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LEARNING TO FLY, ONE PROMOTION AT A TIME

Issue 1

November

2009

SAN CARLOS POLICE VISITS SQUADRON 192

AEROSPACE EDUCATION CORNER

Slipstreams
SQUADRON 192

VOLENS ET POTENS

Learning to Fly, One Promotion at a Time

Commander Doug ChesneyAll too often cadets receive a painful lesson about the value of foresight and planning ahead when they try to participate in many of the exciting opportunities afforded to them in the Civil Air Patrol. How about soloing after spending a week learning to fly a small airplane during the summer? Interested in a scholarship for flight training? How about commanding or staffing an Encampment? Perhaps becoming a member of a ground team that assists in search and rescue activities sounds exciting? Cadets have the opportunity to compete for each of these opportunities, and many more, provided that they have earned the required promotions. Cadets promote through 16 achievements divided over four phases. Upon completing most achievements the cadet promotes and is awarded a corresponding increase in grade. Beginning later in the second phase of the program some promotions require the completion of two achievements between promotions. The grades used in CAP mirror those used in the United States Air Force. For example, after her first promotion a cadet receives the grade of Airman. If a cadet went on to complete all achievements in the Eyes of the Homeland Skies from WWII is even more topical today, post 9/11

Slipstreams is the official quarterly publication of the Civil Air Patrols Squadron 192 San Carlos, CA James Cerna, Editor
If you have news, events, or ideas we might consider for the newsletter, please submit them electronically to jimcerna@live.com

Newsletter Introduction
Welcome to the first issue of Slipstreams the official newsletter of Squadron 192. Slipstreams will be a quarterly newsletter highlighting activities and items of interest to the squadron.

Learning to Fly ( Cont. )

Cadet program her grade would be cadet Colonel; a grade earned by less than 1% of all cadets since the CAP cadet program began in the early 60's. In general each promotion requires that a cadet complete the following:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Possess a CAP uniform and wear it properly Recite the Cadet Oath from memory Pass leadership and aerospace tests consisting of 25 multiple choice questions with a score of at least 70% Pass a physical fitness test Remain in their current grade for 60 days Participate in unit meetings and character development forums Demonstrate maturity and the ability to handle more responsibility

3. Print out a calendar and keep it somewhere you will see it every day. Write in the days when you will take your next examinations and the dates when you will be eligible for you next few promotions (remember: minimum timein-grade is 60 days). For example, aerospace and leadership testing is offered on the first Tuesday of every month and a cadet can take both on the same day. Physical fitness testing occurs every fourth Tuesday. 4. The first promotion has the fewest requirements. In fact, a cadet can earn his first promotion as soon as he has a complete uniform, passes a leadership test (no aerospace or physical fitness tests are required) and a PRB. The first promotion does NOT require 60 days as a new cadet. 5. Budget time to read and study into your weekly schedule; by devoting just an hour or two per week to studying you should be able to earn your first few promotions. Dont plan on passing a test if you have not spent any time studying. 6.
day. Pick medium and long terms goals for yourself every other

Pass a promotion review board (PRB) Beginning in the second phase of the program some achievements have additional, specific requirements for promoting such as writing an essay or completing an Encampment. Here are some tips intended to help cadets promote regularly:

1. 2.

Make a promise to yourself to take charge of your cadet career! Its your responsibility to promote. Read or ask about the requirements for your next promotion and keep track of your own progress.

7.

Attend meetings regularly

Ask for help if you need it! By planning ahead and using some of the suggestions above cadets can have more exciting and fulfilling careers in the Civil Air Patrol cadet program.

Greetings from the Safety Department of Sq. 192

Michael C. Mejia Capt. CAP
Safety for CAP and our SQ. is an essential part of how we do and perform or missions, in the following months you the reader will get a summary of our monthly safety briefings that will include a general view of safety the way CAP and SQ. 192 practice it, also you will get tips for your everyday living and things to be aware of when you are at work, school, recreation areas and home, I will encourage that you participate by suggesting topics of interest that you think that are of interest for our audience, again I will encourage all members and non members ( Parents ) to be a part of this great endeavor that is SAFETY. The Civil Air Patrol is continuing to have mishaps in aircraft, vehicles and during cadet and senior ground activities that appear to be due to a loss of Situational Awareness (SA). This loss seems to be due to, for lack of a better term, ineffective scanning. We are landing our aircraft fast resulting in damaged firewalls, slow resulting in hard landings. Vehicles are backing into objects and running into other vehicles. On the ground we are stepping into holes, tripping over curbs, not keeping ourselves hydrated, cutting ourselves with knives and the list goes on. Are we really paying attention? Probably not since the reports of these mishaps make a rather large list.

