FLIGHTLINE. How Safe Is The ITO?

Transcription

1 EAA CHAPTER 119 FLIGHTLINE EAA Chapter 119, 60 Aviation Way, Watsonville Airport, Watsonville CA February 2013 How Safe Is The ITO? By Dan Chauvet At a recent pilot meeting at the WAEC Building, I overheard a discussion about the safety of low visibility takeoffs. This subject has been much deliberated. Some years ago at San Jose Airport two airliners were parked in the run-up area next to runway 30L waiting for the visibility to improve to takeoff minimums. Then the FAR Part 121 minimums were RVR 2400 feet. Meanwhile small aircraft were continually departing. A passenger called the stewardess (OK, flight attendant) over and asked why they were not departing while all those little airplanes continued to depart. So the stewardess went up the cockpit and asked the pilots. The pilots called ground control and complained. If it is unsafe for the airlines to make low visibility takeoffs, then it must be more unsafe to little airplanes to depart. The ground controller told the pilots that small airplanes operating under Part 91 have no minimums; and if they didn t like it to contact the FAA. So they did. The result was the FAA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NRPM). Part 91 would require the same minimums as Part 121, or more. There was a howl of protest from General Aviation. AOPA immediately did research of the accident statistics on instrument takeoffs (ITOs). They found that ITOs were one of safest IFR operations, far safer than instrument approaches and as safe as VFR takeoffs. FAA found the NPRM unjustified, and cancelled it. Now the airlines minimums are nearly nothing, after scrutiny of safety vs takeoff visibility. Why is the safety record on ITOs so safe? Maybe it s because instrument pilots are more proficient? And maybe instrument pilots are more meticulous with maintenance? With the airplanes I owned and operated, I knew I would be flying when I wanted to go (mostly), including at night, and in instrument conditions. Proactive maintenance reduces the chances of exciting experiences. Shortcuts on maintenance forget that. If I thought the engine might quit, I wouldn t takeoff either VFR or IFR. Confucius say, keep glutimous maximus in one piece. A couple of years ago when I was getting my instrument rating at Hillsboro, OR the weather was zero-zero. My instructor, Dave Barber, went on vacation and I had Carl Poshwatta for a substitute. Dan, how many hood takeoffs have you done? About four or five. How did they go? I don t know, couldn t see. Good. Let s go. After a careful preflight we slowly taxied out doing the instruments check, and lined up on runway 30. I set the heading indicator carefully and made sure it was not caged. After adding power we gave it a quick shot of carb heat. During the takeoff I asked Carl, how does it look? In my peripheral vision he leaned forward, took a handkerchief and wiped away some inside condensation, peered through the hole and made an evil laugh, Yah, hah, hah. Since then I wouldn t even guess how many low vis ITOs I ve made. Many were as instructor, and in many different airplanes. Thinking back, I can t remember firsthand any low visibility takeoff accidents. Nothing is beyond the realm of possibility. In an emergency there is a mnemonic, MAT, that pilots should know. M stands for Maintain aircraft control. A: Analyze the problem. T: Take appropriate action. If an engine failed while airborne after takeoff in a single-engine airplane Maintain aircraft control means keep a safe airspeed by lowering the nose from maybe 7-10 degrees up to at least 10 degrees down on the attitude indicator. Analyze might consist of a shallow turn, if the pilot knew of a better area to arrive at Tierra Firma. Take appropriate action (if you had time) would be extending flaps to arrive slowly. In a twin engine airplane, an engine failure after takeoff requires the pilot to know exactly what to do. Maintain control requires initial decrease in pitch from about 10 degrees nose up, to lowering the nose to about one or two degrees above the horizon line, or the little airplane sitting level on top of the horizon line. Holding the wings level and holding heading requires rudder control, which indicates which engine has failed (Analyzing). Taking appropriate action includes completion of the memory items to reduce drag (flaps up, gear up, prop feathered). Twin pilots must have recurrent training to be safe; simulators are better than the airplane for practicing engine failures after takeoff. For the qualified (and in-practice) pilot, have at it; ITOs are safe.

