HK Aviation Club Club News April 2013 MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF HELICOPTER TRAINING IN HONG KONG You will have received an e-mail circular by now that we will be hosting an open house cocktail party to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Helicopter Training in Hong Kong. The Guests of Honour will be the Director-General of the CAD, Mr. Norman S.M. Lo, and Capt. Mike Smith. It will be an informal social gather with short speeches, lasting no more than 15 minutes in total. I remember it was in the December 2002 General Committee meeting that we approved the purchase of a brand new R-22 for training purposes. We then raised money by members debentures and placed the order. I wrote the Hong Kong PPL(H) syllabus (which was a mixture of U.K. and Australian syllabi), and had this all approved by the CAD. Our first lesson was on 4 May 2003, less than 5 months later. Simply amazing. So please do come for a jolly. NEW HANGAR I wrote in my February message that we were seeking to build a new hangar to protect our fixed wing fleet. However, our application was not approved by the authorities. We will have to plan for an alternative. Otherwise, our fleet will continue to be exposed to the elements and possible damage during typhoons. Stay tuned on this.
LICENCE VALIDATION You should all be aware that your pilot s licence, be it a PPL or, in few cases, a CPL, needs to stay current. For the purpose of using either for PPL privileges, the Certificate of Test or Certificate of Experience is only valid for 13 months. Before expiry, for PPLs, we can extend this for another 13 months by a new C of E chop in your logbook, provided you satisfy the criteria set out in CAD54. Note that the renewal is in the form of a chop in your logbook. Merely having carried out a recency check flight with an instructor does not make your licence current. For CPLs, you will have to get this done at Personnel Licensing Office of the CAD. To keep your licence current, all you have to do is to fly more than 5 hours in the last 13 months and get a new chop in your logbook. It cannot be simpler than that. Yet, in recent months, we have had 3 cases of pilots flying with an expired licence. The Club has a reasonable good system to remind members of renewal. Reminders are sent by e-mail as much as a month before expiry with a scanned copy of the relevant section of CAD54. Pilots should be in no doubt as to their responsibility to keep a current licence. And I emphasize that it is the individual pilot s responsibility. A pilot flying without a valid licence is exposed to serious consequences. Firstly, he will have committed an offence under the AN(HK)O 1995. So far, the CAD has been lenient to first time offenders. However, repeated offenders are likely to be prosecuted. Secondly, without a valid licence, the pilot will have been flying without insurance. In the event of an accident, this not exposes the pilot to damages but will also expose the Hong Kong Aviation Club to such damages. Please therefore cooperate with Flight Ops when you are asked for a photocopy of your current C of T or C of E and your medical certificate for our records. Without convincing proof of your licensing validity, the Club may well refuse to let you fly. Happy Flying. John.
MESSAGE FROM CFI NEW INSTRUCTORS I am very happy to let you know that we have two new fixed wing flying instructors, Past President Bertie McCrory and Robert Mathieson. Both have been members of the Club for many years. I do not want to say much more, as in the next few months or years, both of them will find that teach and simply flying are two different things. I hope they will learn much, themselves, as will their students. Many congratulations. HELICOPTER RECENCY I m afraid I must turn to less happy circumstances. Helicopter pilots should now be experiencing some frustration that our whole helicopter fleet is grounded due to damages caused by pilots. In the case of B-HJN, it was damaged last year, took months to be fixed, and then had another incident. That s four incidents within less than half a year. With each incident, it takes weeks to assess the damage, agree this with the insurance company, and, if we can repair it in-house, then to order the parts and repair the damage. We discussed the situation at a recent helicopter instructors meeting. We discussed at length the notion of whether we should make the member pay for the damage, at least the insurance deductible, when the incident was clearly attributable to pilot error. The arguments for and against went like a pendulum, as were individual sentiments. In the end, we agreed status quo since our discussion did not result in a clear consensus. However, all the instructors agreed that such incidents were not caused by the pilots willfully, but perhaps through ignorance or the lack of practice.
It was observed that a good number of PPL(H) holders fly barely enough to stay recent. Some even struggled to gain the 5 hours for the C of E renewal. Your licence, that piece of paper that tells you that you are a pilot, can be very misleading. Most students, towards the end of their training, are very keen, flying sometimes more than 2 hours a week. Their progress and piloting skills are closely monitored by their instructors to bring them to the pinnacle of their performance in preparation for their flight tests. When finally successful, the licence in hand can create huge euphoria. If they subsequent relax, having paid a handsome amount for their training towards the licence, and stop flying regularly, their skills can deteriorate to a dangerous level. Much of the technical knowledge which they have learnt will have been forgotten. They will not know it because, in their minds, they feel they are still as good as when they first got their licences. Regular practice is the key. Helicopters are less forgiving than fixed wing aircraft. Most incidents occur close to the ground and may not cause injury or death. Let s keep it this way. Or rather, let s reduce the frequency of incidents towards zero. The helicopter instructors were unanimous in tightening recency requirements for helicopter pilots. Their recommendation mirrors the FAA requirement for Instrument Rating recency. This was proposed to the General Committee and accepted unanimously. Henceforth, the Club s recency for helicopter pilots will be 6 hours in the last 6 months. If you are out of recency, you may either take 2 hours dual with any instructor or, if you are confident of your skills, a check ride with an authorized examiner. I hope you will accept this new requirement on the basis that safety comes first. Fly safely, John.
