past experience, GA Pilots can assist in times of emergency. That is the position of Aviation Groups that sent a letter to the Transportation Secretary 3/17/20 with an offer to help. You can read the letter Here.
Opinion: How Incomplete Language Standards Threaten Aviation
by Elizabeth MathewsMarch 03, 2020 in Aviation Week Network
"Nearly 20 years after English language testing requirements for pilots and air traffic controllers were introduced by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), language continues to threaten global aviation safety.
“We are now at takeoff.” That ambiguous communication preceded the 1977 runway collision at Tenerife, Spain, and focused industry attention on the importance of communications." To read more about her opinion that language may be a significant contributory factor regarding accidents today just CLICK HERE
Industry urges funding for contract towers
As the House Appropriations Committee is allocating its FY2021 funds, AOPA and eight industry groups are urging the committee to earmark nearly $173 million for the FAA Contract Tower Program. From AOPA - Read it Here
Burbank and Van Nuys Noise - Task Force Info
Task Force News that in part mirrors Community comments is scheduled to have their final meeting April 1, 2020. Here is a link to the press release that highlights the agenda of their recent meeting, and announces their planned final meeting. View it here.
Kobe Bryant Helicopter Topic - input sent to SCAUWG.ORG and it is presented here as personal commentary relayed to us for the benefit of our readers.
Sent: Sun. Feb 9
Just my thoughts and opinion for what they're worth and admitting that I do not have all the facts regarding this accident.
Assuming everyone here has viewed the ground tract of the flight in question, the pilot probably saw that he wasn't going to get through the Santa Susanna Pass, Rocky Peak vicinity and decided to go to the SW part of the valley to follow the 101westbound. Pushing on that way he had no choice, with that weather but only to stay right over the 101. My thoughts are that when he pulled up and went inadvertent IMC and lost visual with the ground he panicked about being violated, big time at that, for being on a Part 135 charter with 8 pax in the back. Next move was lowering the collective, rapidly, with a 180 turn to get back down to the marginal VFR conditions and without, hopefully, getting caught and having to make that dreaded call to ATC. The pilot in my opinion might have been hoping that he would be back over the flatter level terrain of the valley while attempting to descend back down into VFR conditions. Pilots sometimes make rash decisions to save themselves from that instant moment of "WTF did I get myself into". The Operation Specifications for this charter company I'm not familiar with, although if this particular aircraft was allowed to fly in instrument conditions and conduct specific instrument approaches, (ie., ILS, VOR etc.) and S-76's are generally certified and definitely more than capable of instrument flight. If a pilot immediately accepts the fact that he is inadvertent IMC he can then make the next move, clear thinking, of getting an immediate clearance from ATC and get assigned to a Minimum Safe Altitude and vectored to an airport, in this case Van Nuys Airport ILS Runway 16R or Burbank's ILS Runway 8. Keeping in mind that this flights destination was to a private helipad and that an approach and landing would have to be conducted in VFR conditions. We are all affected immensely by these aviation tragedies because it sure hits close to home. Sometimes we are hesitant to comment about what may have happened due to not having every bit of information and all the facts. Given more time for the investigation possibly more relevant and contributing factors will be discovered.
Hopefully all of us pilots of all experience levels continue to feel free to discuss, with others, this and all other accidents and learn from the lessons that they present us.
Forwarded to the site at 4:59 pm
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Forwarded to the site on Feb 8 2020 - with the sender's comment: "So close to making it."
The BLANCOLIRIO Report - VIDEO - Commentary - VIEW IT HERE
Number one cause of fatal accidents in aviation…..continued VMC to IMC…….total pilot error and didn’t need to occur (my opinion only) ….
I guess we’ll never know why he didn’t follow the 118 instead but may not have made any difference...
Forwarded to the site at 8:57 a.m.
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Referred the site by Pat Carey -
Kobe Bryant S-76B UPDATE 31 Jan 2020 - VIDEO - See it Here
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Sent: Wed., Jan 29, 2020 9:08 am
That is a radical heavy drop and beyond a normal steep descent..
He could have gotten disoriented and the helicopter turned over and fell out of the sky??
- Website visitor
----------------------
Sent: Wed, Jan 29, 2020 7:05 am
Subject: Comments on my Kobe email
Hi Folks
Thought those of you who responded might read what was said by others.
Longer notes are at bottom.
(Xxxx's comment discounts Kobe's part).
-Website Visitor
Gxxx:
Not surprising-pilot should not have been at that location due to deep amount of fog. Location is very close to me.
-------------------
Rxxx:
I came to the same conclusion as you. It was pilot error.
50 yrs ago a wise older pilot told me, that if you feel like you're about to fly a mission and that you're going to be a Hero. Then bells and whistles should go off in your head, because you are about to F#@$& up.
-------------------
Yxxx:
"VIP induced"(!)
Boy, haven't we all been in THAT position. At least been EXPOSED to what could happen.
I always hated flying VIPs, military and civilian. Frankly, I seem to have gotten more pressure from COLONELS rather than Generals.
-------------------
Sxxx:
Bad deal. Pilot AFU. Perhaps VIP pressure. No excuse.
I did not fly helo but spent many hours below 500 ft. practice for long range nuc strike.
A circular situational awareness imperative.
VFR running into IFR...what is the a/c direction for terrain avoidance while maintaining a/c control?
-------------------
Txxx:
I’m all in on this and believe its pilot error. The trying to get a following by Burbank airport, the route taken and witness comments all indicate pilot error, sadly, which of course means the tragedy could have been avoided. Having flown extensively in the LA Basin extensively I get the “get there itis “ either self or passenger induced. The decision is clear to me on how to proceed although I do not have a thorough description of the weather conditions such as, at destination was it special VFR or even VFR. Still Lott’s of questions I have but the cause appears apparent to all of us.
-------------------
Vxxx
Spot on Xxxx,
Probably not the VIP fault …. another pilot that flew with him often said Kobe never requested the envelope be pushed or any pressure to “get there”.
It was obvious scud running in Special VFR into a fog/overcast with terrain raising to meet the flight path.
What I don’t know is if this pilot was IFR qualified … That is a big deal for two reasons… First he would be able to declare an emergency and execute an emergency rapid climb that this machine is capable of to VFR on top then fly to an airfield of it he were qualified, to file IFR.
After reading and seeing all tapes and presentations, just before the crash, the pilot asked if he could turn south to intercept the 101, with the obvious idea of following the freeway West. When that transmission was made, it appears he was already over the freeway, and thus flew past the freeway in the direction of the ocean and towards higher terrain. He was in deep trouble at that point. The rapid increase in altitude he made would have been what I would have done as well to get over the fog/clouds and to a place where he would have control again. The sudden 4000 fpm descent and major increase in speed just before impact appears to speak to the possibility of vertigo and lack of IFR flying technique. I have seen more scud running than I would like in Viet Nam, and we lost several pilots to that. In Viet Nam most were not instrument rated … I got that rating after I got back to the US. Disorientation and vertigo are all too real and are killers, as John Kennedy and others have proved.
