FlyingVizsla

A sad outcome for all concerned. A few things we will never know, regrets, "what-ifs", "could we have done more? and guilt. Neat boxes called "Pilot Error" and "flight into IMC" "not licenced for IFR" when there were other variables that may have contributed in some small way to a catastrophic outcome. The ATSB said incapacitation was unlikely as his wife was an experienced pilot and capable of taking over. They say the autopilot disconnected (the flight was stable till shortly before the accident) and became a roller coaster ride. Regardless, a family has lost their parents, grandparents, the aviation family have lost a couple of experienced pilots and friends. Learn what we can; don't rely on the Auto Pilot and avoid IMC.

The ATSB report noted that he flew this route many times, usually fortnightly, although he sometimes went coastal. He mentioned he was entering cloud and had done that before, relying on Autopilot, but this disconnected. Whether that was by accident (a 2 second audio alert would sound) or by exceeding parameters eg speed. It may have been inattention after disconnection and / or disorientation in IMC. I surmise that he was probably distracted by the beeping and was too engrossed in looking for the cause or how to re-engage the Auto pilot and was too slow transitioning from reliance on automation to flying on instruments. After clearing the mountain, he swung around and hit it. A sad outcome for a couple of experienced aviators.

The ATSB final report is out. The ABC news summarises it - loss of control on flight into IMC. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-02/mackay-light-plane-fatality-caused-by-pilot-error/104424164 https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2024/report/ao-2023-052

Was mentioned on this site ...

There is only one option - to vote for - and to vote for three. Three vacancies, three candidates. I think I tried to only vote for two, but it said "incomplete" - can't remember precisely what words etc. So; voted for three.

ABC - witness reported a loud bang, seeing a parachute and ball of flames. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-13/redesdale-bendigo-plane-crash-vic-police/104348794

I was right - "Under the constitution, a ballot is still required." I hope someone doe a re-write on the Constitution to save members' money. I got my electronic voting email today.

Note that access to the Candidate Statements is only available by clicking the link above [Member Portal]. If you just log in to RAAus and go to Governance, 2024 Board Nomination .. you won't find anything. I am just wondering if someone has had a close look at their Constitution and realised the wording isn't very good and an election has to be held regardless of the number of nominations being equal to the number of vacancies. It seems a waste of time and resources. 5th September (tomorrow) as start date - a bit rushed?

Strange turn of events - three vacancies, three applications - usually they are "elected unopposed" but there's an election? Two are current Board Members. 2024 Board Election Notice Recreational Aviation Australia Limited has received three valid nominations for the 2024 Board Election, where three Director positions are available. The three candidates are Luke Bayly, Jennifer Laird, and Simon Ozanne. Candidate statements can be found on the Member Portal. The election will take place from Thursday 5 September until Thursday 3 October 2024 using Vero Voting’s electronic voting platform. All financial members will be sent unique login details by email from Vero Voting prior to the election so they can participate. Please check your junk mail if you do not receive an email.

The Quorn races are on this Sat - 17th August 2024. That's why the marquees are due to arrive and people were working out there, and the beer will flow in a temporary bar. No doubt we will hear more on this one. A beat up? Or a genuine engine failure, mishandling.

Low flying gyrocopter hits vehicle and roof, post impact fire, pilot seriously injured. Gyrocopter crashes into Quorn Racing Club in South Australia's Mid North, narrowly missing workers - ABC News WWW.ABC.NET.AU A light aircraft has crashed into a racecourse bar at Quorn in South Australia's Mid North, seriously injuring the pilot who was pulled out of...

Yes, it is too late. 3 positions available, and they closed 15 July. Applications open in June, so get organised in May. Elections usually in August (unless uncontested), results in November, start at the February AGM.

Will be interesting to see what it goes for. Buyer's premium is 25%!! plus GST! So if it goes for $10k you'll have to get another $2,750 out of your pocket. It says unairworthy, but not why, apart from the engine out of time and hours and the rego lapsed. There's a very early one still flying at Childers.

This information comes from https://odin.tradoc.army.mil/DATE/40c800771ac43b56f79591c715cf165c "By convention, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +0) (ZULU) is used at the pole itself, although some polar expeditions use whichever time zone is convenient, such as the time zone of the country from which they departed. Donovia's Arctic regions span seven time zones; Greenland and Canada's Arctic regions each span four. Arctic daylight hours are also exaggerated compared to lower latitudes. The vast majority of the Arctic population is concentrated in time zones GMT +1 (ALFA), GMT +2 (BRAVO), and GMT+3 (CHARLIE)." So you can understand when people say "it depends", the time zone is often set by the person/country, regardless of "Convention" My father spent 3 years in Antarctica in the 1960's when communication with the mainland was by coded Morse code (we had a code book to write messages for him once a month). Time for the Expeditioners meant nothing, unless you were the Weather Observers, work went on regardless of the official time, which I remember him saying was Tasmanian time, being the ANARE head quarters. No one was flying there.

