OCCS News
(last updated 08/25/06)

Science and Aviation

07/17/06 — Space Shuttle Discovery Makes Safe Landing in Florida

The Space Shuttle Discovery and its crew are home after a 13-day, five million-mile journey in space. The mission, STS-121, succeeded in testing shuttle safety improvements, repairing a rail car on the International Space Station and producing never-before-seen, high-resolution images of the shuttle during and after its July 4th launch. . (NASA News)

07/13/06 — Links to latest Space Shuttle news (FOXNews):
       Shuttle, Space Station Crews Ordered to Take Day Off
       Prototype Inflatable Space Station Launched Into Orbit
       Shuttle Astronauts Test Heat-Tile Putty, Lose Spatula
       Shuttle Pilot Confident Discovery Will Get Home Safely
       Shuttle Astronauts Go Out for Second Spacewalk
       German Astronaut Makes Space Station Truly International
       Stephen Hawking Poses Question, Gets Thousands of Answers
       Shuttle Astronauts Prepare for Spacewalk
       Discovery Docks With Space Station After Doing Back Flip
       Shuttle, Space Station Inextricably Linked Together
       Discovery Inspection Completed, No Serious Damage Found

07/13/06 — Scientists: Nature’s Fundamental Laws May Be Changing

Recent research has found evidence that the value of certain fundamental parameters, such as the speed of light or the strength of the invisible glue that holds atomic nuclei together, may have been different in the past. (FOXNews for full story)

05/03/06 — Neutron Star’s Thick Skin Revealed. Observations of “starquakes” have allowed scientists to estimate the thickness of a neutron star’s crust for the first time. Neutron stars are very dense objects that mark the endpoints of the lives of some stars. Using a technique similar to seismology here on Earth, researchers estimated that the crust of a highly magnetic neutron star, called a “magnetar,” is nearly 1 mile (1.6 km) thick and made of material so tightly packed that a teaspoonful of the stuff would weigh about 10 million tons on Earth. (Space.Com Full Story)

Local

12/14/06 — 1Lt S. Theis named Group Senior Member of the Year. Lt. Theis joined CAP in July 2005 and in that short time has completed Level 1, CPPT, Squadron Leadership School, Unit Commanders Course and OPSEC training. He also has earned a technician rating in both Cadet Programs and Aerospace Education. In that same short time Lt Theis complete SDIS training and earned Emergency Services Mission Qualifications for Mission Scanner, Mission Observer, Transport Mission Pilot, SAR/DR Mission Pilot, Urban Direction Funding Team Member and Skills Evaluator Trainer. In addition he has served as AE for NY030, Commander for NY413, O-Flight Officer and webmaster for two squadrons and group.

08/23/06 — OCCS Atlantic City Airshow trip pictures.

08/19/06 — New York Wing / Catskill Mountain Group SAREX pictures.

07/08/06 — OCCS O-Flight Day pictures.

06/17/06 — OCCS Cradle of Aviation Museum Museum Trip a Sucess

Five cadets, one senior and one parent participated. Museum was educational consisting of real displays of military and non military aircraft, full history of aviation from balloons to space exploration including hands on displays, and IMAX Theater showing four different movies. Museum also included many volunteers who were eager to explain displays and give insight into their personal lives in relation to aviation both military and civilian. (click here for more information on the museum)

05/21/06 — CAP Participates in Orange County Aviation Expo Day.

Our participation in Aviation Expo Day, 20 MAY 2006, was successfully completed without incident. Member participation was 25 personnel (8 seniors, 17 cadets) contributing various lengths of time – as their personal schedules allowed.

Cadets coordinated teams of rotating shifts around static displays and information table. Orientation pilots flew six cadets through out the day. OCCS supplied BBQ lunch to members. Hanger T1 was used as base of operations and CAP hand held radios were used for communications.

Weather was cloudy with sun bursts at times but no no rain on ground.

Orange County Pilot’s Association expressed their appreciation for our help.

Thanks to all who helped out. – Lt. Gonzo

05/02/06 — Captain Rory Holmes has been awarded the LtC Florence Botie, CAP Memorial Award for New York Wing Senior Member of the Year 2005. “This is the first time that I have been associated with a group that has won this award and can not think of any one more richly deserving of it. Captain Holmes has shown the highest level of service to his nation and Civil Air Patrol by actively recruiting new members and support for the squadron and the group.” said Capt Kevin Barry, Catskill Moutain Group commander, Captain Holmes name is now forwarded to Northeast Region Commander for Region Senior Member of the Year.

Regional

08/04/06 — BADER FIELD TO BECOME A MEMORY (AOPA)

Atlantic City has formally told the FAA that it intends to close Bader Field airport, AOPA has learned from the FAA’s Eastern Region. Under a law that AOPA helped get passed, the city is required to give at least 30 days advance notice of a proposed closing, even if there are no longer any federal grants in place. The airport will likely close in September. “AOPA fought long and hard with the state of New Jersey and three successive Atlantic City administrations to save Bader,” said AOPA President Phil Boyer, “but sadly, there was little local interest in the airport.” When the last federal grant expires in September, the airport reverts to private property, leaving the city free to do as it pleases, which is to redevelop the 143 acres within a stone’s throw of boardwalk casinos. “The gambling interests were stronger than the aviation interests,” said Boyer. Ironically, the former head of the New Jersey Aviation Association, Tom Carver, is now executive director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, which is offering to pay for studies and consultants to the city to turn the airport into something else. “There’s no desire to retain this as an airport,” Carver told “The Courier-Post” newspaper. See AOPA Online.

National

08/11/06 — DHS RAISES THREAT LEVEL FOR AVIATION

The Department of Homeland Security Thursday morning raised the threat alert level for aviation to “orange,” or “high.” And for commercial flights between the United Kingdom and the United States, the terrorist threat level is “red,” or “severe.” Airline passengers will be very aware of the heightened security. For general aviation pilots flying in U.S. airspace, no new security measures are anticipated, although pilots may encounter additional security on the ground at airports with airline service, most likely tighter controls at the airport perimeter and on the ramp. “While this latest threat isn’t directed at GA, pilots should still be vigilant for any possible threat,” said Andy Cebula, AOPA executive vice president of government affairs. “This recent event is an example of why we’ve updated the AOPA Airport Watch security program (see following story) and reminded all pilots to lock their aircraft and look out for any suspicious activities around their airports.” U.S. officials raised the terror threat level after the exposure of a plot in the United Kingdom to bomb airliners. For more information and security tips, see AOPA Online.

International

06/20/06 — BEIJING, China (Reuters) — A top official in China’s space program has set 2024 for the country’s first moonwalk, a Hong Kong newspaper reported on Monday, cementing its position as a new space power. (CNN for full story)

06/18/06 — Kazakhstan launches 1st satellite (CNN for full story)