By Jim Timm
May 2015
I hope everyone has been out enjoying the reasonably good flying weather we have been having, but it appears it may not have been done as safely as it could have been. Unfortunately, this month’s safety report is not as good as it could have been. Please be careful out there!
Seven Arizona NAVAIDS Are Listed for Decommission
In a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), The FAA has published a list of 736 redundant or underutilized VOR and NDB standard instrument approach procedures that it proposes to eliminate as the agency moves forward with implementation of the NextGen satellite-based air traffic control system. The list, published in the NPRM on April 13, was based on criteria established in 2014 by a “VOR Minimum Operational Network Working Group.” Of the 736 Instrument Approach Procedures (IAP) listed, seven (7) are in Arizona, and one of the seven listed is the Casa Grande VOR RWY 05. Apparently the Operational Network Working Group was clueless concerning the instrument flight training activity occurring at Casa Grande and the Stanfield (TFD) VOR because the airport is uncontrolled and the activity is undocumented, when in reality, it is possibly the busiest in the entire southwest, or western United States. With the intensive instrument training in the Phoenix area, we desperately need to retain the number of procedures we now have to meet the needs of the current level of instrument training. There may also be other IAP’s in the state that are on the list that should also be preserved. Interested parties need to send in comments on or before May 28, 2015. For more information on sending comments, go to: NPRM
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
Once again, it’s that time of the year, June 1 thru 13, that the annual Air Combat Command Exercise “ANGEL THUNDER” takes place and a temporary MOA is established: the Roosevelt Lake Temporary Military Operations Area (TMOA) will be located over Roosevelt Lake and parts of the Tonto National Forest, including the use of Grapevine Airstrip, in support the annual Air Combat Command Exercise ANGEL THUNDER. The exercise is designed to provide Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) training for combat aircrews, para−rescue personnel, intelligence personnel, battle managers, and joint search and rescue center personnel. The exercise allows combat air forces to practice effective integration/application of air and space power in the search and rescue mission.
The TMOA will be activated for aircraft and parachute operations involved in the CSAR exercise. Aerial activities will include: combat maneuvering by fighter and transport fixed and rotary wing aircraft, parachute operations, formation flights, rescue escort maneuvering and aerial helicopter refueling. The description of the MOA is as follows:
Roosevelt Lake Temporary MOA, AZ
Boundaries. That airspace within a 10 NM radius of lat. 3341’57”N., long. 11103’52”W.
Altitudes. 500 feet AGL to 9,000 feet MSL.
Times of use. By NOTAM, June 1−13, 2015.
Controlling agency. FAA Albuquerque ARTCC.
Using agency. U.S. Air Force, 564 Rescue Group, Davis−Monthan AFB, AZ.
A similar MOA will be established over the Playas, New Mexico, training research center for the same operation. Check NOTAMs for the specific details.
Something to keep an Eye on. A Republican House member, Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), has filed a bill (H.R. 1835) that would oversee air traffic control functions that are currently handled by the FAA, saying the measure would drastically improve the efficiency of air traffic control in the U.S.; Rep. Mica further says, “We’ve tried reform and reorganization, and we’ve created positions like the Chief Operating Officer within the Air Traffic Organization, but unfortunately our ATC technology and working conditions for air traffic controllers continue to fall further behind the rest of the world,” said Mica, who is a former chairman of the House Transportation Committee. It sounds like this potential bill could possibly be a starting point for user fees and should be carefully watched.
Regarding aviation safety and aviation accidents, the year 2015 started out on the right foot, but from the early part of this reporting period things went downhill fast. In the month of March there were six reported accidents. Fortunately, at this point, none of them have been fatal. Think carefully when preparing to fly, and while flying, and try to break that link in the chain of events that lead up to an accident. Accident details for the past reporting period are contained in my May accident summary, take note, and please don’t become one of the items in a future report.
NTSB SAFETY ALERT. Pilots: Perform an Advanced Preflight after Maintenance and be vigilant for flight control and trim anomalies. The problem the NTSB is pointing out is that in-flight emergencies, accidents and deaths have occurred when pilots have flown aircraft with incorrectly rigged flight controls or trim systems. Cases have been noted that maintenance personnel who had serviced the systems did not recognize the control or trim surfaces were moving in the wrong direction and the pilots who attempted to fly the airplanes didn’t detect the control anomalies during their preflight checks. Although maintenance personnel made a mistake, the pilot could have prevented the accident by performing a thorough or advanced preflight check. When getting an airplane out of maintenance of any kind, before departing on a cross country flight, make maintenance test flight in the pattern to check for any control or operational/performance anomalies.
We are still getting Flight Advisory GPS Interference Testing notices from the FAA. This time the testing was occurring in the Las Vegas area. The notices continue to be arriving too late to be of much use in providing a timely warning. Again if you have encountered a noticeable delay in getting a suitable GPS navigation signal, please advise us of the date, time, location, and signal loss duration.
APA is continuing to work with various airports around the state providing the pilot and aircraft owner perspective in the process of updating their Airport Master Plans. The Deer Valley Airport (DVT) master plan update is still in process.
Remember, there is still a lot of airport construction going on around the state, and in particular, the Phoenix area, so continue checking for NOTAMS before departing so you don’t have a nasty surprise upon your arrival at your destination. And also, don’t forget to check for TFRs!
THINGS TO DO - PLACES TO GO FOR BREAKFAST:
The first Saturday of the month fly in breakfast is at Coolidge Municipal Airport (P08).
On the second Saturday of the month is the Ryan Field (RYN) fly in buffet breakfast. Location is between the Restaurant and the Fuel Pits. Time: 8:00 to 11:00 am
The Falcon EAA Warbirds Squadron Breakfast is on the third Saturday of the month and breakfast is being served from 7:00 to 11:00 AM.
The third Saturday of the month there is a fly in breakfast at Benson (E95) at Southwest Aviation. (Often there have been very special fuel prices for breakfast attendees.)
The last Saturday of the month there is a fly in breakfast at Casa Grande Municipal Airport (CGZ) that runs from 7:00 am until 10:00. The breakfast is inside the air conditioned/heated terminal building.
(The Coolidge fly in breakfast is put on by a service group to raise funds for community service projects.)
Check the APA Calendar for our Getaway Flights program for weekend places to fly.