AWA News

New Look Website

2008-03-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone

The website has been revamped and many new features have been added. The news blog is one addition which lets club members see up-to-date news about the club, comment on the posts giving opinions and take part in some polls to see what the members are doing. Hopefully this area will grow.

Other new features include a secure members area with access to club member email address's and other secure information. This section requires you to get a username and password. Navigate to the sign up page (here) or via the menus and get your username by just giving us a few details to confirm that you are a member. Your account will be set up within 48 hours. Committee members will also have access to minutes of meetings and information about future meetings.

The aircraft pages now contain more images so potential new members can have a look around the aircraft online. These are just some of the new features on the new AWA website; the appearance has had a face lift and the brighter colours make the information stand out well.

So have a look around and leave any comments by clicking the link below.

Alex Williams

Flying In Iceland

2007-11-16T19:00:00.000-08:00

At 7.30pm in the club house, Keith Clemo gave an illustrated talk about flying in Iceland. He showed the well attended audience a slide show of a recent trip to Iceland. The slide show showed off the magnificent scenery of Iceland.

Keith and Rosemary were there last August and they flew with a friendly club. They flew in one of the club's two 172’s for hire.

Perhaps a group from AWA would like to travel there for a few days next year?

This talk and the sponsored walk are raising funds for the “Flying Scholarships for the Disabled”.

AWA's Evening Gliding Event

2007-08-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

A report by Keith Clemo - Four members plus friends and family attended this event making a total of 9 in all, of whom 6 chose to fly. The Gliding Centre made us very welcome, with 2 K21 trainers on hand, and a Chipmunk aircraft doing the aerotows. Gliding got underway about 5:30. Despite cool and windy conditions, the first ones to fly found a little bit of lift amongst the patches of evening sunshine. After aerotowing up to 2000 feet, my instructor, Stafford, was very good at explaining how to find lift and circle round to get the best from it. For my part, even though I rarely got the variometer to indicate any actual upward movement, we still managed to reduce the sink rate and prolong the flight to about 20 minutes, although it seemed much longer.

As the evening wore on, the lift dissipated but everyone enjoyed their flights, with clear visibility giving superb views of the local area. Meanwhile, those of us on the ground were treated by the arrival of ‘RK with Bob Bowles and Tony Williams on board. Not an impromptu arrival for the gliding event but just “dropping in” for Tony's check ride in 'RK.

One of the nicest things about the Gliding Centre is their superb restaurant/bar which is where we all retired as it grew too dark to fly. As we paid for our flights, the club explained that our temporary membership entitles us to come and fly again during the next 3 months and I think there are some who might take them up on that. Thanks to the Gliding Centre for laying on a superb event, and especially to instructors Stafford and Sid for showing us PPL’s that the rudder pedals are not just a comfy place to rest your feet. Gliding Poster.

1st Solo

2007-08-01T14:15:00.000-07:00

Another student has taken his 1st solo, well done to Kevin Burnside for joining the ranks of aviators. Good work by Damion Richards for preparing Kevin for his solo achievement.

Polly Vacher Visit

2007-07-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

AWA Club helped host a visit by Polly Vacher to Coventry as part of her Wings Around Britain charity flights, in support of the Flying Scholarships for the Disabled Charity. The Airport management had laid on a full red-carpet welcome at Anson House, using Rangemile's lounge and with AWA providing extra space, making cups of tea and generally helping out. Polly arrived from Bruntingthorpe about 13:15 carrying two disabled passengers and departed at 14:45 to Sywell with another two. As well as the formalities and exchange of passengers, the visit included a book signing, interviews with Cov and Warwick Radio, and with the local paper. The attached photos show Polly's PA28 Dakota on the Apron, and Antony and Rosemary at the book signing.

Antony Butcher having his book signed by Polly

Polly with Rose Clemo

Polly's PA28 Dakota parked amongst AWA's aircraft at Coventry

Polly's PA28 Dakota parked outside AWA Flying Group

Polly taking a well deserved break.

