New members welcome booklet

Transcription

1 KENT GLIDING CLUB New members welcome booklet Website: Kent Gliding Club Limited Squids Gate Challock Ashford Kent TN25 4DR Registered in England No Registered Office: Star House, Pudding Lane, Maidstone ME14 1LT A member of the British Gliding Association

2 Welcome to Kent Gliding Club! We re delighted you ve decided to join Kent Gliding Club and hope that you ll enjoy being a member. This booklet is aimed primarily at those who are new to the Club, and particularly those who are new to the sport of gliding. We recognise that it can be a little bit daunting at first for some people when they join a new club and for some it might help to have a guide as to where things are and what to expect when you are learning to fly. The first part of the booklet focuses on the Club what it has to offer and other useful information. This will be helpful to anyone new to the Club, regardless of whether they are experienced pilots or not. This ranges from practical information on the facilities at the airfield to details of how the Club is run and how you might like to get involved. The later sections focus on useful things to know if you are new to gliding as well and set out some expectations what you might expect to know by the end of your first day here; what you should probably feel comfortable with after a month; where you might want to be after three months (for some when your temporary membership runs out and you are considering becoming a full flying member of the Club). Please note that this booklet is only a simple introduction and overview to the Club and its activities. It does not cover Club operations in detail and should not be relied upon as such. It should not be seen as a substitute for the Club Rules or the regulations set out in the Flying Order Book (available in the Clubhouse briefing room). Other information about the Club, including the latest Club news, can be found at our website: Contents History of Club Facilities Social activities Club Diary Club Mission Statement and culture Guide to Club management and key people Types of membership Learning to fly costs and courses For those new to flying in particular: Expectations A typical flying day Helping out on the field A note on safety Expectations of new members in helping on the field Some practical tips for beginners Recommended reading and useful information Glossary of terms Useful contacts

3 A brief history of Kent Gliding Club Kent Gliding Club is a Community Amateur Sports Club and is one of the oldest gliding clubs in the country. It was founded on 4 th January 1930 and was the first BGA club to be formed. It initially flew from several sites in Kent, including West Malling, Lenham and Eastchurch. The Club as we know it was re-formed on 26 th April 1956 with the amalgamation of the Royal Engineers Gliding Club, then based on the old Battle of Britain airfield at Detling. In May 1961 the land at Challock was purchased, but needed two years of preparation before it was suitable for gliding. Flying from Challock started in June 1963 and the Club became fully operational in The Club now operates seven days a week from early April to late September and on Wednesdays and at weekends during the rest of the year. Our facilities Clubhouse The clubhouse is the centre of Club activity and includes our office, briefing room, and parachute store, as well as a café, bar and bedrooms, showers and toilets for Club members who wish to stay over on occasion. The office is run by Julie Bullock she works Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Julie knows pretty much everything about Kent Gliding Club and is very friendly. You can reach her on The briefing room houses all current relevant aviation charts, CAA and BGA regulatory and advisory information, NOTAMS and other useful information. Pilots can use the computer in the briefing room for self- briefing before flights. The briefing room is mostly used as a classroom for course students or one-to-one briefings or theoretical tuition. The café, run by Karen, is open Wednesdays and at weekends (and some other times by arrangement) and offers a wide range of sandwiches, snacks, and home cooked food. Non-members are very welcome and we often have visiting friends, cyclists and ramblers. When closed, there are always self-serve tea and coffee making facilities available. The bar usually opens post-flying, mainly at weekends. Even when the beer isn t flowing, the soft seating area is a great place to relax, and chat or read about gliding. During the winter months, we often hold evening aviation talks in this area. Club bedrooms (singles, doubles and twins with bunk beds) are available to Club members at very reasonable rates. Camping by Club members tents and caravans (by pre-arrangement) is also popular at Kent Gliding Club s grounds at Challock. Contact Julie in the office for information on prices and availability. Outside the clubhouse you will find The Wendy House a building mostly used for larger briefing meetings and annual lectures for the Bronze Badge theory exams. The main glider hangar - used to house Club gliders, some vintage gliders, and the Club s main flying equipment and vehicles, including tractors, the launch point log cabin, and the main winch. The tug hangar - houses the Club tug a Pawnee and a privately owned Robin, which is used as a back up tug when the Pawnee is offline.

