Club Procedures for current and past airplanes

Operating Guidelines for the aircraft

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. Note: while off airport landings are forbidden, it may be prudent to perform this, if faced with rapidly deterorating weather.
• 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. This can be accomplished by slowly reducing the power settings as you approach the landing pattern.
  
• 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 hangar door until it stops (make sure there are no vechicles park in front before opening) - When pulling the aircraft out of the hanger, make sure the door is completely up. Don't let someone else open the door or pull the plane out.
• Park cars out of the way of others. - You may park your vehicle in the hangar while you are using the airplane.
• Check oil - Maintain proper oil levels and record any oil used in the tachometer sheet. The Aircraft must be on the level with approximately 5 inches showing on the front strut. The hangar is stocked with oil, paper towels, funnels and washing fluids. Be sure to use the proper oil for the season.
  
• Preheat engine - If outside temperatures get to near freezing and below, do preheat aircraft engine. Our plane has 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 members if you need assitance in the event you need it. Note: Do not leave the heater on over nite. This will cause condensation within the engine.
  
• 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 purchasing one of your own to use when you fly.

Securing the Plane (top)

• * Top off fuel tanks - the fuel tanks shall be topped off prior to securing in the hanger by following the "Refueling Planes" procedure. * Note: individual on the schedule to fly next may want to have less fuel on board due to weight and balance. If possible text member to verify that the tanks should be topped. During the winter months when the plane is not flown as much, topping off tanks is best for the preservation of the fuel bladders. 
• Follow standard aircraft "securing plane" procedure - perform the standard steps outlined in the POH for securing the aircraft
• Secure plane in hanger - the plane 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 - Windshield and side windows to be cleanded with Cleaner that is in a spray can specially formulated for plastic. Wipe using soft cloth that are stored in hangar. Clean all painted areas with "drywash".There bottles of "drywash" that can be used to pre-soak wing leading edge / cowling. After pre-soaking, a soft scrub brush can be used on the wings / cowling. Finish by wiping down with towels. 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 the hangar
• Leave aircraft unlocked - the aircraft doors shall be unlocked while secured in the hangar. Doors and vents should be closed. 

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 forwards to back).
• Use “terry” rags for all other general cleaning
• Use paper towels for wiping dipstick and oil spills
• Save dirty rags; members will rotate washing them for reuse

Refueling Plane (top)

• Fill 182 to visually full. Alway dip to be certain of fuel level. When fueling plane take care that you hold hose and nozzle as to not scratch paint.
  

Maintenance (top)

• You may not perform any maintenance without the clubs permission. Do not use additives to fuel or oil without club members 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"  the airplane from your car, 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 any of the members. We can utilize the mechanic on field.
  
• 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 member 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 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 2300 RPM and 21 inches  manifold pressure
  
• Autopilot is based on turn and bank and/or VOR signal. It is an original Cessna product and can work well if plane is properly trimed.
• 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 a C172. 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. Additionally the club requires at least 10 hours in type before acting PIC.
  

New Members (top)

The Vice President will guide candidates through the new membership process.  Once a candidate has expressed interest, the Vice President will notify the candidate of the action that is needed and ensure that the Board process the candidate according to process.

• 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
• Membership procedure - 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 membership is granted to the applicant. 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.
  • Google Calender - will be used for scheduling. Texting and or phone calls can be used to assure that other members are not scheduled.

Departing Members (top)

• Receive gate key - the airport gate key shall be returned to the club tresurer.
• 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.