GMC Safety Updates
GMC is all about safe flying. Here you can keep up to date with all the club's latest information and safety updates
2015 GMC Safety Day
Well done to everyone who attended what was the second best attended fly-in in GMC's 7 year history. 24 flying machines and about 50 people when I stopped counting. The theme for the day was "Sticking to the Script"
A summary of our action points for club trips going forward were as follows ("The Script"):
As a club group, we do a lot of other things that other aero clubs put in the "simply too hard basket" on the basis of perceived risk being high! Few GA clubs will allow any sort of formation flying, flyins to a wide range of non-AIP-published air strips (even in STOL microlight aircraft which many now have), or arrange group trips to busy controlled or unattended airfields to name just a few.
We have proven over the past seven years (and longer prior to GMC) that our group can safely do these including with both newly qualified pilots and stalwarts of our sport alike. A fundamental part of this has been the attitude and culture of the club and our pilots: to ensure we can keep doing events that we do (and be invited back by our hosts) it is important we maintain our standards. While we have all had an experience or two in our flying to date, few of us can claim these haven't happened without some sort of 'rule' being broken in the chain of events leading up to it.
The Pre-Flight Inspection contest held over lunch yielded some interesting answers! Of concern, were the few people that found the two intended errors - being the radiator cap (missing) and wheel nut (also missing). Other things that drew attention were the pitot cover still on and there was also only about 45 minutes of fuel on board. The "pass rate" for the day was less than 10%.
While not everyone is a Bantam pilot, nearly all of us have at some stage had a type rating in one. These faults were also not technical or "bantam specific" - they are things we should check on every aircraft (fixed or rotary) before every flight and even without a Bantam rating.
Well done to everyone who attended what was the second best attended fly-in in GMC's 7 year history. 24 flying machines and about 50 people when I stopped counting. The theme for the day was "Sticking to the Script"
- Scott (SAC HQ/Fly Te Kowhai) spoke about some recent incidents (and repeat examples) we have had on club trips where people had departed from the briefed procedures leading to excessive and unnecessary radio clutter and circuit chaos: unfortunately one incident attracted a complaint from a commercial operator
- Tony Unwin (Gyrate) shared some contrasting scenarios of leading formation groups of Gyros around NZ, one case where everyone followed the briefed procedure against one where people departed from the plan
- Bill Henwood (Classic Cubs & Air NZ 787 Dreamliner Pilot) shared his recent experience with an unscheduled out landing and reiterated the importance of sticking to the script (forced landing procedure etc) when confronted with an emergency
A summary of our action points for club trips going forward were as follows ("The Script"):
- turn up on time to the briefing with any homework done (maps, AIP pages etc)
- make sure the briefing covers all aspects of the flight from start up and taxi, departure, enroute frequency and height changes to arrival, approach, landing and parking
- assign each formation member a number/position: don't lose the aircraft in front of you!
- the chat channel is exactly for that! When on 119.1 or local MBZ channels, keep radio calls to the briefed operational ones only, the formation leader will normally make group calls
- most importantly: stick to the briefed plan. If you don't want to go with the flow, make your own way to the destination giving at least 10 minutes clear of the departure and arrival of the main group
As a club group, we do a lot of other things that other aero clubs put in the "simply too hard basket" on the basis of perceived risk being high! Few GA clubs will allow any sort of formation flying, flyins to a wide range of non-AIP-published air strips (even in STOL microlight aircraft which many now have), or arrange group trips to busy controlled or unattended airfields to name just a few.
We have proven over the past seven years (and longer prior to GMC) that our group can safely do these including with both newly qualified pilots and stalwarts of our sport alike. A fundamental part of this has been the attitude and culture of the club and our pilots: to ensure we can keep doing events that we do (and be invited back by our hosts) it is important we maintain our standards. While we have all had an experience or two in our flying to date, few of us can claim these haven't happened without some sort of 'rule' being broken in the chain of events leading up to it.