4 Social and other activities Annual dinner Every year, in the Autumn, the Club hosts an annual dinner, which includes a prize-giving ceremony to recognise various achievements attained by Club members during the course of the previous year. Club trips Several Club trips are organised throughout the year, where Club members take both Club gliders and privately owned gliders to other gliding sites throughout the UK. Flying at other clubs is a great way to broaden your flying skills (and it s always far too much fun!). Community Flying Kent Gliding Club runs a Community Flying programme during the week between April and September each year catering for different community groups. The aim is to provide flying opportunities to all, but particularly to disabled and disadvantaged people in Kent and beyond. Cross-country flying week Each August, the Club sets aside regular Club flying for a week and runs a cross-country event for Club members. It s great fun and, even if you don t want to take part it is a great opportunity for all Club members to get involved and learn more about cross-country flying. Sign up on the club events notice board from around mid-july onwards. Open Day Occasionally we hold an open day in the Summer to show the public what they are missing. This also gives local people the chance to come and see what we do at Challock and to learn more about gliding. Pre-solo courses We run two six-week courses each year for up to six pre-solo pilots. These start in June and September. They free of charge other than normal flying fees and demand only regular commitment. More details are available from the Membership Secretary and on the noticeboard. Summer Barbeques and Autumn Bonfire Night There s always something going on at the Club (a very sociable place) in the Summer, the airfield is a real sun trap and we occasionally enjoy evening BBQs (or simply beers outside the clubhouse). In the autumn, we have a bonfire and fireworks night. University of Kent Gliding Club Students at the University of Kent have the opportunity to fly at Kent Gliding Club through their own, affiliated, student gliding club. Students at the University of Kent can find out more about their club through the Kent Union website: Kent Vintage Glider Group The Kent Vintage Glider Group is a syndicate of Kent Gliding Club members who own a four aircraft fleet of vintage British gliders (an Olympia 2b, a Skylark 3, a Prefect and an Olympia 463). The Kent Vintage Glider Group is affiliated to the International Vintage Glider Club.

5 Kent gliding Club diary key events Strategic Direction Jan March March April May June July August September October November December Winter flying (Weds / weekends) KGC Annual General Meeting Summer flying starts (7 days a week) Membership renewal annual membership fees due! Club Open Day Club expeditions Club expeditions Cross-country flying week - Kent Gliding Club s annual member s cross-country event Ab Initio course starts Winter evening lectures begin Aboyne expedition Winter flying Bonfire Night KGC Annual Dinner Winter flying Holiday season Kent Gliding Club published its latest strategic business plan in October The Club s mission and vision statements are set out below. Mission Kent Gliding Club exists to ensure our members can develop their flying potential to the best of their ability, enjoy themselves in a safe and positive environment, to promote gliding and to ignite a passion for flying in others Vision Our vision for the Club is to create a financially secure gliding operation located at Challock. We have a growing membership across all ages with a continual flow of new pilots. We provide them with a smart, modern, well maintained fleet, clubhouse and hangar facilities. Our pilots and members take an active interest in the Club and the development of their potential to fly cross country, and the Club contributes to the wider gliding and local communities. Club culture There is a mix of all ages and backgrounds at Kent Gliding Club and everyone is welcome. Weekends tend to be busier than during the week, as this is the time when most members have free time to fly. Most Scholars and other junior members will attend at weekends, other than during school or college holidays when they often take advantage of week day flying. Wednesdays (Club days throughout the year) are mostly popular with our more senior Club members who are retired.

