July 2014 All Hands Meeting

By 2Lt Karin Hollerbach, photos courtesy of Lt Col Juan Tinnirello

1Lt Patrick Bitz

Aerospace Education in Anchorage

1Lt Patrick Bitz discussed his recent trip to the Aerospace Education Officer (AEO) School in Anchorage, Alaska. Thank you to 1Lt Bitz for his dedication to CAP, traveling all the way to Alaska to attend this important training.

Amelia Rose Earhart's Flight Around the World 

Lt Col Juan Tinnirello gave an overview of the events surrounding Amelia Rose Earhart’s departure for her flight around the world, recreating the “original” Amelia Earhart’s flight. Lt Col Tinnirello gave Ms Earhart two Squadron 188 patches to take with her around the world.  When she returns after a successful flight, Ms Earhart will keep one of the patches, and our squadron will proudly keep the other one, as a memento of this historic event. Ms Earhart’s progress was kept updated here throughout her flight.

Ramp Checks

2d Lt Robert Adams

The squadron will begin its ramp check program starting this month. For everyone conducting ramp checks, the following should be kept in mind:

• Safety first!
• Please conduct a brief vehicle inspection before any ramp check.
• Follow all posted signs and regulations.

2d Lt Robert Adams is leading the ramp check program.  We are still looking for a couple of additional people to join the existing teams and help keep the airport safe. For questions on how to participate, please contact 2Lt Adams directly.

Welcome, New Member!

A warm welcome to our latest new member, SM John Matheson.  SM Matheson is not only a pilot, but also a CFII (Certified Flight Instructor - Instrument) and an A&P (Airframe & Powerplant maintenance).  With any luck, we’ll have another Form 5 flight coming up soon…

Maj Noel Luneau and Maj Maggie Wang

Awards

New Ratings
Congratulations to:

• Maj Maggie Wang for completing her Technician rating for Communications 
• 2Lt Hollerbach for completing her MSA rating
• SM Timothy Roberts for completing his MRO rating

Red Service Award
Congratulations to Capt Louis Rivas for achieving his 5-year Red Service Award.

Maj Luneau and 1Lt Jordan Hayes

CAP Achievement Award
Congratulations to 1Lt Jordan Hayes for being honored with the CAP Achievement Award, in recognition of his work on this year’s Oakland DRE and the prior year’s Oakland SAREX.

Command Pilot Rating
Congratulations to Maj Noel Luneau for achieving the Command Pilot rating, in recognition of his 2000 hours of pilot in command (PIC) time and 5 years of being a CAP pilot.






Safety Briefing – Group 2 and other California Airports!

Capt Georgios Michelogiannakis led a safety discussion about some of the challenges specific to operating out of California Wing Group 2 airports. Some highlights:

CCR

• Lots of hotspots: this airport has many taxiways and runways – see the airport diagram!
• Challenging VOR 19R approach

OAK

• Rwy 33 runup area is missing
• Where do you do the runup for 28R?
• Tricky approach into Rwy 33
• Be clear on the departure and approach procedures
• Caution – airlines may use 28R
• Frequent TFRs near the airport 
• There are 2 ground frequencies – be clear on which one to use

PAO

• Short runway
• “The parallel” refers to taxiway Z
• Frequent birds on short final



Capt Georgios Michelogiannakis

• Class B airspace nearby

RHW

• Be clear on whether tower has cleared you to 31R or 31L
• Taxiway Y only for closed pattern traffic
• Taxiway Z has no visibility into hangars
• Only WAAS enabled aircraft can get decent approach minimums

WVI

• Busy!  And not all aircraft have radios
• Used by skydivers and gliders
• Very susceptible to fog
• Although there’s no more decent food on the field, there is cheap gas!

We also discussed some of California’s airports that were the most challenging, had the shortest and the narrowest runways, and had the most obstacles and the greatest winds.  If you have any stories about your favorite (i.e., most challenging! :) you do like challenges, right?) airports in California, please share them in the comments section!