PRESIDENTS CHATTER

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2006

As I said in my last Chatter this is the quiet time of the year for flying for us in the Northern Hemisphere. For that reason that I have combined the Chatter for the two months. My own flying has been restricted to my bi-annual check and the re-validation of my instrument qualification. On a more personal note we have also been restricted as Alisma, at short notice, has had to have hip replacement surgery. She assures me that the problem was in no way connected with lively jiving with an Australian gentleman during a lobster bake on last year’s Post-Convention Fly Around!! During the recovery period of three months, flying, both commercial and private, is out for her. As is the way with these things she has also had to voluntarily suspend her licence for the period.

Whilst our sights are firmly set on flying together on this year’s Post-Convention Fly Around in Scandinavian she should be back in the air for the UK meeting at the end of May. Certainly I, myself, will be looking to join in some of the Continental European meetings before then. The Scandinavian event, however, is without question the big one in Europe this year. So I would take this opportunity of, again, bringing to your attention, not only, the flying activity itself, but also the associated events. In addition to the Fly Around there is also the Annual Banquet and the opportunity to fly in a DC3. The closing date for registering for all these events is April 10. Full details together with Registration Forms can be found at http://www.iffr.net/

In addition to these happenings there is of course the Annual IFFR Board Meeting and AGM. At the AGM it will be proposed that Roy Marsden from New Zealand becomes International Secretary/Treasurer. Tom Surowka who has served us well over the years in this role is retiring. This will give IFFR a distinctly Kiwi complexion as my successor as President, Brian Souter, is another Kiwi. Indeed Rotary shows all the signs of being taken over by this flightless bird – the incoming of Rotary International President, Bill Boyd, is another from that beautiful country.

Finally two thoughts courtesy of Herman Hassinger, Section Chief of North East USA, – “Weather forecasts are horoscopes with numbers” and one he feels personally – “A ‘good’ landing is one from which you can walk away. A ‘great’ landing is one after which they can use the plane again.”

Safe landings!

Angus Clark

World President 2004 -2006