It has not gone unnoticed on real world radar apps (e.g. flight radar©) that pilots are hour building / practicing navigation and general handling skills, by creating "Sky Art". In fact, it seems to be becoming more popular with more and more intricate Sky Artworks being drawn. This month's event will consist of not just a bit of clean (and hopefully fun) use of imagination, but combines planning skills, accuracy and general handling flying skills together. Pilots of CIX VFR club may use this event to relax and practice such skills ahead of busy future events. It also allows / highlights the use of the club's screenshot competition to show off individual art and a chance off winning the best artwork!

Pilots have anytime during the month of April to design their individual artwork, plan it, fly it, and submit it. The designs are to be clean and in the spirit of the club rules; they can be a drawing or writing, be done at a max airspeed of 130kts and not take longer than 3 hours (Chock-to-Chock). On completion and once you are happy, submit a screenshot to see who has the best imagination and possible even win the monthly screenshot competition!

Start Time and Place Start and finish points are at Perth / Scone - EGPT, anytime during the month of April 2023.

Start at EGPT with your bread trail running to start your Sky Art picture. Use as much of the clean Class G Scotland has to offer the GA pilot, however, be mindful of the weather for VFR conditions and those pesky Scottish winds (and hills)!

The Sky Art does NOT HAVE to include EGPT itself as part of the design (EGPT is the departure and arrival aerodrome which the bread trail shows), but to make things fair, a max airspeed of 130Kts is in place for a max flight time (Chock-to-Chock) of 3 hours, so if it takes an hour to get to your start / finish point, that may minimises the size / complexity of your Sky Art!

Don't let that comment though, take away any good ideas you may have of doing something pertinent over a set location that may be an hour or so away (it may add to the humour / intrigue of a certain Sky Art screenshot).

You may use any aircraft (including helicopters) classified as GA (within the EASA "light" category), see club rules for details. Please bear in mind (for fairness across all club members preferred choice of airframe) your route is limited to a maximum airspeed 130kts and a Chock-to-Chock time of no more than 180 minutes..

Before starting, check the weather. I recommend that all pilots set to 'No Weather' / CAVOK to allow the "perfect trail" in Scotland…but then again, a bit of wind for those that can??!... A beautiful spring morning!!!... personal choice but VFR.

Remember to ANC (Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.) This event should be fun for all, both pilots and controllers. Bear in mind that other (non CIX VFR CLUB) traffic may also use the same airspace/airfields but everyone has equal priority (VFR). Should your enjoyment become impaired due to "unsportsmanlike" ATC, let someone know so that senior club members can pass on your concerns. Similarly, If you get something wrong, such as entering controlled airspace without authority, learn from the experience and follow instructions - even if requested to 'Disconnect'. However, if you have a problem, ask ATC for help, a lot easier that flying on regardless causing "confusion and mayhem"! And don't forget your first call for help is other club members, that is how we all learnt to do it.

ATC ATC is not booked for any time in the event, and a lack of it may help some concentrate on their Sky Art, however, controllers do frequent Scottish control and local airfields such as EGPT so be prepared. It is likely Unicom will be the main frequency in use for during the event.

As the event is in Class G, there is no absolute requirement to have a controller... but every little helps!

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.

The Club Star award will be awarded to all those departing and returning to EGPT within a 3 hour period in April.

Event Idea: Dan Cooper
Event planning: Dan Cooper
Briefing: Dan Cooper, Neville Munro