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Greenbank Newsletter, December 2006
Dear Greenbank Airport Tenants and Interested Persons I surely am sorry that I have not kept everyone up to date about Greenbank but after the summer, there was not huge changes and I needed to work quite hard at our Uxbridge Travel Centre to keep the revenue flow if you know what I mean. Dorothy and I had aspirations of paving the runway and taxiways and in the end, we just could not justify the 300-400 thousand. Near the end of the summer it was coming down to the “pave the taxiways only ” but at the very end around September, it was “build the new hanger first”. All in all, the banks couldn’t come thru before the rain and winter started so we decided to wait until 01June to build the new hanger which incidentally is already contracted out to new tenants already. They were all disappointed that we could not build and finish before the winter but we did not want to rush due to frost and mud and not really finishing anyway before the winter. We do have a couple of new tenants that you might want to know about. A Dr Andreas Haralampides (welcome) who has a Pacer tail dragger and our new in house AME Len McKay (welcome). So if you need your body fixed see the doctor and for you plane see the AME. Len’s phone number is 647-281-8195 and his e-mail is mckayhomestead@rogers.com He is fully qualified. As many of you know, I have the runway lights and the beacon on a timer that is sometimes on and sometimes not. If anyone wants to night fly, and the lights are not on or you want to make sure they are on when you fly back late, feel free to go into the small white hut by the fuel tank to make sure the 1)power switch is on at the panel (marked lights) 2) the timer is on the right time of day (just pull the timer wheel out to put it on the right time of day on your watch) This is only temporary for now until we purchase the “arcal” switch in the next month or so. Then the lights will come on only when you use your radio and click 4 or 5 times (the amount of clicks has not been decided yet) on our Greenbank frequency 122.8 . They will stay on for probably 30minutes (not decided yet—ps can anyone suggest or know of the wise duration of “on” time?) Here is some very great news for all of us. Our neighbors to the south or at the end of runway 34 have finally agreed to let us cut the giant tree that was in the approach flight path to that runway. It is now down and cleaned up so especially at night, you won’t have to worry anymore. Even in the daytime it allows for an amazing clean approach. To me this was huge as I had visions of a terrible situation occurring but thankfully that fear is gone. Lets try to remember that neighbor and give them all the space that we can coming or leaving the airport. One of my dreams regarding that property though is that an aviator purchases it. He would have an instant airport and access for no cost. Perhaps building a hanger there or even transforming the horse arena into a huge hanger. An aviator owner would also allow us to extend hugely but I guess I am dreaming for now. We have approached the owners but I think that they are not really interested yet. (but can you imagine) If anyone intends on flying through the winter, I will keep the runways free of snow (if we ever get any) so that you can enjoy winter flying. For anyone interested, Dorothy and I will be away between Jan16-25th and of course I am really hoping that we don’t have any major snowfalls during that time as running the snow blower has a real learning curve to it and I really don’t feel like teaching anyone to do it. The tractor is tough to start and very temperamental. Some of you might already know that management had asked that our flight school, 1st Class Flight Training, vacate Greenbank. Our visions were not the same and the decision to part company was concluded. That being said, we had Durham Flight Training which operate out of Oshawa Airport under Enterprise Air, ask to set up a satellite flight school at Greenbank and Transport has just given them a certificate of operation. The first ground school should start this January and if anyone knows of anyone that might want to join or sign up for that ground school please let Dave Wilson know. By the way, this well known school felt that our CFI was so good that they hired him on as their CFI for them and Greenbank. That is quite an accomplishment and you can congratulate him when you see him. Our hopes that Durham will embrace the training of New Light Sport Licensing better known as Ultralight . We will encourage that and also we are being asked to be a location dealership for one of the new composite aircraft also. At this point, we just don’t have the space but we will work towards that whole Light Sport segment of aviation in the years to come. I would really encourage anyone “backtracking” to always use the taxiway of their choice to keep down the traffic on the active runways to a minimum only because its turf. Try to encourage others if you see or are communicating with them. The airport is fortunate enough to have 2 taxiways beside each runway and that’s what they are for. We would also really hope that you are purchasing our fuel at the airport as that revenue pays for stuff like signage etc. If you are not buying ours for a reason let us know. We are trying really hard to keep it the same as the cheapest around and lower. If you do see a lower price, feel free to tell me as prices do fluctuate a lot. Also remember that when we all use “our” fuel, the turnaround keeps the fuel “fresh” and as clean as it can be. We are always testing the specific gravity and moisture content and don’t foresee quality problems but nevertheless we want the best. If there is ever anything that you need feel free to ask and remember you do have authority when no one else is around because it really is your space and your airport. Our goal is to make Greenbank an airport that you want to come to. A place that is fun and pleasant to be at. That is starting to be true but we still have a lot of work to do to create reasons to come there. Dorothy and I at some point would like to see the home at the airport turned into a restaurant or eatery of some sort. If anyone of you might know someone who might be interested in that type of project, let us know. Just off the top of my head, we would practically “give” the building to that project if we could be convinced that the team that want it, are really serious. In my mind the eatery would be perfect for a couple who have those skills but can’t really put out lots of “rent” to get the place going. We are definitely not wanting a “bar” as that is not our vision. A great eatery, desert, all day breakfast etc. or something like that. We know we need a ‘reason’ to come to the airport and food is a very good one and has to happen but only with the right persons. We are open to idea’s. Let me end by wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a very good 2007. The airport is who you all are and that’s good.
Micky and Dorothy Jovkovic |
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