BEST WISHES FOR A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR

Full Throttle
Monthly e-newsletter of Deer Valley Composite Squadron 302, Arizona Wing, Civil Air Patrol 302
Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona

Lt. Col. Chas Buchanan, Squadron Commander

Vol. 3 No. 3 January 2009

Buchanan outlines key 09 goals

s 2009 begins, Deer Valley Composite Squadron 302 members are being asked to help fulfill three key goals set by Lt. Col. Chas Buchanan, squadron commander. These goals are: Reinforce the cadet program. Enhance Emergency Services (ES) by training more members in urban-direction finding (UDF) and involving them in ground teams. 1st Lt. Casey Young Qualify as many officers as possible as aircrew members. One of the most immediate needs is to appoint a successor to st 1 Lt. Casey Young, who has elected to step down after almost 2 years as the squadrons deputy commander for cadets. OffiLt. Col. Chas Buchanan cers interested in Inside Full Throttle this position are encouraged to contact Lt. Col. Bu Tribute to Beckwiths 50 Years in CAP 3 chanan at cbuchanan@cox.net. Squadron officers celebrate holidays 6 Lt. Young has done an exemplary job of guiding the A light discussion on aircraft lights 7 cadet program since August 2006, and all of us are in- Six cadets gain promotions 8 debted to her for helping to make our cadet program January meeting calendar 8 one of the outstanding programs in the Arizona Wing, See the Quarterly Training Schedule (QTS) for Lt. Col. Buchanan says. upcoming events and contact information plus The commander says part of the effort to reinforce http://azwg.us for the Civil Air Patrols Arizona Wing calendar. Be sure to visit the squadrons the cadet program will be to make its activities more Web site at www.squadron302.org. (Continued on page 2) Civil Air Patrol: More Than Meets The Skies Semper Vigilans (Always Vigilant)

 ES training emphasized in goals

(Continued from page 1) interactive, engaging and somewhat less regimented. While the cadets come to serve and learn, we also want to make the meetings and activities as enjoyable and engaging as possible, Lt. Col. Buchanan explains. Theyre ready to have some fun after being in school all day. To ensure an adequate ES force within the squadron, the commander emphasizes the need to develop and maintain ground teams and UDFqualified personnel, particularly for the location of emergency2nd Lt. Larry Nesbitt locator transponders (ELTs). Both officers and cadets are encouraged to take part in this undertaking, which is being led by 2nd Lt. Larry Nesbitt, squadron ES officer. Training opportunities will be announced. Also important is the need to qualify as many of the squadrons senior members as possible to serve on aircrews as mission scanners UDF training for squadron members and observFull Throttle will be emphasized in 2009. Honing Full Throttle is the monthly e-newsletter for ers, Lt. Col. in on a practice ELT signal are 1st Lts. Buchanan officers, cadets and friends of Deer Valley ComDaryl Duncan (left) and Ruben says. Fulfill- posite Squadron 302, Arizona Wing, Civil Air Kafenbaum. Patrol. Its mission is to bolster communication ment of this with and among officers and cadets, enhance goal is important to reinforce the Arizona Wings awareness of squadron activities, and share decision to locate the new Cessna 182 glass cock- news and information about the squadron and pit aircraft at Deer Valley Composite Squadron its personnel. In addition, the newsletter also 302. can be viewed under the News link on the Monthly operational exercises (OPEXs) represent squadrons Web site at www.squadron302.org. Story submissions can be forwarded by the excellent opportunities for members to gain qualifi15th of the month preceding publication to Capt. cations to fly aboard the aircraft. We have an excellent squadron, which is borne Jerry Porter, squadron public-affairs officer, at civilairpatrolsq302pao@cox.net. out in the outbriefing from our recent Subordinate To guarantee receipt of the newsletter, readUnit Inspection (SUI) by the Arizona Wing, Lt. ers should ensure their eCol. Buchanan says, adding the SUI results will be mail addresses and other released when the final report is received. These contact information remain three key goals are intended to involve more mem- current with the squadron bers, make activities for cadets and seniors alike and on national e-services at www.capnhq.gov. more enjoyable, and to ensure our squadron is trained and ready to fulfill the requirements of any Vol. 3, No. 3 mission to which we might be assigned. January 2009 Full Throttle January 2009 Page 2

