FAA Safety Team Note

FAA Safety Team | Safer Skies Through Education

Moving Away From Paper - The use of MedXPress is mandatory beginning October 1, 2012 Notice Number: NOTC3897 Effective October 1, 2012, pilots must use FAA MedXPress to complete an electronic application  for an Airman Medical Certificate or Airman Medical and Student Pilot Certificate, FAA Form 8500-8.   As many of you know, the Federal Government is taking steps across the board to become more efficient and to reduce costs, and our move to electronic records is consistent with those initiatives.   One of the significant enhancements will establish a tracking program so that pilots and AMEs can query the system and electronically determine the status of applications.   Future enhancements will also transition air traffic control specialists (ATCSs) to MedXPress, after internal FAA coordination and some modifications to the ATCS certification system.   Why wait for the October 1, 2012 deadline? We encourage you to begin using MedXPress today. MedXPress is located at https://medxpress.faa.gov/  If applicants have any technical issues with MedXPress, they may reach MedXPress Support at 877-287-6731.

History, and a hot dog

Click on the link below for some information on a cool project that is happening right here up the road at Owen's Downtown airport.

History, and a hot dog

This is a great way to support our Vets

Volunteer Pilots Needed!!!

Mission:  To Salute, honor and pay tribute to America’s military men and women, including our veterans on the 4th of July.

Background:  Salute from the Shore is a very accessible opportunity for South Carolina beachgoers to honor and pay tribute to our armed forces on Independence Day, the most important patriotic day of the year for all Americans.  Organized in 2010, the Salute features a flyby of four F-16s from Shaw Air Force base down the entire coastline of South Carolina.  Beach-goers dress in red, white and blue, create patriotic displays visible from the air and wave their American flags as the jets fly at low altitude overhead.  On July 4th of 2012, four F-16s from the 79th Fighter Squadron, “The Flying Tigers”, from Shaw Air Force base will fly the mission from north to south beginning at 1:00 pm on the North Carolina/South Carolina border.  “The Flying Tigers” were the last Americans to leave Iraq and are proud to be flying this mission!

Scenes along the SC coast are filmed on shore and by aerial photographers.  Additionally, men, women and children have an opportunity to offer their own personal tributes which are recorded by professional videographers on the beaches.  All of the scenes are compiled and distributed through various internet sources, the Salute from the Shore website (www.salutefromtheshore.org) and via DVD to military personnel around the globe as a way of showing them South Carolinians’ appreciation for their courageous service to our country.

We are told by the Air Force that Salute from the Shore is likely the largest flyby in the history of America as it is witnessed by an estimated one million people on the beaches of South Carolina.

New Initiative:  The organizers of Salute from the Shore want to take the Salute to new heights in 2012 by specifically acknowledging the selfless contributions of America’s veterans.  In addition to a comprehensive public relations campaign highlighting the veterans, it is our goal to fly numerous vets down the beach, preceding or immediately following the F16s, to give these representatives of our military an opportunity to have a birds’ eye view of the patriotic spectacle on the beaches and witness first-hand this tribute to them and their peers.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!  To accomplish the flyby of veterans, Salute from the Shore needs many, many volunteer pilots to fly a patriotic mission on July 4th.  The concept includes a parade of private airplanes filled with veterans who most likely will be selected from those who have participated in the Honor Flights to Washington, DC.

If you want more information or you are inclined to volunteer your aircraft, your fuel and your time to participate in the flyby, please contact John Folsom at your earliest convenience.

Salute from the Shore can always use additional volunteers to provide aerial photography.  Helicopter pilots, professional or highly qualified amateur photographers are essential to producing high quality video to share with our military men and women.

CONTACT
John W. Folsom
803.401.4265
john.folsom@colliers.com

FAA Docket on 3rd Class Medicals

If you haven't commented on the proposed changes to 3rd class
medicals, you should go now and do it. It takes literally a minute or
two. And forward this to your pilot friends, and your potential pilot
friends, and your no-longer flying pilot friends, and everyone that
may support it.

The proposal has been on the FAA docket since March 20, and only ~2000
people have commented on it since it opened up for public comment!
Tens if not hundreds of thousands of pilots could be directly and
immediately affected by this positive change, and no one cares enough
to write a sentence or two supporting it? And if you're not having
medical questions now, you most likely will in the future. Why have we
become so apathetic?

Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2012-0350-0001
and comment now!

For more info, see the AOPA article at
http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2012/120612time-running-out-to-support-medical-exemption.html

The Ambassador 2012 News Letter

For the Mooney folks at Whiteplains, here is the latest Mooney Ambassador news letter. With list of current event inside. 

If you have a news letter for your MFG plane, email it to me so I can post it.

Click on this link below:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1.1&thid=137e6bf75727952b&mt=application/pdf&url=https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui%3D2%26ik%3D4eaaf96373%26view%3Datt%26th%3D137e6bf75727952b%26attid%3D0.1.1%26disp%3Dsafe%26zw&sig=AHIEtbQjtAReWXh7QJoIo4uVS465o4hqMw&pli=1

Acadia Air Tour Flight Bar Harbor, ME

Video by: Don Cook

Last week we managed to get up to Bar Harbor, in Maine.  Got a short flight around the island in a Cessna 182.  Great place, and the view from the air made the flight worth while.  The airport is really nice.  I wouldn't mind going back, but this time in the Mooney.

Jim Causey 6-8-2012 RV Flight

Video by: Don Cook Short video of Jim Causey during his BFR flight with Mike Moore this past Friday.

Update on Raceair Designs and Lil' Bitts

More information on our very own, Ed Fisher from the EAA.

http://www.eaa.org/experimenter/articles/2012-05_raceair.asp

K-Mart Breakfast Club

Photo By: Steve Sanderson

Our thanks to all of those who are still employed for joining us at K-Club on Memorial Day Monday.  They came to see for themselves what their Social Security contributions are supporting.

Bird takes first flight!

Pilot and builder, Dennis Ramsey.  Do you think he is happy?

Left is Eric, Dennis and Micah

Turning off Runway 27

Paint to follow.

Could this be the fastest plane at Whiteplains?

Photos by: Steve Sanderson
Whiteplains Cub reporter

5/26/2012

Thanks to Steve Sanderson for sending us pictures from this mornings clean up of Windy Road and to all of the people that showed up.  A special thanks to the Fastnaught's for hosting the breakfast.

It was reported that twenty plus bags of trash was collected along Windy Road. Trash bag count for Whiteplains was again, zero.

Whiteplains Pilots’ Association,

AERObridge is an aviation organization of pilots and supporting ground personnel active in
disasters. We work with both governmental and non-governmental agencies. We have
participated in relief efforts in Haiti, Japan and in the US. Our most recent work was after the
tornado disaster in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 2011. On Tuesday, June 5th, AERObridge will
coordinate General Aviation and Business Aviation Aircraft from North Carolina, South Carolina
and Georgia in support of the 2012 South Carolina State Hurricane Full Scale Exercise (FSE).
We will base or operations at the Bamberg County Airport (99N) located at Bamberg, South
Carolina.

We could use your help.
AERObridge has been assigned the following missions:

1. Aerial reconnaissance to enable on-site evaluation of emergency situations. AERObridge will
be responsible for providing aerial surveillance of hurricane evacuation routes through Bamberg
County--providing real-time information (voice and video) to decision makers.

2. Establish an Incident Management Team at Bamberg County Airport.
AERObridge will establish an IMT reporting to Bamberg County Emergency Management
Services. This team will be responsible for the coordination of arriving aircraft and movement in
the ramp and aircraft parking areas.

3. Airlift of equipment and supplies in support of disaster relief operations.
General aviation pilots based in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina will fly into Bamberg
County Airport (99N) carrying basic relief supplies with jet aircraft landing at the larger Orangeburg
Airport (OGB).

Although this is just an exercise we’re asking GA pilots and companies with business aircraft to
participate in this exercise to demonstrate the strength and value of GA in emergencies.
Companies or individuals wishing to register their aircraft for the June 5th exercise may do so at
http://www.aerobridge.org by clicking on the “join us” tab and then on the tab for “register your
aircraft”. If you don’t have an aircraft and/or wish to work with support functions such as aircraft
marshaling, aircrew services, administration, operations, plans or logistical support, enter the word
“Support” under aircraft make and we will contact you.

We appreciate all that the members of the Whiteplains Pilots’ Association do for aviation and
thank you for your support!

