Operational Tips & Tricks

For some time I have been working on a hard number for when to get my IFR clearance on the ground vs picking it up inflight. Today, on Opposing Bases podcast (if you aren’t listening to it, you should) episode 443 they were talking about IFR clearances and release times etc. At one point the discussion centered on picking up on the ground or inflight.

ATC really needs to get you to MVA, which of course we can’t see, but typically the final approach altitude is reasonably close to MVA. They strongly recommend if you cant climb in visual conditions to at least that altitude PLEASE get your clearance on the ground! That makes a lot of sense to me and is my new “hard number.”

F = 2C + 30

Even a pilot could understand this! 😎

The club reimburses fuel purchased away from home based on the average rate the club pays for fuel at home. The average rate is calculated at the end of each month and applies to fuel purchases for airplanes checked in during that month.

To properly submit receipts please make sure your name, date, aircraft, and number of gallons are circled/underlined/highlighted on the receipt and then email them to the treasurer. Reimbursements for the current month are calculated at the end of the month.

GPS Nav databases update every 28 days on Thursday. One week before they expire, the new database is made available. We typically download the update and put the card in the airplanes before the old ones expire which automatically copies the database into the GPS under "Standy". Before flying IFR you will want to make sure the database is current.

Typically, the GPS will prompt you to update the database when you turn it on after the current database expires. If it does not, there are two ways to force the update.

One is to hold the nav frequency knob while powering up the GPS to force the prompt. Alternatively, you can go under settings to find the standby database and upload it as current.

I ran across this video on YouTube (imagine THAT...who views videos THERE?!)😎 VERY good! Don't know this guy or his reputation but you can see by the advice he has that he's knowledgeable and wants to share with all pilots and operators (both) ways to operate GA pistons safely and efficiently...GOOD STUFF. I'm considering suggesting that this video become a mandatory part of club checkouts (on members' own time, but before sign off). It's THAT GOOD! Always fly SAFE but also efficiently (it will save you and the rest of the club $$$)!