For some reason the 28th of Feb is considered the end of summer. Strange really as its 27 degrees outside, with energy lines and thermals as far as you can see. In truth summer typically lasts until the end of March.
From memory we normally had at least one decent snow fall in March on Mt Hutt back in the days when I lived in Chch.
I'm certainly hoping we get rain...tomorrow, the next day or sometime really soon.
Good summer gliding normally means crap summer farming...and so it has proved.
I've just flown from Tga to Palmerston Nth to Akl and home this afternoon...sounds good if it was in a glider...but it was thanks to Air NZ. Dry and brown as far as I could see...you could mistake it for the West Island...but there weren't any snakes spiders sharks crocodiles or cricket players.
But we farmers...whilst we are the backbone of NZ, account for most of NZ's income, guardians of the environment, maintainers of airstrips, providers of tea and scones for landed-out pilots, and all round good guys...we do mention the weather in passing quite often. It should be remembered, that in my opinion, there are only 2 days of good weather per year...one once the ground has dried out after winter, and one just before winter.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Checking til the cows come home...
A number of issues and articles have converged recently that makes me wonder whether the proliferation of "check lists" is actually becoming counter-productive????
A couple of examples;
It appears members have forgotten to collect the tow ropes at the end of a days gliding...very naughty...a safety issue apparently...for who?? I'm not sure...The mower driver perhaps??
It also appears that some forgot to lock all the doors on the hangers...very naughty...a safety issue apparently??? We really should lock the doors (remember this from some-one who left his keys in the car and had it removed)...
On the Soaring Cafe website this morning there is a helpful check list for wing runners and pilots to complete in the last minute or two before take-off. It's a whole A4 page long...good grief...
We have a long list of pre-flight checks, landing checks, re-rigging checks, pre-aerobatic checks, landout checks, and so on and so on...
Do you know how many road signs there are between my place and the end of the road? It's only 8 kms...go on, count them one day...I know you won't...
There remains the question - can anybody be reasonably expected to remember all these lists and procedures and signs???
There is a really neat example of what happens when you over prescribe what people should do (as in when committees get involved in determining an outcome). In Europe they removed all the road signage from a series of round-abouts. You know...those helpful signs like..."roundabout ahead", "50 km", which way to turn, lane markers, pedestrian crossing markers, stop signs etc etc. All brightly colour coded.
So what was the result...less accidents and crashes, the pedestrians were safer, as were the cyclists. Why? Because people had to think for themselves. They didn't automatically assume that because they were inside the lane markers that they could safely forget all other considerations...
So what about gliding and life in general?
Could I suggest 2 things;
Firstly, that if anything is to be added to a check list or procedure then something else should be removed. An example...when I started gliding we had this procedure -the first tow of the day we did a "check release". Great idea...when we had tow rings of different sizes... But we standardised ring sizes years ago...and yet this procedure persists...why??
Secondly, do everything possible to solve the problem, issue or general stick waving, by finding another solution. People leaving the tow ropes on the runway after the end of the day??...paint them red or tie some red ribbon on them so there are easily visible. We seem to specialise in procuring dull grey ropes...so is it any surprise there aren't visible from the clubhouse??
Hanger doors not all locked at days end...rig the alarm system so its not possible to set it until they are...
Work very hard to get people to think for themselves...
In the manufacturing sector there is a process called "Lean". It revolves around getting floor staff, line managers, and so on up, to think through their tasks and suggest better ways to save time, effort and money. It works because instead of following check lists, and doing it the same way we did it yesterday, people try for improvement.
A couple of examples;
It appears members have forgotten to collect the tow ropes at the end of a days gliding...very naughty...a safety issue apparently...for who?? I'm not sure...The mower driver perhaps??
It also appears that some forgot to lock all the doors on the hangers...very naughty...a safety issue apparently??? We really should lock the doors (remember this from some-one who left his keys in the car and had it removed)...
On the Soaring Cafe website this morning there is a helpful check list for wing runners and pilots to complete in the last minute or two before take-off. It's a whole A4 page long...good grief...
We have a long list of pre-flight checks, landing checks, re-rigging checks, pre-aerobatic checks, landout checks, and so on and so on...
