Civil Air Patrol: Preparing for the Real Thing

Inside an unassuming building at the North Las Vegas Airport (VGT) there is a buzz of activity. Radios are busy with communications between ground crews and air crews. Teams are being dispatched to check potential threats, others being sent to search for missing aircraft. Reports of explosions, a possible terror cell spotted in a rural part of the state and the potential to save lives has the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) in Nevada and California on high alert. These are just some of real-world scenarios that the Air Force’s Auxiliary responds to on a daily basis and today is no different; except it’s all a drill.

AirlineReporter.com was recently invited to get a behind the scenes look at a two-state, multi-agency training drill. The entire drill was being watched by Air Force officials who graded the CAP’s response. The actual mission started on May 10th and concluded on May 18th.

On the morning I was there, it started with a military-like briefing involving all of Nevada’s CAP units participating. Safety officers described the flying conditions and the hazards flight crews may encounter; Weather officers describe the beautiful 80 degree weather and light winds; and the incident commander took the lead and described the missions that they will be responding too. The three missions involve two missing aircraft and a reported explosion in Northern Nevada.

At the North Las Vegas airport flight crews utilize a specially outfitted Cessna 182 and 206. Both are equipped with G-1000s and Bendix King radios making it easier to communicate with ground units to find downed aircraft, missing hikers or whatever else crews are tasked with.

CAP operates the largest fleet of single-engine aircraft in the nation with a fleet of 550 airplanes. These include more than 110 aircraft with Garmin glass-cockpits, Gippsland Airvans with high-tech imaging systems, and digital emergency radio direction finder equipment.

Preparing for flight. Photo by Dan Landson.
The flight crews are made up of a pilot and one or two observers. The observers assist the pilot with checklists and gauge checks while also trying to spot the target of their respective mission.

On the ground, young adults in the cadet program are dressed in their camouflage uniforms, just as the Air Force would and stand ready to respond to any emergency. Since this is a real life training scenario, only a few know what to expect, leaving the rest in the dark about where they’ll be sent.

“A lot of people don’t know [the Civil Air Patrol] exists,” 19-Year-Old Cadet Lt. Col. Bert Kirk said. He stated that many people think they are kids who wear Air Force uniforms, but it is much more than that. Cadets receive much of the same emergency training that firefighters and police officers get. Kirk is graduating from Rancho High School and will attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is planning to one day become an Air Force pilot.

For adults, CAP allows them to give back to communities where they live. This mission’s Incident Commander, Major Carol Lynn, wanted to find some type of search and rescue operation involving dogs and her research led her to CAP.

The complex planning and organizing of the week-long mission is an example of the types of missions the Civil Air Patrol is dispatched to everyday across the country. Lynn explained, “From the moment a call comes in, the CAP has a goal of getting a plane in the air within an hour.” Lynn’s team leadership paid off. The Air Force awarded an “Excellence” rating for their response to the multi-state training mission.

Some of the more prevalent CAP missions were the search for adventurer Steve Fossett, whose remains and crashed airplane were found in Northern California months after he never returned from a flight in 2008. The CAP also assisted in the Gulf Oil Spill by photographing the movement of oil on a daily basis.

Most recently the Nevada wing carried out a two missions in the northern part of the state. The first mission led to the successful rescue of three people who were involved in plane crash. The second mission helped search and rescue teams locate another missing plane. Unfortunately, no one survived that crash.

The CAP conducts nearly all of the Air Force’s search and rescue missions within the continental United States. Most of all 61,000 members are volunteers who care about their community and their country and each year they help to save an average of 80 to 100 lives.

Click here for more photos.

This story was originally written for AirlineReporter.com. 

Inside McCarran Int’l Airport’s Terminal 3

LAS VEGAS — An estimated 15,000 people turned out on a sunny June Saturday to get an inside look at McCarran International Airport’s brand new Terminal 3, or T-3 for short. The state’s largest public works project has been underway since 2007 and is now within days of opening.

The massive 1.9 million square foot facility cost $2.4 billion to build. It’s a state of the art, high tech and all around beautiful building. Inside the nearly half-mile long terminal there are 14 gates split evenly between international arrivals and departures and domestic carriers.