6 Kent Gliding Club Management The Club Committee The running of the Club is managed by the Club Committee, which comprises the Officers of the Club, a Trustee Director of the Club and seven Ordinary Members. The Officers are the Club Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. These positions and the Ordinary Members of the Committee are elected on an annual basis at the Club s Annual General Meeting. The Committee is responsible for the conduct of the Club [and all field arrangements], and has the power to make bye-laws and gliding regulations to comply with the conditions of occupation of the Challock site and British Gliding Association Operational Regulations. If there are any issues that you, as a Club member, feel should be brought to the attention of the committee then please raise it with either the Chairman or any one of the current committee members. The Flying Committee The CFI may if he wishes form a Flying Committee of suitably experienced instructors, the main role of which is to consider such matters referred to it by the General Committee of the CFI. The Flying Committee is concerned with all flying matters including: flying and airfield safety; local rules and procedures; instructor and student training; and the club fleet. Duty Crew A duty rota exists to ensure that on each Saturday and Sunday (the busiest Club flying days) there is a core crew of Club members to provide the basis of a team to help the field operations run smoothly. Club members volunteer to be on the duty rota. A day s crew typically comprises three or four Duty Instructors, one of which is the duty Instructor in Charge (I/C); a Basic Instructor (BI), who will conduct air experience flights including trial lessons; Tug Pilots to carry out aerotow launches; a Ground Controller, who works under the instruction of the I/C to co-ordinate all field operations; Duty Pilots to be available to undertake field activities such as cable retrieve and helping with launches; and a Winch Driver to operate the winch for at least part of the day. Specific duties and responsibilities of the duty crew are set out in the Flying Order Book, which is kept in hard copy in the Club s briefing room. The duty crew rota is displayed on the main notice board in the clubhouse. The rota does not absolve other Club members from the responsibility and expectation to help out with field operations; they ensure a skeleton crew is available on the busiest of days. The more that Club members help out on any one day, the more efficient and sociable the Club s operations are, and the more the Club s flying and wider environment can be enjoyed by everyone. During the Summer season, the Club has a full-time instructor and winch driver and there is usually a tug pilot also available to assist flying.

7 Other positions occupied by club members Chief Flying Instructor The Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) is appointed by the General Committee and is responsible for all aspects of instruction and flying discipline at the Club. Our current CFI is John Hoolahan. Tug Master The Tug Master is responsible for tug pilot training and competency and the approval of tug pilots with the CFI s agreement, as well as all aspects of aerotowing including aircraft maintenance. Our current Tug Master is Martin Cooper. Winch Master The Winch Master arranges training for new winch drivers and oversees winch driving standards. Our current Winch Master is James Paine. Safety Officer The role of Safety Officer is defined by the BGA and covers all safety matters related to flying and airfield operations. Our aim is always to look after members, friends and visitors to the Club. The Safety Officer reports to the Chairman. Our current Safety Officer is Alan Murdoch. Airfield Manager The Airfield Manager monitors the condition of the airfield and surrounding grounds and plans any remedial work that is required (including vegetation control, surface repairs, fencing, trailer parking and the caravan site). Our current Airfield Manager is Charles Stewart. Technical Officer The Technical Officer has responsibility for the airworthiness of the club fleet and is also available to help private owners should they request it. The KGC Technical Officer is David Beams. M & E (mechanical & electrical) Manager The M&E Manager has responsibility for the machinery and equipment which the club needs. The current M&E Manager is also David Beams. Instructors Nearly all instruction, including that given by the CFI, is done by Club members giving their time voluntarily to the Club. There are currently three main categories of instructor: Full Category Instructor (Full Cat); Assistant Category Instructor (Ass Cat); and Basic Instructor (BI). BIs cannot instruct pre-solo pilots, but may conduct elements of their briefing and can take air experience pilots and allow them to conduct basic effects of controls, so they are allowed to conduct trial lessons. Full Cats and Ass Cats instruct pre-solo and solo pilots and carry out check flights and other instruction. Ass Cats will occasionally require the advice or sign off of Full Cats for particular activities. Only Full Cats may approve visiting pilots from other clubs to fly Club gliders. From 2015, the British Gliding Association rules will change and the different categories of Instructor will disappear and there will simply be instructors, guided at a higher level by CFIs, and Flight Instructor Examiners (regional). Different types of membership Full flying membership Full flying members pay an annual membership subscription, which includes a levy paid to the BGA. They are entitled to all the privileges of Club membership. Temporary membership A temporary member has most of the full rights of a Flying Member except those set out in the Club s Rules. Temporary membership is available to visiting members of other Gliding Clubs upon payment of a

