MARCH 11, 2010

1.  "SHORT RUNWAYS" - Many pilots learn to fly at big airports designed for commercial traffic, with 3,000' to 5,000' runways.  Unfortunately this sometimes breeds sloppy landing habits which are a direct cause of hundreds of unnecessary runway overrun accidents annually.  If you know the two tricks of short field landing, you are unlikely to ever have an overrun.

Through apecial arrangements with Aviation Safety Videos, we will present a new training video which offers specific procedures to make sure you can safely land on the shortest runways.  These overruns happen here on Cape Cod every year and it is likely that those which don't end in injury or serious damage are never reported.
 
Aircraft finance executive Mel Dorr has regularly landed his Cessna 180 on an 800' runway on nearby Cuttyhunk Island for over thirty years.  While this is extreme, there have been completely unnecessary runway overrun issues for years at Falmouth (2298'), Marston's Mills (2035'-2700'), Myricks (2466'),Cranland (1860'), and Marlborough (1659'). 

A petition has been made to tha FAA to implement new runway markings to assist pilots in making correct go-around decisions.  The film will explain the proposal and we will take a vote at this meeting to see if CAPA should write in support of this proposal, which has been endorsed by AOPA and EAA.
 
2.  "BILL'S EMERGENCY LANDING" - Next to a midair, losing your engine in flight over strange terrain can be the most terrifying emergency to deal with. 
That's exectly what happend to Falmouth Airpark resident Bill McClure in November while flying the 1938 Fairchild model 24 he had just bought as her flew it from Idaho to back East. 

Bill navigated the Rockies around Park City, Utah, then East through Nebraska and toward Nashville, where he was going to have some work done by the original aircraft restorer.  Just East of Memphis disaster struck. 
Even with Bill's 30,000 hours of experience flying everything from Champs to Air Force KC-135 tankers and American Airlines 777s, he had never experienced an engine failure.  Because he followed good procedures the outcome was happy (but expensive).  Hear the whole amazing journey for yourself.

Meeting date:  Thursday, March 11rd at 6:30 PM.  Complimentary Scotties Famous Airport Pizza will be served.
CAPA now meets in the beautiful new media room at Cape Cod Community College, downstairs in the Library.  Use parking lots 3 & 4.

CAPA PILOT MEDICAL UPDATE!
Dramatic changes in pilot medical requirements have been made in the last three years, many which benefit pilots (including extending 3rd class medicals to five and 1st class medicals to one year for pilots under 40). 
You shouldn't miss Dr. Richard Adams, FAA AME will speak at Wednesday's CAPA meeting updating pilots on keeping your medical, and important steps to take to quickly get it back if you fail to pass.

The new explosion in aviation is Light Sport.  The U.S. Sebring Light Sport Aviation Expo has drawn more attendees in the last two years than the AOPA Expo.  There are now over 100 new Light Sport aircraft offered for sale. 
Flying Light Sport does not require an FAA medical certificate, yet there remain minimum health standards which pilots must meet to legally fly and remain insured.  It becomes a crisis is if you are denied your medical;  you immediately may not fly any aircraft including Light Sport until the reasons for your disqualification are resolved to the satisfaction of the FAA.  Dr. Adams will review preventative steps you can take to assure you will pass your medical and keep flying.

RARE AVIATION FACTORY FILM
We will also show a rare 1951 film "Yours to Fly", the story of the Ryan Navion.  This film is an entertaining and lavish production in full color, and has several famous celebrities in it, like Arthur Godfrey flying along while "enjoying" a Chesterfield cigarette (Godfrey died in 1983 from emphysema at age 80).
Pictured below is Mass. Aeronautics Commission Chairman Crocker

Snow circa 1950 flying his Ryan Navion over Boston Harbor.  Notice the mothballed "Jeep Carriers" anchored below next to the Boston Army Base and the Black Falcon Pier.  Snow often commuted to work in the Navion from his home airstrip in Ipswich, and Summers flying into his airstrip on Tuckernuck Island (just West of Nantucket).

"GPS and WAAS Explained!"
Topic: Get the information you need to understand and operate GPS & what it can do for you.

Attend this informative briefing with featured speaker Sean Dignan, a FAASTeam Rep, for an interactive and educational look into the many features and uses of GPS with emphasis on the Garmin 430. This a complex instrument which requires some effort from the pilot to understand the Garmin "Knobology” and the special features and capabilities. Don't miss this informative event! Come early for PIZZA and to socialize!

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) have been installed in the general aviation fleet in large numbers. The Garmin 430W has brought us into the era of GPS and Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) which is a real boon to both VFR and IFR pilots alike.

Whether you own the aircraft or are renting it, you should understand how to properly use this important piece of equipment. Sean Dignan is the founder of Ascend Aviation and provides expert professional training on all types of technically advanced aircraft including the Very Light Jet (VLJ) category. Join us for an educational background on what GPS is and how to use it to its maximum potential.

Here are the bullet points of what will be covered in this informative presentation:

GPS basics, satellite constellation, GPS receivers, how it determines your position
NOTAMs and RAIM
Panel mount vs portable
IFR capabilities
WAAS and how it works
IFR capabilities with WAAS
And little bit on the future of navigation and RNP