Weekly Flyer

Thursday, 3 June 2021

“Fighter pilots have ice in their veins. They don't have emotions. They think, anticipate. They know that fear and other concerns cloud your mind from what's going on and what you should be involved in. "
Buzz Aldrin

Hanmer Springs Club Trip

We have had strong interest in this year’s Hanmer Springs Hot Springs trip and with 35 people and 17 people registered, we’ve had to close off the registration form earlier than planned. If you haven’t registered but would like to join the trip, please e-mail Peter Merwood and he will put you on a wait list.

Within the next few days, those who have registered for the trip will be sent an e-mail with further details and the planned accommodation arrangements and costs.

Pilot Night: IFR and Helicopter Ops at PP Explained

Thursday July 1st, 7pm

Most VFR fixed-wing pilots at Paraparam have shared the circuit with incoming IFR traffic and helicopters.

Ever wonder what all those IFR calls mean? Or why the helicopter circuit seems shorter and lower than the fixed-wing one?

Our next pilot night will explain all the ins and outs of IFR and Helicopter operations at PP for fixed-wing pilots. It will help you understand where the IFR approaches into the airport are located and what we should do to ensure adequate separation. You'll also learn how helicopter operations around the circuit differ from fixed-wing.

Pipistrel Alpha Electro

Plans are now well advanced for hosting New Zealand’s first and only electric aircraft at the club and its encouraging to see the number of members who have booked a flight in ZK-EAL while it’s with us. Hawkes Bay & East Coast Aero Club, Wanganui Aero Club, the Manawatu Aviation Club, the Foxpine Flyers and the Wellington Aero Club have been invited to visit Paraparaumu while we have ZK-EAL to look over the aircraft and fly it as well.

You can book a flight in ZK-EAL in Paper Aviator in the normal way. The cost is $75/hour which is significantly cheaper than the normal $200/hr charged for our Cessna 152 two-seat training aircraft. Our normal $75/hr charge will also apply for dual flight training. Based on the bookings on a day, our instructing staff may need to move your booking forward or back a bit to accommodate the charging requirements of the aircraft so please keep an eye on your booking.

Before ZK-EAL flies for the first time in the North Island we have invited the Puketapu hapū to welcome the aircraft on Friday 11 June and they’ve expressed interest in doing that.

On Friday 18 June we have invited over 80 local and central Government politicians,representatives of the Ministry of Transport and MBIE and stakeholders in Paraparaumu to a Future of Flying event to be held at the club. During that event, guests will be introduced to the Pipistrel Alpha Electro and its capabilities and how electric aviation is rapidly evolving will be presented. Other advances in unmanned flight will also be presented and discussed. This is an ideal opportunity for the club to demonstrate that we’re a forward thinking club and taking our emissions and noise responsibilities seriously as we operate within a growing community. Members are welcome to attend this event but we need to manage the numbers carefully. If you’d like to attend please contact Liz Jackson at the club to let her know of your interest.

All members and their families and friends are welcome to look over ZK-EAL at any other time during the 11 – 20 June period and the ElectricAir instructor who will be accompanying the aircraft will be glad to talk to you about it.

You have the opportunity to be among the first pilots in New Zealand to fly an electric aircraft and experience the different way it’s operated. Make a booking and come along to get a new and exciting type (“PIAE”) in your logbook.

Medicals with Frank

If you missed out on having your medical renewed last weekend, Frank will be at the club again on June 12-13.

A Class 1/2 Medical is still a requirement if you intend to undertake Aerobatics, IFR or Night XC Training. If you are just starting out and want to continue your training towards a CPL, it is also recommended you do your first medical to Class 1 standard. Frank is also able to do CASA medicals if you are going to be flying in Australia.

Tony's Weekend Weather

This is going to be another weekend when the weather in the Kāpiti area is likely to be better than in many other parts of the country. A north-south orientated front will push slowly onto New Zealand from the Tasman Sea and form a low over the top of the North Island by Monday.

Rain will develop in the west and south of the South Island on Saturday, reaching Nelson by the end of the day. Further north, showers are likely from Northland to the Bay of Plenty. It’ll remain wet in the Nelson area through Sunday while the rain band spreads onto the top of the North Island and Taranaki. On Monday it’s likely to be wet north of a line from about East Cape to South Taranaki and over the top half of the South Island.

Here in Kāpiti, we’ll have good flying weather with north to northeast winds around 15kts and Saturday and Sunday. There may be some showers on Monday, but overall it should be a reasonable flying day, with southeasterlies about 10kts.

As part of our future plans for the clubs website and various marketing platforms we are looking for you, our valued club members, to write a review or leave a thumbs up. We need your help to spread the word about the clubs facilities and culture in order to help promote our services. It would be greatly appreciated if you could spare a few minutes of your time and head over to Facebook and/or Google and leave a review.

What's new?

How are we doing?

Upcoming Events

Friday Drinks

Flight Radio Ground Course

Medicals with Frank

Feilding Fly In

Annual General Meeting

Pilot Night

Cook Strait Regionals

Hanmer Springs Club Trip