A half-century in CAP

Beckwith reflects excellence

eering into dust-covered historical archives, archeologists have uncovered several notable events, amazing accomplishments and interesting facts from way back in 1957: The Space Age began when the former Soviet Union launched Sputnik as the first earth-orbiting satellite. West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein debuted on Broadway. First-class postage was three cents. Dwight Eisenhower was serving his second term as president; Richard Nixon was his vice president. Academy-Award recipients that year included Around the World in 80 Days for Best Motion Picture, Yul Brynner for Best Actor for The King and I and Ingrid Bergman for Best Actress in Anastasia. Other popular films included Giant, Pal Joey and The Ten Commandments. Three B-52 bombers, led by U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Archie J. Old, Jr., completed the first around-the-world, nonstop jet plane As an 18-year-old Civil Air Patrol (CAP) cadet from Connecticut, Tim Beckwith prepares for a flight in flight in 45 hours, 19 minutes. (Note: Deer a U.S. Air Force T33 during the 1961 Jet OrientaValley Composite Squadron 302s Lt. Col. tion Course at Perrin Air Force Base in Texas. ToFrank Knaack was not among those B-52 day, Maj. Beckwith (inset) is a Fifty-Year Member of pilots.) CAP, including 38 years with Deer Valley Composite Elvis Presley had three of the years Top 10 Squadron 302. hits with Too Much, All Shook Up and Teddy Bear while Debbie Reynolds wooed audiences with Tammy. Gunsmoke was the most popular television show. Young Tim Beckwith joined the Civil Air Patrols (CAPs) Manchester Cadet Squadron in Manchester, Conn. Wait! Tim Beckwith?! Yes, that Tim Beckwith! More than a half century later, Maj. Tim Beckwith, current safety officer and mission pilot and a former 10-year commander of Deer Valley Composite Squadron 302, has been recognized as a 50Year Member of CAP, a special membership category granted under CAPR 39-2. Individuals with 50 years of continuous CAP service are eligible for free CAP membership upon verification by the wing commander and a letter sent to CAP National Headquarters. At that time, the individuals membership record is annotated to show an indefinite renewal date and a new membership card is issued. Fifty-Year Members continue to receive all the benefits of regular active senior (Continued on page 4) Full Throttle January 2009 Page 3

 Beckwith called treasured asset

(Continued from page 3) membership and are entitled to all rights and privileges. Theres no question Tim Beckwith reflects excellence and has been an outstanding role model for hundreds of CAP members through his five decades of service, notes Lt. Col. Chas Buchanan, squadron commander. He truly is a remarkable individual and a treasured asset within our squadron and the Arizona Wing. After joining CAP in 1957, Maj. Beckwith remained an active cadet in Connecticut from 1957 to 1961; his cadet membership expired in 1962. He served as his squadrons cadet commander in 1961 and received CAPs Certificate of Maj. Tim Beckwith (center) and his wife, Patricia, greet a Proficiency, which is akin to todays ca- fellow Civil Air Patrol member in May 2007 at the 50th annidet Spaatz Award. He attended three versary celebration of Deer Valley Composite Squadron 302. summer encampments, the last of which was at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, and Casualty. He joined Deer Valley Composite Squadron where he was cadet commander. His selection 302 that year and has been a continuous squadron as the Connecticut Wing cadet entitled him to attend the 1961 Jet Orientation Course at member except for a stint from 1989 to 1993 as Perrin Air Force Base in Texas, where he comthe Arizona Wings director of governmental services (forerunner of todays counter-narcotics dipleted five hours of flight time during three T33 flights. rector). Serving as squadron commander from Maj. Beckwith left active cadet participation 1978 to 1988, he has been safety officer since November 1996. His Theres no question Tim Beckwith reflects safety columns appear Full Throttle. excellence and has been an outstanding role in The major gained his mission scanner model for hundreds of CAP members Lt. Col. Chas Buchanan, commander, and observer ratings in 1965, his CAP pilot Deer Valley Composite Squadron 302 rating in December 1972 and his senior in September 1961 to attend the University of pilot designation in January 1999. He has been a cadet-orientation and counter-narcotics (CN) pilot Connecticut and rejoined the Manchester squadron as a senior member in February continuously since the early 1970s. 1963. He served in several positions, including Among the activities Maj. Beckwith considers most noteworthy in his CAP career are: squadron commander, until his transfer in 1966 to Phoenix with his employer, Aetna Life (Continued on page 5) Full Throttle January 2009 Page 4

