Operating Procedures

Skycrafters, Inc., operates under a “Not for Profit” State of Tennessee Charter.  By-Laws, authorized by the Charter, set forth all rules and regulations for the management and operation of the club. The By-Laws state that a Board of Directors be the governing body of the club. Up to nine Board members are authorized. At least five regular Board members serve 3-year terms, and remaining Board members serve 1-year terms. The terms are staggered as nearly as possible so that not more than two regular Board member’s terms will expire in any one year.

Regular members elect Directors at the Skycrafters Annual Meeting held during January. Proxy voting is permitted. Following the annual meeting, the Board or Directors elects the Club officers from the membership of the Board for 1-year terms. The By-Laws authorize the Board of Directors and Club officers to manage the Club subject to restrictions retained by the total membership. The Board is required to meet at least quarterly, but normally meets more frequently.

The By-Laws extend the Board a wide range of authority to manage the club including, but not limited to, the following:

A. Determine flying rates.

B. Determine monthly dues.

C. Assessment of members of up to an annual limit for unusual and unplanned expenses.

D. Administer the Associate Member Program.

E. Approval of all transfers of membership.

F. Expulsion of members for non-payment of billings and sale of such shares to recover unpaid moneys.

G. Determination of which companies or individuals may perform maintenance on Club aircraft.

H. Scheduling of aircraft time for maintenance and for local flying activities or special events.

I. Approval of trips during which an aircraft will be away from the home station for more than 14 days.

J. Set aside moneys for various reserves including:

  1. Engine major overhaul (firewall forward).

  2. Annual inspections

  3. Airframe improvements

  4. Capital improvements

  5. Other

K. Grounding of aircraft for maintenance and/or safety reasons

Responsibilities of the Board of Directors include, but are not limited to:

A. Maintaining the financial solvency of the Club.

B. Maintaining insurance coverage as set forth by the By-Laws.

C. Providing reasonable maintenance for each aircraft.

The Board is not empowered to purchase, trade or sell aircraft or purchase major additions for the aircraft or modify aircraft scheduling as set forth in the By-Laws or make any other By-Law changes.

By-Law adoptions, amendments or deletions must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the members present or represented at a regular or special meeting.

With regard to measures the Board will take to preserve the rights, privileges, and equity of the members when one or more members is found to be in violation of Club By-laws and operating procedures or is in arrears regarding financial obligations to the Club, the following has been adopted as a guideline:

First offense–Member will be called to meet with the Board of Directors to review the offense(s) and to hear the member’s side of the story. Agreement will be reached as to resolution of the problem.

Second Offense-Member will be suspended of his/her flying privileges for a period of 30 days.

Third offense–Member’s share will be put up for sale and member’s flying privileges suspended permanently.

Each month, around the l0th, members receive Skynotes, the monthly billing, and a bill reconciliation form. Payment is due the first day of the month following the issue of the bill. The monthly billing shows for each member the following information:

A. Hours flown in each plane.

B. The hourly rate for the month for each airplane.

C. Flying charges for the month (hours flown x rate).

D. Miscellaneous charges–flying charges that are charged evenly to each member. This charge includes time for maintenance and time which is unaccounted for.

E. Assessments — Used to spread major capital contributions or unfounded maintenance expenses over an acceptable time period.

F. Dues — The dues each month are for the fixed portion of the expenses of the Club and aircraft operations.

G. Overdue or overpaid amounts –Balance as of the first day of the month excluding the current month’s billing.

H. Total due.

If you have any expenses to deduct, fill out the bill reconciliation form and be sure to attach a copy of your fuel bill(s) or receipt(s) of any other Club expense which you paid. Sign the form, and send it with your payment to the treasurer. The Annual Financial Report is distributed to each member at the annual meeting. The report includes a balance sheet, an income statement for the year just completed, and a budget for the next year.

Skycrafters insures each aircraft with an aviation insurance company. The coverage includes liability, cross-liability (protection between members), medical and hull insurance.

It is of utmost importance that each member understands and complies with the ‘ENDORSEMENTS’ of the insurance policy. In the event of an accident, non-compliance with any part of the ‘ENDORSEMENTS’ may void our insurance coverage.

