Microlighters

So I've had this idea bouncing around in between my ears for a while now.

It actually started when I was planning our TRO and the difficulty I had in finding accurate and up to date contact details and information for destinations and airfields. Even the Airfields Guide of SA has got many errors (especially tel no's!) and it got my mind ticking...

I agree that a comprehensive Guide such as the one mentioned is an essential part of any pilot's book collection...but I think there is also a need for a "shortlist" of Airfields where we as Ultralight Pilots know that we are welcome! Let's face facts chaps...that's not everywhere unfortunately.

Personally, I prefer to visit airstrips and Aerodromes where I know I'll be greeted with a smile, and even a cuppa if I'm lucky. Now around the cabbage patch, we will all know the local hang outs...but what about those times when we venture over the horizon to unfamiliar territory? Why not have a list of them?...there are literally 1000's I promise you.

What I'm proposing, is that we invite these Aerodrome, airstrip and "firebreak" owners to submit their details and produce a spreadsheet that Misasa can distribute to all its members via e mail.

No need to re invent the wheel....it can be simple, like this:

Gauteng:

FABA: Microland (Private)
Rnwys: 03/21 17/35 09/27 (Paved/gravel/length)
Co ords: S------ E------
Hangerage Avalable: (On request)
Acc Avalable: Camping on request
Restaurant avalable: No
Fuel avalable: No
Contact Person: XXX
Tel No: 082 XXXXXXXX
Website: www.turbulencesucks.co.za
E mail: TRIKEsrule@sky.blue
Permission required: NO

The main thing is to come up with a simple shortlist of Airstrips with regularly updated Contact details. In spreadsheet form this can be saved on your I phone, or even printed and kept on board.
If we send this out every 6 months, it will give the members the latest up to date info on Microlight friendly destinations.
To do this, I would send out a draft to all the airfield owners first so that they have time to correct or update the information prior to the list being distributed to the members themselves?

I'd like to formally propose this to the Committee (just an Idea at this stage!) but I want to be clear on the concept and idea first.

Please tell me:

Would you find this useful?
If not, do you have a better suggestion or similar idea?
Is it worth the time to get it going or should I just "can the idea"

Penny for your thoughts

Regards...

Bundy...

Great idea mate...

Magic idea implement it Two gr8 ones are Intakoza (Bella Bella) and Elands Quad camp ( Blue Max )not too far from Microland and Baps maybe even (Mr. Steve Bosch)just to mention a few

Fantastic idea!
I know it sounds ambitious, but maybe also make a CD for distribution to MISASA members included in the next mag which has this list, as well as .gpx files to load directly onto our GPS's? Maybe VFR reporting points as well, especially for the Pinedene and Kyalami VFR routes. If you need help with this, I'm sure there's plenty of us who can help.
Is that do-able?

I'm sure it is Noel....No doubt I will require help with this but let's keep it simple first....haha

Think "nationwide" though guys.... from Alexander bay to CT, from CT to Sodwana/Kosi all the way to Messina with everything inbetween too!

The contact details are the MOST IMPORTANT!! A quick call will tell you everything you need to know about your destination. Runway conditions, hazards, joining procedures etc etc.

Awesome idea Bundy,will really help alot

Great idea Bundy!

Great idea Bundy ,

Why not do it like AVCOM, they have a ''Airportiki'' icon in the top right hand corner of the web page, once you click on it, it takes you to airfield list with freq, runway info ect.
Basically it boils down to the users of microlighters to keep the list up to date. I am sure the moderators of this forum will be able do do something similar to meet our needs as mentioned above .

Paul

On the way to Numbi and back,I marked many little airfields on my gps,haha...would be nice to know who they belong to and if we can land there..as all I have are the numbers the gps defaults to as I had no time to put in a name while getting klapped by turbulence,but now I know you can land at number 216 S------ E------ Bwaaahaaa

pcoetser wrote:Great idea Bundy ,

Why not do it like AVCOM, they have a ''Airportiki'' icon in the top right hand corner of the web page, once you click on it, it takes you to airfield list with freq, runway info ect.

Hi Paul, go have a careful look through that list...how many contact details are missing? Finding the runways and the basic runway info is not difficult at all, 100's of references on the net for that...but man it's tough to speak to the owners

The reason why I want to create a spreadsheet database and rather e mail it to the members is because a lot of these owners do not want their cell no's and e mail addressess avalable freely on the internet for privacy reasons. If this database is only distributed (with their permission of course) to our members, we will be able to have tel no's for almost every runway! This is the difference I want to try and create.

I can find your runway easily enough...what I want to know is can I pop over tommorrow? Can I stay the night? Can you perhaps arrange a can of fuel for me? etc etc....for that I need to phone you!

If at all possible - make it like the avcom airporttiki - with the difference being CONTACT DETAILS are HIDDEN.
Should the airport meet your requirements (still in the planning phase of your flight) you can PM a moderator, that can disclose the no by PM to you again.

This will adress the privacy issues , but also ensure that the list being used is current and not 6 months + out dated.
It will however put more work on the moderators

When doing your planning up front - a day or two's.. delay should not be a big problem in any case

The UK forum has a brilliant project. See www.microlightforum.co.uk they have an airfields guide and is linked to an app. That is a far better plot in my opinion, they would willingly link Southern Africa as i asked them. Some whiz software engineers on that site who have done the leg work. Why not just tag onto that database? It links with a google map and then gives pics the whole shooting match. I think they would be more than happy to help while they are having IMC conditions...

Very cool idea, I see the "other" site has something similar but it seems mainly for the "real" airfields

http://www.avcom.co.za/airport/airportlist.php

All great suggestions boyz Thanks....but...

...you okes are very fast approching the point of no return for Bundy.

When you start talking about interactive databases, tagging onto databases, PM this way, PM that way then I'm afraid you are going to lose me completely chaps....unless of course you are volunteering your services?