PCAS. What is it? 

 

 

Portable Collision Avoidance System.

 

The two best known systems on the market are manufactured by Zaon Flight Systems and are designated Zaon MRX and Zaon XRX. 

 

The MRX is the smaller and less expensive unit and is about the size of an iPhone.  It can provide information on a single collision threat aircraft on its bright LED display (it will always display the highest threat aircraft information).  It will provide information on distance, vertical displacement and vertical trend of the threat aircraft.

 

The XRX is the larger, much more expensive system, which can display information about more aircraft, it can be integrated into other "glass screen" avionics and provides information on azimuth in addition to the distance and vertical displacement.

 

Both systems work by "listening" for the responses from aircraft transponders (while ignoring the host aircraft's transponder).  They then assess the strength of the signal (Mode A) to provide a range, next they compare the threat aircraft's transponder encoded altitude (Mode C) with the host aircraft's transponder encoded altitude and their own internal altimeter, to provide an accurate vertical displacement of the threat aircraft from the host aircraft.

 

More information can be found in the PCAS MRX manual. (Click Here)

 

 

 

 

 

Can a VFR Flight Plan be Filed Online? 

 

 

Yes.

 

The National Air Traffic Service (NATS) website will allow pilots to file a VFR flight plan online.  In order to control the service it is necessary to apply for a login, in doing so the NATS will check the pilots credentials and then issue a login.  All logins will be reviewed at regular intervals to ensure the system does not become overloaded with non-users, but no account will be cancelled without first contacting the registered user via the regisetered email.

 

Clued Up (the CAA safety magazine) provided a detailed description on how to use the site.  This can be downloaded here (How to use the NATS VFR Flightplan online system).

 

In order to get started go to www.flightplanningonline.co.uk and register by going to "Applying for an AFPEx Account" and then "Individual Application Form".

 

Oil Replenishment. How much oil should be put in the aircraft when refilling?

 

The minimum oil allowed in the Warrior engine is 4 US quarts and the maximum is 8 US Quarts. 

 

Any more than 6 US quarts tends to get "blown overboard" by the engine and so filling above 6 US quarts is a waste of oil.  This is a recognised feature of Lycoming engines and each one has its own "Oil Level" down to which it will blow out oil, thereby wasting oil if it is filled above its own "Oil Level". In the case of these Warrior engines their oil levels are slightly above 6 US Quarts.

 

The club policy is to operate the Warriors' oil levels between 5 and 6 quarts.

 

The oil is provided by the aircraft owners in 1 US Quart bottles.

 

This means that the oil should only be replenished when the oil level gets down to 5 US quarts or below, and when this occurs a whole bottle should be added to the engine.  This will raise the level to 6 US quarts again (or in the case that the oil was below 5, it will still satisfy the requirement to be between 5 and 6 US quarts).

 

 

 

Please don't put empty uncrushed bottles back into the cabinet as it leads us to believe there is more oil available than there actually is.  Please always crush the empty bottles before placing them in the required receptacle.

 

 

 

How much ice is acceptable on the aircraft on departure? 

None!  The question then is "How do I get all the ice off the aircraft?".  This is quite simple, and can be done in one of two ways:

 

1.  If it is a sunny day then move the aircraft into the direct sunlight and wait.  This works better on G-WFFW as it is a darker colour.

 

2.  Use a de-icing fluid.  Lyneham Flying Club provides Kilfrost RDF (rapid defrosting fluid).  The applicator is a garden spray pump system (stored in the POL locker with "Aircraft deicer" written on it).  If this runs out there is a plastic container with a Kilfrost RDF label on it, use this to replenish the spray system.  Spray this on the surfaces which have ice on them and wait about 10 minutes, then re-check to ensure there is no ice, if there is then re-treat with Kilfrost.