Flotilla 014-01-06
Air Station
Islip-MacArthur

Flotilla Commander: Ted Blank

Flotilla Vice Commander: Lou Volpato

Written by: Matthew Zackman

Happy 2007! I am excited to be appointed as your flotilla’s new FSO-PB. My goal is to make our newsletter interesting, informative and maybe even a little humorous. Time permitting, I plan on writing a monthly report on the day-to-day issues that concern us locally. I would like to make an open invitation to all members to voice their concerns, submit an article or give us a briefing and photos of their last mission.

I would like to begin by congratulating Ted and Lou as our new leaders. Here are your appointed officers as follows:

Jim Clarry IPFC
Jim Smith FSO-CM
Frank Carbone FSO-CS
Jose Diaz-Bujan FSO-FN
Kym Jennings FSO-IS
Bob Mina FSO-MA
Eric Sachs FSO-MT
Peter Stauffer FSO-OP
Matt Zackman FSO-PB
Tony Calafiore FSO-PS
Michelle Miller FSO-SR

For those of you who were unable to attend last months D1SR Change of Watch ceremony at Captain Bill’s, Lou Volpato sent me these highlights.

Ten members from Flotilla 01-06 attended, including our FC and VFC.

Tony Calafiore was recognized as Auxiliarist of the Year for Flotilla 01-06.

Captain Boynton, Commander of Sector Long Island Sound, was a Guest of Honor and administered the Oath of Office to new Flotilla Commanders and Flotilla Vice Commanders, including Ted Blank and Lou Volpato respectively.

Thomas Venezio, District Commodore, First District Southern Region was also a guest of honor and administered the Oath of Office to new Division Staff Officers, including Lou, who is the Division Materials Officer (SO-MA).

Captain Boynton thanked all auxiliarists for their dedication in the support of the Coast Guard and asked that all members "Be Ready" - ready with their training and qualifications and ready to be called upon when needed.

Jim Clarry, IPFC, received a thank you gift from, Paul Steinberg, IPDC for his service as Flotilla Commander.

First, let me thank the members for entrusting me with the great responsibility of leading Flotilla 1-6 in 2007. I will do everything I can to earn that trust.

As year 2007 falls upon us many new challenges challenge us, the volunteers of the U. S. Coast Guard. These challenges come in many different forms. Aircraft flight hours, whether Pilot, Observer, Training pilot or observer being our main focus. Others include but are not limited to Meeting attendance, Conference attendance, Member training, Public Affairs, and Fellowship. With the added facilities last year this flotilla flew more missions and hours then in 2005 and with even more facilities this year our goal is to fly more missions and hours then we did in 2006. It is a reasonable goal and I need you to accomplish this for Flotilla 1-6.

There can be trying times with all the paperwork required to keep us in the air but once you get the hang of it, it becomes just another goal that is accomplished with ease. It is extremely necessary that we stay proficient in our jobs. Pilots must stay current both for the FAA and CG, but most important for themselves and their crew. Observers must stay current with all the radio communications and necessary directions referencing ice missions and vessel traffic.

This year is what we make it and with our elected officers, staff, pilots and observers I see no reason why it can’t be the best. I look forward to working with each and every member to face the challenge and accomplish his or her goal for Flotilla 1-6.

Ted Blank FC 1-6

My intentions for our first newsletter were to give a briefing on my trip to NAS Pensacola. As all of you know, the trip was cancelled so I will bring that to you in the next issue. Instead, I would like to give you a little bit of my background along with a summary of my progress in becoming a newly certified observer.
 

I have been flying since the young age of 12. My grandfather was a certified instructor at the time so he took me up frequently. I earned my private pilots license before leaving for my freshman year of college at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. At ERAU I earned my instrument, commercial and multi-engine rating while graduating with a bachelors degree in Aeronautical Science. With a slumping airline industry and minimal hours, I decided that flying for a living may not be the career path for me.

When I returned home, I began working for my family business and started working on my CFI. With a family and a hefty mortgage payment, I had to give up flying for almost two years. About a year ago, I had the itch to fly again and I asked my grandfather if he had any suggestions. He suggested that I look into the Coast Guard Aux Air program, where he had flown in Maine twenty years ago. I did a Google search and found Flotilla 01-06’s website.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who are involved in the Flotilla for getting me back in air again. The Aux program is a great way to stay flying for many of us, as well as, serving a purpose to our country. Since joining the flotilla last July, I have flown 36 hours. It is a far cry from many of you, but free time for me is hard to come by.

The certification process, as all of us know, is a long and tedious process. For all of the new members, my suggestion is to submit you paperwork as soon as possible, cross you T’s and dot your I’s. Unfortunately, I had to retake my Pilot/Observer test because I incorrectly entered my EMPLID number. After completing all of my requirements I submitted my paperwork mid-December and earned my certification at the beginning February.

In closing, I am pleased to serve as your flotilla’s FSO-PB. Feel free to contact me anytime with questions, comments, or ideas.

Are blind pilots flying?

One day at a busy airport, the passengers on a commercial airliner are seated waiting for the pilot to show up so they can get under way.

The pilot and copilot finally appear in the rear of the plane and begin walking up to the cockpit through the center aisle. Both appear to be blind; the pilot is using a white cane, bumping into passengers right and left as he stumbles down the aisle. The copilot is using a guide dog. Both have their eyes covered with sunglasses.

At first, the passengers do not react thinking that it must be some sort of practical joke. After a few minutes though, the engines start revving, and the airplane begins moving down the runway.

The passengers look at each other with some uneasiness. They start whispering among themselves and look desperately to the stewardesses for reassurance.

Yet, the plane starts accelerating rapidly, and people begin panicking. Some passengers are praying, and as the plane gets closer and closer to the end of the runway, the voices are becoming more and more hysterical.

When the plane has less than twenty feet of runway left, there is a sudden change in the pitch of the shouts as everyone screams at once. At the very last moment, the plane lifts off and is airborne.

Up in the cockpit, the copilot breathes a sigh of relief and tells the pilot: "You know, one of these days the passengers aren't going to scream, and we aren't going to know when to take off!"