Many thanks to the dedicated who have turned out in good and not so good weather to help move the maintenance programs forward.
For your info the PW 5 is pretty well done. Good progress on the Blanik 303 BA and a start on 809S and the Grob. The annual on Pawnee 898 is almost complete.
We would like to invite y'all to come on out ( 9:30 'til 12:30 - and then lunch at the Greasy Spoon) each Saturday now - before the hangar gets COLD. Our goal is to get the rest of the fleet ready for annual inspections before year end.
ZA
Monday, November 29, 2004
Club winter maintenance progress
Courtesy of Ron Clarke:
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
New FAI Sporting Code
The FAI has revised Section 3 of the Sporting Code again.
Some highlights - er, lowlights:
On page 4 (and several other places) there is this note:
"At the IGC meeting 2004, it was decided that at some future date verification of badge flights will require the use of a flight recorder. Other means of verification shown in this edition of the Sporting Code will no longer be accepted.
October 2004"
Is there an epidemic of falsified barograph traces out there that nobody told us about?
On page 15 there is this:
"The Silver [badge] distance flight should be flown without navigational or other assistance given over the radio (other than permission to land on an airfield) or help or guidance from another aircraft."
Are these guys aware that flight recorders use GPS and that GPS is a navigation system using radio signals?
Some highlights - er, lowlights:
On page 4 (and several other places) there is this note:
"At the IGC meeting 2004, it was decided that at some future date verification of badge flights will require the use of a flight recorder. Other means of verification shown in this edition of the Sporting Code will no longer be accepted.
October 2004"
Is there an epidemic of falsified barograph traces out there that nobody told us about?
On page 15 there is this:
"The Silver [badge] distance flight should be flown without navigational or other assistance given over the radio (other than permission to land on an airfield) or help or guidance from another aircraft."
Are these guys aware that flight recorders use GPS and that GPS is a navigation system using radio signals?
Monday, November 22, 2004
Road Trip?
During the winter we don't get many thermals around here. If anyone is interested in going to Ridge Soaring this winter, read what Karl Striedieck has to say about the ridge here and A New Pilot's Guide to Flying at the Ridge here.
Some pilots recommend taking a drive up and down the length of the ridge to get a feel for the terrain before trying to soar it. For a modest 300km gold distance/diamond goal out and return, that is roughly from Lock Haven, Pennsylvania to Cumberland, Maryland.
Some pilots recommend taking a drive up and down the length of the ridge to get a feel for the terrain before trying to soar it. For a modest 300km gold distance/diamond goal out and return, that is roughly from Lock Haven, Pennsylvania to Cumberland, Maryland.
Friday, November 19, 2004
World Distance Award
Sign up for this NOW.
The World Distance Award is a lifetime award for accumulating 40,000 km of cross-country soaring flights. The rules have been tinkered with recently, so if you have any cross-country flights in your log book and think you ever might have any interest in participating, sign up before the end of the year and submit all your eligible cross-country flights to date. After 31 December 2004, flights over a year old will not count unless they've already been submitted.
There's a one-time fee of $20 for current SSA members to participate. There are certificates for reaching the milestones of 5000, 10000, 20000 and 40000 km and a nifty little 'ring of Saturn' to go on your FAI gold (or silver, I guess) badge once you reach 40,000 km.
Why 40,000 km? That's the distance around the Earth.
The rules and forms are here.
Usenet post with more details about the rules change.
The World Distance Award is a lifetime award for accumulating 40,000 km of cross-country soaring flights. The rules have been tinkered with recently, so if you have any cross-country flights in your log book and think you ever might have any interest in participating, sign up before the end of the year and submit all your eligible cross-country flights to date. After 31 December 2004, flights over a year old will not count unless they've already been submitted.
There's a one-time fee of $20 for current SSA members to participate. There are certificates for reaching the milestones of 5000, 10000, 20000 and 40000 km and a nifty little 'ring of Saturn' to go on your FAI gold (or silver, I guess) badge once you reach 40,000 km.
Why 40,000 km? That's the distance around the Earth.
The rules and forms are here.
Usenet post with more details about the rules change.