I retrospect, while only one pilot is required, when flying a high profile person, and more importantly one with the funds, two pilots would not be a bad plan. It offers redundancy in event of pilot incapacitation as well as tough situations such as this. Kobe would not have known where to draw the line, it is up to the PIC. We would all say that we would have not done this, but hard telling. Good pilots run into bad spots occasionally and it is that split minute decision that makes the difference. It is possible that after a rapid climb, he saw a hole below and was trying to get to it, though I doubt it. Like I said if in the box he was, I would have slowed forward speed, pulled max pitch and power to get through was a relatively thin layer and declared an emergency enroute … but then I am comfortable in trusting the instruments in the soup.
Sad day
-Website visitor
Sent: Tue, Jan 28, 2020 9:06 am
Subject: Fw: Kobe Bryants S-76 Helicopter Crash
Thanks Xxxx, this reinforces the opinion I came to Sunday.
In the half century since I became a pilot (rotor & fixed) I generally avoid quick decisions until more facts are known.
But this is one of the few cases of obvious pilot error. I will be very surprised if details come out that proves otherwise.
There is only one part of the event we likely will never know:
Was the pilot error totally self imposed or was it VIP induced?
In either case it is still pilot error (& NOT the VIP's fault).
In case #1, the pilot wants to show they 'can do it'; they can accomplish something others can't. Reportedly law enforcement pilots were not flying.
In the VIP scenario, it is still fully the pilot's responsibility.
An example from military aviation is the young pilot hearing that the general must get to their destination without delay. The only part the VIP plays is to avoid saying or doing things that create that atmosphere. When I was an aide-de-camp, I always made it clear to the flight crew that my general's priorities don't override safety.
But it is still the pilot's responsibly, NOT the VIP's.
>> For anyone who might be interested, the attached is an altitude, airspeed, and climb/descent profile for the last minute of flight of the N72EX, Sikorsky S-76 helicopter in which Kobe Bryant, his 13-year old daughter, and seven others were killed.
>>
>> Note, just before the moment of impact:
>> The aircraft was on a westerly heading, level at about 1,800 feet at 118 KIAS…pretty normal for VFR conditions in that area.
>>
>> The aircraft suddenly made a 180 degree turn from a westerly heading to an easterly heading…
>> - (Pretty typical of inadvertent IMC...Perhaps after flying into a cloud or fog?)
>>
>> Note: At the moment of impact with terrain...
>>
>> Altitude: 1,350’ MSL
>> - (Minimum altitude in that sector, west of Van Nuys Airport, is 5,200' with some hilltops shown at 2408 feet, others higher)
>>
>> Airspeed: 161 Knots
>> - (Increased from about 118 KIAS to 161 KIAS)
>>
>> Rate of Descent: 4,860 fpm
>> - (A very steep descent. By comparison, the normal for commercial operations is generally no greater than 500 fpm).
>>
>> Notice the green line with the very rapid climb & descent data shown.
>> - (Could be indicative of pilot disorientation?)
Pure conjecture but looks like it might have been Inadvertent IMC with an attempt to find VFR conditions and perhaps disorientation with controlled flight into terrain.
>> I hate to say it and its sad but…a pilot error issue and nothing was wrong with the aircraft?
>>
>> It was a 1991 model and may not have had the latest, greatest autopilot and been equipped with the "single IIMC button" found on most of today’s IFR capable helicopters.
>>
>> (One button autopilot feature on a helicopter of this type enables the pilot to push a single button, let go of the controls and feet off the pedals. This feature automatically levels the aircraft, establishes optimum trim, establishes a 500 fpm rate of climb, and increases power to the optimum airspeed…generally 90 KIAS, all with no input from the human pilot. Some helicopters call it a “Go Around” button (used for missed approach procedures) while other manufacturers refer to it as an Inadvertent IMC (IIMC) button or feature.
>>
>> Flight data shows a very erratic route…might have been sight seeing a bit over Glendale or waiting for clearance from Burbank Airport to transition North along the I-5. (webmaster note: the pilot was waiting for a special VFR clearance from SoCal)
>>
>> Anyway, FYI…for anyone interested…
>> Audio of N72EX talking to Burbank Tower for a transition north along the I-5 then to 118 Freeway.
>> He wanted to go to Camarillo so he would have had to transition through Van Nuys airspace and turned toward the 101 freeway west of Van Nuys and perhaps north of the 101 freeway…or so it sounds…
>> They might have gone north along the I-5 looking for better weather conditions as the most direct route would have been west along the 101 freeway to Camarillo…
>>
>> Asked to go north along the I-5 then transition north of Van Nuys and loop around to the 101...
>>
>> Below, final 1 minute of flight data from automatically sent data from aircraft...
>>
-Website Visitor
Webmaster Note: Click HERE for a Video link that features a recreation of the flight that also includes some sound bites.
Redlands Airport Association <redlands.airport.association@gmail.com>
Thu 12/12/2019 7:01 AM
Hi Ron,
Just wanted to share some additional information we learned about the new UPS approaches being developed for Runway 24 at SBD. We received this information through a San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors contact. Matt Knox is the Chief of Staff for SB County Supervisor Dawn Rowe. Dawn's district is the SB County area under the flight path. Matt reached out to some FAA contacts about the draft procedures and its potential impacts to their constituents. It appears the FAA will not be subjecting the proposed procedures to an environmental review. Please see the email string below.
I am not comfortable with the rationale given for the exclusion. But, the development of SBD as a cargo hub will generate considerable revenue for the area. Rules sometimes get bypassed when there is this potential for economic benefit.
We were told by UPS that the use of these procedures would be minimal. But, we never really heard any real forecast frequency for the use of the runway 24 procedures. Its clear from Mr. Lusk's response to Matt Knox, the FAA doesn't know the frequency either. He states the approach will be used during Santa Ana wind conditions. Yet, the Santa Ana's are typically out of the north east and favor the use of runway 6 at SBD.
These approaches will be "public" and may eventually be used by others with the proper equipment and training. They are certain to create noise complaints from residents in the flight path in Redlands, SB County and Highland. I like airplane noise, but I think the FAA is going to get an earful from these residents.
Ted Gablin
Redlands Airport Association, Chapter of California Pilots Association
Sent: Monday, December 2, 2019 2:21 PM
To: Knox, Matt <Matt.Knox@bos.sbcounty.gov>
Subject: RE: Proposed Approach Route to San Bernardino International Airport
Hi Matt –
Sorry for the delay on this, here is what I found out on this approach procedure. This is a special approach that will be used by UPS for uncommon wind events that currently forces them to divert from landing at San Bernardino International Airport. So conditions where this would be utilized would be during the uncommon Santa Ana wind events. This type of project is usually categorically excluded from further environmental review absent any extraordinary circumstances and the CATEX process does not typically entail a public comment period. However, Hughes Aeronautical - who is developing the procedure for UPS - has done some community outreach as part of their work, including separate meetings with the cities of Redlands and Highland in early October. We are currently still in the process of documenting the CATEX determination but do not have a timeline at this juncture.
