LONG BEACH FLYING CLUB & FLIGHT ACADEMY

OCTOBER NEWSLETTER 2004 .... HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

 

visit us at www.lbflying.com

email: club@Lbflying.com

 

* GOD BLESS AMERICA * WE FLY WITH CARE .... Now, more than ever *

 

Editor Candace A. Robinson

 

 

EDITORIAL: WHAT'S UP?  FAME AND INFAMY!

 

Congratulations!  Helen Cranz has just been selected as the LGB FSDO CFI of the year!  This is the third year in a row that Long Beach Flying Club has enjoyed the privilege of the presence of a CFI of the year: selections the previous two years were Harry Leicher and John Mahany.  Helen will be presented her honors at the Long Beach Airport Association General Membership meeting October 27, 2004, with   food and beverage served at 6:30 pm and the evening’s program beginning at 7:00 pm. Come out and give Helen an “Atta Pilot!”

 

EIR UPDATE - On October 7th the Douglas Park EIR went before the LB Planning Commission. For our presentation I produced a letter I had received from the Administrator that states in part, ““The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has gone on record as objecting to the proposed development. We provided comments in response to a draft Environmental Impact Report prepared under the California Environmental Quality Act. In addition, the proposed project will be evaluated by various land use agencies. The review should show the proposed residential project is not consistent with the land use plans recommended for this area next to the airport.”  The Planning Commission went ahead and approved the EIR in a unanimous 6-0 vote, taking the assurances from Boeing that the letter, dated 9/22/04, was outdated.  Then on October 12th, the City Council held a study session with Boeing in Council chambers.  My letter was further discussed, with Deputy City Attorney Mike Mais stating, “...I think each of you have a copy, but basically it indicates that the FAA has taken a position in opposition to the project. And quite frankly, I was a little surprised about the letter…. So we're going to have to have further discussions with FAA to sort of sort out their position.” Community Development Director Melanie Fallon actually replied,   “Without this residential component of 1,400 housing units, Boeing may not have the resources to complete the commercial infrastructure ….” There have to be better ways to finance a project rather than subjecting thousands of new residents to airport noise.  I have filed an appeal of the Planning Commission 10/7/04 decision so there will be a hearing scheduled within the next 60 days.  Two other upcoming events are on the calendar, the County Land Use Commission on October 20th and the City Council November 7th.  Stay tuned …

 

Christine Edwards, Airport Bureau Special Projects, passes on the following: "We are anticipating that the Glide Slope will be returning to service towards the end of October. I will provide you with a specific date as soon as we have one. At this point, the schedule for the MALSR approach lighting system shows it ready to be returned to service towards the end of November. Unanticipated construction problems have resulted in both systems being out of service much longer than originally anticipated. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. Please know that our entire construction team is acutely aware of the importance of these Navaids, and we are working to get them back in service as quickly as possible.”

 

 

HELEN'S CORNER 

Poor English Skills Deadly, ICAO Says

 

Poor proficiency in English, the international language of aviation, contributed to major accidents that cost the lives of over 1,100 passengers and crew between 1976 and 2000, according to the International Civil Aviation Orqanization (ICAO). Misunderstandings are also a factor in many close calls and runway incursions. To address the problem, ICAO has written new requirements for controllers and pilots involved in international operations, mandating for the first time. that pilot must pass a test to demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency. The new rules take effect in 2008. Native speakers of English also must try harder to be understood, ICAO says. To reduce the risk of misunderstandings in the international environment, pilots need to study strategies such as avoiding the use of idioms, colloquialisms and jargon, and speak slowly and clearly, ICAO says.

 

 

Meet the Chief Flight Instructor: By Mark Hilstadt

 

Many of you know Helen Cranz, some of you do not. In the next couple of paragraphs I would like to reintroduce Helen to you. Helen has been a flight instructor for over 25 years. During that time she has flown over 10,000 hours. She has primarily instructed at the Long Beach airport and at MCAS EI Toro. Helen has also been honored by being awarded Master Flight/Ground Instructor designations by the National Association of Flight Instructors.

 

During the years that Helen was flight instructing, she has earned a Masters degree in Business Management, and retired from the U.S. Navy reserve serving 24 years. While in the Navy reserve, she was promoted to the rank of Chief Personnelman. In this capacity, Helen was responsible for keeping all the records of the personnel that were attached to her unit up to date and accurate. Her experience keeping those records has helped her in her capacity as the Chief Instructor here at Long Beach Flying Club.

 

In addition to the Master Flight Instructor designation, Helen has received the Professional Pilot of the Year award from the Orange County Chapter of the 99's. Helen is also being nominated for the Flight Instructor of the Year award for the Long Beach FSDO (see Editorial for updated news).

 

"Many of you may have had some negative dealings with Helen. Possibly busting a phase check, or not being able to do something that you may have wanted to do. The thing that drives Helen as the Chief Instructor is two-fold. One, comply with all the Federal Aviation Regulations. Two, help every pilot at the Club, whether a student or a renter pilot to be the very best and safest pilot that they can possibly be.

 

I hope that this reintroduction of Helen Cranz has given many of you an idea who Helen is and that she is here to help in any way that she can.

 

Question: Why is there a difference between the magnetic variation for the airport and the VOR located at the same airport?

 

Answer: According to the FAA's National Aeronautical Charting Office, when a navaid is first constructed, the antenna is physically oriented to true north. Then a potentiometer adjustment is made to slave the navaid with magnetic north. This action matches the isogonic line, making it agree with a magnetic compass. Initially these two values are the same, but the magnetic variation of the Earth changes at a rate of 50.27 seconds of arc per year. Navaids are commissioned and remain online 24 hours a day. Although periodic maintenance is performed as needed, reslaving the navaid to match the isogonic value requires a total shutdown, realignment, and a recertification flight check. Only when the navaid is out of tolerance by at least plus or minus 6 degrees will a reslaving procedure be initiated.