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Saturday, November 13, 2004
PW-5 Is Derigged
Today the work crew took the PW-5 apart and cleaned and waxed the wings. It will go on the trailer when finished to make more room in the hangar for winter work. However - if anyone really wants to fly it over the winter, it is very easy to reassemble, in theory.
Friday, November 12, 2004
Posting photos
I've got some photos of club gliders and I'd like to post them here, so let's give it a try:
Update: now Blogger hosts image files directly!
Update: now Blogger hosts image files directly!
Conflict of Interest Policy
The CISS board adopted a conflict of interest policy on 11 November 2004. The policy can be found here.
Thursday, November 11, 2004
Winter Saturdays
The season is upon us again - that is, the season to do maintenance on the
gliders. We'll meet at the airport each Saturday morning and start with
waxing the PW-5. Once it is done, we'll work on one of the Blaniks. If the
weather is good, drag the other Blanik and the Grob out and fly. Duane has
agreed to let us use the heated hangar for this, so come on out, even if
the weather is frosty!
gliders. We'll meet at the airport each Saturday morning and start with
waxing the PW-5. Once it is done, we'll work on one of the Blaniks. If the
weather is good, drag the other Blanik and the Grob out and fly. Duane has
agreed to let us use the heated hangar for this, so come on out, even if
the weather is frosty!
Monday, November 08, 2004
Eye Opener
So I was sitting here filling in the IRS Form 1023 when I noticed the
instructions have a table with estimated time burdens for each step in the
process. The IRS estimates that recordkeeping for the main form will take
about 89 hours, 26 minutes. Add to that the time to learn the law (5 hours
10 minutes) and to actually fill out the form (9 hours 39 minutes) and
you've just spent two and a half weeks on this project. At which point you
are ready to start on Schedules A through H.
instructions have a table with estimated time burdens for each step in the
process. The IRS estimates that recordkeeping for the main form will take
about 89 hours, 26 minutes. Add to that the time to learn the law (5 hours
10 minutes) and to actually fill out the form (9 hours 39 minutes) and
you've just spent two and a half weeks on this project. At which point you
are ready to start on Schedules A through H.
The Trophy
At the moment, Ron Clarke assures me, the travelling trophy is in our possession. The guys from Caesar Creek did make a November flight to Terry airport a few years ago, so we'll see if they do it again this year.
Winter glider maintenance
Ron Clarke reminds us that it is that time of year again...
I would like to suggest we invite club members to help do winter maintenance on the club equipment beginning each Saturday from now on. Obviously if the wx is good folks would rather fly , but if not so good we could get a days work done on each of our gliders.
Sunday, November 07, 2004
Soaring Weather on the web
I've found the National Weather Service website for Indiana useful.
If you are really serious about your soaring weather, you probably already know about Doctor Jack. He has two models, ETA and RUC.
If you are really serious about your soaring weather, you probably already know about Doctor Jack. He has two models, ETA and RUC.
New TSA Rule: Glider Operations Now Exempt
The Transportation Safety Authority issued a controversial new rule on 20 October 2004. The rule requires proof of citizenship status for every flight student. Foreign nationals are required to register with the TSA in advance. Shortly after the rule came out, the TSA granted an exemption for flight schools that only train in gliders.
This means that CISS can continue to operate and train student glider pilots as we have done for over 40 years, without a lot of new bookkeeping requirements.
The SSA website has more information. A copy of the exemption letter is here.
This means that CISS can continue to operate and train student glider pilots as we have done for over 40 years, without a lot of new bookkeeping requirements.
The SSA website has more information. A copy of the exemption letter is here.
Flying Sunday 11/7/04
Apparently club members did some flying at Alexandria today. Would someone send me an email and let me know how it went?
501(c)(3) application
The actual form used to apply for status as a tax free 501(c)(3) organization is IRS Form 1023. The form and the instructions are available on line.
The IRS recently changed this form completely! The new form is much more comprehensible and should be easier to use than the old one.
It would be helpful for everyone who is interested in helping with this project to go to www.irs.gov and "Search Forms and Publications" for Form 1023 (revised 10-2004, not the 1998 version), download it and the instructions, and read it carefully. You don't have to print yourself a hard copy - it is quite long!
The form: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1023.pdf
The instructions: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1023.pdf
You will need free Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 to use these files properly. Go get Acrobat Reader 6.0 and install it on your computer if you haven't already. You will need it to open these IRS files.
