Cape Town Flying Club news 21 June
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From the front desk

Events

- Shackleton 1722 Documentary

- ATC/Met non flip day

- Goodbye NCG

- Welcome PIA

Aircraft Accidents and Incidents
5 ways to die in Goma (Sean O'Connor)
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Dates to diarise

28 June -Shackleton 1722 documentary, FAYP

14 July - Wings Club Airshow, Virginia Airport, Durban

28 July - South African landing Championship, Bloemfontein

24-25 August - Vredendal Fly In

20 October - Aerobatic Nationals, Oudtshoorn

9-11 November - TFDC Fly-In, AFB Overberg www.flyin.org.za

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From the front desk

We would like to put in a thank you to Alexia for the donation of the new coffee perculator, hopefully the users of the new coffee pot will use it wisely and remember to switch it off when it is empty. Ask an instructor or duty pilot if you are not rated on this machine.

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Shackleton 1722 Documentary 28 June--> Chris Teale

We have pleasure inviting you to the launch of our new documentary "Shackleton 1722" This has been in the making for nearly four years and is the definitive Shackleton story.

Place:

Disa Inn
Air Force Base Ysterplaat

28 June 2007 at 18h00.

for more information contact the SAAF Museum: http://www.saafmuseum.co.za

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ATCMet Flip Day --> G Pinnock

Unfortunatly, after all the planning, the weather changed the plans. In hindsight, the fact that the Met guy cancelled that morning should have been a huge clue that no flying was going to be done. Disregarding this sign, we still had CTFC's apron filled with aircraft taking part.

With no chance of flying, the party moved into the club, and more specifically the bar. Thanks to all those involved, and those who donated their flying time to this event. It will be organised again when Linda's Weather Fairy (tm) will be less likely to make an appearance.

Some cold ATNS staff

More cold ATNS staff

The only flying done was on the pool table

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Goodbye NCG -->Jaco van Zyl

It is with sadness that we wish NCG all the best with her new life. I will never forget moments like my first flight on 11 November 1994 with Rod, or Night flying with Anton or IF with Oom Syd in NCG.

NCG served us for a long time and most people I meet in Aviation, when they know I am from Cape Town, ask how is NCG. She was very well known and loved by many pilots some of whom are flying in the airlines.

We will miss her and surely never forget her.

Jaco van Zyl.

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Hello PIA --> Gareth Pinnock

As you will have noticed, CTFC is now the proud owner of a new Tomahawk, which is now on our apron. Last weekend our Chairpeople Alexia and Rafi,as well as Christian Marais and myself, flew to George to complete the paperwork and to get our paws on this aeroplane. Perfect weather was ordered to make sure the Tomahawk would arrive in time for it's first student on Sunday.

She is a beautiful aeroplane, so please treat her kindly.

Like kids at Christmas

The team at FAGG

Home, Sweet Home

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Incidents and Accidents 18 of 20: ZS-DJO - The Runaway Plane--> Danny Buitendag

Viginia Airport, Durban. When this incident happened, the pilot was attempting to start the engine, but was not intending to fly. This was a newly imported aircraft and only had one airframe hour. On the third attempt, with the throttle and choke fully open this time, the engine started, but would not run at less than 2,000 rpm. The engine was shut down. After a 2-minute wait, the pilot started the engine again. This time the engine rpm was very high and the pilot again attempted to shut the engine down. However, the pilot was unable to shut the engine down this time. The parkbrake managed to hold the aircraft stationary for a few seconds, but the aircraft started to accelerate, across the taxiway, then across the runway and came to rest 70 meters away against the wall and bushes forming the eastern boundary of the airport. Post impact, the aircraft's nose caught fire. The pilot released the canopy and climbed out uninjured.

Probable Cause: "The cause of the high engine RPM was due to the pilot leaving both the throttle and the choke fully open thus causing the high engine reveolutions. A contributing factor was the pilot's failureto apply brakes and also chock the aircraft wheels."