2 PAGE 2 President s Corner by Chris Laws I want to let you know a little about what the board has been discussing over the past few months. The main issue has been re-drafting the lease between the City of Watsonville and EAA 119 for the use of the hanger. Gryphon began this last year. Scott looked over it further and we discussed his recommendation for changes at the last board meeting. We have a final draft that we are ready to present to Rayvon. We hope to sign it sometime this year. The new lease is for a five year term. We have a digital copy if anyone wants to see it. We also talked at the board meeting about redoing the floor plan a bit and how to better use our space. We are looking at doing some spring cleaning and making the space work for better for the school EAA CHAPTER 119, 60 AVIATION WAY, WATSONVILLE AIRPORT and EAA. While on the subject of cleaning, we had our first scheduled Airport Blvd Clean up. We decided at the Chapter meeting to hold the clean-up every 2nd Saturday of the month at 10 o clock to coincide with the antique aircraft display the airport is doing. My 175 was one of a dozen planes on display that day. Thank you to all who came to help clean up. We hope to see more of you next month. Now on to the fun stuff! At our next chapter meeting we ll be having a welding demonstration from David Patino (teacher from the class that meets in the hanger). He will be demonstrating oxy-acetylene, mig, and arc welding. At the last chapter meeting Ken Lockepaddon gave a demonstration on how to make everything from rubber grommets all the way to engine mount bushings by using very simple tools and techniques. You should have been there! I highly encourage other chapter members who have unique and innovative ways of doing things and fabricating things for your aircraft to bring your ideas to the meetings so others may benefit from them. If you have something to show I am willing to work with you and help you present it. In closing it s a pleasure to be a member of this chapter. As president of the chapter I m hoping to do as good a job as those who were in this position before me. I have lots of ideas that hopefully will bring some fun and innovative things to our group in regards to building aircraft. Because if this stops being fun then why do it! Golden Gate Bridge from the air by Brian Moffet

3 EAA CHAPTER 119, 60 AVIATON WAY, WATSONVILLE AIRPORT PAGE 3 Chapter News EAA Chapter Minutes Date: 8 January 2013 Time: 7:30 PM PST Place: EAA 1119 Hangar, 60 Aviation Way, Watsonville, CA Type: Chapter Meeting How called: Board decision to hold one week late due to New Years Day holiday. How notified: Chapter Newsletter and Website calendar. Treasurer report Meeting notes Checking: $ <TBA> Savings: $ <TBA> Chapter Awards for 2012 Young Eagles Status Report 2013 Tom Hail, EAA119 Young Eagles Coordinator I thought I d provide a status report on the Chapter 119 Young Eagles program as I occasionally get asked for some numbers and we have some issues for the future. EAA119 has safely provided 4912 rides to kids since the beginning of the program in 1992 according to the Young Eagles Logbook at logbook/. This number may not be totally accurate since I think the accounting and attempts to read handwriting have resulted in some error, but I like it so I ll keep it. For 2012, we provided 246 rides which averages to about 40 kids per month we fly. We scrubbed only one month last year so that was 6 rallies plus a few scattered flights outside of rallies. Of those rides, only 86 earned us Young Eagles points from EAA to apply towards Air Academy tuition and Young Eagles expenses. So this year we should have about $430 from the Young Eagles points. Points are earned only after the tenth ride each pilot provides. So thanks are in order for those pilots this year: Name 2012 Total YE Flights Points John Nogatch Benjamin Rolfe Brian Moffet Tom Hail Richard Yee Lou Pavesi 11 1 John Cowan of WPA Trash pickup will be 10am on 2nd Saturdays JR published in Aviation Safety JR s podcast at AVSTRY.COM Sport Air Workshops return in March John Cowan asked for audio/visual help for WPA meetings Gryphon volunteered since he is attending as the AOPA rep Replacing Ken Lauderbach Presentation Ken Locke-Paddon presented construction and tool techniques Chapter 119 Membership continued on page 4 Flightline is published monthly and sent to all Chapter 119 members either by or in hard copy. Membership in Chapter 119 is $15 per calendar year. Checks payable to EAA 119. Mail to: 60 Aviation Way, Watsonville, CA 95076

