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| Fri Sep 10 Keepit Speed Week |
| Sat Sep 11 LKSC AGM |
| Sat Sep 11 LKSC AGM BBQ |
| Sat Sep 18 Keepit Morning Glory Trip |
| Fri Oct 01 4 Day Cross Country & Training Weekend |
| Fri Oct 29 Kentucky Camp |
| Fri Nov 12 4 Day Cross Country & Training Weekend |
| Sat Nov 27 NSW State Gliding Competition |
| Sun Dec 05 Keepit Safari 2010 |
| Lake Keepit Soaring Club Operations |
Airfield, Airspace and ProceduresPlease consult the club (eg ask the instructor of the day) for latest information on airspace and procedures. Apart from Tamworth's controlled airspace to the south-east, there's hassle-free G-class airspace to 18000ft AMSL from the Southwest around to the Northeast. Keep an eye out locally for inbound traffic to Tamworth as Keepit Dam is a VFR approach point. Grab a copy of the latest Tamworth VTC for more info on the airspace near us. Hangliders, ultralights and paragliders also put in occasional appearances- the Mt. Borah paragliding site is 30km north-east at Manilla and there's an ultralight strip just 2 km north-east of us. The airfield itself has multiple runways to cope with any wind direction and there are ample safe outlanding areas surrounding the site. The main surfacing is grass, however there are tar strips at either end of the main runway (32/14) to assist with takeoffs. Outlanding strips and good fields abound in the district so there's no reason to be out of range of a landable site.
Lake Keepit uses the frequency 122.7 MHz in the local area. You are asked to treat Lake Keepit as a CTAF, i.e. give inbound, circuit and intentions calls within a 10nm radius and 3000' AGL of the site. Lake Keepit uses 122.7 MHz for their entire operation. There are also chat frequencies on 122.5 and 122.9MHz for informal communication. These are the three main gliding frequencies in Australia, and you may hear other clubs and glider pilots communicating on them also. When flying cross country you may use other frequencies such as the area frequency of 127.1MHz for appropriate air traffic communications only. Lake Keepit is well away from complex airspace so use of the radio is highly simplified. If you are flying cross country you will need only basic skills in radio communication and if they can't be remembered then plain olde English works just fine. For example, a well-known Australian hang-glider pilot was trying sailplanes and said this… "Hello everybody. It's Atilla. I'm landing." Tells the story doesn't it? Australia encourages pilots to communicate with each other so if you hear another aircraft make a call in your area then let him know you are there too. If you don't remember his callsign then simply make an 'all traffic call'.
Many airports you will find during cross country flying will be CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency) control zones and won't have a control tower. The frequency is usually 126.7 MHz and will be marked on the aeronautical chart you will fly with. You simply broadcast your intentions to whoever is listening. You might never hear a response to your transmissions which is fine, your might hear an automated beep back signal or you may hear other aircraft identify themselves and their intentions. If you are getting low then the safest thing to do is look for a small airport and continue your search for thermals near it. There is nothing wrong with thermalling near or above these CTAF airfields providing you have make a satsfactory radio call on the correct CTAF frequency. Radio transmissions follow the standard format: Traffic you are calling : Your description (glider, rego): Your position (distance from X, height): Your intentions. |