Darling Downs Soaring Club Inc. Committee Meeting Minutes 24 th January 2006

Transcription

1 DARLING DOWNS SOARING CLUB INC. Minutes of committee meeting 24 th January 2006 At Graham Hennessy's House. Present: Fran Ning, Graham Hennessy, Tony Cavanna, Brett Kettle, Keith Allen, Jeremy Thompson, Jenny Thompson, Chad Nowak, Jenny Thompson. Apologies: Bob Flood, Bob Keen 1. Meeting Opening The meeting opened at 18: Acceptance of Minutes of Previous Meetings In the financial report the total in the IBD should be $45,000 with $15,000 earmarked for tugs. The amended minutes were accepted. 3. Standard Items a. Correspondence In/Out Summarised by Tony. The most significant being Jenny's letter to Alf Garrone thanking him for his services. b. New Members There have been a few new members. Tony to check records and make sure all memberships have been approved. c. Reports i.financial Report incl Social Club/Bar Fran presented a summary of cheques that have been paid in the last month. Attention drawn to very high phone bills Canteen P/L showing $496 Some more donations to come for FLARMs No money paid to Pearce Mitchell so far for the Mossie. Recommend we drop yellow pages advert. Most people are using other methods to find out about us. There was a discussion about the clubs bills A survey to be carried out about weather station usage. If we drop the weather station we can also cancel the one of the telephone lines. Internet accesses making a lot of calls. The electricity bill is also very high, approx $10 per day. Fran moved that the treasurer s report is accepted, seconded by Jenny and carried. Page 1 Of 10

2 ii.cfi Report See Appendix A Tony to forward instructor meeting minutes so that they can eventually be published on the website. iii.airworthiness Report Instruments QX have been checked individually and all ok. Shane not able to work out why they don t work properly together. Booking gliders for maintenance. Tony to brief Graham Hornet Boom mike wiring still, Keith Allen to assist. Ventus U/C door broken. Trolley is not club proof. Barry Daniel to fit FLARM to Jeans FLARM not functioning in LS7 FLARM testing procedures. Graham to speak to Nigel Andrews. iv.tug Report See Appendix B There was some discussion about getting an oil analysis done. They are very cheap to do apparently. v.marketing and Development Brett has obtained quotes. A production run of 100 DVDs would cost about $3 each. There might be a copyright issue with respect to the music used. Chad has done some investigation about this. The cost, if it is an issue, would be low, estimate 25c per CD. Channel 7 needs to be acknowledged. Keith s magazine covers should be given another go. d. Action List Review The action lists was reviewed, an updated version will be circulated soon. 4. Information Items a. Office refurbishment We will probably need more power. Libby s brother to be consulted. b. Training Request System Seems to be working ok but need to start early to make best use of it. c. Batteries They need a good charge. Four found to be no good. d. OzFLARM progress Progressing well We might be able to keep track of glider with a display in the caravan. e. Hangarage update EC and WC Page 2 Of 10

3 Both gone. f. Insurance - Safety Management Plan and Flarms We haven t heard from insurers. Safety management plan required a small amount of extra work. g. Boonah Week Confirmed. Robert Hart to supervise. h. RAFSGA Still possible i. Survey Preliminary results Preliminary results distributed by Jenny. We will keep the survey open for another month. 5. New Business and Decision Items a. Committee Approval for Significant $$ amounts Committee approval needed for significant expenditure there needs to be a limit. b. Signage at Jondaryan We have a quote for $5,000 we can do some of the work ourselves, the sinage company would need to requote but except he price to come out less than $2,000. c. AEF tracking and feedback system d. Parachutes Update and parachute repack problem We have a good canopy. Suggested we send to Parachutes Australia for new cover. We need to look at what we ve got and make a suitable plan. e. Depreciation Plan f. New member packs cost Tony to cost contents. g. Grand Prix Robert Hart is keen to host one. They need a lot of organisation. h. Sponsorship Robert Hart Robert Hart has drafted a letter of approach to Telstra. i. Amendment of DDSC rules Suggest official way of getting proxies by . Page 3 Of 10

4 j. Mentor role/s k. Easter Comps club bookings: i.barry Kruyssen and Bob Keen Hornet OK ii.chad LS7 possibly l. Hornet Refurbishment proposal boom mike, excessive play, cockpit refurb. To be done in the winter. m. Alf Garrone resignation Letter of thanks written and forwarded by Jenny. n. Glider Maintenance: i.ventus trolley Ask Perter Bell to Modify. ii.radios new and repairs Needs money to progress, we need to budget for one per year (and parachute) Purchase of one radio approved. iii.booking out maintenance in booking system Tony to brief Graham o. Club Maintenance: i.new Windsock Needs some dimensions, cost approx $120 The Meeting closed at 9.20 Appendices ii.spraying for spiders (new hangar) To be done next working bee, also sorface spray for the doors. iii.new end hangar s door slides and doors. Another job for Peter Bell. iv.some of our club trailers need attention. 1. IUR/GRI/WQX - Floor needs to be reinforced. 2. Astir - fittings seem to be very poor. 3. LS7 - Rear door very tatty and ramp needs to be fixed. 4. Ventus - Generally ok but the bolts that hold the fittings are small and free-floating and could easily be lost. 5. Hornet loose draw bar 6. Painting of Trailers To be tackled in the winter. Page 4 Of 10

