FlyingVizsla

66yo man charged with manslaughter over plane crash on Ball Bay beach 66yo man charged with manslaughter over plane crash on Ball Bay beach - ABC News A 66-year-old man has been charged more than a year after his light plane crashed on a North Queensland beach and killed his 83-year-old passenger. The crash occurred on Christmas Eve 2021, shortly after the plane took off for a private leisure flight around nearby islands from the Ball Bay airstrip. The two-seater plane made an emergency landing and crashed on Ball Bay beach. Ball Bay is a tiny coastal town located 35 kilometres north of Mackay. The passenger, from Kuttabul, died at the scene, while the pilot, a man from Halliday was discharged from hospital later that day. The pilot is due to face court today in Mackay charged with one count of manslaughter, as well as flying an aircraft without a licence, and failing to carry out maintenance and satisfy safety requirements. Yesterday, Mackay Detectives and the Civil Aviation Authority executed a search warrant at a Halliday Bay residence and finalised their 14-month investigation. More to come.

An update: Emergency services have rescued a man who was trapped following a plane crash in the Buckland Valley, in Victoria's north-east. Police said the plane took off from Porepunkah airstrip about 4:40am before crashing into trees. Emergency services were not called until just after 11am when the Canberra rescue coordination centre noticed a plane had not checked in and raised the alarm.

Pilot rescued after being trapped in plane crash in Mount Buffalo area Pilot rescued after being trapped in plane crash in Mount Buffalo area - ABC News Emergency services have rescued a man who was trapped following a plane crash in the Mount Buffalo area in Victoria's north-east. Police said it was understood that the plane took off from Porepunkah about 4.40am before crashing into trees. They said the male pilot, believed to be the sole occupant, was being treated at the scene. Ambulance Victoria said its crews were called to reports of the accident just after 11am, with paramedics on the scene assessing the man. "A man believed to be in his 50s is stable with upper and lower body injuries and will be airlifted to hospital," a spokesperson said.

We do the 75yr + Qld licence. We combine the annual eye examination with this one - I think Medicare only pay for one consultation a year. At the same time do the Commercial truck standard (if you want to) which involves peripheral vision test - as the optometrist said, its proof you are not a blind tunnel vision oldie causing accidents. The Doc is happy because he doesn't have to get his receptionist to line you up in the passageway and set up the chart and walk back and forth getting you to read with each eye while the patients line up at the desk. Optometrist is no charge, but if new glasses are needed then we pay for them. Doc adds $30 for receptionist to do eye test, but bulk bills licence, unless it is Commercial Truck ($100 for tests + $110 appointment) and you MUST see an optometrist first. Think of it as a birthday present - Optometrist, glasses, doctor, Dept of Transport. In Qld our licences renew on your birthday.

Can't find a news report that isn't behind a paywall. What was conveyed to me third hand - one of our Club members had an undercarriage collapse on landing in his ultralight - other members were there to assist - he was taken to hospital. I can't add much more than that.

In the 1990's there was a product available - a thin band of foam that slid over the arm of the glasses that had tapered sides to form a seal between headset foam seal and skin/glasses. The headset gel seals are much better at conforming, so I have not needed them for years. The product was very simple, but expensive for what it was, simply because of the small market.

Bogged airplane recovery at Rockhampton airport continues five days after sinking in soft ground - ABC News A Qantas spokesperson said flight QF1798, travelling into Rockhampton from Brisbane, landed normally on Monday night. But while taxiing at low speed to the parking bay the pilot "inadvertently guided the aircraft across soft ground and became stuck just before the terminal", the spokesperson said.

Ralph, When the book comes out, I would like to buy one. Sue

From the ABC Patients being assessed after light plane crash at Ball Bay, north of Mackay - ABC News Emergency services are at the scene of a light plane crash on a beach in North Queensland. The Queensland Ambulance Service says the incident happened at about eight o'clock this morning at Ball Bay, north of Mackay. Two patients were being assessed but information about their conditions is not yet available.

I hope I wasn't too much of an influence! There were 1,226 voters who cast 2,138 votes (you could vote for two candidates), which means 314 members voted for only one candidate. Rod Birrell failed by only 15 votes (about 1.2%) While I can't get into the mind of the voting members, it sometimes happens that the mediocre one gets up, simply because the other candidates elicit strong feelings eg "Wouldn't vote for him in a fit", and "He's my top pick" then people have to choose the other candidate(s) ... someone who doesn't rock the boat and isn't notorious one way or the other. I have seen it time and again in Council elections where a guy who contributes nothing, says nothing in Council, somehow gets the most votes. Not saying this is the case, but maybe The Devil You Don't Know may be at play, or Simon has garnered a larger support base this year. Hopefully he will contribute. The whole Board will be retiring over the next few years as the Constitution limits their Terms. We need new people in earlier rather than later, for continuity. It is a job, that done properly, will consume much of your time and energy.

Election results are out - Simon and Luke got up. Rod Birrell fell short by a few votes to Luke. Simon got the clear majority. More voted in the new on-line system than the old Reply-Paid mail in. There were no Informal votes - probably because you had to provide a valid membership and you were unable to vote after the closing date. Look forward to seeing what Simon can contribute. This is Luke's last term.

All candidates are required to disclose any financial interest in aviation on their election statement. I would expect candidates to have some "skin in the game" and as RAA members they should have some aviation experience. I would be suspicious of someone who does not fly wanting to be a Director, also someone who is, say, the Largest Importer of Ultralights might try to use his influence. But at the end of the day they are one voice in 7. The Board need to know a lot about running a business. setting policy and negotiating with Govts.

