Up-Dates in Ratings: Jeffery Clark - Instrument Aiplane
Brent Cox - CFI
Marc Miller - Commercial
FT.Myers-FREEPORT Fly-In 2011.pdf
Fellow Pilots and Observers:
A special Thank You to all the members for your support since the accident back in December 2010. 385ME was sold to an address in Cape Coral and I assume that someone will salvage all the undamaged parts or restore the damaged aircraft to it’s original state.
The purchase of N7270H was not possible without the support of all you you. A special thanks to Mark Steinberger for flying Marc Miller, Mike Banks and Gary Brown to South Delta Aviation in West Helena, Arkansas to search for a replacement aircraft. We appreciate the donation of their time and aircraft in assisting in the final purchase of N7270H and special thanks to all those members on the search committee for their experience and feedback. We could not have made the purchase without you! Finally, thank you Gary Brown, for the many hours donated to develop the training plan that supports standardization of all processes required to complete the check ride in N7270H. Thank you Ed Fink, Frank Burelli, Ronald Myrick and Gary Skogebo, the flight instructors who assisted with the final endorsement of the training syllabus. Congratulations to all the pilots that have recently gotten their high performance check out. Enjoy the many traveling opportunities this aircraft will provide to our Club.
As a reminder …. BAHAMAS TRIP
Requirement for all flights to the Bahamas: Pilot must have 100 hrs, complete in-house Island Flying course prior to the Bahamas flight, check with Gary Brown, Cell 239-222-2994 .
The new Aviation Terminal will be opening August 2011. The new name will be the Aviation Center to Base Ops at Page Field. The board is currently discussing the process change of obtaining keys and gear related to the patrol. Access will be through assigned access codes for each club member. Ed Fink’s office will remain the storage area for all club equipment. A lock box will contain aircraft keys and the pilot will be able to open the box with a combination. Checklists and clip boards will be located in the office. I will get Scott Sheets (Page Fields Airport Mgr) approval before investing in any changes to this process.
For your information, the club has averaged 82 hours a month through the first quarter of 2011. We will be investing in a postcard mailer at the end of May which will be mailed to 2500 pilots and student pilots in Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties, advertising our membership fees, available aircraft, hourly rates and promoting our Hangar Dance. We usually attract enough pilots to pay for this mailer.
As a reminder, promoting the Club as a member is very helpful in maintaining financial stability and keeping the cost of flying to all of us at a value added rate. Again, aviation fuel costs have increased $1.50 since last summer and we need to continue to add flying hours to reduce our overall cost. You make the difference!
To protect our clubs insurance rates, please remember to provide Marc Miller, our flight supervisor, with copies of all new documents including medical, flight reviews and changes in rating. Instructors need to provide a copy of their liability insurance annually. Update schedule master with your personal information changes, when planning a flight, contact a WX briefer, even if you are just flying around the pattern. File a flight plan if flying more than 50 miles from Page Field. Flight following is OK, but I’ve been cancelled many times en route when weather is going south. I have found DUAT very reliable to file or amend plans from my cell phone. They always have my flight plan, whether it’s VFR or IFR and it’s a great source for keeping a record of all your flight information you have requested. Again, protect yourself from personal liability, if something does go wrong. It’s very simple, if you fail to follow the rules, our insurance will not cover you and you will pay in the end.
A quick review of rules that are often overlooked:
* proper tie down method …. Ask for help
* close air vent …. thunderstorms – water damage
* clean up after you flight … trash
Marc Miller
* keep oil at 7 quarts … use the oil provided in the aircraft to keep cost down
* use care in handling window coverings … damaged due to poor handling … Replace backward on wrong window.
* wipe leading edge of the wings down with provided materials … fill the bottle occasionally with water
* leave the aircraft looking better than you found it
SAFETY TIP OF THE MONTH
Since 2008, 350 accidents occurred in the ramp area …. 80% resulted in substantial damage to aircraft …. 18% resulted in serious injury or death … 62% occurred during taxi. Common cause was carelessness and/or lack of awareness.
Head injuries to passengers commonly occur from walking into wings, trailing edges and pitot tubes, etc.
Get the big picture if you are not familiar with the airport and include that information with your flight plan. Do not rely on your ears … ramp noise can be a big factor … visual cues are important.
Look out below … the tarmac has many hazards. Fuel hoses, chocks … these items can send you sprawling!
Don’t be a litter bug! Anything left on the ramp can damage the aircraft. Items can be sucked into an engine … rocks or stray tools can damage aircraft tires. Do not smoke on the ramp, as fuel is being dispensed or discharged from many aircraft.
Drive carefully! Be familiar with auto routes on the taxi ways and remember that aircraft always have the right of way. If there is a control tower in service, specific instructions will be given to aircraft to give way to auto traffic. Be sure to follow the center line of all taxi ways.
Preflight the propeller. Always complete your preflight without interruption. Explain this to your passengers so that they understand your priorities. Avoid walking through or under propeller rotation area. Do not rotate propeller by hand unless you are prepared for an engine start. A hot magneto can lie dormant until it’s too late.
Passenger Safety … Pilots should inform all passengers that every year there are reported cases of serious or fatal injuries occurring when individuals walk into a propeller.
Safety on the ramp is just as important as safety in the air!
PLEASE THANK YOUR BOARD MEMBERS for all that they do to keep you in the air! Here’s a few examples ……
Marc Miller …. who takes time to check out a squawks to make sure that you have an operating aircraft!
John Danus …. who endlessly listens to those that do not agree with the patrol schedules!
Earl Leamer … continuously finding solution to problems, fixes "stuff" when you ask and organizes the Hanger Dance among many other initiatives!
Pat Tarquino …. who has graciously taken the job as Secretary to be initiated with long meetings and writer’s cramp!
Mike Bank …. who has devoted his own time to assist with memberships and maintenance issues!
Marsha Gregory… who has saved us a couple thousand dollars in arranging with Mark C Miller, the loan through BB&T for our new aircraft …. She organizes and schedules meeting …. and spends months planning and organizing the Hanger Dance, along with Earl.
* Flying is the second greatest thrill known to man!!!! Landing is the first!!!!!!!!!
Bill Sutton