National Buccaneers NewsletterFebruary, 2019

Prez Captain Stan Sez

As January rapidly con-cludes and February is right around the corner, our NAL BUCCANEERS ANNUAL CONVENTION weekend of May 17–18 is fast approaching. Your elected officers are look-

ing forward to all of you joining us for a rendez-vous with friends in Boca Raton.

For over a year, we have been driven to find an alternate location to hold our annual Con-vention. Bob Pierson, our VP and convention Chair, has spent hours trying to find a reason-able alternative to Boca Raton. Though other locations were contacted, it was impossible to obtain a price point that your officers felt was acceptable. We listened to your input, searched far and wide, but continually hit a brick wall regarding a price with all the amenities that would work for most of us. More important than location is the chance to once again come together and enjoy each other’s company and share memories with long-time friends. We will continue to make every effort to ensure when you leave Boca Raton and you drive away you will say “good convention.” Please join us. Stay tuned, you will be receiving all pertinent infor-mation in the coming weeks.

Over the last few months, Bob and Sharron Thrasher have asked if I could take over as tem-porary Treasurer due to Bob’s declining health.

Officers are:President: Capt. Stan Barfield

VP/Convention Chair: Bob Pierson

Bob Pierson

Past President:Capt. John Wentworth and

Linda Wentworth

Past Treasurer:Sharron and Bob Thrasher

Production by Beth Mauldin

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I have chosen to help these great friends and NAL Buccaneer supporters by assuming the temporary position of Treasurer. Please let me know if you might consider assuming this posi-tion, which requires minimum time. Over the last ten days, $1,085 was deposited from dues received. As a reminder, dues renewal forms were in the January 2019 newsletter found on nalbucs.com, January 2019.

Please forward dues of $15 to the:NAL Buccaneer Club c/o Stanley M. Barfield 8850 SE 7th Avenue Road Ocala, Florida 34480-7277

Best wishes to all and hope to see you

at the convention. The Ocala luncheon will take place at the Gold-en Corral restaurant on February 13 at 11:30 and in the Atlanta area on February 21 at 11:30 at the Taco Mac in Peach Tree City.

soon as you check-in. The Registration fee will be $75 per person and can be sent to Stan Barfield (see his address in the first column). Please make your check payable to National Airlines Buccaneers. The member meeting will be held Saturday morning at 10:00 AM right after breakfast in the Palm Theater room close by the elevators, first floor. The Banquet Dinner will be Saturday night from 7:30 till11:30 PM in the Bermuda Room. Dining and dancing will be enjoyed by all right after Happy Hour. Stan and I are looking forward to another fun weekend with the Buccaneers.

If you have any questions, please contact Bob Pierson,

VP, Convention Chairman at: 770-328-6351

Steve and Linda Mills Speak with an Old Friend

The recent 30th anniversary of the PAA 103 Lockerbie tragedy prompted my wife Linda and me to wonder how Judy Avritt is faring these days. Judy is the widow of our late friend, Jerry Avritt, who was the Flight Engineer on the ill- fated Flight 103 from LHR to JFK. With the help of another old friend from PAA and some Face-book expertise on her part, she was able to mes-sage Judy and Jerry’s son Marcus. He was very kind to put us in touch with his mother. We had a very pleasant conversation. Judy has been living in Westminster, CA south of LAX all these years. She recently bought a new (to her) house in Huntington Beach, CA and is in the process of a renovation which is keeping her very busy. Judy also spends quality time with her family including her grandchildren. She is pleased to be added to our email list so she can keep up with the NAL Buccaneers. We had not seen her for 30 years. It was a pleasure to speak with her.

CONVENTION NEWS

The National Airlines Buccaneer Convention is coming up soon on May 17 and 18 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Boca Raton, Florida. The nightly room rate is $99. When calling for reservations use the code NAL for our discount.

The hotel is located at:661 N.W. 53rd St.Boca Raton, FL 33487

The number is: 561-989-3966 This is going to ring at Carolyn Mountanus’s office, as she is our Buccaneer contact from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. If you call at a different time, use 561-994-8200. The Hospitality Room 724 will be open both days for your enjoyment, so plan on coming by as

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Though Cockpit Resource Management, later re-titled Crew Resource Management (CRM), was developed in the 1950s, two separate but equally devastating airline incidents within a two-year period accelerated its establishment as a necessary training regime. The first was the Tenerife airport disaster in 1977, where two 747s collided in fog and killed 573, and the second was the 1978 Portland, Oregon incident when a United DC-8 with a minor landing gear problem caused crew distraction, fuel starva-tion, and a crash, killing ten. National Transpor-tation Safety Administration recommendations following these incidents had thrust CRM into the cockpit.

“Clear right and I’ll take the chicken” was an airline phrase every new co-pilot learned to remind them of their lofty status in the scheme of things. It was a not so polite way of saying, “You are required by the FAA, but the import-ant decisions are out of your purview.” Though joked about, on the flight decks of too many airliners, this was a sad reality. Looking back at those days, it is actually hard to imagine.

