SoCAL May 2000

JUNE 2000

SAFETY REVIEWS
SoCal
Riverside
San Diego

SAFETY SEMINARS
For Socal Area
For Long Beach Area
For Los Angeles Area
For Van Nuys Area
For Riverside Area
For San Diego Area

WINGS PROGRAM
San Diego Awards

PREVIOUS ISSUES

SOCAL HOME

Reminder -
Flying Companion Seminar
Saturday June 3 in Costa Mesa - Reservations are required call Pat Prentiss (949) 673-4099

THE SPORTING LIFE
Safety Really is a Team Sport

Playing on a team was a major part of my education from the third grade right through college. Growing up in New Jersey when I did-basketball was king.

Our coach, Vince Fiascenaro. promised we'd be champions if we followed principals of game fundamentals, game strategy and the value of practice and self discipline. These principals became a way of life as we worked toward becoming state champions.

Fundamentals: Each basketball practice or game warm-up began with passing, lay-up shots and free throws.

Experiencing the joy and exhilaration of flight is very much like a winning game. When we spend time in each flight to practice at least some fundamentals such as stalls, slow flight, steep turns or stabilized approaches, we gain skill and increase our pleasure in flying. How about polishing your skills in using the flight manual for:

Detailed Weight and Balance
Fuel and Power Management Calculations
Time and Distance Planning.

Situational Awareness: As we became more experienced players, we learned game strategies. We were able to assess ours and our opponent's strengths and weaknesses. I remember Vince teaching us to use the "key position" play. Once we got our player in the key, she could feed the basketball to anyone one of the team. The setup was so effective that when we ran the "key," our team was assured a good chance to score. Becoming more aware increased my joy in playing and added to the success we had as a team.

The best game strategy for pilots is situational awareness. Knowing our team members and including them in key plays increases our safety. By continuing to develop our knowledge, we are prepared for both the expected and the unexpected. Just as I would loose a chance to score when I didn't recognize the key position set-up, we pilots might loose the chance for a safe flight outcome if we don't recognize and use the resources available to us. This comes with practice. Consider:

Using flight services in new ways
Giving frequent pilot reports
Listening and talking to Air Traffic Control more.

Practice and self-discipline: Our team went to the state finals when I was in the eighth grade. The tournament was played in Jersey City, New Jersey. We were at Seton Hall University, the largest gym I had ever seen. I still remember being seduced by the noise and intense excitement.

Practicing the fundamentals and using preplanned strategies paid off. We weren't missing our shots. Even in those exciting and almost overwhelming conditions, we set up our plays and carried out our game plan. We were very close to winning in a hard fought battle.

I needed to put all of my skill and knowledge to its best use under the intensity of a championship game. During that game, I had not learned the final tool of self discipline.

We won, but I spent last five minutes of the championship game on the sidelines, having fouled out. The frustration and helplessness inside me is still very real. Since then, I have worked hard to develop self discipline in everything I do and in flying especially.

Practice and discipline elevate flying to its joyful best and keep us safe. Sometimes this means risking showing how rusty we are by flying with a CFI. Other times it means the discipline of practicing maneuvers. During a flight, when the chips are down it's no fun to "foul out."

Don't let your team or yourself down. Keep on learning, keep on practicing, and keep on flying. It's a winning combination. Kathleen O’Brien, SPM, LGB FSDO

WHAT ABOUT THE FREE DONUT?

Remember that challenge about runway signs and markings way back in February? Well, there is some very good information available about the subject you can get for yourself.

Runways Incursion and LAHSO (Land and Hold Short Operations) are now being taught at all Pilot Examiner seminars. Examiners are being tested on their knowledge of United States airport signs and markings. That means, you too will be tested on this material when you or your students present themselves for a practical test.

Some of the features we are seeing in the basin are "Stop Bar Lights" and "Clearance Bar Lights. These improvements make taxiing in low visibility and at night more safe. The new markings are outlined in Advisory Circular (AC) 120-57, Surface Movement Guidance and Control System, called (SMGCS.)

The brochure Airport Markings, Signs, and Selected Surface Lighting FAA/ASY-20 95/001 that includes a detachable airport sigh/marking guide designed to fit in an approach plate book. Is available. Call this automated telephone answering service at: (202) 267-7770. Or write to FAA/ASY-20, 400 7th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590. A complete version of the brochure can be obtained on the web at http://www.tc.faa.gov/ZDV/safety/smgcs.html.

SoCal Aviation Safety Seminars

The Aviation Safety Programs Offered by the FAA are Free and Qualify for Wings and AMT Awards. For up to date information on the status of these seminars and to make online reservations visit www.awp.faa.gov/flightstandards

Socal Seminar Times are from 7:00 to 9:00 PM unless otherwise noted. No reservations are required unless noted by *. Never a fee. - For more information contact the Safety Program Manager listed in the FSDO area heading containing the event in question. All FAA Safety Seminars satisfy the requirements of AC-61.91H; the Pilot Proficiency Awards Program (Wings) and /or the Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards Program; AC-65-25A.

Runway Incursions: A Growing Problem At Controlled Airports

The FAA defines a runway incursion as: Any occurrence at an airport involving an aircraft, vehicle, person, or object on the ground that creates a collision hazard or results in loss of separation with an aircraft taking off, or intending to takeoff, landing or intending to land. Runway incursions have been increasing. Extra care and vigilance by pilots is one of the keys to reversing this trend.

Detailed investigations of runway incursions have identified three major areas where pilots can help.

