From the Committee

This is a final reminder that the AGM is on March 16th.

The budget for the coming year is effectively finalised now; as intimated in a previous newsletter the objective has been to absorb the increased costs of running the club this year without increasing members' fees.

There are, at the time of writing, a few places left open on the Shobdon expedition and also some on the Jaca expedition.  Enquire via the office if you are interested.

From the CFI

Airspace Changes

The bad news: the airspace around Brize Norton has slightly increased in size.

The good news: we have access to some of the airspace on a “telephone first” basis.

These changes will not make much difference to the average glider pilot, and in reality we are unlikely to use the new concessions very often.  However it is going to be worth updating yourself on the changes and on the method of gaining access.  Information will be left on the notice boards in the briefing room and I will brief anyone who asks.

Forthcoming diary dates:

Expedition to Shobdon              6 – 14 April   (closing dated 15th March)

Expedition to Jaca             20 April – 5 May

Silver Course                   27 – 31 May

Task Weekend             1 – 4 June

Bronze Course                   1 – 5 July

Task Week                   29 July – 2 August

Booker Regionals             24 August – 1 September

Expedition to Aboyne          29 September – 19 October

From the Workshops

Tug Workshop – Mud on the tugs

This time of the year, with the airfield so wet and muddy, the aircraft get covered in mud.  If the mud is not removed before they get put to bed the water in the mud starts to corrode metal parts and rot wooden parts.  The effect of this is to shorten the life of the aircraft and increase the maintenance bill.  Also this time of the year the mud will not dry as the moisture content of the atmosphere is high.  This will keep the mud damp and will accelerate the corrosion/rot.  Muddy tow ropes left in the tugs are detrimental to the inside of the tugs, ie more corrosion.

The accumulation of mud on the inside of the mudguards can slow down the tug and make the take off run unacceptably long.  So please, for everybody’s sake, clean the mud out of the mudguards.

Please hang the ropes in the rope store (it is the door half way up the blister hangar) this will also help to dry the ropes.  Wet ropes left in the back of the tugs will also add to the corrosion problem.

Please put the date and aircraft registration on the bottom of the tug log, in the space provided, as this will help the office and me with the paperwork.  We are not clairvoyant.

DS

Expedition to Shobdon

Please remember to put your name down for the expedition to Shobdon 6th – 14th April, if you have not already done so.  The list closes at 17:00, 15th March.

Expedition to Aboyne

The list for our annual expedition to Aboyne this autumn will open on 16th March in the clubhouse.  The dates this year are 29th September to 19th October.

DR

From the Office

Please note that your statement shows a membership sale this month, this is not due for payment until 1st April , and is only there to serve as a reminder that annual membership fees are due from that date.  If you require us to take this sum from your credit card please notify the office as we do not presume to take monies from credit cards unless authorised to do so by the member concerned.

If you currently pay by Direct Debit and have any changes to make to your bank details, please contact the office as soon as possible to enable us to process this information to the relevant bank prior to 1st April.

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