Dear Members,

The unfortunate field conditions and operating embargo have provided the opportunity to prepare the club for the flying season and investigate the possibility of deployment for next winter! New student records have been refreshed and protected within current DTO standards and the new RAFSA ATO model is being prepared for adoption by our Head of Training, ELCAS CAN forms are being processed and JRPSS nominations awaited in the spring. All aircraft have been inspected and their ARC’s renewed in preparation and the BFI is compliant ready for operation with the next event being a MOGAS tank inspection.

The HAC website has been re-worked to accommodate more of our members needs and the EBS is about to be re-launched after a total renovation. The electronic weather station has been repaired and MET Office communications into the club by FAX restored. The aircraft positions have been refreshed to accommodate each other (and their owners) more safely and comfortably, the hangar sides have been cleaned, repainted and HAC/Privately owned equipment/lockers rationalised to make a more recognisable and safer aircraft operating environment – please become familiar with the layout, where stuff is and help in the upkeep and tidiness. A temporary exchange of position for OpsMan office and the Clubroom is being trialled to determine if the club spaces/facilities can be improved for staff and members – Business as usual tho’.

• Thank you for your responses to the Pre-Season Dinner invitation, by now all diners have received e-mail confirmation of their booking. Only a few places remain and the only way to secure a seat is via the website.
  • Requests received after all places have been filled shall be placed on a waiting list.
  • If the waiting list is 8, HHOM staff shall try to accommodate another table subject to the floor loading in the function room.
• IER is not required for this coming weekend (22-23 Feb) as the Airfield is closed for flying until further notice. I shall liaise weekly with Ops Sqn for updates.
• Members are not allowed to bring private vehicles beyond the electronic barrier until further notice unless specifically authorised by Ops Sqn, ditto.
  • Members should be reassured that PIR lighting has been installed to illuminate the whole length of Aviation Avenue between the electronic and manual barriers.
  • Members are still required to be careful on uneven surfaces (HAC RA refers).
• All members holding trophies are requested to return them to OpsMan engraved (before the dinner) and I shall reimburse their cost.
• The next social function shall be held in the Club Room as normal and all club facilities are available.
• WET PAINT – please remain clear:
  • The Hangar Fire lanes have been refreshed in white.
  • The Fire Points have been refreshed in Red and White.
  • Areas of bare hangar wall or where redundant boards have been removed have been painted green.
  • Old floor markings have been painted-over in grey.
  • Club aircraft positions have already been marked with yellow whilst privately owned aircraft are being marked.
  • The Ground Equipment enclosure at the hangar doors and Buggy parking area shall be marked in yellow.
• The Aircraft Cleaning Locker and domestic cleaning locker have been repositioned alongside the eastern fire exit along with hangar sweeping brushes and electrical distribution leads.
• Battery charging at HAC is not to be carried out without HAC staff supervision.
  • All club aircraft batteries shall be charged in preparation for EGR as soon as the pan becomes available.
  • Warming of engine oil by low current drain installed electrical or uninstalled electrical oil-filled heaters should be protected by an isolator trip –  Those currently connected are requested to insert a trip as soon as practicable.
  • Trailing electrical cables over the fire lane should be protected, an anti-trip cover fitted and the wall-mounted sign erected.

Happy Landings – low approach and go-arounds!

Jon Kumela
The Operations Manager,
Halton Aero Club Ltd,
3 Hangar, Aviation Avenue,
RAF Halton Airfield,
Halton, Aylesbury,
Buckinghamshire HP22 5PG

Tel 01296 622697, 01296 656178,

Guidance from Jon Kumela (HAC Ops Manager)

Please note that the Team-Up Site for RAF Halton Ops shows the airfield closed TFN and see below the additional detail provided by the AFM Mark Devlin. Whilst there is no predicted change availability should be monitored through the Ops site.

Message from Mark Devlin (Airfield Manager)

(12/2/2020)

Due to the ongoing incident (strong wind damage to one of the buildings) at the Airfield, the dispersal area, Hangar1, SCAS,Model Flying Club will remain out of bounds. The front gate will be locked so there will be NO access to the dispersal area in front of all 3 Hangars 1,2 & 3. Aviation Ave will be open to traffic to transit to and from stores only. RAF Police Dog section will also have access. Hangars 2 & 3 may continue to work as normal but with NO access to the dispersal area. Personal vehicles are only to be parked in the top car park by the entrance.

Dear Members,

Please follow the link to see that the airfield is currently serviceable https://teamup.com/ksd4e3b60bfcaad01f and that we broke our 31 day duck yesterday with the arrival back from maintenance of CZ and new resident G-RVTX owned by Mike Tetlow.  This addition means I can get on to finalise the hangar parking slots with regard to safety and utility – please make a suggestion to the layout plan if you feel you are being disadvantaged and note the lockers shall be returned to the wall – ultimately there shall still room for one more high-winger!

Happy Landings

Jon
The Operations Manager,

(From the web editor)

The link to teamup.com has been added to the home page of the website near the top of the page. So you don’t need to remember it. Go to the home page where you can access the booking portal, the weather portal (currently u/s waiting for parts) and the teamup.com portal where the airfield status is recorded.