Sunday, February 12, 2017

AP Ground School at KOAK

By 1st Lt Karin Hollerbach, photos by Lt Col Juan Tinnirello and 2d Lt Alexei Roudnev

AP Ground School Students in Oakland, photo by 2d Lt Roudnev
Capt Eichelberger, Introducing the Class Topics
On 12 February, Squadron 188 hosted a one-day Airborne Photography (AP) Ground School in preparation for training a new group of APs at our squadron headquarters at Oakland airport. AP is rapidly become the top CAP emergency services mission, and we hope to have more and more of our members trained and ready for AP missions.

With approximately 30 participants, class consisted of a group of 11 AP Trainees (AP-Ts), as well as approximately 15 other aircrew and base staff, and several folks who are planning well ahead (not yet eligible to start AP training but know they will want to pursue AP once they do become eligible – thank you for being proactive).

1st Lt Hollerbach Discussing Sortie Planning, photo by
2d Lt Roudnev
We encourage all aircrew and base staff to participate in these AP Ground Schools, regardless of whether they want to go through the complete AP training. AP missions are much more likely to be successful when all participants have a level of awareness of how best to plan for and execute an AP mission.

1st Lt Hartman Discussing Flying AP Sorties
photo by 2d Lt Roudnev
  • Mission Pilots and Mission Observers – can improve their knowledge of AP missions, and learn what their APs will need from them, how to plan for an AP sortie, and how to fly an AP sortie. MPs, MOs and APs must all work together to accomplish the mission. Due to high workloads, there tends to be a higher degree of coordination and communication required than in other missions. 
  • AP Standards – even if you already have your AP rating, AP is a dynamic area for California Wing – things change!  The Ground School is a great opportunity to refresh and update your knowledge.
  • Base Staff – although there is no base staff rating that pertains specifically to AP, it is really helpful for Planning Section Chiefs to understand how to most effectively create target briefing cards, and for anyone working in planning to understand how to process and upload for our customers the resulting photographs. 

Maj Wang Discussing Photo Processing
photo by 2d Lt Roudnev
Instructor staff included
AP Students Learning the Camera Setup, photo by 2d Lt Roudnev
  • Capt Eichelberger, Squadron 188
  • Maj Wang, Squadron 188
  • 1st Lt Hartman, Squadron 80
  • 1st Lt Hollerbach, Squadron 188


Topics addressed in the Ground School included:
  • AP sortie planning including target briefings, operational risk management, and planning tools
  • Pre-flighting the camera equipment
  • Flying the sortie
  • Debriefing an AP sortie
  • Processing and uploading images
  • Aircrew roles and communications
  • Camera equipment setup 
  • Legal questions pertaining to AP
  • Hands-on practice with the cameras 

Finally, a Lunch Break! Photo by Lt Col Tinnirello

Why Isn't that Camera Working? Photo by 2d Lt Roudnev 
Student participants ranged from squadrons throughout Group 2 and 5, with people coming from as far away as Redding, Placerville and Travis.  Squadron 188 students included:
  • Lt Col Tinnirello
  • Lt Col Glenn
  • Capt Hayes
  • Capt Stevulak
  • 1st Lt Fall
  • 2d Lt Roudnev
  • Hands-On Practice in Setting up the Cameras, photo by 2d Lt Roudnev 
  • 2d Lt Roberts

A big thank you to everyone helping out in the planning and implementation of this event, including the instructors as well as those CAP members from other squadrons, who brought their squadron cameras for the hands-on practice portion of this event. Special thanks to Capt Hayes and 1st Lt Roudnev, for helping out with logistics and documentation, as well as 1st Lt Roberts, our Safety Officer.

Diligent Students, photo by Lt Col Tinnirello
Congratulations to all of our new AP-Ts. AP-T graduates of the Ground School will be invited to participate in the upcoming Disaster Relief Exercise (DREX), which will be held on the last weekend in February. We can still use more base staff for the DREX, so please let us know (contact Project Officer 1st Lt Hollerbach or Maj DeFord) if you can help out.  See you later in February!


More Camera Practice, photo by Lt Col Tinnirello

Happy Students, Having Successfully Set up Their
Camera, photo by Lt Col Tinnirello



More Camera Practice, photo by 2d Lt Roudnev 

Thursday, February 9, 2017

All Hands Meeting - February 2017

By 1st Lt Karin Hollerbach, photos by Lt Col Juan Tinnirello and 2d Lt Alexei Roudnev

The meeting was led by Capt Jordan Hayes, and kicked off with Lt Col Juan Tinnirello leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Capt Hayes, photo by
Lt Col Tinnirello

A warm welcome to new member Robbie Cambell, and welcome back to 2d Lt Savino, after a successful move from Michigan Wing (MIWG).

Capt Hayes reviewed the CAP Non-discrimination Policy, as described in CAPR 36-1.