Keith
Webmaster response to the recent 12/13/2019 MyNewsLA.com story reporting that LA sued the FAA
The story relates that "hundreds of thousands" of noise complaints were received by the city attorney's office. One might reasonably ask in response how many are "unique" comments, and how many were generated by the same people?
The story reports that the noise being complained about has resulted from the FAA having "narrowed the width of its flight patterns." So, one might also ask just how many hundreds of thousands of people even live in that supposed narrowed path near Burbank?
Then there is a very real argument that can be made that the departures in reality have not substantially changed over the years. One can refer to the actual flight tracks as captured by the ChartAware feature on our site that depicts definite reality as captured this past September mid-week and during a weekend.
Then there are the following questions that might be asked: Are there interests that profit from raising noise issues? What is the addresses of those who have lodged complaints? Do any of the complaint writers have a vested profit motivation that might inspire spurious complaints?
At SCAUWG.ORG we report aviation airspace news, but news stories often have many sides to them. It is hoped that any government entity truly represents informed well intentioned citizens without bias, and that those who represent the people via government positions do adequate homework before, when or after lodging legal action. So to that end, it is hoped that the future will deliver a fair and equitable solution. - RB
"How many “avoidances” have occurred is unknown..." - 2 Letters addressed to the editor
"I’m sure you’ve seen this one... ...or one like it. Predictable. In fact, it appears to have happened before on at least one occasion of which I know. How many “avoidances” have occurred is unknown for both fixed and rotary aircraft.
Fortunately, this collision did not result in a tragedy. I fear that unless this regulatory thorn bush and political spiderweb is not successfully navigated we (the people of LA as well as those of us concerned) will have much about which we will not be thankful. On a smaller but more likely scale, this is Cerritos. Or could be larger scale. Déjà vu all over again."
Signature on record at SCAUWG
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A response to the above by someone also addressed by the sender - Some edits were made by the SCAUWG webmaster
"I read it somewhere in one of the numerous online aviation newsletters that I subscribe to. Though very disconcerting, I also have to think about the other incidents that have occurred, involving UAS; namely the drone that landed between the taxiway and the runway at KLAS within the last couple of weeks, or the UAS flying around and shutting down the airport for several hours at EGKK several months back.
Re: 'Fortunately, this collision did not result in a tragedy.' - Thank God!
I fear that unless this regulatory thorn bush and political spiderweb is not successfully navigated we (the people of LA as well as those of us concerned) will have much about which we will not be thankful. On a smaller, but more likely scale, this is Cerritos. Or could be larger scale. Déjà vu all over again.”
I could not agree more (about the thorn bush and spiderweb)! Since we are all operating within the most complex and busiest airspace on the planet, even with this incident, which was probably innoxious in nature, draws concern. As we have more and more UAS occupy our already compressed and compacted airspace, I am afraid that we will see an increase of problems, especially as you integrate the budding air taxi service (FLOAT as an example), but also the emerging VTOL aircraft which will add considerable traffic to our airspace. Therefore we should approach this issue in as much a proactive manner as we can, analyze the current situation, and forecasted growth, problems that are occurring presently, as well as forecasted problems, and solutions/mitigations to resolve current and forecasted problems, and present our recommendations. This again, is considering the UAS operators are acting in an innoxious fashion. I want to present to SCAUWG an added scenario; of those operators that have hostile intent, that could utilize a UAS armed with guns/missiles (I’m sure that you all saw the video on AOPA live that had guns mounted to UAS, and firing remotely), but also utilizing high-end explosives (such as C4), biological agents, or nuclear materials. I think that though it has already been thought of by the TSA/DHS/FAA/NSA/FBI/CIA, etc., I think that has an organization, SCAUWG needs to be thinking of this, and being prepared to offer recommendations/solutions to mitigate/resolve issues in these arenas to the other organizations; especially has it affects the airspace over Southern California. I know that some would agree; and probably most of you, that this is moving faster than we can probably keep up with. However, never-the-less, SCAUWG should work on this, and try to keep up in the best fashion possible.
Signature on record at SCAUWG
"Not all bolts are created equal" - FAASafety.gov
Notice Number: NOTC9804
Proper maintenance in aviation is so crucial to safe operation and so well-established that it almost goes without saying. But a person could easily make a mistake in assuming that all maintenance is of equal importance. Much like that quote from Syndrome of The Incredibles, “And when everyone’s super, no one will be,” if all maintenance is assigned equal importance, then truly critical items could fail to get the attention they need.
FAA airworthiness directive (AD) 2016-17-08 “Elevator Tab Control System” is a case in point. That AD mandates repetitive inspections and prohibits reuse of attachment fasteners on the elevator trim tab push-pull rod. Certainly every bolt on a plane is important, but for the airplanes listed on that AD, these bolts are more important than most.
In particular, the forward bolt that attaches the push-pull rod to the actuator merits special attention. For starters, it is recessed within the elevator and not readily visible, unlike the aft bolt that connects the push-pull rod to the trim tab. A pre-flight check of the tab might only amount to wiggling it a bit to check for free play. If the bolt was present but missing the nut and cotter pin, such a check wouldn’t detect anything wrong. However, it would only be a matter of time before the bolt worked its way free. The AD mandates repetitive inspections to make sure the hardware gets thoroughly checked at least occasionally.
If this bolt comes free, the push-pull rod and elevator trim tab will freely move as a unit. If the tab rises high enough, the free end of the rod will clear the spar cut-out. At this point, the end of the rod is likely to drop and jam against the spar, resulting in the trim tab becoming fixed in an airplane nose-down condition well beyond the normal limits of travel.
There have been several accidents over the years attributed to this condition. Out of seven events documented by the NTSB, five resulted in fatal crashes. The other two both occurred shortly after takeoff and the pilots were able to make hard landings that resulted in substantial damage to the airplanes. NTSB accident number ERA17LA329 was the most recent. The bolt was located in the elevator, but the nut and cotter pin were not found. The airplane had recently undergone maintenance and paintwork.
Accordingly, the AD prohibits the reuse of any attachment fasteners on the push-pull rod to ensure these attachment points are as robust as possible. That prohibition includes the bolt, washer, castellated self-locking nut, and cotter pin. So, for example, if the attachment hardware is removed to facilitate removal of the elevator, such as for painting and balancing, new hardware is required.
Following release of the AD, some industry media articles were published to discuss different aspects of this issue. Here are two that might be of interest for further reading.
