PLANE TALK
Carina Powers, 18, was presented with a
certificate of flight at the June 21 meeting of the group for her actions in
saving the life of a man through her knowledge and application of
cardiopulmonary resuscitation lifesaving techniques.
Don Noonan, chairman of the group’s bright
ideas committee, suggested that the pilot’s organization provide the local hero
with an airplane ride as a reward for her exemplary actions. In cooperation
with local restaurateur Jim Sobell, the group hosted Powers and two of her
friends, “the two Sams” — they’re both named Samantha — for an
airplane ride around the valley and a lunch at the Vineyard House restaurant.
Citing Powers’ actions last May at the
Fishouse Restaurant in Santa Barbara, where she is employed as a hostess, the
certificate of flight was presented to Powers by the group, entitling her to a
ride in her choice of the airplanes piloted by members of Sport Aviators.
Powers passed up a chance to ride in a Tiger Moth open cockpit biplane for a
4-seat Cessna 172; allowing her friends to join her for her flight around the
valley.
Local pilot Vaughn Brazerol gave Powers and
her friends an aerial tour of the valley from Buellton to Lake Cachuma on a day
when temperatures were topping 110 degrees in the valley.
Powers saved the life of a man at the
restaurant after the man collapsed. Another person had intervened, saying he had
medical training, but caused the man’s collapse after incorrect lifesaving
techniques. Powers had been schooled in CPR through a course she recently had
taken for lifeguard training. Noting that man had no pulse or respiration,
Powers took command of the situation, administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
and external heart message, ultimately saving the man’s life.
The group also announced a new time for the
annual spot landing contest on Independence Day. The proficiency demonstration
by Sport Aviators pilots is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on July 4 at Santa Ynez
Airport.
Pilots will attempt to land close to a chalk
line drawn on the runway at the local airport. The pilot who lands closest to
the line without touching down before will be the winner of the group’s top
pilot trophy. The pilot with the farthest landing from the line will be the
winner of the group’s “Vandenberg Trophy” (Vandenberg AFB has a 15,000 foot
runway). The public is invited to observe the event.
There is no admission fee.