FLIGHT LOG

Pell City Squadron Alabama Wing Civil Air Patrol

October 2009
CALENDAR
Oct. 1st 3rd 8th 10th 15th 22th 29th Cadet meeting1800-2030 Ashville Air-show/ WESS @ MXF Cadet Meeting 1800-2030 Officers Meeting 1830-2030 Commanders Call MXF Cadet meeting1800-2030 Cadet Meeting 1800-2030 Officers Meeting 1830-2030 Cadet Meeting 1800-2030

before a night flight. Go ahead and change the batteries in that flashlight too. This is also a good tip for non pilots. It is this time of year when you are more likely to need the flashlight in your car or at home. The time will be changing at the beginning of the next month so go ahead and make sure you have your replacement batteries for your smoke alarms and flashlights. As I have stated in the past, as a CAP member we need to be prepared to deploy on a mission at a moments notice. Lets make sure that not only are we ready but also that our equipment is ready for tasking.

Commanders Corner:
It is official, fall is here!! We have finally gotten a nip in the air and we are well into football season. With the arrival of fall we are also experiencing less light during the day. This is a good time to check to see when the last time you had your night currency reinstated. You do not want to get caught out on a mission and be unable to return to base because you are no longer night current. Remember you will need to have three landings to a full stop to remain current. It is also a good idea to just go out and fly at night. It is a different world at night; your depth perception is very different. You are no longer able to see that hill between you and the runway. Remember if it looks like someone is turning off the light on the ground in front of you there may be an obstruction between you and the light. Check your altitude. Night flying is very close to instrument flying due to the fact that you no longer have a visible horizon. Preparation is also very important

http://www.aopa.org/members/files/t opics/night.html

Capt. Chris Iddins Squadron Commander, 118

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First Lieutenant Ron Harlan

Safety Corner:
Some of you may remember that the ALWG was involved in an aircraft search on Feb. 2, 2007 that resulted in our commander, Chris Iddins, being in the flight crew that found the missing C172 in the vicinity of Bessemer. The occupants of the aircraft had taken off from an airport in MO and were enroute to the Troy, AL airport. The pilot and his wife perished in the crash. If your memory is really good, you may remember that on Oct. 11, 2006, our squadron and many other CAP units participated in a search for a Beechcraft that had departed Auburn enroute to an airport in TN. The aircraft was found on Burgess Peak (near Cheaha) at an elevation of about 1800 MSL. The lone pilot perished in the crash. These two regrettable incidents have something in common that I wish to discuss; VFR flight into Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). We have just come through a month of unusually bad flight conditions, but, it can get worse as we head on into fall and winter. Both of these pilots, one with a commercial rating and the other with an instrument rating participated in one of the most dangerous flight activities that exists for GA pilots, VFR flight into IMC. I dont know the thinking that encouraged these pilots to do what they did but I know, from the accident reports, that their actions are far from rare and that the result of encountering IMC and a subsequent accident is almost always fatal. So why would a CAP flight crew ever depart on a mission if the weather were marginal for VFR? Well, if we are charged with doing a visual search for an aircraft or for storm damage surveillance or other visual activities, obviously we need to be below the clouds to actually see our intended target. These flights are routinely done and usually without adverse impact on the safety of the crews.

But what if the crew encounters some of the same conditions that the two unlucky flights above did? Is there a way out? Yes. several, in fact. First, if you are in worse weather than you were a few minutes ago, try to go back from whence you came. Second, if cant get back to better weather, take a hard look at landing at the nearest airport with visibility and ceilings that will accommodate your safe contact with the ground. Third, if things are closing in all around and you can still see the ground below you, consider an off-airport landing in a field or on a road. Fourth, and if you are an instrument rated pilot, you may want to put this option up at the top, consider filing a pop-up instrument flight plan. A pop-up flight plan can be filed in-the-air with any ATC contact. If you are slugging it out and dodging low hanging scud, seeing the tops of towers and ridges disappear into the clouds and the way back doesnt look any better than the way forward, you may be a prime candidate for a pop-up instrument flight plan. In one of our safety discussions, Noel Harvey, a CFI, mentioned the Three Cs concept, Climb, Confess, and Comply in that order. If you find yourself in that situation, you are participating in one of the most dangerous activities in flying, proceeding VFR into IMC. As mentioned above, it is not likely to result in a good outcome unless you take immediate and positive action. Yes, you will probably be embarrassed that you continued into such a situation but, you have to be alive to feel this emotion, and it is a lot better than forever being a talking point from the NTSB accident records. Of course, there are risks involved in climbing into the clouds without a clearance but they pale in comparison to your staying below and dodging towers and hills and possibly ending up like our two subjects above. Dont go telling everyone that your safety officer said it is OK to do what is above, this is to be considered a LIFELINE, not a flight plan.

