MIDLAND GLIDING CLUB

Hello everyone,
Well this weekend is not looking too great though Sunday might be OK.  Friday and Saturday have very limited prospects but the models differ considerably on what Sunday will bring.  Worth keeping an eye on the forecasts though as it might turn out OK.  The BGA conference takes place at the Nottingham Belfry on Saturday.  Might be a better bet!

CHIRP
There are some intersting articles in the February edition of CHIRP, not aimed directly at gliding but with relevance nontheless.  Worth having a look by clicking here.  For those who of you who haven’t the time this is an extract:

‘Several reports in this Edition of FEEDBACK concern actual or very near infringements of Controlled Airspace (CAS) and 1 report is about aircraft flying through a NOTAMed display area. The reports contain a variety of factors and lessons identified including planning and distraction. However, increasingly common is the role of electronic devices in infringements. Correctly used, these devices are a boon that aid planning and reduce the possibility of infringements; incorrectly used or when not working as expected they can sap capacity and draw attention away from lookout and accurate navigation. The lessons from these and many other reports are that:
• Notwithstanding the vital importance of reading NOTAMs before every flight, planning using correctly configured electronic apps will highlight relevant warnings and restrictions along the route and eliminate the possibility of overlooking or mis-plotting NOTAMs.
• As per the ‘Take 2 Initiative’, it is good practice to plan to avoid CAS by a minimum of 2nm and 200ft where possible to provide a margin for error/distraction.
• Sunlight can make electronic tablets difficult to read so invest in a sunlight filter and ensure the device is set to provide audio alarms; turn the volume to maximum before taking off. Paper charts are easy to read in bright sunlight.
• When an electronic device has some sort of hiccup or failure, don’t spend more than a few seconds trying to correct it. Go reversionary! Use either the paper chart or a back-up electronic device.

Infringements bring the GA community (and gliding) into disrepute. We can and we must do everything we can to minimise the number of times it happens.’

Public engagement on the criteria for assessing and accepting the Airspace Change Masterplan
As part of the CAA’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy, CAA and the Department for Transport (DfT), have commissioned NERL to establish an impartial team known as the Airspace Change Organising Group (ACOG) to lead the programme to create a coordinated implementation plan for airspace changes in Southern UK. This is being referred to as the Masterplan for short.  The CAA is seeking your views on the criteria that it will use to determine whether to accept the Airspace Change Masterplan into the Airspace Modernisation Strategy.  See the CAA’s public engagement exercise consultations.caa.co.uk/policy-development/airspace-change-masterplan-criteria for more information and respond online before 27 March 2020.

Winter Lecture Series 7th March 2020
The next lecture in our Winter Series is by Mike Fox – “A return to Kitty Hawk”.  Don’t miss it.  The one after is on 21st March by Simon Adlard giving us all an insight into being on the other end of the winch cable.

2020 Annual General Meeting
This year’s AGM is scheduled for the 4th April, in the club house, starting at 1800.  Note there will be a Charity Walk using the Permissive Way all day.  All committee and officer roles are up for election.  If you are not yet aware, all of our events are listed on the club web site.  It is worth visiting the events page every so often to keep up to date.  Click here for the link.

Briefing Room
You will have noticed that there are works going on to significantly improve the quality and technical ability for presentations in the briefing room.  This is part of a larger programme to improve club faclities and make us look and act more professionally.  If we are to attract new members, expeditions and course members we must present a more professional face.  As a result of the improvements your committee is asking that you remove all personal belongings from the briefing room and ensure that you do not leave any belongings or equipment there.  If you want to use the briefing room for any purpose when it is not in use for briefings, meetings or ground school, you are expected check beforehand that it is not needed and to remove any belongings and equipment immediately after, leaving the space as found so that it can readily be used with a large group.  If you fail to do so, anything left in the briefng room will be removed.  If you need to use the briefing room for its intended purpose and there is stuff in the way feel free to move it out.

