Barton Aerodrome Newsletter Vol 5 No 1 February 1998

Transcription

1 Barton Aerodrome Newsletter Vol 5 No 1 February 1998 Contents Have you read the Book?...2 AGM coming soon...2 Stamping is a mark of experience...2 News around the Aerodrome...3 Radio procedure changes, FIS coming..3 Salacious slanderous solecisms...3 Mugshots of Committee members...4 & 5 Keep those drills fresh...6 Memories of Frank...6 Bomber Command s perspective...7 ClubHouse work...7 What s On at Barton (very little)...7 G-BLAC, The one that got away?...8 Editor: Chris Hicks Contributors: Phil Dean. Nick Duriez, J.Pilkington, Julie Alderson Student Success Congratulations to the following: PPL Students First Solo: Barry Bibby, Joanne Burke, Antony Campion, Barry Bradley, Dennis Buckley, Lyn Marshall NFT: Cliff Ewan, Karl Guerrsen, Kirsty Adams, Janet Faulkner GFT: Kirsty Adams, Alan Davies, P.Bonie, Dave Goodhew, Gary Ollerenshaw IMC Initial: Bryn Chalcroft IMC Renew: Tony Johnson MICROLIGHT Students First Solo: John Latimer Send comments, suggestions, news items to: TRIMTAB, Lancashire Aero Club, Barton Airfield, Liverpool Rd, Eccles, M30 7SA. Tel: Fax:

2 GFT Pass: Pete Kay, Phillip Bell Committee News from Peter Smith Have you read the Book? It is a condition of flying at Barton that all pilots must regularly read and sign the Pilots Order Book. This contains local rules and information (eg. what part of Eccles you must not fly over). The book is available in the Portacabin (ask at Reception in the Tower; or ask any instructor), and there is space for you to sign your name to confirm you have read this vital information, and the date. The information in the book is updated from time to time, so if you have not read it (and signed) within the last few months, make a note to do so before you next go flying. It will only take 5 minutes. Want to serve? The AGM is just a couple of months away, and several places on the Committee will be up for election. If you are interested in getting onto the Committee and helping to run Barton Aerodrome, now is the time to start thinking about it. A good first step would be to come along to the Meet the Committee Evening, Friday 20th February 8pm in the ClubHouse, and chat informally to friendly and helpful Committee members, about duties and responsibilities. Ideas and possible Motions for the AGM can also be discussed here. (Do not leave it to the last minute) No Dogs, Cars, Smoking For health and hygiene reasons, the Committee has decided that dogs are not to be allowed in the ClubHouse in future. With the exception of Guide Dogs. Signs to this effect will posted in the ClubHouse in the near future, and staff have been instructed to enforce this rule. Members are requested to co-operate. [Editor s comment has been deleted by Committee, as being likely to offend. Ed] The idea of No Smoking sections in the Clubhouse is being discussed at present, for example where food is served. The Committee will be clamping down on car parking over the next months, to keep the manoeuvering areas clear. USE THE CAR PARK!! Security Fences The issue of security and safety barriers is being re-examined. Councils have approved the idea in principle, but await more detailed plans being submitted. Log Books by Phillip Dean (CFI) All PPLs require a Certificate of Experience stamped in your Log Book every 13 months from the date of your last C.of.E or Certificate of Test. Martin Rushbrooke, Peter Bradbury, or I can do this for you. Please present your Log Book together with your Licence and Medical Certificate, on Page 2 February 1998

3 Saturdays, Mondays, or Wednesdays. These days will now be Log Book stamping days. There is no charge for this service. The Flying School accepts no responsibility for Log Books which may get mislaid or damaged. Paying for Fuel Members must pay for any fuel uplifted, no later than 10 minutes after last movements on the day of uplift. Any fuel not paid for by this time will be charged at non-members rate, and a fee of will be levied. FIS at Barton by Nick Duriez It is expected that the new FIS service will commence at Barton around May 1998, initially at weekends only. In preparation for this (and to facilitate training of radio operators for validation), FIS phraseology may be used by radio operators at times, although until the unit is fully operational the callsign Barton Radio will continue to be used. It would assist us if pilots could call the tower for ALL GROUND MOVEMENTS, such as taxying from parking to the fuel-pumps. Non-radio aircraft can operate as usual, informing the tower by telephone before flight. It would also help if when requesting taxy, or when inbound, pilots state their destination or point of departure, as this is required for recording in the movements log. Around the Aerodrome Corrections to last TrimTab Woodvale (Southport) Airfield is not back in business yet; it is likely that a group of aviators will be able to build a private hangar in the future, but at the moment the work is still at the discussion stage. Geoff Headford has enjoyed a month of the wrong sort of vice; it can now be revealed that he is actually vice- Chairman of LAC (not vice-president). New Taxiway now open Yes, at last, you can now use the smart new black bit. Just follow the yellow line from the fuel pumps round to Runway 27. The hold for Runway 32 has been moved to the same point as 27 hold, so remember to check before crossing the active runway when 32 is in use. Lost Days Due to bad weather, four days were lost during December 1997 (compared to three days lost in December 1996). Headsets Why did Chris Hicks wear a headset even when flying non-radio, in recent cold weather? To keep my ears warm! February 1998 Page 3

