14^th National Warbird Operator Conference a Success

March 3, 2008 -Participants in the 14^th National Warbird Operator Conference (NWOC) came away recharged and ready for another air show season as the conference wrapped up on Sunday, February 24^th. The event was established back in 1993 as a way for warbird owners, operators, and maintenance personnel to meet and discuss the prominent issues affecting the industry. This years event, held at the Embassy Suites LaQuinta Hotel in Palm Springs, California, provided that opportunity for attendees to meet the issues head on and discuss the hot topics with their peers. One of the benefits of the conference is the ability to network with the experts in aero medical, regulatory, maintenance, training, and safety areas. Aircraft-specific breakout sessions also provided attendees with a great opportunity to zero in on the issues facing their particular aircraft.

The host hotel property, Embassy Suites La Quinta, tuned out to be an excellent choice. The suites were large, clean and comfortable. The morning cook-to-order breakfast got attendees off to a good start. Hotel staff was friendly and helpful through out the entire stay. And of course, the attendees enjoyed the managers evening social activities.

This years NWOC was presented by Cannon Aviation Insurance and sponsored by Air Assets international, Air Capital Insurance, Cannon Aviation Insurance, Commemorative Air Force, Courtesy Aircraft Sales, EAA Warbirds of America, North American Trainer Association, Precision Engines, Specialty Aircraft underwriters, US Specialty Insurance, and Warbird Digest.

Wendee DeBusk and Colleen Steel staffed the NWOC registration booth. They did a fine job keeping things running smoothly and taking care of all the conference logistics.

On Thursday evening, NWOC attendees gathered for a welcome reception in the main meeting room. It was a good opportunity to network and greet old friends. On Friday morning, it was down to business. After opening remarks, the first session covered aero medical issues for aging pilots. Dr. Warren Silberman and Dr. Michael Schloss really got NWOC attendees thinking about their personal health and wellness. Both doctors encouraged pilots to be proactive when it comes to medical issues. Annual physical exams, a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet, and regular exercise are key components to a healthy lifestyle for pilots. Dr. Silberman outlined several disqualifying medical conditions that pilots should be aware of. Sr. Schloss outlined the risk factors associated with heart disease.

Following the aero medical session, Doug Gillis presented “Mastering the Experimental Aircraft Check Flight”. Doug covered the important details that pilots need to know in order to have a successful check flight. Here are his recommendations:

1. Know the maneuvers and standards for performance.

2. Know the emergency procedures.

3. Speak with the examiner.

4. Confirm the necessary certificate and experience requirements.

5. Have an airworthy aircraft.

6. Mentally prepare, don’t worry.

Building on Doug’s presentation, Ray Stinchcomb from the FAA Flight Standards Service gave an outline of the FAA Vintage and Experimental Aircraft Program. Ray covered the various examiner programs, experimental exhibition aircraft operating limitations, and flight training. He encouraged Authorized Instructors to get their Certified Flight Instructor credentials. He also informed the attendees of a new regulation coming soon which will require pilots on international flights to have “English Proficient” listed on their pilot certificate. Details on this new rule are forthcoming.

During the Friday lunch break, Col Hal Weekley, a WW-II B-17 combat pilot, gave a very interesting account of his experiences during WW-II, being shot down over occupied France. His tale of escape and evasion captivated the audience and resulted in two standing ovations.

The NWOC Friday afternoon sessions were largely devoted to safety topics. Rogers Smith, a former NASA test pilot, presented “A Culture of Discipline and YOU!” In his presentation, Rogers outlined the building blocks essential to creating a culture of discipline. These blocks include flight discipline, proficiency, judgment, and situational awareness. He recommended that pilots train in order to develop “excess workload capacity”. He also outlined when a flight or mission is compromised, 20% of the cause is related to hardware/software issues and 80% are related to human factors. That 80% is YOU. Rogers recommended the use of checklists and encouraged pilots to “Learn it – Link it – Live it”.

Allen Silver returned to NWOC 2008 and presented “Emergency Bailout Procedures”. He put the attendees in the right frame of mind with the two simple words: Think Survival. Here are the main points Allen outlined in his energetic session:

1. Have a positive mental attitude.

2. Plan ahead – keep your parachute in good condition. Pre-flight your parachute. Practice your emergency procedures each time you fly.

3. Allen described the various parachute types, proper fitting and adjustment, and bailout procedures.

4. Additional discussion centered on survival equipment, including the use of helmets, Nomex clothing, signal mirrors, and more. Such items must be worn or carried by the pilot/passengers during flight. They can’t help you if they are left in your flight bag!