I was talking with a guy who has an early Skyfox, who said he has built about 5, including one configured to carry a gazelle. He has also done some modification to winch, tool boxes, ramps etc. He says he has just about got it right. I have some photos from 2016, that's how I got on to him. He has plans, but I am not sure if they are official Skyfox or how detailed they are. If you want to PM me I can give you his phone number.

This is the latest media report that I remember - 31st Jan 2024. Amelia Earhart's long-lost plane may have been found, says underwater exploration company Deep Sea Vision - ABC News WWW.ABC.NET.AU After countless searches for Amelia Earhart's plane, Deep Sea Vision's sonar images may be the latest clue for solving the decades-old...

RAAus has released the following: Serious Accident Linked to Service Bulletin Completion In April 2024, RAAus was notified of an accident where an aircraft deployed a ballistic recovery parachute in flight and landed safely with only minor injuries, however the aircraft was destroyed. Initial details obtained by RAAus indicated that the aircraft had experienced an in-flight failure of the vertical stabiliser and a subsequent loss of controlled flight occurred prior to the parachute being deployed. As a result of this information RAAus imposed a temporary suspension of other aircraft of the same type and deployed a staff member to conduct a review of the wreckage. Evidence obtained as part of the review of the accident was provided to the aircraft manufacturer who determined that the likely cause of the failure was as a result of not completing a service bulletin which required checking of stabiliser connection pins. This likely resulted in excess movement in the horizontal stabiliser which resulted in excessive stress on the aircraft vertical stabiliser connection points. Aircraft owners are reminded of the critical importance of conducting service bulletins and ensuring that manufacturer resources are checked regularly for the release of new bulletins. Owners of Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) are reminded of the importance of ensuring that the aircraft manufacturer maintains your contact information as they are responsible for the ongoing airworthiness of the aircraft.

The Coroner's report has been released in the interests of safety. https://www.coronerscourt.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/804230/11752244-Template-49-Non-inquest-findings-public-interest-matter.pdf

22-year-old man dies and another is seriously injured after two separate light plane crashes in one day in the state's far north - ABC News WWW.ABC.NET.AU Police have confirmed that a 22-year-old man has died in a light plane crash in South Australia's far north. The man was the pilot and sole...

I had a look at the Angel Flight website to see where the "vision jet" would fit in their scheme. Their core business is fielding requests from medical practitioners for transport for patients, calling for volunteers from their panel of pilots and matching the two. The pilot receives some money towards fuel. Angel Flight are also talking about FIFOing medical staff in remote locations and flying medical/health students on remote placements. That makes some sense to have (or hire) a larger plane to do shift changes on a regular basis, but is that really what the public expect? I would say that the various State Health Depts should be funding travel for medical professionals to staff their facilities. I can understand helping students on unpaid remote work experience placements, hoping they will move there permanently. It is a complex topic. Their fund raising goes towards fuel subsidies, tickets on commercial flights (if an Angel Flight can't go) and paying their 6 staff and overheads. I suspect someone floated the idea that a "jet" would be a great idea and he would happily fly it .... 😏

I wonder why Angel Flight needs a "vision Jet"? Surely if they have that many passengers and a jet capable airport, they would be serviced by RPT or charter. The concept of Angel Flight fits best for rural and remote locations where it is many hours by car to get to appointments. Even if they could be flown to an airport with RPT it would make life easier. Then I read stories of people getting a lift from a town with RPTs direct to the capital. I guess the patient didn't qualify for an airfare under the State's Patient Transit scheme and Angel Flight is free. I fear Angel Flight is trying to become an expensive medical transport which will need massive fund raising and Govt subsidy. They will have to maintain and crew the "jet" - all the costs of running a mini airline. I hope they did a business case for it.

I checked mine - Nil for Feb 2019 They did stop printing and went digital. I have a gap, and the next edition (Aug 2019) had a statement saying the Board had decided to do a printed copy for every member again. From memory, they went to a subscription model, but few took it up and it was uneconomical to print so few. Then digital, then back to everyone getting a magazine, but no longer monthly - about 3 a year. Sorry

SOLD, Awaiting pick up.

This book is available through Clear Prop (see Our Shop on side panel) on this site. Finding Carla - it is a gripping true story of a family who crashed in 1967 after entering icing conditions over mountains. From the pilot's perspective it is a warning not to blindly accept advice from others, although he seems to have done everything else right as possible (except leave the survival box behind to pack more holiday gear!). Plenty of lessons for pilots. The incredibly sad part is that, despite their injuries, they survived for 8 weeks and finally starved and froze to death waiting for rescue. They spent their time writing a diary, letters, lists etc. The outcome of the accident was an improvement in search & rescue and the US govt finally mandated the carrying of ELT. Tests revealed that, had they been carrying one, the wreck would have been located in 1.5 hours, not 6 months and hundreds of flying hours by many planes. The pilot had tried to walk out to get help and it was 2 years before his body was found. A very gripping human story, with plenty to learn about flying, decision making & survival. Written by a pilot with experience on type, with the family, including the son, an experienced search & rescue pilot who never gave up flying, hiking, and searching for his father. Recommended reading!