EAA Brits Sun & Fun 2016 Adventure Rally

– By Rob Jonkers

This year’s EAA Sun & Fun flying event was planned similar to the event held in 2015 as a format that EAA’ers enjoyed, as a more relaxed fun kind of event mostly involving observation out of the window recognition of ground features and learning about the area being flown over.

Over the last four weeks, a route schedule was hatched with the prime theme of overflying 13 airfields in the Magalies Berg area, why airfields?, well with many of us aviators flying around in this area quite often, it would be a good idea to know about potential forced or precautionary landing places, so a bit of safety advice while having fun in looking for them.

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Report on the Meeting of the FAI General Aviation Commission

Report on the Meeting of the FAI General Aviation Commission (GAC) held in Limassol, Cyprus From Thursday 3rd to Sunday 5th of November 2016

By Frank Eckard

The meeting was attended by delegate Hans Schwebel and alternative delegate Frank Eckard.

While much transpired, here are the key highlights.

The Precision Subcommittee adopted an updated set of rules which are written in a better quality of English. There are also some minor changes. The next World Precision Flying Championships will take place in Spitzerberg, Austria 28 Jul to 03 Aug 2017.

The Air Navigation Race Subcommittee has also made some small adjustments to the rules. The scoring software has now been released in a PC based package rather than the previous internet base software. One of the ANR committee members, Armin Zueger, is now managing the software and also looking at new technology for loggers. Spain entered a bid to host the first World ANR Championships in Castellón, Spain at the end of September 2017.

The Long Distance Air Race committee gave us a presentation to the race to Georgia and also the Crete to Cape race which started departs Crete on the 12th November.

World Records is managed by Art Greenfield and Chris Booysen. They have around 100 records per year. New classes are being introduced with Solar Powered, Electric Powered and Drones.

Technical Equipment Committee This committee is managed by Ralph Grunwald. They have approved the Slovakian landing system and also continue to approve alternative loggers systems, as they have been proven to be reliable.

The Rally Flying Sub Committee had a tough job with a major change to the rules. After a few years of having two classes in the World Championships, and a lengthy debate, it was decided by a vote of 17 for, to 1 abstention to revert to a single class in the World Championships and to adopt the “Advanced” rules for the new world championships. The next World Rally Flying Championships will be held in Dubnica, Slovakia in 2018.

Election of officials.
It was wonderful to see the master tactician Hans Schewbel at work during the meeting. While Hans has served for some 23 years, he volunteered to serve for another year. The only change to the committee was Paul Szameitat who stood down as chairman of the Rally Flying Subcommittee. Frank Eckard was nominated and elected unopposed.

Grand Central Fun Rally – 29th Oct 2016

by Rob Jonkers (photos by Willie Bodenstein)

The South African Power Flying Association (SAPFA) together with the Superior Pilot Services (SPS) organised a successful Navigation Fun Rally on Saturday 29^thOctober 2016.

Under the Stewardship of SAPFA’s Rob Jonkers who planned & plotted the course, a total of 16 entrants registered to partake in the rally, although only 12 eventually were able to take part, some of them having had to withdraw due to an Avgas shortage.

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Third Party Insurance

Once again the Aero Club has been hard busy at work on behalf of our members, they have asked me to pass this on to you.

As you know, aircraft owners are obliged to carry third party insurance as prescribed in terms of The Civil Aviation Act No 13 of 2009.

The Aeroclub has negotiated good rates for this insurance on behalf of its members who own aircraft in the following categories:
1. Aircraft eligible for NTCA Classification in the following groups:
   a) Amateur built aircraft including Fixed and Rotary Wing, Motorised Gliders,
   b) Production Built Aircraft
   c) Limited Aircraft
   d) Veteran Aircraft

2. Light Aircraft with an all up mass not exceeding 600kg, including
   a) Microlights,
   b) Light sport aircraft,
   c) Gyrocopters
   d) Gliders.
3. Hang Gliders and Paragliders.

Members interested in getting quotations for 1) and 2) above should call Joanne Herman of DJA on 011 463 5550 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Members with aircraft falling in 3) above will obtain insurance through SAHPA.

Notes:
The act does not prescribe the value to be insured. DJA will quote for cover of either R500’000.00 or R1 million as specified by the member.
Some comprehensive hull insurance policies include a third party component, so if you carry hull insurance check this first before taking out additional third party cover.

Regards

Richard Becker

The Aero Club of South Africa
Cell: 060 997 3605
Tel : 011 082 1100
Fax : 086 635 3755
E-mail : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.aeroclub.org.za