October 2008 Safety Newsletter

Pennsylvania Wing - Civil Air Patrol

LtCol Barry Metz

Director of Safety

Phone 610-429-9984

It was certainly nice to see so many members interested in Safety at the Wing Conference in September.  Many of the units are using the WMU for reporting their Safety Activities.  However we need to have 100 %, so I will be contacting the various Group Commanders to remind them of this important requirement.  Failure to complete all reports due to Wing may result in loss of funding for that unit.  The directions on how to work with the WMU are available on the Wing Website.

I just returned from my first trip to Argentina.  It was a Safety Officer's nightmare as far as vehicle operations are concerned.  I found out that there are very few stop signs in the whole country and the stop lights are considered to be ready, get set, go if nothing is coming down the cross street. Argentina drivers consider all stop signs (the few that exist), red lights, speed limits and road markings to be only suggestions.  Yet I saw only one minor fender bender and not one driver yelled at another driver or gave a sign to the other driver who just pulled in front of him.   What's the difference between American drivers and those in Argentina?  Well they tend not to get upset or excited in heavy traffic and there is a lot of give and very little take with the Argentine drivers.  In Buenos Aires there are 40,000 taxi cabs operating plus another 40,000 private vehicles operating on a daily basis.  So maybe we need to bring a little bit of the concept to the US. 

This month's Sentinel has many good articles in its pages.  One that really hits home (sorry for the pun) is our continuing problem with ground handling of aircraft.  The newsletter reminds as do I that pilots need to get help when moving an aircraft.  We hit more hanger doors or bang the tail into to more stationery objects when moving the plane into the hanger or parking spot.  If you are by yourself and no one is around to help, then park the aircraft on the line and move it inside when you have proper help.  It sure beats filling out a form 78.

There are several additional items for this month's Safety Newsletter. 

1. As mentioned at the Wing Conference last month, Operation CAPSafe should be on every member's things to do list.  What each member (senior and cadet) is requested to do is send one Safety idea a month for either Ground or Air Safety to capsafe@cap.gov . Full instructions can be found at the National Web site under Safety.  Be sure to include your name and unit number and mention you're from PA Wing and send a copy to Wing via your Group. 

2. The October Sentinel is available at http://level2.cap.gov/documents/Sentinel.pdf.  for those who don't get to see a copy.  One of the major points this month is the damaging our aircraft with ground handling and taxiing accidents.  Also an article on the Texas Wing Safety Program should be required reading by our personnel.

3. Remember to keep your Unit Safety Board up to date and post the summary of your monthly Safety meeting their so those members who missed it can catch up.  Copies of the Summary and attendance should be sent to the next higher command and Wing Headquarters.

4. Each unit needs to have a safety officer assigned to the unit and the proper authorizations be completed on e-services.  If you're not sure you have completed this requirement let me know.

5. And remember the change for Safety Officers and the requirement for them to complete AFIADL 02170.  That requirement has been replaced by an On-Line Safety Course.  This is located at http://level2.cap.gov/visitors/programs/safety/basic_safety_course/

6. A few notes for the pilots, after any maintenance on the aircraft, PIC's should spend extra time on their preflight inspection paying close attention to the areas were maintenance may have been performed.  Also use caution when tying down aircraft and securing the aircraft.  Report any ropes that need to be replaced to the FBO.