International travelers will notice the biggest change by far as airlines move their operations away from the current Terminal 2 into T-3 starting June 27th. It’s cleaner, bigger and much more inviting than the current terminal. One of the biggest changes is the Customs facility. It will handle up to 2,000 passengers an hour, 1,200 more than the current facility can process. Also in Customs are two Peter Lik photographs – one of the Grand Canyon and another of some Vegas showgirls. Then as you walk down the hall to collect your bags you’ll pass dozens of historical Las Vegas photographs. Clark County Commissioners put a lot of emphasis in the international side of the terminal because international tourists typically spend more than Americans and spend more time in Las Vegas. They say it’s often the first and last place people see of a city so it needs to special especially for a city that is so very dependent on tourism.

Click for 10 more photos of McCarran’s new Terminal 3.

Back on the main level, T-3 has taken high-tech to the next level. Gate information is displayed on columns that show you the flight, destination, a picture of the destination and its weather. Advertising takes up the bottom half of the screens.

All gates are equipped with self-boarding technology. This allows the passenger to scan their boarding pass to get through a gate allowing them to board their flights.

The concessions for the most part are the same as you’ll find at other airports with a few minor tweaks. There are more sit down restaurants available than McCarran’s current T-1 & D Gates.

And if you’re wondering about how T-3 is connected to the other terminals, there’s a new tram that will take you under the ramp to the D gates. United Airlines will be one of the biggest domestic carriers to utilize this. It will have its check in at T-3 and then you’ll be able to take the tram to the D gates to get on your flight.

Overall, McCarran did a phenomenal job designing the facility. The first flights arrive at T-3 on June 27th. At first only international airlines will use it and then several domestic airlines will shift their operations in phases over the next several months.

This blog was written for and edited by nycaviation.com.  Please click on the link for more photos of the airport.

Las Vegas: Through a Locals Eyes

Ask anybody who lives in Las Vegas and I’m sure they’ll tell you about all the things they wish they have done but never did. There’s so much happening off the strip that it actually makes going to the strip a hassle. So on a weekend when my best friend was in town, I took her out and about to areas a tourist would not venture.

Our day got off to a slow start. We finally got moving around noon which was perfect timing for some lunch. Ever since Fremont East and Tony Hseih’s plans to improve downtown took off more and more restaurants and “locals” places have moved in. My friend had never had Thai food before– but I knew of the perfect place: Le Thai. Le Thai is a small restaurant with a decent size patio. If you blink, you’ll miss it.  Walking in you would think you are in some other city than being smack-dab in the middle of the desert.  The atmosphere is fun and inviting. The waiters and waitresses walk around and take your order via an iPod Touch. Whatever you order is amazing. It’s very reasonably priced and a place I don’t mind bringing people to. Le Thai is on Fremont street next to “Don’t Tell Mamma” Piano Bar. One word of caution though– if you don’t like spicy food make sure to tell your server that. Even “mild” spice can be overwhelming for some.

Following lunch, we walked from Fremont East through the Fremont Street Experience to the new Mob Museum. Fremont Street is… different. The people watching is incredible. If you’ve never made it a point to go downtown then you are really missing out on the “Vegas Experience.”

Finally we were walking up to the old Las Vegas Post Office in Downtown. It’s about a block and a half off Fremont but will eventually be in the center of everything. The former Lady Luck is being renovated into a new resort called “The Downtown Grand,” and the building across the street from the museum will be Zappos.com corporate headquarters in 2013.

I had seen several stories about the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement thanks to my day job. But I didn’t really know what to expect. First- allow a full three hours for the tour. Second, don’t bring people who are sensitive to gruesome photos. And third you get a discount for being a Nevadan! The tour starts on the top floor of the renovated post office and works through the beginning of organized crime, gambling, Las Vegas and prohibition all the way to the modern day “Mob.” You see how mobs were formed, learn the alliances and see how organized crime as we know it was flushed out of society- though there is still argument about whether it truly exists today.

If you have any interest in learning about Las Vegas’ past and anything to do with the “mob,” then this is a MUST see.

