March 2026

In this month’s edition:

  • Down on the farm 87 last month 2/26 – Tony Palmer
  • Carbon Monoxide story – from US AOPA’s Pilot Magazine
  • Changes to SEP(A) Revalidation Requirements
  • Don Lord’s Birthday celebrated by The Guild of British Camera Technicians
  • Email from Colin Hales

Down on the farm 87 last month 2/26

Klemm L25C G-ACXE

The Klemm MOT is due soon and we are sorting out and improving our tailored maintenance schedule as we learn more about the plane. We have started the yearly inspection.

The runway today, Jim and I were digging out the drainage channel that has silted up.

Prentice G-APPL VR189

We have been removing the extra fuel tanks that had been added earlier in the planes history, this is because we want to get the plane as light as possible with a view to operating it on shorter runways. Trying to remove the 2BA screws from the captive nuts all around the panels where the fuels tanks live was a pain. We had to recut the screwdriver slots in the heads, use an oxyacetylene torch to warm up the screw heads and an impact screwdriver to persuade them to come out.

We have just been offered a load of Prentice spares, so we are off to Old Hay to see them before we come up with our offer.

Beagle Terrier G-ATDN TW- 641

Getting the Terrier to be accepted by the LAA has just got a whole easier as the Engine and Airframe log books have been found. The main problem was that we did not know anything about the Gypsy engine as they have certain crank mods to be done and certain maintenance requirements. The other questions from Jon at the LAA were when the long range fuel tank was fitted and when the glider tow equipment was fitted? All these questions and more have been solved by finding the Log books.

PLBs and lifejackets

I have received a message from Clive Davidson a yacht chandelier named YOUBOAT based in Gosport and Lymington that he can do good deals on McMurdo PLBs and life jackets. Ring him on ​Telephone: 01329 756834 and Mobile: 07827 666096

Atmospheric picture taken by Tony Berryman from his Sportscruiser

Aviation Books

An ex LAA member Graham Pocock got in touch and donated 4 books to the strut, if anyone wants any of the books and think they will use them (as opposed to selling them on ebay) please get in touch. I will bring them along to the March strut night. (I forgot to take them last month)

See front page of books below:

Next club night Febuary 4th2026 at the Longshore by the airport roundabout

Please, PLEASE can we have club members come up with things to do this year!!! Maybe organise trips out to museums, flyouts, someone to do an interesting talk??

I have booked Paul Smiddy who wrote MOONLIGHT CRUSADERS, Tangmere was the base for many of these flights. This engrossing history explores the creation, development and actions of the Special Duties squadrons, which carried spies, political figures and much more.

Tony Palmer

Carbon Monoxide story

In US AOPA’s Pilot Magazine there is a detailed analysis of a fatal crash when the pilots were disabled due to a cracked exhaust manifold. It illustrates how insidious the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning can be. We have had a cracked exhaust in my group C172, fortunately without serious outcome; it does happen! Check your CO detectors folks. aopa.org/../november/pilot/what-went-wrong-toxic-oversight

Changes to SEP(A) Revalidation Requirements

You are probably aware that a number of changes came into force at the beginning of October last year. For a summary of the changes see: CAP3155: General Aviation Pilot Licensing Review

A couple of topics have been added to the PPL training syllabus and they are to be checked during the biennial revalidation hour with an instructor: moving maps and partial power loss.

The instruction for including partial power loss in the PPL skill test are: GM1 FCL.235 Skill Test

Simulated emergencies (d) in Section 5 ‘Abnormal and Emergency Procedures’ for the PPL(A) – this may include a simulated partial loss of power during or immediately after take-off, during the enroute section or the circuit and landing at the aerodrome.

This may also include items from the emergency section of the Pilot Operating Handbook, Flight Manual or aircraft checklist or simulated abnormal conditions introduced by the examiner. Some abnormal/emergency procedures may be covered on the ground by oral examination.

The instruction on partial power failure consist of: GM1 FCL 210 PPL(A) Training course

Instruction in partial power failures

The teaching of partial power engine failures during or immediately after takeoff should emphasise maintaining a safe flying speed and control of the aircraft. It may be appropriate to treat a partial loss of power as a full EFATO, with selection of a landing site beyond the runway.

Recommended items for teaching partial power during Exercise 16:

1. Identify partial power failure condition

2. Perform the partial engine failure checks, as per the checklist, Pilots Operating Handbook or Flight Manual;

3. Adjust flight controls to re-establish flight path that maximises performance for partial power condition and maintain a safe airspeed margin above stall speed;

4. Formulate a plan to recover aeroplane to a safe landing area or aerodrome, taking into account that partial failure might lead to a full power failure at any time;

5. Manoeuvre the aeroplane to a selected landing area or aerodrome using the remaining power to establish an optimal aircraft position for a safe landing;

6. Advise Air Traffic Service Unit, or other agencies capable of providing assistance of situation and intentions;

7. Brief passengers about flight situation, brace position and harness security;

8. Maintain a contingency plan for coping with a full power failure throughout the manoeuvre, for example instead of making a straight in approach, consider flying into the overhead of the aerodrome to maintain height for as long as possible, followed by a descending circuit close to the runway.

For use of moving map, the requirement is for training: Guidance on best practice for the use of VFR Moving Map: Safety Sense Leaflet (SSL) 29

So, better brush up on these topics before your next revalidation!

Don Lord’s Birthday celebrated by The Guild of British Camera Technicians

The Guild of British Camera Technicians (GBCT) posted on their website a great biography of Don in celebration of his birthday on the 24th February. Read it here: gbct.org/post/happy-birthday-don-lord-24-february It contains some brilliant photos.

Email from Colin Hales

Along with other Struts, we have received an email from Colin Hales, the LAA Inspector who was expelled from the association last year. He remains aggrieved at his treatment and is soliciting support for the LAA to convene an Emergency General Meeting to review his case. His email can be downloaded as a pdf here: Colin Hales email and the attachment.

Events

Next Strut ‘Club Night’

Wednesday 4th March 2026, 7:30 pm at The Longshore, Shoreham

For a full list of events go to the website Events page.