Details announced soon...

As I understand it, Harrison Ford's NEXT movie (which promises to be another blockbuster hit) is titled: "Indiana Jones and the Gallon of 100 Low-Lead"

In order to improve situational awareness for pilots of aircraft that are taxiing, the new San Carlos Airport Tower Chief, Allie Metcalf, announced a change in procedure in the way that the controllers handle arriving aircraft.

In the past, the pilot of an aircraft that just landed would be instructed to "...Taxi to parking and MONITOR ground control 121.6." During a recent meeting with airport users and the FAA, I suggested that San Carlos utilize the more common instruction, "...CONTACT ground control 121.6." I pointed out that this would alert other pilots on the ground who might not know that another plane is coming their way. Also, this procedure more positively controls the airport movement areas, leading to a safer airport.

The suggested change has already been implemented and you should no longer hear the phrase "...monitor ground control 121.6" at San Carlos Airport.

Old habits die hard and many of us are accustomed to rolling off the runway and not stopping while we proceed to parking. We need to reacquaint ourselves with section 4 - 3 - 20 of the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM.) The title of this section is "Exiting the Runway After Landing" and in summary it states (in part) that the pilot of an aircraft that just landed should:

a. Exit the runway without delay at the first available taxiway (or on a taxiway directed by ATC);

b. Taxi clear of the runway unless otherwise directed by ATC--An aircraft is considered "clear of the runway" when all parts of the aircraft are past the runway edge markings (or here at SQL, the "hold short bars", as we have no runway edge markings);

c. Once all parts of the aircraft are past the runway edge markings (hold short bars), the pilot must STOP until further instructions from ground control have been issued.

STOPPING after exiting the runway will need to become a new habit for those of us who became accustomed to the "continuous roll" under the old (and now obsolete) "...monitor ground control 121.6."

AS A LOCAL VARIATION, APPLICABLE ONLY AT SAN CARLOS AIRPORT, OUR CONTROLLERS WOULD PREFER THAT AN AIRCRAFT CLEARING THE RUNWAY AND WAITING FOR FURTHER CLEARANCE FROM GROUND CONTROL TAXI PAST THE "HOLD SHORT" BARS AND FAR ENOUGH ONTO THE TAXIWAY TO ALLOW ANOTHER AIRCRAFT TO EXIT BEHIND THEM.

If you want to read the entire text of AIM 4-3-20, it can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/6co329. Once at that page, search for the following text: 4-3-20. Exiting the Runway After Landing When reading this section, keep in mind that it was written so as to apply to ALL airports, not just those with operating control towers.

While on the subject of runways and taxiways at San Carlos Airport, now would be a good time to re-familiarize yourself with the new parallel taxiway designators identified as "Juliet", "Kilo", "Lima" and "Mike." "Juliet" is the taxiway closest to the control tower with "Kilo", "Lima" and "Mike" the designators for the taxiways moving progressively northeast away from the tower. You can find a graphic representation of the new taxiways on our web site: http://www.sancarlospilots.org. In addition, you can pick up a copy of the new taxiway diagram at the Airport Manager's office.

The new San Carlos Airport runway exiting procedure and taxiway designators won't to anything to alleviate the high cost of avgas, but they will make for safer, more efficient ground operations.">

Flying high on planes
by Dana Yates, San Mateo Daily Journal

Planes that might normally cruise the sky above the Peninsula were grounded at Sandpiper Elementary School in Redwood Shores for a crash course in math and science yesterday.

"There's always that mystery - they see them coming and going every day but don't know how they work," said Principal Linda McDaniel. "Whatever kind of connection you can make for them is really, really important."

The San Carlos Pilots' Association sponsored yesterday's event that brought three small planes to the school's playground. Class by class, student shuffled by the planes and climbed into the cockpit of a Kitfox.

"I love airplanes, it's cool how they can fly," said third grader Megan Lange, who admits science is not her favorite subject.

However, you never know what kid will get turned on to science by a quick airplane tour, said Carol Ford, president of the San Carlos Pilots' Association.

The association wants to improve the event later this fall by making it a parade of planes that travel from San Carlos Airport to the school by way of Redwood Shores Parkway. The parade would help bring together the community as well, an aim of both the pilots association and the neighborhood association.

"It's fabulous for the kids. Not just that the planes are pretty and great to look at, but it will help them learn too," said Jim Cvengros of the Redwood Shores Community Association.

