FlyingVizsla

I guess what you are really asking is "how long can a RAA aircraft last with minimal maintenance?" Any aircraft can last indefinitely under the "My Grandfather's Axe" principal (It's my grandfather's axe, we replaced the handle 5 times and the head twice - ie there's nothing of the original left). As the owners of a number of aging recreational aircraft we have battled with the constant need to "maintain" them. Fabric needs renewing, cables, fuel lines, rods, tyres, etc all need replacing. These things sneak up on you with RAA and often left to your judgement. One day you look at it and decide to take it out of commission pending major work - it costs a lot in time and money. The temptation is to keep pushing your luck and keep flying it. Our Wheeler Scout is in a shed waiting for wing recovering, the turbulent is likewise sitting because the glued joints are suspect, the Karasport is due for a rerigging, we've just finished replacing all the fuel & static lines in the RANS. Engines & props wear out. Occasionally someone breaks them. Or it floats away in a flood.

 

GA has maintenance schedules, so when the engine is at its hours it has to be (expensively) rebuilt. I knew people who bought GA aircraft and ran them until the engine ran out of time, then had to sell cheap because they could not afford the rebuild and the buyer had to run the risk the engine would not come up to spec.

 

Owning an aircraft is a lot of peaks and troughs, if you want to hold on to the one aircraft for years. It may be better to buy new, sell after a (couple?) of years while it is still looking good and not due for major work and buy another new / near new and keep cycling through that way. I am looking at one of the troughs now - the C152 is due a paint job - that means new fibreglass tips, cuffs, plastic interiors, some skin work, renew anthing that looks sad - the paint is the cheap part.

 

Sue

 

 

The ABC news has added the following:-

 

The biplane crashed upside down into bushland near Table Top Mountain ... One person managed to free themselves from the wreckage and has minor injuries, but the other is still trapped and has a head injury. A Careflight helicopter is at the scene checking on the passengers, and firefighters are approaching the crash site on foot.

 

 

Two Irish friends leave the pub. One says to other, 'I can't be bothered to walk all the way home.'

 

'I know, me too but we've no money for a cab and we've missed the last bus home.'

 

'We could steal a bus from the depot.' replies his mate..

 

They arrive at the bus depot and one goes in to get a bus while the other keeps a look-out.

 

After shuffling around for ages, the lookout shouts, 'What are y' doing? Have ye not found one yet?'

 

'I can't find a No. 91'

 

'Oh fer' golly's sake, ye tick sod, take the No. 14 and we'll walk from the roundabout!"

 

 

The poor SES guys cop some flack too - quite undeservedly too. The Disaster committee (usually headed by the Council/Mayor) determines when and if they can use their flood boat. They cop it when one council decides it doesn't fit the guidelines (emergency) or it is too dangerous but the adjoining council decides to let them do it. People get rather annoyed when they can see Nivarna on the other side, the boat's there, but the Orange Uniforms say they are not allowed to launch. We just went through that with Blackall/Tambo using their boat to get ordinary supplies and people across, but Longreach would only do emergency (eg life/death, medical etc). Tourists and carrots just had to wait for the water to go down. Same thing had happened with local roads where one council closed their end, but the other council left theirs open = One Way traffic. Now it is a police decision so offenders can be prosecuted - A Brisbane motorist got swept off and bogged trying to go through the Road Closed sign just out of Springsure, a local dragged him out and took him to town where the cops fined him (he 'fessed up).

 

I've done my stint on Disaster committees. You always wonder if it will work in reality, and hope you never have to find out. After the floods in Winton, I flew out a young graduate engineer to inspect roads to see if we could let traffic through. Some really irate truckies with perishables, perishing by the hour, miles from home, some stood down by their companies on no pay, seeing their bonuses disapearing Vs a handful of SES volunteers keeping the peace, when they could have been running their businesses etc. My hat goes off to them and the other volunteers who leave their own places and help save yours.

