Members' area

Big thanks to all who helped on Sunday....no matter in what capacity. We managed to get a sizeable grid away by 1230 and kept winch launching going throughout, despite some equipment problems. Mentions in despatches for Doug on the winch and Adrian in the tug.

Aerotow booking at:

https://doodle.com/poll/55pxw5tenvgqq9a2

Please note the tug is not available on Friday 17 July until about 13.30 hrs.

Please book your aerotow plans for next week at:

https://doodle.com/poll/82ci5peuu3p5mmew

The CFI has informed members in the last day or so of progress to the finalisation of plans to re-start dual occupancy two seater flying for check flights / refreshers and instructional flights. We’ll communicate again as soon as those plans are activated, so as to give everyone a chance to book aerotows. Arrangements for dual occupancy two-seat winch launching will also be communicated a.s.a.p.

David Roberts
Chairman

Please book your aerotow plans for next week at:

https://doodle.com/poll/xsi7fh452xba6yfx

David Roberts
Chairman

After a few days of low hot blue conditions the Skysight forecast suggested a late start and early cut off but with a high cloudbase and cumulus. I think it got everything right except the early cutoff as it was still working into the evening. I think I counted 9 gliders that flew, tasks were set to match the forecast, Doug Gardner completed a 300 while the Nimbus(Jon Huband) and Arcus chased each other around a 258km task, my highlight was getting to over 6500' over Marlborough, Doug and Andy reported high climbs as well. Looks like the next few days are not as good.
Thanks to Adrian and Robin for the tows.

https://doodle.com/poll/5bcwerszyz9ar649

All members wishing to aerotow must book not less than 14 hours ahead of each day’s start of flying so that the CFI can monitor pilots when there is no duty instructor available. Local tug pilot contact details on Doodle page.

The Doodle poll for booking aerotows for next week (w.c 15 June) is at

https://doodle.com/poll/mnptnsukgn4vqqhy

Dear Members

Aerotows

Please go to the link below to indicate if you wish to or are likely to want an aerotow with the Dynamic tug (G-LXAA) between 6 and 12 June.

https://doodle.com/poll/nuu6qdayfnw7bd5q

WInching

The second link below is for winch launches

https://doodle.com/poll/v3wwud422fm5peng

This coming weekend the weather may preclude flying but if you think you will be allowed to winch launch solo then please sign up so we can judge likely demand. Being allowed to launch on the winch is a matter for the instructor’s judgement on your level of experience, knowledge, ”recency” and other factors such as whether you managed to complete satisfactorily a winter refresher flight or flights before the lockdown. Even if you haven’t done a winter refresher flight it may not preclude you from winching solo. It is a good preparation to re-read the BGA’s “Safe winching” booklet as well as other useful guidance from the BGA. Start at
http://www.cotswoldgliding.co.uk/members/winching

Without a course instructor and winch driver on weekdays and certainly at weekends from Saturday 6 June we need volunteers to operate launching, allowing for minimal changes of personnel during a day due to the needs of anti-virus contamination measures. Without the volunteers to operate winching there cannot be any flying other than aerotow and self-launching.

All Operations

But before you can fly you must have read the revised Operations Manual on the Club’s website (go to http://www.cotswoldgliding.co.uk/members/ and click on the ‘documents’ link under ‘information’ section on the left) and have signed (through the link at the top of the members' area page) your acknowledgement of having read it. In addition, the CFI and Safety Officer (and I) require everyone to read the document attached to the email sent out on 4th June to everyone, concerning precautions against Covid-19 for solo winch launching. This is vitally important.

I am working on a more extensive communication to come to you in the next few days.

Safe flying !

David Roberts
Chairman

Booking "Doodle" is now open at

https://doodle.com/poll/zv6it2n6hnudps5y

Ignore the 29,30 and 31 May columns - they were a slip which I cannot find how to delete. Just tick in the columns for 1 to 5 June.
If you want to make any amendments to this after initial booking, to edit your entry hold the cursor on the right side of your name to see the edit icon.
If on the evening before there are fewer than 5 pilots wanting to fly we may have to cancel to avoid our tug pilot driving a round trip of 140 miles. In that event we'll try to let you know that evening.

I have added Saturday and Sunday to the "Doodle" booking page at the link below for W/C 25 May.