The community association originally offered to cover gas for the planes to travel from the airport to the school, but opted for popsicles after the grand parade was postponed, Cvengros said.

For Ford, it's a mission to bring flight into the state curriculum as a way to teach math and science. She hopes it will catch on locally and spread. What better way to teach children about math and science than with aircraft, an industry that supports a majority of the county’s residents, Ford said.

By bringing the planes to schools, the pilots association also hopes to turn on a new generation to aviation. The number of new pilots is dwindling, Ford said.

That may be due in part to increase fuel prices, which run $6 to $7 a gallon for planes.

However, interest in youth programs at the Hiller Aviation Museum have never been higher, said Vice President of Operations Willie Turner.

Summer camps are already sold out and space was doubled this year, Turner said.

The museum also sponsors the Young Eagles program that allows kids between the ages of eight and 17 free airplane rides on the third Saturday of each month.

It might be worth the costs if you have a kid like Ford, who as a child would be drawn to watch every plane in the sky. Years later, as kids filed past her for a chance to sit in a cockpit, Ford smiled as she heard a plane take off from San Carlos Airport.

So did every child on the playground.

Dana Yates, San Mateo Daily Journal
First grader Hunter Binasik took control of the Kitfox experimental plane which landed in the Sandpiper Elementary School playground yesterday afternoon. The plane was at the school to help get kids interested in aviation and science.

See our disclaimer for alternate views including a link to a view from Emerald Hills, sunrise - sunset times for SQL, and video from Half Moon Bay Airport.

New: Panorama of Half Moon Bay Airport -- updated every 30 minutes.

AWOS at Half Moon Bay

Listen: to air traffic control near San Carlos Airport. This and many other ATC audio channels courtesy of www.liveatc.net

A METAR is a concise description of the current weather at an airport. Click here to learn the secrets of deciphering Metar's.

Read about the space shuttle flight of former San Carlos resident Col. Rex Walheim, graduate of Terra Linda Middle School and San Carlos High, who made 3 space walks of over 20 hours duration during a recent mission to the International Space Station. Col. Walheim describes the local sites he could see from space, including San Carlos Airport. San Mateo County Times.

Read a new article on aviation safety by SCAPA member Ken Steiner: Zero Doesn't Always Mean Nothing

The re-marking of the taxiway designations for the four parallel taxiways at San Carlos Airport will soon be completed to conform to current FAA guidelines. Once the new designators are in place the parallel taxiways will be identified as "Juliet", "Kilo", "Lima" and "Mike"; with "J" being the parallel taxiway closest to the control tower and "K", "L" and "M" the designators for the parallel taxiways moving progressively northeast away from the tower. Please see the diagram on the reverse for clarification. The runway exit taxiway designations will not change.

Read about the tribute from San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks to 6 members of the San Carlos Airport community for their rescue work last Oct. 27 in this story in the San Mateo County Times.

Angel Flights is a remarkable organization whose members provide potentially life-saving flights for people with medical conditions who must visit medical facilities far from their home. Angel Flight West is currently looking for individuals interested in volunteering their time and aircraft in support of their mission. Please contact Joe Shelton, Angel Flight Northern California Wing Leader at (831) 588-3506 or visit their website at www.angelflightwest.org for more information.

Last year, I spoke with some of you regarding my intent to purchase a flight simulator focused on crosswind training. It's here! After some false starts finding a location, the simulator has finally been installed in its new permanent location in San Carlos, very near San Carlos airport.

I've been using the simulator for a few months now, and it's very useful for pulling apart the dynamics that happen during a crosswind approach and landing. For private pilots, it's a great way to improve your skill and competence with crosswinds.

Initially, I've been using the simulator to train students and pilots at West Valley Flying Club, but the training really is of value to the whole general aviation community. Although San Carlos pilots get practice with crosswinds almost every day, some may find a focused session on the simulator beneficial.

Training sessions cost $200 and last approximately 2 hours. The training includes a review of crosswind concepts, simulator orientation, flight control calibration exercises, crab technique, sideslip technique, forward slip technique, crab to slip on final approach, approach in varying wind conditions (including gusts, wind shear, and turbulence), crosswind touchdown and landing roll, sideslip rotation and lift-off, and slip to crab for climb out.

Most pilots will find that their skills and confidence improve after just one session, although some may find a refresher a good idea every few years.

More info at www.dkdyer.com

Dan Dyer, CFI
(415) 305-9051