DIRECTORS
Pres	Mark Hervan
VP	Dave Ferrara
Sec	Alan Klug
Treas	Joe Leonard
Admn	Doug Weston
Mem	Mark Goodman
Oper	John Blosser
Trng	John Vahey
At Lrg	Michael Geiger

MEETINGS

The Board of Directors meetings are on the second Monday of the month at 7:15PM. All members are welcome, however, please check with the president first in order to get on the agenda. General Membership meetings are the fourth Monday of the month at 7:00PM.

THE LEFT SEAT

by Mark Hervan

A few things to keep in mind while you’re at the airport. Please keep the gate closed at all times. Last week, I received a call at home from airport security for the following incident.

Members of the new Federal agency for airport security, the Transportation Security Administration approached two of our members, because the gate was left open. One of the members was securing his aircraft after a cross-country flight and was asked some questions regarding club practices

with the club office and gate. After a brief discussion the agents approached the other member. According to the agents, when asked the same questions, the other member offered a false name and became belligerent. What was this guy thinking, if he was thinking at all? The last thing our club needs is a bad reputation with airport management and security personnel.

We need to do everything we can to be good neighbors at the airport. A member of this new Federal Agency has been asked to speak at our next membership meeting on the 28^th of October. Please try to attend.

SECRETARY’S CORNER

by Al Klug

With the end of baseball season rapidly approaching, now is a great time for a trip to Cooperstown for a visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Fans from all over the world come to visit this great attraction and for us aviators it was made quite convenient. It is only a short ride from the Cooperstown-Westville Airport. (K23) Also in the area, there are 2 breweries, the Farmer Museum and the Soccer Hall of Fame.

Another great day trip is Fort Ticonderoga. I’m sure you are all familiar with that name, but if you want more information, Newsday did an article on it this past Sunday (9/29/02) which you can access from the web. Airport to use is Ticonderoga Municipal. (4B6) Taxi’s are available and it’s only a short ride from the a/p to the Fort.

THE RIGHT SEAT

by John Vahey, CFI-AI

Collision Avoidance Checklist

- Before taxiing onto a runway, check for traffic on final or on the runway.

- During climbout, accelerate to cruise-climb speed upon reaching a safe altitude to improve forward visibility and perform shallow S-turns if the pitch attitude is too high to see directly ahead.

- Familiarize yourself with special procedures at airports where you intend to operate. Pay attention to non-standard traffic patterns and noise abatement procedures.

- Check NOTAMs for such items as parachute and glider operations.

- Never overfly an airport where skydivers may be landing, but stay clear and perform a normal 45E downwind entry.

- Use your landing light when near an airport to make your aircraft more visible.

- At uncontrolled airports, report your position on the CTAF frequency. Be alert for traffic not using a radio.

- Descend to pattern altitude several miles before reaching the airport. Do not descend into the traffic pattern.

- Avoid continuous turns of more than 90E while in the traffic pattern.

- In a high-wing aircraft, lift the wing in the direction of the turn to look for traffic prior to rolling into the turn.

Source - AOPA ASF & Jeppesen

Several months ago, I was performing a runup with a new primary student on runway 15R, short of 24 , when I heard the following exchange on the radio (ground control freq was not in use): Tower: “Southwest 1234, cleared for takeoff when you’re ready.” Southwest: “Tower, 1234, I don’t think you’re ready... there’s an aircraft on the runway.” With that, I looked up and to my left and saw a 737 lining up for takeoff - on 33L! Tower had forgotten about us, and cleared Southwest to take off on the same runway. 24 was the active, but with a lightly loaded aircraft and favorable winds Southwest will often request 33L because it’s a short taxi from the gate. Southwest gets an A++ for following the first item on the Collision Avoidance Checklist.

PLANE WASH

The next, and final, plane wash is scheduled for October 6 from 12 to 2PM. We’re looking forward to a big turnout for the wash and barbeque.

GACE NOTES

Jeff MacArthur completed his CFI-II on September 13. His day started at 8:30 and didn’t end until 1:30. And a black cat crossed his path while at the Bayport Aerodrome.

Also that week, Ed Hamilton passed his Instrument ride.

Congratulations guys!!!

Finally, the picture on the first page was taken along the Hudson River just south of Albany, near Selkirk. The bridge on the left is the Berkshire Extension of the New York State Thruway (I-90), while the bridge on the right is the main railroad crossing from west of the Hudson to the New York City area.

GACE INSTRUCTORS
Michael Baldari
John Brook
Rich Clinton
Bernie Davidson
Dave Ferrara
Frank Hayes
Bob Klemfus
Roy Matthews
Bill Rudock
Rob Terano
John Vahey
Bob Van Sise
James Weisberg