5 Appendix A CFI s report from last meeting January 2006 Apologies: R Bennett, B Keen Attendance: Jeremy Thompson, Tony Cavanna, Barry Daniel, Peter Bell, Robert Hart, Jenny Thompson. Ratings for moderately experienced visitors or new members The question was raised on how we deal with visitors, who are experienced pilots, what we allow them to fly and do. As all visitors are required to complete a check flight the instructor conducting this must decide what endorsements to give this pilot based on the pilots flying and experience (both total and recent). It may be decided that further training is required before x country or any other advanced flying is allowed. When completed a check flight the instructor must indicate what ratings they are approving on the form and what further training or briefing is required before x county or other advanced flying is done. Flarm and its use in club operations. Some training notes have been written by Jenny, This will be put on the website and notice board. All aircraft are in the process of being fitted with Flarm. Low finish training GFA have published a draft Operations directive on low level finish pilot endorsements. I have collated our comments and passed them on to GFA and we are now awaiting GFA to make it happen. The club will discuss how we manage this when the final Operations directive is published and incorporated into GFA s operations manual. Training booklet from Adelaide Will distribute copies of the training book from Adelaide Soaring club for comment, the issue is if we use it as for student s basic training. Page 5 Of 10

6 Accident and incident review Discussion of recent incidents and accidents, also list of incidents over last few years for analysis. CFI will produce a report in the near future with regard to any trends etc. Date Glider Exp Incident erie nce June 2001 Grob Tug emergency, glider waved off 350ft, glider attempted downwind landing but wing hit ground during final turn and ground looped, major damage, no injury Puchaz 30 Local flight could not find airstrip and outlanded. Was only 2 nd flight at DDSC 2001 July 2002 Nimbus2c 205 On cross county glider hit turbulence and pilots head broke canopy. Had difficulty with lowering undercarriage as batteries had come loose. January 2002 August August September November Grob103 and PA glide r 150 Tug Tug upset, glider manoeuvred too high, tug stalled and lost1000ft prior to regaining control LS7 150 Glider did ground loop on landing. Condition of grass on strip a factor. Ventus 150 Ground loop on landing, flaps left in landing setting not negative as per flight manual. Pilot not familiar with flaps a factor Kestrel Outlanding accident near Pittsworth, major damage to glider, minor injury to pilot Pilot misjudged circuit and landing, to high and fast and went through fence. Puchaz 250 Glider had only 1 airbrake deploy on test flight. Found damage to airbrake system Astir Jeans 100 Glider overshot airstrip and ended up in paddock. Pilot fatigue, experience on type and dehydration a factor December Ventus 2CM 4500 Motor glider attempted to take off when strip was too wet and soft, became bogged during take off role. January Nimbus2c 800 Outlanding accident during comps, ground loop in stubble field broke tail off January Hornet 57 Control restriction in elevator caused by improperly fitted lead weight in tail January Hornet Glider landed along side glider/tug combination during Page 6 Of 10

7 take off. Wing runner did not clear airspace prior to launch. Pawnee 1500 Tug nearly ran out of fuel, was refuelled with an amount equal to the capacity of the tank. Ventus When lowering undercarriage on turning final the handle was jammed by the seat belt. Aircraft was manoeuvred at low level whilst the belt was freed prior to landing. Hornet 150 Control restriction in elevator caused by improperly fitted lead weight in tail March Puchaz 800 Rope break at 300ft, glider outlanded due to weather conditions. Rope in poor condition. March Ventus Glider landed with wheel up. April Hornet 100 Glider landed with wheel up. May Puchez 1000 Loss of directional control during landing, cross wind conditions and glider impacted with 2 cars on the edge of the strip November Puchez 800 Student froze on controls during spin recovery, instructor took over and recovered just before glider reached VNE Ventus Whilst towing out glider the fitting came off tow ball and glider struck car. Pilot fatigue a factor Astir 60 Ground loop on landing, Condition of grass on strip a Jeans factor. Nimbus Landed with wheel up, did not do downwind check. Fatigue a factor DG Near mid air collision at comps during finish March March March Duo 4000 Near mid air collision at comps at turn point Discus May Puchez 600 Loss of directional control during landing role in a strong cross wind, nearly collided with another parked glider May Ventus Pilot misidentified flap lever instead of airbrakes, much low level manoeuvring before landing. June Grob Airbrakes came open during launch. June Astir Jeans 200 Airbrakes came open during launch, pilot was distracted by person hooking on the rope. July LS7 130 Outlanding accident, pilot flew into area where suitable paddocks were few. Forced to land in un suitable paddock and hit fence causing minor damage to glider July Ventus2 300 Ground loop during landing, tail skid broken off. Some Page 7 Of 10

