parkersburg squadron - feb 2009

8/2/2019 Parkersburg Squadron - Feb 2009

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The Primary Missions of Civil Air Patrol “Serving the US, WV and the Mid-Ohio Valley for over 60 Years”

Emergency Services

Cadet Programs

Aerospace Education

February, 2009 Issue 4 www.pkbcap.comLTCLTCLTCLTCOL OL OL OL RON HARMONRON HARMONRON HARMONRON HARMON---- SQ SQ SQ SQDDDDN. N. N. N. COMMANDER COMMANDER COMMANDER COMMANDER

Ready or Not 406 Mhz. is here.

What is 406 Mhz?

Most general aviation aircraft in the U.S. are required to carry an

Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), depending upon the typeor location of operation, while scheduled flights by scheduled air

carriers are not. However, in commercial aircraft, a cockpit voicerecorder or flight data recorder must contain an underwater

detection beacon. The basic purpose of this distress radio beacon

is to get people rescued within the so-called "golden day" (thefirst 24 hours following a traumatic event) when the majority of

survivors can still be saved.

The systems work something like this: An ELT is activated by a

crash, a sinking, or manually by survivors. The ELT’s

transmission is picked up by one or more satellites. The satellite

transmits theELT's signal to its

ground controlstation. The

satellite's ground

station processesthe signals and

forwards the data,

includingapproximate location, to a national authority. The national

authority forwards the data to a rescuing authority. The rescuing

authority uses its own receiving equipment to locate the ELT andmakes the rescue or recovery. The frequencies that are transmittedby ELTs are 121.5 Mhz., 243 Mhz., and 406 Mhz. On Feb. 1st

satellites stopped listening for the 121.5 Mhz. and the 243 Mhz.

leaving just the 406 Mhz.

Some people think that we need to get equipment to monitor &DF (DF is the method used to home in on the signal) a 406 Mhz.

signal. This is erroneous because although the new 406 Mhz. ELT

signal is a 5 watt signal (121.5 Mhz. ELT transmits a .1 wattsignal), it is a data burst that lasts less than half a second and is

This Issue Senior

Profile

Name: George Polen

Rank: Lt. Col

SQN Position: Ops Officer

Small Bio: Born inWindridge, Pa.

1944-45 19 mo. Pre-AviationCadets

1950 graduated WVU PreMed

Recalled Korean War -

Medical Svc Corps

1951-59 Various jobs Lab,Pharm, Supply, Food Service,

Business Office at Orlando,Thule

1959-63 Advisor to Aeromed

Evac, Pittsburg

1963-66 Hq 19th AF/Plans &Programs

Dominican Rep

1966-68 Hosp Exec - Tripoli,Libya

1968-70 Hosp ExecPlattsburgh, NY1970 Retired USAF

1970-77 Hosp Exec

Catskill/Waynesburg

1977-96 Owned/OperatedAssisted Living

P

a r k e r

s b u r g

C i v i l A i r P a t r o l



(Cont. Ready or not 406 Mhz. is here.)

transmitted every minute or so transmitting digital information

such as GPS position, aircraft N number, owners name & phone

number, etc. This signal does not emit a signal that can be heard.We will still be using the same equipment as we have today

because although new 406 Mhz. ELT emits a signal that does not

emit a sound that can be heard, it will however emit a lowerpower 121.5 Mhz. signal also that we can still track. We will just

have to be closer to the aircraft to hear it.

So what will this new change mean to CAP?

We will have less callouts for false alarms since the beacons are

required to be registered with emergency contact numbers - the

idea being that they can call the owner who can confirm that it'snot an emergency and shut the beacon off themselves.

While the FCC requires 406 Mhz. ELT owners to register their

beacons with NOAA, if one fails to register the beacon resulting

in stale data or the owner is not reachable when an ELT goesoff.... We should get the callout just like now.

Not all 406 Mhz. ELT’s have GPS - so we may not get GPS

lat/long - however, the satellites are supposed to do a much better job at estimating the position than they do with 121.5 Mhz. - so

the search radius should be smaller; this is a good thing.