8 daily subscription, or through reciprocal membership in force between the Club and the visiting member s Club. Temporary associate members pay a subscription covering a period of 90 days (usually following a trial lesson) and are entitled to fly as a second pilot under instruction in Club aircraft and at the discretion of the Duty Instructor. Social membership Social members pay an annual subscription to the Club. They are entitled to free admission to the Clubhouse and Flying Ground and also to all lectures and social functions which the Committee may arrange. They cannot fly Club aircraft as pilots in command but may fly as a second pilot, once a month, under instruction at the discretion of the Duty Instructor. Junior membership The Club offers reduced membership fees and subscription rates to junior Club members, varying according to age and whether they are in full-time education. Scholars Each year the club takes on six young people as Scholars, usually aged between 14 and 17, and for a year we give them free launches, instruction and use of gliders. They all get a real taste for the sport and some of them get to solo standard, many continue gliding and some have become commercial pilots. Information on annual subscription charges is available from the Club website at Annual subscription renewals and other annual charges fall due on 1 st April each year, according with Club Rules. They may not be charged to members flying accounts (unless these carry sufficient credit) but can be paid by Standing Order when pre-arranged with the Club. Learning to fly As a member of Kent Gliding Club you can simply turn up on club flying days, put your name on the flying list, wait your turn and work with the next available instructor to progress your individual learning. You pay Club rate fees for individual flying and soaring. The current fees 1 are set out below. Instruction is carried out by volunteers and is free of charge. Winch launch 7.90 ( 6.35 before 11am) Simulated launch failure 3.55 Aerotow 2000ft (greater heights incur greater cost) Soaring fees 2 seat club 0.46 per min ( 27.60/hr) gliders Soaring fees single seat 0.38 per min ( 22.80/hr) club gliders Flying fees are charged to members accounts, and a statement of each account is sent out at the end of each calendar month and must be settled promptly and fully within 30 days. Temporary members and scholars pay at the end of the day s flying. Ideally members should keep their accounts in credit. More information about what to expect on a typical club day is set out in the next few pages of this leaflet. Club courses The Club offers courses for non-members. A KGC Course is the best way to learn the basics of flying a glider. A Day Course consists of one aerotow and up to three winch launches. Details of these courses are available from the clubhouse office and on the KGC website. Members of the Club are also able to book onto a one day Club flying course at a reduced rate. 1 Fees for the coming year are agreed and set at each Annual General Meeting.

9 Expectations If you are new to gliding then the world of Kent Gliding Club may seem rather new and strange. The Club is run by members for members this keeps operational and individual flying costs to a minimum and provides an opportunity for all members become fully conversant with all aspects of gliding. It is therefore expected that all members of the Club get involved in the various aspects of running the airfield when they turn up to fly. Simply put, if you want to fly, you help others to fly. In turn, this makes the Club a fun and sociable environment to fly gliders. However, it is important before you handle gliders or undertake other tasks at the Club that you have had safe handling procedures explained to you. This is for your own safety and that of others and also so that aircraft and other equipment on the airfield is not damaged. For this reason, we have taken the view as a club that if new members are unfamiliar with flying and handling gliders then the level of their involvement in airfield management should be kept to a minimum to begin with, within an individual s comfort zone, and increased over time. If, as a new member to the Club, you would prefer to be recognised as being new to gliding, then you should say so when you first join the Club, or return for the first time after your trial lesson to start your temporary or full membership. There is no obligation to do this but it may help ease you in to Club operations. It might be helpful to contact the office or membership secretary in advance of your first day, so the crew on duty on the day are aware that you wish to be recognised as new to the club. A typical flying day Club members start to arrive at the Club around 8am. On arrival, anyone intending to fly during the day must add their name and membership number to the flying list, which is usually found in the clubhouse. The Club café opens for breakfast at 8:30am (very popular!). On a fair weather day, as the duty crew and other Club members arrive they will generally start to unpack the hangar getting out the Club gliders, vehicles, and other equipment to be used throughout the day and starting to set up the field for a day s flying. If the weather looks poor, field set up may wait until after a briefing. The I/C will obtain weather information, Notam details, and determine any conditions affecting flying and decide the field set up for the day. Every Club day should then start with a briefing from the I/C. This generally takes place at 9:00 / 9:15 in the clubhouse or Wendy House. This is to inform all Club members flying that day of: the members on the duty rota that day which Club instructors are available to take students, who s in charge on the day etc. the set up of the field due to weather conditions and which Club gliders are available NOTAMS for local and cross-country flying any assigned tasks for cross-country flying weather conditions for the day other important notices, such as major changes to local airspace (e.g. as was the case during the Olympic Games) Following the briefing, all Club members will go down to the launch point and start flying by the order of the flying list. Students help out while waiting for an instructor to become available and will usually take either three short flights with that instructor or one or two longer ones.

