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gremline.com |
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the online flight safety digest |
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The Gremline Forum & Letters to the Editor Correspondence should be sent to postmaster@gremline.com. The views expressed on this page are those of the correspondents only. All correspondence will be reviewed by the editors prior to publication. Time and space preclude publication of all correspondence, but we will do our utmost to publish items in the public interest and representative selections of correspondence where there is ongoing debate. The editors reserve the right to edit, condense or precis submitted material.
Gremline News Please note that from April 2010 and for the foreseeable future we will be unable to continue monthly publication of Gremline. We will, however, do our utmost to post new content at two monthly intervals. In the meantime our archive of published articles will be maintained and can be viewed on the Cockpit page; and we will continue to circulate e-mail updates to our distribution list at no charge. We apologise if the revised schedule causes inconvenience to organisations that submit news releases for distribution via Gremline. Gremline has been published as a free resource for the GA community since December 2006. Our only sources of income have been commissions on Bookshop and Affiliate sales, and the occasional voluntary donations from visitors to the web site (for which we are extremely grateful). Income to date has been insufficient to cover our outgoings. Our commitments to other areas of GA Flight Safety (and the need to earn a living!) mean that we cannot sustain monthly publication of Gremline at the current level of return. We will make every effort to continue publication at less frequent intervals and will revert to monthly postings if circumstances allow. Watch this space.
Gremline News — January / February 2010 Our Managing Editor, John Stewart-Smith, and Production Editor, Barrie Foster, have been invited to contribute to the work of the Communications Sub-groups of the European Helicopter Safety Team [EHEST] and the European General Aviation Safety Team [EGAST], which form part of the European Strategic Safety Initiative [ESSI]. John Stewart-Smith also took on responsibility for the Accident and Incident pages of the General Aviation Safety Council’s new journal ‘Flight Safety’ in November 2009.
Red Arrow Display Dates — from UK CAA May 2010 Every year a number of displays by the RAF team are infringed by other aircraft, leading to disrupted displays, safety hazards to the Red Arrows and the infringing aircraft, and of course disappointment for thousands of spectators if the show has to be cancelled. Last year the CAA prosecuted one pilot and issued warnings to two others for infringing a temporary restricted area, which had been put in place for a Red Arrows’ display. The Red Arrows’ 2010 aerobatic display programme, and the resulting temporary airspace restrictions, will soon be under way. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has published the details in Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) M024/2010, available on the Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) website at http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/aip/current/aic/EG_Circ_2010_M_024_en.pdf One of the easiest ways to check on airspace restrictions (including temporary restrictions such as Red Arrows displays) is by checking NOTAMs on the AIS website, and by calling the dedicated AIS freephone facility on 0500 354 802. Checking NOTAMs and the AIS Freephone are vital planning actions - it’s essential that both are checked as airspace restrictions can be subject to change.
Free GPS Guide for GA Pilots — from UK CAA May 2010 A CD guide to navigating with GPS has been released by the UK Civil Aviation Authority through the Airspace and Safety Initiative [ASI]. The CD will initially be distributed to UK flying schools and clubs, and through summer air shows such as AeroExpo. The content will also be posted on the ASI web site at www.airspacesafety.com. Free copies cam also be obtained by contacting CAA direct.
UK CAA Safety Evenings: Winter Programme — from UK CAA / GASCo May 2010 The UK Civil Aviation Authority has contracted the General Aviation Safety Council (GASCo) to deliver the General Aviation Safety Evening programme over the winter months of 2010/11. The CAA’s Safety Evenings provide GA pilots with an opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of all aviation safety matters. Flying Clubs and Associations wishing to host a Safety Evening in future should contact GASCo. www.gasco.org.uk
Update: Flying Training from Unlicensed Aerodromes — from UK CAA April 2010 The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced that flying training at unlicensed aerodromes will be allowed from Wednesday 14 April 2010. It will now be possible for fixed-wing aircraft up to 2,730kg Maximum Take-Off Mass (MTOM) and Helicopters and Gyroplanes up to 3,175kg MTOM to be used for flight training at unlicensed airfields. The proposed changes were posted on Gremline in February 2010. The responsibility for ensuring an airfield is suitable for training will rest with flying instructors and aerodrome operators. To assist them the CAA will be revising its document, CAP428 Safety Standards at Unlicensed Aerodromes, to include guidance on how to assess whether an airfield is suitable for training.
Gardan GY80-180 Horizon Operating Manual — Error This warning has been posted permanently in the February 2009 issue of Gremline.
Gremline News Our Production Editor, Barrie Foster, finally succumbed to the temptation of Facebook in July 2008. Through his membership, Gremline is now represented in several Facebook aviation Groups, including Facebook Pilots, Aviators/Just For Pilots, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and AOPA Members. We will be posting Gremline updates and news on Barrie’s Profile and, where these groups allow, on their Group Profile pages. If you would like to join Barrie’s friends, please add a personal message quoting ‘Gremline’.
To the Editors
From SATCO Exeter Our article Orbits in the Visual Circuit, based on an incident at Exeter International Airport UK (posted December 2007) was forwarded to the Senior Air Traffic Control Officer, Exeter, for comment. We have received a constructive response, which is published in full in the body of the article. This article, and the previously posted To Extend Downwind or Not to Extend? seems to have generated some discussion in GA and ATC circles. We welcome further contributions to the debate.
From the UK Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety Congratulations. I have just come across your site and thank you for the link to our work. I think it’s very important to have a good supply of reliable information to assist the General Aviation community. Well done. Keep me posted on developments. Best wishes Robert Gifford Executive Director
From the Editor of ‘Flight Safety’, the Bulletin of the General Aviation Safety Council (UK) Dear John, Ed Paintin
From Martyn Pegg, Vehicle & Operators Safety Agency (UK) Just reading through your note on aquaplaning and noticed you refer to ABS as Automatic Brake System. It is in fact Antilock Brake System. Hope this helps and thanks for the good site. Thank you for your message about 'ABS' and for your kind comments about our web site. It's nice to know that someone is paying attention! I agree with your comment that ABS in road vehicles means 'Antilock Brake System' -- the design being developed from the original 'Maxaret' system introduced by Dunlop in the 1950s and fitted to some early British jet aircraft. However, most modern airliners have some sort of Automatic Braking System that may be selected by the pilot before landing or before beginning the takeoff run. So, 'ABS' can refer to either 'Antilock Brake System' or 'Automatic Brake System'. We are both right, but our aquaplaning article was written in the context of aircraft systems.
From Brett Jones, USA From the EditorA Passing Thought …. On Life Jackets
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