Your duty teams this weekend are:
Saturday:  Chris Alldis (No 1),  Mark Jerman (TLs), Stephen Alexander (winch),
Sunday:  Mike Witton (No 1), Mark Jerman (No 2), Mark Wakem (TLs), Stephen Alexander (winch),  Glyn Macarthur (LD)

Happy landings
Jon Hall
Chairman

The weather models are all liking Wednesday (26 Feb). Once again it’s 20-25 kt on the ridge and with thermal predicted to 4000 ASL, RASP is currently giving it a heady three and a half stars, which might even tempt some private owners to rig – mine’s still on ground risk until Sunday, unfortunately! There is hope for some of the days following, but absolutely no agreement between the models as to which those days might be, so I’m saying nothing, because there’s currently nothing to say.

Anyway, back to Wednesday …

 Can we tempt enough of you to  make a day of it?

I can run the field and instruct; Orch has once again very kindly offered to launch us.

If you are up for it, please make yourself known by teatime tomorrow and we’ll firm up on a plan.

Cheers, Mark S

Sunday now looking much better than previously forecast. After early low cloud and light rain clears, that pesky strong wind abates and we see a predicted and pleasant 15-20kt on the ridge and enough headroom to be able to use it.

So, on that basis, we’ll give you a nice lie in, convene at 11:00, and get cracking as soon as we can after that.

See you there tomorrow!

Mark S

The wind continues to be a major issue over the next four days with the best, (probably only) flying being Thursday afternoon then Saturday afternoon.

Thursday:  After the front passes, hopefully midday, a 25knt westerly gusting 30+ so possibly K21 only

Friday :      WSW 40knt+ so probably too windy.

Saturday:   Strong westerly but Rasp says it could be ok midday  onwards.

Sunday :Windy, damp, low cloud.

Dave

Hi everyone
My apologies for not posting last week but struck down with the winter lurgy.  Mostly recovered now, thanks for asking.
Weekend before last we hosted the Junior Winter Series, organised by the BGA Junior Gliding team, notably Lucy Wooton.  We had about a hundred people, including instructors and coaches from many clubs and 13 gliders.  Friday was unflyable but in spite of very strong winds we flew most of Saturday and all day Sunday, achieving more than 100 short west launches over the two days, which may be a record.  Many, many thanks to all the club members who spent long hours at the launch point making sure that our visitors had a great time and to Helen, Dave and their helpers who managed to feed them all in great style.  Supporting the Juniors is important for all clubs if we are to ensure that our sport continues to thrive in the future.
This week we have had some good flying days and thanks to Mark Sanders we have had enough people on the ground to drive winches and run the launch point.  Today looked a bit like a cross country day so time to get back into action.

Winter Lecture Series 7th March 2020
Many thanks to Richard Head for treating us to an excellent talk on his life in the RAF last Saturday.  The next one is on Saturday 7th March at 1800 in the clubhouse.  We are enormously privileged to have Mike Fox talking to us.  All the talks so far have been absolutely brilliant and this one will be no exception.  Mike is no stranger to our club, he is the BGA National Coach, his knowledge about gliding is unparalled and for this talk he is going to describe an amazing gliding trip he did in 2003.  “A return to Kitty Hawk”, a US glider race from West Coast to East Coast USA.  Mike flew with George Moffat.  This is a type of flying very few of us will be able to achieve and it will be fantastic to hear the stories from the expedition.  If time allows  then Mike is also going to be able to help us out with any gliding related queries as well.  Come up for the talk, book a meal and enjoy the social side of the MGC.  As usual there will be a small charge with the proceeds helping to pay costs.

Caravan Applications for 2020-21
ANY member who wishes to keep a caravan at the club must complete the application form and return it to the office, together with the appropriate fee, no later than 6^th March 2020. Applications will be considered at the Committee meeting in March.  If you don’t make an application there may not be a space available if demand exceeds supply.  We have a limited number of spaces legally available and cannot magic up more if we wish.