I did comment on a previous election, on the independent report on the Board, which showed 3 Directors were uncooperative or under performing. I had hoped that they may have changed their attitudes. Rod was one. Back in the days when there were 13, several were passengers, only there for their own benefit. I have been copying and digitising the early AUF magazines and it is appalling that meeting reports mentioned Board members who arrived with their meeting material, sent a month ahead to allow consultation with their State members, was still unopened when they arrived in Canberra and hours were wasted while they read it. Most were CFIs of their own schools and were looking after their own interests. RAAus Board Election 2019 - Page 3 - Governing Bodies - Recreational Flying Part of the report said ... .. struggle to engage several members as they do not respond to emails, return phone calls and so forth. Alan Middleton often criticises the engagement of board members but fails to return calls and takes an aggressive tone in email (on one occasion I called him 4 times in relation to some out of session matters with no reply). Rod Birrell and Eugene Reid are similar. I wasn't greatly impressed with Simon. He has had a year to get immersed in RAA, but seemed to not have much of a grasp of the issues. Luke is good value.

RAA Board Election is open for voting. A change from previous years - the Election Statements are on line (not in the magazine) and you will be voting on line too. I watched the "meet the candidates" live stream, where only two participated. Luke Bayly (a current Board Member) and Simon Ozanne (who unsuccessfully stood last time). Rod Birrell "did not respond" whatever that meant. There are two seats up for grabs. You can watch it on YouTube or Facebook. Members should have received an email from Verovoting. Those without an email will get something in the mail. The election opened 1st Sept and closes 28th Sept. The Constitution limits terms to 3, so there will be a number of current Board Members who will not be able to stand again. If elected, it will be Luke's last term. Same with Eugene and other long term Board members. Consider carefully, and vote.

So sorry to hear this Doug. I have followed your posts for years with wonder and interest. All the best for the future. 🙂 Sue

Isis Flying Club tried Chillie Spray on the grassed runway. The idea is the roos don't like the taste and move elsewhere, and remember it as peppery and yucky. Initially it has worked OK. Has rained since, but still seems effective. Will ask again in a month.

Our Punkin Head cover taken Feb 2008. The covers on the wings were made by an upholsterer. 2021 and they are brown with all the dust & muck in the hangar, but the Punkin Head cover is still looking good and clean. Highly recommended. This was the honeymoon - we spent it in the hangar.

My old password didn't work, I had to do my proof of identity all over again. Nothing went automatically, so sent scans as requested, then get a message saying there was a problem with my POI. It took ages for me to realise that meant Proof Of Identity. Doing it all again over a slow satellite connection...... Darn.

Any one else get one of these? It does not say GA or RAA. I already have an ARN, but I ended up having to go through the whole "Prove who you are" process with birth, marriage certificates, none of which processed automatically. Then the process was finished and I have to wait for the Aircraft Registration bit to go live.

I know the plane and pilot. He's out of hospital. Very experienced, always practicing forced landings and circuits etc. I'll let him tell the story.

I know of plenty of unfinished aircraft builds for sale - if anyone would take them. A lot are going to be more trouble to get flying than if you got something new. Then there are the post accident rebuilds - know a few of them. Getting them back on the Register GA or RAA is going to be a bridge too far for most people, unless you have lots of time & money. Engines are going to be a problem - out of time, rusted up, no parts.

First thing - see your local Council. Find out what is allowed under the Town Plan (airstrip, minimum subdivision, number of sheds etc). Then decide what you want to do. To ask for something more than allowed, you will have to mount a case which will include Planners, application fees, studies etc = money! Assuming you already have an approved airstrip on freehold land - you can go two ways. 1. subdivide airside land into house / hangar lots and sell the freehold. 2. Lease areas of land - you could build hangars and lease these or lease the land and let someone build (but you may have to carry the Council Building Approval process). My experience is that if the land is large enough to have an airstrip it is probably zoned Rural and not able to be subdivided below a certain size (200ha in our shire). It might be worth sending Blackhawk a PM as he was involved in a Development Application to a Qld Council for an Airpark. One lesson from that was to do your homework, because even when it was approved, there were no buyers, so the owner didn't proceed with the works and the DA lapsed. Probably simpler to apply to Council (if you have to) to build a few hangars and rent to users. You retain ownership of the land, can remove trouble makers, can adjust rent to suit etc. Make sure the airstrip and hangars comply with CAAP 92(1)(1) - that is width, distance from centreline etc. This is your insurance - if there is an accident on your private strip and someone wants to sue, the best defence is that it complies with the CASA safety standard. You will also need Public Liability Insurance and should insist that occupiers carry their own insurance (yours won't cover gear owned by them). You may be in the gun for any complaints about flying by them, people ringing the Airservices complaints line or Council, and that may end in restrictions on movements or changed circuit procedures. We've got a bloke with a noisy aircraft practicing for STOL competitions who has been moved on from 3 other airstrips and has now chosen to annoy our neighbours with very early morning low level constant movements. Think about how you will manage that. Our Flying Club is on leased land, but there are restrictive conditions due to the ownership of the land (State Reserve - no residing, no commercial use etc). All buildings have to be approved by the Council, hangar owners pay a one-off fee to the Club for clearing & forming the Taxiway (Council only allow "as required" clearing) and pay an annual fee to cover Public Liability Insurance, maintenance. Owners don't have any rights to an area of land, but agree to keep the area around their hangar tidy. The agreement was tightened due to a couple of members not playing the game - so there is now a clause that if an owner breaches the lease conditions (after warnings etc) that the Club can take ownership of the hangar. In hindsight, the Club should have put these conditions in from the beginning, it would have saved 10 years of on-going grief. The Council's lease runs for 20 years and can be terminated by the giving of notice by either party, with 28 days to remove all improvements. That's a start. If you can be more specific, we can give better experience.