Greg Stidom
Field Director of Emergency Services
North and South Carolina

Runway reseal

We are moving forward on the runway sealcoating/repainting project.  The runway will need to be closed for 2-3 days depending on weather.  We have requested the work be done Monday - Wednesday as these are days we typically see the least flying activity.  The dates we have proposed to the contractor are:

June 18 - 20, 2012 or June 25 - 27, 2012

The first activity you will notice is the contractor cleaning and filling all cracks on the runway.  Following that the sealcoat will be applied and allowed to dry for at least 24 hours before the runway numbers and markings are repainted.  This process is much the same as we did two years ago on the roadways and taxiways.

Your help and cooperation with this will be appreciated.  If you have any concerns, or conflicts with these dates, please let me know immediately.

 Jeff

803-730-8090

Gilbert Fire Department BBQ

Thanks to all of our Whiteplains neighbors 

who joined us this noon for the Gilbert 

Fire Department BBQ.

Special thanks to Denise Perry 

and Laurie Ackermanwho delivered our feast, 

and to those who were not able to attend but 

stillmade a donation. 

We live in a GREAT neighborhood!
  

 Write up and Photo's by Steve Sanderson

The May 20th Breakfast Club has been moved from Green Sea to Aiken. Please spread this change to all members.

http://www.airnav.com/airport/KAIK

2012 Whiteplains Mowing Schedule

(Whiteplains Plantation Announcement)

2012

WHITEPLAINS

MOWING SCHEDULE

  

NOTES: The SCAG mower is easier to control (less likely to hit runway lights) if not run at max speed.  The throttle must be full open to get the blade speed up, but limit your forward speed if at all possible.  The key is prone to falling out, we have lost one already this season.

Summer Mowers

April

1. Willem Meiners

2. Bo Fender

May

1.  Clem Spencer

2.  Rob Bridgers

June

1.  Ed Fisher

2.  Bob Gillmann

July

1.  Jeff Cargile

2.  Mike Knox

August

1.  Mike Moore

2.  Dennis Perry

September

1.  Steve Crimm

2.  Phil Rainwater

October

1.  Jim Franklin

2.  Ray Ackerman

Report any Problems to:

Jeff Cargile – Service Mower

Jim Wheat – Weed Control/Fuel/Parts, etc.

Dennis Perry – Service Mower

New FAA Safety Briefing Available

Notice Number: NOTC3742

The May/June 2012 issue of FAA Safety Briefing focuses on extreme weather. Articles provide important tips on how to detect, prepare for, and avoid some of the more extreme varieties of weather conditions GA pilots may encounter in their region of the country, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, icing, fog, freezing rain and more. Hear from weather experts at the FAA who offer advice on how to be prepared for these situations and provide updates on the many helpful tools and resources now available to pilots.

For more on how to improve your weather knowledge, check out the new issue at: http://1.usa.gov/IHfCA6.

In addition, the issue's Nuts, Bolts, and Electrons department (pg. 27) looks at the newly released versions of the Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Handbooks, and Vertically Speaking (pg. 29) reviews minimum safe altitudes and VFR weather minimum for rotorcraft operations.

This notice is being sent to you because you selected "FAA Newsletters" in your preferences on FAASafety.gov. If you wish to adjust your selections, log into https://www.faasafety.gov/Users/pub/preferences.aspx where you can update your preferences.

Over 10,150 AMTs earned an AMT Award last year. Will you, this year?

Whiteplains SCBC 2012

Photoshow of last Sunday's SCBC held right here at Whiteplains Plantation.

What a great turnout for the SC Breakfast Club this morning. Thanks to everyone that worked so hard to make this event a tremendous success. Special thanks to Mike and Shelly Knox for hosting. I have heard many people say this was the best breakfast club we have ever had at Whiteplains.

It was a true testament to the community spirit that we came together in such a fine way. We have often said Whiteplains is the premier fly-in community, this Sunday we showed the aviation community this it absolutely true.

Thank you,
Jeff

Food Scapes News

Thought I would let you know that Food Scapes at Lake City Municipal Airstrip 51J last day open was today. They may have another buyer, but the lady Kathy is closing. Her husband will continue to manage the airstrip. I thought I would let you know in case you want to blog it. I know others in the neighborhood fly there occasionally.

Reported by: Michael Benton
4-29-2012

F-35B Ship Suitability Testing

Shouldn't have any problem landing this at Whiteplains.