Happy New Year fellow club members!!! May the New Year bring us clear skies, smooth air, smooth landings and cheap AvGas. It doesn’t hurt to dream a little. Actually, there has been a huge increase in domestically produced petroleum in the United States. Hopefully, this increase in supply will eventually be reflected in the reduction of AvGas pricing.

Annual Cessna 172 cold weather starting technique review: Make sure the engine heater has been plugged in. Put the keys in your hand to make sure the magnetos are not hot. Rotate the prop to distribute the warm oil in the engine. Mixture full rich. Prime 3 to 4 times. Then, get out of the aircraft and rotate the prop 6 to 8 times. Wait 3 to 4 minutes, prime one more time and attempt start. The theory is, by priming, then rotating the engine and waiting a while; you are spreading the cold fuel around in the engine cylinders and letting the fuel vaporize. Vaporized fuel burns, liquid fuel does not. The technique usually produces an easy start.

Don’t forget we have a snow blower in the hangar. It has electric start and is self-propelled. The airport has been doing an excellent job in clearing the taxiways, but clearing the ramps is up to us. Please note, the hangar also has an air compressor for low tires and a battery charger if needed. Our goal is to not have any member cancel a flight due to a minor problem.

Freezing weather is upon us. Please remember to plug in the engine heater after your flight. The heater in the office works pretty fast. It is nice to have a warm office after a flight for chilled passengers, or while doing the post-flight activities, beverages and hangar doors. Just remember to leave the office heater on low when leaving the office.

Please check your biennial flight review date and medical date. If either one of those is not current, it voids the insurance coverage for that member and aircraft. If it has been a while since a flight, call Chuck Rule for a refresher ride at 517-563-2585.

Remember, any squawks, please call Tim Stark of Jackson Aero Inc. (780-0343) and prompt actions will be taken.

Posted:	admin
	2014-01-01 00:00:00
Responses:	0