FlyingVizsla

The other option is to rent a plane - usually a flying school aircraft - then all the hassle of hangars, maintenance, etc are someone else's problem. Depending on the type you want, there are a few to choose from in the Bundaberg, Childers, Maryborough, Gympie area. Childers Qld - Isis Flying Club meets every first Saturday of the month with a BBQ and there is someone around on weekends, and a few on week days too. Wed morning is an informal morning tea for folk who fly in from Bundy, Pacific Haven and private strips. Welcome to drop in anytime.

Hi Stickshaker, If you are free Sat 6 Aug 2016 call in to the Childers airstrip for the fly-in breakfast 8:30 am onwards and Isis Flying Club meeting after. You should be able to chat with a lot of local pilots and plane owners. Then the next day (Sunday 7th) try the Gympie fly-in & open day. There is some experience with plane syndicates at both places. Sue

If you are a RAA Certificate holder - the Operations Manual (Issue 7 Oct 2014) Section 2.07-3 Flight Review (p.51) only says that you must have completed a BFR "Within a period of 2 years immediately before the day of the proposed flight .." If you have not completed a BFR within 2 years, then you have not complied with the conditions Section 2.07-2 Privileges 3(a) (p.50) and cannot fly. The Ops manual is silent on how long a pilot can allow the BFR to lapse, so long as not flying. The new Ops manual may say something different. It hasn't been released as yet. If you are a fixed wing PPL - the BFR is now known as AFR. If you have not completed one in the prescribed time, you cannot fly. CASA now require your AFR to be sent to them (as does RAA) as they are now trying to establish how many active pilots they have. Most inactive RAA pilots just don't renew their membership or request a change to Non-Flying. PPLs stay on the books, CASA is presently issuing new licence documentation as AFRs are received and I expect there will be thousands of inactive pilots when the exercise is finished. I have not found anything restricting the time an AFR can lapse - yet. However CASA's rules are slowly changing too.

The moral of the story is - don't let the rego lapse, even if you are not flying it. A friend of ours is in the same boat. He became medically unfit, so stopped paying the rego. Now he is OK he has to find a Level 2 to inspect. We had our 95-10 grounded due to the CASA audits. Had discussions with RAA Tech regarding the most difficult part - submitting plans (it only had written construction instructions) & data set - and now have everything except the L2 report. Our local L2 only maintains 2 aircraft. Due to the lack of willing local L2s we both missed the Amnesty. But that's life in the bush. We happily trade the difficulty and extra cost of getting anything done with the lower cost and freedom of small airstrips and uncongested airspace. Obviously there is work for anyone wanting to be an L2. Another mobile multiskilled L2 like Maj Millard would be good.

We have an aircraft we're selling. Today I clicked on the link in the Aviation Advertiser email I received 14th July for "light sport & recreational" and it took from 2:26:10 to 38:15 before the blank screen started to draw anything (waiting for www.aviationadvertiser.com.au) and finally got pictures at 51:15 - that's 25 minutes 5 seconds. I clicked on an aircraft listing at 2:53:10 and it finally came up at 3:05:45 - nearly 13 minutes later. That's 38 minutes to look at one aircraft listing. It has improved, as I have not been able to get that far before. Why is it SO SLOW when this site (www.recreationflying.com) can appear in under one second? Also "the latest RAA magazine" is May 2016 - it just looks like there's no one manning the shop. Aviation Trader was up in 2 seconds and I was looking at a listing 3 seconds after that (two clicks). I have not been on that site for some months (we get the paper version) so it isn't cookies/caching. Aviation Advertiser (from my perspective) is too slow - if I was a buyer I would have given up on it and gone elsewhere - as a seller, I did and now have 2 enquiries. I don't have an axe to grind here. My experience will be different to others, and I acknowledge that I have a slow ADSL connection.