Lightning Safety
The National Weather Service (NWS) reports a 30-year average of 58 deaths per year in the United States, including Puerto Rico, due to lightning strikes. So far this year 28 fatalities have occurred with four happening in Florida. At a wing encampment this year, lightning struck a communications antenna mounted on a trailer parked adjacent to the building being used as the encampment headquarters. The strike damaged several pieces of equipment. A cadet was using a laptop at the encampment headquarters and experienced an electrical shock. Luckily the cadet suffered no lasting side effects, complications or restrictions to duty. The investigation revealed neither the antenna nor the trailer was grounded. According to CAPR 100-1, Communications, paragraph 71b,Equipment Grounding: All communications equipment not in motion will be adequately grounded at all times. Paragraph 7-1e states, Lightning arrestors or grounding switches should be installed on all antennas. The above incident represents two unsafe actions: communications equipment not being grounded and using a computer during an electrical storm. The National Weather Service has a lightning safety website http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/overview.htm that provides these tips to avoid injury during thunderstorms: Thunderstorms happen year round. Lightning can strike as far 10 miles from the area of rain as it can travel horizontally many miles away from the thunder storm and then strike the ground. These types of lightning flashes seem to come out of a clear blue sky. While blue sky may exist overhead, a thunderstorm is always located 5 miles, 10 miles or farther away. Remember: If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. You are outside in a thunderstorm. Move to a safe shelter like a fully enclosed building with a roof, walls and floor, and with has plumbing and/or wiring. Unsafe buildings include car ports, open garages, covered patios, picnic shelters, beach pavilions, golf shelters, tents of any kinds, baseball dugouts, sheds and greenhouses. If lightning should directly strike a building with electricity and/or plumbing, the current will typically travel through the wiring and/or plumbing, and then into the ground. Stay away from showers, sinks, hot tubs, and electronic equipment such as TVs, radios, corded telephones and computers.

If you are unable to take shelter in a safe building, seek a safe vehicle. One that is fully enclosed, metal topped such as a hard topped car, minivan, bus, truck, etc.

Unsafe vehicles include convertibles, golf carts, riding mowers, open cab construction equipment and boats without cabins. Do NOT leave the vehicle during a thunderstorm. While inside a safe vehicle, do not use electronic devices such as radio communications during a thunderstorm. Lightning striking the vehicle, especially the antenna(s), could cause serious injury if you are talking on the radio or holding the microphone at the time of the flash. Remain inside the safe building or vehicle 30 minutes after you hear the last clap of thunder. If you are outside and away from a safe building or vehicle, these tips will not prevent you from being struck by lightning, but may slightly lessen the odds.

There is little you can do to substantially reduce your risk if

If camping, hiking, etc., far from a safe vehicle or building, avoid open fields, the top of a hill or a ridge top. Keep away from tall, isolated trees or other tall objects. If you are in a forest, stay near a lower stand of trees.

San Carlos Police Visits Squadron 192

On September 1 the San Carlos Police department visited squadron 192 to introduce their explorer program to our cadets. Officer Jessie Hussie gave an enlightening presentation on the career path of a law enforcement officer and explained the San Carlos Explorer program which she is in charge of. The Explorers are similar to the cadet program in CAP. The presentation concluded with a K-9 demo which was the highlight of the night. The senior members and cadets were very impressed by Officer Hussies command and control of her K-9. The department has invited members to attend ride-a-longs with officers on patrol. Interested parties can contact Jim Cerna at jimcerna@live.com to schedule rides.

Aerospace Education Corner

Life has many lessonspay attention
Lt. David Cintz On a recent a flight I was faced with a unique problem, thankfully I came prepared. It was a nice warm day with a gentle breeze and I had done my preflight check of the aircraft, everything checked out OK. I started the engine and requested taxi clearance to the runway: Archer 56K, taxi 19L via Alpha and Bravo. As I rolled down the taxiway and approached the runway the electrical system in the plane shorted out, leaving my electrical panel in front of me blank but the engine still running. I pulled the plane into a designated area beside the runway where I would be safe. After I completed my emergency checklist items I realized I had a problem, I was stuck in the middle of a busy airport with no radio! I began thinking to myself how am I supposed to get back to the ramp? I thought through the possible options (such as light gun signals - which we will learn about) I then realized I had the perfect tool: my backup handheld radio! I pulled out my radio, turned it on and told the tower I needed to return to the ramp. I sure felt lucky to have that radio! While taxing back to the ramp I realized I hadnt just been lucky, I had come prepared for the situation. So what can YOU learn from my little adventure? The first thing you can take away from this is safety first; before trying to solve a problem make sure you are safe. I pulled into an area that allowed me to idle my engine and safely diagnose the problem. If I had been flying I would have remembered what my flight instructor taught me: No matter what, keep flying the plane! Never stop flying the plane, regardless of the situation dont get distracted; fly until you can safely diagnose what is going on. The second lesson is to come prepared, dont expect that everything will go smooth. I not only had a backup radio which helped me, I also had a checklist, spare radio batteries, and I had recently studied light gun signals just for a scenario like this. Lady Luck didnt put a spare radio in my flight bag, or an emergency checklist in my kneeboard, I did because I like to be prepared. Most importantly, I learned from my adventure and I am a better pilot today because of it.

CAP Squadron 192

620 Airport Way San Carlos, CA 94070