 50-Year Member has fond memories

(continued from page 4) 1961 Jet-orientation course with five hours in a U.S. Air Force T33 jet. 1973 Flying his son, Rich, in the squadrons L-19 doing flour bombing (when it was permitted) and making spot landings at Buckeye Airport with other bird dogs. 1990 Being a target for the first F-16 intercept to test the U.S. Customs agreement with the U.S. Air Force. (He notes he has good video of it, too.) 2003 Being in flight with Dave Hay of Squadron 302 on the very Maj. Tim Beckwith (right) provides a preflight briefing to day and minute the Wright Brothers C/AB Antony Wijatyk, one of the estimated 250 cadets he made the first powered flight exhas flown on cadet-orientation flights. actly 100 years earlier. 2004 Flying a parallel traffic pattern with 250 cadets and logged 350 actual search hours the worlds largest airplane an Antonov including the CN missions. Another 300 hours 225 at Williams Gateway Airport. have been accumulated during practice search December 2006 Taking grandson Matand-rescue exercises and CN flights. thew, a cadet in Florida who was visiting for I have many fond memories of growing up the holidays, for his first CAP flight. (How in this fine organization, Maj. Beckwith, 65, proud I was! Maj. Beckwith exclaims.) says nostalgically. Ive spent 38 of my CAP He also notes his enjoyment during the 1970s years in Squadron 302 and have come away when his wife, Patricia, also a CAP member and with some interesting items. a former Sky Harbor Cadet Squadron 301 cadet, Certainly, foremost is aviation with its funcwas receiving her flight training. The major spent tion in CAP activities, be it searching, counterseveral CAP flights following her on her solo drug missions, cadet-orientation flights, various flights. flight training or proficiency flying, etc. But Approximately 1,100 hours of Maj. Beckwiths more so, it is being associated with the like1,200 flight hours have been logged exclusively minded people in Squadron 302 with whom for CAP and include check flights, cadet flights, Ive been proud to serve plus those at the group, search-and-practice searches, CN and U.S. Air wing, region and national levels. Force flights (being a target for FAA intercept The tall, virtually whitetraining and radar calibration), and proficiency haired pilot, who is well flying in CAP aircraft that include the L-3, L-4, known for his safety serL-5, L-19, L-20, T-34, Cessna models 150, 172, mons at squadron meet177, 182, 182 glass, 206 and Piper models 18 and ings, pauses and adds, I 180. love CAP flying and CAP While not counting the logged names, Maj. aviation. Squadron 302 has Beckwith estimates he has flown approximately made much of it possible. Full Throttle January 2009 Page 5

Happy Holidays!
Officers and guests of Deer Valley Composite Squadron 302 celebrated the holidays with good fellowship, food and prizes during a party Dec. 10 at Deer Valley Airport Restaurant.

2 3

(1) - Lt. Col. Frank Knaack is more than ready to party. (2) - Capt. Bill Rogers shows off one of several door prizes awarded to attendees. (3) - 1st Lt. Len Weiss (left) draws the name of a door-prize winner from a basket held by Lt. Col. Chas Buchanan. (4) - New squadron senior member Ryan Leja, shown with date Allison Bingham, won the opportunity to pilot a US Airways full-motion 737 simulator. (5) Lt. Col. Chas Buchanan opens a Secret Santa gift, which was a needed battery charger for the squadrons new aircraft. (6) - Lt. Col. Brian Ready proved to be the Secret Santa.

