Bad film
News from 7 April 2020. Last updated on 9 April 2020: some information may have changed. Latest news
Against the backdrop of a deserted, silent aerodrome, offering a new space of freedom to wildlife, men and women devoted to Icarus are inexorably stuck on the ground, their flying machines stowed at the back of hangars that have become inaccessible. And to perfect the script, the weather has offered us nothing but blue skies for some time. Admit it, those are all the ingredients of a bad B-movie. Enough to unsettle some of us.
But please, let us stay positive and keep our spirits up; science and medicine will undoubtedly overcome this pandemic, rest assured.
SO LET US PLAN FOR THE RESTART OF ACTIVITY
When the time comes, to ensure a high level of safety when activity resumes, we will need everyone's commitment: presidents, club pilots, owner pilots.
For presidents and safety officers
It would be desirable, even necessary, to arrange one or two mechanical maintenance days with the club mechanic present (for those who have one). Needless to say, our machines have been grounded for longer than covid-19, given the badly degraded winter weather that had already hampered activity.
Among the actions to carry out, here is one example to consider in order to avoid surprises once airborne.
Petrol can be kept on average for 2 to 3 months if storage conditions are right (no extreme temperatures, no draughts, no exposure to UV, etc.). Its quality can indeed deteriorate over time through oxidation, more or less quickly depending on the product and storage conditions, leading to the formation of gums and varnishes.
Before winter storage, we recommend draining the tank of your microlight. Restarting will then be easy in spring. Adding oil has no effect on fuel degradation and should even be avoided: oil is a heavy product that may form deposits in the engine and block the jet.
For instructors
You will need to be on deck from the very start of the resumption to convince all pilots of the unavoidable need to make a training flight to review the fundamentals. All the more so as the Federation has very recently decided to raise the ReV grant from €40 to €60. So why go without it? Everyone's safety is at stake.
Conclusion
Without any pretension of being a prophet of the 25th hour, the points made in this text stem from common sense, and the credibility of our sport and the values defended by our federation are at stake. My friends, be patient and disciplined; our immense playground will soon be returned to us. Let us not put our lives and those of others at risk. In these difficult times, take care of yourselves.