Do you know how many road signs there are between my place and the end of the road? It's only 8 kms...go on, count them one day...I know you won't...
There remains the question - can anybody be reasonably expected to remember all these lists and procedures and signs???
There is a really neat example of what happens when you over prescribe what people should do (as in when committees get involved in determining an outcome). In Europe they removed all the road signage from a series of round-abouts. You know...those helpful signs like..."roundabout ahead", "50 km", which way to turn, lane markers, pedestrian crossing markers, stop signs etc etc. All brightly colour coded.
So what was the result...less accidents and crashes, the pedestrians were safer, as were the cyclists. Why? Because people had to think for themselves. They didn't automatically assume that because they were inside the lane markers that they could safely forget all other considerations...
So what about gliding and life in general?
Could I suggest 2 things;
Firstly, that if anything is to be added to a check list or procedure then something else should be removed. An example...when I started gliding we had this procedure -the first tow of the day we did a "check release". Great idea...when we had tow rings of different sizes... But we standardised ring sizes years ago...and yet this procedure persists...why??
Secondly, do everything possible to solve the problem, issue or general stick waving, by finding another solution. People leaving the tow ropes on the runway after the end of the day??...paint them red or tie some red ribbon on them so there are easily visible. We seem to specialise in procuring dull grey ropes...so is it any surprise there aren't visible from the clubhouse??
Hanger doors not all locked at days end...rig the alarm system so its not possible to set it until they are...
Work very hard to get people to think for themselves...
In the manufacturing sector there is a process called "Lean". It revolves around getting floor staff, line managers, and so on up, to think through their tasks and suggest better ways to save time, effort and money. It works because instead of following check lists, and doing it the same way we did it yesterday, people try for improvement.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Fun in the Sun
I'm jealous...I'd rather be at the Taupo club class contest than stuck inside. However its my choice...no one elses.
Looks like a nice day today, perhaps a little more blue...
Judging be the first days scores it will be a closely fought contest...excellent.
With 12 entries the club class is starting to really fill a need in contest flying.
By comparison the largest class at the Omarama Nationals had 10 entries.
I suspect that over time the standard class will morph into the club class as no more 15 meter gliders are being produced. You'd only have to extend the handicap range 1 or 2 points and the overlap would be complete...I think 1 point gets the LS8's in.
So well done to the team who promoted the club class as a stand alone contest held away from the Nationals, and well done to the organises for moving the contests around to new and different venues.
I'd venture to suggest that either Lake Station or Springfield are possible sites in the future.
To complete the picture I think there is room to hold a 20 meter 2 seat contest alongside the club class. Away from the 15, 18 and Open Class Nationals and in the opposite island.
There is about 10-12 20 meter 2 seaters who could race and maybe more if you include Janus's.
So think fun, training for up and coming youth gliders (who would be on cheaper rates presumably), and a bit of sport. With a field of 10-15 club classers you would have the infrastructure in place to cope with the big wings...read tow planes, forecasters, and helpers.
This not a new idea...
Looks like a nice day today, perhaps a little more blue...
Judging be the first days scores it will be a closely fought contest...excellent.
With 12 entries the club class is starting to really fill a need in contest flying.
By comparison the largest class at the Omarama Nationals had 10 entries.
I suspect that over time the standard class will morph into the club class as no more 15 meter gliders are being produced. You'd only have to extend the handicap range 1 or 2 points and the overlap would be complete...I think 1 point gets the LS8's in.
So well done to the team who promoted the club class as a stand alone contest held away from the Nationals, and well done to the organises for moving the contests around to new and different venues.
I'd venture to suggest that either Lake Station or Springfield are possible sites in the future.
To complete the picture I think there is room to hold a 20 meter 2 seat contest alongside the club class. Away from the 15, 18 and Open Class Nationals and in the opposite island.
There is about 10-12 20 meter 2 seaters who could race and maybe more if you include Janus's.
So think fun, training for up and coming youth gliders (who would be on cheaper rates presumably), and a bit of sport. With a field of 10-15 club classers you would have the infrastructure in place to cope with the big wings...read tow planes, forecasters, and helpers.
This not a new idea...
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Done Deal
I sold GNM this afternoon.
