The 2017 SOSA Pilot Safety Meeting will be held at the club house on Sunday 23/Apr.

The meeting starts at 1pm and all members are invited.

AGENDA
1.      Emergency Response Plan – Dale Guenter
2.      Changes to spring spin/check flights – Chris Wilson
3.      Winch launches -  emergency landings – Chris Wilson
4.      Flarm and Transponder operating procedures – Hans Juergensen
5.      Discussion – for the good of the club – all

SOSA is proud to continue its support for the Youth Flight Canada (YFC) initiative, providing a pathway into cross-country and competition for young pilots that don't have the opportunity to do so in a club ship or private ship. Getting youth (and any pilot) hooked on cross-country is a critical aspect of retaining them, or getting them back after university.
 
A SZD-48 Jantar was purchased by YFC after a donation was made to them for this purpose, and is hosted at SOSA.
 
The glider operating costs are supported through donations from SOSA members to YFC that are then flowed back to SOSA for the Youth team account. The annual operating expenses to keep the Jantar flying include the insurance and maintenance of the glider and trailer.
 
Also, over the last couple of years SOSA members have done significant work to the trailer and are in the process of updating the instruments.
 
The glider is always stored in the trailer and they are expected to rig it every day they wish to fly. The purpose here is so they are familiar with the rigging and derigging and trailer characteristics, so that it does not get damaged after landing out and retrieval.
 
For youth to fly the glider they need to be suitably qualified, including meeting SOSA requirements to fly the LS4.  Once checked out on the Jantar, it costs them $10 per day to fly it (as many times as they want in one day).
 
During the 2016 season, four SOSA youth members flew the Jantar for just over 100 hrs, and it was also flown at both the Canadian Nationals and Ontario Provincials by two of or youth members. Those flying the glider are expected to care for the glider and keep it washed and waxed and to look after small maintenance items on the trailer and assist with glider maintenance (under supervision)
 
Fund-raising
 
At the up-coming spring work weekend, I'll be collecting donations for the Youth Jantar that is based at SOSA to cover the operating expenses for the 2017 season. All donations to support the program are eligible for a charitable receipt for tax purposes. If members can donate $50 each we can keep the program running for another season.
 
Donations to Youth Flight Canada can be made using one of the following methods:
 
1. cash or cheque to Dave S. during the work weekend
2. interac email money transfer, (ask Dave S. for details), and 
3. online donation through CanadaHelps.org (the lest preferred method since they take a 3% administration fee off the top).  https://www.canadahelps.org/dn/15959
​

On behalf on this year’s Board of Directors, I would like to welcome you to SOSA for the 2017 season.  We are very excited about the upcoming flying season and can’t wait for it to get started.    I wanted to take this opportunity to communicate with you on several topics.  

First off let me introduce you to your Board of Directors and Committees for the 2017 season:

​Board of Directors

• Sean Christie – President
• Gary Baker – Director Aircraft
• Martin Brassard – Director Flying and CFI
• Bob Harvey – Secretary
• Mark Luscher – Treasurer
• Mark McDermott – Director Marketing
• Rafael Nunes – Vice President and Director Membership
• Bill Vollmar – Director Facilities and Safety Officer

 
Safety Committee

• Bill Vollmar
• Dale Guenter
• Bob Harvey
• Hans Juergensen

 
Flying Committee

• Herrie ten Cate
• Andrew Corrigan
• Paul Parker

 
Chief Tow Pilot

• Dave Springford

 
Dean of Students

• Mark Luscher

 
Member Orientation

• Rob Russell

 
Marketing Committee

• Mark McDermott
• John Brennan
• Farid Ibrahim
• Peter Hickey (President of Marketing O2)

 
While the flying season hasn’t full started just yet, your board has met twice already and are busy working on a number of initiatives and activities.  We have agreed that the following are priorities for us in the 2017 season:

Safety
First and foremost, the board is committed to ensuring that SOSA’s safety focus remains high.  2016 saw a marked improvement in safety incidents over the previous year, which is thanks in part to Bill Vollmar and his safety team for the work they built on top of previous committees.  I think it is also important to thank all of you, our members, for your focus and commitment to our improved safety record.  Whether it is in the air, on the flight line, moving aircraft in the hangar, or just general activities at the club, safety needs to remain front of mind for all members and in all activities.  Let’s keep up the great trends started last year so that we can ensure 2017 is another safe year at SOSA. 

