President’s Column, October 2022
Dear AFC members,
Election year 2021 – 2022 has been a year of significant accomplishment for the Abbotsford Flying Club on many fronts.
The year began in October 2021 with threats by anonymous club members, of legal action over groundless claims related to the 2021 election. Even though the action was not pursued, it was nevertheless very stressful for a volunteer board of elected directors to have to respond to this threat when their energy could have been better spent on other issues involved in running the club.
Early in their term the Board discovered an in-camera endeavor by a previous Board at significant legal cost to the membership, to attempt to expel nine club members who had opposed their policies. Although reconciling this discovery was difficult for the Board and for many members, as a result the previous board members subsequently resigned or were expelled from the club.
In an effort to address a growing number of CADOR’s involving club aircraft the Flight Safety Committee worked relentlessly to formulate and put in place a new and workable set of Standard Operating Procedures. The process of developing the SOPs included multiple revisions and significant solicited feedback from the membership.
In addition to the CADORS regarding our aircraft several other serious club aircraft incidents were also investigated, three of which unfortunately resulted in membership terminations or resignations.
In response to member concerns regarding the election process, the Board proposed and through an extraordinary resolution approved by the membership, successfully put in place a significant bylaw change which reduced the number of meetings members need to attend to remain in good standing.
A revamped monthly newsletter was published during the year to help keep members informed of events happening at the club. Our longstanding webmaster resigned for personal reasons, with sincere thanks from the Board for his service. A new webmaster was appointed and is updating the website.
The clubhouse roof repair, which was put off for several years, was finally completed. Thanks to several anonymous donations, the club acquired and installed a flight simulator. A new engine was installed in club aircraft IUK.
Social gatherings were muted by COVID precautions during the year but continued almost regularly for those who chose to attend. Club monthly meetings were conducted online in recognition of the risks posed by COVID.
Club Airshow participation reverted to normal format. A successful campground operated by the club with stalwart volunteers resulted in significant earnings for the club. We hosted two Wings and Wheels events, with prospects of more such events in the future.
Club membership, after some anticipated attrition, is on the rise again, perhaps aided by the twenty five percent reduction in dues put in place by the Board this year.
With the increasing cost of fuel, the operating costs for maintaining our aircraft have risen steadily over the year. The club has however, reduced rates whenever the price of fuel drops and has worked diligently to keep our rental rates at actual cost to the club. As a result of our endeavors in this regard, club rates with fuel and taxes included have remained equivalent to, or slightly below other available aircraft rental rates in the geographic area.
As the year draws to a close, I am pleased to report that this years directors have worked together diligently and harmoniously to meet the needs of members to the best of their abilities, in spite of the many unusual obstacles we have faced during the term. I hope that they will be returned to office at the AGM on October 12th to continue with the progress we have made during this difficult past year.
It has been a great privilege to work with such a dedicated team, I thank them for the many, many hours of work they have donated for the furtherance of the AFC and I wish all club members well in the coming year.
Sincerely
Chris Palmer
President
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This is your chance to hear directly from each board member. This section will include messages from the directors about upcoming initiatives that they are working on but also news that they want you to know about.
Treasurer Devin Campbell
I would like to start off by thanking everyone for their help this year, especially my committee and the rest of the board members. This year started somewhat uneventful getting to know the finances of the club and within a few months, I was doing the bookkeeping and sorting out projects that have long since passed but haven't been completed.
We have submitted all of the paperwork to the accountants and have recieved draft financial statements which the Board is reviewing before accepting and publishing to the membership.
We have recieved our Airshow cheque in the last week and I would like to thank all of the volunteers for their time and effort in making this year's airshow as much fun as it was. Without the help of all of you we would not have been able to make approximately $23,000 from Campground.
Talking about volunteering at airshow is a nice reminder to everyone about keeping our costs down. The more things that we can do in house with volunteers the more we can either reduce rates or look at upgrades to the aircraft or building. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me this year and look forward to working with you again next year.
Newsletter Devin Campbell
I would like to start off by thanking my committee for helping me with editing. I know there have been a few typos and spelling mistakes throughout the year, but if it wasn't for my committee the newsletter would be messy.
I have also learned a lot about what is going on around the club as well as some of our members and I hope you have as well. I look forward to learning more next year.
Building Maintenance Director Devin Campbell
There is not much to report this month on building maintenance. I would like to thank all of the volunteers through the year for keeping the clubhouse clean and who have been out helping not only to open the club up again but to get some much needed work done.