The By-Laws of Skycrafters list the financial responsibility of a member who is involved in an accident.  The member involved in an accident is normally responsible for the deductible amount of the insurance unless the board determines that the member clearly did not contribute to the cause of the accident.  The corporation By-Laws also states (Section III, 2B): “The vice-president shall review bi-annually the Skycrafters insurance program to ensure compliance with Section V of the By-Laws which states:

A. Each aircraft shall be insured as follows:

1. Ground and in-flight insurance shall be for an amount equal to the purchase price or the replacement price value, whichever is less, and the deductible amount shall not exceed $2,000.

2. Customary limits of liability insurance shall be provided.

B. In case of damage to an aircraft, all regular members shall share equally the cost of repairs that are not covered by insurance except as set forth in Section IV, “Use of Aircraft.”

Each Skycrafters member is issued a set of keys which operate the door locks, ignition switches and propeller locks (if applicable) for all Club aircraft. A spare set of keys is kept on the board beside the locker in the Skycrafters locker room at the southeast side of the east hangar at Tri-City Aviation. It is expected that each member will do his/her part to maintain the security of the aircraft by locking windows, cabin doors and luggage compartment doors. The propeller lock for the Lance is required by our insurance carrier and must be locked in place anytime the aircraft is unattended by a Club member. The propeller lock may be removed by authorized maintenance personnel for the purpose of performing authorized tests or repairs. Care should be taken to insure that keys are not used by unauthorized persons to gain access to the aircraft.

Spare keys should be signed out and promptly replaced as a courtesy to all.

FAR’s require that all aircraft have a copy of the applicable owner’s manual on board the aircraft as a condition of flight operations. The owner’s manual contains information necessary for the safe and efficient management and operation of the aircraft. An owner’s manual is kept in the glove box each of the 172’s and the 182. The Owner’s manual for the Lance is kept under the right front seat of the aircraft since it is too large for the map compartments. Each member is encouraged to purchase personal copies of manuals for the aircraft he or she will be flying. Personal copies will be handy for flight planning and will preclude the need to remove copies from the aircraft. It is recommended that each member carefully read the manual for each aircraft that he/she flies. There are differences in the characteristics and parameters for the various aircraft including differences between the Skyhawks.

Skycrafters aircraft are for the exclusive use of Skycrafters members.  Skycrafters may not and must never allow Club aircraft to be used (flown) by non-members. Only the Insurer can authorize flight by certain non-members. Check the current policy for the specifics.  For your protection and the protection of all members, please be certain that your use of the Club aircraft is completely within the FAR’s and the applicable insurance requirements. If in doubt, refer to the member information packet, the by-laws, and/or to a Club officer. Here are some guides to follow:

A. Sharing expenses: if a member is making a trip and desires to take a non-member to share expenses, the following criterions apply:

1. The member must have a reason for going in the direction of or to the destination of the non-member,

2. The hourly cost of the aircraft used for the flight and any aircraft expenses incidental to the trip may be shared on a pro-rated per person basis by the people traveling in the aircraft.

B. A member may pay for the aircraft costs of a trip and have another member fly the plane. If the pilot in this case has a commercial license, the pilot may be paid for pilot service.

C. Confirm that you meet the insurance requirements for approved pilots. Review a current copy of the insurance policy for each aircraft.

The insurer states the basic requirements for each Skycrafters aircraft. These requirements published in the insurance policy statement. While these requirements are restated below, it is the responsibility of each member to review the statements published by the insurer when issued and to adhere to any interim changes published in Skynotes.

Skycrafters imposes some additional PIC requirements to assure the safety of the club members and the protection of the assets.  Members receiving flight instruction are encouraged to review these requirements with their instructor(s) prior to receiving flight instruction in Skycrafters aircraft.

To fly a Skycrafters C-172 Skyhawk, N74PE or N74WC, the member must meet all of the following requirements:

A. Have a current and effective medical certificate (unless a pre-solo student pilot flying with a certificated flight instructor),

B. Satisfy the FAA’s flight review requirements.

C. Have received a check-out from, and written approval of, a certificated flight instructor in the same make and model as the insured aircraft.

To fly a Skycrafters C-182 Skylane, N2727Q, the member must meet all of the following requirements:

A. Have a current and effective medical certificate (unless a pre-solo student pilot flying with a certificated flight instructor),

B. Satisfy the FAA’s flight review requirements.

C. Have at least the following logged pilot time in the same make and model as the insured aircraft prior to acting as pilot in command:

1. Ten (10) hours if member has less than 100 hours of total logged flight time, or

2. Five (5) hours if member has 100 hours or more total logged flight time.

D. Have received a check-out from, and written approval of, a certificated flight instructor in the same make and model as the insured aircraft.