NEW AD on elevator trim hardware affects all Twin Cessnas by Tony Saxton, Director of Tech Support
https://www.twincessna.org/pdf/Trim%20AD%20Article%20April%2016.pdf
Tales of woe (Whoa! This isn’t an Inspection) by Mike Busch
https://www.savvyaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/articles_aopa/AOPA_2016-10_tales-of-woe-(not-an-inspection).pdf
Indeed, not all bolts are created equal. Pay attention to this one!
For more information please contact:
Adam Hein, Aerospace Engineer
Wichita ACO Branch
Adam.Hein@faa.gov
We're teaching stalls all wrong - An argument for more advanced training - By Ian J. Twombly
"Repeat after me: Reduce power, hold the nose back, add full flaps, maintain altitude until the stall, lower the nose, add full power, and reduce flaps in increments. Bored yet? I bet you’ve flown the power-off stall routine around 50 times. If you have any sort of pilot certificate you’ve demonstrated one on a practical test." "...The problem is not you. You fly to the standard. The problem is us. We have spent decades teaching pilots useless stalls. Want proof?" Read the rest of the story published by AOPA by clicking HERE
How do airports remain safe against the constant threat of cyber-attacks? (See International Airport Review)
Airports have been supplanted by the perfect storm of cyber-security, but how can the industry make sure airports are as secure as they can be? International Airport Review’s recent webinar, in association with AlertEnterprise, provided a platform to discuss how airports must be totally secure. From the webinar five key points surfaced: The perfect storm of cyber-security; security convergence; cultural changes; insider threat and patterns of behaviour.
The perfect storm of cyber-security
Constant developments within the cyber industry have resulted in old systems becoming more vulnerable to advances, and the inability to accurately identify threats means we are just waiting for disaster to strike. New technology is being implemented quicker than it can be secured, and many systems are just an open invitation to malicious attacks. A perfect example of this is the speed at which IoT has expanded. In practice IoT will help individuals in organizations make better decisions based on real-time data. However, if the data fed is wrong or skewed in some way, the outcomes can be drastically different.
There is a magnitude of laws and regulations which are limited and inconsistent; this means that there is a gap within the framework through which exploitation can occur. Regarding airports, this means that sensitive material is available to manipulate. Moreover, there is limited interconnectivity between systems which allows for threats to go undetected for months. READ THE STORY and FIND A LINK TO A WEBINAR ON THE SUBJECT IN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT REVIEW - CLICK HERE
Be Alert After Maintenance
From: Fly Safe: Prevent Loss of Control Accidents - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the general aviation (GA) community’s national #FlySafe campaign helps educate GA pilots about how to avoid loss of control (LOC) accidents.
Do you know how to properly preflight your aircraft after maintenance? Many pilots secretly admit that they sometimes don’t quite know what they are looking for. Does that concern you? It should, since the pilot is the final authority when it comes to the aircraft’s fitness for safe flight.
As a pilot and/or aircraft owner, it is in your best interest to know and understand every component of your aircraft. You may think you have even less to worry about after your aircraft comes back from the shop. It should be in great shape, right?
Actually, aircraft just out of maintenance are more likely to have safety-of-flight issues than an aircraft in good condition flown on a daily basis. Something simple shouldn’t cause a problem, but work on multiple systems leaves the door open for more than a few complications.
For example, in-flight emergencies and accidents have occurred with incorrectly rigged flight control or trim systems. Loose bolts or a forgotten connector have led to other tragedies. It’s best to be on the safe side, know what work has been done, know what you are looking for, and perform thorough preflight checks.
Advanced Preflight Checks
Advanced Preflights go above and beyond the normal preflight checklist. Create your checklist by reviewing the maintenance history of the aircraft, and once you have that information, develop your additional items checklist. Once you have made this list, you can use it in all future preflight inspections. Find and review all aircraft records, including receipts, work orders, FAA Form 337s (Major Repair and Alteration forms) and approval for return to service tags (8130-3 Forms). Find any Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) data, including information on items no longer installed on the aircraft.
Some additional tips:
Become familiar with all controls and systems before maintenance, and create a baseline. Having this information will make it easier for you to find any “abnormal” functions after maintenance.
Coordinate with your mechanic to determine exactly what has been accomplished. Give those systems an extra look-over before flight.
Pay particular attention to the aircraft components that were replaced or repaired. If you suspect a problem, ask your mechanic to recheck the aircraft.
Be ready to abort take-off if something doesn’t feel right.
For the first flight, stay in the pattern within gliding distance to the runway.
Your safety, and the safety of those who fly with you, depends on your vigilance. Check, ask questions, and recheck. Your life may depend on it!
Be sure to document your achievement in the Wings Proficiency Program. It’s a great way to stay on top of your game and keep you flight review current.
More about LOC:
Contributing factors may include:
Poor judgment or aeronautical decision making
Failure to recognize an aerodynamic stall or spin and execute corrective action
Intentional failure to comply with regulations
Failure to maintain airspeed
Failure to follow procedure
Pilot inexperience and proficiency
Use of prohibited or over-the-counter drugs, illegal drugs, or alcohol
Did you know?
From October 2017 through September 2018, 382 people died in 226 GA accidents.
LOC was the No. 1 cause of these accidents.
LOC happens in all phases of flight. It can happen anywhere and at any time.
There is one fatal accident involving LOC every four days.
Learn more:
Check out this FAA FAASTeam Fact Sheet on Advanced Preflight After Maintenance. (PDF)
The NTSB (PDF) provides these important preflight safety tips.
AOPA has a number of helpful resources, including How to Pre-Flight an Airplane.
What’s coming for the future? Learn about the benefits NextGen is bringing.
Time is getting short! The FAA’s Equip ADS-B website gives you the information you need to equip now.
Curious about FAA regulations (Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations)? It’s a good idea to stay on top of them. You can find current FAA regulations on this website.
The FAASafety.gov website has Notices, FAAST Blasts, online courses, webinars, and more on key general aviation safety topics.
The WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program helps pilots build an educational curriculum suitable for their unique flight requirements. It is based on the premise that pilots who maintain currency and proficiency in the basics of flight will enjoy a safer and more stress-free flying experience.
AINsight: Putting Part 135 Safety Under the Microscope
by Stuart “Kipp” Lau
Chartering a business aircraft is a convenient alternative to flying on an airline. For consumers not versed in aviation, finding the safest operators can be a challenge. The expectation is that chartering a Gulfstream or Learjet should have the exact same level of safety as riding in the back of a Southwest or Delta airliner. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
After reading several recent NTSB accident reports involving chartered flights, a few glaring issues emerged.
"As I previously noted, U.S. FAR 61.53 outlines basic medical responsibilities that a pilot must adhere to at all times between FAA medical exams with an aviation medical examiner (AME). Pilots have both leeway and ethics in self-assessing whether they are fit-to-fly on any given day.