10 The instructor will have a short briefing discussion with the student to talk about their progress to date and what they want to get out of that day s flying (what they want to learn or elements of flying they want to practice on that day). It is important that all students have KGC progress books with them, and that these are kept up to date, to help this. When Club members are not flying, they are expected to help out with other duties on the field to help those that are flying this might include launching or retrieving gliders; driving the winch or retrieving winch cables for the launch point; keeping accurate flying logs and / or generally being supportive of the ground controller and duty crew. When the weather is good, we will often not break formally for lunch, and those flying will go to the clubhouse in small groups to enjoy the delights on offer from the Club s café. If the weather is poor then the ground controller might take a decision to all break at the same time to keep things moving later on when conditions pick up. The timing of the end of a day s flying very much depends on the weather and the time of year. In the height of summer, with good light and good weather, we might finish flying between 6 7pm although it is often nearer 5pm. In the winter, we will usually be finished by 4pm. After all flying is finished, Club members will help to clean the gliders and pack them safely in the hangar with the other equipment, also ensuring tractors are put on charge. Radios and parachutes are returned to the parachute store and radios put on charge for the next day s use. Flying logs will be returned to the Club office. Club members generally then retire to the bar in the clubhouse for a drink and a chat about the day s flying particularly if someone has gone solo that day or there are other feats to celebrate! Sometimes, especially during winter months, there will be evening talks after a day s flying, either from the CFI or an invited speaker. Helping out on the field Unpacking the hangar The main glider hangar houses the Club gliders, the winch, tractors and a 4x4 (for cable retrieve). All may be used on the field on a Club flying day. The I/C (instructor in charge) and ground controller will advise on which gliders and equipment are required. Club members used to handling gliders will carefully take them out of the hangar for inspection. DI (Daily Inspection) All gliders to be flown on that day will undergo a DI, which must be carried out and signed off by a Club member at least at bronze badge level. Other Club members can assist. This involves checking the glider for damage and to ensure it is properly rigged to fly. Parachutes are collected for the gliders and also inspected. The winch is also subject to DI, which will usually be carried out by a Club member signed off to operate the winch. Setting up the field Gliders and the log cabin are then towed down to the launch point the end of the field that gliders will take off from. Towing gliders usually involves three people one to drive a tractor towing the glider, and two to guide the glider one holding the wing tip and one walking in front of the wing by the nose. Any Club member can drive tractors as long as they are over 16 and signed off for tractor driving on the Dual Ground Syllabus section of their progress book. Other equipment including radios, log sheets, and emergency safety equipment (in the small yellow trailer) will also be taken to that point. The instructors will determine and advise other members of the most effective set up of the launch point for that day s weather conditions. The winch will be towed out to upwind end of the field and set up by the first Club member operating as the winch driver for that day.

