Author Archives: Robin May

Dan Chilcot will take over as Chief Tug Pilot on January 1st. Dan has spent 4 years as deputy on his way to taking on this role. We thought this would be a quiet time to do it and it … Continued

MM has returned to service. It still has quite a few differences, so please review the differences sheet which can be found in the tech log and here.

A quiet year in terms of launches achieved, just 4384. You can see further details on the Stats pages. Weather and lower activity levels mainly the cause. Highlights were the Regionals with 400+ tows and Llanbedr with 230+

This is a revision on the previous advice. There have been a couple of incidences in the past where, for a variety of reasons, we have found ourselves operating without the airspace being opened. The onus for opening the airspace … Continued

We’ve now had a few frosty mornings and cold damp mornings as we enter the winter period with many more to come. Both can make starting tug engines difficult. In such cases, DI the tug(s) in the hangar and then … Continued

A lot of you have previously used either Dr Mitchell or Dr Cransden, both of whom have recently retired. A new AME has set up in Harpenden, Dr Michael Fonso. His details are below; He has a comprehensive website and … Continued

CC is back with us and will feel familiar to most of you. A couple of things to note: It has an overhauled engine fitted which is still completing it’s running in process. If it needs oil, use Straight 100 … Continued

The following notes cover most of the differences and a copy will be found in the tech log of MM. The aircraft will be in use in the coming Nationals and generally available to all tug pilots after that.

It has been decided that all tugs should have their landing lights ON whilst operating close to Dunstable. The lights fitted to our tugs are now all LED style so can be operated continuously and use relatively little power. You … Continued