Help Dick Smith farewell his Citation and send a message to CASA and the government about unique regulations in Australia. Aviation identity Dick Smith is holding a wake to commemorate the departure of his much loved Cessna Citation CJ3 at his hanger at Bankstown Airport. Dick says the relocation of the aircraft to the northern hemisphere is due to the high cost of compliance with ADSB in Australia. He faces a bill of more than $240,000 in order to meet the looming ADSB deadline and another $250,000 for a flight data recorder, required under Australia’s unique regulations relating to this type of aircraft. The aircraft is also being relocated for avionics work after Honeywell and Collins, the manufacturers of the Citation’s avionics suite, have stopped having a direct presence in Australia, leading to massive delays repairing simple problems. “That extra half million dollars and the complete lack of competitive servicing arrangements at Bankstown, means it would be unlikely for someone to purchase and keep the aircraft operating here in a viable way,” Dick says. “Everyone is welcome for this really sad wake. As everyone knows, I see no life in aviation on the horizon at all. I am selling my aircraft now because I know, if I keep it any longer in Australia, I will lose even more money.” The event will be held from 12 noon next Thursday, July 21, at hangar 631, 23 Miles St, Bankstown Airport. It will also be a great opportunity for members to meet new AOPA Executive Director Ben Morgan who will also be attending. Mark Smith, Editor, Australian Pilot.

AOPA Attends the First Industry Stakeholder Meeting AOPA President Marc De Stoop attended the first Industry Stakeholder meeting with DAS Skidmore and Stakeholder Engagement Manager Ron Walker last week and reports that with 25 aviation groups attending it appeared to be much of a talk fest. Michael Monke, CEO of Recreation Aviation Australia was elected chairman of the group, with Ken Cannane elected vice chairman. Sub committees will be formed by the chairman to recommend high level policy initiatives but as always CASA and the DAS have no obligation to pay any attention to them. DAS Skidmore reiterated his claim that the general aviation industry at a grass roots level is vibrant and growing. I challenged him to produce data to support this contention and he said for me to produce data to show otherwise. Given he’s making the claim against the majority of GA organisations who don’t agree, the onus is on him to produce the data but he is unwilling to do this. I have joined with Dick Smith and Sandy Reith to commission a statistician to review the available data to prepare a report attesting to the state of GA. We are funding this personally and would love to receive volunteer help from the members with this initiative. Ben Morgan will have more to say about this during the week. Despite Jeff Boyd’s pledge to look into delaying ADSB, the DAS is adamant there will be no delay. According to all who attended the meeting the new fatigue management regulations covered by CAO 48.1-13 are an absolute disaster for the industry. The DAS said he will not support any reforms to Avmed without the industry submitting all the data to support such a change. I challenged him to simply request the data from the aviation regulators overseas who have had the courage to make much needed changes but his response was to simply say the FAA in the US are not happy with their raft of changes, that have been forced upon them by politicians. Given the changes that have been signed into effect came from the FAA I find this contention mystifying. Certainly there will be people in the FAA, most probably in the medical section, who feel their ‘turf’ has been raided, but the reality is a huge government department in the United States has looked at the data available over many years and concluded that the way they were administering their medical regulations was out of date with current best practice. New Zealand has done the same. The Regional Airline Association representative complained of two to three months delays in sorting out Class 1 medicals when any complications arise. I suggested to the DAS that if he got CASA out of Class 2 medicals he may have the resources to better serve the commercial aviation community. His response was that Australia is a special case with an aging class 2 pilot demographic. This comment is frightening in its ignorance. This is a direct quote from a NZ bureau of stats report from 2005. The 65+ age group is projected to make up over one-quarter of New Zealand's population from the late 2030s, compared with 12 percent in 2005. The number of people aged 65+ is projected to increase from half a million in 2005 to 1.33 million in 2051. Next a report from the United States government. The older population-persons 65 years or older-numbered 46.2 million in 2014 (the latest year for which data is available). They represented 14.5% of the U.S. population, about one in every seven Americans. By 2060, there will be about 98 million older persons, more than twice their number in 2014. People 65+ represented 14.5% of the population in the year 2014 but are 65+ expected to grow to be 21.7% of the population by 2040. Both the United States and New Zealand have the same issues with aging populations as Australia, yet they have both introduced reforms to make it easier for people to fly privately. We intend to gather the data about incapacitation of pilots with the help of AOPA in the US and New Zealand, though it would be a simple process for CASA to simply look at their own ATSB reports and the record of RAA. But it’s obvious CASA won’t change without being dragged kicking and screaming through the process of reform. Senator Nick Xenophon has already said post-election that he intends to take up the fight on the industries behalf with Senate Estimates, questioning the CASA hierarchy as regularly as possible about their decisions, or lack of them as the case may be. Hopefully this and the New Stakeholder Engagement Group combined with ongoing media coverage will begin to force the changes needed. The DAS stated at the meeting that he wants to work collaboratively with Industry. We welcome this approach but we need action to back up the words. When we see the stubbornness on delaying the ADSB implementation dates in line with our peer countries to reduce industry costs, then add no internal CASA progress over many years on Avmed Class 2 reforms , we are righty skeptical of the DAS's all powerful position. We, AOPA, and the rest of the Stakeholder Participants I witnessed, really want to engage with CASA and bring about much needed reform. We welcome Ron Walker into this coordinating or conductor role and his enthusiasm for the task. What we all want now is the DAS to act on the group’s recommendations and not be judge and jury and possibly executioner of them. Marc De Stoop President, AOPA

