Volume 3, Issue 5: May 2006

General Membership Meeting:
May 30, 7:00pm at the EAA/CAP Hangar
On the Agenda:
* "FAA Safety Presentation" by John Goostrey
* Phil Verghese resigns from Board of Directors
* New 182 Purchase report

Hangar/Plane Wash & BBQ:
June 5, 5:00pm at the T-Craft Hangar

Board Meeting:
June 13, 7:00pm in the T-Craft Hangar

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CLUB? POLICES? OR GETTING A NEW MEMBER APPLICATION? WE HAVE THE ANSWER! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT!

FUEL RE-IMBURSEMENT PRICE FOR MAY $3.86
Members who have purchased fuel "out of pocket" can deduct this price per gallon from bill, or the billing director can credit the amount on next statement. Please include copy of receipt either way.

The Vice President vacancy has been filled. After a vote on three great candidates, David Peterson won the majority. On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you all for your interest!

Power has been restored in the front of the hangar, new fixtures have been installed.

The Board of Directors has voted in a new backcountry policy. Please review the new policy. Any questions or concerns as well as the backcountry pilot approval process, please direct to the Membership/Safety Director, or any Board member. Also, the policy now reflects Airport ID's and RHI numbers on the Airstrip listing.

The EPA is cracking down on pilots dumping "sumped" fuel on the ramp. It is a very steep fine if you are caught. We have purchased devices to filter the fuel back into the aircraft. It is a little cumbersome the first time you use it, but it is necessary. Remove the top (strainer) section of the fuel tester, drain fuel, and place fuel strainer on top of tester. Open top of strainer and carefully replace fuel back into fuel tank.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO CANCEL YOUR FLIGHT IN SCHEDULE MASTER IF YOU CAN'T FLY. THE BOARD CAN CHARGE ONE HOUR PER DAY AT THE SCHEDULED AIRCRAFT RATE ACCORDING TO CLUB POLICY #15.

REMEMBER: We are all owners of these aircraft. We all need to take care of these planes! Make sure they are locked, and CLEAN. In the winter months, it takes longer to warm up the oil. Take a few extra minutes to warm up the oil before doing a run-up. It only takes a minute, and it saves possible damage and extra wear on the aircraft.

It is always a good idea to check with FSS before every flight. There could be new TFR's posted in the area you are about to fly, or numerous other items you wouldn't otherwise be aware of.

Please be very careful to ONLY wash the windscreens in an up-and-down motion. Also, along with your normal post-flight, make sure the keys and fuel card are in the bag and left in the box at the hangar. 

You can order Apparel from Bulldog Shirt Shop in Nampa on 12th Ave. They have our logo and will put it on any item in their catalog. Click on their name for the map and phone number

The Board has decided to allow any member wishing to post classified ads in the newsletter for aviation items only. 
Please email your ads to James Ferdinand.

ANY MEMBER CAN REQUEST THE MINUTES FROM ANY MEETING. Any member that would like a copy of any meeting minutes can contact James Ferdinand by email. Any member of the board can provide the minutes as well.

Please keep your contact information (phone numbers, email addresses, postal address) updated in Schedule Master. To check or update your contact information, login to Schedule Master, click the "User" tab at the top, then click the link that says "Click here to edit your user info" which appears just above the list of users.

THE 2005 ANNUAL REPORT IS AVAILABLE
TO MEMBERS ONLINE BY REQUEST.
Please send request to james@t-craft.org

375:  Green nav light replaced. Annual Complete $1424.87.

686:  Mode "C" squawk was a non-event. System was not in correct configuration. I changed oil and filter today.

64L:  Placard #2 radio “Receive Only”.

91X:  Windscreen resealed per squawk (Dennis).

29Q:  New circuit breaker for landing/taxi lights.

0YD:  Mode "C" squawk.  Found a pin disconnect with old NARCO altitude encoder.  According to ground test system now operates properly.  Fingers crossed.  Next flight should tell us for sure.

USE TACH TIME  FOR SQUAWKS PLEASE. This helps the maintenance team tremendously!  The sign-out sheets have not changed. Continue to use HOBBS time for sign out sheets. This will continue to be the way you are billed.

Please check Schedule Master and squawk sheets for new squawks on the aircraft you are about to fly. Also, please call the next pilot scheduled to fly if you squawk the aircraft. DON'T FORGET TO LIST YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER!

Ian Brown soloed on 4/29/2006 in N67375. 
And a great job he did.
Congratulations Ian !! --Jim Hudson

We are interested in stories and/or pictures of trips from the membership! Please remit to james@t-craft.org or call James Ferdinand at 724-3309.

by Phil Verghese

Spring Tune Up

The birds are chirping, the skies are clear and the weather is just beautiful for flying this time of year. This is also the perfect time to give your flying a Spring tune up, especially if you haven't been doing a lot of flying recently. For many of us, our flying skills were best on the day of our check ride but may have gotten rusty over time. One excellent way to tune up your flying skills is by participating in the FAA Wings program. John Goostrey from the FAA will be giving a safety presentation at our May general membership meeting, which counts as the required ground training for the Wings program. If you are unable to attend the May meeting, there are several online courses available from the AOPA Air Safety Foundation that also count for the required ground training.

Once you've completed the ground training, then fly with an instructor for a total of 3 hours of training on takeoffs and landings, maneuvers, slow flight, stalls, and instrument flight. You don't even have to use the same instructor for the 3 hours -- you may choose to use 2 or 3 different instructors for the flight training portion to get different perspectives.

There are several benefits to participating in the Wings program:

• Completing a new Wings level fulfills the requirement for a BFR every 24 months. I recommend earning a new Wings level every 12 months to keep your flying skills sharp.

• If you are ever involved in an FAA action, being an active participant in the Wings program will work in your favor. It shows the FAA that you are a concerned about safety and your own proficiency.

• Some insurance carriers give discounts on their rates for pilots that are active participants in the Wings program.

• You get a set of wings from the FAA each time you advance to a new level. The only way to obtain these wings is to earn them.

Each time you complete a new Wings level, the FAA sends you a distinctive Wings pin. The wings get nicer as you earn higher levels.

On another note I've enjoyed being the Membership Director for the past few years, but unfortunately it's time for me to step down. Work and personal commitments are competing for my time, and I am just not going to be able to continue my participation on the board. Over the past few years I think the board has made a really positive impact on the club, and the board we have today is much more effective than it was just a few years ago when I joined the club. It's best for me to step down and give someone else a chance to serve as the Membership Director. We've got a great board, which makes it a bit easier for me to give up my position knowing that the club is in good hands. This is a terrific flying club, and I'm looking forward to having more time to spend on flying and instructing in the club.