Many models of 406 Mhz. EPIRBS (emergency position-

indicating radio beacons) with GPS were tested and several failedto get a GPS signal in many types of circumstances in which they

might find themselves (stuck in the superstructure, inverted,

underwater, etc). Some of these may translate to crashes (inverted

plane with GPS antenna on top, GPS antenna is knocked off, etc)

or accidental activations (parked in the metal roofed hangar andbumped). Further, some models only get ONE position fix per

activation - so it still might not be where the lat/long fix says it is.

There is no legal requirement to replace a 121.5 Mhz. ELT model

with a 406 Mhz. model, and we may still get callouts based on

reports via overflying aircraft, etc.

So our total missions will likely

decrease, but they will change in

nature somewhat when they do

occur.

This is what the modern precision

direction finder (Becker) that weuse to track ELT’s in our aircraft

looks like. Notice item 10. It

shows GPS-data of position, (data

of latitude and longitude),transmitted by the ELT.

This article represents the

opinion of the author and not

CAP.

Senior Profile Cont.

QUOTE: "Life's battles arenot always won by the

stronger or faster man,

sooner or later the man whosins is the fellow who thinks

he can"

MEMBER" Rotary, MOVAA,American Cancer

Board of Directors.



FYIHello everyone-

I have been advised of a recent TFR violation by a Wing in theMER (It was not a WV Wing aircraft). To prevent such a

violation, all pilots must

obtain a thorough pre-flight

briefing, and then plan theirflights to remain well clear

of the TFR.

Also, the new rule regardingflights in proximity to the

Washington DC area goes

into effect soon. You must

have completed the FAAADIZ training if you fly

within 60 miles of the

Washington (DCA) VOR. Beginning 9 February 2009, you mustalso carry proof of the course completion with you.

If a potential TFR/ADIZ or other airspace violation occurs, call

the NOC. It might help AF North mitigate any violation with the

FAA.

Rodney A. Moore, Col, CAP

CAP has several new benefits to offer members, all of which can

be accessed online through the member services page athttp://level2.cap.gov/index.cfm?nodeID=5172 . The CAP Wireless

Center [http://www.capwirelessonline.com ], a new CAP wireless

provider gives members the opportunity to purchase cell phonesand plans at discounted rates. Willis [http://www.willis.com/cap],

a national insurance broker, partnered with CAP to offer members

health benefit plans for any budget. Flyboys [www.flyboys.com],

a company that sells gear designed for and by pilots, is offering a20-percent discount on all merchandise for CAP members.

American Sentinel University

[http://www.americansentinel.edu/index.php ] now extends toCAP members and their spouses the same educational benefits it

extends to active duty military, veterans and their spouses. This

includes reduced tuition rates and military scholarships.

Regulation Spotlight

Personnel Procedures

ETHICS POLICY

CAP REGULATION 35-10

The purpose of this introductory regulation is to introduce,

confirm, and strengthen, Civil Air Patrol’s policy of maintaining

the highest standards of ethical conduct among its members.Compliance with this regulation is mandatory for all CAP

members, regardless of position or duty assignment.http://level2.cap.gov/documents/u_082503075909.pdf

Commanders Corner

None submitted for this

issue.



Cadet Corner Congratulations C/CMSgt Alancea Grant on earning

the Mitchell Award!

The General Billy Mitchell Award has existed since 1964. This

award honors the late Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, aviation

pioneer, advocate, and staunch supporter of an independent AirForce for America.

The cadet program provides opportunities for the learning,maturing, accepting, and nurturing of leadership to over 27,000

young Americans from 12-20 years of age. With advice and

assistance from CAP members at national, regional, state and

local levels and the US Air Force, cadets are exposed to astructured program of aerospace education, leadership, physical

fitness, and moral and ethical values.

This structured program is divided into 16 segments calledachievements, involving study and performance in the five

program areas. Upon completion of each achievement, the cadet

earns increased responsibility, decorations, awards, eligibility fornational and international special activities, and opportunities for

both flight and academic scholarships. Completing many of the

achievements also earn the cadet a higher grade.

The second milestone of this endeavor is the General BillyMitchell Award which is earned after completing the first eightachievements of the cadet program. In addition, the cadet must

pass an arduous 100 question examination testing leadership

theory and aerospace topics. Since its inception over 30 years ago,over 42,000 cadets have earned this honor.

