INFREQUENT FLYERS

[Joninmoz]

Just as a matter of interest, how many of you out there work outside of South Africa and only get to fly when you are back home?

What do you do to maintain proficiency and what do you do to ensure that the engine life is not shortend due to lack of use?

Any ideas on what one should be doing regarding the above?

Cheers

[Flooi]

Get yourself an honest pilot who owns his own aircraft- so he 'understands'
and have him fly your aircraft once a week.

[Lieb Liebenberg]

Have you thought about a partnership?"

[Biggles]

I am in that boat and I don't feel that my trike suffers from standing. Cover up all the airfilters and push a rag in the exhaust. Mine stands for several months at a time and no deterioration.

There is a procedure for long term engine storage in the rottax manual.

A flying trike will pick up more nicks and problems than a standing one.

Maintaining proficiency is a mission. Paperwork and licensing has me grounded more than the weather!!! But once you get the hang of the paperwork its OK. Try keep current, the 5hours necessary is not much and the skills test that is mandatory for renewal is a good thing for infrequent flyers. I did my skills test today, haven't flown for 3 months, strange trike and crosswinds made it a disaster but I learned a lot.

[Hak]

I agree with Flooi get a pilot that you can trust.Somebody with PASSION for flying!

[V]

The trike collects dust in the hangar while I'm away, that's not to be changed, unfortunately. Ask a good buddy to start and run up the engine from time to time.

Regarding maintaining proficiency and currency, I've made inquiries in Hungary were I spend the majority of my time these days when I'm out of the country. Initially it sounded all complicated and bureaucratic, but then, on my last trip, found a local club, where they said that I can fly with my South African licence and as long as I pay the annual club fees (not much). Their insurance will be automatically valid for me and after orientation and checkflight with the chief instructor I can take the club's aircraft, just have to put in the fuel and oil. This sounds too simple and good to be true, but it was talking to the chief himself on the phone. Will check it out for real when I'm next there and the weather permits flying trikes.

Btw. it probably helps that it is a small place, far away from controlled airspaces. The guys don't even carry a radio most of the time. They were actually quite excited that I can give them a little anglophone radio training.

Am not sure whether the hours flown on an HU registered aircraft outside of South Africa can be logged and count towards currency. Simple logic says, they do count towards proficiency, because there is not much difference in handling a trike here or there. Currency as in counting flown hours in the logbook, I'm not sure, will have to ask the powers. Can anybody comment on this?

So, my recommendation is to seek out local clubs, don't give up if the first responses are negative or discouraging and keep looking. It does help if one speaks the local lingo, though