From the Committee

It was good to see so many members at our Committee meeting on 22nd September.

This has been an exceptionally difficult year for the Club, and it was heartening to receive such constructive and positive support from the members at the meeting.

We will have a substantial loss for the year. The reasons for this are:

(i) Revenue is down, partly perhaps because of indifferent weather; partly because of increasing launch costs and reduced member activity.

(ii) We suffered a very substantial increase in insurance costs.

(iii) Our main supplier of trial lessons and introductory courses, Red Letter Days became insolvent - leaving us with some irrecoverable debt and (although we negotiated good terms with the company that took over the business), their goodwill (not surprisingly) has been affected, and sales in the latter part of the year are down.

(iv) In common with all the other airfield users we were subject to a retrospective rates revaluation going back five years (to a time before our CASC status can help us). Although with professional help we have secured a reduction in this demand, the extra expense spread over the period until February 2007 by a negotiated concession, is still significant.

These losses do mean that we now have a significant funding requirement. The Club has a substantial asset base, which mainly comprises gliders and tugs. Much of this has been purchased, over recent years, by the utilisation of the VAT refund money - with the intention that assets could be realised on a rainy day. These additions, for example, include two K21s (KCZ, FYV) a Junior, the replacement of a Pegasus with Discus 314 a Pawnee tug and the refurbishment of tugs GH and MM. As set out in the last newsletter, the Committee has agreed, that the Club can sell a tug, the Discus 316 and possibly the K21 FYV, without affecting members flying requirements, or the Club’s revenue earning capacity. These asset sales will more than cover the cash shortfall for the year, although other measures may have to be introduced to cover the immediate position.

However, so far none of the above assets have sold. Another option that is being considered is in relation to the Duo Discus 315. At the last committee meeting a member suggested that a syndicate be formed to buy 315 on terms giving the Club an option to re-purchase at the same price in the spring - effectively a kind of loan to the Club. However, there are difficulties with this scheme. First there are VAT complications; and secondly a syndicate of 10 was contemplated, but there are only 3 to 5 volunteers so far. Other options being actively considered therefore are: a straightforward syndication to a group of Club members; or an outright sale. In any event, although we have had the Duo valued at £54,000, an accurate market should be obtained - which is best done by testing the market. We therefore intend to market 315 immediately - but we do not intend an outright sale unless unavoidable, and in any event not without such further consultation with the members as may be practicable.

Meanwhile if any member is interested in joining a syndicate on either basis (outright purchase, or purchase to sell back to the Club) they should contact me as soon as possible.
Going forward, it is clear that the Club’s flying operations have reduced significantly over the years - generally in line with other gliding operations in the Country. We have to assume, therefore, that this reduced activity at Booker is likely to continue for the short / medium term. The Club’s current asset base and infrastructure is consistent with a much higher number of launches and the Club will, therefore, have to rationalise its operations whilst still maintaining the efficient launching and training operation for which it is justifiably proud. (Some of this will be achieved through the asset sales described above).

We are currently reviewing a range of options going forward and will be presenting these to the members at an Extraordinary General Meeting on 26th November. Please put this date in your diaries. The Committee may not be able to delay taking some prudent steps before the EGM.

When considering these options the Committee is of course fully aware of the pricing of some other gliding operations in the area, which offer a much reduced facility to that available at Booker. We would strongly urge members to review carefully the facilities that are available to them at the Club – not least the quick and efficient launching facility. Members should note that the tenure of some of these other sites is not secure.

For any members who have any questions or suggestions that they would like to raise, I have arranged to be in the Clubhouse on the October 6, 13, and 20th. from 19.30 to 20.30. The next Committee meeting is on October 27th at 19.00.

Jack Luxton

From the CFI

This is my first newsletter as CFI. Thank you to all those who supported, and persuaded me to take on the role.

I would like to begin by recognising the work and enthusiasm that Matt put into the club. Matt was CFI for two years and his enthusiasm (particularly for X/Country flying) rubbed off on almost everyone whilst at the same time ensuring the training operation went smoothly. He is off to the city now (does the City know what’s coming!) to earn his living but he will no doubt be around on his days off to encourage and help with the club flying.

The expedition to Shobdon run by Alan Smith was a great success with flying every day and a taste of a new site for many. As this newsletter goes out Aboyne is still ongoing but already many high flights have been reached by pundits and novices alike.

Well done to new solo pilots : Richard Phillips, Steve Mitchener, Stephen Duckworth, Christian Walton and Jonathan Cave. Also to re-solo of Jeremy Gilbey.