Just a small excerpt out of Polly's diary for this days flights. For further details and more diary entries etc. Click here to go to Polly's web site

"Akash Ram, a 15 year old blind boy was my next passenger with his Aunt, Sal. They were full of questions and I felt bad, but I really had to ask them not to keep talking as I had to talk to controllers and concentrate on getting them safely to Bruntingthorpe. I had rung Bruntingthorpe to ask for a briefing as they use the huge large tarmac runway for testing cars and driving events and normally you have to use a grass runway “We will close half of the tarmac runway for cars just while you land” they told me over the phone. What kindness and trouble people are prepared to go to. I landed on this huge runway. The cloud base was about 1,200 feet and the countryside around there is flat, but the pelting rain made it difficult to see. David Walton the owner led us to a parking spot so that the cars could continue on the runway and took us to the controller to get the books signed.

Victoria Barr who has been awarded an FSD scholarship this year has Muscular Dystrophy. She is a ray of sunshine herself and her mother Maggie came with her in the back of GN. By then, I was running nearly two hours late which made me feel very bad. Coventry had laid on a huge event and the Lord Mayor had a busy calendar. We took off from Bruntingthorpe. This was not a problem as Coventry have an ILS so I knew I would be able to get in. In the event, we managed to do the flight visually in spite of the rain. Chris Orphonou the Managing Director of Coventry Airport was waiting with a huge bouquet of the most beautiful flowers. “The Mayor waited for as long as he could but he had another appointment” he said. I felt dreadful as they had gone to so much trouble, but I could do nothing about the weather and everyone understood. A lady from the BBC was there and we did an interview with my croaky voice. Everyone was waiting patiently in the executive lounge. I was able to give a short speech and thank everyone for their patience and understanding. Coventry had laid on a delicious lunch and at last everyone was able to dig in. I was busy signing books. Everyone was queuing up to buy them. “This is not a fund-raising flight” I had said in my speech “you can fund-raise for too long and your friends do a ‘180’ and run in the other direction” I joked, but several people insisted on giving donations. I feel totally overwhelmed with people’s generosity. I eventually managed to grab some lunch. We rang Sywell (Northampton) and they had a cloud base of 1,200 ft so we were ready to go. Timmy Lang aged 13 was my next passenger. He was like David and unable to speak because of Cerebral Palsy. His grandfather, Maurice Mann, a delightful 84 year old ex Mosquito pilot came with us. Maurice is partially blind and had to be helped into the aircraft, but he was smiling and laughing as was Timmy although Timmy couldn’t speak. We set off for the flight to Sywell."

1st Solo

2007-07-10T13:56:00.000-07:00

A great achievement from our youngest student, Alex Williams, on Tuesday 10th July he finally beat the weather and managed to complete his 1st solo. Alex celebrated his 16th birthday recently and has been waiting for three weeks for the weather to be kind to him. He has had his last 5 lessons cancelled due to bad weather and this prevented him from going solo on his 16th birthday. He quickly followed this achievement by following up his success and taking to the air again the next day and completed another 4 circuits solo, Well done Alex.

1st Solo

2007-07-03T12:57:00.000-07:00

Well done to David Graham for achieving his 1st solo on Tuesday 3rd July with Bob Bowles. Keep up the good work and lets all hope to see you continue to your PPL. Also well done to Damion who has been instructing David, I believe this was his 1st student who has gone solo?

Congratulations

2007-06-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

Well done to Rosemary Clemo and Nick Wyndow for coming second in the Dawn to Dusk competition. They were presented with the quite aptly named "Coventry Trophy". The competition is open to any flying machine and can take place from anywhere in the world.

Also another award to Rosemary, she is the first winner of the Vera Lees Trophy for 2006. This trophy is awarded to the AWA member who has flown the furthest solo three legged route.

This is Rose being presented with theVera Lees Trophy by Vera's Grand Daughter.

Secretaries Rally

2007-06-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to everyone who took part in this year's rally, it was a good event and enjoyed by all who took part. Thank you to the secretary for his hard work in organising the rally and to all who helped out on the day.

1st Place

This years rally was won by our chairman Nick Wyndow along with his crew David & Pam Graham. His winning score was 90 points and 87%.

2nd Place

2nd place was won by Peter Jenkins with Antony Butcher and Keith Harrison, they had 87 points and 83%.

3rd Place

3rd place was taken by Gordon Walsh and Kathy with 66 points and 63%.