  A member may receive dual flight instruction in the insured aircraft from a certificated flight instructor to meet these requirements.

To fly the Skycrafters PA32R-300 Lance, N4135Q, the member must meet all of the following requirements:

A. Have a private, commercial, or airline transport pilot certificate.

B. Have a current and effective medical certificate.

C. Satisfy the FAA’s flight review requirements.

D. Have at least 350 hours of total logged flight time.

E. Have at least the following logged pilot time in the same make and model as the insured aircraft prior to acting as pilot-in-command:

1. Ten (10) hours if member has less than 50 hours of logged pilot time in retractable gear aircraft, or

2. Five (5) hours if member has 50 or more hours of logged flight time in retractable gear aircraft,

F. Have at least 3 hours of logged pilot time in the same make and model as the insured aircraft in the preceding 180 days, or have taken and passed a currency check-out in the insured aircraft and received written approval from a certificated flight instructor in the preceding 45 days.

G. Have received a check-out from, and written approval of, a certificated flight instructor in the same make and model as the insured aircraft.

  A member may receive dual flight instruction in the insured aircraft from a certificated flight instructor to meet these requirements.

(1)     Have received in a Skycrafters aircraft an orientation flight and written sign-off from an instructor who is a Skycrafters member.  The endorsement by the Skycrafters instructor shall include “(Name) as Skycrafters Flight Instructor”.  If no CFI who is a Skycrafters member is available to meet the requirements of this paragraph, the Skycrafters, Inc. board may approve a non-member CFI to perform this function.  The approval of such a CFI shall be noted in the minutes of the board meeting in which the approval occurs and be published in the issue of Skynotes that first follows the board approval. The board may at its discretion cancel this approval without cause.  This cancellation must be noted and published in the same manner as the above described approval.

(2)     Comply with the insurance requirements for each make and model aircraft in the following sequence:

(a)  Not high-performance or complex airplanes,

(b)  For high-performance airplanes,

(i)  (a) above if that equipment is owned by Skycrafters, Inc.,

(ii) all of FAR 61.31(f) (FAR required high-performance endorsement),

(iii) insurance requirements for high-performance Skycrafters make and model airplanes

(c)  For complex airplanes,

(i)  (a) and (b) above if that type equipment is owned by Skycrafters, Inc.,

(ii) the certified flight instructor used by the member for insurance required make and model initial check-out or currency check-out must meet the currency requirements required of a member by the insurance to act as PIC.

(iii) all of FAR 61.31(e) (FAR required complex endorsement),

(iv) insurance requirements for complex Skycrafters make and model airplanes.

Skycrafters By-Laws give regular members equal access to the Club aircraft in terms of number and duration of reservations. It is the responsibility of each member to schedule the aircraft to best suit his/her needs. Reservations can be established via the internet or by phone. Skycrafters uses the Flight Schedule Pro internet scheduling system to reserve aircraft.  In order to access this system, you must first register.  To register, go to www.flightschedulepro.com and click on “click here to request access to schedule their aircraft on-line!”  Fill out the registration form.  At the end of the form it will ask for your organization.  Scroll down and select “Skycrafters, Inc.”  After you have registered, you will receive an e-mail notifying you when you have been approved to use the system.

Notice that if what you want is not available, you have the option of placing a “second” reservation. This provides you the opportunity to obtain your choice should the primary reservation be canceled.  When you change your plans about flying at your reserved time, cancel your reservation immediately. Check to determine if there is a second reservation for the time you cancel, and notify the member having the second reservation that he/she may have the aircraft. This may cost you a dollar for a long-distance call, but this courtesy will give everyone in the Club the maximum access to the aircraft in which they have invested.  If an aircraft is gone from Tri-City Aviation without a reservation or without an indication that the aircraft is out of service for maintenance, it may be considered stolen and an all points bulletin issued for the arrest of the persons using it. No one wants this to happen to a Skycrafter!

When you return the aircraft to Tri-City Aviation, cancel any unused part of your reservation so that other members may use the aircraft. Call a member having a second reservation for the aircraft so that he/she may take advantage of your early arrival or plan changes.  Keep a record of the reservation(s) you have made so you do not forget when you have the aircraft scheduled.