The Pre-Flight Inspection contest held over lunch yielded some interesting answers! Of concern, were the few people that found the two intended errors - being the radiator cap (missing) and wheel nut (also missing). Other things that drew attention were the pitot cover still on and there was also only about 45 minutes of fuel on board. The "pass rate" for the day was less than 10%.
While not everyone is a Bantam pilot, nearly all of us have at some stage had a type rating in one. These faults were also not technical or "bantam specific" - they are things we should check on every aircraft (fixed or rotary) before every flight and even without a Bantam rating.
Electronic Flight Bags: iPad & Android Apps
- Personal Locator Beacons - we've had these for about 6-7 years now since the CAA rule came in. Battery life varies with make/model. Do you know when yours expires? If you don't and haven't had yours replaced... just remember... how many other things do you have with a 7 year battery life at home?
- iPad Navigation and other "Electronic Flight Bag" Apps - especially for AIP and GPS/Chart Apps: do you know how to update these and how often they should be updated? The AIP is updated every 8 weeks: next update is 15 October then 12 November. Airspace charts are updated annually in mid-November. I would encourage you to set a routine for updating your apps regularly - perhaps as part of your extended pre-flight (the sort you do well in advance of a weekend trip... e.g. when you check the TV news forecast a few days out). Alternatively, your iPad has a built in calendar/reminder function you can set! Airfield plates are still free at [www.aip.net.nz]
MetFlight Weather - Is now FREE!!!
As of 1 July this became funded out of the CAA budget again, a welcome advancement in safety as now all registered pilots have access to free weather again: Under the user pays system, the uptake amongst pilots was only 5%. [www.metflight.metra.co.nz]
If decoding TAFs and METARs are something you haven't done since your met exam, there is a "plain English" website which decodes MetFlight for you. You do however miss out on some of the charts - satellite imagery, rain radar etc [www.pemet.co.nz]
There is also an iPad/iPhone app which will download weather for you too - Aero Met from the App Store
You do however need a metflight log in for these: this is assigned to your SAC or RAANZ microlight certificate, and/or your PPL.. For SAC pilots, your log in is printed on the annual letter sent when your card is renewed; if you aren't sure then get in touch with myself or Sally at the office and we can advise your log in details.
As of 1 July this became funded out of the CAA budget again, a welcome advancement in safety as now all registered pilots have access to free weather again: Under the user pays system, the uptake amongst pilots was only 5%. [www.metflight.metra.co.nz]
If decoding TAFs and METARs are something you haven't done since your met exam, there is a "plain English" website which decodes MetFlight for you. You do however miss out on some of the charts - satellite imagery, rain radar etc [www.pemet.co.nz]
There is also an iPad/iPhone app which will download weather for you too - Aero Met from the App Store
You do however need a metflight log in for these: this is assigned to your SAC or RAANZ microlight certificate, and/or your PPL.. For SAC pilots, your log in is printed on the annual letter sent when your card is renewed; if you aren't sure then get in touch with myself or Sally at the office and we can advise your log in details.
AIP Updates and New Maps
Following on from the above post regarding updating your electronic Apps, new maps are now available from [www.aipshop.co.nz] and are effective from Thursday 12 November. There are no significant changes around the Waikato/BoP region however there are some Auckland airspace changes.
Following on from the above post regarding updating your electronic Apps, new maps are now available from [www.aipshop.co.nz] and are effective from Thursday 12 November. There are no significant changes around the Waikato/BoP region however there are some Auckland airspace changes.
Te Kowhai East Airfield
The airfield is currently closed to general operators for the immediate future. Please contact the Readman Family prior to each specific intended use as an interim measure. It is hoped it will be incorporated into the AIP in the near future. Prior to using the Airfield, please read the [operations manual here], prior to contacting Barry, Sally or Dan - tel: 07 829 7520
The airfield is currently closed to general operators for the immediate future. Please contact the Readman Family prior to each specific intended use as an interim measure. It is hoped it will be incorporated into the AIP in the near future. Prior to using the Airfield, please read the [operations manual here], prior to contacting Barry, Sally or Dan - tel: 07 829 7520