Continuing on the safety theme, Doug Rozendaal from the CAF presented “Accident Analysis, Stats & Training”. He noted that half of air show accidents have been related to warbirds. In 2006, there were 6 fatal warbird accidents, with a total of 7 lives lost. In 2007, there were 7 fatal warbird accidents, with a total of 9 lives lost. Doug recommended pilots set up a “spring training program” that will better prepare pilots for the rigors of flying during the airshow season. This concept dovetails with Rogers Smith’s suggestion that pilots should train to a standard that develops excess workload capacity. Better training will help pilots make the right decisions, without hesitation, when an emergency arises in the cockpit. Doug also suggested that pilots find a mentor who can provide honest, open feedback – empower them to tell you the truth.

In the late afternoon time slot, Patrick Bailey and Stephen Hofer teamed up to present “How To Protect Your Assets”. From a legal aspect, they reviewed four key areas in which pilots need to focus.

1. Insure – Be sure to cover yourself properly. Sit down with an agent/broker and discuss your particular needs. Insurance coverage totaling two times your net worth was recommended.

2. Incorporate – Setting up a corporation or LLC provides some legal separation for the pilot/owner. Once formed, be sure to register the aircraft in the corporate name and run all business transactions related to the aircraft through the corporation.

3. Indemnify – Sit down with a qualified aviation attorney and draft the appropriate release forms for your particular aircraft operation.

4. Invest in maintenance – Use only qualified maintenance personnel. Comply with all maintenance regulations. Be pro-active with your aircraft inspections. Fly within the recommended envelope.

The opening session on Saturday morning featured Dr. Jerry Berlin with “Affect of Authority”. This interactive presentation took a close look at the conditions required to earn authority. Focusing on human interaction, NWOC attendees were shown examples of how people react to different levels of authority. Later in the session, Dr. Berlin reviewed the Pressure Performance Curve. He made the point that as stress & pressure increase, so does the level of human performance…. up to a point. When humans reach the point of “overload”, performance drops off significantly. Again, going back to Rogers Smith’s presentation, this fact dovetails with Rogers’ point that if pilots train to a higher level of proficiency, they will be able to deal with more stress and pressure, thus increasing performance.

One of the most popular sessions at NWOC is the Engine Panel Discussion. This year’s panel was no exception. Panel members included Ray Anderson, Bud Wheeler, Mike Nixon, Bob Dalton, Paul Draper, Jack Roush, Nick Mangel, and Sam Thompson. Discussions included parts availability, the manufacture of new, p.m.a. parts, the use of new materials and technologies in engine maintenance, and engine operating parameters.

NWOC salutes the engine maintenance community for their efforts to keep these engines in service.

During Saturday’s lunch, Lt. Col. Dean Hunter stepped up to the podium and shared his experiences flying the T-28 during Viet Nam combat operations. The NWOC attendees (especially the T-28 drivers) enjoyed Dean’s presentation and gathered at his table to get a copy of his book, “For Love of Life and Country”.

Next on the agenda was the topic of aircraft maintenance. Carl Scholl presented “maintenance – the dreaded word”. He recommended that owners/operators take a close look at their maintenance programs. With aging aircraft, take the extra time and effort to look in all the nooks and crannies. Remove panels and look for corrosion, fatigue cracking, “critter” infestation, etc. If you catch problem areas early, it will save you money in the long run. Consider who performs maintenance on the aircraft. Are they volunteers or professionals? If volunteers work on the aircraft, be sure they are properly trained and closely supervised. Trained, certified maintenance personnel are always your best option. Carl also recommended that owners/operators know the maintenance regulations and keep all the paperwork and records in good order.

The insurance panel discussion was moderated by Bob Cannon and included John Boetticher, Wayne Gregory, Tammy Orth, and Angie Harris. Each member of the panel gave an overview of the insurance market and highlighted their area of expertise. The panel noted that in 2007, there were a number of landing gear related claims. The panel also noted increased competition in the warbird insurance market that has lead to some decreases in insurance premiums lately.

The balance of the Saturday afternoon conference activities was centered on the aircraft-specific breakout sessions. The groups included T-6, T-28, T-34, fighter, jet, L-bird/PT, Bomber/transport, and Yak-CJ aircraft. In each session, topics such as inspection, maintenance, training & proficiency, engines, and other safety topics were covered. NWOC attendees enjoy the breakout sessions and often comment “I learned something new today”.

NWOC attendees were guests at the Palm Springs Air Museum for a special reception and tour on Saturday evening. The food and refreshments were great and so was the museum. Hats off to the Palm Springs Air Museum staff and docents for a job well done.

On Sunday morning, the 14^th National Warbird Operator Conference wrapped up with closing remarks and the announcement that the 15^th NWOC will be held in Washington D.C., February 20 –22, 2009. NWOC attendees can look forward to taking full advantage of the outstanding aviation-related attractions in the Washington D.C. area.

This years NWOC planning committee included Cassie Altenbernd, Bob Cannon, Mark Clark, Wendee DeBusk, Bill Fischer, Rick Siegfried, and Eric VanHoff. The committee would like to thank all of the presenters, sponsors, vendors, and supporters for their participation in NWOC 2008. By all accounts, it was a successful event and NWOC 2009 promises to be bigger and better than ever.

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