In this issue:
Thurs. April 21 7:00 - MDOT Safety Seminar "Aeronautical Charts"
at Plymouth Library (*)
Sat. April 30, 9:00 - Plane Wash & Barbecue (rescheduled from
April 23, which was snowed out)
Tues. May 10, 7:00 - Board Meeting at the Hangar or Birdcage Lounge
Sat. June 11, 9:00 - Plane Wash & Barbecue & General
Membership Meeting
Tues. July 12, 7:00 - Board Meeting at the Hangar or Birdcage Lounge
Sat. July 23, 9:00 - Plane Wash & Barbecue
Tues. Aug. 9, 7:00 - Board Meeting at the Hangar or Birdcage Lounge
Sat. Sep. 10, 9:00 - Plane Wash & Barbecue
Thurs. Sep. 22, 6:30 - General Membership Meeting at Plymouth Library (*)
Tues. Oct 11, 7:00 - Board Meeting at the Hangar or Birdcage Lounge
Tues. Nov. 8, 7:00 - Board Meeting at the Hangar or Birdcage Lounge
(?) Sun. Dec. 4, 5:30 - Holiday Party at Atlantis(?) in Livonia
* The Plymouth District Library is located in downtown Plymouth, one block North of Ann Arbor Trail, at
223 South Main Street
Plymouth, Michigan 48170
(734) 453-0750
We will probably have the meeting room that is on your left on the main floor just as you come in from the East entrance.
Rate Increase for Flying Hours
MANG Treasurer, Joe McEvoy, recommended at the last Board Meeting that we increase the flying hours rate for all three planes. The Board members present unanimously agreed, and so the new rates will go into effect starting on May 1. This is to offset the increase in fuel prices that have accumulated since we last revised our flying hours rates. The new rates will be:
Archer: $67 / hour
Warrior: $61 / hour
Cessna: $61 / hour
This represents an increase of $5 / hour for each plane. On the more positive side, the $20 per month assessment that we have been seeing on our bills over the past few months is now over. All members now have $720 of equity in MANG Aero Club, and the monthly dues will now return to the usual $55 / month.
If you have gotten fuel at Jet Center recently, you know that the key box has been removed. Jet Center is in the process of changing the way clients like us charge fuel. They are installing a card reader and will be giving us cards to keep in the planes. These cards will be used instead of the old keys. When the exact procedure is known, instructions will be placed in each plane. Look for instructions in the binder. Meanwhile, if the card system is not yet in place, Jet Center has been pumping fuel from their truck and charging us the usual self-service rate, provide you show them the old key.
We are still getting mixed reports about Active Aero, which is supposed to deliver to the hangar when called on the radio or on the phone. Their prices are generally lower than Jet Center, so we would like to use them; but many members report that Active Aero often does not show up when called. If you use Active Aero, let someone on the Board know what your experience was.
This coming Thursday, MANG will be hosting the MDOT Safety Seminar on "Aeronautical Charts". So don't miss this opportunity to see a great presentation. Attendance counts towards credits in the Wings program.
Come and enjoy the fellowship of the first plane wash of the year next Saturday, April 30 (rescheduled from April 23 because that date was snowed out). We start at 9 AM. This time we plan on doing some spring cleaning on the hangars, so extra hands are needed and welcome. Afterwards, enjoy the culinary excellence of Joe McEvoy who will be cooking burgers and hotdogs on the new MANG gas grill.
As you know from the e-mail that Paul Fortino sent out recently, the Garmin 430 that was just installed in the Warrior suddenly went bad and is being replaced.
We wish to recognize the countless hours and the hard work put forth during the annual inspections on the planes by Paul Fortino, Mario Pecchia, Larry Millen, and Dion Zammitt (for his work related to the Garmin 430s). Their willingness to go the extra mile is what keeps our planes operational and available for all members. For example, on very short notice, Mario went out to Howell to change a tire right on the tarmac in the middle of winter so one of our planes could be returned to Willow Run.
Patrick Lusch has recently graduated from Western Michigan University. Patrick is also working on his multiengine rating and has been hired by Spirit Airlines. Congratulations Patrick, way to go!
Here are the statistics for March 2005:
|
(Total HOURS) |
54115 |
43755 |
33149 |
All Aircraft |
|
March 2005: |
15.4 |
18.9 |
3.7 |
38.0 |