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6 From the archives (from a letter to a previous Committee) It has come to my notice that several salacious sardonic scarifying and scurilous shibboltens stating slanderous solecisms imbued with sophistry have come from the sanctimonious saturnine schizophrenic satraps who form the Committee. My sapient Solicitor states succinctly that should such sententious slanders continue, I shall have no option but to sedulously sue you scrimshanking scapegraces. Signed: Geoff... After the winter break by Julie (Spin-it) Alderson The article in last month s TrimTab rings very true ( How to survive in the Circuit by Steve Todd). It seems to be the same wherever you choose to fly, especially at smaller strips. One additional point is that people sometimes learn to fly circuits the easy way (not at Barton, of course). For example someone I know had learned to turn downwind over that factory with the yellow roof, turn base over the gas holder, and finals at that bend in the river. As soon as he got his book from CAA, he was a qualified pilot, able to travel anywhere. He invited me to go flying to celebrate; and we flew to a small airfield. Big problem... no factory with yellow roof; no bend in the river; how do we know where to go?? I told him (and found myself echoing the words of my Barton instructor I guess these will stay with me always). After a summer of touring (reflected by a credit card bill spanning several pages) I ve noticed how many engines seem to fail close to the airfield (not from personal experience). It is almost like engines take on the role of instructor, and say Let s see how they cope with this simple exercise then! Most people think their days of engine failure drill are over once they gain their PPL. No need to worry about being faced with the big one; Will I panic? How will I cope? Will I need a change of underwear?. These questions rarely get asked because engines are so reliable, and never ever fail... right? The group of people I had the pleasure of flying with during the summer, eat, sleep and breathe aviation. We went many places and made merry many an evening. It was interesting that they were as paranoid about safety as me. So much so, that we have a rule in our group to have a mini GFT/NFT every year, to remain current and check any bad habits. This seems to be spreading, and others are joining in. It seems a good idea to refresh yourself, particularly after the winter break. This simple jolly for the instructor should remind you to keep the circuit tight, and keep engine fail drills fresh in your mind. My instructor always outlined to me the bare facts that engines fail anywhere, and anytime. Thanks Martin, for those uneasy five or Page 6 February 1998

7 ten minutes that seemed like hours; I hope I will never need to use those drills for real, but if the situation does arise, recent practise should give confidence to deal with it. If you have had a break from flying for a few months during winter, why not contact your instructor for a quick refresher. Frank Plested by J.Pilkington During the war Frank was a navigator in 31 Squadron (after joining the RAF in 1939 at the age of 17), and was trained in Canada, and later posted to South East Asia. He always retained vivid memories from 1944/45 of flying low over P.O.W. camps, dropping supplies; 8,000 lbs per trip, from 600. Later he ferried many newly released P.O.W.s home from Singapore. When Frank died recently, his family requested that the floral tribute in the shape of the RAF emblem be given to the Lancashire Aero Club, as Frank has been associated with the club for nearly 50 years. You may have noticed it in the ClubHouse entrance. Taffy Davies was the CFI when Frank joined in 1952, and the club owned 3 Austers and 2 Tiger Moths; Frank flew one of the Austers. He soon gained a reputation for returning late from his day trips. On one occasion he phoned Barton to say it would be after dark before he arrived, so could the members please help? At the specified hour, his engine was heard overhead, and the club members drove their cars along the runway edge, and illuminated it with their headlights. No problem. Frank later flew the Cessna 172 G-ARLW when it became part of the club fleet in He did some night flying in 1976, from Manchester Ringway Airport. After one trip they arrived back at Manchester late on Christmas Eve. Getting involved in some discussion they adjourned to the crew canteen, and next thing they knew it was 6am on Christmas Day and the discussions were still going strong. Until recently Frank still enjoyed flying at Barton, with the author and others in the group C172. His ability to navigate a calculated course was more reliable than the track indicated by the GPS. All of us who remember Frank agree; it was a privilege to have known him. In perspective Richard Wheatley (Bomber Command Association When you think of aviation heroes of WW2, you generally picture fighter pilots, risking their lives high above the ground. But bomber crews were also there... On the night of 30/31 March 1944, 779 bomber aircraft took off and headed for Germany. The various squadrons converged south of Brussels, into a tight stream, and headed on a 220 mile leg to north of the target. Several February 1998 Page 7

8 aircraft were lost due to mid-air collisions and mechanical failure. The enemy had managed to jam our radio navigation signals (known as GEE ) and there was a bright moon with no cloud cover. About 250 enemy night fighters fell on the bomber stream; a total of 83 aircraft were shot down by fighters and flak. More were lost turning south towards the target, and on the way home. In this one night, 545 aircrew were lost from the 108 bombers that did not return. (During the whole Battle of Britain, Fighter Command lost a total of 507 aircrew.) ClubHouse work The ClubHouse roof needed repair, and the work has now been completed. The PA System keeps losing its voice, so it may be replaced or improved soon. To make the entrance tidier, the adverts have been removed from the Noticeboard, and put into a ring-binder. What s On Aviation & Hobbies Weekend, 16th & 17th May. The LAC, PFA (NW Strut), and NW Microlight Club are organising this weekend of model aircraft display, BBQ, and a Fly-In on the Sunday. It is hoped to run a Young Eagles event on the Saturday. Volunteers (with own aircraft) contact Chris Copple via Tower. Meet The Committee. Friday 20th February from 8pm in the ClubHouse. Free HotPot supper. Informal. New Members Evening, Friday 27th February, from 8pm in the ClubHouse. All members welcome. Some entertainment is likely to be arranged. To have your forthcoming event listed here, just drop a note to the TrimTab. It s free! (It is true the TrimTab is no longer sent to Social Members, but don t let that deter you from advertising your social events here). To retain historical value, no changes were made to the text in this old document when publishing on the www. Signed Chris Hicks (Dec 2006) Page 8 February 1998