BMPA Members
Members > Summer 1998
From the Secretary
The spade work for our Scottish meeting has been done by Norena McAdam and Andrew Sayers, both of whom ironically are now working in the south. They have provided the information and descriptions in the programme. The Earl Grey Stakis is on the Tay estuary waterfront beside the Tay road bridge. The dining room overlooks the river as does the leisure suite which is available for guests. The hotel has its own car park, is across the road from the railway station and is a few minutes by car from Dundee airport which has agreed a reduced rate from pre-booked aircraft.Andrew Clymo
From the President
The sky is grey and the rain continues to fall as it has through most of May and June. However, I am delighted to tell you that the forecast for early September indicates sunshine and excellent visibility, in fact CAVOK. It is notable that thirty three of our members live in, or north of Derbyshire which means that we who dwell in the south will have to get our applications in for the Summer meeting smartish or we will be crowded out.Representing our Association, Diana and I visited our German friends this year at Speyer (near Heidelberg) as usual in the first weekend in May. Although we were the only British plane to reach Speyer we made up one third of the total! We were accompanied by the Fearnleys, further reinforcing the BMPA presence. Flying "on top" we had not realised the the base over much of Germany was on the ground, preventing many departures by our hosts who had perforce to make their way by road.
The French meeting at the end of May was held at Treviso in Italy! At this meeting again only one British plane arrived - the Gibbins, accompanied by two French "hitch hikers". We went by jet as did Brian and Beryl Wallace and friends. As usual the event was a gastranomic delight, well in excess of our capacities. We had a trip to Venice by boat, well supplied with food and wine to prepare us for lunch. In Venice it was raining which was an advantage in that we were able to visit St. Mark's Square in a deserted state.
In talking to our opposite numbers it is evident that both the French and German Associations have something of our problem, namely lack of new young flying members. That there are several reasons for this is well known and we contribute to AOPA and the GAAC in an endeavour to resist the forces against us. I think we can still do more in the context of our own Association in publicising ourselves. "Out there" are medical pilots who are totally unware of our existence. I was at a social gathering yesterday and was introduced to a young GP who had recently got his PPL and gues what, had never heard of us. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this. You can't get a PPL without seeing an AME. How do we miss them?
I look forward to seeing you all in Scotland.
Tony Watson