by Rhonda Gelletly

AAFC cadets

We have a further 2 weekends booked out completely with the AAFC cadets:
May 30th & 31st – Squadron 419 (35 cadets)
June 6th & 7th – Squadron 412 (35 cadets)

I will be looking for extra instructors and tow pilots. If anyone is interested please let me know.

New member

We have a new member, Matthew Kilpatrick, who will be 17 this month (happy birthday Matthew!). Matthew was a very lucky Australian Air Force cadet who won a Going for Solo course sponsored by the RSL Benalla Sub-Branch. The RSL Benalla Sub-Branch put forward the idea of a gliding scholarship and through negotiations involving the State and Benalla committees agreed to share the cost equally between them for one cadet scholarship per year for 2008, 2009 & 2010. After that the arrangement will be reviewed.

We sincerely thank the RSL Benalla Sub-Branch and those who were instrumental in the orchestration of this scholarship. We wish Matthew the very best with his gliding and his future ambitions.

If you see Matthew around the club please introduce yourselves.

Security

With the colder months coming on and less people around it is even more important to make sure the clubhouse and hangars are locked.
PLEASE ENSURE THAT ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS ARE LOCKED WHEN YOU LEAVE.

Commercial kitchen

Leigh Hall Catering has finished for the season although Leigh may still utilize the facility on a need be basis over the winter months. We hope that Leigh may return for the next soaring season but in the mean time he and his staff would like to sincerely thank all the members for the patronage and support given over the past season.

Flight sheets

Tug pilots & instructors a reminder that the flight sheets need to be completed correctly with times, registrations & names. If I cannot decipher the sheets, the charges may have to be entered to those responsible.

Advertising & marketing

I have copies of a DVD from the Gliding Federation of Australia called “Gliding Downunder”. The DVD consists of approximately 19 minutes of uniquely Australian footage showing the various aspects of our sport from the basics of how a glider flies and how clubs operate, through to some spectacular footage of some of the more adventurous aspects of our sport, such as cross country soaring, ridge flying & aerobatics. The DVD is intended for our club to use for promotions, presentations & any other opportunity we may find to convert the curious visitors into new club members.

If you know of anyone who maybe interested in viewing the DVD please contact me.

Telephones

Due to the hard times ahead, a review of our telephones was necessary. The decision has been made to have some changes made. Please note the changes below;

• Powered Workshop (5762 7061) – Disconnected
• Gold Phone Clubhouse (5762 3704) – Disconnected
• Office Phones – STD Bar

National Balloon Championships

The championships are to held in Benalla from 4th to 11th July. Although this does not affect our Gliding operations they will however have use of our clubhouse (this is still to be negotiated but this will bring in some extra revenue over the winter months).

Clubhouse

We have also arranged with one of Leigh Hall’s staff to hire the clubhouse on Saturday night 27th June for a family gathering of a 60th wedding anniversary and a 40th birthday. Her name is Emma Schofield she is aware that the members still have use of the clubhouse.
Another revenue raiser!!

Alcohol and drugs in aviation

Random Testing Starts April 2009.

Under CASR Part 99 – any individual who performs safety sensitive aviation activities, including flight and cabin crew, flying instructors, aircraft dispatchers, aircraft maintenance, aviation security, air traffic controllers, baggage handlers, ground refuellers and private and student pilots, may be requested by an approved tester to undertake an alcohol and/or drug test. The testing scheme excludes passengers.

I have brochures available and there will be a few on the noticeboard in the clubhouse for any member.

Airport direct

Attached is a notice of a new bus service operating from the airport to Benalla, it could be of interest to some members.