This is the first 2010 issue of the 341 MW chief of safety motorcycle newsletter.  The purpose of this newsletter is to provide 341 MW motorcycle riders safety as well as other motorcycle related information.  I draw from your unit’s motorcycle rosters to develop our email list.  Hopefully you will find the information provided both interesting as well as educational.  I’m also very interested in sending out information Malmstrom Riders may provide me.  So if you have a motorcycle article, information on an upcoming event or anything else that you think may be of interest to other riders feel free to e-mail me directly.  I like hearing from you and am very interested in this being a shared effort.

This issue:  Early season hazards, Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) training material from their website, Motorcycle Policy, Motorcycle Classes, TCLOCS checklist, the “Spring Spike”

Early season hazards: 

Gravel:  Those of you who rode last year or in previous years will likely remember Great Falls has a fairly severe gravel problem early in spring.  Gravel is used in the city instead of salt to provide traction for cars when it snows.  Unfortunately, unlike salt, it doesn’t dissolve away when the snow melts.  Instead, we get fairly significant collections of gravel on the road.  This can create a traction problem as the gravel tends to have a somewhat ball bearing effect on the pavement.  You will find it collecting quite a bit where cars tend to sweep it out of their main path of travel into piles at the sides of the road or in the middle of intersections.  If you ride early spring, use the SEE concept (Search, Evaluate and Execute) to avoid executing a turn on these piles of gravel.

Weather:  As days become clearer some people will try riding early spring.  Remember we can still get snow.  Even if the roads look clear in the morning, ice may form overnight as temperatures rise and fall above and below freezing.

Skills:  If you are a year round rider you probably maintained your motorcycle riding skills to some extent.  However, if you stopped riding in the winter, the habits you used to survive last year’s riding season have probably deteriorated.  Before riding again go to the MSF website and read their motorcycle operator manual.  It will remind you of many things you may have forgotten over the winter. The manual can be found at http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/Library_Motorcycle_Operator_Manual.pdf. 

Motorcycle policy (especially Personal Protective Equipment):  In addition to reviewing MSF material we also recommend reviewing air force policy at the following links:

AFI 91-207 at  http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI91-207.pdf, 

AFGSC sup at http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI91-207_AFGSCSUP.pdf

Wing PPE policy at https://www.my.af.mil/gcss-af/USAF/AFP40/d/s6925EC134BFD0FB5E044080020E329A9/Files/editorial/Motor%20Vehicle%20PPE%20Policy%20Letter.pdf?channelPageId=s6925EC134BFD0FB5E044080020E329A9&programId=t6925EC308C4F0FB5E044080020E329A9 . 

Motorcycle Classes:  In coming weeks we will use this newsletter to advertise upcoming classes.  In addition to the Basic Rider Course (BRC), the 341 MW safety office also offers the Experienced Rider Course (ERC) as well as the Advanced Rider Course (ARC).  The Advanced Rider Course is our most challenging course designed with sports bike riders in mind but can be taken by anyone who has ridden long enough to have mastered the basic riding skills.  ARC riders can expect to learn more advanced skills and the course can be done on any motorcycle (yes I witnessed even a large cruiser set up for touring being used, it was a beautiful thing).  More information will follow.

Motorcycle inspection:  If your motorcycle hasn’t been used for a while you will want to do a thorough inspection before using it.  A good option is to have a mechanic do a safety inspection of your motorcycle.  The MSF also has the T-CLOCS inspection checklist you should use each time before riding.  The T-CLOCS checklist can be found at http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/T-CLOCSInspectionChecklist.pdf.

Spring Spike:

Historically, we see a sharp rise in off-duty motorcycle fatalities as winter transitions into spring (0.8 average fatalities in the winter vs. 5.8 average fatalities in the spring).  Specifically, looking over the past 10 years of data it's obvious that April is the month the AF suffers the most PMV-2 fatalities.  We need your help.  If you’re a good safe rider, we need you to help mentor the newer riders around you.  You know the people in your office.  You know who’s at risk.  You are in the best position to initiate actions to prevent a mishap.  Help them out, work with your Motorcycle Safety Representative (MSR).  Talk to new riders about motorcycle safety, ride with them.  With motorcycle riding in the USAF, what happens to one of us happens to all of us.  When there’s a mishap we all pay a price.  First through the loss or injury of one of our fellow wingmen, but also through the perception it makes on motorcycle riding itself.  To continue enjoying this activity the way we have come to enjoy it, we all need to strive to make it as safe as we possibly can.

Thank you,

ROBERT J GARNER, Lt Col, USAF

Chief of Safety