The latest EASA nightmare

The BGA have just drafted it's response to the latest EASA consultation document about it's proposals for pilot licensing.
This totally overbearing,sleep inducing document is hard work to read,even the BGAs clipped version,and compiling a response to it,even harder.
However,for the future of gliding it is vital that we all make a response in our own words and let them know of our concerns.The BGA response will provide guidelines to help with this.
This document is not only concerned with pilot licensing,but also medical requirements,training and endorsments for various other aspects of gliding.
The Devil is in the detail,so please take your time to read and respond - it has to be done by the 15th December.
EASA have just published the revised document re:registration and maintenance,and gliding has regained a lot of the priveleges that we were to lose under EASA regulation,so responding appropriately does work.

More details are on the BGA website.

A post by pete s on the old DSGC forum

I think that judging from the lack of replies of any sort to my post,and chatting to people around the Club,that most of you do not realise the implications of the latest EASA NPA(you should - the BGA have given enough notice and GPN is full of discussion on this topic), don't care(pretty bad),or are leaving it to somebody else to respond to the NPA(even worse).

The NPA covers many items which cause serious concern to gliding,although many of them we can live with even though they will be a headache and will require money to be thrown at them.

However,there is one item in there which if allowed to pass unchallenged will mean the end of soaring,and especially cross country soaring as we know it.

The priveleges that we have enjoyed with respect to cloud flying have been removed.Now,you may think that "I don't cloud fly ayway so it won't affect me"

WRONG - the removal of this means that gliders will only be allowed to operate in VMC - that is 1.5km clear of of cloud horizontally and 1,000' vertically above 3,000'QNH and in a flight visiblity of 5km.

So you won't be able to fly from thermal to thermal,follow a cloud street or climb in front of a wave bar.

Please respond to the NPA,by e-mail if nothing else,to npa@easa.europa.eu to register your protest against this piece of european legislation - you have until the 15th December to do it.

Plenty of additional info on the BGA website including their responses and notes for guidance to compiling your own rsponse.

Aren't you glad we joined Europe

A reply by pete s on the old DSGC forum

Thursday thermallings 21st August - congratulations

We have had a happy event. One of our Thursday band has gone solo. During last week's course Simon and Mark had applied much pressure, but he did not crack and on a beautiful still Thursday evening Ian Hunt was off by himself, watched by his wife and daughter and the evening trial lesson group that he had organised. Then off to the end of course steak and chips provided by H in the Clubhouse. Not the quietest of solo celebrations!

Whilst chatting over dinner we learnt that Cheryl also soloed during the previous course.

Well done to both, now the real learning starts.

A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum

Thursday thermallings 14th August

Hi all,

At last something to write about for a Thursday!

And at last a day when it was not raining, for a while anyway.

Lovely bright start and gentle south westerly breeze, but a bit short on numbers which meant a slow start. During the day we had a few periods of non activity due to the showers, the heaviest and most prolonged coincided with lunch. There were a few problems with the winch, but ably sorted, yet again, by Mike. It was soarable and I believe that everyone who wanted to had a decent flight. A good job that there were not many people, as we did only just fly everyone and used all the available day. Two K21s, DG505, Junior and one Discus were active.

The highlight of the day, for me, was giving an air-ex to a gentleman for his 90th birthday. His last flight in a glider had been 64 years ago in a Horsa during the airborne attack on Arnham in Operation Market Garden, brought to the cinema screens in "A Bridge Too Far". Once in the air and climbing away he was overwhelmed by the beauty of the Devonshire countryside, the rain showers and rainbows. He started to remember the views he had out of the Horsa windows as he was towed across Holland all those years ago. His supporting group of family and friends were entertained by those on the ground, and all left with many thanks and nothing but a good impression of the Club. The press were also present and the event will be covered in Friday's Express and Echo.

Pete

A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum

Thank you.....