To a keen and enthusiastic pilot in Taupo.
So the glider has gone full circle...it started life in Taupo.
Interestingly I did 650 hours in the Discus.
Or 39000 minutes.
Therefore at a $1 per minute that's $39k worth of flying.
That's OK I think...and I didn't have to cue for a club glider.
So what glider to buy next?
Left Taupo at 3pm this afternoon. Great looking day. Given it quite dry around the Reporoa area we passed a huge dust devil just outside Reporoa township...
To a keen and enthusiastic pilot in Taupo.
So the glider has gone full circle...it started life in Taupo.
Interestingly I did 650 hours in the Discus.
Or 39000 minutes.
Therefore at a $1 per minute that's $39k worth of flying.
That's OK I think...and I didn't have to cue for a club glider.
So what glider to buy next?
Left Taupo at 3pm this afternoon. Great looking day. Given it quite dry around the Reporoa area we passed a huge dust devil just outside Reporoa township...
Friday, February 8, 2013
Could this be the end?
Updated...to fix the spelling etc.
Tomorrow I'm taking GNM to Taupo so 2 prospective buyers can view and fly her.
If my Discus sells over the weekend I'll be "Discusman" no more...in which case the reason for this blog diminishes somewhat. "JS1man" doesn't quite have the same feel...or "ASG29man" (before the local JS1 dealer spends the commission on a new jet unit)...
I know this blog is very widely read...45000 readers can't be wrong. While most come from NZ, Australia (and I'm discounting my local Aussie friend), the US of A, even Azerbaijan (its near Turkmenistan...or one of those stans) feature on the list. I'd have to say to my readers in Azerbaijan that I'm slightly bemused at your interest in a kiwi glider pilots blog site...
I'm haven't decided how I'll handle this. Admittedly blogs are becoming "old school"...seems Facebook is the new trend. Although give it a year or so and we will be on to the next fad...
Any thoughts would be helpful...but I know you are a bashful lot. I also know that there are a few who would be pleased to see me hang up my keyboard...although counter-intuitively they seem to be big readers of the site...go figure.
Anyhow there is plenty of time to decide these things...
Looks like the weather for the start of the club Class Nationals will be good. I flew over the task area yesterday on the way to Palmerston Nth and back from Napier this afternoon, it looked quite nice and soarable. Pity I'm going to be busy with work stuff, I had planned to fly the Nationals...2 in one year.
Looking further ahead...as in way way further ahead...I'm taking a back seat from gliding while my two daughters finish their last few years under our roof, which includes an 8 week winter skiing holiday to Canada. I just looked at the weather near the house we will be staying in...minus 12.
Tomorrow I'm taking GNM to Taupo so 2 prospective buyers can view and fly her.
If my Discus sells over the weekend I'll be "Discusman" no more...in which case the reason for this blog diminishes somewhat. "JS1man" doesn't quite have the same feel...or "ASG29man" (before the local JS1 dealer spends the commission on a new jet unit)...
I know this blog is very widely read...45000 readers can't be wrong. While most come from NZ, Australia (and I'm discounting my local Aussie friend), the US of A, even Azerbaijan (its near Turkmenistan...or one of those stans) feature on the list. I'd have to say to my readers in Azerbaijan that I'm slightly bemused at your interest in a kiwi glider pilots blog site...
I'm haven't decided how I'll handle this. Admittedly blogs are becoming "old school"...seems Facebook is the new trend. Although give it a year or so and we will be on to the next fad...
Any thoughts would be helpful...but I know you are a bashful lot. I also know that there are a few who would be pleased to see me hang up my keyboard...although counter-intuitively they seem to be big readers of the site...go figure.
Anyhow there is plenty of time to decide these things...
Looks like the weather for the start of the club Class Nationals will be good. I flew over the task area yesterday on the way to Palmerston Nth and back from Napier this afternoon, it looked quite nice and soarable. Pity I'm going to be busy with work stuff, I had planned to fly the Nationals...2 in one year.
Looking further ahead...as in way way further ahead...I'm taking a back seat from gliding while my two daughters finish their last few years under our roof, which includes an 8 week winter skiing holiday to Canada. I just looked at the weather near the house we will be staying in...minus 12.
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