It's Arrived

2007-06-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

G-AVRK 180 Cherokee is the new club aeroplane and has been fitted with a new engine. It is available for all members who must be either current on a 180 Cherokee or have a check ride with any instructor. Check the e-allocator for availability. Click here for details

Coventry Airport Airfield Operations

2007-02-22T14:49:00.000-08:00

AIRSIDE SAFETY INSTRUCTION N0 01/2007:
ENGINE RUNS

RE ISSUE

TO: ALL OPERATORS AT COVENTRY AIRPORT

FROM: MIKE MORTON (OPERATIONS DIRECTOR)

Engine running is limited to idle power on the West and South Apron (Stands 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 3a and 6a) for a maximum period of five minutes.

All other engine runs required to use greater power settings shall be conducted at:

• The new area identified as “engine run area” beyond the Charlie 1 hold for all aircraft.

Two designated markers are placed beyond Charlie 1 for guidance on aircraft nose wheel placement. Aircraft should be lined up parallel and in the direction of the runway in use. Details are shown in Appendix A.

Aircraft with a MTOW up to 5,700kg may be permitted by ATC to carry out engine running outside the Air Park building. Permission shall be requested before any engine running is carried out.

Under no circumstances shall any engine running be carried out inside any hangar or in the immediate vicinity outside a hanger.

The person responsible for conducting the ground running of an aero engine is to obtain authority from Air Traffic Control for the ground run.

An aircraft engineer or the aircraft pilot shall always be on board the aircraft monitoring the ATC Tower frequency in case it is necessary to move the aircraft or to stop the engines, and in order to ensure the prompt initiation of emergency procedures if required.

The aircraft anti-collision beacon(s) must be switched on before engine running is started and must remain on for the duration of the engine run.

Engine running must not take place when passengers are embarking/disembarking on any adjacent stands.

It shall be the responsibility of the engineer in charge to ensure that the area behind the aircraft is clear of persons, vehicles and equipment and that the ground is free from loose surface materials.

Engine testing shall not normally be permitted between 2300(l) and 0700(l). However, where an aircraft engineer/Pilot requires engine running which is deemed as operationally essential, defined, as any activity required enabling aircraft to operate in accordance with safety regulations they shall inform ATC and request permission.

All engine running outside permitted hours shall be recorded in the ATC Watch Log.

I thank you for your continued cooperation on important safety issues.

Kind regards

MIKE MORTON
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

A Second visit to Vancouver Island 2006

2006-06-28T14:26:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 26th of April this year saw me make my departure from Birmingham Airport for another visit to the beautiful Canadian Province of British Columbia.

July 7th 1999 saw me depart from Stansted Airport for a first visit accompanying a dear friend of mine Vera Lees, who was visiting her Son Brian John Lees who whilst he was born in The George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton, England has for more than thirty years lived in Canada first in the Province of Ontario then the the Province of Alberta and for the last fifteen or so years on Vancouver Island which is off the Pacific Coast of Canada, in the Province of British Columbia.

I had met Vera, a Widow, in my house in 1990 courtesy of a neighbour Mrs Maureen Watts, Vera and Maureen had at one time been colleagues in the same office. Vera’s Marriage to Jack Lees who was in fact my second Cousin, had lasted for thirty-six years and produced one Son, Brian. Jack Lees’s life came to an end in 1982 and sadly Vera who in the last twenty years of her life had been troubled with Heart disease.died on 29th November 2002.

I decided to found a new Trophy for Annual competition in the AWA Flying Group, The Vera Lees Trophy, to be awarded for the longest three legged flight in the UK Airspace starting at Coventry, unlike the other Trophies that exist in the Group it is not ornamental but practical, A two Pint Pewter Tankard my second visit was to enable Brian to have the first use of this Tankard but there were other reasons which will transpire later in my story.

Since the runway at Birmingham is not long enough for direct flights to Vancouver on the mainland of Canada’s Pacific Coast, on my second visit, my first flight was by KLM Airline to Amsterdam in Holland a Boeing 737-900 then via an MD 11 for 9 hours twenty minutes to Vancouver and the final leg was a thirty five minute flight from Vancouver to Comox Canadian Forces Base which is also used for Civilian traffic this was by a Saab 340 plane with fifteen of the twenty five seats occupied.