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5 ways to die in Goma --> Sean O'Connor

After my last contract in Liberia, where I surfed almost every day, I was a bit disappointed when I was rostered for Goma in the DRC. I believe that there are probably more ways to meet your maker in Goma than anywhere on the planet!

1. We live on the slopes of 2 active volcanoes. Nyamoragira had an eruption 7 months ago and the closest, Nyiragongo, had a major eruption in 2002, which covered most of the town & ½ the runway, trapping a few aircraft behind the lava. They’re still there. In 2005, the crater rumbled, cracked & leaked some lava out again. Apparently the resident volcanologist says that his most recent samples indicate that magma with very deep origins is finding its way to the crater unhindered. Don’t ask me what that means. He’s also famous for sampling the local brew and prostitutes, so maybe he got the samples mixed up.

Looking across the crater of Nyiragongo at Nyamoragira (approx. 8km away), the 2 active volcanoes. The rugged looking peak on the left is just an ordinary mountain.

2. The town is also situated on the edge of Lake Kivu (our house is 50m from the edge). It’s a creepy lake, it may have been a gigantic crater zillions of years ago, so there is no beach – the depth is 1400’ right from the edge - it just drops straight off! Half the town is in Rwanda and during their most recent bout of ethnic cleansing, many thousands of bodies were dumped in the lake! Volcanic fissures in the bottom of the lake release methane into the water which is immediately dissolved due to the immense pressure. There is an estimated 200 cubic km of the gas – apparently enough to power the entire US of A for a month dissolved in the lake. Any volcanic disturbance below the lake will cause an upwelling of the methane rich water, which will result in it releasing the gas. Ignition will occur by the volcano, lightning, human fires on the banks, etc and there will be the mother of all explosions. More than 2 million people living around the lake will be fried. Any survivors will vrek from the carbon dioxide which will settle in the lake basin.

Lake Kivu looking unusually inviting

3. Swimming in the lake is also dangerous because it is constantly releasing carbon dioxide, which settles on the surface. My co-captain, Cameron & I found this out when we were in the water about 100m from the shore. We only just managed to get back, gasping for oxygen and then had to find the strength to haul ourselves up above the layer of gas. There are just a couple of small, hardy fish species that manage to survive in the lake – no crocs, hippos or plants.

Brave-ass (stoopid?) pilots skinny dipping at midnight, taunting the ghosts of the lake, breathing the CO2 and adding to the methane.

4. With the humidity here near the equator and the orographic lifting caused by the volcanoes (10500’ and 13500’), the occurrence of violent electrical storms is apparently the highest in the world. The approach to the airport from the north is between the 2 volcanoes, whose peaks are less than 10km apart. Tricky when it’s IMC!

Approaching the airport from the north, smoky Nyiragongo on the right, on a good weather day.

5. Then there’s the fighting. There was a rebel attack (don’t ask me who the rebels are and who the good guys are, it’s confusing!) last week 50km north of here and then last night there was automatic rifle fire outside the front gate of our house. I was just about to get under my bed when the sound faded off down the road. Probably just some tart after the volcanologist!

5. 

There are so many uniformed people all over the place; you never know who’s on your side or whether they’re city guerillas or mountain guerillas. Yes, yes, our Van’s reg. is “EGG”.

On the whole though, it’s been an awesome experience so far. Flying over the Rwenzori, mountains of the moon, Lake Victoria & the Nile in Uganda and the rest of this magnificent part of Africa is an experience that will always be one of the highlights of my flying career. There is just so much of everything here – fertile land, water, minerals, energy. Maybe there will be a time in the future when people realize that there is more than enough for everyone, but probably not.

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CTFC News 08 June
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From the front desk

ATC/Met flipping day/party

Resources for Students
Aircraft Accidents and Incidents
Aviation news
Humour
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Dates to diarise

10 June - ATC/Met Flip day at CTFC

15 - 17 June - Carnarvon Fly In

14 July - Wings Club Airshow, Virginia Airport, Durban

28 July - South African landing Championship, Bloemfontein

24-25 August - Vredendal Fly In

20 October - Aerobatic Nationals, Oudtshoorn

9-11 November - TFDC Fly-In, AFB Overberg

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From the front desk

Regarding Payments :

Hilda is having a huge problem with members making internet or bank deposits and not bothering to put in their name, all that is put on is silly numbers that mean absolutely diddly squat to me. However, the same people are quick to complain when a payment does not reflect on their account.

