THE PATRICIAN November 2016
The Victoria Flying Club ~ Aviation Excellence Since 1946
Life at Pat Bay in the 1940s, PrepAIR Tower Talk, VFC History, and more
THE PATRICIAN November 2016
Monthly Newsletter of The Victoria Flying Club - Aviation Excellence Since 1946
“To promote flying and aviation in general, and to teach and train persons in the art and science of flying and navigating and operating all manner of heavier-than-air aircraft.” (Victoria Flying Club Incorporation Bylaws, 1946)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Ramona Reynolds president@flyvfc.com VICE PRESIDENT Howard Peng SECRETARY Colin Williamson TREASURER Vernon Fischer DIRECTORS Steve Demy Rob Shemilt Rolf Hopkinson John Litherland GENERAL MANAGER Gerry Mants CHIEF FLYING Graham Palmer INSTRUCTOR 1852 Canso Road Sidney, BC V8L 5V5 www.flyvfc.com info@flyvfc.com
In This Issue
2 News Around the Club 5 Stories from the Sky 7 75 Years of The Patrician 8 The Little Pilot Shop
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Memories of a Pat Bay Airman
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The Victoria Flying Club A lookback in time
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First Solos and Member Achievements
FleetCaptain Corner
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PrepAIR Tower Talk Contributed by Simon Dennis
Ground School Schedule
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Fly-Out Bug
Phone: 250-656-2833
Editor: Katy Earl flyvfcmarketing@gmail.com The Patrician accepts unsolicited submissions. This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, with prior permission of the publisher or author. The opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors.
Front cover photo credits: From Allan Scott's collection. Allan's Dad, James Scott, RAF, 5th from right, back row. At Hangar #1 at Pay Bay Airbase, with one of the Avro Anson's they used to maintain
Connect with us and share your aviation stories!
VFC News
News Around the Club INVITATION - 70TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY Buy your tickets to the November 19th 70th Anniversary Party as soon as you can! You won't want to miss the catered baron of beef dinner and fun with friends. Many companies have donated door and activity prizes towards the event, some amounting to over $400 in value! Some of our sponsors include Enex Fuels (gas gift certificate), VIP Pilot Shop, and Capital City Skydiving.
Aviation Excellence Since 1946
You can buy your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/victoriaflying-club-70th-anniversary-celebrationtickets-28853588861 FROM THE OFFICE Marcel Poland, Operations Manager shares the following: "We will be starting a new IFR CHART/CFS PRO RATED cost program. Basically the IFR charts have a 56 day cycle at the end of which they are no longer valid and cannot be used.
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We will be pro-rating the next rotation starting Nov 10th. The first reduction will be at the halfway mark and then the three quarter mark. Pricing will be posted below the charts. This will only be for the IFR charts and the CFS. Call if you need any clarification." HOLIDAY DISCOUNT PRICING Book your aircraft rental for November 11th and you will receive a discounted rental rate.
November 2016
VFC News FOOD BANK CHALLENGE We are doing it! We are joining our local tech community and other businesses in participating in VIATEC's yearly Food Bank Challenge, with food and donations going to the Mustard Seed.
NEWS AND EVENTS NOV 1
COPA Flight 6 meeting and social
NOV 5
Nanaimo Flying Club brunch
NOV 11
Remembrance Day and Food Bank Day at the BC Aviation Museum
NOV 19
VFC's 70th Anniversary Party
NOV 26
IMC Round Table
DEC 28, 29
Kids Fest 2016 at the BC Aviation Museum
JAN 27
Wings Banquet
A large percentage of people in our community are employed families struggling to make ends meet. The Mustard Seed does an amazing job providing support, helping 7000 people every month, but they can always use more help... and that’s where we come in! Keep in
NEED ADVERTISING? Advertising in The Patrician is affordable! Contact us for more information. flyvfcmarketing@gmail.com
ARE YOU A VFC ALUMNI? We would love to hear where your pilot licence has taken you! Email your story to flyvfcmarketing@gmail.com
Is your aviation-related event not listed? Let us know at news@flyvfc.com.
British Columbia Aviation Museum
Kids Fest 2016 December 28 & 29 AIRCRAFT RENTAL DISCOUNT HOURS
If you are a young person or an adult who is young at heart, drop by the British Columbia Aviation Museum for some aviationrelated fun during the holidays.
Special holidays, e.g. Remembrance Day Monday to Friday, 1700–0930 $10/hr rental discount, or 0.2 simulator time credit per hour of flight (approximate value $20)
Crafts
Saturday and Sunday, 1700–0930 $15/hr rental discount, or 0.3 simulator time credit per hour of flight approximate value $30)
Games Basics of Flight Hands-on Experiences Prizes to be won!