Are there circumstances, however, when it is certain that a pilot cannot fly? Quite clearly there are, and these provisions are outlined in Part 67 “Medical Standards and Certification.”... Read the full Article by Clicking Here.
Need Pilot Credentials - FAST? - Lessons Learned
Article by Ron Berinstein cfii
We arrived at the emergency room entrance via the ambulance driveway and I stopped front and center just feet away from the entrance. I moved fast, out of the driver’s seat, into the hospital, seeking a wheelchair, plus some strong assistance to help mobilize my friend. The onset of paralysis required getting admitted fast.
It was a bit of a struggle; a chest and knee carry. In the chair wasn’t enough, her legs would not fit the foot supports. I needed a MacGyver solution. There was a cane stored in the back of the van; I crawled in the back door and reached a bit; I got it, rushed back around to the chair, stretched it from left to right, it was enough to lift her feet. We were on the move. During triage it was decided that it was more important for me to answer questions than to move the van.
It wasn’t until hours later that I reached for my wallet and it wasn’t in my pocket. I figured it was in the van which I had by then parked in the nearby structure hours previously. That turned out not to be true, no matter how many times I looked. The wallet was gone. Maybe in the ER room where I sat for 6 hours, or maybe it slipped out of my pocket while playing a TV star, or maybe it was left visible near the front seat while the car was unlocked outside the hospital’s door? Nope, lost and found had no wallets. Not that Allied Universal Security company appeared to care, as a very polite letter addressed to the on-site security chief requesting a video search went unanswered.
So how prepared are YOU should you lose your pilot certificates, medical, credit cards and driver license?
I was not prepared… but I will be now! Here are some findings.
The FAA Airman Certification System really works; but you will need a credit card. A problem if you don't happen to have a card stored away in an accessible safe spot or if you don’t really care to ask a friend for theirs, and also the use of their security code. Neither did I have a record of the CRV information that I could have used immediately, that is just prior to reporting the card stolen.
No account with them? You will need to create one before logging in. Not difficult but, one tip: keep your password simple. Don’t get fancy and use any of these special characters: < > % : |* ; ( )
Numbers and letters - upper/lower case – and you’ll be fine.
Enter your Email address and your password and you are on your way. Choose option: “Request Temporary Authority to Exercise Certificate Privileges”
With two dollars for every pilot certificate you need, you’ll be able to request both replacement certificates and temporary operating privileges at the same time. But plastic only accepted; no checking account numbers.
The result: an immediate email with reference to your medical certificate as well! For the actual medical certificate replacement, you will need to apply separately. Don’t expect a rapid response.
Federal Aviation Administration Aerospace Medical Certification Division, AAM-331 Attn: Duplicate Desk Post Office Box 25082 Oklahoma City, OK 73125
You must include a check or money order for $2.00 made payable to FAA. If you have questions or need additional information, call (405) 954-4821 and select option 3. It will arrive with a different doctor's signature; it must be signed by you, and like the original, you must carry it with you as it supersedes the original certificate.
So, lessons learned:
Keep a credit card accessible in a safe place. That’s the best solution. Or, should the card be stolen make sure you have a record of same including the CRV code) in the event you need to use it to obtain your temporary operating privileges prior to reporting it lost or stolen.
But should all your cards be stolen, and your driver license as well, you may also experience problems trying to cash a check. A valid passport might do the trick. In my case, mine was not valid. So, I applied for not only a duplicate Driver License, but an official state ID card as well. That, plus the credit card is now in my chosen safe place. Arriving at the DMV 45 minutes before scheduled opening did the trick. Bring a folding chair and your laptop. I was out of there in 30 minutes.
So, here is my new trick for eliminating troubles with the need for possible medical certificate replacement that I learned from airspace/pilot expert Pat Carey. Here is the trick: When after the physical while obtaining your medical certificate, have the AME print and sign at least three of them. It won’t cost any more, and though you keep one with an original signature with you, you can keep two additional certificates with original signatures in the safe place with your credit card and ID. Note: an original signature is required; copies are not legal.
I wasn’t happy with the bank where my checking account has resided for about 15 years without being paid interest. Because I rarely go, having elected to use ATMs and get photocopies of the items deposited, I wasn’t personally known there, and they denied me the right to cash a check. Consequently, despite a substantial account balance, using my expired driver license with my picture was not acceptable, and nor was my willingness to supply personal and account usage information. So, yes, I have already opened an account elsewhere, and I will make sure I drop in there every now and then to see Moe, the officer who helped me do it.
I think banks figure it is such a pain in the neck to really change banks, and follow through on threats to do so, and being forced to create new account links etc., that most folks will just put up with a certain amount of abuse. Not me! I found a new bank that will pay $250 if I just set up direct deposits for three months. I did.
Regarding plastic: I found you are instructed that most replacement credit cards will take 7-10 days, but it doesn’t hurt to ask if the process can be expedited via an extra fee. With two cards that worked.
So, thanks to my friend who had some cash on hand, and subsequently thanks to my employer who quickly wrote me check that was cashable at the business, I made it through. My biggest problem now: find a wallet as nice as the wallet I had that replaced the wallet I’m using. I walked for over an hour and visited three different department stores to no avail. I guess one better add an extra likeable wallet to that safe storage place as well! Oh yes, having a data list for all those other items one carries in your wallet is helpful too, and maybe some extra cash as well!
p.s. Btw, your wallet may not be the best place to keep that "emergency" key for your home's front door, airplane or car.
- Ron Berinstein cfii, director SCAUWG,ORG website - FAASTeam VNY (updated 7/08/2019)
Why ask Why?
Article by Mike Jesch ATP MCFI
It’s often said the most underutilized words in the pilot/controller lexicon are “Unable” and “Say Again”. Sometimes, it’s critically important to get your point across; clear up a misunderstanding, get clarification in the most expeditious way possible, and at other times, the issue is a bit more subtle, but just as important.
Recently, a story came to me of a classic case of miscommunication." Fortunately, the outcome wasn’t bad, but it could have been. It’s an interesting event, and perhaps will illustrate the importance of asking questions.
The pilot was departing from one airport and destined for another some 50 miles away, and across about three separate ATC sectors. The weather was good VMC, but he wanted to fly IFR just for the practice. In our area, it’s possible to obtain a “canned” clearance – called a Tower Enroute Control – without filing an IFR flight plan and going through all those hoops. In any event, our pilot did exactly this and was soon on his way, cleared via the expected route and 6000 feet (which was higher than the normal 4000 published for the route). As he was climbing through 4700, the pilot was instructed to maintain 4500MSL for traffic, which he acknowledged and did, and got some additional vectors.
Soon, he was transferred to the next ATC sector, and then another one, and dutifully checked in each time level at 4500. One of the controllers instructed the pilot to “resume own navigation” (normally, an IFR pilot should expect a heading to intercept an airway or to a fix before resuming). The final controller eventually told him “Practice approach approved, no separation services provided.” The pilot responded with, “I guess I’ll cancel IFR then.” I can only imagine what went through the controller’s mind when he heard that!