Two men injured in light aircraft crash at Bridport in Tasmania's north Light aircraft accident at Bridport in Tasmania's north Paramedics are treating two men after a light plane crash at Bridport in northern Tasmania. The plane went down in a paddock outside the town at about 3:00pm. .... "What we can see from our property is just ... a blue tail of a plane and all the emergency workers are around that part of the plane." Category: | The Mercury The Mercury is reporting one person to hospital and it being a privately owned ultralight

They pestered me (like they used to) to renew. 2 emails, 2 texts and I went on to the portal and renewed last month. They used to chop down a tree to print 6 pages and post twice. Mr FV renewed this month - he got an email (at least one), rang the office and paid over the phone with return "certificate" by email. The new cards are being printed and will be posted when available. I only have to print the bits I need for records. Works OK for us.

Mr FV wants to recommend the book I got for him from EAA - "GA Airfoils - A Catalog of Airfoils for General Aviation Use" by Harry Riblett (sixth edition 1996). Some wives get their husbands socks and undies. I joined EAA and get him interesting books I want to read ... He thinks it's the bees knees with regard to wing design. Look forward to seeing the Bex Special flying. Sue

I offered to digitise the RAA mags to go on to the website. I could look through what I have rounded up to see if there are any that I am missing from that era. Our problem is that they are spread over 3 or 5 geographic locations and lots of places within them. I volunteered to start this project as my other project was 90% done, then they found the other 80% and then I got involved in yet another indexing project...... Its like building a plane ..... I still have some problems getting the scanner to talk to the scanning software, but ONE DAY I will get it there. The scanning is then the easy part. If I was closer I could take some bits off your hands. Sue

My father flew a Cessna. As a kid I got to sit up front and fly everything but landings and radio. My father had strict ideas about what women were allowed to do, and although he let me do things he thought women shouldn't be doing, it was OK provided I didn't draw attention by admitting, or worse still, getting the licence. 1991 he died and I had to "get the licence". I asked my mother about Dad's log book but she couldn't remember one. Dad was not one for going to a doctor either. Later when I was having trouble with my medical (someone wanted me to comply with ATPL standard although I was PPL ... long 7 month story) when I rang I asked if my father had a medical - no trace of him - so I assume he never bothered with the licence either. Have been flying my current plane since 1995. I did my AUF conversion on a Lightwing at Barcaldine (now owned by Keith Page). Mr FV - his father learnt to fly in a Gypsy Moth at Maryborough Qld before he got married. He told stories of flying to Sydney and meeting Charles Kingsford-Smith. He ran out of money, went farm labouring and married the neighbour's daughter and had 7 children in 10 years which put paid to any more flying. Mr FV (the eldest son) started in model aircraft and learnt to fly early ultralights (Scout, Thruster) and built others - Karasport, RANS and flew many others. His children don't fly. He also flew the same Lightwing I did my conversion in, at Gympie. I married him late in life when his children were middle aged. We still fly and hope to for years yet. Sue

We have covers for the RANS - the wings, rear fuse & tail are simple edged rectangles made by an upholsterer; the windscreen and sides were made by Punkinhead (by far the better cover). The Punkinhead cover has a soft inner layer that won't scratch the plexi-glass, toggle drawstrings to pull it tight, velcro, straps and clips to hold it in place. By far the better thought out solution. The upholsterer's fabric is covered in dirt (even though it is always in a hangar) but can't be washed out (I tried), yet the Punkinhead material seems to repel the same muck. Came with a small carry bag for trips away. Highly recommended.