November 2016
11:00am to 3:00pm
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1910 Norseman Road, Sidney, BC V8L 5V5 Email: inquiries@bcam.net www.bcam.net ENTRANCE BY DONATION www.flyvfc.com
News Women VFC in Aviation mind, with the Mustard Seed’s buying power, cash donations go even further than food donations! Want to join in? There are a few ways: 1. Drop off non-perishable food items at the Victoria Flying Club (look out for the box in the lounge). 2. Leave a cheque in an envelope with Dispatch. All cheques please make out to “The Mustard Seed Food Bank” with the memo of “VIATEC Food Bank Challenge.”
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3. Donate online (donations over $20 get a tax receipt) http:// www.viatec.ca/events/2016-viatec-food-bank-challenge. 4. Join the challenge yourself, mentioning the Victoria Flying Club as the ones who motivated you! COPA FLIGHT 6 - SEEKING A NEW CAPTAIN The monthly COPA Flight 6 meetings have been arranged for the last two years by Rob Shemilt, and now it is time to pass the opportunity on to someone else. This has been a great opportunity for pilots to get together socially to talk shop and also to learn more about what is happening locally in our industry. Are you looking for an opportunity to expand your leadership skills? This could be your chance! Contact copaflight6@gmail.com for more info.
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MEETING ROOM RESERVATIONS The Sidney Breakfast Club has been making good use of the Dakota Cafe for their monthly breakfast meetup. Are you looking for meeting space for your own Meetup, business meeting, or party? Contact Customer Service at the Club to book your spot or connect you with the Dakota Cafe.
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Have news or a story to tell? We would love to hear about it! Email us at flyvfcmarketing@gmail.com for a chance to have your news or story published in The Patrician.
Image 1: VFC student Nathan Goebel (2nd from the right) received the Michelle Ward Memorial Scholarship at the BC Aviation Council's Silver Wings Awards Ceremony in October Image 2: Instagram: karalassche. Kara flies over Point Roberts, WA with Mathew Image 3: Instagram: teeshacrystal. Birthday celebrations in the sky for Stephen in the golden hues of October
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Image 4: Instagram: petersavage_. Peter goes for a flight before the weather turns (Oct. 12) Aviation Excellence Since 1946
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November 2016
VFC News
Stories from the Sky Image: Dan Waldie chats it up with aviation legend Bob Hoover
but in the hands of this master pilot it was sheer poetry in the air. He flew that very same routine that he flew in the Mustang in this twin engine executive aircraft and stunned all of us watching from the show line at CYXX. The precision that he flew with as he first feathered one engine and did the rolls, then feathered BOTH engines and used airspeed and inertia executing the very same routine... Power on, power off… absolute precision. I’ll never forget the sight of Bob flying the Commander at 10’ off the deck and then killing both engines as he pulled up in a graceful climb doing the 8 and 16 point rolls. He would restart the engines, then land and roll the aircraft right up to its parking spot on the apron where he would get out in his suit and tie and wave to the crowd. Ever the showman.
In October, we were sad to hear of the passing of aviation legend Bob Hoover at the age of 94. VFC members have long been inspired by Hoover, and member Dan Waldie shared one of his personal experience seeing him perform, as follows.
Contribued by Dan Waldie The aviation world has lost one of the truly great pilots this week. Robert Anderson (Bob) Hoover was a pilot’s pilot. A test pilot, fighter pilot, and an airshow pilot who performed all over North America. He was an amazing man and one of the best airshow pilots that ever flew a show. Bob was 94. I first got to see Mr. Hoover while I was a kid attending the Abbotsford Airshow many years ago. I was fortunate to see his act with ‘Ole Yeller,' his magnificent yellow P51D Mustang, flying his routine that had me mesmerized from the first time I saw it. Bob would fly the routine in the Mustang, doing 8 and 16 point rolls that clicked with precision. He would demonstrate a power-off loop and roll that showed what a master he was in controlling his aeroplane. An absolute master of squeezing every drop of inertia out of a poweron dive only to kill the engine on the climb out and execute the rolls. Bob would come in to land and do his signature landing on one wheel then hop to the other then taxi the Mustang up to the Shrike Commander and climb out from one aircraft and into the other. The Commander was not an aerobatic aircraft in any sense, November 2016
Bob’s routine was so smooth he poured ice tea (upside down) while performing a loop with airforce generals in the back of the plane. The video is on YouTube. I’d encourage any of the new young pilots going through their training to google Bob Hoover and learn just how great a pilot this man was. Blue skies Bob. You were an inspiration to many of us and helped thrill us with a love for aviation. Dan Waldie We love hearing about your flying experiences! Share with us on social media or email them in, to flyvfcmarketing@gmail.com. 5
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VFC News
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Aviation Excellence Since 1946
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November 2016
VFC News
75 Years of The Patrician In collaboration with the BC Aviation Museum, and in celebration of VFC's 70th anniversary (November 1946) and The Patrician's 75th anniversary (October 1941), the first few editions of The Patrician have been made available online, with a few snapshots presented here. https://archive.org/details/@bcam As we approach Remembrance Day, we sincerely hope that this 're-release' will provide an insightful and valuable lookback at our local and global history.
