BOOKER GLIDING CLUB
WYCOMBE AIR PARK, MARLOW, BUCKS SL7 3DP
Office Tel: 01494 442501/529263
INFORMATION SHEET
AUGUST 2006
FROM THE CFI
June and July have been good months for the club. In fact in June we did the same number of launches as last year despite being unable to fly for 6 days due to AeroExpo. If we had been able to fly it would have recovered all of the deficit for the poor weather in May.
Too many long flights to mention. Suffice to say there have been several 500kms, 300kms and various other long flights. We’ve even had thermals up to 10,000ft.
Congratulations to Steve Atkinson, Daniel Nye and Barry Michael on going solo. Also to: Adam Kingdom, Jonathan Cave and Bob Griffen for re-soloing, Louis Quartly and Callum Clark for completing silver distance to Enstone, Chris Young, first flight on K18.
Weather
You might have noticed we are in the middle of a heat wave at the moment. This brings with it very great risks of dehydration. Those who do not have Camelbaks should buy one straightaway and even then consider taking extra drinking water on every flight.
Medical
Could I remind all flying members that their medicals should be up to date and a copy given in to the office so that the club records are up to date. Details of the requirements are on the BGA website www.gliding.co.uk.
Badge Claims
Too many members are not taking responsibility for their own badge claims in terms of reading the requirements for the flight before the flight and also in not getting bronze legs etc signed up by the instructor when they are done. This makes it very difficult to complete the necessary paperwork when signatures which should have been obtained months ago have not been obtained at the time. The BGA web site www.gliding.co.uk has all of the forms/requirements for all badge flights.
Booker Regionals 2007
The dates for the Booker regionals next year will be 11 - 19 August 2007.
Andy
BOOKER ACES
Congratulations to Tim Scott for winning the 15m Nationals, another great result for Tim and for Booker.
TRAILER PARK
Clearance at 35 end
As a result of the incident in which a BA aircraft damaged the Dimona whilst carrying out checks prior to taking off on runway 35, AAA have looked at the clearances in that part of the airfield.
We are told that the regulatory requirements call for a clearance between taxiways and parked aircraft of 7 metres. Clearly this is not being met. As a result AAA intend to rearrange that area to provide the required clearance plus an area for power aircraft to do their power checks etc.
As yet nothing has been decided or agreed, but it is likely that it will mean:
More information will be supplied when firm proposals have been made and agreed.
Facilities Fees
Back in May we decided to clarify the purpose of the facility fee we charge to private owners / syndicates and also created a new 'product' so that members who have paid a facility fee may keep a second glider / trailer in the park for a limited number of weeks. From 1 January 2007 this means that members who wish to keep a second trailer / glider on the airfield for longer periods will need to purchase a second 'facility'. The fees are therefore:
1. Facility Fee (currently £250 pa). This fee is for the provision of a space in the glider park akin to a mooring. Members may keep any glider in this space but it would be appreciated if they would affix the BGC sticker to the trailer in order to facilitate management of the facility. This fee is payable in January. Please inform the office if you are a current owner and do not wish to continue next year.
2. Temporary Facility Extension for second glider / trailer in the glider park at £10 / week or part thereof (subject to availability and a maximum of 13 weeks / year). This is only available to members who have already paid a facility fee for the year.
3. Temporary facility for visiting pilots remains £5 / day.
GETTING THE PAPERWORK RIGHT
Please note that before any trial lesson is flown the student must complete and sign the blue voucher and an alcohol declaration. The same rules also apply to those flying as member’s guests – they must complete the pink form and the alcohol declaration before they fly.
This is not just paper shuffling, it is essential to ensure that we are covered in the unfortunate event of an accident.
LATE LANDOUTS
If you land out after the office is closed PLEASE phone the launch point on 07790 096350 and tell the instructor in charge so that you may be marked on the log as safe.
If the instructor does not get informed, this can result in needless checking of all the trailers and possibly emergency action for a missing glider.
Please note that the office closes at 1700 each day and the answer phone is switched on as the office is not staffed. Messages notifying landouts after 1700 will therefore not be picked up until the following morning – a long time to wait for help if you need it.
TAKING CARE OF THE KIT
The Club’s aircraft belong to all of us, so we all need to take care of them and keep them airworthy. Consider the following:
We cannot afford to have kit unserviceable. Please do your bit towards keeping all our aircraft flying.
Discover -
- Evening Flying
Do you feel you are not progressing? Are you frustrated by the queues at the weekend? Can you get to the airfield in the evening? Take a look at what you are missing:
- easier access to aircraft
- quieter airfield with much less hassle
- more effective, faster learning with a small band of regular instructors
- circuit practice, field selection, x-country navigation using the motor glider
- aerobatics, soaring, accurate landings – refining specific skills
- post solo confidence-building, expanding your experience, progressing through the fleet
- a great time to fly
Chat to the office, call one of the evening leaders listed below or just pick an evening and turn up any time after 1730 - and discover the benefits for yourself.
Monday Roy Highfield – 01189 401973
Tuesday Graham Saw – 01628 776173
Wednesday Chris Rowland – 01494 442255 (office hours)
Thursday Alan Smith – 07836 239543
Friday Symeon Economou – 01494 866995
Wake up to Wave
Dawn’s early light is flooding into the Dee Valley far below, but you’re already in broad daylight at 6000ft and climbing in silk-smooth wave with a cloud cliff to one side and lenticulars stacked up like dinner plates above. Scotland spreads out below you like a map. This is one of gliding’s most unforgettable experiences. And it’s waiting for you at Aboyne.
Every autumn the Club organises a three week expedition to Aboyne in Royal Deeside, where the gliding club is ideally suited to take advantage of wave in all wind directions except easterly. (For an explanation of wave lift, see the About Gliding section of www.bookergliding.co.uk.) Everyone is welcome from ab-initios to world champions, club pilots and private owners.
When and where
The expedition this year will be from 24 September until 14 October.
For the first two weeks we rent Birkelunn, a Norwegian log house with a grass roof situated along the Dee valley towards Ballater. The house sleeps 11, mainly in twin bedrooms, and costs £25 a night. For the third week, and for those who prefer not to share, there is plenty of accommodation in the area. In particular, the Loch Kinord in Dinnet has special weekly rates for the ‘wave season’.
Getting there……and back
From Booker it is a drive of about 530 miles, and once past Manchester the scenery in magnificent. We need to get the gliders there, which means volunteers to tow them there ready for week 1 and back again at the end. The Club pays £35 towards fuel costs. If you haven’t towed a trailer before, why not share the driving and get to know a fellow club member along the way?
What to do when there’s no weather
Deeside is an ideal place for a holiday, bring your partner and they will find plenty to do while you are flying. See www.royal-deeside.org.uk. And on non-flying days you too can try walking, salmon fishing or golf, visit a whisky distillery, a castle, Balmoral or Aberdeen.
The flying
We will be taking ECZ and 318, and other club gliders depending on demand. Flying time is charged at Booker club rates. Tows are paid to Deeside GC. To contact wave it is normal to tow to at least 3000ft, which costs £29. Temporary membership is £8 a day. Private owners must book a slot, this year it’s free. See www.deesideglidingclub.co.uk for full details.
Although Aboyne is the UK’s prime wave site, thermal and ridge soaring is also possible. And for those wanting to explore further afield, the locals are happy to give briefings on cross country flying in wave, and may also offer lead and follow tasks.
If this is your first time, we will give you briefing notes on what to expect and what to bring with you.
Sign up now
Space is limited, so secure your place now with a deposit of £50. Contact the office today or alternatively contact David Richardson for more information.
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