The Europa Club Rescue Service

The Rescue Service is an international service offered by the Europa Club to its members, by its members. All participants are volunteers who have offered their services and/or facilities to other members in difficulties.

Help through the Rescue Service could include use of a trailer, access to a workshop, tools, loan of parts, technical help, ferrying parts/people, accommodation, translation service, food, tea, coffee, beer or just sympathy.

Volunteers currently cover France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Canada and the USA. As a sideline many people have thrown out an open invitation to visiting Europa pilots just for a chat and a beer, so many new contacts and friends can be made through the service.

Who can use it?

The Rescue Service is available to all members of the club, and no charge will be made for the service, but any expenses incurred by the club or a volunteer must be paid by the person using the service. Volunteers are not expected to charge for their time and effort, but it would be expected that any expenses they incur as a direct result of helping should be reimbursed without the need for them to ask, in a similar manner to the way LAA inspectors work. If volunteers are left out of pocket after putting themselves out to help, then they will not be to keen to help again - don't abuse the service!

Anyone needing help should bear in mind that the rescue service is voluntary, and not a commercial operation. We will do all we can to get you on your way, but there are no guarantees. In reality, for most of us, a call for help will be a rare occasion, and if you do get a call it will most likely be a good excuse to dodge off to the airfield or wherever and go play with your toys - or someone else's. For those who are already playing, just knowing there is a good chance of some help if you need it when far away from home is a very comforting thought.

Availability and use of spare parts

The stock of available spare parts are a combination of:

donations by members who no longer need them (they have duplicates, or have converted from monowheel to tri-gear, for example)
purchases of key items by the Club specifically for the rescue service
parts that members have not yet used on their aircraft that they are willing to make available, if required

There will be one parts depot initially which will be at Laddingford airfield in Kent. Peter Kember and Dave Watts operate from there so, together with it being a strategic place for serving continental travellers and having three flying volunteer's based there, it should be a good start. Any parts supplied by the club under the service must be REPLACED and delivered back to the depot together with any carriage cost for both the outward and inward delivery.

If you have any spare parts or equipment that you think would be useful to the Rescue Service and you are prepared to donate, loan or sell to the club please click here to contact the Membership Secretary with your offer.

Joining the volunteer list

The more important thing to say is that you can get involved as much or as little as you like. An offer to make a few phone calls or give a lift to a local hotel is just as valuable as being able fly across the channel with parts or to turn up at the scene of crime with a trailer or mobile workshop. We do not expect volunteers to be 'on call' 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, waiting to go to the rescue. If you get a call and you can't help, or it's simply not convenient, you are under no obligation.

Because of obvious concerns about having personal details posted on a list and made available to everyone, the full list of volunteers will only be available to committee members. Anyone needing help can contact any member of the committee who will release details to him or her of volunteers likely to be able to help. All the committee members' details including mobile phones numbers are printed on the inside front cover of the Europa Flyer, so make sure you have a copy with you in the plane.

If you would be willing to join the volunteer list, please click here to contact the Membership Secretary with your offer.

LAA Inspectors

We are also compiling a list of inspectors who are prepared to travel out to inspect stricken aircraft if required, which will also be made available via a committee member.

How to request help

Simply call a committee member, using the list in the front of the Europa Flyer (so carry one with you in your plane at all times!). They will endeavour to find a volunteer near you who can assist.

Click here to join The Europa Club

Click here to renew your Europa Club membership

Click here to buy Europa Club membership items

This page last updated by Rowland Carson 2009-12-16