November 2016
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VFC News
While you are at the Victoria Flying Club, don't forget to take a look at our 'Little Pilot Shop.' We have warm jackets (great conversation starters!), IPad mounts, mag lights and more!
Aviation Excellence Since 1946
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The Little Pilot Shop
November 2016
Feature Article
Memories of a Pat Bay Airman Memories from James Scott, RAF Contributed by Allan Scott
Images, left to right: 1. Photo at Hangar #1, RAF side, at Pat Bay Airbase. James Scott is 5th in from the right side, back row. Airplane in the background is an Avro Anson 2. James Scott getting ready to fly in front of an Avro Anson 3. The boys are on their way to Pat Bay by train 4. Pat Bay Hangar #1, October 1942. James Scott is on the ladder and his buddy Phil Neil (who lives on Pender Island) is leaning on the tail November 2016
Editor's note: In advance of this edition of The Patrician, I searched for individuals who may have served out of Pat Bay Airbase during WWII. With help from Scott Eichel and Tom Burdge, I was put in contact with Allan Scott, whose Dad, James Scott, served in the RAF as an airframe technician. With permission from Allan Scott, his story is printed here. Many thanks to S. Eichel, T. Burdge for their help, and also to A. Scott for putting this information together along with other history surrounding Pat Bay's history together for this newsletter. James Scott was one of thousands of British airmen deployed to numerous BCATP bases across Canada during WWII. It wasn't until the ship sailed from England that Dad's squadron was informed of the well-guarded secret that their destination would be 32 OTU Patricia Bay, B.C. None of the airmen had any idea where Patricia Bay was until a wounded Canadian soldier returning home spoke up and said that Patricia Bay was on Vancouver Island and that they were the luckiest people alive. Before long my Dad and his fellow airframe technicians at Patricia Bay set to work on a variety of different aircraft. The bright yellow Avro Anson got plenty of attention as it was utilized for pilot and navigational training. It was not unusual for mechanics to go up on a check ride, and on several occasions, Dad strapped on a parachute and experienced a circuit or two. Security of the base was taken very seriously and the crews would take turns with sentry detail guarding aircraft. This involved a sentry with a rifle at the 9
ready with fixed bayonet. Accidents and mishaps were quite common at BCATP bases in Canada and Patricia Bay had its share. My Dad noted one such incident in his log book about a Hampden assumed to have crashed off the coast of Washington after not returning home. There were also numerous unfortunate incidents right on the airfield. Dad's best mate Phil Neil witnessed a bomber that flew straight into Mt. Tuam on Saltspring Island. He said that for some reason the pilot of the Hampden was unable to gain altitude. As upsetting as these incidents were, the airmen had to carry on regardless of any losses. The RAF ensured there were plenty of recreational things for the men to do in the camp. Ski trips to Mt. Baker, golf, tennis, boxing, soccer, rugby, and much more. The little coffee shop called Mary's in Sidney was a popular place for both RCAF and RAF personnel to go. Apparently shower facilities at Pat Bay were limited and it was not unusual for some of the men to take a cold ocean dip in Bazan Bay. One time, the Ice Follies came to Victoria for a show, and they requested air force personnel to participate. My Dad, who was not known for his skating prowess, volunteered. On a practice drill, he managed to flatten one poor girl to the ice. He helped her to her feet, and within the year, he made Alison Craig his bride. Quite a number of Patricia Bay airmen also won the hearts of Canadian girls, and many married and resided in Victoria after the war. Just about all of my Dad's mates and their wives purchased homes in Oak Bay close to each other. www.flyvfc.com
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Feature Article