I would appreciate it if you could please, please PLEASE insert your name when making payments.

Regarding Emailing of Statements:

I have many statements being returned due to the fact that I do not have the correct email addresses, it is your responsibility to make sure that we have AT ALL TIMES correct contact details. So if you have not received the last statement which was sent out March / April, then you know your email information is incorrect and you need to check in the members listing to update it.

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ATCMet Flip Day 10 June --> G Pinnock

A reminder about the ATC/Met flip day taking place at the club on Sunday morning. Aircraft and pilots from FACT, FAFK FASH will be converging on CTFC to take the ATC/Met guys flying.

There will be a party/gathering afterwards, starting from 12:00 (or before if the rain spoils play). There will be boerewors rolls on sale, either on the indoor or outdoor braai.

Come and mingle with the voices on the other end of the radio/line, and meet your fellow aviators!

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Resources for students --> G Pinnock

http://www.faa.gov/pilots/training/

http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aviation/

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Incidents and Accidents 17 of 20: A Collection--> Danny Buitendag

On a High:
A witness said that he heard the aircraft buzz the farm and then witnessed the C182 flew into power lines. Another witness said he also saw and heard the aircraft buzz the farm. He said the plane came over the farm a second time, but was closer to the house where the power lines ran. The witness heard the impact and then saw the plane ‘cart wheeling’ in the field. An examination of the plane revealed no systems failures or anomalies. Toxicology testing showed that the pilot had used marijuana very recently in relation to the time of the accident. Its effects impaired the pilot at the time of the accident. Better not to fly under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medicines that may affect your ability to think clearly.

You filled it with what!?:

After a double engine failure occurred during takeoff from an airport in Germany, the twin-engined BAC-111, collided with a bridge, shearing off both wings. This 1971 aircraft accident was caused when the water-injection system to cool the engines during takeoff was inadvertently filled with kerosene instead of water. Amazing, the power of stupidity.

When Boredom sets in I:

An American Airlines DC-4 was flying near El Paso, Texas in 1947 when, as a prank, a captain riding in the jump seat engaged the gust lock in flight. The pilot in command, not knowing this, rolled the elevator trim tab with no response. When the jump seat captain disengaged the gust lock, the aircraft went into a steep dive, executed part of an outside roll and became inverted. Neither the captain nor the jump seat captain had seat belts on and they accidentally feathered No. 1, 2 and 4 engines when they hit the controls with their heads. No one realized it at the time. This obviously reduced power. The co-pilot, who was strapped in, pulled the aircraft out of the dive 350 feet from the ground. Scary!

When Boredom sets in II:

In 1973, near Albuquerque, New Mexico, a DC10 had to make an emergency landing. Out of boredom, the captain and flight engineer decided to experiment and see what would happen to the autothrottle system if the circuit breakers that supplied power to the instruments were tripped. These instruments measure the rotational speed of each engine's low-pressure compressor. The resultant overspeeding of the starboard engine caused the engine to disintegrate. Pieces struck the fuselage, breaking a window, causing rapid explosive decompression. A passenger was sucked out of the plane. Fortunately, the plane landed safely. So, next time you are sitting up there at cruise altitude, rather sharpen up your map-reading skills; don't play with the switches!

