April 2012

FLYING SEASON HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN! The month of April is one of my favorite months because our flying season officially begins. Our flight instruction program continues to be one of our biggest assets and many thanks goes to Ivan Cankov our Chief Flight Instructor. Ivan has opened the season and requests that all Instructors make time to assist on designated days. Our instruction days are Tuesday and Thursday evenings weather permitting. If you are an experienced pilot, have instructed before or always wanted to help others learn to fly, why not become a flight instructor. Ivan can tell you what is required to become part of this elite team.

 If you find yourself at the field on instruction evenings and would like to help out, we also have Pre-flight Instructor positions available. The Pre-flight Instructor assists the Primary Flight Instructors by making sure that the student’s equipment is checked out and ready for use. Checking out student aircraft, equipment and briefing students helps to move the process along and maximizes Instructor time.Two topics that come up each year are the usage of our pattern sign and the concept of a flight pattern. The pattern sign is used to communicate a generally agreed upon pattern by the pilots at the field. When winds are from the West or from the East pointing the sign in the correct direction is easy since it should be pointed upwind, (into the wind). When the winds are out of the South or North the sign is placed toward the agreed upon direction by the pilots present at the time.

The pattern sign communicates an established flight path direction over the field and in the field boundaries. This doesn’t mean that if winds are from the South for example and are variable from SE or SW that you can’t take off into the wind. You just communicate your intentions to the other pilots that are flying. Once in the air, you simply make a safe turn to enter the flight pattern direction. This means if you are flying over the field or flying through over the runway, at any altitude, you will be going the correct direction. Hope this clarifies and if you have any questions just ask.

Remember our safety pledge and our Safety Motto

“Check your plane, check your equipment, check your attitude and fly safely”

Al’s Hobby Shop in Elmhurst is celebrating 65 years in business and is having an open house on April 21st from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stop out and enjoy their customer appreciation day and demo’s from major manufacturers. For more information visit www.alshobbyshop.com Our next meeting will be April 24th at 7:30 p.m. and Show n’ Tell points double this month only. That’s 30 points for just bringing in a plane or an item for us to see and enjoy. Our next scheduled Fun Fly is April 29th , read more about it in the fun fly report.

Have Fun, Fly Safe. The Pres