Jerry Gosley was the editor of 'The Patrician' magazine, a very popular monthly that the RAF produced and sold for fifteen cents a copy. The magazine was a morale booster to inform the men of local island news and important news from home. Wives of airmen were permitted to frequent camp for dances and provided entertainment putting on shows. When Jerry Gosley retired from the Air Force, he continued on to organize a very popular British themed entertainment variety show in Victoria called the 'Smile Show,' which ran for many years. During the war, my mother's Dad was the superintendent at the Esquimalt Graving dock. The family lived inside the dockyard compound in a beautiful stately home. The Craig family took every opportunity to host Patricia Bay airmen with lunches and teas. These acts of kindness were done by many good hearted people on Vancouver Island that wanted to ensure these young airmen were comfortable while they were away from home. Dad would commute from the large home in Esquimalt dry-dock to Patricia Bay camp. My Dad told us stories of the 1942 Columbia Pictures production of 'Commandos Strike at Dawn,' starring Paul Muni. The locations included Victoria, Saanich Inlet, Heals Range, and Pat Bay Airbase. Some of the interior Aviation Excellence Since 1946
shots were filmed at 'Willows Park' movie sound stage which was close to Oak Bay High School. The film required lots of extras and Canadian and British airmen were recruited. John Farrow was absolutely livid with a British extra during a very complex battle scene. Apparently the shot was ruined when the airmen roared with laughter after being shot dead by Germans. My Dad said that the stars were all very cordial with the airmen at Pat Bay and would pose for photos. The following are a few notes picked from my father's personal log from Patricia Bay, 1944: Jan. 11 - Late shift, raining hard and fog (no flying). Very little to do Jan. 20 - After dinner, Alison and I went to an RAF dance at Crystal Gardens Jan. 29 - A/C (no. P1200) missing from previous night. No news. 5:15 pm bus home Jan. 31 - Got a lift to camp. Hampdens to be picketed and worked until 10:30 pm. Stayed in camp Feb. 7 - Hampdens to be handed over to repair squadron. I am posted to repair squadron and am very glad to leave 'C' Flight. Home by 6:00 pm Feb. 8 - Report to Repair Squadron. Retained to look after the Hampdens. Finished up at 4:45 pm Feb. 9 - Coming home got a ride as far as Elk Lake in station van. Later picked up in 10
another car by three ladies, one of whom was Lady Burdon Feb. 10 - Hampden sunk in mud. Damaged wheel in towing. Wheel changed out. Some rumours going around again about unit moving Feb. 13 - Previous remours confirmed. Unit will return to the UK. Started to pack up possessions. Prepare for kit and uniform inspection Feb. 15 - Bus to camp. Anson 80 hr. inspection. Not very busy and got lift home Mar. 19 - Packing up luggage. This is it. Said goodbye to the family. Managed to get good berth on the train in Vancouver. Played cards and won $3. Difficult to sleep. Played cards again and won $7 Upon returning back to the UK, Dad was posted to No. 8 GSE - Brize Norton. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, he was tasked with loading supplies and personnel on gliders. His wife Alison would join him and have their first child. Eventually they returned home on HMS Queen Elizabeth. As a young man in the 60s, I remember the retired RAF airmen and their wives as wonderful people. Our families were all very close and even today, we still have a special bond. All the kids grew up together, and we stay in touch. Allan Scott November 2016
Feature Article
The Victoria Flying Club A lookback in time
The Victoria Flying Club is celebrating 70 years since incorporation on November 16th, 1946! As a celebration, we provide a lookback on our history. Stay tuned in December for a further lookback! See something missing? Have information to fill in? Have experiences to share? Did you get your licence between 1946 - 2000? Email your experiences to flyvfcmarketing@gmail. com.