(See: http://www.planecrashinfo.com/1973/1973-78.htm )

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Aviation news this week -->Compiled by Danny Buitendag and Gareth Pinnock

1) Jet fuel Piston Engines

2) Jeppesen produces a lot of charts:

3) Jeppesen sued for providing flight plans

1) Jet fuel Piston Engines

The company Thielert is successfully marketing its new Centurion engines in two output classes to various flying schools right across Europe, Africa and China. The FAA type certification for the installation of the Centurion 1.7 in the model series of the Cessna 172 was awarded as far back as January 31, 2005. Further FAA type certifications for the Diamond DA40 TDI as well as DA42 Twin Star has also been awarded. The FAA type certification for the installation of the powerful 350 hp Centurion 4.0 in the Cessna 206, 340, 414 and 421 is planned for the near future. "This will enable the students of a flying school to experience the feeling of flying a jet from the outset", says Thielert.

These engines are more cost effective than Avgas engines, reducing operating costs by up to 60% because of low consumtion and low fuel price. This results in lower training costs for students. With 135 hp available for take-off and 97 hp cruise power at 17,500 feet, these engines also afford longer range.

(For more info, go to www.centurion-engines.com)

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2) Jeppesen produces a lot of charts:

Jeppesen Dataplan Inc. is a subsidiary of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, which is a unit of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Based in Englewood, Colorado, Jeppesen is the world's largest provider of flight information services, such as the navigation charts that pilots use. It produces more than 2 billion such charts a year.

The Boeing Co. acquired Jeppesen in August 2000 as part of its strategy to expand in the aviation services business, which Boeing estimated at the time would generate more than $2.6 trillion over the next two decades. The $1.5 billion in cash Boeing paid for the company was about six times Jeppesen's 1999 revenue of $235 million.

When Boeing acquired Jeppesen, then-Boeing Chairman and Chief Executive Phil Condit had this to say: "This really is the glue to providing a whole set of information services. In the long run, we are trying to buy a business that can continue to grow."

Jeppesen has since provided Boeing with an important and consistent revenue stream, according to industry analysts, although the amount is probably tiny compared with the more than $40 billion in annual sales generated by Boeing's jetliner business.

(www.aviationews.us)

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3) Jeppesen sued for providing flight plans (yahoo news)

NEW YORK (AFP) - A leading US civil liberties group filed a lawsuit against a subsidiary of aircraft manufacturer Boeing on Wednesday, alleging involvement in the CIA's secret transfer of terrorist suspects.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed the case against Jeppesen Dataplan, Inc., on behalf of three alleged targets of the US Central Intelligence Agency's controversial "extraordinary rendition" program.

The lawsuit charges that Jeppesen knowingly provided flight services to the CIA that enabled the transportation of Ethiopian Binyam Mohamed, Italian Abou Elkassim Britel and Egyptian Ahmed Agiza to secret locations.

Once in the secret overseas locations, the three were subjected to torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, the group alleges.

"American corporations should not be profiting from a CIA rendition program that is unlawful and contrary to core American values," said Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union. "Corporations that choose to participate in such activity can and should be held legally accountable," he added.

The complaint alleges that Jeppesen was one of the main providers of logistical support services for aircraft used by the CIA.

The programme allegedly involved US agents abducting terrorist suspects and moving them to secret locations around the world where they were routinely tortured or otherwise abused.

According to the lawsuit, Jeppesen provided logistical support such as itinerary, route, weather, and fuel planning for 70 such flights since 2001. "Jeppesen's services have been crucial to the functioning of the government's extraordinary rendition program," said Steven Watt, one of the American Civil Liberties Union's attorneys.

"Without the participation of companies like Jeppesen, the programme could not have gotten off the ground," he said.

The lawsuit was filed under the Alien Tort Statute, a law permitting aliens to bring claims in the United States for violations of other countries' laws or US treaties.

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Humour

Instructor's Poem --> Chantal van Steijn

The student is my pilot. Him, i shall not want.
He maketh forced landings in rough pastures.
He leadeth me into trees and high-tension wires.
He destroyeth my confidence. He leadeth me into paths of incoming
traffic. Yea, though I ride through the air in the shadow of death, I
shall fear all evil,

for he is with me. His stick, his throttle and his rudder confuseth me.
He prepares stalls and auto-rotations in presence of all other planes. My
temper runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, and I
shall be grateful if you will spare my life and let this yo-yo go solo!

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