Presidents Corner
by Richard Bartlett-May

Dear Fellow Members,

You will all have noticed that the information regarding the Election of the Directors is enclosed with this newsletter. If you don't plan to attend the election of officers on June 14th or feel that you may not be able to attend, please be sure to return the proxy vote as soon as possible. I encourage all members to be as active as possible in the election of officers. They represent you and your views. Board Secretary Don Davis and I have been on the board for many years and both feel it is time for new blood. Consequently there will be two vacant seats on the Board this time around. Don has been a board member for eight years and has done an outstanding job as Secretary and his presence will be sorely missed on the Board. I have had the privilege to serve alongside Don as well as other Board members and it has been an honor to serve with these dedicated pilots.

June is normally our cleanup month and our regular Thursday meeting is normally replaced by the Saturday cleanup. This year, as last year, I would like to hold our general meeting on Thursday evening, June 14th and also have cleanup day the following Saturday, June 16th. Due to the rained out March wash day, none of the airplanes got washed or waxed properly so are in sore need of some TLC.

I would like to remind members to pay attention to their scheduling times. Please schedule the airplane for the time you intend to fly. If for any reason you need to cancel, please cancel promptly so the airplane becomes available for other members. We have had instances recently of members scheduling an airplane, not flying, and leaving the aircraft scheduled, thereby depriving other members of the opportunity to fly. Also, please pay attention to the time you are due to return the airplane. We have several back-to-back schedules, so please be sure you return the airplane promptly as to not cut into the next member's flying time.

This is a small, quiet club with very few members. We are all owners of these airplanes and therefore, need to treat the aircraft as personal property. The planes need to be returned as they were found, full of fuel, seat belts and shoulder harnesses neatly stowed, and free of trash. Please have consideration for the next person who will be flying the airplane you have just flown.

Fly safe Fly often.

Richard

Annual Membership Meeting

Coastal Fliers Inc. will hold its annual meeting at the Gillespie Field Administration Building on Thursday June 14th at 7:30 pm.

The election of members to the Board of Directors will take place. Members are encouraged to attend this important meeting. If unable to attend, execute a written proxy and mail it to the Club Secretary.

Two Board vacancies exist. Members interested in running, please notifiy a Board member.

From The Old Timer
by Harry McCoy

A LOVE OF MY LIFE
Part 12--1947

The Russians supposedly were still sneaking around with their submarines even though the war was over. One night there was a reported sighting off the coast of Mexico. So they decided to keep an eye on it, however, a thick overcast rolled in. So now there was an opportunity to test our radars, but not the ones in the planes. One of the TBM's had been rigged with a Master Radar that had a Parabolic Antennae that spanned 9 feet. It was mounted between the wheels on the belly of a TBM. They immediately set up a 4 hour each schedule for a TBM pilot and a crewman to vector all along the coast. The Master would call us with vectors and say "Drop" and the crewman would drop a 1 million candle power flare. And we were to go down and check it out. The flares really lit things up. It was rather exciting to go down through 2000 feet of overcast circling the flare. But the most interesting was when we popped out underneath, there would be a Mexican fishing boat with a single red light bobbing around. That's all any of us ever saw. To my knowledge there was never a Russian sub sighted.

The Skipper that I was assigned to fly with was a burly old boy, a Capt. Bogdanovich. I flew several local flights with him, he in the left Command seat and me in the right. He would ask me about where we were and sometimes disagree. However, I did get back at him on flight to his home area of San Antonio, Texas. As we left the East - West airways VFR, I asked how long he thought it would be. Oh, an hour and 15 minutes, was the immediate reply. I said I thought maybe 50 minutes. "Oh, no, no, I'll bet you a quarter!" 52 minutes later we arrived. Nothing was said, but as he was walking away from the aircraft, he suddenly turned around and came back and gave me a quarter and said, "Go get yourself a G---D---drink". He never bet me again!

To be continued...

Safety Corner
by Carey Peterson

This month, I thought I would discuss a few potentially hazardous trends I have noticed while flying with other pilots over the years. The idea here is not to single anyone out, but instead, point out areas of needed improvement.

All of us, including myself have been guilty of laziness or complacency at one time or another. I believe a large part of it stems from the repetition of doing the same thing over and over again like preflight inspections and engine run-ups. After awhile, pilots begin missing or skipping critical items to be checked.