To cap off a busy night, my best friend and I met up with some friends for some baseball at the Las Vegas 51s. The team is the AAA affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. People don’t often give the 51s credit but it’s cheap entertainment. Tickets for the games start at $10 and there are no bad seats. The stadium is relatively small and relatively old but that’s what great about minor league baseball. And again for $10, you can’t beat three hours of entertainment.

Sunday came and there was still one thing left on my “locals tour.” For those who are fans of pinball machines from the originals to the high-tech ones then there is a place you NEED to see. It’s called the Pinball Hall of Fame. Yep, Las Vegas is home to the official pinball hall of fame. Stepping inside this nonchalant building you are immediately taken back to your childhood. It’s a place where adults (and kids) can be kids again. Almost all machines are working and date back to the 1930s. In addition to the pinball machines there are also the arcade games we all grew up with. Games cost between $.50 and $1.00 to play and it’s totally worth it. The Pinball Hall of Fame is located on Tropicana just west of Pecos.

I hope this will give you some ideas of what to see the next time you are in Las Vegas. All-in-all there are so many things to do away from the strip that will make you want to come back more often.

Las Vegas Set to Celebrate New Terminal at McCarran

Here’s a blog I wrote for the website http://www.nycaviation.com.

It’ll be a festive June for Nevadans and the people behind Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport’s brand new Terminal 3. This summer Clark County will cut the ribbon on the $2.4 billion facility which will push McCarran into a new level of customer service.

Details of how McCarran plans to celebrate the grand opening were revealed during a recent Clark County Commission meeting. Department of Aviation director Randall Walker told commissioners he’s expecting to spend about $600,000 over the course of four events spread out during a two and a half week period.

The public will be invited to two of those events, the first being a fun run set for June 2. Runners will get the chance to run on all the new airport access roads built to handle “T3” traffic. The following weekend, on June 9, the airport will hold a public open house. Everyone is invited to come out and check out the 1.9 million square foot terminal that’s been years in the making.

The Department of Aviation will fund $200,000 of the $600,000 and the rest will come from donations from companies who are either doing business inside T3 or those companies that helped build the facility.

When officially opened, the terminal will be one of the most high-tech facilities in the world. Passengers will eventually be able to put their own tags on their luggage, there are even self-boarding gates (currently being tried by some airlines and airports) and self-docking gates. In all there will be 14 gates with about half being used for domestic arrivals and departures and the others being used for international traffic.

T3 will start operating on June 27th with the arrival of the first international flights. The current international terminal, Terminal 2, will be closed and equipment will be moved overnight. Domestic carriers will make the move in phases during July and August.

The airport has come under some scrutiny for building during one of the worst economic declines in Las Vegas history. However, Walker said that had the terminal not been built when it was it would not be able to handle the number of passengers expected to return as the economy rebounds.

http://www.nycaviation.com/2012/03/las-vegas-set-to-celebrate-new-terminal-at-mccarran-airport/

Denver: Snow, Cold & Beer

Denver. What a place to be. The air is clean, the sun is brighter and it’s a great city.  As my best friend, Kaylee, says the sun is brighter because you are closer to the sun. Who can argue with that?

I recently had the chance to visit her and take in some areas of Colorado that I have yet to be (which is a lot). Upon arriving in middle February one can’t help but notice all the snow on the ground. Looking out the plane window all you can see is white. But it’s not ugly.  It’s actually quite the opposite. Snow is blanketing everything from yards to mountainsides to the roofs of homes.

My friend picked me up from Denver International Airport. I’ve seen quite a few airports over the last few years and Denver is by far one of my favorites. It’s clean, it’s user friendly and as an “avgeek” there is a wide assortment of aircraft to look at to keep you busy.

That night we saw Kevin Nealon doing standup. He was hilarious. You should check him out if he comes to your city.

Saturday morning came quickly thanks to some jet lag. Lunch today was somewhere special. I had seen a place on “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives” serving up Native American dishes to the masses. Since I’m not one to back away from new foods or challenges, I suggested we give it a try. All I can say is wow! Tocabe was amazing. The place reminds me a little bit of Chipotle. You order what you want then you can get whatever toppings you want. I went with the Grilled Chicken Indian Taco served open face on Fry-Bread. I could barely finish it because it was a lot of food but it was amazing and I highly reccomend it the next time you are in Denver.