The IRS recently changed this form completely! The new form is much more comprehensible and should be easier to use than the old one.
It would be helpful for everyone who is interested in helping with this project to go to www.irs.gov and "Search Forms and Publications" for Form 1023 (revised 10-2004, not the 1998 version), download it and the instructions, and read it carefully. You don't have to print yourself a hard copy - it is quite long!
The form: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1023.pdf
The instructions: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1023.pdf
You will need free Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 to use these files properly. Go get Acrobat Reader 6.0 and install it on your computer if you haven't already. You will need it to open these IRS files.
How To Calculate Official Distances For Records
All distance calculations for soaring records are made using the WGS-84 datum and the Official FAI online distance calculator. This calculator uses a recursive calculation method known as the Vicenty algorithm. The old great circle formula yields different results.
Wouldn't it be nice if programs like SeeYou used this same algorithm?
I claimed a free triangle distance record this summer and I probably spent as much time going over the IGC file trying to optimize my distance as I did flying it! The flight was a closed course, but the main problem was finding the three fixes that gave me the greatest possible distance that still complied with the 28% rule (no leg of the course may be shorter than 28% of the total distance).
Wouldn't it be nice if programs like SeeYou used this same algorithm?
I claimed a free triangle distance record this summer and I probably spent as much time going over the IGC file trying to optimize my distance as I did flying it! The flight was a closed course, but the main problem was finding the three fixes that gave me the greatest possible distance that still complied with the 28% rule (no leg of the course may be shorter than 28% of the total distance).
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Conflict of Interest Policy
The IRS encourages organizations applying for 501(c)(3) status to adopt
conflict of interest policies. They have a sample in the instructions for
Form 1023. Since they are the IRS I think it sounds like a good
idea to take their advice...
Central Indiana Soaring Society
Proposed Conflict of Interest Policy
Article I
Purpose
The purpose of the conflict of interest policy is to protect this tax-exempt organization's (Central Indiana Soaring Society, Inc., hereinafter CISS) interest when it is contemplating entering into a transaction or arrangement that might benefit the private interest of an officer or director of CISS or might result in a possible excess benefit transaction. This policy is intended to supplement but not replace any applicable state and federal laws governing conflict of interest applicable to nonprofit and charitable organizations.
Article II
Definitions
1. Interested Person
Any director, principal officer, or member of a committee with governing board delegated powers, who has a direct or indirect financial interest, as defined below, is an interested person.
2. Financial Interest
A person has a financial interest if the person has, directly or indirectly, through business, investment, or family:
a. An ownership or investment interest in any entity with which CISS has a transaction or arrangement,
b. A compensation arrangement with CISS or with any entity or individual with which CISS has a transaction or arrangement, or
c. A potential ownership or investment interest in, or compensation arrangement with, any entity or individual with which CISS is negotiating a transaction or arrangement.
Compensation includes direct and indirect remuneration as well as gifts or favors that are not insubstantial.
A financial interest is not necessarily a conflict of interest. Under Article III, Section 2, a person who has a financial interest may have a conflict of interest only if the appropriate governing board or committee decides that a conflict of interest exists.
Article III
Procedures
1. Duty to Disclose
In connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, an interested person must disclose the existence of the financial interest and be given the opportunity to disclose all material facts to the directors and members of committees with governing board delegated powers considering the proposed transaction or arrangement.
2. Determining Whether a Conflict of Interest Exists
After disclosure of the financial interest and all material facts, and after any discussion with the interested person, he/she shall leave the governing board or committee meeting while the determination of a conflict of interest is discussed and voted upon. The remaining board or committee members shall decide if a conflict of interest exists.
3. Procedures for Addressing the Conflict of Interest
a. An interested person may make a presentation at the governing board or committee meeting, but after the presentation, he/she shall leave the meeting during the discussion of, and the vote on, the transaction or arrangement involving the possible conflict of interest.
b. The chairperson of the governing board or committee shall, if appropriate, appoint a disinterested person or committee to investigate alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement.
c. After exercising due diligence, the governing board or committee shall determine whether CISS can obtain with reasonable efforts a more advantageous transaction or arrangement from a person or entity that would not give rise to a conflict of interest.
d. If a more advantageous transaction or arrangement is not reasonably possible under circumstances not producing a conflict of interest, the governing board or committee shall determine by a majority vote of the disinterested directors whether the transaction or arrangement is in CISS's best interest, for its own benefit, and whether it is fair and reasonable. In conformity with the above determination it shall make its decision as to whether to enter into the transaction or arrangement.
