01 February 2012
On Wednesday 28 March, starting at 7.30 pm, we have an evening lecture on local airspace and operations.
We have representatives from both Wyton and Lakenheath / Mildenhall coming along to discuss what they do and how it affects us. Having attended a meeting at Wyton recently discussing their activities, I can say that the scale of their operations came as a bit of a revelation. Understanding what they do is very useful when it comes to what to look for and who to talk to when flying past. Similarly, there's a lot of value in understanding the US operations. We plan this to be a two way exchange - and hopefully will educate them about what we do.
Accordingly, this talk will be very useful for anyone who flies cross country, would like to do so, or is just plain interested.
Please let Jo (office@glide.co.uk) know if you plan to come so we have some idea of numbers.
Additionally, there is a possibility of arranging a return visit to Lakenheath, with a look around their ATC facilities, and a close up look at the inside of an F15. If there are a few people interested in that, I'll arrange it. Let me know.
Paul Ruskin
31 January 2012
Dave Masson will be speaking to us on Friday 17th February, at GRL, starting at 8pm.
Dave’s forecasts at Lasham are well regarded for their accuracy and cross country focus. He will describe some of the methods he has taught himself in order to predict good days ahead of time.
So we have some idea of numbers, please let Jo know whether you plan to attend (office@glide.co.uk).
Paul Ruskin
26 January 2012
Sarah Kelman will be running an advanced cross country course this year, intended for people who have some cross country experience and want to improve.
The format will be an evening lecture on Wednesday 14th March at 7.30pm, and flying, weather permitting, on the weekend of 14th and 15th April. The flying will consist of a briefing for set tasks, flying (either your own glider or a booked club one), then debriefing. Sarah will be providing coaching in a K21, and there may well be an opportunity to fly with other coaches in a two seat glider.
As most will know, Sarah is both a club instructor and a past National and Women's World Champion, so is an ideal person to teach this course.
Please let Jo (office@glide.co.uk) know if you want to come on this course so that we have an idea of numbers.
Paul Ruskin
20 January 2012
Cambridge Airport have kindly agreed to put on a tour of air traffic control, and give an overview of what happens at Marshalls. They'll tell us about the traffic they get and show us the radar facilities.
Part of the purpose of doing this is to give us a better understanding of what's going on there as we fly past them, what they can see on their radar, and what traffic from Marshalls might be doing. It's all part of a process aimed at preventing problems between us, and I can recommend it as both interesting and useful.
The meeting point is the main gate at Cambridge Airport, a little before 7 pm, on Wednesday 29th February. Please will you let Jo (office@glide.co.uk) know if you're interested in coming, so that we've got some idea of the numbers.
See you there.
Paul Ruskin
15 January 2012
Chris Lewis, Peter and Paul O'Donald, and one or two others are
thinking of another spring expedition to Jaca. Peter would be happy to
act as co-ordinator and provide information to anyone who may be
interested.
The dates currently being considered are from 15th April
(when there is a sailing to Bilbao) to the 29th April.
Geoff Brown
20 December 2011
Gransden’s answer to the Annual Check
These short one day courses have been designed to replace and improve on the Annual Check with less emphasis on “passing” or “failing“, and much more on coaching, and preparing for the new season.
The courses will have, as always, one instructor to two students per glider and up to four course members and two instructors each day. The flying will consist of a minimum of one aerotow and two winch launches, interspersed with talks and discussions on the flying content.
This is a great opportunity to learn more and improve your flying.
Please book through the office.
Dates :
Sun Jan 29th
Sat Feb 4th, Sun Feb 12th, Sat Feb 18th,
Sun Feb 19th, Sat Feb 25th, Sun Feb 26th
Sat Mar 3rd, Sun Mar 11th, Sat Mar 17th
In addition you can also book Weekend and Mid-Week Annual Refreshers via the two-seater booking system, however remember that to include the Upper Air portion of the Refreshers (Spins/Stalls etc.) you must have access to the Puchacz (JEC).
Any queries or extra information, please contact the office or myself.
richard@maskells.net
01638 606055 day
01638 604434 eve Office 01767 677077
Richard Maskell CFI
13 December 2011
Cambridge Gliding Centre, at Gransden Lodge, has been asked to host the British Gliding Association's 2012 Club Class National Championships. They are being held on the week running up to the London Olympic Games, 21 July to the 29 July 2012.
More information about next year's club's flying activities will be announced in the new year but members who wish to enter the competition can do so through the BGA's website at this link.
The Club Class is open to gliders that have a speed index not exceeding 98, except that, in addition, all gliders listed on the current IGC Club Class handicap list at the time of the event are also eligible but must fly on the BGA allocated handicap.
This is likely to be a popular event, limited to 50 gliders, and entry list will be decided by the BGA rating list.
If you are a new member and all this confuses you, don't worry, we will send out more information in the New Year to explain what all this means!!!
Competition Director
Neil Goudie
07 November 2011
In order to comply with the EASA Part M regulations, CGC is changing the way we report and manage club glider DIs and defects. With effect from 3 Nov 2011, the DI book will be replaced by a new, locally produced document known as the Daily Inspection and Defect Recording (DIDR) book. The books are a similar size to the old DI book and have an orange cover. The ARC may be attached inside. Full details are in this document.
Geoff Brown
01 November 2011
This year the Bronze preparation course and exam will again be run by David Tew and Richard Brickwood.
If you are a pre-Bronze solo pilot (or near solo) it is worth doing the Bronze exam this winter so you can complete your Bronze badge in the summer !
The course will be held at the clubhouse on six consecutive Tuesday
evenings at 19:30 starting on Tuesday 24th January and finishing on February 28th (the exam night).
As the course emphasises self study, we recommend you get a copy of Laws and Rules (published by the BGA,
or it can be downloaded ) and "Bronze and Beyond" by John McCullagh - which contains all you need to know !! You can get it from : Cambridge Gliding Club Office,
The author, or The BGA .
Please let me know if you are interested in attending so I can add your name and contact details to the list of pilots that I already have (details of the requirements for the whole bronze badge are in Laws and Rules pg 44 - please note when you pass the exam you need to complete the Bronze badge within the following 12 months, so if you pass the exam you need to have a reasonable prospect of completing the flying elements within a year of your pass date, or face re-taking the exam !).
Any one contemplating an Assistant Instructor course next year please note that you WILL have to do the Bronze exam during the course and the pass mark is higher than usual (80%) !! If you wanted to help out on any of the evenings we would be delighted to see you.
Best Wishes
dntew at yahoo.co.uk 01223 416347 , 07776 235721
David Tew