A. Do you have a reservation for the aircraft and time period you are planning to use?

B. If you need a hood, instrument approach charts, windscreen cleaner, tie-down kit or an aircraft key, they are kept in the supply room. Be sure to sign out each item you take.

C. Fuel selection:

1. Select 80 octane fuel for the C-172’s and the C-182 if available.  Use 100LL as alternate.

2. The Lance requires 100LL fuel.

D. Oil:

1. Check the placard on the oil level inspection door for general instructions regarding appropriate oil for varying conditions.

2. Normally:

a. Use Aeroshell Oil W.

b. Carry extra quarts on trips away from Tri-Cities.

c. Use the oil viscosity specified on the placard inside the oil inspection door.

d. If oil is added, be sure to make an appropriate entry in the Oil Log section of the Flight Logbook.

e. A supply of oil is maintained in the locker room. If you use oil supplied by others, you will be responsible for the cost of the oil.

E. Interior sunscreen covers are provided for each aircraft. They should be installed after each flight. The purpose of the covers is to keep the aircraft interior cool thus increasing the life expectancy of the avionics and the upholstery.

F. Pitot sock and gust lock should both be stored in the pocket on the back of the pilot seat, not in the front side pockets of the cockpit.

G. Tow bar and Step should be stored under the rear seat, not behind it.

H. Check “Squawks” in the Flight Logbook to update your knowledge of any maintenance problems.

I. Enter you name into the Flight Log. If current elapsed time meter reading is different from the last sign-off time, leave a blank line in the Flight Log with current elapsed time meter reading as the ending value and the ending value of the previously recorded flight as the starting elapsed time meter time for the blank line. If the elapsed time meter is inoperative or out of service, use tachometer time. (You will be charged for tachometer time plus 20% which is very close to elapsed time.)

J. In cold weather, follow the “Cold Weather Starting Procedures.” You may choose a pre-heat at your own expense to help insure cold weather starting.

K. After careful pre-flight “walk-around”, follow the checklist in the aircraft, and have a safe flight.

L. Ensure that your use of the aircraft will be in accordance with the rule that only member pilots who are checked out in the aircraft may operate the aircraft during break-in or for operations during which any special operating instructions are placarded on the aircraft. This is to ensure that the aircraft engine will be operated with minimum ground time after start-up and that proper break-in procedures are followed to give the engine the best possible chance of attaining a good break-in and maximum useful life. Additionally, special precautions may be in effect for lubrication during break-in, and it is particularly important that these precautions be followed to enhance the engine life.

The objective of engine power management is to minimize changes and rate of changes of cylinder head temperatures. Techniques for good engine power management include:

A. All power setting changes including take-offs, approaches, and landings should be slow, gradual and smooth.

B. Monitor cylinder head and/or oil temperatures during takeoffs to avoid overheating.

C. Leaning:

1. TAXI–Minimize operation at idle RPM or low power settings typically experienced during ground operation. This causes excessive lead deposits and uneven cooling due to no ram air flow over the engine cylinders. Better to stop the engine and restart than to idle for 10+ minutes. During excessive idling, lean the mixture until the engine RPM drops and then enrich enough to keep the engine running smoothly.

2. TAKEOFF–Full rich at altitudes where developed take-off power is greater than 75%. Use 75 degrees rich of peak EGT at higher altitudes.

3. CLIMB-OUT–Lean to 75 degrees rich of peak EGT for all operation below 75% power at all altitudes.

4. CRUISE–Operate at 65% power or below and lean to 25 degrees rich of peak EGT at all altitudes. (This includes local operation and pattern work.)

5. DESCENT–Enrich mixture gradually (as altitude decreases) and use the EGT to maintain a rich side of peak indication. Plan “power on” descents to keep cylinder heads warm and to achieve gradual cooling. Spread the speed change from cruise speed to pattern speed over as great a distance and altitude as practical for a smooth approach and gradual cooling of the engine. Use slips to slow to flap speed if necessary. Don’t yank the power off on final!

NOTE: Always monitor the cylinder head and oil temperatures to avoid overheating. Enrich as necessary to reduce excessive temperatures if maximum ram air-cooling (cowl flaps, reduced climb rates, etc.) is inadequate. Then personally review this situation with the maintenance officer as soon as possible. There may be some problem developing with the engine.