1920s, 1930s
the later Victoria Flying Club, received its first Moth (G-CAKA) and soon commenced flight instruction at the modern Lansdowne Airfield. The book, Wings Across the Water (Elwood White and Peter Smith, p. 66), reports that some activities of the Victoria Aero Club largely came to a close when the Club's Moth crashed on March 10, 1929, although with no fatalities. Commercial flight operations at Lansdowne Airfield were prohibited in 1930 (although it was still actively used as an airfield) (Wings, p. 71), and aviation filtered to other areas of Victoria, such as Gordon Head Airport, farmers' fields in Sidney, and water aerodromes. Years later, Mr. Kennelly would report in the Daily Colonist (September 10, 1946) that the Club stayed active out of the Gordon Head Airport until the start of the war. The Great Depression also caused the aviation industry to take a hit and flying enthusiasts found inventive ways to keep flying. The book, The Magnificent Distances (Provincial Archives, Dennis Duffy and Carol Crane, p. 47), tells:
Image: In the 1920s, the Daily Colonist ran a regular column, 'Aviation News,' that kept readers abreast of local developments In the 1920s, the aviation industry was quickly growing throughout the world. Honorary secretary-instructor of the newly formed Victoria Aero Club, Mr. Sydney Pickles, stated, "We (Canada) are certainly a late starter, but with energetic action we can catch up with our aviation organization. We will profit from the experience gained by others, but we cannot delay any longer." In an effort to boost Canada's aviation industry, the Dominion Government started in 1928 loaning de Havilland Moth airplanes to civil flying clubs, under conditions specified by the Department of Defence (March 7, 18, 23, 1928, The Daily Colonist). In May 1928, the Victoria Aero Club, progenitor of
November 2016
"Maurice McGregor: In those days one had to do barnstorming. When I was operating in Victoria from Lansdowne airport, business was rather slack, so I decided to try and drum up business in Sidney. There was no airport there. So I flew over Sidney and selected a field, a farmer's field. That field was located on what today is the eastern boundary of the Victoria International Airport. It was just a green field. So I put on a show - aerobatics and all that sort of thing - to try and create a little excitement, and then dove down at the field. In consequence a lot of curious people would come out to see what was going on. They were unsuspecting clients, our customers! That's what barnstorming consisted of. You'd keep moving around trying to pick up a dollar here and a dollar there."
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Feature Article Women in Aviation
1940s With WWII, many pilots joined the air force or got their wings while serving. The farmland that Maurice McGregor used to barnstorm had been converted for RCAF and RAF use as a training station (Pat Bay Airbase) and saw around 10,000 servicemen pass through. After the War, many came back to Victoria with flying skills and quickly set about reforming a flying club.
The Victoria Flying Club started in May 1946 with 38 members and quickly jumped up to 150 within two years. The Club acquired a Tiger Moth in August for Image: Planes that the Victoria Flying Club owned or leased, 1949 $1406 which helped qualify the Club for incorporation. The Tiger Moth was sold not long afterwards to help purchase the Piper Cub from Dave Duncan. In those days, the Club organized non-flying activities as well, such as beach parties, wiener roasts, dances. A coffee bar existed in the Club facilities and a monthly newspaper entitled 'Sane Flight' was available for members. Stay tuned for more in the December Patrician! Statistics of the Victoria Flying Club, 1928, 1946 1928
1946
Associate Membership
$5*
$5 (annual: $5)
Flying Membership
$25
Sustaining Membership
$25 (annual: $5)
Life Membership
$100
Dual control instruction
$15/hour
$12/hour (solo: $8/hour)
Average cost of qualifying for a PPL
$150
Ground school
Free
Airplane rental
$7.50/hour
Training aircraft
DH Moth (G-CAKA)
Tiger Moth, Piper Cub, Fleet Canuck
Early students
Miss Nan Eve, 15 years old (the youngest?)**
L. Layton***, Phyliss Lindsay, Curly Woodfield, Ted Hibberson, Blanche Cardinal
President
Ernest Eve****, A.W. (Nick) Carter*****
Wing Commander F.T.S. Sehl, R.C.A.F.*2, later F. Marconi******
Vice-President, Manager
Lieut. Hal Wilson
J.B. Taylor
Secretary
J.W. Cox
Viola Savage, Frank Kennelly, Stephen Chamut, P.C Musgrave
Instructor
Sydney Pickles (honorary secretaryinstructor)
Dave Duncan
Board of Directors
Myles Hague, Stephen Chamut, T.B. Toye, F.W. Moore, Frank Kennelly
Location
Lansdowne Airfield
Cassidy (May), Pat Bay Airport (August onward)
Flying stats (across Canada, all flying clubs)
8124.5 hours 25357 individual flights 130 pilots' licences issued *******
23 flying clubs
* February 11, 1928 'Daily Colonist' ** February 12, 1928 'Daily Colonist' *** May 7, 1946 'Daily Colonist' **** Wings Across the Water', Elwood White and Peter Smith, p. 48
Aviation Excellence Since 1946
***** July 3, 1928 'Daily Colonist' ****** November 27 1946 'Daily Colonist' ******* February 23, 1928 'Daily Colonist'
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November 2016
Member Achievements
First Solos and Member Achievements
Mark Trueman Instructor: Eugene Nehring
Joelson Popoff Instructor: Brady Tucker “Without disruption of air traffic, these fearless, forthright, indomitable and courageous individuals did venture into the wild blue yonder in flying machines. Furthermore, these skillful individuals did safely land said flying machines at Victoria International Airport, incurring no significant damage to self or machine, thus completing first solo flights.�
David Lunn Instructor: Silvia Zilker
New Members Chris Hulme Christian Renfer Dean Steffins Greg Murray Halen Lindberg James Ward-Hesketh Laurie Ingalls Leah Varga Max Materi Michael Romaine Nicholas Byers Nick Cimarosti Normand Bidal Tom McCordic First Solo David Lunn Joelson Popoff Mark Trueman
PPL Written Exam Mark Trueman Matthew Fenlon Parvesh Bhinder William Neufeld PPL Flight Test James Skittrell Matthew Fenlon Matthew Hughson Nicholas Smith Ocean Thomas Paul Willis Emmanuel Odonkor
CPL Flight Test Doan Allan William Levene MIFR Jack Luettger Lotus Kapoor
PPL Licence James Skittrell Ocean Thomas
Image: Instagram, pdwphotography. Paul Willis celebrates completing his PPL (www.instagram.com/p/BL7auvKBbKG) November 2016
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FleetCaptain Corner
FleetCaptain Corner FleetCaptain
The Weight and Balance Graphic The weight and balance graphic shows up in a variety of places in FleetCaptain, including on the ßight authority form. There is quite a bit of information on it. What is that ELW dot? That’s the estimated landing weight. On the chart on the left, you can see that the takeoff weight is 2238 lbs, and is coloured blue meaning that the aircraft is initially loaded in the normal category. The ZFW dot is the zero fuel weight and is in the utility category (green). The ELW is about half way between the TOW and the ZFW. So at a glance you can see that this ßight will entail burning about half of the initial useable fuel. What’s that diamond just below the TOW? That’s the point at which the aircraft will enter the utility category as fuel is burned. Visually weÕd expect that transition to happen about 1/3 of the way through our ßight. The utility category fuel level (if applicable) is shown numerically on the ßight authority form. So the chart is simple, but there is enough information to easily derive a good understanding of the situation. One concern arises from time to time: Because the weight and balance data is electronically prepared before every ßight, pilots, especially students may ÒforgetÓ how to do W&B manually, or just not bother. Clearly that’s a valid concern - one that must be met with vigilance on the part of pilots and instructors. One beneÞt of having the chart is that when a pilot does the calculation, a comparison can be made with the ßight authority form to ensure the calculation is correct. WhatÕs the point of practicing a calculation if there is no way to know if the answer is right? Another beneÞt is the ability to visualize the result and prepare for the expected aircraft handling characteristics - at the beginning and at various points during the ßight. Airline pilots have data prepared but are still responsible for the results. VFC pilots have the same convenience and responsibility as far as weight and balance is concerned.
Steve Demy
ATPL, ATP (multi), B. Eng. (Electrical) Victoria Flying Club - Director Columbia 300 owner FleetCaptain - Founder sndaviation.com Aviation Excellence Since 1946
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November 2016
Tower Talk
TOWER TALK
November 2016
by by Simon Dennis, YYJ Tower ATC, ATPL
DETAILS MATTER Often, it’s in the details. Those seemingly little things that often are left to fall between cracks, not given their due worth or consideration. The ones whose importance we often realize more in hindsight, ones that slowly simmer, building towards a more significant outcome. Human nature is drawn towards the momentous times and all that they signify. A moment even inserts itself as the root of the word momentous, not too subtly hinting that its very mention can imply grandeur and spectacle. There is nothing wrong with this search for large moments, and the pursuit is a noble one - we need big moments, the satisfaction and worth their occurrence brings. Often they signify the culmination of a long journey - earning ones wings, for example. Certainly momentous in every sense of the word. A journey’s end is only made possible because of the details, and indeed they are what the important moments are entirely composed of, as if such a thing could be cut open, its inner workings revealing a unique and purposefully arranged collection of parts, details, working in harmony to make that moment momentous, to make it matter. In aviation, we realize immediately that details matter. From day one of learning to fly, starting with an instructor demonstrating a walk-around, I bet you would find it difficult to imagine a time when more important details where thrown your way in such a short amount of time. Immediately, you are made aware that in this business, details matter. In air traffic control details matter. Training as an ATC, we rapidly learn that the use of proper phraseology is essential to our message being delivered clearly, unambiguously, and efficiently, and an example taken directly from a recent
communication I had between a Dash-8 and myself shows us just how much a detail can make a difference. Two weekends ago (mid-October), during the final act of a trio of early season frontal waves that took aim at the BC south coast, the altimeter setting dropped to the lowest level I have ever seen it at YYJ, a station, need not I remind you, that lies only 64’ above sea level. That day the altimeter sunk to 28.95” Hg, almost a full inch below standard mean sea level pressure. Amongst the vast collection of rules that ATC’s term MATS - Manual of Air Traffic Services (because I know you need another acronym in that head), is a rarely used requirement to physically say the altimeter setting twice to any pilot when its value drops below 29.00” Hg. On this day l, at this low setting, issued a commercial operator a taxi clearance, which of course included the altimeter setting. The conversation went as follows: me: “[Operator] ___ ground, Runway 09, wind xxx @ xx, altimeter two-eight-niner-five, I say again, altimeter twoeight-niner-five, taxi via Bravo, Runway 03, Golf, Echo, contact one-one-niner-seven holding short.” pilot: “Runway 09 via Bravo, Runway 03, Golf, Echo, altimeter two-niner-eight-five…” me: “[Operator] ___ negative, altimeter TWO-EIGHTNINER-FIVE.” pilot:
