San Jose Senior Squadron 80
Safety Shorts for October 97

This collection of safety briefings is intended to provide a selection of safety related topics suitable for review at the beginning of each squadron meeting. I have tried to keep things entertaining as well as informative. Please select a topic from the list, review it at the beginning of the squadron meeting and initial that it has been discussed. The completed sheet will be filed along with the quarterly safety report at group.

Thanks

1) Night time can be a great environment for optical illusions. It was a clear moonless and very dark night with excellent visibility. About 15 miles out, I started my descent. I noticed another plane directly ahead of me, strobes flashing. When I was 9.5 miles from the airport the other plan called the tower for transition saying that he was 9 miles out and was a helicopter. I immediately realized that there was a problem. My eyes were telling me he was still miles ahead of me, yet his position report indicated that he was far closer to me than I had thought...possibly only a half mile away. I passed about 100-200 feet under the helicopter, which scared both of us. My complete misjudgment of the distance between us resulted from the initial assumption that he was an airplane. I kept looking at the strobes and the distance between them, and assuming it was an airplane. Instead it was a helicopter with the strobes only five feet apart, not 35 feet as in most small airplanes.

2) Are you familiar with the hazards of flying in heavy rain? It can seriously effect the aerodynamic qualities of the wing by reducing lift by 17% and significantly increasing drag by as much as 70%. This can cause the aircraft to stall prematurely, even before the stall warning is heard! These effects are more pronounced and potentially more hazardous in high lift situations such as final approach. If a go-around in heavy rain is required, avoid high angle of attack / rapid climbs. The best way to cope with this situation is detailed pre-flight planning so you don’t find yourself in heavy rain. Before and during your flight use all of the appropriate weather acronyms: FSS, ATIS, AWOS, ASOS, TIBS, TWEB & EFAS. If you are a pilot and you’re not familiar with some of these, you should review chapter 7 of the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).

3) A new cadet and his mother stopped for a visit after school. While the adults talked in the driveway, the cadet hopped up to sit on the hood of his mother’s car. Soon he was hustling off the hood swatting at the seat of his pants. They suspected a wasp had stung him until they saw smoke from a spot on the hood. It seems that his weight had pushed the hood down on the battery terminals, which heated up the hood. The heat was so intense that it burned a hole through his shirt, jeans and underwear. It also left a large blister on his bottom. They just don’t make cars like they used to.

4) in 1995 (most current data from the National Safety Council) there were41,000 chain saw related accidents. Here are some precautions to keep in mind: First, read the operating and safety instructions. Here you’ll find techniques to minimize "kickback" which is a phenomenon caused when the nose of the guide bar contacts the log. It can send the saw screaming back towards your body. Some saws are even equipped with devices to prevent kickback; don’t remove these devices! Following the recommended procedures will also minimize binding of the chain in the wood. It goes without saying that eye and hearing protection is a must. Also, wear snug fitting clothes and protective gloves. Don’t start cutting until you have a clear work area with firm footing. Be sure to hold the saw with both hands, with thumbs and fingers encircling the saw handle. Run the saw at full speed and keep the chain sharp; a dull chain is a big contributor to chainsaw accidents. Stand slightly to the side of the cutting plane to reduce the risk in case you lose control of the saw. Don’t overreach or cut above shoulder height; you’ll tire quickly and have less control over the saw.