A. Radios off.

B. Lights off.

C. Fuel selector off.

D. Master off.

E. Time entered into the flight log.

F. Add any squawks discovered during the flight.

G. Install gust lock for the Cessna aircraft and secure the yoke with the right front seat belt on the Lance.

H. Tie-down the aircraft securely.

I. Replace the pitot cover.

J. Sunscreen covers in place.

K. Straighten plastic carpet covers if installed.

L. Return locker articles to locker.

M. Clean ashtrays.

N. Remove trash, maps, sunglasses, baggage, etc., from the aircraft.

O. Emergency brake “off” and chocks around left main gear.

P. Lock all doors (including baggage compartment door) and windows on aircraft.

Q. Call Maintenance Officer (or any Board member) if a 50-hour inspection is due or a squawk needs immediate attention.

Skycrafters has a supply room located on the southeast side of the east hangar at Tri-City Aviation. The small wooden locker in the supply room contains a wide variety of club property that is needed at the airport but must be stored in a place other than in the aircraft. There is a combination lock on the supply room door, and the combination is written in on front of each aircraft flight logbook.

The contents of the supply room are maintained by Skycrafters to provide members essential and supplemental equipment and information for normal flying activities. The following is a review of the supply room contents and guidelines for maximum availability to all members.

One of the more expensive (initial and continuing) items is the set of Jeppesen IFR charts. Because many of the club members have instrument ratings, the expense of the charts is well justified for maximum utilization of investment in all IFR equipped aircraft. Since the charts are for Eastern United States coverage, they are suitable for 90-95% of flying by Skycrafters. However the size of the coverage places a regular and consistent demand upon members assigned to update the revisions and perform the annual checklist. Here is what you can do to maximize the Jeppesen chart availability to Skycrafters:

A. Take only the book(s), chart(s) and other information needed for your flight.

B. Sign out what you have taken. Use the aircraft reservation book.

C. When you return, promptly replace in the appropriate container what you have borrowed in “A’ above.

If you are interested in joining the ranks of IFR rated pilots or if you want to keep your IFR rating current and your skills polished, you will find the vision restricting hoods stored in the supply room for your use and convenience. To encourage members to secure club aircraft at airports other than TRI, the Club has an aircraft tie-down kit. If you suspect that secure tie-downs will be unavailable at your destination, carry the tie-down kit with you. It is the pilot’s responsibility to secure the aircraft by tie-down. The insurance company may deny coverage if the aircraft is damaged while not properly secured. The tie-down kit is especially useful at “fly-ins” where a large number of aircraft are tie-down in open field areas. When you complete your trip, return the tie-down kit to the supply room.

Rags, wax, cleaner, sponges and other materials needed from time to time are stored in the locker.

The Skycrafters Board of Directors normally meets monthly. These meetings are usually held at Advanced Flight Training. All of the meetings are open to all Skycrafters members and attendance is encouraged. The date, time and place are announced in Skynotes.

The Board of Directors will determine if a winter social will be planned as the main social event of the year. In previous years this event has coincided with the club Annual Meeting. These events are also opportunities for members to recognize the FAA staff at TRI tower.

While not considered official Club social events, numerous trips are made by Club Members in one or more aircraft to air shows and other aviation related events. Flying costs are shared, as is the flying. Trips of this type have been made to as far away as the Bahamas and Mexico.

The FAA requires that certain documents reside in each aircraft. Skycrafters stores other documents in the aircraft for record keeping purposes.

The FAA requires that a copy of the aircraft registration, a current airworthiness certificate, and an aircraft owner’s manual be stored in each aircraft. A current copy of the radio license must be also be displayed in the aircraft. The required documents are kept in a clear Plastic sleeve in the left kick panel by the rudder pedals in each aircraft. The aircraft owner’s manuals are kept in the map box of the 172’s and the 182 and under the right front seat in the Lance.

The FARs state that it is the responsibility of the pilot-in-command to make sure the required documents are in each aircraft. If at any time you check for these documents and one is missing, contact the Club secretary for a replacement.

The required maintenance records are also kept in a folder stored in the file cabinet in the supply room. Included in this packet are the Aircraft, engine, and propeller Maintenance logs plus the latest weight and balance data for the aircraft. None of these documents should be removed from the locker without the authorization of the Maintenance Officer.

