In this issue:
Monday, September 15th 6:00 PM General membership Meeting @ Plymouth Library
Saturday, October 4th 8:00 AM Plane Wash & 11:00 AM BBQ @ MANG Hangers
Monday, October 20th 6:00 PM Board Meeting @ Birdcage Lounge
Monday, November 17th 6:00 PM Board Meeting @ Birdcage Lounge
Friday, December 5th 6:00 PM Holiday Party @ TBD
The Plymouth Library is at 223 S. Main St. in downtown Plymouth. Phone 734-453-0750, ext. 217.
It has finally happened. The long-awaited changeover of the automated gate control is now a fact. If you have one of those old remote gate controls, that control no longer works. The only way to get in through the automated gate is to swipe your Willow Run ID badge through the reader and enter your PIN number.
I tried it myself recently just to see how it works. First, in order to line up your car so you can reach the badge reader, you need to go way over to the left side of the road before turning right into the gate and getting real cozy with the badge reader. Then you swipe your badge through the slot on the reader so that the magnetic stripe is in the slot and your picture on the badge is facing you. When the reader reads your badge, the yellow light above the keypad will come on. Now you enter your 5-digit PIN number on the keypad. When the PIN number is successfully entered, a loud annunciator beeping begins to warn anyone standing around the gate that the gate is about to move. A few seconds later, the gate begins to open. Unlike the old automated control that opened only the left side of the gate, this control moves both sides of the gate. But this does you no good because you are all the way over on the left anyway so you could reach the badge reader. After you drive through the gate, you must wait for the gate to close, because that opening is your responsibility. Don't do anything foolish, because a security camera from across the street is pointed right at you the whole time. Also make sure that the area immediately inside the gate is clear of your vehicle. There is a metal-detecting sensor in the pavement that senses your car and it will not let the gate close as long as it thinks a car may be sitting in the gate. When it comes time to leave the hangars, you need to trigger that sensor to open the gate. I found it saves some time if you first drive over the sensor going parallel to the gate to trigger the sensor. That way the gate will be opening up while you execute your "procedure turn", and by the time you are on final approach to the gate, the gate will be open. As with going in, you must wait around until the gate closes.
I also checked out the padlock on the other gate (East of the automated gate). The MANG-issued padlock key still works there, so for now you still have an alternate means of getting in, but I don't know if this option will remain indefinitely. Regardless of how you get into the hangars, you are still required to wear your ID badge as described in the video you saw when you first got your badge.
Bob Scott to present Fuel Planning at General Membership Meeting
The next MANG General Membership Meeting will be held at the Plymouth Library on Monday, Sept. 15th at 6:00 PM. After a brief business meeting, there will be a presentation and discussion on fuel planning conducted by yours truly - Bob Scott. I will utilize a custom flight planning form to illustrate how to increase your safety margin, not by adding "fudge factors", but by maintaining as much accuracy as practical in the calculations. We will also review the applicable FAA regulations regarding fuel reserves.
Helpers needed to organize Holiday Banquet
If you can help with the organizing of this year's Holiday Banquet, please contact Dave LaPointe and volunteer.
Fuel Surcharge Increases to $14/hr
As determined by current fuel prices, according to the formula we reported in the May newsletter, the Fuel Surcharge for the month of September will be $14/hr. Therefore the total charge for flying hours in September will be:
|
Cessna and Warrior: |
$75 + $14 surcharge = $89 / hour |
|
Archer: |
$80 + $14 surcharge = $94 / hour |
Here are the statistics for July 2008:
|
(Total HOURS) |
54115 |
43755 |
33149 |
All Aircraft |
|
July: |
25.3 |
21.4 |
34.6 |
81.3 |
We had 22 pilots flying. Here are the top flyers in terms of flight hours for the month:
|
Marcel Mikulec |
18.0 |
|
Scott Rigstad |
9.5 |
|
Michael Smith |
6.5 |
|
Paul Fortino |
5.9 |
|
Steve Thornburg |
5.6 |
|
Dale Thorsby |
4.5 |