The town of Comox and the City of Courtenay sit on opposite sides of the River Puntledge, on the Eastern side of Vancouver Island, this Island is 260 miles long by 60 miles wide and has mountains that rise to nearly 8000 feet, it is also reputed to have a population of 10,000 Black Bears that can be as dangerous as the Brown or Grizzly Bears on the Canadian mainland and the largest population anywhere of Cougars the Mountain Lion, I saw none of these on either visits. Though I nearly mowed down a dwarf species of Deer in my Car returning from a Music Concert, late at night, these Deer are nocturnal.

Comox and Courtenay are about one third of the way from the Southern tip of the Island where Victoria, the Capital City of the Province of British Columbia is situated. Captain Cook is reputed to have explored the Island in the Eighteenth Century. I stayed on this second visit at a Bed & Breakfast accomodation Estuary House which was built and run by Mr and Mrs Selwyn Jones, Selwyn is a Welsh Speaking Welshman from North Wales, his Wife was born in Canada. This business is for sale so if anyone reading this would like to take on a thriving business let me know, I can put you in touch with the Jones

The Vera Lees Trophy was delivered to Brian Lees who put it to good use during my two-week stay, as he is partial to Beer. Brian is very much of an Entrepreneur; he has had more than one business in Canada, he currently runs Comox Glass, which is situated in Guthrie Road, Comox.. Brian’s Wife also has a Business, Signature Wine and can supply most Alcoholic Drinks.

This second visit to Vancouver Island also gave me the opportunity to thank in person Mr & Mrs Seitinga who live at McKenzie Avenue, Comox.. Canada is the land of Immigrants, the Seitingas’ have strong connections with the Country of Holland their first Language is Dutch. They are customers of Brian Lees Wife’s alcoholic business and in 1999 they wished to spend three weeks in Holland. Mr Seitinga is a keen gardener and has a large garden, so Brian’s Wife arranged that Vera Lees and I had the use for almost the three weeks of our stay in 1999, of their house. Vera was also keen on gardening so under the supervision of Vera and Brian I kept the Garden well watered during their absence in Holland The final night of that first visit was spent in Victoria. The travel arrangements on that first visit were somewhat different, we started our aerial journey from Stansted with a stop to clear Customs and Immigration and refuelling at Winnipeg in the Province of Manitoba. The Plane was an Airbus Long range 320 and I sat with the Crew as the plane crossed the coast of Hudson Bay. Brian met us at Vancouver and we crossed to the Island via the Boat, Ferry, Arriving at Nanaimo just as it was getting dark at 10 30 pm in a tremendous cloudburst of rain. When Brian wished to refuel his transport the first stop he made was not successful, as a Lightning strike had knocked out the Electricity supply. Apart from that,.we had started from Stansted in superb weather and the whole time we were in Canada the Sun shone every day. We never met the Seitingas on that first visit..

The City of Courtenay has an Airpark situated near the river with one runway orientated almost in the same direction of the river there was plenty of opportunity to fly in Floatplanes. A Canadian resident in Estuary house who had flown several times in planes from water and Brian and I were intending to fly with Mr James Slater from Courtenay Airpark over the mountains and land at Gold River but Brian could not find the time and sadly I never flew in a Floatplane., though Stephen Powell is proposing I will..

I am old enough to have been an Air Training Cadet during the War with No 411 (Borough of Nuneaton) Squadron, there was also a second Squadron No 121 The Grammar School Squadron, 411 was disbanded after the War and has never been re-established , I returned my debt to the Cadets as an Instructor several years ago with 121 Squadron. The present Commanding Officer of the still in existence 121 Squadron, Flt Lt Ian Crewe gave me a letter of introduction to Captain Jack Shapka, the CO of No 386 Canadian AirCadets who have their being near Comox Forces Base, I also took a recording of the Nuneaton Squadron Band but sadly I never heard the Canadian Squadron who also have a band play....

