News

Below is the updated Ground Crew roster from November 2018 through until next Easter. If you’re not a tow pilot, instructor or duty pilot, you’ll find your name on the roster to come out to the airfield on a few days throughout the year to assist with operations for the day. New members have been added to the list.

We want you to come out, help out, and be able to go for a flight as well. I know people have commitments that come up, so the same principle applies as with our tow pilots, instructors and duty pilots. If you can’t make a day, please find a member to swap with. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact president@vmfg.org.au

The clubs operating and flying environment continues to change and evolve, along with community and member expectations and needs. To ensure the club continues to meet these expectations the club needs to evolve and change.

The importance of the clubs web site has been increasing in importance since its inception in 1999.  A few years ago the club decided to split the web site, and create a dedicated site for non members (public facing), and another specifically for members, as both group have very different needs.

The public web site is under development, and the member web site had been tuned and changed to suit new information like the weather station , web cams, flight radar (OGN) etc., and more importantly the ever increasing use of mobile devices to look at web sites.

We are now seeking your thoughts on what could / should be included on the front page of the member web site, along with ideas and/or examples for a better more functional layout.

Please forward your thoughts and ideas to steve@techexecs.com.au so they can collated and incorporated.

Kind regards Steve Trone

I've added the YBSS glider strips to the OGN base map.

If you become aware of anything else that is missing from the map please let me know at vmfg@techexecs.com.au

Cheers Steve

Listen to CTAF & Glider radio channels over the internet using the LiveATC link.  The ground station located at Bacchus Marsh (YBSS) receives transmissions from the Bacchus Marsh CTAF 118, and glider chat frequencies 122.5, 122.7 & 122.9 ( you need to be in range).

To listen in a browser you will need Flash, personnel I've found it to start/open easier with Internet Explorer.  An iPhone and Android app is also available.

There is bout a 10-20 second delay, site also includes a 30 day archive, if you need to find the rego of an aircraft.

Happy listening, Steve Trone

The borrowed East and South web cams have been replaced with better units.  For those technically minded the old model were 1.3MP (megapixel) and the new ones are 4MP.  The view to the south appears a lot clearer.

http://www.melbourneglidingclub.com.au/page-18229

Enjoy, Steve Trone

We now have a hazardous chemicals and flammable liquids storage shed located on the western side of the main workshop.

Inside this lockable shed is a large, dark green steel cabinet which is very dry and dust free.

Fuel for the buggy and other petrol-driven equipment is now stored in the cabinet in the shed.

Bulk flammable liquids [>4 litre volumes] are to be stored here, as must large volumes of hazardous chemicals.

The labelled key to the shed is hanging on a locker in the back of the main workshop.

A spare labelled key to the fuel shed is located with the other MGC spare keys in the clubhouse.

According to GFA MOSP2, Section 18.8.2, when a tug is at full stretch of the 55m tow rope for an aerotow launch, the tug must be 60m downwind from the displaced threshold [piano keys] on all runways.  This means that at launch, both the glider and, by definition, the forward-most operations vehicle, must be some 100m from the piano keys.

To help us comply as best we can with GFA requirements for launching gliders, we already use two markers to assist all of us parking operations vehicles.  On R19, there is the bright yellow marker fixed to the dirt road.  On R27, the fence corner is the position indicator; any further east and we would be blocking our access to the field.

At the launch point of each of the two other runways (R01 and R09), there is now a fence picket painted bright yellow to help us position the forward-most operations vehicle.

The Bus camera has been redeployed to replace a broken cam on the hangar, as it was an expensive outdoor unit that designed for outside use.

Due to Bus CAMs popularity I plan to replace the camera with 2 units so we can see the entire flight line.

We are looking for a replacement unit that looks similar to this http://dashiest.com/products/cctv-ip-camera-wifi-720p-hd-mini-security-wireless-security-home-system-onvif-webcam-audio-door-cam-de-seguridad-vigilancia/

There appears to be many models on the market that look like this but they are all missing http, ftp and snapshot functionality which is required for the bus.

If you know of any please email steve@techexecs.com.au with the details ASAP.

Our April Membership Drive is again being run in conjunction with the GFA’s Aviate in April promotion which is back again for 2018.

For the month of April 2018, those who join the club as new, first-time members will receive free membership of the club (bond/debenture and GFA membership will still be payable). This offer does not apply to renewals during the month of April 2018.

To take advantage of this offer, your friends and family should use the code MGCFREE when they sign up. Full terms and conditions are available on our website.

Our Family and Friends Day is back for 2018!

The MGC Committee is pleased to announce we will be holding our second MGC Family and Friends Flying Day on Sunday 22 April 2018.

Flights will be at club member rates, plus the $40 GFA 30-day introductory membership, and be charged to your flying account.

To help you and your guests plan your day, book your slot by visiting our sign-up site. 

There will be a free BBQ lunch on the day.

Family and friends visiting on the day can also take advantage of our April Membership Drive being run in conjunction with the GFA’s Aviate in April promotion which is back again for 2018.

For the month of April 2018, any of your family and friends who join the club as new, first-time members will receive free membership of the club (bond/debenture and GFA membership will still be payable). This offer does not apply to renewals during the month of April 2018.

To take advantage of this offer, your friends and family should use the code MGCFREE when they sign up. Full terms and conditions are available on our website.

We look forward to seeing you, and meeting your family and friends, on 22 April.