BOOKER GLIDING CLUB
WYCOMBE AIR PARK, MARLOW, BUCKS SL7 3DP
Office Tel: 01494 442501/529263
INFORMATION SHEET
SEPTEMBER 2006
FROM THE CHAIRMAN
We are reaching the end of a successful soaring season with Booker pilots doing well in competitions and many new members making excellent progress. Our CFI, Andy Henderson, has not been so lucky, he has broken a collar bone and is currently unable to carry out his duties. I am pleased to announce that Mike Collett has taken on the role of Deputy CFI and will be supervising all flying matters. I am sure you will all give him your support in this task.
Roland Wales
FROM THE CFI
August has once again been a good month in terms of launches. It has also been a very good month in terms of Booker pilots doing well in competitions.
Booker swept the board at the 15m Nationals with six of our pilots in the top ten (Jim White was almost in at 11th).Tim Scott was 1st, Paul Brice 5th, Dave Watt 6th, Matt Cook 7th, Bruce Cooper 9th and Wayne Aspland 10th.
Paul Brice came second in the 18m nationals with Dave Watt 4th and Rich Hood 7th. It looks like the new ASG29 18 is a winning design taking 1st and 2nd places.
Mike Collett came 16th in the Junior Nationals and 8th in the Club Class Nationals.
Chiltern Park microlight strip
Chiltern Park now has an extra runway. Details can be found at www.chiltern.aero (download the pdf file at Airfield info). Chiltern is very glider friendly (unlike Finmere at the moment) and allows aerotow retrieves. Would everyone who lands there be as friendly as possible and always pay the landing fee of £5 plus another £5 if you get an aero tow retrieve. They have an honesty box if there is no one there. Please also put a thank you note saying you are from Booker so they know that we always pay the fee.
Crossing runways 35/17
It is clear that many pilots are still not fully aware of the crossing procedures for runways 35/17 and this is giving the Tower difficulties in controlling this.
The two runway crossing points are located as follows:
a) Between the second and third white pair of runway markers approximately 90 metres north of the runway 35 threshold marker (black and white)
b) Between the second and third white pair of runway markers approximately 90 metres south of the runway 17 threshold marker (black and white)
All taxying aircraft and car/buggy-towed rigged gliders must route via these controlled crossings. Permission to cross may be by R/T. For crossing clearance without R/T contact a flashing green light signal will be given by ATC. Attempts to cross must not be made until the light signal has been received.
It is important that aircraft or vehicles towing gliders do not position unduly close to the edge of an active runway whilst awaiting permission to cross.
Specific individual permission will be necessary for each aircraft, buggy or towing vehicle wishing to cross the active runway. This is to prevent a crossing convoy situation developing.
Pedestrians, solo vehicles and vehicles towing glider trailers are not to be permitted to use the crossing points. These must route via the perimeter track.
Red Arrows displays and gliders
There have been a number of instances where Red Arrows displays have had to be abandoned this year because of gliders in the NOTAM’d display area. The CAA are now (rightly) taking a hard stance and prosecutions are very likely if the culprits are identified. I have already reminded all pilots that it is their own PERSONAL responsibility to check the NOTAMs for the area they intend flying in. I have obtained a number of guides from the AIS on how to read and interpret NOTAMs. These are available around the clubhouse or you can download a copy from www.ais.org.uk Click on PIB help and then the link to ‘user guide’.
Competition finishes
Practice competition finishes must be into a part of the field where, if it goes wrong, bystanders on the ground will not be injured. Finishes directly at the launch point bus and towards parked tugs/gliders at the launch point are not acceptable. The insurance (and human) implications of an accident should a glider pile into the launch point where there are members of the public and expensive equipment on the ground do not bear thinking about.
Booker Regionals 2007
The dates for the Booker regionals next year will be 11th -19th August 2007. Mark it in your diary.
Andy Henderson
TASK WEEK
The task week run at the end of August was very successful, over 20 members took part at one point or other. Many good cross country flights were achieved (and some landouts!) that we probably would not have attempted if there had not been a gang of us. Next year we may be able to run an ‘Intro to XC’ early in the season and perhaps a ‘Competition Prep’ week in July for those members who want to brush up for the Regionals, 11-19 August 2007. Please let the office know if you would be interested in either of these training opportunities.
BGA LADDER – WHY NOT LOG YOUR FLIGHTS?
The National Ladder is an informal, year-long soaring competition intended for UK-based glider pilots. Anyone who flies cross country can join in. At the last count, Booker had 477 flights logged by a total of 43 members, more flights than any other club. This is great PR within the gliding movement as it shows just how much x-c we are doing. You can help boost Booker’s credibility as a leader in x-c flying by adding your own flights to the ladder. Just go to www.bgaladder.co.uk to register.
NEED A HOLIDAY?
