Or in this case the last couple of weeks of a month.
Let's all hope that this next month is one in which the picture of the future becomes a lot clearer because at the moment, short term at least there is still a lot of uncertainty.
Longer term we do know this will pass and things will return to normal, or the new normal whatever that may be. So, in the meantime let's all use this time to plan, study and dream of what we can achieve when we are once again allowed to grace those fair weather skies with the presence of our silent wings and the music of our beeping varios.
Let's not forget though that the flying we did get in during March was O for Owesome. See below for the round up.
Stay safe, dream big!
Steve Wallace
GNZ President
Congratulations
COLIN KELLY - tow pilot and now solo glider pilot
BRENDAN MOORE (right of pic) - B Certificate
CALEB ROSVALL - PW5 conversion flight
IAN O'KEEFE - 350km out & return
Whenuapai to Kaikohe and back
TIM BROMHEAD - Matamata to Chateau Tongariro and return
In need of something to do?
Now is your chance to learn everything you didn't know but need to know about using SkySight for, planning a task, route forecasting, SkewT charts and much more. SkySight have uploaded 9 new tutorial videos to their YouTube channel.
Check out this R rated video below by Dr. Dave of Team NZ at the Benalla Worlds from a few years back. Seems appropriate. I hope this helps.
Glide Omarama Update
Some good news from Glide Omarama
Gavin has asked me to pass on the below letter.
Glide Omarama is now shuttered down and isolated and the unfortunate glitch with CAA
is behind us. The plan is that towing and training services at Omarama will reopen in September, subject of course to lockdowns and a degree of economic recovery.
Luckily Glide Omarama has no debt so the business can survive a long period of inactivity provided we still have some instructors and tow pilots available.
In the meantime, all the best to our gliding community in these difficult times. We hope to see
many of you again at Omarama next season! Please follow us on Facebook for updates.
Many aircraft maintenance manuals will have a chapter detailing actions for storage of the aircraft. These should be followed.
Aircraft with engines should follow the guidance in the aircraft maintenance manual for engine preservation.
The greatest risks to the airframe will be corrosion / water damage, insect nesting and rodent ingress. The airworthiness team have assembled some generic guidelines:
Remove all soft furnishings from the sailplane and store in a suitable dry place away from the sailplane. Consider removing harnesses if rodents are known to be a problem.
Tape up all fuselage, hatch and wing openings. Tape up around nose and belly releases. Note do not cover up any fuselage or wing drainage holes. Use a contrasting coloured tape.
Tape over the static, pitot and total energy openings, also using a contrasting tape.
For aircraft in humid conditions, disconnect all static line plumbing from the installed instruments and plug or cap the static lines. Note dependent on the storage environment it is acceptable to remove the instruments or panel and store in another location.
Batteries to be removed and stored separately to the sailplane.
If derigged, all exposed bare steel fittings eg lift pins and drag pins, to undertake corrosion prevention by covering the surface with grease.
Apply rodent bait storage area. Consider applying rodent bait in the sailplane as well.
Ensure the storage location is weather tight. Repair the trailer as required if the aircraft is stored in the trailer. If stored in the trailer, ensure that the trailer is tilted so that any water that does enter drains away.
The return to service should include a visual inspection for corrosion of bare steel fittings, insect nesting and rodent damage.
Glider Flight Simulators
Flight Simulator Review
Just click on the pictures below for a comprehensive review of Condor 2 one of the best gliding simulators on the market. Don't forget Silent Wings is another great option.
Condor 2 - click on the pic below for a review
20% discount on Condor
Abbey Delore of the Canterbury Gliding Club has been in touch with Condor and has organised a 20% discount if she can get 10 or more people to sign up. This is your chance to save some $$$$$.
"Canterbury will also be looking to get a comp up and running online as I believe it can support up to 64 multiplayers. CFI Alex will set tasks etc "
To get the discount code please get in contact with Abbey Delore via email
Kevin Clark from the Wellington gliding club has put together a wonderful collection of gliding cartoons from his own hand, along with some light hearted and sometimes historic commentary. He is selling this well presented and professionally published 40 page booklet for just $20 with all proceeds going to Youth Glide. A great gift and a must for your club or home coffee table.
Fotorama.co.nz
Stuck at home, need something to do?
How about decorating with a picture or two from Milan. He's been at it again and has some great new photos. Check him out on his Facebook Page or website. Links below.
From the desk of the NOO (National Operations Officer)
So why is publishing incident reports useful?
Firstly it shows pilots that stuff happens, and may prompt alertness in similar situations, secondly it shows submitters that we do see benefit in doing something other than filing reports away for (later) analysis.
Incident Reports reveal where we are bumping into the edge of the safe operating envelope. This can be due to a weakness in the training program, lack of currency, not paying enough attention, inadequate preparation . . . . or just simply drifting away from good practice.
Review of Incident Reports for Jan - Feb 2020
- near miss on short final (10m) - 4 gliders in circuit - overtaking underneath another glider
- near miss (60m) - 2 gliders joining circuit - radio/flarm no effect - unusual joining manoeuvre
- loose object (plastic pill bottle) prevented left aileron - force applied in flight to break bottle
- glider released at 400 ft after being severely displaced - attributed to sudden wind shear event
- glider flown multiple times with vibration in elevator - large gaps found with no sealing tape
- ASI intermittent on winch launches - normal operation on ground - insect parts inside fin pitot
- tractor operation on airfield conflicting with tow plane and glider ops - multiple events reported
- wheel up landing - undercarriage lever actuated on downwind but incorrect position selected
Don't forget a link to the GNZ incident reporting form (OPS 10) can now be found in the very top menu bar on the GNZ homepage, just to the right of the 'Classified Adverts'. You can now fill this form out on your phone at the airfield so no excuses.