8 cross wind July IS29 58 Outlanding accident near Dalby. A late decision to land and loss of control with not enough height to recover. Write off and Fatal to pilot. August Puchez 1500 Rope break at 400ft, glider landed downwind ok, rope not in good condition Novembe r Novembe r Novembe r Novembe r December December December January 2006 Nimbus2c 1430 Ground loop on take off after loss of directional control. LS7 200 Misjudgement of circuit in difficult conditions, aircraft landed in paddock short of runway and ground looped in crop. Pilot currency was a factor. Grob103 N/A Dog ran on airfield and caused launch to be aborted and PA25 after the take off had commenced. Astir 36 Airbrakes opened on take off; possibly came open after Jeans heavy contact with ground during take off. Strong x wind a factor Nimbus2c 1400 Was not able to raise undercarriage during flight. After landing found a pair of pliers lodged between the battery box and seat pan LS7 245 Ran out of height on returning to strip, joined on base and turn on final was very low Nimbus2c N/A Inspection mirror found in control linkage after form 2 Nimbus2c N/A After work on flap system by engineer during the DI found that the flap/airbrake had moved sideways 5mm. The roll pin(hinge locking) was missing Nimbus2c 750 Control problems at 200ft on aerotow, the port flap/airbrake was fluttering. Flight was aborted and glider landed safely. The airbrake was not able to be closed. LS7 75 Pilot got out of station on tow (low) and in correcting this broke the weak link at 300ft Pilot technique a factor. Astir Jeans Ventus 2CM Duo Discus 750 When conducting the test flight after form 2 inspection the ASI was not working. Flight aborted and found dynamic hose was not connected During flight started engine, ran for only 2 minutes prior to seizing. Engine could not be re started or retracted. Successful landing made back at strip 5500 Inadvertent engine operation, whilst cruising the engine extended and started, could not be shut down. Diverted to Dalby and landed. Pilot currency a factor, master switch left on and engine start switch accidentally knocked whilst adjusting vario. Page 8 Of 10

9 Pilots and students Marika Kurstjens- did a further 2 checks in the Grob and solo in the Jeans Angeles Palacios - solo pilot from Spain, now living in Australia. Has done a few solos.. Partner Andrew is also a member and training. Andrew Maz - new to gliding and has done 4 flights only. Mike Mowbray- C certificate and initial x country AJ -Jeans conversion Kent Jamieson- Jeans conversion Jay Murray- new student age 14 has done 4 flights Keith Allen- completed AEI training Chad Nowak- LS7 conversion Training booking system This is now commissioned thanks to Tony, the system will send out an on Thursday to the instructors chat with all the training requests booked by members. Glide FAST coaching course Ralph Henderson and Robert Hart are now accredited coaches and can conduct the advanced glide fast courses. This is aimed at pilots with at least initial cross county ratings and is to help them increase their cross county skills. It is also suitable for pilots with more experience who wish to fly faster and further. The first course will be held over the weekends of 3 rd and 4 th and the 11 th and 12 th. Appendix B Page 9 Of 10

10 Report to Committee on Tugs. Tug Pilot numbers have been slowly decaying over a couple years with some retiring after many years of service, others doing so only because of ill health. This has left us with a much smaller number and a much higher load on the one we have. John Knox will soon make a welcome return to towing as he has sorted his health problems. Alf Garrone has recently retired from towing after many years of service, which we should acknowledge in some way. I am awaiting info on the Caboolture cowl flap mechanism before setting out to install one in MLR. The MLR radio has not yet returned from Arnie Hartley. MLR temps are within specifications but are being monitored, soon an oil change will tell the true story. There may be a few pilots that are not aware that there is a new oil temp gauge in MLR which is running in the normal range not showing any problems. I am running the engine in as required by the LAME organisation and they have assured me that if it is not working correctly they will pull it apart at their cost. The first Flarm has been fitted to SWR and is great success, MLR next. I know believe it is time for the Committee to begin looking for a new tugmaster as my 5 year term is up this year. I would be happy to help train up any candidate/s to take over this position, we should look for more than one person, it should be a team effort with all tug pilots involved in a small way. Bob Page 10 Of 10