Safety Notices

The CAA is to allow 8.33 kHz handheld radios to be used in flight following a review which concluded that radios conforming to existing European standards for non-airborne operation can provide the required levels of safety and performance for airborne use.

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The approval will allow pilots of ‘non-EASA’ aircraft’ to use handheld radios on their Aircraft Radio Licence outside Class A, B and C airspace; non-EASA aircraft, also known as ‘Annex II’, includes microlights, kit-built aircraft and many vintage aircraft.

Mike Barnard, the CAA’s General Aviation Programme Manager, said: “Pilots who fly aircraft that cannot be equipped with fixed radio sets will now have a viable and safe alternative.

“The latest handheld radios now have equivalent performance capabilities to fixed radios but without the need to modify aircraft systems. Allowing their use in flight will greatly improve the ability of pilots to build a mental picture of other airspace users, positively contributing to safety in the GA sector.”

The changes come in with immediate effect and further information can be found on the CAA’s website:

http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=33&pagetype=65&appid=11&mode...

The conduct of some recent flights at Beachy Head suggest that a reminder of the restrictions that apply there might be helpful in avoiding problems with the local residents and the Eastbourne Borough Council who permit us to fly there.

The site is very popular with visitors of all kinds, and we must make sure that we do not draw the wrong kind of attention to ourselves.

Firstly, be aware that while the SE bowl may be flown all year round, the cliffs may not be overflown below 200 feet AGL (730 feet AMSL) between 1 February and 1 August.

The lower SE cliffs may be soared as far as Holywell café on the outskirts of Eastbourne, but we must avoid overflying the Whitbread Hollow bird sanctuary in the next bowl along from take-off towards Eastbourne. Soaring the promenade is forbidden.

To fly the south cliffs, you must be Pilot rated.

Please read the site guide entry for Beachy Head if you are in any doubt about the flying rules and restrictions, and if anything is not clear, please contact a committee member to highlight any confusion so that the guide can be reviewed and amended if required.

From SEWHGPGC:

Model Competition at Nant-y-Moel
Sorry for the late notice, but I've just heard that the model aircraft folk will be holding their international event, the Welsh Open, at Nant-y-Moel this weekend (Fri 20th - Sun 21st September 2013).

This is the penultimate event for a seasonal FAI Euro Tour Competition and there will be several competitors flying on the weekend in with a chance of wining the Euro Tour Competition so the level of competition will be high.

As the current forecast wind direction for Saturday is south westerly, this is likely to mean that their competition will take place close to the area we normally use for take-off and landing.

In the interests of safety, SEWHGPGC members are strongly advised to avoid flying Nant-y-Moel over the weekend whilst this competition takes place.

If however you do decide to visit Nant-y-Moel over the weekend, please co-operate fully with the Competition organizers and take extra care. Remember modellers have just as much right to fly Nant-y-Moel as we do, and if one of our pilots comes into contact with a model aircraft whilst flying it's really going to spoil the hang glider or paraglider pilot's day as he or she will most likely come off the worst in the encounter.

Paul

Dimensional checks have recently been made locally on a number of Team 5 gliders and the lines have been found to be significantly out of tolerance. Consequently ALL Team 5 gliders should be considered grounded until such time as a satisfactory line length check has been completed.

Pilots are further advised by the DHV that line length checks should be undertaken every 50 flights..