Safety Briefing (continued)

The following are some notes that chief instructor Mike Rielage handed out at the instructor and crew chief meeting. It is geared more towards those individuals, but contains good information to know for the general membership. Please contact Mike if you have any questions at: MRIELAGE@aol.com .

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As of March 5, 2003, there were two areas of Temporary Flight Restrictions (UFN) within the state of Indiana. They are in the vicinity of NEWPORT, IN (near IL border, about 20 nm North of Terre Haute) and CRANE, IN (about 20 nm SSW of Bloomington, IN). If you fly cross country, know where they are and avoid them. Entry into these areas is an "automatic" 30 day certificate suspension. There are posted ground observers.

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Nuclear Power Plant NOTAM. Previously you were advised not to "loiter or circle" in the vicinity of these facilities. Now the TSA says that, if you fly around these areas, expect to be interviewed by law enforcement and to be added to their "database".

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AOPA's Airport Watch Program: Go about your normal airport business..but...

1. Always have government photo ID ready (It is required for flying now same as the pilot certificate)
2. Be cooperative.
3. Share information (photos?) of who can fly your aircraft.
4. Know your airport folks.
5. Greet strangers.
6. REPORT UNUSUAL ACTIVITY TO 1-866-GA-SURE or 911 with as many details as possible.

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Nyal Williams brought information back from the seminars at Dayton, OH regarding some insurance "problems". We checked our policy and found that we could be in jeprody on our insurance coverage if we do not tighten our procedures:

Our insurance policy essentially says:

Any pilot not having a glider pilot certificate or rating must remain under the direct supervision of a Glider CFI for all flights and prior to each solo flight have received the instructor's appropriate written endorsement(s) for the same make and model glider.

And..

Coverage shall not apply while any aircraft is operated by a STUDENT PILOT unless said student pilot is under the direct supervision of an FAA CFI who will have approved each flight undertaken by the student prior to take-off.

Basically, this mean that there MUST be a flight instructor "on the field" at the time of ANY solo take-off, and we need to record "solo flight approval". (Our "weekend solo" does not cover it.)