I think this event illustrates a couple human factors mistakes, and offers a chance to review some best practices that we all might consider bringing into our technique. I believe any mistakes made were honest omissions, and no violations of procedures or regulations appear to have occurred.
First, the controller issued a bit of an unusual altitude to the pilot, which was modified to an even more unusual altitude. While it’s not normal to be assigned a strange altitude above the MEA like that, neither is it out of the question. In this case, conflicting traffic necessitated the change, and the controller probably intended to instruct the pilot to descend and maintain 4000 once he was clear of the conflict. On the pilot’s part, he received a clear reason for the different altitude, and it made perfect sense. I don’t know whether the traffic was pointed out to the pilot, or whether he ever had visual contact with that traffic. And, it doesn’t really matter.
Next, control was moved to the next ATC sector, where the pilot checked in “Level at 4500”. The previous two airplanes in the same area were both at 4500 and under VFR, so the presence of a third probably didn’t seem unusual, and no questions were asked. He might have had a little Confirmation Bias here, expecting that any aircraft at 4500 clearly had to be VFR. I have no idea what was said during the handoff procedure between sectors, or if there is an indication on their screen as to the rules under which the pilot is operating.
Eventually, control was issued to the final controller, and the approach request was made. I know from experience that if the request is made to that second controller, word often doesn’t get passed to the final, and it often seems like a surprise.
So, what lessons can we learn? What can we do to reduce confusion like this and help our teammates out on the other end of the radio? Perhaps an earlier communication with ATC, at almost any point on this flight, raising the question. Something along the lines of, “Hey, ATC, I was cleared to 4500 for traffic; do you still need that?” Or, “When can I expect to go back to 4000?” Or maybe reminding each sector that you’re “IFR, level at 4500.”
Remember that we’re all human. Our Air Traffic Controllers are excellent; they take immense pride in accurately and safely providing the services they provide us, and they do so without problems so much of the time that it may be hard to remember that mistakes will occur. They’re not perfect. But, it’s our kiesters strapped to that aerospace vehicle. If at any time, something seems unusual, or you don’t know why something is happening, don’t be afraid to ask the question. Don’t let any confusion remain in the operation, even if it’s not on your part, but you think the controller might be confused. Poke the controller for clarification or resolution. It’s possible that he or she might have just forgotten that he’d asked you to do something weird.
Finally, please take any opportunity to visit with controllers. Whether it’s visiting the tower at your local field, or a pilot group-sponsored tour of a TRACON or ARTCC facility, or even finding the Pink Shirts at Oshkosh, I cannot recommend highly enough that you avail yourself of any and every opportunity to meet these people and see how they do what they do. Write down your questions and bring them and ask them; they truly enjoy meeting the people they serve and answering them. As it happens, in this case, the pilot happened to be scheduled to tour the very facility in question just two days after the event. It was a tremendous opportunity for them to meet and explore the nuances of this tricky situation in person.
Fly Safe! Have Fun! Fly More!
-Mike Jesch ATP, Master CFI - 2018 LGB District FAASTeam Rep Of The Year
The Transformation of Certification
Adopting Consensus Standards for Light-Sport Aircraft
Article by Jennifer Caron, FAA Safety Briefing
"Catherine Ashton’s quote 'I look for the consensus because the consensus drives the policy into new places.' speaks directly to the spirit of the time — 2002 — when the FAA made the decision to use industry-developed consensus standards for the design, manufacture, airworthiness certification, and maintenance of a new, and emerging category of light-sport aircraft.
Back then, manufacturers of single-seat, lightweight ultralight vehicles were creating larger, heavier, and faster two-seater ultralights at a rapid pace. With two seats and affordable, innovative designs, these heavy ultralights were all the rage, and consumers were clamoring to buy and fly these exciting creations that required neither aircraft nor pilot certifications.
But these new ultralights were caught between two worlds;..." Learn about the history of consensus standards and the way today's world has been influenced by READING MORE HERE
The Desanctification of AoA
Opinion by Paul Bertorelli - as it appears in AVweb
"About five years ago, there appeared on the market a handful of angle-of-attack indicator products. I’m not sure why the timing unfolded as it did, but I think it might have been a confluence of several events. One, the technology became cheaper and easier to deliver to market, including displays, envelope protection was becoming a thing, the FAA relaxed the approval process and we were starting to talk about stalls as a persistent accident cause. Wait, what the hell am I saying? When have we not talked about stalls as a persistent accident cause? Wilbur and Orville even had a name for the spin that follows: well drilling."
"The current weather tools and weather training for the UAS industry are woefully inadequate. That’s the assessment of Don Berchoff, a former U.S. Air Force meteorologist and the CEO of TruWeather. “Our Part 107 [UAS pilot] certification training has a weather section in it that is totally irrelevant,” Berchoff said. “We have a mismatch right now in standards and requirements,” he said, adding that current standards may allow UAS operators to “check the box” for regulatory compliance but fall short of operational needs."
"One stereotype that seems to have the half-life of uranium-238 is that men and women perform best in certain jobs. For example, some believe that men are more suited to technical and mechanical fields, where strength and stamina provide comparative advantages. Others believe that women are better suited to nurturing and educational roles in society, where interpersonal skills and empathy are essential enablers of success. While there may be some elements of logic to each of these stereotypes, are they true? What exactly might that even mean, and why is it important for business aviation?"
"Expectation bias (EB), our tendency to believe our “lyin’ eyes” telling us what we want to be true and not what is actually true, can be a killer in an airplane. Last month we discussed EB in detail and cited some examples of just how dangerous it can be. Let’s look at each of these flights we talked about and see how the crews allowed their expectations to affect their decision process. There are important skills to learn from these examples and carry with you on every flight that will help you to recognize your own expectation bias and not fall prey to its powerful charms." From Kenneth Stahl, MD, FACS written in AOPA 5/01/19 Read The Article Here.
From the FAASTeam: CFI & DPE Runway Safety Tips
Notice Number: NOTC8443
As a CFI or DPE, you are in a position to make a profound impact in reducing runway incursions. Did you know that from October 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019, there has been an average of two (2) runway incursions per day because of general aviation pilot deviations? These incursions carry a risk of tremendous loss of life and property, and therefore demand your focus and expertise.
Runway Incursion Avoidance standards are the same for Private, Commercial, and ATP pilots (reference applicable ACS or PTS). During training and testing, are you ensuring your students and applicants demonstrate knowledge of and skill in Runway Incursion Avoidance? Check out the pertinent sections in these publications:
FAA-H-8083-25 Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
AC 91-73 Parts 91 and 135 Single Pilot, Flight School Procedures During Taxi Operations
AC 61-98 Currency Requirements and Guidance for the Flight Review and Instrument Proficiency Check
...wanted to share with everyone the story from the Reason Foundation’s Aviation Policy News by Bob Poole - Remote Towers Reaching New Levels
The cover story of the current issue of Air Traffic Management is “The Digital Tower.” Inside the issue is a 20-page feature that provides both a global overview and profiles of specific programs and accomplishments.
