3 rd September 2007

Co-operation

Many of you may have read the Notams for LR last week and this and thought 7am – 9pm para dropping sounds like no chance to fly. How wrong you would be. The co-operation we are getting with the RAF units using LR gets better and better. I was contacted by the officer in charge of the dropping detail and we have agreed the procedures for getting aircraft in and out without delays or danger to any parties. We have asked for and the RAF agreed to monitor SafetyCom 135.475 so that they can be fully aware of our movements and any others in the area.. We had a debrief this Monday and met again on the airfield for a chat. The support we are getting from the RAF to get LR into full GA use is fantastic.

Grass Runways

We were asked last month if we could take a Tiger Moth and provide grass runways specifically for the skid mounted taildraggers. We started talks with the RAF and we have agreed the general areas to use. Yesterday we had a site meeting to understand and discuss operations near the RDF site. The outcome ‘should’ be positive and that should open the way for us to start preparing, cutting and marking out 3 reasonable length grass strips parallel to the existing runways. Co-operation working again. We also learnt that the RDF station on the airfield is in fact part of the West Drayton D & D network behind the distress frequency 121.5

Image Project

Jobs completed this last month include:

Second and very short cut of all the grass areas

Grass taxiway to ‘32’ doubled in width to allow aircraft to ‘weave’ safely

Inside of front hangar doors cleaned with traffic grime solution

Cotswold stone wall strimmed clear of weeds…strimming continues in other areas

Dense undergrowth at entrance gate levelled

Cleaning of paintwork on the outside wall at north end of 102 started

The compressor systems are being readied for sand-blasting the rusty outside of the doors of both hangars. That process will start in early September followed by ‘red lead and new paintwork’

A major attack on the main gate area will start this month. We think a nice ‘front door look’ is important

Arrivals & Departures

Andrew Holman, a resident in Kemble days visited over the weekend and is impressed with the new facilities. He say that he plans to bring his Yak 11 to LR when its engine is finished and refitted…possibly late October

Fuel

We are back on the radar with Exxon and their new country manager – Caroline Pennington. First delivery was made on 28 th August and the anticipated price increase puts our fuel price up to £1.41 per litre incl VAT

Summer Events

The summer Bar Be Que took place on Saturday 1 st September . A fun time was had by those attending albeit a smaller number than we expected. From various conversations it appears that a bundle of invites may have not made it thru the postal system. We had the usual excuses for non-attendance…John Bradshaw was displaying the Sea Fury at Bournemouth, Steve Roberts was flying off to the Dolomites as the weather forecast was good and Mike Grimwood with his Hoffman Motor Glider has emigrated to Australia…

Reminders

Please ensure that you book in and out on the form provided on the notice board. Put this in last month and the month before but still a few people forgetting that it is a legal ( CAA ) requirement.

The padlock and chain on the front gate are being misused by some parties. The gate is being left open and/or the code left visible on the lock. Please report any such incidents you see as we are trying to narrow down the search for the culprits before we tackle them

Flying at the weekend means you must remember to contact the VGS for clearance before you taxi away from the hangar. Their mobile in the Control Caravan is 07786504892

Regards Martin, Martin, Colin and Ken