The weather is so unsettled at the moment that it’s impossible to predict with any degree of confidence more than a few days in advance. There are air displays scheduled for next weekend, but no fly-ins that we are aware of that might conflict.

Hence we just want to give some advance notice that we are looking at Saturday and Sunday next (Aug 5/6) as possible dates to host a belated Summer Fly-In at ILAS Field.

This is subject of course to weather and we will confirm one way or the other later in the week when the forecast is clearer. This message is just a ‘heads up’ of our plans at the moment.

The Programme for the upcoming Bray Air Display 2023 is available as a digital download from the on-line store of the event's website.  Click here

With regret, the Committee have decided to forego the traditional ILAS Breakfast Fly-in for 2023.  To date, there has been a total lack of a clear weather forecast for any weekend since the original scheduled date of 30th April.

In fact, the committee had been gearing up to host the event this weekend on the 28th May to take advantage of the good forecast.  However, it came to our attention that Ballyboy  were also planning to have their own delayed event this weekend.  Not wishing to 'split the vote', we have decided to defer to our friends at Ballyboy, happy in the knowledge that ILAS members will have an enjoyable fly-in event to plan for and take advantage of the weather.

We will now focus our efforts on our Mid-summer rally and fly-in at EIIF on 24th & 25th June as well as our Harvest fly-in on 27th August, in the hope that we can get both events done without weather interference.

In the meantime, EIIF is in great condition and ready welcome visitors at any time subject the usual PPR 

The EFLEVA Newsletter - First Quarter 2023, has been received from Catherine Dartois. Some interesting content, including an article on the risk of using motor / pump fuel containing Ethanol in aircraft engines, a topical issue which was raised from the floor by a member at the AGM on Sunday last and was also the subject of an IAA  Aeronautical Notice - A16,  revised on 26/09/2022.

Subject to confirmation by the incoming committee at their February meeting, the following dates have been announced for fly-in events at ILAS Field (EIIF):

• Breakfast Fly-In: Sunday 30th April.
• Mid-Summer Fly-In: Saturday 24th & sunday 25th June.
• Harvest Fly-In: Sunday 27th August.

Tentative event listings have been posted to the websites Events page, where further details will be posted as they become available.

So SAVE THE DATES!

It has been three years since we have been able to get together in person for our traditional Christmas dinner and awards ceremony.  So the attendance of about 50 members at this year's event held on 3rd December at the Spa Hotel was an expression of relief and confidence as well as the strong fellowship or our Society.

Our thanks especially to Brig. Gen. Rory O'Connor GOC Air Corps, who was our guest speaker on the night.

Awards were presented by Brig. Gen. O'Connor on the night as follows:

Touring Award Winners, JP Smith & Neil Johnston

JPSmith receiving award from Brig Gen O'Connor

Homebuilt Award winners, EI-SRV - Martin Doody & Kevin Keigher

Kevin Keigher receiving award from Brig Gen O'Connor - Noel Maher in background.

Vintage & Classic Restoration Award winners, EI-EPZ - Michael Munnelly & Alan Dunne

Michael Munnelly, Alan Dunne, Brig Gen O'Connor & Noel Maher

'John O'Loughlin Exemplary Airmanship Award' winner, Irish Air Corps 1922 - 2022 

John O'Loughlin presenting the award to Brig Gen Rory O'Connor GOC AC, who accepted the award on behalf of the Air Corps.

After a postponment due to weather on the original date, our main flyong event of the year will definitely go ahead next weekend the 9th and 10th July at EIIF.

The official announcement and event page is here

The postponed 2022 ILAS Breakfast Fly-in has been rearranged due to a favorable forecast and will take place on Sunday 15th May.  Members have been notified by email and the event details are posted in the Events section

The 23rd March this year marked the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Irish Air Corps.  A short video has been published to summarise the first century of the work of the service. 

The newly updated Easy Access Rules for the Standardised European Rules of the Air have been published by EASA.  Not a light read at 200+ pages, but all pilots have a duty to familiarise themselves with SERA, at least to the extent of scanning the contents to know what's in it and reading further into the sections that pertain directly to our kind of flying.

So we have linked this document in our Downloads - Technical, Advisory and Regulatory sub-section or directly by clicking here.