Full Throttle

January 2009

Page 6

Lights on! But which? And when?

by Maj. Attila Szokol Squadron deputy commander for adults, administrative officer, and standardization and evaluation officer uring a recent training flight, I noticed my student configuring the aircrafts exterior lighting in a way that caused me to dislocate my right eyebrow. (With rest, ice, compression and elevation, my eyebrow is doing just fine now, thank you very much.) While there was nothing wrong with which lights he turned on, it was different than what I expected. During our debrief, I learned he had been picking up on different lighting practices of other pilots he had observed and employed a hybrid technique of them all. Interestingly, the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAAs) regulatory requirement for exterior illumination of an aircraft is quite minimal. As stated in 14 CFR 91.209, there are only two requirements: 1) position lights must be illuminated between sunset and sunrise, and 2) if the aircraft has an anti-collision light system, those Maj. Attila Szokol lights must be on unless the pilot in command determines it would be safer to keep them off. With so many additional lights installed on our aircraft, it ultimately is up to the pilot to decide when to turn on the others. Luckily, pilots dont have to rely on a magic 8-ball, alignment of the stars or tribal lore to develop lighting practices that enhance safety. In 2003, the FAA released Advisory Circular (AC) 91-73A, Part 91 and Part 135 Single-Pilot Procedures During Taxi Operations. While we continually have reviewed most of the high points of this AC during meetings through the years, there is one section that deserves revisiting use of exterior lights. This section breaks down getting from the chocks to the runway in five phases: 1) starting engine, 2) taxiing, 3) crossing a runway, 4) taxiing into position and hold, and 5) receiving takeoff clearance. Each of these phases has distinct lighting configurations that are appropriate for the particular phase. To paraphrase from the AC: If you are turn these lights on

Starting the engine Taxiing Crossing a runway Taxiing into position to hold Cleared for takeoff
1 2

Rotating beacon All lights, except landing light 1, 2 All available lights All lights, except landing light All lights, including landing light (or pulse lights)

When stopped or giving way to another aircraft, the taxi light should be turned off. Strobe lights should not be illuminated at night in close proximity to other aircraft. (Continued on page 8) January 2009 Page 7

Full Throttle

6 cadets gain grade promotions

C
ongratulations to the following six cadets from Deer Valley Composite Squadron 302 who have earned recent advancements in grade: To Cadet Senior Master Sergeant: Samantha Hansen To Cadet Master Sergeant: Alethia Patocs To Cadet Technical Sergeant: Steven Cothran To Cadet Airman First Class: Skyler Wilson To Cadet Airman: Anthony Costabile and Peter Garcia

Study

Test

Promote

Note these meetings

Only you can be yourself. No one else is qualified for the job.
-- Anonymous

lease mark your calendars for these meetings of Deer Valley Composite Squadron 302 members in January: Cadet Meetings (7 p.m.) Mondays: Jan. 5 (Cadet orientation/BDUs), Jan. 12 (BDUs), Jan. 19 (PT) and Jan. 26 (Blues) Officer Meetings (7:30 p.m.) Wednesdays: Jan. 14 and 28 Adult Staff Meeting (7:30 p.m.) Wednesday: Jan. 21 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ BDUs - Battle dress uniform PT - Physical training Blues - Air Force dress uniform

Lights signal intent to other aircraft

(Continued from page 7) The AC gives much attention to using landing lights (as well as taxi lights) as an additional, nonverbal means to communicate intent the intent to move. This movement can be taxiing, crossing a runway or commencing the takeoff roll. For example, while taxiing, the taxi light would be on. When instructed to give way to crossing traffic, in addition to reading back the instruction and complying, you would turn the taxi light off. This provides extra confirmation to the other aircraft that you are giving way. Once the aircraft passes, you turn the taxi light back on and resume the taxi. In another example, you are cleared into position and hold. You turn every light on, except the taxi and landing lights. Remember intent? Were not cleared yet for takeoff, so you dont want to send mixed signals! Once cleared for takeoff, turn on the pulse lights. While the information in the Advisory Circular is not mandatory, following its guidance will provide you with a standard method for configuring the aircrafts exterior lights. The AC can be downloaded from the FAAs website at http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/ rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/8b3f0b35a9f952af86256dc000565db4/$FILE/AC91-73A.pdf . Fly safe, see, and BE SEEN! Full Throttle January 2009 Page 8