My interests in life, in descending order are Music, The Flying of Aeroplanes, Model Railways and The Royal game of Chess.. My visit encompassed all four I attended the inaugural Concert of The Strathcona Symphony Orchestrar, where all the players were under the age of 19, at the Stan Hagen Theatre, . Sarah Hagen, the Daughter of the Man whose name is used for the venue played Chopin’s Winter Wind Etude accompanied by the Orchestrar, the first time I had experienced such an arrangement, the first and last item on the programme were by a fellow Englishman of mine, Henry Purcell. I purchased three OO gauge Canadian Freight cars for my Model Railway from Charlie’s Choo Choo’s near the Air Base. I won three of my six games of Chess in Courtenay’s Seniors Club; I also attended a well rehearsed and performed Play ”A Man of no Importance” The tragedy of Alfie Byrne.

All my arrangements for the trip except the flight from Vancouver to Vancouver Island were made by me from information over the Internet and by Telephone. The Three biggest items of expenditure in descending order were The rent of a Car, Accomodation for two weeks, and Air Fare, Birmingham to Vancouver return !2,000miles for £460. If anyone reading this wishes to emulate me I am almost invariably at the Clubhouse on Sundays and can give them all the details.

Brian Lees is very active in Rotary International, he took me along to their weekly Thursday Night gathering, first there was a singing with great gusto of The Canadian National Anthem, Oh Canada I was most impressed with this. A meal was next and then there were talks illustrated with video displays by five visiting Rotarians from South Africa. If there are any Rotarians reading this account they will be very welcome in Comox by Brian Lees.

On my first visit to Vancouver Island, Brian and His Wife lived in accomodation above His Wife’s business in Comox, but he has now built an enormous house on the road from the City of Courtenay to Victoria. Timber is extremely plentiful in British Columbia and that is what the house is built. Brian was working on a lawn that slopes down to the Sea, he showed me the many logs that he has put to keep the Sea at bay, he told me that last year all the logs that he put there were claimed by the Sea.

I visited this house three times, the first was a reconnaisance when the Lees were not at home, Brian’s Wife could not show me on the map of Comox and Courtenay that I had, where the house is, it is so far out of the City of Courtenay, She just gave me the Number which is in four digits, it took me two hours to find it, and my two other visits resulted in some prowling about to find the house which lies more than a hundred yards away from the road., as one would expect in British Columbia behind a great deal of trees.The two meals with the Lees were the highlight of the trip. The Lees could have Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, performed in their house,as it has a Balcony inside the premises,

I have for many years visited the Courts of Law in England, so I decided to pay a visit on the second Friday of the trip to Courtenay’s Justice Centre. The Sheriff told me that there were not any proceedings taking place that day, but if I returned on Monday there was to be the start of a Murder Trial..
So promptly at 9 AM on Monday I arrived at the Centre simultaneously with a Canadian Policeman who when he got out of his Patrol Car was wearing a Firearm always a disturbing sight for an Englishman, I introduced myself as a visitor from England and asked if The Royal Canadian Mounted Police always got their man, he replied We Try, We Try.

In the event I never heard any of the Murder Charge due to other cases being heard first. It should have been interesting, I had planned to fly over the Mountains from Courtenay Air Park to land at Gold River, a place that I visited with the Lees Family on the first trip to Vancouver Island. Seemingly the Policeman’s reply to my question was true. Some eight years previously a Woman had died by drowning at Gold River and Her husband had now, Eight years later been arrested and charged with Her First Degree Murder.

Should I become suddenly and inordinately rich due to the Lotteries I gamble on, I propose to make another visit to Vancouver Island, this Summer but not with The Vera Lees Trophy. The AWA Group, will have to organise a Social event to present it to Rosemarie Clemo who has laid claim to it. Vera’s Son will not be in England this year to make the presentation, but he has a Daughter living in England, so we might persuade Vera’s Granddaughter to stand in for him.

British Columbia as its name suggests is noted as being the most British of Canada’s Ten Provinces, the games of Cricket and Rugby Football are played in the Province, according to the legendary Australian Batsman Sir Donald Bradman, the most beautiful Cricket ground in the World is in Victoria Park in the Canadian City of Vancouver, in one direction from the ground is the Sea and in the opposite direction are a range of Mountains.

Alfred Clews..

AWA News

New Look Website

Sponsored Walk

Flying In Iceland

AWA's Evening Gliding Event

1st Solo

Polly Vacher Visit

1st Solo

1st Solo

Congratulations

Secretaries Rally

It's Arrived

Coventry Airport Airfield Operations

A Second visit to Vancouver Island 2006