Operating Guidelines for All Airplanes

General (top)

• Off airport landings are forbidden! You may land at any airfield that is officially recognized by the FAA and on a current sectional chart that meets requirements for the aircraft.
• Every new member is required to take an open book quiz along with an initial check out by a partnership approved instructor for each airplane flown.
• You may wash an airplane in exchange for one (1) hour flight time in that aircraft, provided you have the maintenance officers approval.
• If you must leave an aircraft due to weather or other problems make sure the aircraft is properly secured, tied down, gust locks in place, and reasonable precautions are taken to prevent theft or damage to the aircraft.
• Don't feel bad if you leave an aircraft behind. Don't let "get homeitis" cause you to make a questionable or unsafe decision. Members will gladly help in bringing the plane back. For example, there are several members who have airline pass privileges who wouldn't mind helping out.
• Avoid shock cooling, especially in the higher horse power aircraft.
• Use conservative cruise power settings of 75% or less and lean conservatively.
• Use proper technique for the surface the plane is on (soft sand, gravel, grass, etc.). To avoid prop and hull damage, do not do stationary run-ups over these kinds of surfaces. Under these conditions, please feed power in gradually and do a magneto check early in the takeoff run while there is still room to abort the takeoff. Remember when the carb heat is on it is un-filtered air
• Consider monitoring 121.5 especially after a hard landing to be sure the ELT has not gone off and to maybe help someone else whose ELT has gone off.

Pre-flight (top)

• Preflight - Do your own preflight
• Use checklist for
  • Helping in performing a proper and thorough preflight
  • Pre-take off
  • Pre-landing
• Open gates wide - When pulling the aircraft out of the hanger, make sure the gates are open wider than the plane. Don't let someone else open the gate or pull the plane out.
• Watch vehicle clearance - You may park your vehicle in the hanger while you are using one of the airplanes. Make sure that your vehicles antenna, trunk lid, doors, and tail gate do not damage the airplane as you move or load/unload either the plane or vehicle.
• Check oil - Maintain proper oil levels and record any oil used in the tachometer sheet. All hangers are stocked with oil, paper towels, funnels and washing fluids.
• Preheat engine - If outside temperatures get to near freezing and below, do preheat aircraft engines. Most of our planes have a built in electric heater for this purpose. Plug the heater in 20-30 minutes before engine start up. We also have a conventional propane fired pre-heater. Ask the maintenance officer in the event you need it.
• Check weights and balances - Be aware of weight and balance limitations for the aircraft you are using.
• Know the POH - Read and know what's in your pilots operating handbook. Consider getting one of your own for the plane(s) you fly.

Securing the Planes (top)

• Top off fuel tanks - the fuel tanks shall be topped off prior to securing in the hanger by following the "Refueling Planes" procedure
• Follow standard aircraft "securing plane" procedure - perform the standard steps outlined in the POH for securing the aircraft
• Secure plane in hanger - the planes shall be backed into the hanger. There is a center-line indicator located at the center of the overhead beam to be used as a guide. The vertical stabilizer should positioned to align with this indicator
• Update aircraft Tachometer log
  • Record tachometer time with your name and date
  • Attach gas receipt
  • Record # of quarts of oil added (if no oil was added, indicate "0")
• Clean bugs from windshield and wing edge - there is a canister of water to be used to pre-soak the windshield and wing leading edge. After pre-soaking, a soft scrub brush can be used on the wing. Review the "Proper Cloth Rag Use" procedure.
• Clean out interior - remove any dirt, grass, and garbage from the aircraft. There are receptacles for garbage located in each hanger
• Leave aircraft unlocked - the aircraft doors shall be unlocked while secured in the hanger

Proper Cloth Rag Use (top)

• Use “diaper” rags for Plexiglass cleaning only (note- do not wipe in a 'swirling motion'. Wipe up and down in a straight line ).
• Use “terry” rags for all other general cleaning
• Use paper towels for wiping dipstick and oil spills
• Save dirty rags; the maintenance officer will wash them for reuse

Refueling Planes (top)

• Fill 172 to visually full (40 gallons)
• Fill 182 to visually full

Maintenance (top)