 

 

OCTOBER 2004 SAFETY TIPS -- BY JOHN MAHANY

 

Skyhawk N19674 has the best avionics set up in the fleet! Yes, they do look different from what you see in the other aircraft. But, please do not be intimidated by these radio's! This is the future of avionics! Time spent with an instructor who is familiar with these radios, such as Mireille Goyer, or myself, is time well spent! Mireille has also conducted GPS seminars, which I have attended. The moving map alone, is a superb tool that also greatly improves situation awareness, as Mireille herself stated in last month's newsletter. Both Paul and Tony have gone to great lengths to work with pilots who are unfamiliar with the avionics set up, to learn the basics. You owe it to yourself to learn more about GPS. Do it today!

 

 

TOWER VISITS -- Submitted by Richard Garnett

 

Are you interested in seeing Long Beach airport operations from the controllers' perspective? As of recently, tours of the Long Beach control tower for CFI's and student pilots are once again available on a limited basis, M-F, between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM. For those interested, you may call either Ollon Downing or Ramin Panahi @ 562-424-7128. Call at least three days in advance for approval and coordination.

 

Tours of the control tower are limited to U.S. citizens and with photo ID and proof of citizenship (Birth Certificate, Passport, Private or Commercial Pilot Certificate, etc.). Present both at the time of the tour. Also tours are limited to a maximum of three people at a time.

 

 

TOP GUN AWARD goes to Matthew Van Gundy, logging the most flight hours in club aircraft in September!  Runner-ups were Won Choi and Charlie Milner!

NOTAM:  Club pilots wishing to write safety articles for our monthly newsletters would be greatly appreciated!  Many thanks to Helen Cranz, Richard Garnett and John Mahany for the help with this newsletter!

EMAIL:  If you would like to receive this newsletter or the LBAA newsletter via e-mail, send your address to club@lbflying.com.

NOTAM:  LONG BEACH AIRPORT ASSOCIATION NEEDS YOU --  the time is NOW to join -- LBAA applications are available at the club.  We need your support -- all LBAA membership fees go to printing costs of the quarterly newsletter and protecting General Aviation rights at Long Beach Airport.  Your Long Beach Airport Association dues donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE so sign up today!!!

NOTAM:  Congratulations to Joey Roehrich, top Club CFI for September, logging the most hours of dual given in club aircraft!  Runner-ups were  Jack Bashford and Thomas Runge!

 

 

C A L E N D A R

 

October 27: The Long Beach Flying Club and the Long Beach Airport Association General Membership Meeting will be held at the AirFlite facility on Taxiway Bravo at the end of Wardlow Road.  A buffet will be served beginning at 6:30 PM with the program beginning at 7:00 PM.  Everybody is welcome to attend -- we hope to see you there -- sandwiches, fruit and dessert will be served!  This meeting will count toward CFI credit for October.

October 21-23, 2004: AOPA 2004 will be held at LGB and the Long Beach Convention Center!

October 26:  Hank Smith's Insights presents his weekend CFI PREP COURSE, "We Teach You How to Teach."  Class will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays for evenings.  Contact Hank Smith at 1-800-248-7737.

November 6: Operation Takeoff, a free FAA Seminar on "Introduction to the Automated Flight Service Station and the Services Available to Pilots" from 9 AM to 1 PM at the Hawthorne Flight Service Station.  Contact (310) 970-0102 for info or reservations.

 

 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

CHARLES MILNER     

SOLO

WARRIOR

DONALD MIKAMI

CHRIS HILL          

SOLO 

C152  

RICHARD GARNETT

CLIFF JUNIO          

SOLO  

C172    

JACK BASHFORD

MATT VANGUNDY    

SOLO   

C172    

JACK BASHFORD

PATRICK WARSON    

MULT

SEMINOLE

JAE-SEONG OH

DONALD MIKAMI      

CFII    

SEMINOLE

JAE-SEONG OH

DONALD MIKAMI       

MEI      

SEMINOLE 

JAE-SEONG OH

PAUL RAYMOND         

APT  

C172RG  

HELEN CRANZ

RICHARD DACH          

APT   

C172RG  

HELEN CRANZ

HARRY LEICHER        

APT    

ARROW   

HELEN CRANZ

 

 

NEW & REJOINED CLUB PILOTS

JOHN LEE

JOHN LEGGE

DONOVAN X

GARY FRANKENSTEIN

CARLOS FLORES

REINALDO CABRERA

LANCE MONTEROS

SCOTT PLUDE

ED RATLEDGE

SUNMI LEE

DON THOMPSON

ALONZO JONES

ISAIAH HUBER

PATRICK WATSON

GILLES CONTI

GREG FAUST

MARK HOLDEN

REGINALD EDMOND

JOEL ASMUSSEN

ANN SAYLER

OMAR VALDES

KEITH WISHARS

 

 

BIRTHDAYS

DAVE "Mega Captain" ALTCHULER

STEPHEN ANDRASIK

PAUL BARNUM

PHIL BARTON

ANDREW BRESCINI

FREDERICK CALLISON

MARK CHOUINARD

FRANCIS DUDLEY

HARVEY GABER

ABEL GONZALEZ

MIREILLE GOYER

JASON GRAVES

PAUL HARFORD

ANTHONY HOVENDEN

TIM HUNTER

JOHN KANDLER

TIM LYNCH

RONALD MEYERS

ELLEN NEMENIO

DONALD PARDEW

JAYMI PELLATT

DAVID PERRY

ROB PIKE

CARLOS RUIZ

DAVID STARCKS

DON THOMPSON

OMAR VALDES

ROD WATKINS

JON WELTE