Since my last report on remote towers, in the January issue, a number of air navigation service providers have announced their country’s first digital/remote/virtual (the terms are synonymous) tower projects. These include:
Australia, with a trial operation for the Royal Australian Air Force, developed and managed by Indra Australia and Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace;
Brazil, where Frequentis is implementing the country’s first digital tower at Santa Cruz Air Force Base in Rio de Janeiro;
Canada, where Nav Canada and Searidge are considering remote towers to replace aging conventional towers, such as at Red Deer, Alberta;
Iceland, where ANSP Isavia and Frequentis are researching an extreme-weather remote tower; and,
New Zealand, where Frequentis is installing a virtual tower with Airways NZ, at Invercargill Airport at the southern end of South Isla
The growing experience with actual remote/virtual towers is rebutting a number of misconceptions about the potential of this new approach to managing local airspace. For example, only a year or two ago there were doubts that aviation safety regulators would approve the control of multiple airports from a single remote tower center (RTC). The most ambitious such project to date is Norwegian ANSP Avinor’s in-operation RTC in Bodo. Now under way is the roll-out of control from Bodo to 15 small airports between now and the end of 2021, with a possible future expansion to a total of 36.
Based on some very early tests, there were also concerns about the difficulty of obtaining a very high data rate to permit nearly real-time control of an airport from the RTC. But bandwidth keeps getting cheaper. Now certified and in operation, DFS’s RTC in Leipzig is controlling traffic at Saarbrücken, 280 miles away. Two additional airports will be added to that RTC’s responsibilities over the next two years.
The idea that a RTC could deliver better performance than a conventional tower had skeptics several years ago, but they are mostly being convinced by the ability of infrared cameras to see aircraft through fog and rain and to provide much better “out-the-window” views at night than controllers’ eyes can provide. Moreover, their cameras (visual and infrared) can monitor runways that cannot be seen from an existing physical tower, which will likely permit Heathrow to avoid building a new tower when its third runway is actually added. (Too bad this technology was not available for two-tower DFW or three-tower O’Hare.)
Conventional wisdom a few years ago maintained that while a remote tower may be fine for small, low-traffic airports, it could not handle a large hub. That is not the view of Katrin Scheidgen of DFS Aviation Services. She told Air Traffic Management’s David Hughes that, “Technically, it is less challenging to provide control through remote technology at a large hub airport. Hubs usually have better surveillance and a more homogeneous traffic mix of mostly IFR movements, which a remote tower system can handle more easily.” London Heathrow already has a contingency remote tower capability, and one is under development for Singapore Changi. And for medium hub Budapest, HungaroControl’s remote tower is now fully capable of handling all the airport’s traffic, but for the time being, the ANSP is using it for training and as a contingency facility—though it may well replace the physical tower in the future.
We are also starting to get a handle on cost savings. U.S. control tower developer Bill Payne told David Hughes that just building the road to reach the site of a physical tower can cost as much as the structure since it must handle heavy airport fire and rescue trucks. The tower must also have an elevator and water, sewer, and power lines—none of which is needed for an at-ground facility added to an existing airport building. Dieter Eier of Frequentis USA estimates that airports needing a new or replacement tower should be able to save 50 percent by using a remote tower instead.
The sad part of this story is that America’s ANSP—the FAA Air Traffic Organization—is still not engaged with remote towers. To be sure, there are two pilot projects under way with the agency’s blessing and monitoring (in Leesburg, VA, and Loveland, CO)—but no funding. Last year’s FAA reauthorization bill nominally created an FAA remote towers program, but Congress has still not appropriated any funding for it. The Defense Department, by contrast, has an RT program under way, with fixed sites at Homestead Air Force Reserve Base and Jacksonville Naval Air Station, both in Florida, plus two deployable RTs for use in the field.
Corporatized ANSPs are leading the way in this paradigm shift, with a number of them forming joint ventures with RT companies to market this new approach in other countries. NATS and Nav Canada jointly own RT developer Searidge. The ANSP of Sweden, LFV, has formed a joint venture with Saab to develop and market RTs. Germany’s DFS and Frequentis have launched DFS Aerosense for the same purpose, as has Norway’s Avinor launching Ninox with Kongsburg and Indra Navia. But as a government department, the FAA’s ATO cannot invest in a business venture of any sort.
Email sent to us by: Spencer Dickerson
Senior EVP Global Operations
AAAE/IAAE
601 Madison Street, Fourth Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone 703/824-0500, ext. 130
-reprinted here with permission
Aviation Groups Object to FAA's Pilot Drug Study
by Gordon Gilbert in AINonline - April 17, 2019
"Nine groups representing general aviation and airline pilots have expressed their “strong opposition” to a proposed FAA study aimed at assessing the use of medications and other drugs among pilots by anonymously collecting and testing their urine during physical exams. The study replies to NTSB recommendation A-14-95, initially published in 2014 but for which the FAA submitted its final response last year."
"HEADS-UP" GPS Military Interference Testing Comments by Richard Eastman, CFI
"Heads-Up" ... "Heads-Up" ... "Heads-Up"
This weekend -- April 5 and 6 in particular -- is fraught with a cross-over of multiple possibilities involving GPS testing AND VIP movement!!!
Now, if you "break" into the VIP TFR, be sure to double-check the GPS testing in effect. It's possible, though doubtful given the relatively new nature of aviation GPS, that your entire GPS system will have "transported" you to a different place!!! Or, you might be able to make the claim (or not)!
1. There are two GPS Testing events on the "event" schedule this weekend ... one which will be ongoing through mid-April (the 19th)
2. There is the GPS "roll-over" on April 6 which is when is when the 10-bit binary system used in Global Positioning Systems reaches its limit -- and will reset to Week 0 (zero)! According to some news media, your car or airplane could all-of-a-sudden find itself in the middle of the Pacific ... or the Great Plains ... while you're driving down the main streets of Los Angeles in your car; OR ... in the middle of the VIP TFR planned for the 6th in the Los Angeles Basin even though you're flying in Palm Springs or Bakersfield. "They say" (whoever "they" is) such a "transition" is unlikely -- unless you have an "older" GPS system. But "older' isn't really well defined either! The specific time of the "roll-over" isn't clear ... beyond that it is supposed to happen on the 6th.
3. Per SkyVector.Com and NOTAM 6373, there is a VIP TFR scheduled to be in effect from roughly 2PM to something close to 8PM on the 5th. Unknown at the moment is whether "the VIP" will overnight in the Los Angeles Basin or not.