Trackley - I had to look twice as that is so close to my brother's on-line name (just missing one letter). Are you at Emerald Qld or Vic? Have you got the Pilot Certificate? Any preferences in planes? Enjoy the site! Sue Springsure Q

You can fly as part of another career. Consider flying as a form of transport for your profession / trade which can be tax deductible. Flying vet, IT specialist, flying piano tuner (I knew him - he would fly into properties and remote towns - tune pianos - fly on to the next). Transport for yourself is not "commercial" so you don't need anything other than a Private or Recreational Licence / Certificate. Works like using a private car for work transport - keep log books and apportion use and expenses between work and private.

ABC news http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-23/world-war-1-planes-put-on-a-show-at-caboolture-airport/7352984?section=qld Replica war planes and Australian aviators feature at Caboolture air show

Hi Andy, We have a house in Springsure. The sad looking C152 that used to be at the airport was one of ours. Which direction are you from Springsure? Always happy to see action at the strip. Welcome to the forum. Sue

More on this story today Pilot who ditched ultra light plane in Bass Strait denies flying recklessly http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-12/pilot-who-ditched-in-bass-strait-denies-flying-recklessly/7319480 The pilot of an ultra-light plane that ditched in Bass Strait in 2013 has denied flying recklessly and endangering his passenger. Shayd Hector of Tingira Heights in New South Wales pleaded not guilty in the magistrates court in Launceston to the reckless operation of an aircraft, flying without a licence and piloting an aircraft after having consumed alcohol within eight hours before departure. The offences are alleged to have taken place near Bridport on October 28, 2013, endangering the life of Hector's passenger, Joel Nelson. The pair were rescued from the ocean near Waterhouse Island off the coast of north-east Tasmania that afternoon after their ultra-light plane crashed into the sea. They told the media at the time that engine trouble forced them to ditch the plane and they survived in the ocean for two hours by clinging to an inflatable mattress. Hector was not in court and entered the pleas through his lawyer. He was ordered to return to court on the June 17. (Note the Jabiru photo next to the engine failure story ....)

Will be a short term anyway - the position is up for re-election before the AGM (when Maj Millard's term would have expired). To explain - the Nth Qld rep was elected for a two year term, when the incumbent died it triggered a casual vacancy - more than one nominated, so a "by-election" for a replacement is currently underway. The delay is due to nominations, then the postal voting system. The person elected will be a board member until his term finishes at the AGM in October this year. Nth Qld is north of a line that runs through Moranbah, so includes Weipa, Mt.Isa, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns, Torres Strait Islands.

Keith - have a look at Frank's post #4 - the election does not close until 4 May. Have to wait .... or get a crystal ball. Sue

Ross often took the Lockheed to the Birdsville Races. I have been in VH-ABH. The cockpit is all original with the exception of some GPS kit and necessary bits to allow it to continue flying, mostly tucked away. Rolleston is the next town to Springsure.

Here's the history of the Lockheed Electra now VH-ABH http://www.adastron.com/lockheed/electra/vh-abh.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-07/ross-smith-aeroplane-collector/7307752?section=qld An impressive collection of aeroplanes sits locked in a hangar beside an airstrip in the remote outback town of Rolleston, three and a half hours drive south-west of Rockhampton. With World War II training aircraft and the first all-metal plane to ever fly into Australia, this unique garage is filled with history. Proud owner Ross Smith said his passion for planes had been inspired by his father, who was in the Royal Air Force. After being taken for his first ride at 16 years old, he said he had never looked back. "The following weekend I was at Bundaberg learning to fly," Mr Smith said. His interest in restoring old planes came later, when he bought his first Tiger Moth in about 1986. "I thought I'd love to have a Tiger Moth and I went looking for one, and finally found one in pieces in Victoria and started restoring it," he said. "And it just sort of grew from that." Ross has a number of planes including a 1947 Tiger Moth and a 1941 Boeing Stearman Kaydet & Lockheed Electra Junior. See the article for photos and more.

The article doesn't mention a change of livery or Townsville, but briefly covers Woc's experience and career (including a tangent into motor cycles & antique Jags), planes he has flown and features his business, Antique Airways and joy flights from Redcliffe. It is mostly photos of the plane and scenery. I could scan it if you are interested. Sue

There's a 3 page article on VH-BJE in the AOPA magazine "Australian Pilot" (Feb-March 2016) p.24-26 "Woc's Flying Lifestyle". He has owned the plane 40 years and in 1996 started joy flights. Sad to see it down with a rash. Being a LAME Woc will be able to nurse her back to health.