Just to say a BIG thank you to everyone who helped me celebrate my birthday at the weekend!
The barbecue went really well and I hope everyone who attended had a great evening - I certainly did! After all the worrying about the weather - it was the hottest weekend of the year so far!
Thanks to Simon (Minson) the barbecue king, who slaved over the hot coals cooking a ton of meat to perfection. And to Steve, who provided entertainment later in the evening on the guitar (easily forgiven for not always remembering all the words!! & thank you for the Eagles song, one of my favourites).
Thanks also to Andrew Muggleston for taking me up for my aerobatic flight on Sunday (sorry I swore a bit... - well, probably quite a lot actually - but it was awesome), and to Pete Warren for my very first aerotow.
Thank you for my cards and presents and good wishes.
If you weren't there - why not???.......
See you all soon
Cheryl xx

A post by cheryl on the old DSGC forum

Sunday 22/06/08 Turbulent flying and Instructor rescue

After having a brilliant day flying in Blue card conditions and getting used to thermalling in turbulence, Simon Minson (Who sent me solo last weekend) required assistance in a field near Exeter. How could I refuse to 'help'. Guy and I went to the rescue :)

A post by hrf on the old DSGC forum

For the few of us that were flying in those fun conditions, did you notice that all those wonderful cloud streets went a bit soggy round about the M5? (Simon obviously did). 

Jill and I had to resort to a 30hp thermal towards the Exe valley. Two minutes later we were off up the street again to Crediton. On the way back I had a look at the cloud shadows - a good way to assess the sky when at cloudbase - and I could see that the six cloud streets, from south coast to Tiverton, thinned a bit at around the M5.

With a 25 knot wind blowing over Dartmoor, wave was the obvious culprit. So back east of the M5 we started to explore the thinning in the streets from the downwind side. Fairly easily, but patiently, we climbed up in front of quite scrappy cumulus. Things improved, our cloud 'ridge' became more defined. Lift increased from 2kts to 4kts and we left the climb at FL62 about 3.5 miles southwest of North Hill, with the base of the airway approaching fast.

Later analysis of the atmosphere put a bit of 'up' where we were with vertical speeds up to 200fpm between 4500' and 14000' AMSL, and a corresponding bit of 'down' just a bit further west down to ground level. Just downwind of the peak of Dartmoor there was lift at 200fpm between 8000' and more than 26000', and 300fpm between 13000' and 21000'.

Slightly further south, and directly downwind of the Dartmoor peak, there were two large areas of lift, one over the west shore of the Exe estuary and another just west of Sidmouth.

A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum

Simon Leeson and I got to Credition and back in the DG-505. Was a very good flight in brilliant conditions! 

I would of liked it if it was not as windy!!!! I could of soloed then!

James Hood

A post by jhood on the old DSGC forum

Thursday thermallings 19th June

A good day for a change. The overnight cold front did not produce a classic clearance. Most of the morning was a lot of heavy, sometimes wet, cloud with a base at 2000QFE, but it was soarable. The cloud started to break about lunchtime and through the afternoon good thermals to 4000QFE were abundant. I left the club at 1840 and the evening group were still soaring.

Club flying was only two K21s and a Junior, but there were a lot of private gliders out. Those flying cross country had an interesting time with a 17knot westerly to struggle against - perhaps someone would like to report in.

I think that everyone left the field happy.

A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum

I jokingly mumbled something like North Hill-Okehampton-Sherborne-North Hill,hoping it would street in the wind,go round in either direction. Before I knew what was happening we were off!
Matt(477) and I(230) went West first and Ron/Woolie(711) went East.
Conditions going West were ok with climbs being fairly consistent to about 3,000',but in the 17 to 18 knot wind it was quite slow going.Dartmoor looked fantastic.Matt came back as far as Honiton,I went a bit further to Chard before calling it a day.Further East I could see it was spreading out a bit mixed with sea air and decided the flog back from Sherborne through that air in that wind was probably a bit much.I know that 711 struggled at times under spreadout after going that way and also called it a day after struggling to get beyond the M5 going West.
Local soaring was reported as mixed with some stonking climbs and a few struggles.
Robin W-F got caught low over Honiton for a while.His ASI was stuck at 80 knots so he had to multi task and try to fly at the right speed and still climb to get back!
A better day than recently only marred by the strong wind but at least we got away from the site.
Next reasonable day for soaring-a ridge of high pressure on MONDAY - why isn't the Club open 7 days during the season?

A post by pete s on the old DSGC forum

Going flying with a time dead-line sucks. Despite my fear of messing up and landing in some remote part of Devon and then being late for the school pick-up, I set off on a shortened version of Pete's task only just uploading the declaration to the logger before "All clear above and behind". Climbed to cloud base at 2500’ QFE over NHL and headed west only to be back at launch height before I was half way to the M5. I was soon joined and promptly overtaken by Pete but I managed to keep him in sight to Okehampton. He makes a great thermal marker by the way. The return leg was a breeze at 95kph as opposed to 35 on the way out, with stunning views over the moors and the south coast. Spent a bit of time playing around over the club and posted a few pictures which you can check out at, 
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=690060650#/photo_search.php?oid=2411863512&view=all if you are really bored.

