CIX VFR Club Operations

This chart shows the Club's flying activity over the last two years, as reported by our members using the Club's PIREP facility.
Meetings		The Operations Director, Tony Driver oversees and advises on all organised club activities. The emphasis is on meetings. Members meet in three ways: by connecting their Flight Simulator to VATSIM, where they can see each other, and fly together under simulated Air Traffic Control, by connecting to the club's TeamSpeak voice channel, where we discuss plans and help each other, and by joining conversations in the club's very active Forum, where more help is available. New pilot members are especially welcome at these informal meetings. The picture on the left shows a meeting at Biggin Hill. When no events are planned, follow the "Meetings" link for suggested activities.
Locations		Club meetings started on VATSIM originally at Biggin Hill in February 2004. Gloucestershire was added as a second meeting place in December 2004. Towards the end of 2007 it was decided to adopt three more airfields, Carlisle, Liverpool, and Shoreham. In November 2008 these three were replaced by a new concept of Guest airfields which are selected each month by our Events Manager, Tim Arnot. Follow the "Locations" link for details of our Bases and Guest Airfields.
Events		The Events Manager for the CIX VFR Club is Tim Arnot. With occasional help from other club members, he dreams up ideas, plans, and organises our club events, providing briefings, links to charts and other essential information to make events very enjoyable meetings with other members. Members also take part in some events arranged by other members, or by our foreign colleagues. The picture on the left was taken during a visit to see Santa in Finland. Follow the "Events" link for details of club events.
2-4-Cix		The CIX VFR Club Aerobatic Team "2-4-CIX" is managed by Gray Brett. The team consists of virtual pilots flying Tiger Moths and Chipmunks in the club colours. The club was asked to open the first annual Sywell Air Show organised by Bill Casey in 2005. Due to it's success in performing that role, it was asked to open the show again the following year. The 2-4-CIX club team was formed under the management of Gray Brett to provide a more polished performance. (Pete Chapman took over team management from Gray in 2008 for a while.) Follow the "2-4-Cix" link for more about team activities.
Air Racing		Air racing and the setting of records has been with us since the skies were first conquered. Races such as the famed Schneider Trophy were responsible for significant advances in aeroplane design during the inter-war years, among them several WWII fighter aircraft. The Cix Air Races take place at five different courses each of about 25 nautical miles length starting and finishing at the base airfield. They are straightforward first-past-the post races, not the Red Bull-style aerobatic time trials!
Flight Planning		With even a simple flight plan, flying an aircraft is considerably easier than if no flight plan at all is prepared. With a flight plan, your workload is much reduced. You know where you are going, the headings to fly and the obstacles, such as prohibited airspace, TV masts and mountains to avoid, and look out for your next waypoint (and if it doesn't arrive, decide why before panicking!) Without a flight plan you are always anxiously asking yourself the question "where am I?". Then ATC comes on and asks you to confirm your position. "Err.."
PIREP Help PIREP Form Member List		Members are encouraged to complete a flight report after each qualifying flight. The "PIREP Help" link provides information about these reports. The "PIREP Form" link takes you to the forum login page, or direct to the report input form if you are logged in already. Completed reports can be displayed by clicking on your name in the "Member List".