Squadron Monthly Recap

Promotions and Awards

Promotions and awards this month included:

  • SM Aisien was promoted to 2d Lt 
  • Capt Brown received a Find Ribbon 
  • Capt Hayes earned a Red Ribbon (5yr clasp)
  • Congratulations to 2d Lt Aisien, assisted here by her
    husband (L) and Capt Hayes (R), photo by Lt Col Tinnirello
  • 10 Non-Distress Finds were awarded to squadron members in 2016 (out of a total of 40 in CAWG, with 3 going to Maj DeFord)


Missions and Events

In the past month, the squadron participated in the following missions and events:

  • On 30 January, Maj DeFord (Incident Commander, IC3), 1st Lt Choate (Mission Pilot, MP), and 1st Lt Roberts (Mission Observer, MO) participated in a PLB mission in Carmel Valley.
  • Maj DeFord also served as IC3 at an exercise in Riverside.
  • On 14-15 January, 4 squadron members participated in the Squadron Leadership School (SLS)/CLC course held at Travis, including:
  • Congratulations to Capt Brown for her Find ribbon,
    presented here by Capt Hayes, photo by Lt Col Tinnirello
    • Maj Wang, Instructor
    • Capt Stevulak, participant in CLC 
    • 1st Lt Roberts, participant in CLC
    • 2d Lt Roudnev, participant in SLS
  • On 17 January, Lt Col Tinnirello and 1st Lt Hollerbach gave a presentation about CAP at Association of Safeway Retired Executives in Danville.


Other events include:

  • CAP 404 is now located at KRHV. CAP 483 is now located at KLVK, and Capt Eichelberger is Aircraft Manager. 
  • Thanks to 1st Lt Choate, 2d Lt Roudnev, SM Valeur for fixing the comm room door (again). 


ES Ratings & Professional Development
Lt Col Tinnirello (foreground), other squadron members
(background), photo by 1st Lt Roudnev

Renewed/New ES Ratings include:

  • Maj DeFord is our newest CAWG Incident Commander, having earned his IC3 rating
  • Maj Fridell renewed his Form 5, VFR/G1000 
  • Capt Gast renewed his glider Form 5 (Instructor and Orientation)
Professional Development accomplishments include:

  • 1st Lt Hollerbach completed her Level II (Benjamin O Davis, Jr Award – which honors the pioneering military officer who was the leader of the fabled Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, and the first African American to become a General in the Air Force)
A big thank you for 2016 Squadron 188 staff, those who stayed on and those who joined for 2017. The new Personnel Authorization (PA) to be posted shortly.
  • Wing PA: Our squadron has 6 members doing 8 jobs
  • Maj Fridell discussing a topic near and dear to the hearts of
    many pilots: the high cost of flying, photo by 1st Lt Roudnev
  • Group 2: Our squadron has 10 members doing 12 jobs

Congratulations to all!

Aerospace Moment

Maj Fridell presented this month’s aerospace moment about the Sport Pilot rating and Light Sport Aircraft. Come fly with him in an amphibious plane at Lake Berryessa!

Events Coming Up in the Next Few Months 

  • On 12 February, Squadron 188 is hosting a NorCal AP Ground School at KOAK (for more information – please ask Project Officer, 1st Lt Hollerbach)
  • On 25-26 February, Squadron 188 is hosting a NorCal AP DREX at KOAK (for more information – please ask IC, Maj DeFord, or Project Officer, 1st Lt Hollerbach)
  • In mid-July, Brian Lloyd will recreate Amelia Earhart’s around the world flight; he will stop at OAK. Mr Lloyd has an HF radio mounted in his aircraft. For more information, please ask Capt Hayes. 
  • 1st Lt Roberts, giving part 1 of the safety
    presentation, photo by Lt Col Tinnirello
  • On 3 March, the Women in Aviation Day will be held at KLVK. Group 2 will participate, and we will have an aircraft available for ground demonstration. For more information, please ask Lt Col Tinnirello. 


Safety Down Day & Risk Management

This month's safety presentation and, in fact, this year's Safety Down Day, was presented by 1st Lt Roberts and Capt Brown

Discussion of safety themes including

  • Principles of Risk Management: 
    • Accept no unnecessary risk
    • Make risk decisions at the appropriate level
    • Accept risk when benefits outweigh the cost
    • Integrate Risk Management at all levels
  • 6-step process of risk management, starting with identifying the hazards
  • Risk management matrix, including severity and probability of exposure
  • Operational risk management exercise to evaluate the risks associated with the upcoming Ground School. 

Capt Brown, giving part 2 of the safety
presentation, photo by 1st Lt Roudnev
Please remember to also review the following safety related CAP Forms:

  • 62-1 Safety Responsibilities and Procedures 
  • 62-1 Mishap Reporting and Review