“Roger, two-eight-niner-five…”
Let’s pause and look at it the other way - there are very few details in aviation that don’t matter. Let’s rephrase that and
VFC smile cards Pick up your smile card today at the VFC office, and 5% of your grocery purchase will go towards creating scholarships and awards for VFC members. Thank-you Thrifty Foods! To date, the Victoria Flying Club has received over $17,506 from the Thrifty Foods Smile Card program. These funds have been appreciated by all members of the club. Thank you Thrifty Foods! November 2016
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Tower Talk just say every detail in aviation matters. There, that’s clearer. In this particular example, the detail that is the extraordinary altimeter setting definitely matters. A lot. For those of you who have previously attended a weather or mountain ground school of mine, think back (fondly please) on when the discussion turned to altimeter error. You know where I’m going here. Take a second to run the numbers in the above conversation, and you do not need to reach for your E6B or Google for this one. You can do this the old fashioned way. The instructor and weather enthusiast in me honestly hopes someone just said to themselves “high to low look out below” - hint hint.
"The altimeter setting dropped to the lowest level I have ever seen it at YYJ." Ok, time’s up. If that commercial operator had set 29.85, as initially read back, their altimeter would have read 964’ ASL while taxiing to runway 09. Now, had I not noticed the error and corrected it, it is my sincere hope that this would’ve been caught immediately by the pilots upon scanning instruments during taxi, and at the very latest point, before commencing a takeoff roll. I can almost guarantee that it would’ve been. But I can’t be 100% sure. And I, we, have to always consider the worst case scenario. In aviation, we must. If the operator had become airborne reading 900’ feet in error (964’ - 64’ field elevation), they would’ve levelled out not at their IFR cleared altitude as per the standard instrument departure of 3000’ ASL, but at 2036’ ASL, almost 1000’ closer to the ground than thought. Potentially in cloud. This particular value also happens to below the minimum IFR safe altitude of 2000’ ASL for the departure corridor of runway 09. An IFR safe altitude is one which, in this region, guarantees an IFR aircraft 2000’ of clearance above the highest obstacle within a 5NM radius of the aircraft. So, there you are. A detail, missed initially by the pilot, and that if missed by me and the pilot again that could've led to a passenger carrying aircraft, operating in cloud on a very challenging and distracting weather day, being below a protected altitude. In plain language: all bets off, nothing guaranteed in terms of obstacle clearance as they continued to fly without visual reference. This example is eye opening, and very real - an extraordinary altimeter setting on an extraordinary day. The beautiful part of it is that the system worked. That regulation requiring me to say the altimeter setting twice had its desired effect. Not initially, as even saying it twice didn’t prevent an initial incorrect read-back. But that is reality. We are all far from perfect, and never will be. That is why details matter. That is why we have multiple lines of defence, and what that regulation, in my opinion, was truly designed to do - protect us many layers deep. It ultimately did just that. By saying the altimeter setting twice, I realized the importance on that Aviation Excellence Since 1946
day to actively listen to the pilot’s read back to a very high degree. It is such an unusual thing for me to say an altimeter setting twice that my ear was hyper aware, listening for any response that was less than perfect. Actively listening, without a doubt, is a detail as well - one of our most important ones as ATC and pilots alike. Whether the altimeter setting is 28.95 or 29.92, I must always be actively listening, but this day demanded an even more heightened level of awareness. At PrepAIR, our vision is also rooted in details. Simple ones, which are often the most important - a hello eye to eye, sharing an idea with a peer, an unknown connection made in a welcoming environment that leads to learning something new. I am very excited to announce that planning for PrepAIR YYJ 2017 next spring is well underway, and that coming next month in these pages, details on a series of new PrepAIR events, to take place year-round and further your participation, will be announced. In the meantime, please fly to the newly updated prepairyyj.com to learn more and keep up to date as plans unfold. From that time during your first walk-around, when your instructor showed you an opening on the fuselage barely the size of a sharp pencil and you learned it was vital to the functioning of numerous instruments, to the amount of sleep you managed two nights before a flight, to how that controller congratulated you on air after your first solo (hopefully!), and to that rare day when an altimeter setting is said twice. Never forget, details matter. Simon Dennis is a YYJ tower air traffic controller, ATPL holder, co-creator of PrepAIR Pilot Accredited Inter-user Refresher seminars, and former VFC instructor. He can be reached at simon.dennis@navcanada.ca.