Being such an important milestone in the CAP cadet program, theMitchell Award is normally presented by a CAP group

commander or higher, the wing director of cadet programs, or a

state or federal government official. Once the cadet earns the

Mitchell Award, they are promoted to the grade of Cadet 2dLieutenant. These cadets, who later enter the CAP's Senior

Member program, are eligible for immediate promotion to CAP2d Lt at age 21.

Those cadets who receive the Mitchell Award are also eligible foradvanced placement in the grade of E-3 (Airman First Class)

should they choose to enlist in the US Air Force (AETCI 36-2002,

Chapter 2, Table 2.1). They are also eligible for advanced creditin the Air Force ROTC program (AFROTCI 36-2011, 2.5.6).

Mitchell Award cadets may also apply for a variety of

scholarships and CAP special activities.

This Issue Cadet

Profile

None Submitted.



UP Coming Events

Feb 20-22 SAREX at Bluefield (Main activity on Saturday –

overnight accommodations available)

Feb 28 WV Cadet Competition All Day (Buckhannon-Upshur

High School)

March National Check Pilot Standardization Course at

Morgantown (Date TBA)

April 4-5 Training Leaders of Cadets Course at Clarksburg 4th

9am-6pm, 5th 9am-3pm

May 16-17 Graded SAR at Clarksburg

June WV/Delaware Joint SAREX at Petersburg (overnight

camping available)

July 11- 18 Cadet Summer Encampment.

August Cadet Glider Encampment at Petersburg (weeklong

glider flying course w/camping at the airport. Theremay be some costs involved. New activity dependent

upon interest and availability of instructors.)____________________________________________________________

Test ScheduleWritten Test Tests for Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Leadership

Chapter 1- Cadets Bills, Lohr, Wetzel

Chapter 5- Cadet Huck Chapter 7- Cadet Childers

Chapter 8- Cadet Grant

AerospaceModule 1- Cadets Delancey, Mitchell, Hill, Lowther

Module 3- Cadet SmithModule 6- S. Bennett

Journey of Flight 1 – Cadet Grant

Milestone TestsWright Brothers- Cadet S. Thomas,

Mitchell- Cadet R. Thomas

Earhart- Cadet Malone

(During the winter months, PT will be held in the hanger. All cadets

will be required to do the shuttle run until warmer weather returns

and we can run the mile outside. The PT test will be held promptly at

5:45. All participating cadets should wear proper clothing for the PTtest and should then quickly change into BDUs for the meeting. Cadets

doing the shuttle run may have one untimed practice run and three

timed attempts at passing the shuttle run.)

The following cadets must pass the PT test prior to taking another

written test:

S. Bennett, Hill, Grant, Lowther, Mitchell, Smith, R. Thomas, Wetzel

Questions, comments, or want to write an article and have it posted on

this newsletter? Just send an email to [email protected].

Safety CornerClothing is used to create anenvironment surrounding your

body that allows you to continueto function and stay comfortable.

Your clothing should protect your

body and help maintain its optimaltemperature even when the outside

conditions are very cold, very hot,or very wet.

Experience has shown that the bestclothing system for the outdoors is

the three-layer method. Having 3

layers of clothing allows for

maximum heat retention and

cooling efficiency in all weather

environments as well as great

flexibility in adapting to the

constantly changing conditions the

outdoors person faces

The 3 layers of clothing system

consists first of an inner layerspecially designed to quickly wick

moisture away from your skin andtoward the outer layers of clothing.

This layer is commonly composed

of various synthetic materials andis relatively thin, often much like a

common t-shirt. When it is warmeror you are exerting yourself and

producing a lot heat, you can wear

this inner layer by itself in order tostay cool and dry.

The middle layer is the maininsulation layer, having the purposemaking dead air space. This space

captures the heat from body and

prevents it from escaping into your

surroundings. The middle layer is

made up of wool, down, or synthet

insulations like fleece, pile, bunting

or lamolite. The thicker or loftier th

layer the greater its heat retainingability. The middle layer should be

loose of fit. The middle layer can b

composed of more than one garmen

For example, if it is cold, a personmight wear two wool sweaters or asweater and a vest.

The outer layer is a heavywindproof shell that prevents the

wind from penetrating into yourinsulation layer and robbing it of

heat. The outer layer should be

waterproof but also allow the

moisture that is being wicked

away from your body by the inner

and middle layers to escape.

parkersburg squadron - feb 2009

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