It's probably not unreasonable to think that the "conventional" GPS testing that is noted in #1 above is, at least on the 5th and 6th, related to the "GPS roll-over" noted in #2. For the most part, the GPS Testing at Nellis AFB takes place on the 6th and 9th ... and will impact most of the LA Basin at 4000' and below.
Fort Irwin testing is unlikely to impact general aviation as its impact over the LA Basin is at 10,000 or above. However, as you fly toward Las Vegas or Blythe, it comes down to the surface. The testing at Fort Irwin takes place on the 5th from Midnight to 11AM and on the 6th from 11:30AM TO 1:30PM. Starting on the 7th, Fort Irwin testing continues daily from Midnight to 11AM and from 11:30 to 1:30 PM.
It is actually a weekend where it's possible that you could be impacted by GPS testing and/or the roll-over -- and if they don't get you, "the VIP" 32 mile protected areas!
.pdf documents on all of these issues are appended.
// Richard
Webmaster Note: You are invited to visit our GPS TESTING PAGE located Under AIRSPACE for testing dates, and some additional comments by Richard Eastman CFI.
Re: Contacting SoCal over KSMO - letter to the Webmaster
I believe Jeff and I solved the issue, but that does not account for the ATC response. Here is the situation.
We were in the special flight rules northbound (about 9:50am PST) from KTOA. Over KSMO I called ATC on 128.75.
The controller asked "please state location and altitude only" so I said 4500 over Santa Monica VOR."
He responded "You should check your charts, contract So Cal on 134.2 or 124.6."
Unprepared for the "check your charts" comment I missed the first frequency but caught the second. In order to reduce air chatter I acknowledged the second frequency and changed. On the 124.6 frequency the controller was fine and professional.
My complaint is that I had used the box closest to SMO which said "CTCSOCAL APP ON 128.75" and received "schooling" which distracted my attention while I was navigating the busiest airspace in the world. A more professional reply would simply be "contract So Cal on 134.2 or 124.6."
After reviewing the TAC chart, LA (unlike San Francisco) has blue and magenta boxes for "contact So Cal" details. If I had heard it in my lessons it did not stick, and the chart legend does not distinguish between the colors. I now realize the blue contact boxes are for aircraft entering the bravo area and evidently the magenta boxes are maybe for those transitioning or entering the charlie area, BUT THAT is not applicable for the 134.2 box as I would have been heading away from the Charlie airspace. So if you use the color box of the airspace you are heading away from then the blue frequency was correct!
This creates a conflict in the use of the colored Contact boxes. Do you choose the box based on the color of the airspace departing or entering/transitioning. If I exit special flight rules at KSMO for KSZP would I use 128.75 (I am departing Bravo area) or 134.2 (I am not going toward Charlie for any reason). And if either is valid, why did ATC "school" me?
Having spent most my flight time in the LA area with rare excursions beyond LA or California I had not realized:
1) these contact boxes are not prolific.
2) only blue for bravo areas, but not all have them.
I may have missed in in my lessons, or just not heard it, but after today I now know the difference.
Cheers!
Gary
Last name withheld by request
Letter from Dennis Muilenburg (Boeing) to airlines, passengers and the aviation community
March 18, 2019
We know lives depend on the work we do, and our teams embrace that responsibility with a deep sense of commitment every day. Our purpose at Boeing is to bring family, friends and loved ones together with our commercial airplanes—safely. The tragic losses of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and Lion Air Flight 610 affect us all, uniting people and nations in shared grief for all those in mourning. Our hearts are heavy, and we continue to extend our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board.
Safety is at the core of who we are at Boeing, and ensuring safe and reliable travel on our airplanes is an enduring value and our absolute commitment to everyone. This overarching focus on safety spans and binds together our entire global aerospace industry and communities. We’re united with our airline customers, international regulators and government authorities in our efforts to support the most recent investigation, understand the facts of what happened and help prevent future tragedies. Based on facts from the Lion Air Flight 610 accident and emerging data as it becomes available from the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 accident, we’re taking actions to fully ensure the safety of the 737 MAX. We also understand and regret the challenges for our customers and the flying public caused by the fleet’s grounding.
Work is progressing thoroughly and rapidly to learn more about the Ethiopian Airlines accident and understand the information from the airplane’s cockpit voice and flight data recorders. Our team is on-site with investigators to support the investigation and provide technical expertise. The Ethiopia Accident Investigation Bureau will determine when and how it’s appropriate to release additional details.
Boeing has been in the business of aviation safety for more than 100 years, and we’ll continue providing the best products, training and support to our global airline customers and pilots. This is an ongoing and relentless commitment to make safe airplanes even safer. Soon we’ll release a software update and related pilot training for the 737 MAX that will address concerns discovered in the aftermath of the Lion Air Flight 610 accident. We’ve been working in full cooperation with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Transportation and the National Transportation Safety Board on all issues relating to both the Lion Air and the Ethiopian Airlines accidents since the Lion Air accident occurred in October last year.
Our entire team is devoted to the quality and safety of the aircraft we design, produce and support. I’ve dedicated my entire career to Boeing, working shoulder to shoulder with our amazing people and customers for more than three decades, and I personally share their deep sense of commitment. Recently, I spent time with our team members at our 737 production facility in Renton, Wash., and once again saw firsthand the pride our people feel in their work and the pain we’re all experiencing in light of these tragedies. The importance of our work demands the utmost integrity and excellence—that’s what I see in our team, and we’ll never rest in pursuit of it.
Our mission is to connect people and nations, protect freedom, explore our world and the vastness of space, and inspire the next generation of aerospace dreamers and doers—and we’ll fulfill that mission only by upholding and living our values. That’s what safety means to us. Together, we’ll keep working to earn and keep the trust people have placed in Boeing.
Dennis Muilenburg
Chairman, President and CEO
The Boeing Company
Back in February, I attended the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) WEST 2019 Expo at the San Diego Convention Center. While there, I was able to fly a F-35B Demonstrator Simulator. The following is a description I sent to a good friend of mine (a retired USMC Major General and Aviator) the day after my attendance. Read his observation HERE
Original article appeared 3/21 - Editor's note: This article was updated March 22 after further analysis of NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System reports. The review of the reports and the MAX 8's MCAS reveal that the incidents in the ASRS reports were unlikely to be caused by the MCAS. Edits were also made to correct reference to the Boeing 737 MAX 8's tail. The aircraft has a stabilizer. Read it HERE
Richard McSpadden - Executive Director of AOPA Air Safety Institute - Richard McSpadden lead’s AOPA’s ASI, committed to reducing General Aviation mishaps by providing free educational resources and supporting initiatives that improve General Aviation safety and grow the pilot population.
The aviation industry faces a worldwide shortage of qualified pilots. Numerous agencies cite the need to hire thousands of new pilots over the next two decades. Read the Story HERE