I would also like to point out that Bill received the 2016 Hank Jansen Award from SAC for his Contributions to Safety.  Congratulations Bill!!
 
Membership   
We all recognize that our membership has been declining over the last few years.  This decline in membership has not just been felt in our club but across the soaring community and in many other organizations.  The competition for peoples’ time and money has increased and people have many more options and opportunities today.   Over the years we have had a great deal of focus on marketing and growing our membership and while this needs to continue, our bigger challenge is in maintaining the membership we have.  Sure, we can expect some attrition year over year, but our membership retention rate has been an issue in the last few years.  Surely it should be easier to keep members than attract new ones.      
​
So, as we organized this year’s Board portfolios, we wanted to start thinking in terms of managing and caring for our existing membership as one thing and address marketing and growing new members as a separate portfolio.   This division will allow the marketing team to have an external view in development and execution of our marketing strategies and messages to targeted audiences, while also allowing for a dedicated focus internally on how best to improve the member experience, satisfaction and retention.

Operations
Thanks to Farid Ibrahim and his team last year, we made tremendous progress in integrating Free Flight at our flight line and into the financial systems of the club.  We will look to further train all members on the use of the system and implement other features and capabilities of Free Flight.  
We are looking to formalize more organized student training program.  You will hear more on this from Martin shortly.

Here are a few key upcoming dates:

• April 22/23 – Spring work weekend
• April 23 – Pilot safety meeting at clubhouse
• May 6/7 – First scheduled weekend for duty roster
• May 9 – Start of Tuesday evening instruction
• May 12 -- Start of Friday evening instruction
• A full listing of key dates can be found here

In other news

• I want to report that the 505 has been sold and is now making its home in Montreal at AVVC. Thanks to everyone that helped to make this happen.  GLP was a good ship for us at the club and I am sure we all will have good memories of flying her.  My best memory was my first flight in the 505, it was a great flight with Andrew Corrigan where on our way back from the north, flying at 90 knots, we were still climbing.  
• All the instruments have now been installed in our new Duo Discus and it is ready for its import inspection.  It should be ready to fly as our season opens.  Thanks to Dave Springford and others for all their hard work in getting her ready for the season.
• I attended the SAC AGM back on March 18 and was pleased to see so many SOSA members in attendance.  Here are a few notes from the meeting:
  • As noted above, Bill Vollmar received an award at the meeting, but two other members also were recognized at the meeting.  Tom Butts received the “200” Trophy for the 6 best flights by pilot under 200 hours.  Jerzy Szemplinski received the BAIC Trophy – for the best flight of the year.  Congratulations to Bill, Jerzy and Tom!!
  • As part of the 150 Canada celebrations this year SAC is joining the festivities with a Canada 150 Soaring Pin.  Any flights recorded in OLC of 150kms or more will automatically receive the 150 pin.  SAC will be monitoring OLC for all flights that meet this criteria and mailing out the pins monthly.  Qualifying flights will include flights made in two-seaters and pins will be sent for both the pilot and passenger, if noted. 
  • SAC is also organizing a Soaring Historical Committee, led by Bruce Friesen, for the purpose of collecting and documenting the great soaring history in Canada.  They are looking for any photos, audio files, or other memorabilia that anyone has and is willing to donate.  They are also looking for volunteers to help on the committee.  If you are interested in helping or have any material you would like to submit, please contact me.

• We are hoping to see a few more low-key social events at the club during the season.  Something along the lines of a once a month BYOM BBQ after the hangar doors are closed.  Look more information on this once the season get started.

Well that is it for now.  We will publish more information and updates during the season.  If you haven’t signed up as a member yet, please do so soon as we would love to see you at the field early this season.  Remember that April 22/23 is the spring work weekend and many hands make light work.  Once again welcome to SOSA for 2017 and looking forward to seeing everyone at the flight line.

​Sean Christie