4 PAGE 4 continued from page 3 EAA CHAPTER 119, 60 AVIATION WAY, WATSONVILLE AIRPORT We had a total of 20 pilots fly for us this year, three new to our rallies. We welcomed Brian Rosenthal, Dan Pierson, and Steven Blackwell who provided a ride in the yellow Stearman to our 2011 Air Academy scholar Tina Arthur. Thanks to all the pilots. To those who haven t flown recently or at all, consider joining us. As you can see, a majority of the kids flown are by a few pilots, we could use more. It is a very rewarding, easy to do way to promote our airport and maybe spark a new pilot to get trained. There is a statistic that says that more than 50% of American pilots under 30 years of age got their first rides as a Young Eagle. The program is worthwhile and a real contribution. Talk to me if you want to start flying. Also thanks to all the volunteers who made the rallies work so well this year! Alex Solano and his family, Michelle Clarke for her efforts to keep the processes flowing and the safety briefings she gave, Juan Carlos for keeping the ramp safe, Leslie Grate for getting the kids assigned to airplanes with all that demands, Jim Doherty for his ground schooling for over 200 kids, and Chris and Tracy Laws for seemingly to be doing everything else! And these are just the regulars, the RC Bees come out and display and many Young Eagles help out as well. For 2013, the schedule for the normal rallies will be the same, first Saturday May through November with an advertised 11am start of flights. Since the air show will be August 30 to September 1st, the first Saturday is September 7th and doesn t have to move this year. The next Santa Cruz PRIDE rally will be on March 16th at 10am and I really could use some pilots for that. These kids are not problem kids and are not any different from our regular rally kids. But for some reason I ve had trouble getting pilots for the PRIDE rally lined up. Fortunately the last two rallies have been rained out so the problem wasn t with enough pilots. Sam Bishop provided a lot of rides in 2011 by himself. For the new Second Saturday events at WVI, I ll try to get a display up in the airport lobby each month. That would be a good opportunity for more pilots to see what we do and hopefully come out to fly. Shared Adventures has decided to not have Day in the Sky as in the past in April. They are going to have instead an Accessibility event on the first Saturday of May which they will run. It happens to be the same Saturday as our first Young Eagles rally and it is anticipated a few families may wander over from there. That should be ok, we now have waiver forms for non-young Eagles to ride with kids if necessary, all at the pilot s discretion. If EAA National for some reason says no way may we have a rally the same day, then we ll move it or cancel. I strive to run a safe and fun event and am always open to suggestions. Feel free to contact me through the info at the end of this newsletter.

5 PAGE 5 EAA CHAPTER 119, 60 AVIATION WAY, WATSONVILLE AIRPORT Wanted / For Sale Hangar Space to Share Large hangar at South County (E16) held by EAA 110 looking for 4 th tenant. Space previously rented by EuroFox. Hangar rent is $921/month + annual property tax on hangar divided by tenants. Contact Mary Doherty FOR SALE: Tecnam P2002 Sierra LSA: 2 year warranty, Garmin GTX327 + SL40, PM3000 intercom, toe breaks, night lighting, external power receptacle and BRS prep kit / harness. Always hangared. $129,999 Call For Sale, light sport instrument panel with airspeed, tach, egt, and more - Contact Bob Carr - (800) Partnership in my IFR Watsonville-based polished aluminum Cessna 150F Contact Bob Carr - (231) X 30 Hanger at Marina to share. My PL-1, which is a low wing is on one side and a 152 fits in also. Any thing that would fit. A project would be nice. Rent for the whole space is $350 Half is $175. Contact Steve Adams, (831) , sgadams@onebox.com CLEAN 1957 CESSNA 182A. TT Engine 730 SMOH, prop 10 since prop rebuild. Only $38,000. King Avionics, Complete logs since new. Annual due Aug Ready to fly! Contact Doug Glass at (831) or (831) /Chapter 119 Officers and Position Holders President Chris Laws chris@k6rmw.net Vice-President Gryphon McArthur info@eaa119.org Secretary Tom Hail thail@sbcglobal.net Treasurer Tracy Laws tracy@k6rmw.net Director Scott Randolph scott@randolphs.net Director Ken Locke-Paddon kenpaddon@aol.com Director Richard Yee ryee@cruzio.com Director Jim Doherty Director Sean Farrell spfarrell10@yahoo.com Young Eagles Coordinator Tom Hail thail@sbcglobal.net Tech Advisor Dennis Thomas Dthomas773@sbcglobal.net Tech Advisor / Flight Advisor J.R. Warmkessel Flying@warmkessel.com Flight Advisor Larry Baker larrybaker@arthlink.net Webmaster Richard Yee webmaster@eaa119.org Newsletter Brian Moffet moffetb@cruzio.com Copy Editor Naomi Brokaw wordstakewing@skyhighway.com

6 Watsonville Chapter 119 Experimental Aircraft Association Watsonville Municipal Airport 60 Aviation Way Watsonville CA Events Calendar Feb 5, 2013 EAA Chapter Meeting, 7:30 pm EAA Hangar. Watsonville Airport. Feb 20, 2013 Monterey Bay Ninety-Nines Meeting. 7:00 pm start, 60 Aviation way, Watsonville, CA Feb 27, 2013 Watsonville Pilots Association Meeting. 7:00 PM start, 60 Aviation Way, Watsonville, CA. Feb 9, 2013 Second Saturday at Watsonville Airport. Aircraft Jan 30 - Feb 1, 2013 Display, Special Fule Pricing. Runway 08/26 will be closed for remarking to runway 09/27.