VFR Club
| Briefing | February 2019 |
|---|---|
| Overview | The Club is celebrating 15 years of operation this February. As a change from our 2-4-CIX displays which we have held for some years we are going back 15 years to the days when our events were "Flyins". Members flew from an airfield of their choice to a single destination. We then sat on the Apron looking at each other (thanks to the new "multiplayer" phenomenon in FS2004) and chatting socially on Teamspeak (which continues to be a major feature of Club life today). So - fly in to Wellesbourne Mountford (EGBW) on the evening of Monday 18th February, and meet your friends. |
| Wellesbourne Mountfield
2019 A fight to survive |
The future of Wellesbourne
Mountfield airfield (EGBW) is the subject of a dispute
between the airfield’s owners, the
Littler family, who which to close the airfield in
order to build houses on the site and aviation businesses
based there. Wellesbourne Airfield is one of the busiest
general aviation airports in the country with more
than 70,000 movements every year.
The battle to save the airfield from development has intensified after Stratford District Council began compulsory purchase order proceedings to acquire it in order to allow it to continue as an airfield. As at 15th Jan 2019, the Council has confirmed it has set aside £1.125m in its 2019/2020 budget for the Compulsory Purchase of the airfield. The Save Wellesbourne Airfield campaign, spearheaded by Take Flight Aviation based on the site, has warned that some of the seven tenant businesses at Wellesbourne may fold with legal fees and associated expert fees already reaching more than £250,000. Mike Roberts, Take Flight Aviation MD, said: “The flying schools here at Wellesbourne train RAF cadets, offer scholarships and apprenticeships as well as local school, college and community group visits, promoting STEM skills (science, technical, engineering and mathematics) to the wider community. This isn’t just about a few private pilots and aircraft owners but the future of aviation." Matthew Timms, of the Touchdown Café, added: “Wellesbourne Airfield is part of our national heritage - this World War II airfield holds memories of our brave British and Canadian aviators. Great Britain cannot afford to lose this airfield to housing; we cannot replace this vital part of our general aviation infrastructure.” Wellesbourne Mountfield also owns XM655, the third from last of the Vulcan bombers produced for the Royal Air Force, delivered in late 1964 and which was part of the UK’s nuclear deterrent force throughout the 1960s and 1970s. It is looked after by 655 Maintenance and Preservation Society (655MaPS) which is a volunteer organisation of Vulcan enthusiasts. XM655 is one of the few Vulcans remaining in ground running condition, the only one with the most powerful of the engine variants (Bristol Olympus 301s) and 655MaPS aim to keep it running for as long as possible. The aircraft systems are powered up and exercised regularly and a “Fast Taxi” event is carried out most summers to show off the aircraft and raise funds to support its preservation. As part of the CIX VFR Birthday celebrations and to show our support for this cause, 2-4-CIX have pledged to the Save Wellesbourne Airfield campaign, a flypast of the 36/18 Runway. CIX VFR Senior Member Pete Allnutt stated during a recent Teamspeak meeting “We must do everything possible to help save this historic and busy airfield – and the café serves a crackin’ bacon butty, by the way!" SO: - Members are encouraged to fly in to the airfield, prior to the flypast, to show their support for the cause and have a bacon butty with Pete Allnutt! |
| Start Time and Place | This event will take
place on Monday 18th February 2019 on JoinFS.
The 2-4-CIX flypast will take place at 2030Z. It is requested
all aircraft are parked at the grass parking area to
the West under the tower, facing east by 2015Z. The required
Prior Permission has been granted by EGBW_I_Twr, for
all CIX Club aircraft to arrive between 1845Z-2015Z Monday
18th February 2019.
Club members should preferably fly in from either Shoreham (EGKA) orSherburn-in-Elmet (EGCJ), and must plan to arrive between 1845Z-2015Z Monday 18th February 2019. It is hoped that Club ATC will be available on TeamSpeak for these two Club base airfields. Arrival from another aerodrome is permitted, as long as the minimum distance from EGBW as the crow flies is 80 nm. (This is to help create an arrival atmosphere within a timeframe). The Club “STAR” will only be awarded for arrival at EGBW between the hours of 1845Z-2015Z Monday 18th February 2019 (except the display pilots). Any dispensation must be sought prior to the day of the event via the event organiser. Any aircraft outside the Wellesbourne ATZ, at 2015Z, are to remain to the East of the ATZ, until the fly past has been completed and on advisement of the AFIS. Inbound aircraft already in the circuit at 2015Z will be permitted to land. |
| Airmanship | There are specific rules for joining EGBW and for flying within the Birmingham CTA. It is envisaged that Club aircraft will be joining from different directions and arriving within a tight timeframe. All Pilots must therefore be aware of the rules and restrictions and study the charts beforehand. If things start to get dangerous, Wellesbourne Information does have Airport Authority status bestowed unto it for the event and can direct aircraft as required to avoid any airborne traffic confliction. |
| Flight Planning |
In the days before the event you'll need to do some preparation:
A Pirep must be filed from your departure aerodrome to Wellesbourne Airfield (EGBW) on Monday 18th February 2019. Comments = /V/ DAYLIGHT / CIX VFR CLUB / 15th Birthday Fly In |
| Weather... or Not | Before starting we will check the weather. If it is unsuitable for our trip as planned, then we will fix it. Something we can do in the simulator - wouldn't it be nice if we could do it in real life! FSInn has a "CAVOK" button. Click this and you get calm clear weather. Those using SquawkboxB or XSquawkbox will need to turn off the on-line weather updates, and select calm in the FS weather options. |
| What Aircraft can I fly | Any aircraft can be flown in this event as long as it is within the EASA "Light" category (see Club Rules for details). Vintage aircraft and Warbirds are especially welcome. |
| Plan-G/ LittleNavmap |
Flight Plans are not provided for this event due to pilots' choice of departure aerodrome. |
| ATC | At the time of publishing this event plan, ATC has not been confirmed. However, it is hoped that there will be some ATC provided by club members of EGCJ, EGKA and EGBW on TS. Due to the envisaged busy circuit, Wellesbourne Information has Airport Authority status bestowed unto it for the event. |
| Radio Discipline | Take care not to let our Teamspeak chat cut across ATC. Stop any conversation immediately the R/T comes alive, then continue if "he wasn't talking to us". This is difficult because when transmitting on Teamspeak you can't hear the R/T. So be brief on Teamspeak, and be aware that ATC might be trying to get through. If anyone hears an R/T message which seems to be being ignored, just say "ATC is calling G-CIXN" if you have identified the callsign, or "ATC is calling us" which is a cue for everyone to be quiet on Teamspeak until ATC call again (which they will). Remember too that if asked to "Stand By" by ATC, you do not reply - not even "Roger", but simply wait until you are called again. Remember also that there are several different ATC frequencies in use, and you may not be able to hear when communications are taking place. Make sure you have set and know how to use a Teamspeak mute switch. If available, use the Club Teamspeak ATC channels to communicate with the relevant station. |
| Acknowledgements |
Event planning: Dan Cooper, Max Symons |
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Version 1.2 - 16:20 ZULU02/02/2019 |