Greetings all! As we have not quite completed our election process you get to read another column from me. I would like to start by wishing you all a very Happy New Year and hope all of your flying adventures in 2010 are enjoyable ones.

As I went to work yesterday in the -30° C temperature my mind went to where it goes most day’s when it’s freezing and that’s remembering what it feels like to be sitting at the airport on a cloudless, +25° C afternoon after an enjoyable flight with some of my fellow aviators (maybe even enjoying a nice refreshment as well). We are indeed lucky to have these places available to enjoy and I would like to thank all of those people who make that possible. Those are the ones who keep the airstrips in such great shape throughout the entire year, countless hours cutting the grass, and plowing the snow and making us welcome all the time. Its these people that contribute such a great deal to make flying such an enjoyable experience The next time you see one of these fine people please take the time to thank them for all of their efforts!

If you haven’t yet renewed your membership, please do so as soon as possible. The tickets for our annual raffle are also available at a price of $10.00 each or 3 for $25.00 See Carl Forman at the next meeting to purchase yours and you’ll have a chance at some great prizes.

NavCanada has issued notice to remind us of some frequency changes coming up. They are as follows:

• The Calgary/Springbank Flight Information Service En Route (FISE) RCO frequency will change from 122.5 MHz to 123.375 MHz. Pilots operating in the vicinity of Calgary/Springbank who require flight planning, weather or NOTAM information should contact the Edmonton FIC (call sign ” Edmonton Radio “) on this new frequency.
• The existing 126.7 MHz will no longer be used for FISE or monitored by the Edmonton FIC. It will however be used by the FIC, as required, to provide the aeronautical broadcast service (broadcast of SIGMET and urgent PIREP) and to conduct communication searches for overdue aircraft.

This change will take effect February 11, 2010, at 0901 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

For further information, please contact:
Brian Stockall
Manager, Level of Service & Aeronautical Studies – West NAV CANADA
PO Box 9867 Edmonton, AB T5J 2T2
Phone: (780) 890-3024
Fax: (780) 890-4341
Email: stockab@navcanada.ca

The annual banquette is also coming up in February, more details should be available at the next meeting on January 14th. See you soon!