A notebook is kept in the map box of each aircraft. This notebook contains a statement of the pilot-in-command requirements for the aircraft, the flight log, the “squawk” log, the oil log, and the VOR check log. These are shown below:

The flight log is used to record all time that the engine runs. An explanation of each column/entry follows:

DATE               Enter the month and day the engine time was incurred.

PILOT IN COMMAND   Enter the name of the PIC as defined in the FARs.

CHARGE TO          Enter the name of the member to be charged.

IFR                Check if flight is under instrument flight rules.

TR                 Check if a training flight.

LCL                Check if flight is in the local area.

X-COUNTRY DESTINATION Enter destination if cross-country.

HOUR METER TIME    Begin – Enter the beginning time in the elapsed time meter before the engine is started.  This entry should correspond with the END time for the previous entry.

                   End – Enter the time on the elapsed time meter after the engine is shut down. If the elapsed time meter has started to roll over to the next tenth hour, the next tenth should be logged.

NET                Enter the total time to be charged for the flight. It is always a good idea to log your name and beginning time in the flight log before the engine is started since the person flying before you may have forgotten to log his/her ending time.

A. Purchase a “pre-heat” if the ambient temperature is below 20 degrees F.

B. Be sure the mags (ignition) are “OFF” and the ignition key is out of the ignition switch.

C. Have someone “pull through” the prop.  For safety, the prop “pull through” should be conducted as though the mags were “ON”.

D. While the prop is being “pulled through” (to avoid flooding and potential fire) put in four (4) full strokes with the primer.  On the Lance it will be necessary to turn “ON” the master switch and the electric fuel pump, then advance the mixture control to obtain a positive indication of fuel flow on the fuel flow gauge for about five seconds).

E. Discontinue the prop “pull through”.

F. Add two (2) more strokes with the primer (this second priming is probably not needed for the Lance).

G. For the 172’s and the 182, pull the primer out to the full charge position. For the Lance follow the normal starting procedure from this point on.

H. Call “CLEAR PROP”. Get a “CLEAR PROP” confirmation only from the person who was pulling through the prop.

I. Insert the key in the ignition and engage the starter. Pump the throttle only while the starter is turning the engine. Use only 1″ to 2″ strokes near the CLOSED range of the throttle.

J. When the engine fires, slowly add primer charge to keep the engine running (throttle pumping may also be required to keep the engine running).

K. Make every effort to keep the engine running once it fires! To allow the engine to stop after a short intermittent run is to risk plug frosting for which the only recovery is heat application to melt the moisture from the plugs.

1. The products to be used are MIRRO-GARD and Bounty paper towels.
   
2. It is recognized that an aircraft’s Plexiglas window can be easily scratched.  Multiple scratches on a windshield will reduce visibility out of the windshield – particularly when the sun is shining directly on that windshield.
   
3. The procedure is to liberally spray the window to be cleaned with MIRRO-GARD and then wipe and dry the window with Bounty paper towels using linear motions and always wiping in the direction of the air flow over the window.  For the windshield, the center portion should be wiped using a linear motion from the top of the cowl to the top of the window – up and down.  For the more lateral aspects of the windshield, the linear motion should be from the edge of the vertical motions horizontally to the extreme lateral edge of the windshield.  WIPE IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE WIND FLOW OVER THE WINDSHIELD.  The side windows should be wiped dry using horizontal motions.  Never use circular motions on any of the windows.  Never use Windex or any other commercial cleaner on the windows or the windshield.   In the event MIRRO-GARD is unavailable, use clean water.
   

  The Maintenance Officers will maintain a supply of MIRRO-GARD and Bounty paper towels in Skycrafters’ locker.

It is your airplane’s windshield and windows that you are cleaning.  Recommend that you make an attempt to not damage the windshield and windows.

Additionally, the Board agreed that the windshield should be cleaned by the pilot as part of the tie-down procedure.  This will accomplish several things.  As part of the tie-down procedure, the bugs will be cleaned off the windshield before they have time to become ‘cooked’ on or become super dry, the windshield is likely to be cleaned more frequently than if it is part of the preflight procedure, and it will be nice if each pilot has access to an airplane that is clean on the inside and has a clean windshield when he/she starts his/her preflight.  If you smash the bugs you should clean them off the windshield the same as you are responsible to clean the interior of the plane following your flight.