Membership Director Adrian Renkers
I would like to thank Bevan for helping me update the membership board with the pictures that have been missing. We have just added 11 new pictures to the board. If your picture is missing please reach out to me or the new membership chair next month to have your picture added to the board.
Over the last month we have also added x new members and 3 former members to our rooster. We would like to take this opportunity to welcome all those who have returned and who have come to be part of our family.
Fly-Out Devin and Ken Campbell
Flyouts started really slow this year first with the atmospheric rivers in November, followed by freezing rain and snow in December and January only to continue with the never ending rain well into spring. We did have several good weeks of flying weather right in the middle of airshow season but we were also down one aircraft for a short period of time and ever changing fuel prices and flying conditions such as smoke.
The last couple of weeks the Sunday Morning Fly-out group has managed to get out and get a couple of flights in (even if it is only to Chilliwack due to smoke). I have been happy working with all of you and hopefully next year we can have more fly-outs organized with things starting to return to a new normal.
Webmaster
A few weeks ago, for personal reasons, long time webmaster Mark Thibault decided to resign from the role he has fulfilled faithfully for many years.
The Board of Directors is taking this opportunity to thank and congratulate Mark for a job well done.
The position of webmaster is being assumed by member Laurens Bosman, who will be liaising with Mark during the transition. Thank you, Laurens, and good luck!
Chris Palmer
President
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Although I was not on the Flight Safety Committee for the entire year and have been Flight Safety Chair just since mid-July, I have enjoyed working with the other members of the committee towards enhancing flight safety for the AFC. In my short time as Flight Safety Chair, I have sincerely appreciated the contributions of each individual FSC member.
There were numerous incidents involving club aircraft earlier in the year, all of which were satisfactorily resolved through diligent investigation and reporting of committee members with the very able leadership of Warren LeGrice. Warren resigned from the position of Flight Safety Chair for personal reasons July 8.
The number of investigations tapered off over the summer which are AFC high aircraft use months. If we were charitable regarding our safety record, the club might assume in light of the reduced number of incidents that pilots improved their safety practice and flew with more care during the busy summer months, perhaps in part at least as a result of the introduction of the SOPs and an enhanced emphasis on flight safety.
The summer season ended in September with one final incident where two different club pilots neglected to indicate in accordance with the SOPs that GMA was unserviceable due to the carb heat function not working. Through discussions and review with the pilots this final event was appropriately resolved.
A major accomplishment of the flight safety committee this year was the content finalization and introduction to the club of a new set of standard operating procedures. The new SOPs although lengthier and more detailed than past policies, provided much needed policy development and clarification regarding club aircraft operations. The new SOPs gathered and amalgamated all of the prior policy related to flying club aircraft into one comprehensive document.
The first version of the new SOPs was completed and put in place in October 2021. That initial document has, based on input from club members and safety committee investigative findings, been significantly modified in five subsequent editions since its introduction.
Although I think there is more to be done in refining and simplifying the SOPs to work towards meeting the needs of club pilots, I am hopeful that the SOPs will in future remain as a “living document” and will continue to evolve as the needs of the club change or grow.
As the 2021 -2022 year comes to a close, I wish all AFC members good health, prosperity, and safe flights in the coming year.
Ken McKeen
Flight Safety Chair partial year 2021 -2022
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Hello Fellow AFC Members,
So there you have it, a year of maintaining your aircraft. I thank the Board for their confidence in me and my committee, especially Duncan Poynton, throughout the year. There have been some highlights for me and some low-lights. I especially enjoyed the break-in procedure on IUK’s engine. It required flights that were initially simply orbits over the airport and monitoring of instruments. And then a longer flight up the valley for final break-in. Ken Campbell accompanied me on the initial flight and Duncan took right seat for the longer flight.
What stands out in this review is the neglect of accurately filling out the log books. Despite numerous reminders and pleas, the mistakes just kept happening. As a result, last month’s Maintenance report focused on the log book and its importance. Hope is helps but I have my doubts.
On a brighter note, this past year, I got to see the process of an aircraft engine rebuild right from the beginning with quotes from three reputable engine rebuild firms and then allowing the Board to decide on our recommendations. Due to supply chain issues, shipping delays and parts availability, and a change to our maintenance shop, it took longer than originally estimated to get IUK complete and back online, but we ended up with a great airplane that we can enjoy flying for at least another 2000 hours.