One general weak area is the pilot's lack of situational awareness combined with their failure to use a sectional chart, even on local flights. Their chart spends the whole flight neatly folded in the side pocket with the checklist. When asked about our location or proximity to class B airspace, they either don't know or they lean over to glance at my chart. I would recommend the purchase of a kneeboard or similar device which allows the sectional chart to be open and easily viewed at all times.

Another dangerous trend common to many pilots is always being rushed or in a hurry. I've seen this on several occasions from preflight to engine run-up checks. This virtually guarantees a few items will be missed along the way as pilots frantically recheck previous items from memory. The funny thing is, the fastest way seems to be checking one thing at a time while using the checklist.

Another critical area is performing the after landing checklist items just after landing and while on the runway. This results in preoccupation inside the cockpit when the pilot's attention needs to be outside to avoid losing directional control.

These are just a few basic observations I've made and thought it would be helpful to pass them along.

Fly Safely.

Operations Report
by Bob Finnin

8788E: has been performing very well this month with only normal maintenance.

3015U: has been working well and has had no maintenance other than routine maintenance.

2904K: The new engine is working well and all systems are up and running. The new alternate vacuum system was installed. The left brake problem has been repaired.

46404: The fuel tank has been repaired as has the Mag Switch and all systems are working.

Now that we are having some good flying weather, please take the time to follow check- lists in preflight as well as flying. Make sure that the Pitot-Static tube covers are removed before takeoff and replaced after landing.

Please note any problem on the Pilot-Comment sheet in the time logs book so that it can be attended to as quickly as possible.

Thanks for the help and fly safe!

Don't Forget!

Arriving at any airport parking area, the pilot in command shall assure the aircraft is properly tied down, chocked and locked prior to leaving the aircraft. Any time the aircraft is left unattended, the control lock should be installed, seatbelts placed inside the aircraft and doors shut. If no control lock is available, the controls shall be secured by means of a seatbelt.

The following procedures should be followed when an aircraft is returned to Gillespie Field:

1. Always top off fuel tanks after each flight. Royal Jet provides fuel truck service during their hours of operation. Fuel is available at Aviation Fuel on a twenty-four hour basis with the fuel cards issued to each member.
2. Park the aircraft in the proper location.
3. Be sure to sign out on the flight log. Write any discrepancy in the notebook in the aircraft and report the discrepancy to a member of the Board of Directors.
4. Tie down with all three (3) chains and lock the tail chain.
5. Remove all personal items and trash from the interior of the aircraft.

Board Meeting Summary
by Don Davis

The Board discussed the need to put a formal limit on Club Membership. The decision was made to limit membership to seventy (70) total members. This will include both Regular and Associate members. This decision was made to insure that a reasonable pilot to aircraft ratio is maintained for scheduling purposes.

The Board reviewed the current insurance policies for Club aircraft and found that the insured value was considerably below the actual value. The decision was made to increase the insured value to the cost of a comparable replacement aircraft. The Board also decided to conduct an annual review of the current value of Club aircraft for insurance purposes and to place it on the Board calendar as a January agenda item.

The Board reviewed and approved changes to the Standard Operating Procedures. These procedural changes will incorporate operational changes made during the past year. Members will receive a revised copy of the Standard Operating Procedures and a summary list of the changes in their April billing.

Fly often, fly safe.

Treasure's Report
by Terry Paik

April 2001

As of April 1, we had $15,148 in the bank. March P&L net was -$10,506 and YTD net was -$16,354. In March we made our quarterly insurance payment ($2,900) and this year we paid off the overhauls for 15U as well as 04K! This month's receivables are $6,700 and we flew 112 hours. And now with 04K back on line we should be back in the pink!

On a personal note, I will be in England, helping to keep America safe from the dreaded Foot and Mouth Disease. I will be gone until mid-June. Please hang on to your BFR's and Medicals and give them to Donn Larson at the next meeting.

Remember, the more we fly, the cheaper we fly!

Flight Review and Medical Required

Be sure you have a current copy of your medical and flight review on file with Coastal Fliers. The current Club information on file is on your bill. Check your bill to be sure it is up-to-date and accurate.

Schedule Master will soon require this information to schedule an airplane. This is also required by Club SOP's.