11 Assisting launches The main tasks that Club members may be asked to help out with to assist the launch of a glider include: handling gliders at the launch point to get them into the ideal position for launching; attaching winch cables or aerotow ropes to the gliders (following safety checks); holding and running the wing tip on launch; and logging the details of the flight. Once a member has gone solo they will also be involved in operating the winch signal controls or radio signals for aerotow. Winch driving It is helpful for your appreciation of safe winch launching to understand how the winch is operated. Any Club members, including early students, can observe winch driving and must do this at some point for Winch Driving Appreciation to be signed off in their progress book as part of the Dual Ground Syllabus. However, only Club members signed off as proficient in driving the winch may operate it alone to conduct winch launches. All pilots must be able to drive the winch before going solo. Winch cable retrieve Club members who have a full driving licence can assist the winch driver and ground team by towing out winch cables from the winch to the launch point, following completion of winch launches. Instructors and experienced Club members will always direct safe hangar packing, but any member should stay and help. Safe handling of gliders Most damage that occurs to gliders happens when they receive knocks during unpacking and packing the hangar and through careless ground handling. It is therefore important that this activity is led by experienced Club members. Until you are fully aware of the procedure it is best to find someone with experience to observe and/or assist you. Canopies are a vulnerable part of the glider, and are easily damaged if allowed to bang down or be caught by the wind. They cost several thousand pounds to replace! Avoid touching the canopies with your bare fingers as this leaves greasy marks, which will eventually make it more difficult for the pilot to see out clearly. On the inside of the canopies, a small metal plate has usually been attached for handling (but be aware that not all gliders are the same) your instructor or other experienced Club members will show you how to handle the canopy. Glider retrieve Club members signed off to drive tractors collect and tow gliders, which have landed after a flight, back to the launch point for their next flight. Packing the hangar At the end of the day, Club members will tow the gliders, winch and log cabin back to the hangar. Club members used to handling gliders will manoeuvre them back into the hangar so they are stored safely. Other vehicles and equipment will be parked and stored in the hangar. A typical glider (note not all gliders have flaps).

12 Ground handling pulling the glider forward One person holds the into-wind wing tip that person is steering the glider. One or two other people push or pull forward at the front of the cockpit. When turning the glider the person at the front of the cockpit will push down on the nose, to balance the glider on its main wheel around which it can then be pivoted. Ground handling pushing the glider backwards One person holds the into-wind wing tip that person is steering the glider. One or two other people push on the front of the wing close to the fuselage (not further out than the airbrakes). As before, when turning the glider one person assists by pushing down on the nose. Towing the glider with a car or tractor Whenever you tow a glider with a vehicle, two people should walk with it one holding the into-wind wing tip and one on the left hand side of the canopy (nearest the yellow release knob). The person holding the wing tip steers the glider; either by holding back (walking slower or standing still) or moving forward (walking faster). The person on the nose of the glider is there to hold it back in case it starts to run faster than the car or tractor, either by pressing back against the wing or releasing the tow rope. S/he also holds the nose down when turning. To release the glider from the tow rope, open the canopy by the internal metal tab fitted inside the window and pull the yellow release knob. Handling the glider at the launch point When turning a glider around on the spot, ensure that the wing tip holder turns the glider so that he or she is always up wind. If the glider is to be flown immediately, it may be faced into wind, but someone will need to stand by the cockpit at all times (or be seated in the front seat) to be in control of the glider. This is especially important in strong wind conditions. If the glider is not to be flown immediately it should be parked correctly. Parking gliders It is essential that gliders are parked properly, especially if they are to be left unguarded for any length of time. Tyres and chocks can be used to stop gliders from moving in the wind. Club gliders the upwind wing is raised when parked. A tyre may be placed behind or in front of the main wheel, to act as a chock, and another tyre (or two) placed at the side of the fin on the downwind side. Rope and winch cable attachment and handling The winches that we operate at Kent Gliding Club both have two cables, which are pulled out for launching, and attached one at a time. Neither cable must be touched whilst a glider is being launched. When a glider is ready to be launched, the cable is brought over, handled by the rope, so that the cable parachute is lined in front of the glider. The strop should be connected to an appropriate weak link and may need to be changed if it is not. K21s are connected via a black link; the Puchacz and the single seater Juniors are connected via a red link. Other (non-club) gliders may be connected via other colour links and should be requested by the pilot. Before attaching a winch cable or an aerotow rope from a tug plane, always check with the pilot that the airbrakes of the glider are closed and locked, and get an affirmative answer before attaching the ring. Attach the smaller of the strop s two rings at the end of the strop to the hook of the glider. The forward hook is for an aerotow and the rear hook is for a winch launch. The pilot will operate the hook mechanism ask him or her to open it, attach the ring, then ask for it to be closed. Once the rope or cable is

