The LX V7 and Nano. There are installed in GNM but I need to find the time to travel upto the big smoke to collect glider and trailer.
So to get a head start I've downloaded the manual's...good golly Miss Molly....56 pages.
So much to read...so much that can go wrong...so many decisions...
What 2 outputs do I display in the center of the dail??
Arrival altitude, TAS, vario average, speed to fly, the list goes on and on...
The locals had a bash at thinking through Part 115 and its impact on our budget. Lets start by assuming that we won't take up CAA's kind offer to register under Part 115 (cost, paperwork, responsibilities etc etc) and think about the reduction in trial flights.
My guess is a 50% reduction...ie all those flights that will never generate a member...it's probably higher than 50% but you have to start somewhere. That's an annual loss of net income of about $16-17,000. Can we replace that with something else? Youthy glidery types perhaps...problem is we will need to discount their flying to get Youth glide up and running.
More members flying...well your guess is as good as mine but I think you'd have more chance buying a Lotto ticket.
So can we cut our costs? Interest rates are coming down...say we save 1.5% on our mortgage...that's $3500 per year. What's next? Sell something...besides we won't need all those bits of glass if the number of flights per year drop by heaps. Tough decision...last time we tried doing this various members had a total meltdown. Interestingly we haven't missed the second Janus since its been gone...
Against this is the overall increasing cost of running the club. As the rate of voluntary effort decreases (me included) then paid people will need to fill the roles...
Raise our charges? Tow fees up to the national average, glider fees up by 50%, annual subs up as well.
Strikes me a combination will be required. Sell the other Janus, raise some charges, pursue extra members flying.
On another subject..does anybody have a direct line to Phil Plane? The Omarama webcam is off line...I'll get withdrawal symptoms soon...
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