This is the third 2010 issue of the 341 MW chief of safety motorcycle newsletter.  

This issue:  Motorcycle Mishap!, Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Event, Group Riding, Helmet Recall, new Wing Commander PPE Policy

MOTORCYCLE MISHAP:  We had our first motorcycle mishap of the season last week.  Rider is ok and sustained minor injuries.  What happened:  Rider was following another, they came around a turn which led into a transition from pavement to gravel.  First rider braked hard and managed to stop before the gravel, second rider swerved around first, couldn’t stop and lost it in the gravel.  The Search Evaluate and Execute (SEE) concept discussed last issue have a direct correlation.  In particular, it is vital to not outrun your field of view.  If your sight of a potential hazard is blocked, you want to slow down until your sightline is clear.  At night the concept you want to use is “don’t outrun your headlights”.  Anytime you feel uncertainty about the environment around you, rolling off the throttle and carefully applying brakes prior to reaching the hazardous area can give you the time you need to assess the situation. In addition, anytime you enter a turn, realize you are committing to the speed you choose when entering.  If you can’t see the full turn or what’s on the exit, you need to slow down before the turn so you have enough reserve traction to deal with any unknowns you may encounter on the exit.  If you enter a turn too fast riding at the limit and there are obstacles or hazards on the exit you can’t see, you will unlikely be able to deal with them.

ROLLING THUNDER!:   At Col Fortney’s request there will be a motorcycle event on the installation on 23 Apr 10 in the BX parking Lot.  See attached flyer.  This is a great opportunity for you to meet other riders on MAFB, show off your motorcycle, obtain information on safety and generally have a relaxing and informative day.  Please come out and please encourage non-riders, especially prospective riders to attend.  There will also be a group ride.  Attached is a document describing procedures and signaling that will be used for this group ride.  Also, if you are interested in helping with the event please contact TSgt Keith Hittler at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

GROUP RIDING:   Riding in a group, whether it is two or two hundred riders is fun but requires extra coordination.  In addition to the attached document, more information on group riding can be obtained by watching the MSF video on the subject at http://msfusa.http.internapcdn.net/msfusa_vitalstream_com/MSF/GroupRiding-Hi.wmv and reading the quick tips at http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/Group_Ride.pdf.

HELMET RECALL:  There is a helmet recall for Advanced Carbon Composites helmets.  Please see the attached recall notice if you have one.

NEW 341 MW COMMANDER PPE POLICY:  The wing motorcycle PPE policy has changed.  The vest is no longer the only approved visibility garment on Malmstrom AFB.  See letter on shared drive at S:\Wing Safety\Motorcycle Newsletter\Motorcycle Moped Motor Scooter ATV PPE Policy 20100412.pdf for wing policy and examples of approved PPE.  Basically the requirement is now directly from AFI 91-207.  You still need to wear a brightly colored outer upper garment during the day and it must be reflective at night.  But you no longer have to have that visibility garment be a vest.  AFI 91-207 specifies applicability.  Recommend if you haven’t done it recently, review it and understand it.  Link is http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI91-207.pdf.  The AFGSC Sup is at http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI91-207_AFGSCSUP.pdf.  Note that the gate guards are the ones who are going to make the judgment call on whether your garment is in compliance or not.  Please don’t quibble and argue with them.  Jackets manufactured for visibility and similar to ones in the example sheet of the memo are good choices.  Of course your existing high visibility vest will still always work.  Please refer questions through your Motorcycle Safety Rep. 

Commanders and Motorcycle reps, if your riders don’t have ready access to e-mail, recommend you provide them this information at unit meetings.  Also, please let us know if your personnel are not getting this.

What is this?  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.