13 attached, move away from the front of the glider and ensure no-one else walks in front of the glider, in case it is operated inadvertently. Which cable to use? The priority of use of the cables on any one day, depends on the wind direction and the set up of the airfield for that particular day. The duty crew will advise. Always wait for the first cable to drop after use and be certain it has stopped moving and is clear, before handling the second cable. Wing tip holding and running; and signalling Kent Gliding Club operates aerotow launch signals via radio communication directly to the tug pilot and winch launch signals via wireless electronic signal controls. Once the cable or aerotow rope has been attached, the signaller will check the sky above and behind to make sure that another glider or other aircraft is not approaching to land. (Other aircraft coming into land have priority over gliders ready to launch.) The wings of the glider then need to be held level for take off. If it is all clear, the signaller calls All clear above and behind then take up slack then radios or presses the appropriate control button signal. When the rope or cable has pulled tight, the signaller gives the call all out to complete the launch and again radios or presses the appropriate control button signal. When the glider launches the person holding the wing tip walks forward briskly with the glider holding it steady until it moves out of their hand. If at any point the launch looks unsafe, it should be stopped. Anyone who notes a problem should shout stop loud enough for the pilot and the signaller to hear. The signaller should immediately radio the command or press the stop button on the control buttons for the winch. If the reason for stopping relates to the cable or tow rope (for example the winch driver may have inadvertently taken up the wrong cable) then this should be checked, retrieved and/or reattached as necessary. If the reason for stopping is noting another glider or tug landing then the person on the wing tip should put the wing down. If there is to be a long delay in launching, ensure everyone understands the reason why. The pilot will release the cable or tow rope. Once the reason for stopping has cleared the whole launch procedure starts again from the beginning. Flying log keeping Every flight must be logged regardless of whether it is in a Club or private glider. The log sheet is a legal document and it must be kept precisely and neatly. The log should record the pilots names (both P1 the pilot in charge or instructor and P2 another pilot (not P1), pilot under instruction, or passenger), who is charged for the flight, the number of the glider and the time of take off and landing, as well as any special notes (e.g. recording trial lesson voucher codes and cable breaks). A note on safety Gliding is based on safe methods of operation. Safety is at the heart of everything we do. Kent Gliding Club s safety record is something we are proud of and we intend to keep it that way and we are always looking to improve. From your very first day you will find that safety looms large in every aspect of airfield operation and flying. As a new member you will be given all sorts of support to enable you to participate in and enjoy gliding. You will find that safety matters are second to none. You will be encouraged to include safety awareness in all club activities. Anyone at the club can contact the Safety Officer who will always listen and advise on safety matters.

14 Expectations of new members in helping on the field When people are new to gliding, there can be a lot to take in, particularly if a new member has never flown any type of aircraft before. We would prefer new members to the Club to feel welcome and comfortable before pitching in with activities on the field. The section below therefore sets out what we consider to be reasonable expectations of new Club members helping out on the field. That said, if you are confident and understand what you are undertaking, by all means get involved. If in any doubt on any task ask! It is important to remember that everyone progresses at different rates and there is no race to go solo. Flying instruction is not referred to in this booklet. The various stages to pre-solo and bronze instruction are set out in the Club s progress book. The Club instructors will guide you through as you progress at your own pace. First day On your first day at the Club as a new member (perhaps returning for the first time after a trial lesson), if you have indicated that you would prefer to be recognised as being new to gliding, then those on duty on that day should do their best to partner you up with someone experienced to observe typical activities for the day i.e. unpacking or packing the hangar and what is involved in handling and launching a glider from the launch point. If anyone asks you to do a task that you are unfamiliar with, you should explain that you are new to the Club and are currently an observer. Ask to watch what they do or have them explain properly what you should be expected to do. By the end of your first day, you should expect to understand the main tasks involved in running the field, having watched others carry them out, and you should be familiar with the set up of the airfield and the facilities etc. of the wider Club. First month Increasingly through the first month of your full or temporary membership, you should start taking part in field activities and supporting the operation of the Club, while still being recognised as observing or learning from others. Remember to make the duty crew aware at, or just after, the day s briefing that you are still fairly new to gliding and to the Club and ask to observe or work with someone on that day. By the end of your first month you should have more of a feel for the various tasks involved in running the field and feel confident in taking on some of these yourself ask each week to be shown how to do something new, such as driving a tractor, taking the logs, assisting the launch or helping the winch driver. Three months By the time you have been at the Club for three months (if you are a temporary member, by now you should have converted or be considering converting to full flying membership) then you should be more confident about being involved in all aspects of helping out in day to day Club operations. You should by now make sure that they ve had a go at everything and have signed off various ground handling tasks in your progress book, for example, winch appreciation, tractor driving (where appropriate), as well as helping at the launch point etc. Depending on your aptitude for flying, previous experience etc. it may take you more or less than three months to settle in and everyone should go at their own pace. We hope you enjoy becoming an active member of Kent Gliding Club.