Keep communications clear and concise. Effective pilot/controller communications are key to safe surface operations. Clear understanding of instructions should never be compromised, especially during busy times when the frequency is congested. Listen before you transmit. If able, monitor radio communications to establish a "mental picture" of airport activity. Think before keying the transmitter. Keep communications with the controller clear and concise. Never assume. Ensure you understand all instructions. Read back runway hold short instructions verbatim.

Be Familiar with the airport. It sounds simple - know where you are going. In reality, ground operations can be the most demanding and complex phase of flight. Detailed airport diagrams are helpful. They are available from NOAA and several commercial vendors. Although these diagrams are normally used by instrument rated pilots VFR pilots will also find them useful when performing surface operations.

Follow proper cockpit procedures. Pilots can use proven and effective procedures in the cockpit to help conduct safer operations on the ground and during take off and landing. Maintain a sterile cockpit environment. Avoid unnecessary conversation during surface operations, take off, and landing. Constantly scan outside of the cockpit, especially when on runways. If lost notify Air Traffic Control immediately. Make your aircraft visible by proper use of aircraft lights. If you are unfamiliar with the airport do not hesitate to request progressive taxi instructions. Insure proper radio operation and check audio panel, volume control, and squelch settings. Know and follow lost communication procedures and use good judgement should radio failure occur. Never stop on an active runway after landing to ask for directions. Clear the runway first, once you have passed the holding position markings (hold lines), stop and ask ground control for directions.

Stay alert especially when visibility is low. Extra vigilance is required when visibility decreases and the ability for pilots and controllers to maintain situational awareness becomes more difficult.

Report confusing or deteriorating surface markings and signs. These reports can be made to the tower, airport manager, and to the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS).
.

Wings
Pilot Proficiency Award Program

All pilots holding a recreational pilot certificate or higher and a current medical certificate, when required, may participate in the Wings Program. The Wings Program has 20 phases or levels of participation.

Upon completion of each of the first 10 phases, pilots become eligible to wear and are presented with a distinctive lapel or tie pin (wings) and a certificate of completion.

There are a total of ten distinctive sets of wings for the Land pilot to earn. For the Sea pilot there are an additional three Sea-Wings to earn.
For phases XI through XX of the program the pilot receives the Proficiency Certificate only.

A pilot participating in the wings program need not accomplish the flight review requirements of 14 CFR part 61.56 if, since the beginning of the 24th calendar month before the month in which that pilot acts as pilot in command, he or she has satisfactorily completed one or more phases of an FAA-sponsored Pilot Proficiency Award Program in an aircraft.
There are different training requirements for Airplanes, Seaplanes and Amphibians, Rotorcraft, Gliders, Lighter-Than-Air and even Ultralights. Attendance at an Aviation Safety Program such as the Super Safety Seminar is also required. Come to the SSS and get started on your first Phase of the Wings Program.

AMTs have five phases of awards that they can earn. Bronze, 6hours of training, Silver, 12 hours of training, Gold, 26 hours of training, Ruby, 60 hours of training, and Diamond, 100 hours of training in one year. The AMT can apply for any one of the five awards in a given year. All training must be complete between January 1st and December 31st. Come talk to Fred Christlieb at the Super Safety Seminar to find out how you can start earning your AMT Awards.

Be sure to obtain and read the Maintenance and Pilot News Dispatch, (Yellow News Letter). Available at the San FSDO and San Diego AFSS, or subscribe to the Newsletter Network and get it E-Mailed directly to you. It has more information on the scheduled events in San Diego.

9:30-11:00AM Sat Jun 10 Flying into Big Bear Airport Speaker:* Mike Smith-Chief Pilot Aerohaven L35	Wed Jun 14 *Flight Instructor Seminar: Checking Out In The PA-44-180 Piper Seminole Speaker: Mark Boss-FAA-DPE-VNY		5:30-7:00PM Thu Jun 15 *What Every Pilot Needs to Know About Aviation Oil Speaker: Richard Mend-CFI-AIM-ATP
9:00-11:00AM Sat Jun 17 *Single Pilot IFR Speaker: Richard Mend, CFI-AIM-ATP	5:30-7:00PM Tue Jun 20 *Advanced Pilot Seminar: Basic Turbine Theory Part II Speaker: Richard Mend, CFI-AIM-ATP		Wed Jun 21 *Understanding Wake Turbulence Speaker: Richard Mend, CFI-AIM-ATP

*ATC & AFSS SEMINARS* Note: San Diego area seminars can be found by calling the SAN AFSS at 1-800-WX BRIEF, extension #24, or check the web at www.awp.faa.gov/flightstandards Last minute changes will be updated through these sources.
Southern California TRACON Operation Raincheck Location: So Cal TRACON, 9175 Kearny Villa Rd. Contact: So Cal TRACON for dates, times, and reservations, (858)537-5859	Montgomery Field Air Traffic Control Tower - Operation Sunbreak Contact: Montgomery Field ATCT for dates and times - (619) 277-5601
Gillespie Field Air Traffic Control Tower - Operation Sunbreak Location: Gillespie Field ATC Tower Contact: Gillespie Field ATCT for dates, times, and reservations, (619) 448-1449	Montgomery Field AFSS - Operation Takeoff DATE: Last Saturday of each month - 9:00am - 1:00pm Location: San Diego Automated Flight Service Station - 4302 Ponderosa Avenue Contact Any Operations Supervisor at the AFSS for information - (619)277-0503 RESERVATIONS REQUIRED!

*WINGS AWARDS*
PHASE I Jeffrey R. Acord Todd Dambly Meljohn Gamboa PHASE II James M. Allen	PHASE III James Wang PHASE XIV J. C. Boylls