WYCOMBE AIR PARK, MARLOW, BUCKS SL7 3DP

INFORMATION SHEET

June 2002

From the CF1

As you will know we suffered an unfortunate accident to one of our K21's last week, which resulted in no injuries but is likely to put the glider out of commission for the foreseeable future.

When an accident occurs we look for the reasons why and we try to prevent the same thing from happening again. 1 do not want to discuss the details here, but would like to make a few general points.

Everyone on the airfield has some shared responsibility for the safety and efficiency of the operation. You cannot simply turn up and fly, and not take notice of what is going on around you, whatever level you have reached in gliding and however much or little you pay to be a club member. There are always going to be people around that are less experienced than you, and who need to learn how to do it better.

If you see something going wrong, do something about it. Be prepared to stop the launch if trouble seems imminent, or talk to an instructor is you see a longer term problem brewing. 1 will always support such actions, even if they turn out to be mistaken in a particular instance.

There are several particular safety messages that seem hard to get across:

Gliders and tugs need a proper, thorough DI. Bad daily inspections have killed or seriously injured pilots. Aircraft and gliders do go wrong occasionally. Gliders and tugs also need to be regularly cleaned, so that they perform ok, the pilot can see out and snags can be seen.

The wing tip signaller is responsible for initiating and controlling the launch - he/she should be aware of those responsibilities and be prepared to look around, be aware of what is happening and make appropriate decisions. If you do not know what to do, ask. If you know what to do then please help disseminate the information.

Everyone moving around on the airfield needs to be vigilant and take care not to get in the way of the operation - and landing gliders should be swiftly cleared from the landing area.

The staff work hard to ensure a safe operation - but we have to do other things, like go flying. We can only maintain a decent level of safety with help (not just cooperation but help) from the members. None of this is rocket science, just common sense. Please help!

Thanks to all the volunteer instructors who are helping out and putting their names on the notice board in the clubhouse. The more help we get, the better it all works. Needless to say there is tots of instructing up for grabs next month ......

We now have two cross country self help groups run by Tim Scott and Sarah Barry. Tim's group is unashamedly elitist for pilots who are working hard for competition success, and Sarah is working with the newcomers to cross country soaring.

We need a group in the middle! Any volunteers? Come on, you know who you are, 1 shouldn't have to ask.

Seriously this is a good healthy development in the club's structure and 1 know the elite x-c group has started very well. We need more of this sort of thing.

Lastly, Duo x-c training is available most days now, and if you need any personal development in your flying please ask any of the staff - we are here to help everyone, not just the pre solo students.

The following article has been found in the Severn Skies Newsletter and could well be of importance to any of our members who may need to tow gliders at any time.

Are you licensed to tow?

Are younger people who have just passed their driving test licensed to tow trailers? It depends on the weight of the trailer and the tow car.

Driving licence laws changed in January 1997 and depending on whether you passed your Ltest before or after this date will determine if you can legally tow a trailer or not.

All car drivers are awarded the B category licence when they pass the driving test. This allows them to take a vehicle weighing up to 3,500kg and a trailer weighing no more than 750kg (a total of 4,250kg) on the road.

They can also tow a trailer larger than 750kg provided the combined Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of the vehicle and the trailer does not exceed 3,500kg and the max gross weight of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. In most cases this allows a young driver to pull a single-axle trailer no heavier than a small to medium size caravan, but a two-seater trailer, for instance, might be too heavy. For heavier trailers/caravans young drivers must obtain a B and E licence. Drivers who passed their test before January 1997 were automatically given B and E category - at least until their licence expires, usually at 70.

More details about the regs cad be obtained from the Driving Standards Agency on 0970 0101372.

A complaint from the CF1 to the unknown tug pilot:

The towbar for the Robins has been bent out of shape yet again. This happens every two months or so. This time the bent towbar has damaged the propeller of MM resulting in a temporarily grounded tug and a large bill.

The towbars do not bend in normal service, only when they are used as crowbars. Propellers do not damage themselves. I am fed up to the back teeth with this regular careless damage to club property. Imagine how we feel trying to supply prompt launches to members when this sort of thing just keeps happening and happening over and over again. Am 1 getting through?

Do not use the Robin towbars for anything else than towing the Robins.

Forthcoming Events

Please contact the office to register for any of these events.

Aboyne 2002 - 29th September - 19th October.

Places still available all three weeks, please register with the office or for further information contact David Richardson.

MEMBERS FORUM - CLICK HERE

Back to Newsletter Index Page |