15 Some practical tips for beginners What to wear Comfortable clothes are most important you don t need any special clothes and most people wear jeans and a t-shirt or sweatshirt. When you fly you will move your head and neck constantly to maintain a good lookout. You should therefore consider wearing a top with a collar, such as a shirt or polo shirt, as this will allow more comfortable movement whilst also wearing a parachute. At any time of the year it is usually a few degrees warmer inside the glider than outside it layers are a good idea. You should wear comfortable footwear trainers are fine during the summer, but in wet or cold weather, you should consider sturdier shoes or boots (as long as they are not so big that you cannot comfortably operate the rudder pedals). Particularly in the summer, have sunglasses and a sunhat at the ready. The hat must not have a stiff brim (like a baseball cap) but be soft and floppy with a short brim enough to protect your head from the sun, but short enough to not obscure your vision when flying. Sunglasses are advised at most times of the year, as the reflection from clouds can increase light intensity. In the winter it can get very cold at the airfield. It is always noticeably colder than the surrounding area as the airfield is 600ft above sea level; so in the winter, thicker, warmer clothing is a must, including a warm hat and gloves. Gliding can sometimes be surprisingly messy (some crawling around on the ground etc.) and so it is recommended not to wear anything you would not want to get dirty or spoiled. What to bring with you On a good day, you can expect to be out on the field all day. It is a good idea to bring snacks and water or another drink to keep you going. On warmer days, sun cream is a must (even when cloudy!) you can easily become sun burnt during the course of a day s gliding. As a student pilot, always have your progress book with you to enable you to get the most out of your day s instruction and flying. Recommended reading Beginning Gliding (Flying and Gliding), by Derek Piggott Understanding Gliding: The Principles of Soaring Flight, by Derek Piggott Bronze & Beyond: A glider pilot s guide, by John McCullagh The Glider Pilot s Manual The Soaring Pilot s Manual Other sources of useful information British Gliding Association by Ken Stewart by Ken Stewart Sailplane & Gliding Magazine (from BGA website) Sailplane Directory Glider Pilot Network

16 Glossary of terms Useful contacts ASI ATZ A/T BGA BI CAA CFI DI DP FL I/C KGC GMT mb NOTAM PPL P1 P2 QFE QNH TMA Tug UTC Airspeed Indicator Air Traffic Zone Aerotow British Gliding Association Basic Instructor Civil Aviation Authority Chief Flying Instructor Daily Inspection, of gliders or equipment Duty Pilot Flight Level In Charge, Instructor I/C for the day Kent Gliding Club Greenwich Mean Time milibar, a measurement of atmospheric pressure Notice to Airmen Private Pilots Licence Pilot in Charge Pilot under instruction or pilot who is not P1 Altimeter pressure setting to show height above airfield Altimeter pressure setting for height above sea level (altitude) Terminal Manoeuvring Area Aeroplane used to tow gliders into the air Co-ordinated Universal Time (same as GMT) Club Chairman CFI Scholars sponsor Membership Secretary (responsible for new members) Office enquiries Grahame Underwood gu@gjtu.com John Hoolahan john.hoolahan@otford.net redbaron@otford.net Colin Beer beercmns@aol.com Kathryn Waller kathryn.s.waller@googl .com Julie Bullock soaring@kent-gliding-club.co.uk