Whats going on at Sleap?
 

I understand that the Shropshire Aero Club Committee at Sleap have all resigned including the Chairman.
The Committee now consists of three friends of the CFI.
All the Instructors have refused to fly for various reasons.
Staff have been suspended because of unknown and undisclosed allegations.
There has been a call for an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting of all the Aero Club Members.

What is going on?

That is very sad if it is true. One of the oldest flying clubs with their own airfield in the UK.

Well, much that I love Sleap and SAC, it doesn't really surprise me. They seem to make a habit of having a coup every few years. There are some really good flying instructors there, not least BP and JN.

Sorry to hear this. BP is a great guy; used to fly into his strip regularly 'back in the day'.

I take it the airfield, caff and museum are still open?

Every flying club I have been a member of has had an upheaval at some point. It is unsurprising given that many clubs struggle to break even and that fact that some staff are paid, others volunteers. All problems I have been aware of have had financial roots.

I'm a member of another flying club where teddies get thrown overboard fairly regularly, every few years. I decided not to renew my membership for a period of two years because it all got very silly, imho, and I wanted no part in the arguments of others. I went back when common sense began to prevail again.

I am a member at Sleap, the airfield is operational as per usual for qualified pilots wanting to fly in and out.

Situation is about as clear as mud but I put my full trust in the airfield management to be able to resolve the issue and go back to managing one of the best clubs in the country with an outstanding team of instructors. :)

One opinion is:
There have been rumblings, regarding safety concerns, surrounding the integration of aerobatics in the Sleap ATZ with other traffic, for a while.
The remnants of the committee, for reasons best known to themselves, seem to be inafective in implementing a solution for these concerns.
The majority of the instructors/examiners don't feel it appropriate to fly from Sleap in the current climate.
Independently, some club members seem to be pushing for an EGM to address the same issues.

The airfield is still open and will be welcoming to any visitors. The club still remains open for self hire of aircraft. The cafe is open seven days a week. The museum has only been open at the weekends for a while and will continue to do so.

I'm sure normal service will resume in the very near future.

Are the aeros still going on? Is this a safty issue for visiting pilots? Would it be best to stay away? Planing to visit by air on Sunday but could change to LAC.

Aeros
 

Not heard of any aeros safety issues? Have visited frequently, occassionally there may be some practising going on o/h, but they happily move out of the way if you arn't able to join d/wind, or base. Great place to watch two old biplanes practising their airshow display routine.

Rod,

I can't help you with your questions, but you reminded me of an Air Clues article from the 60s. There was a fleet of Vampires and Piston Provosts at Shawbury that was used to provide targets for trainee ATCOs. To handle the load, a GCA radar was installed at Sleap.

The Air Clues article was pointing out how busy Sleap was - I think there were more GCAs at Sleap than any other UK airfield.

The title of the the article was Don't go to sleep when you go to Sleap.

Which is a poor pun as the words aren't pronounced the same.

The aeros will be the Golding Barrett Trophy BAeA Competition, over the weekend 9/10 July. This is usually only a slightly busy period, so keep listening to Sleap radio on 122.45 from 30 miles out, for any joining information.


The EGM will most likely take place on 15 July, and is apparently very well supported.

They are when I say 'em!

I've always wanted to do a flight from Little Snoring to Sleap, just to have the two places juxtaposed in my log book. Probably won't now.

I've been going to aerobatic comps at Sleap as a ground 'observer' for the past 25 years and in my view it's one of the loveliest venues on the competition calendar. There was always a very warm welcome from the locals, the Burlton Inn is a wonderful place to stay, otherwise Wem, a quirky town whose main claim to fame is that it was the birthplace of Peter Jones, of the 'Rag Trade' and the voice of 'The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy'.

I do hope the committee resolve their differences. These things always seem to happen. I was once told that a committee should always have an odd number of members and that three is too many...

TOO

charliegolf

The locals, as far as I know*, pronounce it 'Slape'

*and I grew up nearby...

I think the time line would have to be Sleap to Little Snoring. Snoring rarely come before Sleap :-)

I have both in my log book but not point to point.

I hope all issues arebresolved soon.

Sleap EGM at 7pm om Friday 15th July at the Shropshire Aero Club.

All Full Members, Associate members, and any other interested parties invited, although only fully paid up members will be able to vote.

The EGM was held, and was attended by over 100 members, some of whom brought their lawyers to speak for them.
Whilst there are still several legal processes to be concluded, the Instructors are not going to end their 'holiday'.

It has been agreed that the CFI would need to suspend any aerobatic flying until a decision can be made at the AGM.(which will be held a.s.a.p.).
There were a few additional members co-opted onto the Committee, to bring the numbers up to quota.


So apart from no training, and no aerobatics in the overhead, all other activities and flying at Sleap continues.