4. Violations of the Conflicts of Interest Policy
a. If the governing board or committee has reasonable cause to believe a member has failed to disclose actual or possible conflicts of interest, it shall inform the member of the basis for such belief and afford the member an opportunity to explain the alleged failure to disclose.
b. If, after hearing the member's response and after making further investigation as warranted by the circumstances, the governing board or committee determines the member has failed to disclose an actual or possible conflict of interest, it shall take appropriate corrective action.
Article IV
Records of Proceedings
The minutes of the governing board and all committees with board delegated powers shall contain:
a. The names of the persons who disclosed or otherwise were found to have a financial interest in connection with an actual or possible conflict of interest, the nature of the financial interest, any action taken to determine whether a conflict of interest was present, and the governing board's or committee's decision as to whether a conflict of interest in fact existed.
b. The names of the persons who were present for discussions and votes relating to the transaction or arrangement, the content of the discussion, including any alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement, and a record of any votes taken in connection with the proceedings.
Article V
Compensation
a. A voting member of the governing board who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from CISS for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that member's compensation.
b. A voting member of any committee whose jurisdiction includes compensation matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from CISS for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that member's compensation.
c. No voting member of the governing board or any committee whose jurisdiction includes compensation matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from CISS, either individually or collectively, is prohibited from providing information to any committee regarding compensation.
Article VI
Annual Statements
Each director, principal officer and member of a committee with governing board delegated powers shall annually sign a statement which affirms such person:
a. Has received a copy of the conflicts of interest policy,
b. Has read and understands the policy,
c. Has agreed to comply with the policy, and
d. Understands that CISS is charitable and in order to maintain its federal tax exemption it must engage primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of its tax-exempt purposes.
Article VII
Periodic Reviews
To ensure that CISS operates in a manner consistent with charitable purposes and does not engage in activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status, periodic reviews shall be conducted. The periodic reviews shall, at a minimum, include the following subjects:
a. Whether compensation arrangements and benefits are reasonable, based on competent survey information, and the result of arm's length bargaining.
b. Whether partnerships, joint ventures, and arrangements with management organizations conform to CISS's written policies, are properly recorded, reflect reasonable investment or payments for goods and services, further charitable purposes and do not result in inurement, impermissible private benefit or in an excess benefit transaction.
Article VIII
Use of Outside Experts
When conducting the periodic reviews as provided for in Article VII, CISS may, but need not, use outside advisors.
If outside experts are used, their use shall not relieve the governing board of its responsibility for ensuring periodic reviews are conducted.
Adopted by the governing board 11 November 2004
conflict of interest policies. They have a sample in the instructions for
Form 1023. Since they are the IRS I think it sounds like a good
idea to take their advice...
Central Indiana Soaring Society
Proposed Conflict of Interest Policy
Article I
Purpose
The purpose of the conflict of interest policy is to protect this tax-exempt organization's (Central Indiana Soaring Society, Inc., hereinafter CISS) interest when it is contemplating entering into a transaction or arrangement that might benefit the private interest of an officer or director of CISS or might result in a possible excess benefit transaction. This policy is intended to supplement but not replace any applicable state and federal laws governing conflict of interest applicable to nonprofit and charitable organizations.
Article II
Definitions
1. Interested Person
Any director, principal officer, or member of a committee with governing board delegated powers, who has a direct or indirect financial interest, as defined below, is an interested person.
2. Financial Interest
A person has a financial interest if the person has, directly or indirectly, through business, investment, or family:
a. An ownership or investment interest in any entity with which CISS has a transaction or arrangement,
b. A compensation arrangement with CISS or with any entity or individual with which CISS has a transaction or arrangement, or
c. A potential ownership or investment interest in, or compensation arrangement with, any entity or individual with which CISS is negotiating a transaction or arrangement.
Compensation includes direct and indirect remuneration as well as gifts or favors that are not insubstantial.