Thanks to the Thursday gang for getting me in the sky and not getting too bleak when I went home early. The grin is indeed cheesy.

A post by matt on the old DSGC forum

Thursday's thermallings 12th June

Have you noticed? We are getting about one flyable Thursday per month. And yesterday was one of those days - so where was everyone

Post cold front instability made it soarable, albeit in a stiff northerly breeze. Two pre-solo, four post-solo and two trial lessons in the K21s, one flying a Junior, three private owners and three instructors made up the numbers. Everyone had a soaring flight (except one trial flight), most of over an hour, the last one forced it down from over 3500QFE at six o'clock because everyone had gone home.

We are still a bit thin on the ground with regular Thursday people, which does mean that there is not a lot of time to stand around chattering to keep things going. So why not join our fun flying days.

A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum

Thursday's thermallings 1st May 2008

We were lucky with the weather today, getting much more out of the day than I expected. Through the morning two lines of showers, blown through on a southwesterly wind, were split by the Blackdowns and we stayed dry until about 1300 when rain drove us in for lunch. After refuelling a clearance of an hour and a half allowed a bit more flying and thermalling in front of a developing thunder storm, looking as if it stretched from coast to coast. The sight of flashy things made the decision, and we packed up for the day.
Not that many people on the field but OK for the day: 4 students, 1 solo, 5 instructors, 3 winch drivers and 4 gliders.
We were using the V8 winch with electronic control, and on my sample of 3 launches and practise cable break it worked very well. Launching the Ka6 at 50kts and when I pulled a bit it slowed to 45 - all without any drama. One thing we must watch is that the launch marshaller does not give "All out" until the glider wheel has moved.

Pete

A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum

Thursday thermallings - 24th April

Hi all, I'm back after a short time away. This Thursday was very quiet. The front came through about five in the morning instead of mid-day, but it took a long time for the showers behind it to clear, the last downpour was over lunch.

However, we could not do a lot as our ever reliable winch driver, Godfrey, was unable to make it. So an otherwise flyable day was lost due to a lack of launch facility. But the four fliers left took to the air in the Falkes, VG took Francis and H along the south coast and SC did a navex to Yeovil and back with myself and Ian H.

We really do need some help from the more qualified Club members to help Thursdays along, particularly winch drivers. Relying on one does not leave a lot to spare, and does not allow him to fly.

A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum

Thursday's thermallings - 27th March 2008

:) That's what it all about. The cold front cleared thru' last night and a transient ridge was enough to control the instability. The wind started as a fresh northerly and backed to the west as the ridge passed thru'. The incoming warm front just started to cover the sun as we closed the hangar doors at about 1730.

First launch at 0945 straight into 4 knots to 1800 QFE cloudbase, which rapidly rose to 2500 QFE within an hour, and reaching 3400 QFE by mid afternoon. Last landing at 1710 having left gentle thermals to 2000 QFE off the ridge. Seven and a half hours of thermal soarability, but with a few 'difficult to get away' periods mid morning

Task for the day (150 km Dorchester - Tiverton) was completed by 611, 477 and AM. Matt hung around locally after finishing to achieve his 5 hours and completing his Silver. Dave overshot Tiverton, went on to South Molton and some soaring over Exmoor. Pete Startup is posting the first time for the Devon and Somerset Dash at 75kph.

Most training flights were over an hour. Peter added to his morning's winch instruction with a two and a half hour advanced soaring instruction after lunch. Sorry to some pilots who failed to catch their thermals. :(

A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum

Social night + supper!! - Sat 5th April. Book Now!!!

Saturday 5th April is now booked for a fun social evening at the club!!

It's going to be a Grand Beetle Drive and 'H' is booked to do Lasagne, Chips and Salad. (veggie / other meals on request - just let H know..)

If you haven't been to a beetle drive before - why not come and find out what happens! It really is a good laugh (for any age!) and can get rather competitive (in the nicest way of course...) With a prize for the winning team.... The only skill you'll need is to hold a dice and a pencil! (hopefully not too taxing eh?)

There will also be a raffle on the night (donations of prizes very welcome) and profits for the evening are going to the Ian Beckett fund.

Cost = £8.00 adults, £5.00 under 14's.
Food at 6.30pm, Beetles at 7.30pm.

