CISS Winter Banquet

The CISS winter banquet will take place as follows:

January 22, 2011, at

The Mansion at Oak Hill, Carmel, IN

Happy Hour, 6:00pm Cash Bar

Banquet at 7:00pm

Guest Speaker: Dr. Connie Mariano, White House Physician to two sitting presidents. (One democratic and the other republican)

Tickets $35 per person.

Deadline to register: January 7, 2011

Register via email with nyalwilliams@comcast.net and indicate number of persons in your party.

CISS Students will be Using IP for Landing Approaches

At a recent Instructor meeting it was agreed that the Initial Point concept would be introduced and used for primary training. Approaches from other altitudes and directions will be used for pre-solo dual training flights and students will be encouraged to develop their judgment of angles and apply the TLAR method promoted by Tom Knauff. 

An added benefit for all club members will be majority of student traffic should be in this expected pattern which will help identify the areas for extra vigilance when approaching to land.

Everyone is welcome to use this approach if they want. It has been tested extensively by the instructors and students during the past season and there has been positive feedback.

December 16 Membership Meeting

There will be a Membership meeting at 7:00p.m. on December 16^th at the Castleton MCL for elections of club officers for next year. Let’s have a good turnout so that we can hit he ground running in the new year!!!!!!!!

                                                                                                                            Gerry Simpson

CISS Glider Workshop

 David Nelson, from Grand Haven Michigan, spent a week helping several CISS members repair and update their gliders recently. Several members gained hands on experience under the watchful eye of David who often repeated his offer that "there is nothing you can mess up that I cannot help you correct". Everyone who participated agreed it was an interesting and useful experience. David has indicated he would be willing to come back next year and possibly do a short half day program for anyone interested in learning more about gel coat repairs and touching up the nicks on their gliders. If  you would like to participate in such an event, or might want to do some work on your glider under David's supervision, please let Nyal Williams or John Earlywine know of your interest.

New Chief Flight Instructor

The club's president has appointed John Earlywine as the new Chief Flight Instructor following the resignation of Nyal Williams from that position effective November 7. This announcement was made today at the close of end-of-season meeting of CISS's flight instructors. Williams had indicated to the club's president at the beginning of the season that this would be his last year in the position.

New Airplanes at I99

CISS Tow Pilot and Instructor, Capt. Miller, is the proud new owner of a Taylorcraft L-2B. This WWII Observation craft has a swivel seat in the rear for the observer. It should be great for observing aerotows  if he can be persuaded to add a tow hook. This joins the "fleet" at CISS which also includes the Piper J-5 restored by Ed Escalon, Dan DeWitt, and and George Saunders. These folks may have the solution for the no thermal days. 

                                                                                                                                   

"Bob" Lands at Alexandria

One of Dr. Robert Gillan's last wishes was for CISS to have a Schweizer Glider to fly in his memory recognizing his many years as a club member and instructor. On October 28, after almost a year of searching for a appropriate glider, Schweizer 1-34, contest ID OE, has been purchased and has arrived at Alexandria where Ron Clarke quickly gave it the nickname of "Bob".

Beautiful blue skies and  some nice Cu welcomed Nyal Williams, Don Taylor and John Earlywine as they arrived at the Beloit Wisconsin Airport to pick up the glider on October 27th. The picture does not tell the whole story. Winds in the 40 mph range delayed loading and eliminated any chance of a test flight before departure. Comments from Judy Ruprecht and Scott Manley, two of the Beloit instructors, indicated this was their favorite glider to fly in the Sylvania Soaring Adventures fleet. It will be on the line at CISS next spring. In the meantime come on out to the airport and take a look at it. One thing is certain. Although CISS rental rates have not been determined, they will be significantly lower than the $55 per hour it has been earning at Beloit. There are some significant benefits for CISS members.

CISS Soaring Study Group News

Thanks to Ron Clarke for leading an outstanding session on "Weather Resources and Analysis" this last Sunday.  The Sunday forecast was for poor soaring conditions and unfortunately the weather lived up to the forecast.  Despite that, about a dozen members came out to Alexandria to participate in the discussion.

Below are some links to the resources mentioned in the discussion. 

DrJack's BLIPMAPs:  http://www.drjack.info/BLIP/index.html 

Air Sports Net Muncie Aviation Forecast:  http://www.usairnet.com/cgi-bin/launch/code.cgi?Submit=Go&sta=KMIE&state=IN

 NOAA's Aviation Weather Center:  http://aviationweather.gov/

BMapper:   http://www.bmapper.com/

An easy way to try BMapper and avoid creating your own maps and setting everything up from the website, go to:

http://soarindy.info/files/BMapper/

and download the files. Complete installation instructions are in the readme file. Just double click on the readme file to get started.

As a reminder, the final 2010 session will be held on 31 October at 11am.  John Earlywine will lead a discussion on "Off-season Opportunities and Resources."  Afterwards, I will be soliciting opinions on the study group sessions.  If there is interest in continuing in 2011, we'll discuss possible topics and scheduling.

Mark Rottler

Airport Office Unlocked

Early Tuesday morning the office door was unlocked, and the security system was not armed. The door was locked and the system was armed Sunday evening.

The possible consequences of leaving the office and hangars unlocked and unattended are obvious. There are many items of significant value in the building. A conversation between some local farmers at the breakfast table overheard in a local resturant indicated there have been a number of break-ins to steal tools from locked barns in the area recently. We should not make it easier.

Please take a few moments to check to be certain the lights are off, the building is locked and the security system is armed if it appears you may be the last person leaving the airport, or if you have opened the building during the week. 

New CISS Private Pilot Glider Ratings

On Sunday 10 October, two CISS pilots earned their Private Pilot Glider Certificates.

Miller - Oberly - Rielage

Mark Oberly found the winds more favorable than the gusts into the 30's that suspended the flight portion of his check ride earlier, finished his flights and had his certificate in his pocket in time for lunch. 

His time in the spotlight as the newest CISS pilot was limited however, as Mark Rottler was waiting patiently to begin his checkride.  By late afternoon, Mark II  replaced Mark I with

Rottler - Oberly

the distinction of having the newest certificate.

Mark I and Mark II are shown at right following the rides. 


Several instructors are starting to worry about having to apply for unemployment if this rapid drain on the pool of CISS students continues. Please promote soaring with your friends and neighbors and encourage them to take advantage of the opportunities at CISS and replenish the group of students.