Celebration of 10 th Anniversary of First Helicopter Flying Instruction in Kai Tak On 4 May 2003, Hong Kong Aviation Club's first helicopter flying student had her first dual flight conducted in Kai Tak. This year marks the 10th anniversary of helicopter flying instruction in Hong Kong, let s celebrate and get together on 4 May for this significant milestone. You are cordially invited to join the celebration party to be held on 4 May (Saturday) 2013, details as follows: Venue Kai Tak Bistro Date & Time 7:00pm 10:00pm Saturday, 4 May 2013 Activities Short Speeches by HKAC President John Li, Director-General of Civil Aviation Mr Norman Lo and Capt. Mike Smith Photo Exhibition at Aero Bar Early years of helicopter flying instruction Slide show 10 years of helicopter flying instruction Helicopter display Canapé and beverages will be served The reply slip is attached, kindly fill in and return it to the office by 30 April 2013. We look forward to seeing you on 4 May! Best Regards The Management Hong Kong Aviation Club (For Full member Only)
10th Anniversary of Helicopter Flying Instruction in Hong Kong On 4 May 2003, Hong Kong Aviation Club's first helicopter flying student had her first dual flight conducted in Kai Tak. This year marks the 10th anniversary of helicopter flying instruction in Hong Kong, let s get together and celebrate on the evening of 4 May 2013 for this meaningful yet historic moment! Your graceful presence will be most valuable to the Club and to make this event a success. The Management Hong Kong Aviation Club Reply Slip To: HKAC Office (by fax: 2761-9511 or by email: admin@aviationclub.hk) Yes, I am a Full Member of the HKAC. I will /will not to join the 10th anniversary of helicopter flying instruction in Hong Kong Name: Membership No: (Please print) Signature: Date: VIPs Reply Slip To: HKAC Office (by fax: 2761-9511 or by email: admin@aviationclub.hk) I will /will not to join the 10th anniversary of helicopter flying instruction in Hong Kong Name of Guest (s): Contact Person: Organization: Contact No: Email Signature: Date:
HONG KONG AVIATION CLUB & HONG KONG AVIATION CLUB FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES PHOTOS Sincerely thanks the following donors, sponsoring pilots, volunteers, company and organization who had contributed to Hong Kong Aviation Club Foundation from Feb 13 to Apr 13: Mr. LI John, Mr. PATTERSON Danny, Mr. YAN Andrew, Scout Association of HK and more.
WELCOME to the following new members who have recently joined us: FULL MEMBER Mr. Bunker Antony Miss. Christanto Mira Ms. Lam Yan Sin Janice Mr. Choi Hung Ngai Wilson Mr. Ng Kwong Kei Gary Miss. Yip Ching Katherine Mr. Chua Hwee Meng Kelvin Mr. Chan Kam Kwong Charles Mr. Hon Ben NEW/RENEW GENERAL MEMBER Mr. Lam Jo Hing Mr. Lam Kai Yuen, Daniel Mr. Li King Man Daniel Mr. Ma Pun (Peter) Mr. Kwok Yung Wai Mr. Wong Yat Wing David Mr Guan Fung Yee Mr Kam Jason C Mr Ho Man Fai Mr Ma Chung Tin Mr Wong Chi Cheong Danny Mr. Tse Hing Siu Jackie Ms. Wong Yeuk Sze Mr. Wong Wing Chun Charles Mr. Mok Raymond Wai Ming Mr. Young Chi Hung Lester Mr. Wong Ho Man Bruce Ms Choi Lam Lai Hung Mr Lam Yuk Tong Mr. Pun Chun Ping Mr. Tsang Ho Ping Ms. Tung Sau Ying Ms. Tong Shok Yuen (Sylvia) Mr Ng Chung Lai Mrs. Dan Yang Wing Man Mr. Wong Chi Tak Danny Mr. Lee Kwok Tai Mr. But Wai Pong Mr. Chen Yeh Ming Steve Mr. Sit Wai Ming Warwrick Ms. Chan Ching Han Mrs. Chow Chu Siu Ling Mr. Wong Raymond Fook Lam Ms. Poon Wai Wan Vivian Mr. Kwan Chak Ming Ms Chan Yuen Wah Dr. Li Mow Ming Sonny Mr. Wong In Jea Daniel Mr. Lee Cheung Mei Benjamin Ms. He Jianfen Mr. Wai Kwai Nam Petrus Mr. Tse Wah Sang Mr. Cheung Ka Fuk Richard Mr. Fung Geoffrey Mr. Chan Hin Cheung Ms. Lee Po Yi Shirley Anne Mr Yau Kam Wing Anthony Mr. Law Kit Choi Ms. Lai Oi Wah Ivy Mrs. Tang Wai Man Norita Ms. Leung Yan Yan Cecilia Mr. Wong Ying Kit (Sidney) Mr. Liu Kai Chi Mr Kong Kwok Hing Luke Ms. Wong Pauline