There is a list for names on the door opposite the main notice board (not enough room on the board!) Or reply (or e-mail me) through here and I can put your name up for you. (need to know numbers for H - or you may go hungry!)

Do come and have a fun evening and help support a great cause for the club.
Hope to see you there.... Cheryl.

***No beetles have been harmed during the writing of this message!!***

A post by cheryl on the old DSGC forum

Thursday's thermallings, 6th March

This should be "Thursday's ridgings", but it does not sound correct.

Total cloud cover at, maybe 2000' QFE, cold and a stiff westerly breeze, somebody's GPS said 30kts at flying height but I'm not too sure of that, probably nearer 20kts. 4 trainees, three solo pilots and five instructors.

Good ridge training day, aided by the occasional thermal and almost complete collapse of the ridge working. However everyone had an enjoyable ridge soar, 230 and 477 had two hours apiece only brought down by drizzle at flying heights and H's lunch.

After lunch the wind had dropped and backed a little, the cloud darkened and lowered, so slow decents on the ridge were the norm until the drizzle stopped play.

Another good Thursday for the few who turned up.

A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum

Social events - Bit of fun!!!

Hi guys,
Thought it might be nice to have a few more social events and am quite happy to try and organise a few things if people are interested.

Maybe a quiz night? (NO aviation related questions - so a bit fairer ha ha!!!) or even a Beetle drive or mad Bingo (just ask!)
Something that everybody can join in with and just have a fun night.

Also..... When the weather gets a bit warmer (hopefully) with lighter evenings - I'm prepared to bring my archery equipment up and offer to do 'have a go' evenings (I have training equipment as I teach a bit during the year!) If people are interested - and somebody volunteers to stand with an apple on their head for the demonstration!!!

Have spoken to 'H' and she can do food for us if we 'book' her in advance and let her know an idea on numbers.....

What do you think? and does anyone have any other ideas for evening events? let me know.....

Cheryl.

A post by cheryl on the old DSGC forum

Thursday 21st February

Great, the first flyable Thursday for four weeks! Pity there were not more people to enjoy it.

There was just five of us to start with, Ian H, Ian Y, Terry, myself and thankfully Godfrey to get us into the air. Before first launch Woolie (minus a couple of teeth), Pete S and Francis arrived to help on the ground.

Broken cloud at 1500' and a 15 knot westerly should have had the ridge working, but something was mucking it up - there was signs of wave about. Flights of 10-15 were the norm, very good for the training we were doing.

Ian H got in a couple of cable break practices, Terry had a good day and Pete got his Blue Card renewed.

After lunch the cloud thickened up and cloudbase dropped to 800', and the ridge started working higher than 800'. As it started to drizzle at flying height we packed up. Everyone left happy

A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum

Thursday's thermallings

I know that there is not a very big audience for this posting yet, but in time, as this Forum grows, I hope to let the Club know what goes on at North Hill on Thursdays.

The forecast for yesterday was for a cold front clearing over night to give us a bright but cold day in the moderate WNW winds, with possible wintry showers later in the day. This was a great relief after the incessant rains of the last few weeks!

The regular half dozen of so got the vehicles and two K21s out in a light drizzle, but by 1100hrs the clearance had reached the site. Unfortunately we did not have a winch driver, thanks Mike for venturing out of the workshop and leaving the Discovery for a couple of hours.

The wind was not quite as strong as forecast and had too much north in it for the ridge to work well, but the first few circuits were extended to 10-15 minutes. Then the sun started to work, weak thermals at first but very quickly 3-4 knot averages to nearly 3000' above site wete being found.

A few solo pilots turned up just before lunch, with a Junior, a couple of Discii and the Falke joining in the fun. Several people had hour long flights, the Discii over two hours each.

By 1500hrs the thermals were dying, but right up to last launch the ridge was still keeping people airbourne.

Our happy band cleared the airfield in the setting sun, and everyone left the site with grins on their faces.

This is what it is all about, particulrly after the recent run of foul weather.

A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum

Saturday 23rd February Robert Tonks & Curry Evening.

Hi Guys, a charge of £8.00 (cheap at half the price!) has been fixed so as to give 'H' enough and also put some cash into the coffers of the DSGC. Please support this event and then we can organise more, any offers or suggestions as to future events would be gratefully received, thanks - contact me, Roland Clarke, at the Club

A post by rclarke on the old DSGC forum