Channel Gliding Club's Blog

End of July

channelgliding — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:22:47 +0000

Just a quick post, more private than anything else, but i have applied for the club class nationals for the last week of July at Gransden Lodge, and would love it if anybody (preferabally with a full license and able to tow) would be willing to crew for me.

Cheers

Matt

OLYMPICS AIRSPACE CLARIFICATION

channelgliding — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:16:39 +0000

Folks,

Thanks to Mat for his posts on this subject.

Just to make clear, the restricted zone south west of us (the way to Ringmer) does indeed roughly speaking follow the 3500 feet boundary you are all familiar with (aren’t you). However, the restriction applies from the surface . In other words you can not go into this zone at all ! As`Mat points out flying north of the airfield is also effectively not allowed.

Hope this clarifies.

Colin.

PROPOSED ROTA FOR THE SUMMER

channelgliding — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:59:53 +0000

Guys, Please see the “attached” (is that the right phrase ?) spread sheet which is the embryonic form of a rota for the year. You will see that Paul Cronk has very kindly committed to a number of days all ready. I now need some of the spaces filling ! Realistically I think I need volunteers to email the dates they are willing to commit to so I can amalgamate them into the spread sheet rather than individuals trying to fill in the spread sheet. Dont feel this is cast in stone but I would like to work on the principle that if you find you can’t make the day you committed to you try to get a replacement rather than Simon or me having to do this. In general I will be at the club every Saturday in the summer months so I guess we really need instructors for Sundays in order that the club can operate as we intend. I am sure Simon would appreciate some volunteers to operate the winch too. The concept of a duty pilot is something I wish to develop this year too. Any concerns please discuss with me.

In conclusion please give this rota your serious consideration and let me have the days you can commit to asap.

Colin.INSTRUCTOR ROTA

Olympic Airspace Chart

channelgliding — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:13:05 +0000

Running on from Colins talk of the Olympic airspace, i thought i’d get the link up for everybody to look at.

Although airpsace should be abided by at all times, these zones will have much much stronger enforcements than normal. The restricted zone as far as we’re concerned flying from Waldershare is the equivalent of staying out of the LTMA3500, and then there is the Manston controlled zone a few miles north of the club running due west to east a few miles out to sea and then into the restricted zone.

As an extra enforcement measure to help instructors during this period, i think that all x-country flights should be recorded using a gps logger, and downloaded at the end of the day by an instructor to ensure no airpsace is breached. This will perhaps stop anybody thinking along the lines of, “if it can’t be proven i wasnt there”. Food for thought Colin.

Anyway, below is the link to the website:

*A chart of the temporary CAS (T) to be put in place from 16 July 2012 to 16 August 2012. This is not to be used operationally – an official chart wil be issued in 2012*

http://olympics.airspacesafety.com/media/3977/olympic_cas_t__with_info_low_res.jpg

Or, the dummies guide to Olympic airspace:

FROSTY NEW YEAR SATURDAY

channelgliding — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:42:26 +0000

Happy trial lesson despite the cold and being instructed by Paul ! The other photo shows EDU looking magnificent in the snow like frost of Saturday morning. A good day overall, 3 club members with their annual checks almost complete, and one ab initio with his boots full! Solo pilots, a word to the wise, study the Olympics web site and familiarise your selves with the restrcied air space etc. As a club we have to decide how we are going to “oversee” this period of restricted air space and time is running short.

Colin.

ANNUAL CHECK FORM

channelgliding — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:17:17 +0000

Here it is ! I hope.

ANNUAL CHECK FORM

Happy New Year All…

channelgliding — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:30:22 +0000

I hope all of you had a very good new year, and that you have all recovered from copious amounts of alcohol, i almost have.

It’s that time, where we have to all decide what we want out of gliding this year. Do you want to start flying more x-country? fancy doing a comp? how about visiting a wave site? or just another club that isn’t restricted by the sea? or is it the year Russ flies to France ( yeah right!)

I want to help people direct this year the way they want, not just club members, but any instructors aswell. We have the new glass single seater coming, so x-country will be easily available, and its all about being ready. So, what do you need? have you got a chart? where are you going? how do you read the weather? how do you know how fast to fly? what if you get low? your first field landing? Think about these things now, come the morning of that 50km day, you do NOT want to be rushing around.

For any ideas you have, or thoughts, or advice you want, just come find me and i’m happy to sit down with you and guide you through, making this year, YOUR year.

Matt

P.s. went to aboyne over the New Year, got to 3600′…… on tow, then fell out the sky…no wave, but the views were incredible!

ANNUAL CHECKS

channelgliding — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:52:23 +0000

Folks, a tricky weekend just gone. The forecast seemed good but it was a bit disappointing to find such a strong and blustery cross wind on Saturday. Still, a few flights done before we had to take the decision to stop flying. Such is life. Thanks to staff for trying to progress Russ’s Bronze FST.

We really need to progress annual check flights now so please focus on this over the next few weeks. If I can work out how to post the new annual check form please print one and retain in your log book. If I can’t post it or you can’t print it we will shortly have these available in the club house. E mail me if you wish and I will send you a form direct. I won’t publish my e mail addy on here but if you contact Simon or Paul I am sure you can get in touch with me.

I am nagging Simon to prepare some CGC car window stickers, hopefully these will be available soon to embellish your cars appearance and advertise your club to prospective members at reasonable cost ! If not available very shortly, nag Simon.

I am communicating with Paul Cronk and Mark Rushton at present with a view to publishing an instructor rota on this blog for the summer. If any other instructors are reading this and interested in committing to a day or two at Channel Gliding Club for a pleasant friendly and fun day out you are more than welcome to contact me and agree arrangements.

See you all soon.

Colin

SATURDAY 26TH NOVEMER 2011

channelgliding — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:52:34 +0000

Every club member that turned up flown.

Launches to 1,750 feet !

Nothing more to say.

Colin.

GLORIOUS SATURDAY

channelgliding — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:54:01 +0000

Well, a most unexpected day of late autumn flying. Weather was glorious from ten o clock in the morning until nearly four when the mist quickly descended upon us. I did the last flight of the day with new member Maurice and in the time between landing, de brief and attaching the rope to the retrieve car the canopy misted. And when I say misted I mean misted! There was no way one could have landed with the degree of misting that occurred. I made a mental note of this for future reference.

Only 2 trail lessons all day gave several new club members the chance to progress in the beautifully still conditions. Charlie from Challock seemed to have a good day so I reckon we all went home happy.

Lets hope the winter weather provides some more opportunities for progression, check flights and all round fun.

Colin