In this issue:
Monday, February 19, 6:00 - Board Meeting at the Birdcage Pilot Lounge
Thursday, March 29, 6:30 - General Membership Meeting at Plymouth Library
Monday, April 16, 6:00 - Board Meeting at the Birdcage Pilot Lounge
Tuesday, April 24, 6:00 - MDOT Safety Seminar at Plymouth Library
Saturday, April 28, 9:00 - Plane Wash / Barbecue at the Hangars
Monday, May 21, 6:00 - Board Meeting at the Birdcage Pilot Lounge
Saturday, June 16, 9:00 - Plane Wash / BBQ & General Membership
Meeting at the Hangars
Monday, July 16, 6:00 - Board Meeting at the Birdcage Pilot Lounge
Saturday, July 28, 9:00 - Plane Wash / Barbecue at the Hangars
Monday, August 20, 6:00 - Board Meeting at the Birdcage Pilot Lounge
Sunday, September 9, 9:00 - Plane Wash / Barbecue at the Hangars
Monday, September 17, 6:30 - General Membership Meeting at Plymouth Library
Monday, October 15, 6:00 - Board Meeting at the Birdcage Pilot Lounge
Monday, November 19, 6:00 - Board Meeting at the Birdcage Pilot Lounge
Saturday, December 1, 6:30 - Holiday Party at a place to be announced
The Plymouth Library is at 223 S. Main St. in downtown Plymouth. Phone 734-453-0750
Plane Washes are scheduled to reserve the planes from 9 AM to 1 PM. This should allow members convenient use of the planes on plane-wash days. Note that all plane washes are on Saturdays except for Sunday, September 9.
Garmin 430 GPS for the Cessna?
Some members have expressed an interest in accelerating our upgrading of the Cessna avionics to include a Garmin 430 GPS, just like the Archer and the Warrior. The 430 in the Archer was paid for by a $120 increase in each members equity (spread over several months two years ago). The 430 in the Warrior was paid for as a maintenance expense. The idea is that if we put a 430 into the Cessna right now, it would be another equity assessment (like the Archer). Just as a reminder, the equity investment is what all new members are required to pay when they join the Club. Current members would be required to pay the increase, as we did with the Archer. This is also the amount that you get back if you leave the Club after at least 3 years. The member equity currently stands at $720, which is one of the lowest of any flying club in the area. We would like to know what you think of this idea, either pro or con. Please make your voices heard. Contact anyone on the Board, or better yet, show up to the next Board meeting on February 19th. Board meetings are always open to all members.
Keep Stuff Away from the Glareshield
The Archer defroster cover had to be replaced this year in the annual. This item is typically damaged by people putting thing on top of the instrument panel, like maps, headphones, approach plates, kneeboards, laptops, radioes, cellphones, sunglasses, notebooks, fuel samplers, gust locks, screwdrivers, etc. In addition to damaging the defroster cover, this practice threatens the glareshield itself. It is also a safety hazard to taxi or to fly with your vision obstructed by objects stored there. Please don't put anything on top of the instrument panel.
Our membership currently stands at 50. We have an application in hand for a new member - Paul Marshall.
Call Someone for Serious Squawks
If you find something seriously wrong with any of the planes, please call a maintenance officer in addition to writing an entry to the squawk sheet. Those sheets are not read by maintenace all that frequently, so a call helps shorten the time before repairs can be made. The name and number of the maintenance officer assigned to each plane is written on the chalk board for that plane. You can also call Paul Fortino, the Chief Maintenance Officer. If you can't get a hold of any maintenance officier, then call someone on the board. All board members are listed with contact numbers in the notebook for each plane.
If you find something really serious that in your opinion makes the plane not airworthy, then write a big note on the chalk board so another member won't try to use an unsafe plane. (And, of course, call someone in maintenance.)
GPS Approaches - FAA Newsletter
Here is an article from the FAA on GPS approaches that might be of some interest to our IFR members. Thanks to Dave Schrader for bringing this to our attention. http://gps.faa.gov/Library/Data/SatNav/satnavJune-2006-text.htm
MANG-Sponsored MDOT Safety Seminar
Our Club is sponsoring an MDOT Safety Seminar on April 24th at 6:30 at the Plymouth Library. This is a good time to promote our Club. If you have a MANG shirt, then put it on. The seminar itself is on:
Situational Awareness in the Cockpit
If you can come early and help set up chairs and put out the treats, then call John Keck at (734)250-2400 or e-mail him of your availability.
There are currently two pairs of sunglasses in the lost and found box in the MANG office.
Here are the statistics for December 2006:
|
(Total HOURS) |
54115 |
43755 |
33149 |
All Aircraft |
|
December: |
16.6 |
27.4 |
7.6 |
51.6 |