Stay Safe! Ronald Harlan, Safety Officer/Squadron 118

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Cadets Page
Changing of the Guard:

FTX
On Sep 18 the cadets of Squadron 118 held their squadron FTX for the purpose of being in a field environment. It was hosted by the Bennett family in Oxford, AL. This opportunity was provided to the cadets in order to prepare them for the Wing WESS scheduled for Oct. 3rd. Unfortunately, the WESS event was partially rained out. It is training such as this that helps the ground teams of the Pell City squadron become mission ready.

Maj. John Randolph (center), Capt Iddins, Lt. Bennett (right),C/1st Lt Peter Randolph(left)

On Sept 10th the Pell City Squadron conducted the change of command ceremonies for the Deputy Commander of Cadets. Major Randolph handed the flag over into the very capable hands of 1st Lt Bennett. Major Randolph will continue to support the squadron as the communications officer and the personnel officer. Likewise, Lt. Bennett will continue as the Aerospace officer. If you were not able to attend the ceremony be sure and congratulate Lt Bennett on her new position. Capt. Iddins

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Squadron 118 Has a New Home

A new home page, PellCityCAP.org, is our new worldwide web home. Among the obvious contact information and meeting announcements, the new web site currently features an events section, a news section and a picture gallery. Other features include a blog; each for both our Squadron Commander and our Safety Officer. Ive also set up a Favorites section that lists the wide array of CAP related web sites we all use scattered amongst various domain names. Also included in the favorites section is a collection of flight planning related web sites each with their own unique set of tools. If you have a favorite flight planning site you use thats not listed please share it with me and I will post it. Last, but not least, in the favorites are a few learning related sites which we can all benefit from.

While the site is new and a bit empty at the moment, it has great potential and flexibility. It will not only serve as a greeting and recruiting tool for those looking for a way to contribute to our cause, but will also be a valuable tool for our members. However, the burden of upkeep doesnt have to fall on one or two people. The web site is very flexible and easy to update. No complicated programming is needed to maintain the site. I can show you in five minutes how easy it is. If you have pictures from an event that you would like to share, I can show you how to upload them to a picture gallery. If you have something on your mind that youd like to share, I can set up a blog for you. Or if you simply have an idea for a new section of content just let me know and Ill set it up. YOU too can contribute to making this an even greater tool.

SM Jay Gamblin IT officer/ Squadron AL-118

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persons were 15 to 20 times higher. This has been true both in the United States and in the Southern Hemisphere during their flu season.) Laboratory tests on blood samples indicate that older people likely have some pre-existing immunity to the 2009 H1N1 flu virus.

Health News You Can Use More about Influenza As discussed in the last newsletter, flu season is upon us earlier than ever this year! With that in mind, heres some follow-up to the information provided in September. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over of the states in this country reveals widespread outbreaks of the flu by geographic location for the week ending September 26, 2009 (does not indicate how much of the population has been affected) http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm . This data also does not indicate how many cases of swine (H1N1) flu have been diagnosed. As many of you are aware, there are now many places to obtain the influenza vaccine for 2009-2010. To my knowledge, there is no place to receive the H1N1 vaccine yet in this area. It is my understanding that some vaccines are beginning to be sent. Who should receive seasonal influenza vaccines? Unless the vaccine is contraindicated for a specific reason, everyone should receive this vaccine. For the recommendations on who should receive the H1N1 vaccination here are current recommendations:
There has been very little 2009 H1N1 illness in people 65 and older since the 2009 H1N1 virus emerged. This has been true both in the United States and in the Southern Hemisphere during their flu season. Studies of who is most likely to be infected with 2009 H1N1 show that people 65 and older are the least likely to get sick with this virus. (One analysis showed that only 1.3 people for every 100,000 people 65 and older are had been infected with 2009 H1N1. This is compared to 26.7 per 100,000 of those 5 years to 24 years of age and 22.9 per 100,000 in those younger than 5 years old. Rates among younger

Because there has been so little 2009 H1N1 illness in people 65 and older, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that CDC and immunization programs focus on getting the first doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine to those people who are more likely to get infected with the 2009 H1N1 flu virus. This includes all children and young adults 6 months through 24 years old, pregnant women, and adults 25 through 64 years of age who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from flu. In addition, the 2009 H1N1 vaccine is prioritized for people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, and health care and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact. Persons 65 and older are a high priority for seasonal vaccine, just as they have been in past years. Please visit http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.h tm to see a summary of ACIPs 2009 H1N1 vaccine recommendations. (http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/vaccination/vacc ine_seniors.htm )

Please continue to wash your hands often, especially when shopping, at events with large numbers of people and when dining out. When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth/nose and then wash your hands as soon as you can. If you cant cover your mouth/nose then use the upper part of your arm to cough/sneeze into. More information may be obtained by visiting the website of the Centers for Disease Control at: www.cdc.gov

Brenda W. Iddins, MSN, FNP-BC Medical Officer, 1st Lt. CAP 118

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