Next up on the agenda was a drive out to Fort Collins. Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University but also one of the best craft breweries in the world and that’s where we were heading. About an hour after leaving Denver we pulled into the city which seemed to come out of nowhere. The small town feel has never left and downtown made sure you knew its roots. However, downtown was packed on this Saturday afternoon. People were milling about stopping in at the small shops occupying space in buildings that were built in the 1950s or 1960s. After driving around for a bit it was time to pull up to the New Belgium Brewery. You are probably familier with their main beer, Fat Tire. This is one of several beers made here.

New Belgium Brewery in Ft. Collins, Colorado

As a fan of beer I was in heaven. Beer memorabilia, beer history and of course cheap beer were all to be had at your fingertips. While waiting for our tour, I purchased a shirt and a couple of beer samples. While there was no free beer BEFORE the tour, $1.50 for 4 ounces wasn’t that hard to spend.

Finally the tour. For any beer fan this is a MUST.

Making Beer

You will learn so much on this hour and a half tour through the brewery. I didn’t know how long the tour was supposed to be until the tour guide mentioned it. At first I thought this will start to drag on and by the end of it I couldn’t believe it was over that quickly. The first part of the tour you learn the history of New Belgium and the different beers it brews. Next it’s off to the kettle room where they make the mash which is ultimately turned into beer. The room is hot and smells. I can’t really describe it other than I couldn’t last much longer in the room before I either passed out or … well you can figure out the rest.

Then it was off to the bottling building. Along the way our guide told us how eco-friendly and green New Belgium is. They (the company and its employees– who have ownership) are extremely conscientiousness about their carbon footprint and do everything to mitigate it. The brewery built its own wastewater treatment plant, gives byccles to employees for free, has electric car charging stations on its campus and its new bottling building has solar panels on its roof.

Bottling Beer: 700 Beers per minute!

Once inside you finally get a grasp of how big the facility is. When running at full capacity 700 beers are filled per minute. Yes, 700! The bottling line snakes all around and from our vantage point you can see it in its entirety. Next stop was the souring room. This is where brewers make “sour” beer. I never had a sour beer until then and it took a while before I forgot what I was actually drinking. I could go into the process of how sour beer is brewed but that’ll take too long.

Finally came the last and final stop of the tour. See, companies are all about having fun and boy New Belgium is one of those.

A Slide for Beer Lovers!

Someone once decided to build a two story slide in the middle of its offices. As a special thank you everyone on the tour gets to take a whirl from the second floor down to the first floor which miraculously leads you straight to a bar (geniuses I’d say!).

Throughout the entire tour you are kept well lubricated with five beers. Every beer has a story and you learn about its past and how its made. It’s very interesting and well worth the trip. After letting the beer get out of systems we headed back to Denver.

Then came Sunday Funday. After grabbing some brunch we headed out to Boulder. This is where Colorado University is located. The town is known as Berkley of Colorado or a mini Austin. Basically it’s one of the most laid back places in the entire state. We drove around campus for a little bit taking in the old architecture before hitting up downtown. This was cool.

Street Act

The entire downtown with the exception of about 5 places was all locally owned shops. We meandered through several of them before stumbling on a street show. This guy- a juggler- was great.His act was like a well oiled machine. He was quick witted and knew how to work the crowd. After freezing while watching the show we hit the road and headed back to Denver. We made a few more stops to sight see then it was back to the airport. We said our goodbyes and I was jetting back home. Just like that the trip had come to an end but not before amassing a huge amount of memories.

2011 in Rewind

Wow. In just a few days we will all say so long to 2011 and hello to 2012. I’m normally the one to joke about time passing but in all honesty, where has the year gone? 2011 will be a year many remember– some good, some bad. For me, it was a fantastic year.

I’ll always remember 2011 for two main things though: seeing my grandmother honored by the Smithsonian and for the countless weddings I attended.

The year started off as normal as could be. I remember celebrating the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011 with one of my best friend’s with 300,000 others on the famous Las Vegas strip.

Fireworks on the Strip

I spent several New Year’s Eves working on the strip and it was fun to be a tourist and not have to worry about “working.” But with that said I can live without being on the strip for New Year’s Eve again.