Come to Aboyne on Royal Deeside and find out about wave flying. Pilots at all levels welcome. Details of the expedition can be found on the noticeboard in the clubhouse and on the website.
TRANSPONDERS
The consultation period for the Transponder RIA has now expired and I hope all your responses are in. Having made the point that there have been no collisions between commercial aviation and gliders, sod's law dictates that there would be one on 28 August at Minden in the US! Apparently the glider was transponder-equipped but there is some suggestion that it was not turned on.
I think that the possible likely outcomes are:
1. The CAA drop the idea for now as they can see how badly thought out it was.
2. The CAA drop the idea for now as they think they will have difficulty getting it through Parliament
3. The CAA mandate transponders in Aeroplanes and Helicopters (does not include gliders)
4. The CAA mandate transponders in all aircraft exempting gliders below FL100 until a LPST is available
None of the above will achieve the CAA's objectives of a fully known environment but as (3) and (4) both move the ball forward I suspect that one of these is most likely to be the outcome. It may be that there will be some subsidy available and likely that the mandate will be phased in from March 2008.
Our best hope is that there is a wise and powerful man in the CAA who decides that this is a nonsense until proper low cost low power (and useful) equipment is available and brings the proposal back in a workable form when it is. If not the next salvo will be to lobby our MPs but we should probably wait until more is known about the CAA's intentions.
Jim White
SAVING MONEY FOR THE CLUB
Statements and newsletter
Mailing statements and newsletters is expensive for the Club, more so since the changes in postal charges. Give your email address to the office and your statement will be emailed to you along with a link to the latest newsletter, which can also be found by going straight to the website www.bookergliding.co.uk.
Monthly accounts
Paying by plastic, especially credit cards, is expensive for the Club. Many of us have returned Direct Debit mandates and these will be used to settle our monthly accounts. This will save admin time for the office and will be much cheaper on bank charges too. Ask at the office for a mandate. You can also settle your account by internet transfer straight to Booker Gliding Club Ltd's bank account number 30173738 sort code 20-40-17. If you do this, please use your membership number as a reference so the office can see who is paying and reconcile your account.
Please note: if you have done either of these things and used to pay by credit or debit card, your account for July may not have been settled. This will be shown on your August statement, so please call in to the office and arrange payment for both months as soon as you receive it.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CLUB MEMBERS
Cadet Scheme
Each year Booker offers 10 young people from the local area the chance to learn to fly in return for undertaking various tasks necessary for running each day’s flying. Full details of the scheme are set out in a booklet available from the office. We need someone to take over supervising the cadet scheme. As we currently have a corps of cadets, the role would involve maintaining the roster, keeping in touch with the cadets to ensure that they attend and giving them support and feedback on how they are doing. At the start of next season there will be an opportunity to be involved in the recruitment and selection of a new corps. Training is available, there is a BGA seminar on child protection at Aston Down on 23 September.
For an informal discussion of the role, please contact Symeon Economou on 07791 982008.
Health and Safety
There is an opportunity for a member to take on the vital task of ensuring that our operation poses no unnecessary risks to members, staff and the public. Experience is not essential. If interested, please contact the office.
Booker Annual Dinner Dance
If you like to party, how about getting involved in organising the social event of the year, the Booker Dinner Dance? Usually taking place in February or March, it needs one or two people to find and book a venue, sort out the menu and the sounds, and then promote it to members. Party people please contact the office.
MAKING BOOKER MORE WELCOMING
Remember the first time you came to Booker? Did it make a difference that someone came up and talked to you and made you feel welcome? We have lots of visitors coming for trial lessons with their friends and family, as well as new members who are still finding their feet and getting used to Booker habits. We want them to go and tell all their friends what a great place Booker is, and this is more likely to happen if we - all of us, not just the instructors ‘on duty’ - make them feel welcome. If you see someone looking a bit lost at the launch point, why not go and have a chat? It will make a change from airfield gossip and it will help them to enjoy their day a bit more.
FROM THE BRITISH GLIDING ASSOCIATION
INSURANCE
You will be aware that the aviation insurance market is hardening with regard to the gliding club fleet insurance in particular. Most clubs have seen significant increases in premiums or expect to experience increases in the near future. The BGA is continuing to work with clubs, the insurers and within the operational gliding environment to address the factors that have led to this difficult situation. It is unlikely that we will experience a significant turnaround until the insurers identify what to them is a reasonable 5 year claims ratio.
The BGA is aware that insurers that have not traditionally been involved in UK aviation insurance, or in any case gliding insurance, have now entered the market. While these new insurers provide a possible alternative source of cover at lower rates than those being quoted by their existing insurers, it is important that clubs and glider owners satisfy themselves that the underlying insurer is both financially sound and regulated by a suitable authority.
Pete Stratten, Chief Executive
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.