Every airline had an unwritten, but whis-pered, pilot guide of the good guys to fly with

and the not so good guys to fly with. The pilots who took the “clear right and I’ll take the chick-en” literally, and the ones who made everyone feel like a member of the team. The guys that gave flying lessons and the ones who didn’t need to. The guys who freely accepted ev-eryone’s input and the ones who “knew it all.” When CRM became a required curriculum, these were the guys who labeled it, “a co-pilot mutiny.” For each of you reading this, I’m cer-tain a name or two has already popped into your mind.

United Airlines was the first to adopt CRM and add it to their required training curriculum, and not long after almost every U.S. carrier followed. The first installments, like the ones we attended in the early ’80s at the Miami Springs Villas, were a bit rough around the edges, but with time, the training evolved into a very enjoy-able break from irregular checklists and pull up and push down.

Most of us are long in the tooth and have been retired for many years, but most still experienced the two pilot cockpit. Increased technology has been instrumental in a smooth transition toward the two pilot crew, however it

Co-Pilot Mutiny or a Valuable Life Saving Tool

by Hart Kelley

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has brought about other issues. Though touted as reducing pilot workload, high tech has also added, “What’s this thing doing?” to pilot lingo. The two pilot crew and the march toward more and more cockpit automation reinforce how important the development of the Crew Concept was and continues to be. • Opening or attention getter – Address the individual: “Hey Chief,” or “Captain Smith,” or “Bob,” or whatever name or title will get the person’s attention.• State your concern – Using catchwords or phrases: “I’m concerned,” “ I’m uncomfortable with this.”• State the problem as you see it – “We’re showing only 40 minutes of fuel left.”• State a solution – “Let’s divert to another airport and refuel.”• Obtain agreement (or buy-in) – “Does that sound good to you, Captain?”

These simple steps that are now accepted throughout the aviation community and beyond were developed to get everyone on the same page. They have certainly prevented many potentially dangerous situations from reaching the “accident” stage. Most of us are past our commercial flying years and you might be won-dering how this relates to us now? Many of us still fly smaller planes or have friends who still fly, many times solo; these concepts should still be practiced. Always be concerned while flying and always make sure you are not uncomfort-able with your current surroundings. Always talk to yourself and ask all the same questions we learned from our training. Aviation, though the most exhilarating activity you can do with your clothes on, is also unforgiving to the unwise….

Airplane and Airport Mystery Winners

January’s X-67 McDonnell “Moonbat” was ahead of its time. The blended wing to bodydesign was an attempt to make the body, along with the wings, a lifting surface. The lackof an adequate piston engine doomed the proj-ect. The Moonbat was the only piston-poweredaircraft McDonnell Aircraft ever built.

It was correctly identified by:Vince Wynne, Jim Gettys, John Wentworth, Curt Briggs, Jerome Kline, Alan Gee, Jim Gannon, Gary Snodgrass, and Linda and Bob Spencer.

Ft. Lauderdale International was any easy find for: Dusty Rhodes, Vince Wynne, Bob Massey, Joe Claytor, Stan Barfield, Jim Gettys, Bob Pierson, John Wentworth, Curt Briggs, Jerome Kline, Alan Gee, Jim Gannon, and Linda and Bob Spencer. Way to go!

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February’s Mystery Airplane and Airport

For this month’s Mystery Airplane you need to tell me the following:1. Make, model and nickname?2. What made it famous?3. What was the famous name painted on the side?4. What make and model took it’s place?

Going forward with the Mystery Section we need to have all the “guesses” submittedby the 25th of each month. If we receive a guess after the 25th, I’ll give a shout out

the following month.

Email me with your answers! Hart Kelley islandhartjune@aol.com

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Requesting Prayers and Support

A very good friend is asking for your prayers and support. NAL/PAA/DAL Captain Lou Huer-tas has been battling cancer for many years now. He is currently in the hospital being treat-ed for an infection but hopes to be discharged soon. The plan is to remain at home with the assistance of hospice. We recently spoke with Lou and he said flying and interacting with his fellow crewmembers was definitely the high point of his life. He also said he does not re-member ever flying with anybody he didn’t like. He enjoys strong family support from his wife Celia, children Doug, Katharine, Sabrina, Andy and Janet. Lou would like to hear from his friends.

Good wishes may be mailed to his home at:9082 SW 112 PlaceMiami FL 33176

Lou and Celia’s shared email is: huertas@bellsouth.net

Celia and Sabrina can take calls for Lou on his phone and he may be able to speak if not other-wise occupied. His number is: 305 519 7991

Lou is looking forward to his 80th birthday on Super Bowl Sunday. Let’s all cheer for a team player having a GREAT DAY.

May the sun always shine on one of the best. Happy Birthday Lou!

Obituary of NAL Flight Attendant Patricia (Patti) Allyson (Atkins) Robbins

DOB Apr 21,1949 DOH Jan 30, 1970 DOD Jan 3, 2019

Patti was born on April 21, 1949. She passed away peacefully at age 69, on

January 3, 2019, with her family at her side. She grew up in Ridgewood, New Jersey and moved to Miami in 1970 to become a flight

attendant for National Airlines.