Greetings for the New Year. It has been an inauspicious start with the Omicron variant elevating new infections to all-time highs and people scrambling to get a booster shot.
Just about everyone now knows someone who has Covid and many of us are resorting to voluntary self-isolation to keep safe. Many public venues, including our meeting place, the West Adelaide Football Club, again have severe indoor dining capacity limits imposed.
In the interests of keeping our members safe, the committee has decided to suspend the planned club meeting on February 9th. Indications are that we are at or near the peak of the Omicron outbreak and based on overseas experience we can expect to see an easing of restrictions here in SA soon.
I expect that we will be able to go ahead with the March 9th meeting as planned, and I will advise everyone closer to the date.
In other news, planning has commenced for this year’s club fly away. We have an itinerary that will take us via a coastal route to Port Macquarie NSW. Stopovers include Warnambool, Lakes Entrance, Merimbula, Woolongong, Port Macquarie and returning home via Parkes and Wentworth. Departure date will be after Easter around April 20th. If you are interested in joining in Please let myself or Greg Tabe know ASAP. Actual dates and final itinerary with be confirmed after the next committee meeting in February so to allow enough time to book your accommodation. The coastal route is sure to be spectacular and I am looking forward to it.
In mid-January several members ventured down in their aircraft to Naracoorte to enjoy one of the weekly BBQs hosted by the Naracoorte Aero Club. A terrific group of people who put on a great spread. Steak, salad and all the trimmings followed by dessert for just $15, I can thoroughly recommend it.
New member, Ian Johnson, has taken delivery of a partly built Sonex Waiex kit and with the help of other experienced builders has recommenced construction. We hope to have a workshop visit once the project is more advanced.
The newly revised Part 91 General Operating and Flight Rules is now active. There are a number of changes so I would recommend you update yourself with its contents. It can be downloaded free of charge from the CASA website. A print version is also available for a small fee.
Please be reminded that the annual club subscription is now due. It remains unchanged from last year at $80 for full membership and $40 for associate membership. Preferred method of payment is by EFT to the Club bank account. Details are below.
Stay safe and fly safe,
Steve
When everything seems to be going against you, remember that an aircraft takes off against the wind, not with it. – Henry Ford