How do I intend to continue? I hope to be seen at the launch point or in a glider as much as possible. With that in mind! During the winter I will need help every day, even if it is only to get gliders out, run wings, keep the log, look after members of the public etc. This can be done by anyone, not just instructors. So if you’re at a loose end mid week pop along and help run the operation. If you’re an instructor it’s an ideal time to keep current and build your hours.

Talking of instructors I am intending to build up the instructor pool and will be arranging
a BI course for four more instructors over the winter. Julian Saakwa-Mante is presently on an Assistant Cat course at Hus Bos and we wish him best of luck with that although he won’t need it.

Instructor renewals

There are still a number of instructors who are due for renewal checks but have not as yet booked them. Please contact the office to arrange a half day slot with Andy Henderson – subject to availability.

Instructor renewal flights in a glider are debited to your account at subsidised rates but flights in the motor glider are charged at cost ie £90/hour

Motor glider for training

The club’s motor glider is the most cost effective method for practising circuits and we now have two more instructors qualified to teach circuits in the motor glider. If you have not flown for a while or feel you could benefit from some circuit training, book an hour in the motor glider – the cost is £90 but you can fly 12 circuits in an hour. There are a number of exercises available which will improve circuit planning and flying.

Bryan Hughes is available during the week and Alan Smith at weekends – bookings to be made through the office.

Booker instructors - bonus credits

Not the latest scam – but several club instructors are now genuinely enjoying free flying. How? This year we re-introduced the instructor credit system – for each instructional flight, over a base of 20, earns the instructor 200ft of aerotow which is then added to your account at the end of each month. It is cumulative and carries forward from one month to the next. To qualify – you must be available for the weekend rota. The time scale is from October – September each year so we are just about to start again.

Newspaper restoration

We have had donated to the club a fascinating newspaper supplement dated 1953 – it is the Daily Mail’s Golden Years of Flying 1903 – 1953.

It is somewhat dog-eared but we would like to put it out on display for everyone to read but before doing that we need some advice on how to display this to prevent further deterioration – does anybody have any experience in book/paper restoration and preservation? Please contact the office you can help with this.

E-mail Forum Group

A Yahoo e-mail forum has been set up to encourage the sharing of ideas and suggestions about the club and its operation. It is open to all Booker GC members and you can join it by sending an e-mail to bookergc-forum-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and include your name and membership number in the e-mail.

It is already proving to be a really useful way of members sharing ideas and offering to help the club in various ways. It is also a great way for the club to quickly communicate with the members. So, please feel free to join in!

Shobdon expedition

Twelve club members enjoyed four very good days at Shobdon in September – we flew on 3 days and our K21 was flown by our instructors for Trial lessons on the Sunday. Many thanks to Graham Busby for the use of his services with UZ, which went into use early on the Friday morning and was much used during Friday, Saturday and Monday morning when wave north of the airfield gave some good conditions.

We have booked in for Easter next year at Shobdon – the dates are from Good Friday 14 April and will run through until Sunday 23 April. Come and join us – all are welcome – from seasoned private owners to pre solo course pilots who would like to experience flying at a site other than Booker. They regularly experience wave there, as well as mountain ridge soaring and thermals. We will have a two seater as well as a single seater there for the duration – there is some good eating to be done and there is plenty of accommodation – please log on to the Herefordshire Gliding Club’s web site for accommodation list but we would suggest you book early as it’s Easter holiday season. (Recommended is Arrowbank caravan park at Eardisland – not on web site list – but they have a number of very nicely fitted mobile homes – cost last Easter was £200 for the week and they will comfortably sleep three – telephone number 01544 388 312)

The weekend before this we have booked in with the Long Mynd – 8/9 April – with the view to filling the gap if there is enough interest and staying on at the Mynd for the 4 days between this and Shobdon. For those unfamiliar with this area, the Mynd is 26 miles north of Shobdon and if the wind is in the right direction bungee launches are available. It’s a very good ridge and wave site with spectacular views and very good clubhouse with hot and cold food available, bunkhouse accommodation is available and there is an accommodation list on their website www.longmynd.com

Please book in with the office for either or both. A £20 deposit will be payable as we will be taking our own tug and we need to pay its fuel to get it there and back.

Thank you

Many thanks to all those members who have given their time helping out at the launch point, hanger etc throughout the year and those who gave up their time during the Booker regionals and X/C weeks. Mark Lavender has kept the buggies running flawlessly without any fuss all year. Well done! The more the members help the more they gain from the overall experience.

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