A financial interest is not necessarily a conflict of interest. Under Article III, Section 2, a person who has a financial interest may have a conflict of interest only if the appropriate governing board or committee decides that a conflict of interest exists.
Article III
Procedures
1. Duty to Disclose
In connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, an interested person must disclose the existence of the financial interest and be given the opportunity to disclose all material facts to the directors and members of committees with governing board delegated powers considering the proposed transaction or arrangement.
2. Determining Whether a Conflict of Interest Exists
After disclosure of the financial interest and all material facts, and after any discussion with the interested person, he/she shall leave the governing board or committee meeting while the determination of a conflict of interest is discussed and voted upon. The remaining board or committee members shall decide if a conflict of interest exists.
3. Procedures for Addressing the Conflict of Interest
a. An interested person may make a presentation at the governing board or committee meeting, but after the presentation, he/she shall leave the meeting during the discussion of, and the vote on, the transaction or arrangement involving the possible conflict of interest.
b. The chairperson of the governing board or committee shall, if appropriate, appoint a disinterested person or committee to investigate alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement.
c. After exercising due diligence, the governing board or committee shall determine whether CISS can obtain with reasonable efforts a more advantageous transaction or arrangement from a person or entity that would not give rise to a conflict of interest.
d. If a more advantageous transaction or arrangement is not reasonably possible under circumstances not producing a conflict of interest, the governing board or committee shall determine by a majority vote of the disinterested directors whether the transaction or arrangement is in CISS's best interest, for its own benefit, and whether it is fair and reasonable. In conformity with the above determination it shall make its decision as to whether to enter into the transaction or arrangement.
4. Violations of the Conflicts of Interest Policy
a. If the governing board or committee has reasonable cause to believe a member has failed to disclose actual or possible conflicts of interest, it shall inform the member of the basis for such belief and afford the member an opportunity to explain the alleged failure to disclose.
b. If, after hearing the member's response and after making further investigation as warranted by the circumstances, the governing board or committee determines the member has failed to disclose an actual or possible conflict of interest, it shall take appropriate corrective action.
Article IV
Records of Proceedings
The minutes of the governing board and all committees with board delegated powers shall contain:
a. The names of the persons who disclosed or otherwise were found to have a financial interest in connection with an actual or possible conflict of interest, the nature of the financial interest, any action taken to determine whether a conflict of interest was present, and the governing board's or committee's decision as to whether a conflict of interest in fact existed.
b. The names of the persons who were present for discussions and votes relating to the transaction or arrangement, the content of the discussion, including any alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement, and a record of any votes taken in connection with the proceedings.
Article V
Compensation
a. A voting member of the governing board who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from CISS for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that member's compensation.
b. A voting member of any committee whose jurisdiction includes compensation matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from CISS for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that member's compensation.
c. No voting member of the governing board or any committee whose jurisdiction includes compensation matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from CISS, either individually or collectively, is prohibited from providing information to any committee regarding compensation.
Article VI
Annual Statements
Each director, principal officer and member of a committee with governing board delegated powers shall annually sign a statement which affirms such person:
a. Has received a copy of the conflicts of interest policy,
b. Has read and understands the policy,
c. Has agreed to comply with the policy, and
d. Understands that CISS is charitable and in order to maintain its federal tax exemption it must engage primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of its tax-exempt purposes.
Article VII
Periodic Reviews
To ensure that CISS operates in a manner consistent with charitable purposes and does not engage in activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status, periodic reviews shall be conducted. The periodic reviews shall, at a minimum, include the following subjects:
a. Whether compensation arrangements and benefits are reasonable, based on competent survey information, and the result of arm's length bargaining.
b. Whether partnerships, joint ventures, and arrangements with management organizations conform to CISS's written policies, are properly recorded, reflect reasonable investment or payments for goods and services, further charitable purposes and do not result in inurement, impermissible private benefit or in an excess benefit transaction.
Article VIII
Use of Outside Experts
When conducting the periodic reviews as provided for in Article VII, CISS may, but need not, use outside advisors.
If outside experts are used, their use shall not relieve the governing board of its responsibility for ensuring periodic reviews are conducted.
Adopted by the governing board 11 November 2004
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