More from the BGA
I received the following from the BGA this week:
‘As you know, the BGA has utilised pilot medical declarations for decades. Indeed, the NPPL and more recently CAA Pilot Medical Declaration standard are based on that successful and proportionate approach to recreational pilot fitness, which was championed for some 50 years by the retired BGA medical advisor, Dr Peter Saundby. Pilot medical declarations are a proven effective control.
As you’ll also be aware, EASA pilot licensing rules result in pilots of EASA sailplanes including powered sailplanes and TMGs needing to hold a licence and medical certificate by 8 Apr 21.
The current exemption allowing pilots of EASA aeroplanes to use LAPL privileges with a pilot medical declaration ends in Apr 20 resulting in all pilots of EASA aeroplanes being required to hold an EASA medical certificate from 8 Apr 20.
With all of the above in mind, at the back end of 2019 the BGA wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport seeking the continued use of UK pilot medical declarations for pilots of all recreational EASA aircraft after Apr 20. At our invitation, the BBAC (balloons) and LAA (light aeroplanes) were co-signatories to the letter. We know that the subject is currently generating activity both in DfT and CAA. Whilst there is no guarantee that our request will result in the right outcome, we are being listened to.
For your interest, I have attached a response from the Aviation Minister. (see below)
We’ll keep you up to date as we hear more.
Pete Stratten’
Click here to see the DfT PMD response

MGC Annual General Meeting
The next Annual General Meeting of the Midland Gliding CLub will be held on 4th April at the club.  The business of the AGM is to (taken from the club rule book) :
19.3.1 confirm the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting;
19.3.2 receive and adopt the revenue account and balance sheet for the previous year;
19.3.3 elect an auditor for the following year;
19.3.4 elect the executive officers of the Club and the general members of the Committee;
19.3.5 appoint any honorary officers: and
19.3.6 transact any other business which is proper to an Annual General Meeting.
At this meeting all the positions on the committee are up for election so if you want to get involved and help the club management make the right decisions for the future benefit of the club and its members, and you are a full member, you need to put in a nomination form, available from the office, proposed and seconded by two other full members, not less than 3 hours before the AGM starts.

Your duty teams this weekend are:
Saturday:  Guy Hartland (No 1),  Mark Jerman (No 2),  Dave D’Arcy (TLs), Peter Orchard (winch), Glyn Macarthur (LD)
Sunday:  Nigel Lassetter (No 1), Mark Jerman (No 2), Mark Wakeham (TLs), Peter Orchard (winch),  Charles Page (LD)

Happy landings
Jon Hall
Chairman

After a wild Tuesday, Wednesday appears to be the apogee of the week’s weather with 20-25kt on the ridge and useful headroom, following which it is currently forecast to be a slow decline to another wet and windy weekend – deep joy! The weekend’s a long way off in weather forecasting terms, of course, so let’s endeavour to remain optimistic on that one.

Anyhoo, Wednesday is my day of choice, so…

 Is there any interest out there in making a day of it?

I can run the field and instruct. Then we need a winch driver and some “customers”.

If you are up for it, please make yourself known by lunchtime tomorrow and we’ll firm up on a plan.

Cheers, Mark S

Thursday 6 Feb – 5kt southerlies, clear and bright. High pressure, low inversion, no lift, the perfect day for getting stuff done, for instance …
A great motor gliding day:
For XC Endorsement: Get that field landing and/or Navigation exercise signed off
Annual field landing checks for low experience XC pilots
Or just head for the hills and enjoy the view!
Annual Check – Remember you can do this up to 90 days before the due date and still maintain the same anniversary date. So if your annual is due before May 6, why not do it now and beat the rush later in the season?
Currency Flights – Not too long to wait until spring. Stay current so you are ready for the spring thermals when they arrive.
(For any of these options, please book at mgcbooking@gmail.com so we can gauge demand sort out additional instructor(s) if required)

Friday 7 Feb – 15-20kt S/SSE with plenty of headroom. Should get a decent launch height as long as there’s not too much E component in it. Cold front moves in and spoils things later, but at the moment that’s not until after dark. Keep an eye on it, but currently looks an OK day.

Saturday 8 Feb – 20-25 SW with headroom. In the gap between two cold fronts. Timing currently looks perfect to get a day out of it before the second front arrives. If the wind forecast veers by another 20 degrees or so it would be a great ridge day too. Worthy of your continued attention.

Sunday 9 Feb – Oooeerrr missus! Currently Armageddon! – rain and 50+kt SW’erlies. I guess it may change, but I wouldn’t hold your breath!

Mark S

Monday (and possibly Tuesday) looking the best flying in the coming week, with 20kt on the ridge and a decent cloudbase.

Is there any interest out there in making a day of it?

I can run the field and instruct. Then we need a winch driver and some “customers”.

If you are up for it, please make yourself known today and we’ll firm up on a plan.

Cheers, Mark S