Safe flights,
Clark, AFC Aircraft Maintenance
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As some of you may be aware, Ron Montie, a former member, passed away on September 26 of this year.
Ron Montie (Feb 10,1939- Sept 26,2022)
 Born Feb 10. 1939 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan
He moved to Chilliwack, BC in 1945 due to health issues.
Ron met Genevieve (Jenny) Thiessen in High School, they married in May of 1962.
They have two sons Glen and Dean. Ron and Jenny have two grandchildren Dustin and Tanis, and a great granddaughter Teaghan.
Ron owned and operated Montie Refrigeration and Air conditioning from 1966 until approx. 2012.
Ron always wanted to learn to fly, and he made it happen, around 1972 he got his pilot’s license.
Approx. 5 years after he got his pilot’s license he purchased his very own plane, a 1950 NAVION which he loved almost as much as his wife (maybe a little more)
Ron, Jenny and their two kids flew all over… from Saskatchewan, Penticton, Victoria etc. they loved flying throughout BC.
Ron was a member of The Abbotsford Flying Club and The Eagles.
Besides flying he loved golfing and going for coffee with his buddies, he would always be marking up napkins with new ideas, inventions, or Jokes.
Ron leaves behind his wife, two sons (their partners), grandchildren, and great granddaughter.
Ron's Navion can still be seen in the Tie Down parking area at the Abbotsford Airport. There will be a memorial at the AFC clubhouse Feb 18, 2023. AFC members are welcome.
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Ever wondered who just walked into the club, or wondering how to break the ice with a member. This is the place. Every month we will be focusing on 2 or 3 members a month to write a little about themselves so that we can get to know who our membership is and break down walls. We will set-up a random selector and will notify the members as soon as possible to get them in the newsletter.
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You come to the airport to fly on of the planes and you see a hangar door open and see someone working on something. Ever wondered who that is and what they are working on. We will shine the spotlight here on projects that are being worked on by your fellow members. This will be an opportunity for you to learn what we are working on and maybe lend some expertise or hand if needed or just to learn some interesting tips and tricks.
This month we saw the near completion of one project and the start of another project by 3 of our members.
 First, the near completion of a project saw Ken and Devin Campbell complete their final inspection of the Sonex-A that they have been building for the last 1.5 years. There are now 2 Sonex aircraft flying around Abbotsford. Ken and Devin's will be happily joining Dan Renaud's yellow "Rumble Bee". Come and check it out, Ken and Devin can usually be found around the hangars on the weekend doing the final little touches and doing the initial flying trials.
 The project that is just getting started is a new hangar being built by Kevin Lacroix at Qualicum Airport. This is the first hangar that has been approved for the airport in many years. Kevin had a ground breaking ceremony a couple of weeks ago that was well attended. Regrettably several members of the club could not make it due to weather issues but we look forward to joining Kevin for the Hangar Warming Party when his project is complete.
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What is happening at TGIF? Where is the Sunday Morning Flyout group heading this month? Are there any upcoming social or volunteer activities coming? If you have an event you want to advertise to the membership, or you are wondering the answer to the questions about, this is the spot to it.
This coming Wednesday is our Annual General Meeting. This is your opportunity to help guide the direction of the club by selecting the members of the Board. Similar to last year, the AGM will be held via Zoom and elections will be done through ElectionBuddy. If you have issues with ElectionBuddy do not worry, Heather Hicks will be handling the phone at the clubhouse and there will be three scrutineers (to be announced) watching and letting us know about the results of the election.
Ongoing Events
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Wednesdays: Dutch Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Fridays: TGIF
18:00 -
Sundays: Breakfast Fly-out
08:30 - 12:00
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General Meetings: 19:30 Second Wednesday of the Month
Executive Meetings: 19:30 Fourth Wednesday of the Month
Programs:
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Upcoming Events
Oct 12 - Annual General Meeting 19:30
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AFC 2021 Executive
Chris Palmer - President
Ken McKeen - Vice President
Bevan Tomm - Secretary
Devin Campbell - Treasurer
- Building Maintenance
- Newsletter
- Flyout
Adrian Renkers - Membership
Clark Closkey - Aircraft Maintenance
Duncan Poynton - Director
Ken Campbell- Director
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AFC Airshow Directors
Steve Stewart
Tom Timm
Ruth Wiebe
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