• You may not perform any maintenance without the maintenance officer's permission. Do not use additives to fuel or oil without maintenance officer's permission. You may air up a tire, inflate a nose strut, charge a battery, remove inspection covers and cowl only if you know what you are doing! You may not remove the battery or touch any of the aircraft's wiring. DO NOT "JUMP START" any of the airplanes from your car or service battery or APU in the event of a dead battery. You must be patient and use the battery charger the partnership provides. If you have any questions, please call the maintenance officer.
• If you have a maintenance problem let the maintenance office know. Also leave a note on the yoke or mixture control knob, especially if airworthiness is in question. Note the problem on the tachometer sheet also.
• If you have a maintenance problem on a trip try to call the maintenance officer for advice. If you cannot contact the maintenance officer or a board member take appropriate action to fix the aircraft and come on home.
• If you landed the aircraft where salt is present (like Copalis beach or a salted or sanded runway) please flush out the wheel pants and rinse the belly to remove damaging salt.
• If you got sand, dirt, food, grease, vomit, etc in the aircraft, please clean up your mess and the mess of your passengers! Leave the plane as you would like to find it.

Guidelines for the C172 (top)

• Make sure your copy of the POH reflects the changes due to the Penn Yam 180HP conversion and know what the changes are.
• Part of the conversion is a larger diameter prop. Because of this, coupled with the higher horsepower, the prop can easily suck up loose stones and debris, thereby damaging the prop and the hull (especially the elevator).
• When on grass, gravel etc.....Please avoid using carb heat due to the unfiltered air. Test at low RPM's
• On grass, gravel etc... test magnetos on the first part of the take off roll while there is time to abort.
• Keep oil at 6-8 quarts

Guidelines for the C182 (top)

• Make sure your copy of the POH reflects the changes due to the Texas Skyways 280HP conversion and know what the changes are.
• Recommended power setting for cruise is 2000 RPM and 1900 HP manifold pressure
• Autopilot is based on turn and bank and/or VOR signal. It is an original Cessna product and has never worked very well. Don't depend on it.
• When on grass, gravel etc.....Please avoid checking carb heat due to the unfiltered air. Test at low RPM's
• On grass, gravel etc... test magnetos on the first part of the take off roll while there is time to abort.
• The 182 is a much heavier airplane than the 172. Experience has shown that when parking on soft surface (such as the wet sand at Copalis) it is a good idea to take some square pieces of plywood to park the wheels on so that they do not sink in.
• We require 150 hours logged before a member can be Pilot in command.

New Members (top)

• Paperwork
  • Download and review the bylaws - The bylaws can be downloaded from here.
  • Completed application - This application needs to be completed and submitted before a pilot review can be done.  The application process also includes a background and credit check.
  • Current medical and pilot license - A copy of the applicants current medical and pilot license needs to be included with the application
• Reviews
  • Peer review - A one-on-one interview is then done by the Vice President
  • Background check - A background and credit check of the candidate by the Board will be completed
  • Board review - Assuming the initial interview is positive, the Vice President recommends the applicant for consideration.  The applicant is introduced to the rest of the board at which point a board interview will be conducted
• Share purchase - Once all the application material, interviews, and background checks are complete, the applicant is informed of the decision of the board at which time a share is purchased by the new member. A check should be made out to "The Flying Signaleers" for the cost of a share and submitted to the Treasurer.
• Orientation
  • Signaleer skill checkout and procedure review - before being allowed to fly, the new member will need to pass a successful skill checkout by a board appointed instructor. Additionally, the new member is also introduced to the various Flying Signaleers procedures like securing the plane, recording time, etc. (checkout checklist)
  • Plane and hanger key - the keys are issued by the instructor duing the checkout activity
  • Update member roster - the member roster is updated by the Secretary
  • Gate key - a gate key will need to be picked up from the staff at the airport.  This is the responsibility of the new member. To acquire a gate key the new member will need to fill out the application form and submit it to the airport manager.
  • Flightschedulepro account - an on-line reservation account is created and provided to the new member

Departing Members (top)

• Receive gate key - the airport gate key shall be returned to the airport
• Receive plane and hanger keys - the aircraft and hanger keys shall be returned to a board member
• Update member roster - the Secretary will update the member roster
• Disable aircraft reservation account - the user account shall be disable/deleted from the scheduling system