Image: Simon Dennis and Darlene George of Nav Canada receive the Back and Bevington Air Safety Trophy at the Silver Wings Awards in October 2016 16
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COPA Quadrant
FLY-OUT BUG COPA Flight 6
developments on the airport lands. With Sidney, Gateway Village on the northeast corner of the airport property approved, I urge you to come out and direct any questions or concerns you have regarding building development, aircraft movement and any other issues related to general aviation at YYJ.
The COPA Flight 6 Board consists of: Flight Captain (President): Rob Shemilt Co-Captain (Vice President): Allan Rempel Navigator (Treasurer): Art Reitsma
This month will also be our Annual General Meeting, and I hope you will continue to support COPA Flight 6 as we have steadily built a great meeting place for aviation enthusiasts and also a voice for general aviation at CYYJ. I will not be returning as your Captain (President) as this is my second year being lead, and I have arranged almost 24 meetings. I urge someone from our group to step forward and take over as Captain (President) to keep us moving forward. The position doesn't require a lot of time or commitment, and if a few people step forward it will make light work for all.
The October COPA Flight 6 meeting was a tour of Harwood Custom Composites located at Victoria International Airport. Sixteen members toured one of Sidney's best kept secrets doing world class aviation fabrication. Jon Harwood started the company in 1999 to meet the need for high quality aerospace composite fabrication. The tour started with 3 dimensional scanning and showed examples of 3D printing of intricate aviation parts. Other services shown were thermoforming, custom molds and CNC 3 and 5 axis routing. HCC provides materials to Viking Air and other on-field aviation providers. HCC specializes in one-off and small run projects and is very customer service focused.
Again please join us at VFC and you neither need to be a member of COPA National nor a Victoria Flying Club member to attend. Email: copaflight6@gmail.com Blog: copaflight6.blogspot.ca
The November 1st, 7:00 PM meeting will be at the Victoria Flying Club. James Bogusz, Vice-President, Operations and Development for the Victoria Airport Authority will be our presenter. James last joined us approximately two years ago, and again James will bring us up-to-date on the latest
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Ground School Schedule
Ground School Schedule Fall 2016 Private Pilot Classes run Mon. and Wed. from 19:00 to 22:00. DATE
TOPIC
INSTRUCTOR
Nov 2
Meteorology I
Sean
Nov 7
Meteorology II
Sean
Nov 9
Meteorology III
Sean
Nov 14
Meteorology IV
Sean
Nov 16
Meteorology V
Sean
Nov 21
Meteorology VI
Sean
Nov 23
Flight Operations I
Jessica
Nov 28
Flight Operations II
Jessica
Nov 30
Radio & Electronic Theory
Jessica
Dec 5
Navigation I
Brady
Dec 7
Navigation II
Brady
Pricing: Ground School Course: $350 Ground School Kit: $275 Learn to Fly package: $675
VFC CHARTER SERVICE - BE THERE IN MINUTES! The Victoria Flying Club operates a charter service to a variety of destinations the lower BC area. VFC Charter offers inexpensive, timely, and direct transportation to places not serviced by other commercial carriers.
print & imaging
The charter service is an on-demand operation (no set schedules) and is operational in day VFR conditions. Please contact us for more information on destinations and costs.
art & framing book printing Victoria: 905 Fort St., Victoria BC V8V 3K3 Tel: 250-385-9786 Sidney: 2411 Beacon Ave., Sidney BC V8L 2X2 Tel: 250-656-1233
For more information or to book a flight Email: tedk@flyvfc.com Call: 1-778-350-3213
Aviation Excellence Since 1946
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November 2016
February 2016 Landscape Artisans
250.891.9424
19 pacificridgelandscapes.com
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