In March, I traveled a short distance to California to see two of my friends tie the knot. It was a great weekend with friends and their families. This was also the first time I flew JetBlue. The 45 minute flight was quick and easy.

New York City

Then just a few weeks later, I was back on a plane and heading out to New York for the first “real time” in my life. I say “real time” because I had been there before but for less than day. This trip I was able to spend time with my cousin and see how New Yorkers live. I must say, I did fall in love with the city. It was really easy to get around but the weather sucks. I saw all the main touristy sites and after a few days of partying it was time to depart and head to Washington, D.C.

It was in D.C. that I got to learn a lot about my grandmother and her rockstar past. OK, rockstar may not be the best description but it was fantastic learning about her memories in the International Sweethearts of Rhythm.

Gifts Donated to the Smithsonian

This was the nation’s FIRST integrated big band.The Smithsonian honored my grandmother and five other original band members for their hard work and perseverance in the 1940s.

I spent May at home and then hit the road in June. Two of my friends got married– one in East Texas and the other in Houston. This trip was more of a friend reunion than anything.

Celebrating 100 Years of Naval Aviation

Then, in July, I was invited to come out to EAA AirVenture. It’s the world’s largest General Aviation fly-in. I couldn’t believe I was on the ground for this show. For an airplane geek, I was in heaven. Thanks to Southwest for this trip.

Back home for a few weeks then it was back on the road. This time I would be in Texas to see my cousin graduate. It was incredible to see him cross the stage and earn two degrees.

After a stop at a wedding shower for my brother, it was back home and back to work. But, just a month later I was back in Texas to see my brother get married. It was incredible.

After a very short four days, I was back in the air and heading back home. Finally, there were a few more weddings to attend for some great friends. And, of course mixing in some work while planning my next big trip.

At the end of the year, I touched down in about 15 cities all across the country. It was most traveling I had done ever and I hope to top that in 2012.

As you think about all of your accomplishments in 2011, here’s what happened around the world via Google.

 

Here’s to 2012!

Thanksgiving 2011

It’s Thanksgiving in the United States.  A day that dates backs hundreds of years but today it’s all about two things: Eating and Saying thanks. So while you’re taking a break from your friends to read my blog please stop and thank those who you love. Thank them for being by your side in good times and in bad and to continue supporting your dreams in every way possible.

And, for a little Thanksgiving click here.. and make sure you turn up your speakers.

Aviation Nation Flies Into Las Vegas

Aviation Nation is one of the coolest events for any plane loving geek in Southern Nevada. Every year, Nellis Air Force Base opens up its doors for the public to see and experience what the Air Force does on a daily basis.

Nellis Air Force Base:

A very brief background. Here, pilots from all over the world (yes, world) train in a variety of aircraft and for a variety of missions- mostly in the desert. You can assume where they’re training to be deployed. It’s also home to the Air Force’s Weapon School. Think “Top Gun” of the Air Force. 

The Show:

Ok, now that we got that out of the way. Here’s how my day in the sun went down.

Walking off the bus and onto the flight line at the air show is awe inspiring. You see so many people, aircraft displays and shows of force (from the planes, not the people). The first plane you see is the Galaxy C-5. If you’ve never seen this plane up close then you’re missing out. Think of it as a 747 on steroids.

This year’s static displays selection included mostly military aircraft ranging from fighter jets, surveillance aircraft and trainers. There was a small selection of general aviation aircraft which is more my speed. But nothing other than the Air Force’s B-2 bomber made me drool. This stealth bomber comes with a cost of nearly a billion dollars a piece! It can carry all sorts of armament and is an aircraft that shows air superiority.  Here’s more about the B2.

The other half of Aviation Nation is dedicated to showing off what the Air Force can do. There were several demonstrations. The coolest one to me besides the Thunderbirds’ performance was a demo flight of the C-17. This high-wing cargo jet was put through its paces. Pilots completed a short field take off, high G turns, and a short field landing.  Other demonstrations showed off the capability of the A-10, F-15’s, and World War II vintage aircraft. The show comes to a flying end when the Air Force’s Thunderbirds take off and perform an arial display for all to admire.

I skipped out of last year’s Aviation Nation for what I’m sure was a valid reason then. Nellis Air Force Base is keeping things exciting though and I’m excited to see what next year brings.

Click here to see more pictures from 2011 Aviation Nation posted on my flikr site. 

The Best Dive Bar in Las Vegas

Let me introduce you to Dino’s. Dino’s is by far one of the best dive bars in the nation. Walking up to the place you would think you may be mugged. Sure, one block in either direction that may be true but not where Dino’s is located. See, it’s right on Las Vegas Boulevard just north of the Stratosphere and directly across the Olympic Garden Strip Club- the place where they have both men and women dancers separated by a floor in between. Sound interesting yet?  You would have no idea about the amount of fun happening inside if you are driving by since it does look very run down.

Enough about what it looks like. Let’s talk about what there is to do. Inside on the weekends, the place is packed! Not so much for drinks but for its world famous karaoke.  This is one of the best places in the world for karaoke and you can tell by the clientele. Go ahead and throw out your predisposition that only drunks and cheap fools are inside because it’s a melting pot of everyone. You’ve got the corporate executives, the 9-5ers, a college crowd and everyone in between all jammed into a pretty small space. But, because everyone is there for a good time, there is rarely a disagreement between anyone.

If you’re nervous about singing in front of random groups of strangers then take a shot. Because no one will boo you or laugh you off the stage, in fact, they may actually jump up on stage and help you through the song. I’ve seen it myself. And, if you get cold feet then just look to the back of the bar where they have 70s porn playing. You can also sit at the bar and play slots but then you’d be tuning out the best part of Dino’s… hearing everyone sing. Plus, the world renown DJ Danny G may even step in and sing back up for you too.

When I tell my friends about it they often shy away because of where it’s located. But I connivence them to come along and they become fans for life. When you are good and liquored up and ready to leave, you can grab yourself a hot dog or burrito from one of the two vendors outside before leaving.

If you’re in Las Vegas and want to go some where local then I’d highly recommend heading down to Dinos.

 

Downtown: The Glitz, The Glamour, The Fun

The El Cortez

Downtown Las Vegas has long been one of my favorite parts of Sin City. It’s like a microcosm of America and the rest of the world. Over the last several years there has been a big push by Las Vegas leaders to reinvent downtown for both the tourists and those who call Las Vegas home. It’s clearly divided

A friend of mine and myself recently spent a saturday night on Fremont Street taking in the new sights and sounds of an old-world location.  After parking at the El Cortez (one of the few free parking garages in downtown) we walked up Fremont East which is an area that’s seen the biggest redevelopment. There are small bars and nightclubs aimed solely at locals. The first stop of the night was to a place called Insert Coin(s) which is a bar themed arcade. There are several arcade games from the late 1980s combined with some of the best XBOX and Playstation consoles.

Insert Coin(s)

They have old school arcade games and a bar… what could be better. While enjoying a beer, my friend and I even squared off in a game of Madden ‘12 on one of the several TVs above the bar.

After a few hours of playing games and getting in touch with our childhoods we moved down Fremont Street to the area where all the casinos are. The Fremont Street Experience is a pedestrian walkway enclosed by one of the world’s largest video screens overhead. During the evenings, a show is played on the hour between 7 and midnight.

A portion of a World Trade Center Beam

We walked all the way to the Plaza. While walking we did see a portion of the World Trade Center on display on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

The Plaza was closed for several months while undergoing a full top -to- bottom renovation. The last time I was there I played blackjack with a homeless man (and yes he was homeless) who kept saying every bet was his last XYZ dollar.

The Plaza

The inside was definitely cleaned up, a little less smokey, more crowded but seemed like the same old vibe and I’m not sure it will be able to keep up with the rest of Fremont Street.

We played some blackjack for a while and while my friend won, I kept helping the Plaza’s building fund. A few hours and few drinks later we were back outside walking down Fremont. We stopped at a few places before finally sitting down on a single deck blackjack game where we ended the night several hours later. My friend won about $40 dollars while I won everything I had lost at the Plaza back.

My thoughts on downtown remain the same as before. It’s a great place to be yourself because of its laid back attitude. It’s a budget minded area and there are some great things happening in that area that one day could make downtown a more desirable place to stay than on the strip.