 

Regards donations - the people who have been through floods prefer to give to smaller "people to people" organisations rather than the Govt appeal. It gets to the people faster - I'm thinking of the local church, local Sallies, the Lions, etc. Our experience of Govt funds is that it takes at least a year for it to get anywhere near handing out to people, and it may well disappear into rebuilding schools, roads etc. Right now is when people need funds. Emerald is cleaning up - before you can use power or gas it has to be inspected by a qualified person (in short supply!). All portable electrical appliances are to be dumped. There has been incidences of rent hikes for undamaged houses - a friend's went from $480 to $900 and they and the agent are disputing that. One agency is saying they will refuse to handle unreasonable rent hikes and people demanding and extra $100k on sales and generally trying to graft on people's misery. As my husband is wont to say "Line 'em up and Shoot 'em!" More anguish to come.

 

Sue

 

 

there is an illogical sense of guilt sitting in my comfortable house, which is not under threat and watching this disaster unfold via TV and internet. I find it incredible to see an organisation like the SES swing into action, so quickly and effectively.

Same here - we all react differently - I have been headhunted by a recruitment firm already to do engineering / flood recovery work which I didn't really want - so I went to the "local" consulting engineers and offered my services - feeling guilty I suppose - although I've got the T-shirt "I shovelled mud in the Charleville Flood" Strange how we never thought it would happen again - now we have "hundreds" of "Charleville Floods". My better half has just turned off and won't watch any flood related news - his way of coping.

 

Qld is well organised - every Council has a Disaster Management Plan which goes into action as soon as a disaster is declared. Police etc suddenly have increased powers, there's an authority structure - notice how the spokesman is the Mayor in every area. Co-ordination centres are not just thrown together, they were planned, often with extra phone & data lines, security, above flood level etc. It all swings into action as soon as the flag drops. I take my hat off to the SES guys - they are all volunteers - they work alongside paid fireys, ambos, police and public servants and cop just as much flack. Amalgamating Councils just made their job harder - the area is much larger. My Council has been advertising for an SES co-ordinator to look after about 18 towns/units over 60,000km2 working full time delivering training and making sure everyone comes up to scratch, writing plans, manuals etc etc - FOR NO MONEY. It's an honourary full time position. Any takers?

 

The only inconvenience we have experienced is the butcher shop running out of meat for a week and the shop running out of fruit & veg, bread & SR Flour - we have lived on egg & bacon pie, fish & chook with frozen veg. There was no panic buying, just the usual supplies got commandeered by the larger town so we were a week or two behind where we would normally have been. We still have Avgas in drums.

 

Sue

 

President

 

Springsure Progress & Tourism Assoc Inc

 

Move to Flood Free Springsure! Never get flooded again!

 

Houses to rent/buy - cheap! Friendly country town

 

Business opportunites! - 2 coal mines close looking for staff

 

Wanted - hairdresser, staff for supermarket, no unemployment here.

 

(I just can't help myself ..... )

 

 

Marilyn Anderson, QLD President of AWPA (Australian Women Pilots' Association) is trying to find out if any AWPA members are affected by floods, and if any help or assistance can be provided to them.

 

If you know of any women pilots in need - in any way - PM me and I can pass on requests - or assurances that all is OK, to Marilyn. Alteratively you may wish to contact her yourself. PM me or check AirNews for contact details.

 

Sue

 

AWPA member

 

Flood free Springsure

 

 

Pay?? What pay? Just kidding! The instructors I know are all single operators, most operating under a club. They do it for a small fee as the club insures and maintains the aircraft and school, the instructor gets maybe $20. Could be a different story at larger schools with a good through put and possibly aircraft for hire too.

 

There is an award for GA pilots which includes instructors:-

 

http://www.fwa.gov.au/consolidated_awards/AP/AP792332/asframe.html

 

There are other awards for airlines, choppers etc. Most of the GA instructors I knew were "contractors" - got paid by the hour flown and expected to answer phones, wash planes, tutor students etc for free.

 

Sue

 

 

I recycled my old WACs etc in the flying school. Students could work on flight planning, drawing all over them, folding, fiddling, without ruining the current ones. The instructor provided current charts etc until they decided they were going to continue and got their own. Also was good for parents, girlfriends etc to give the current ones as a gift at some point - birthday, solo, etc. It bought them a bit of time to find out what and where to get them, when they realised what fun / how serious they were.

 

AUF school / Club I was involved with had out of date charts on the wall, but the school inspection wasn't impressed. Another school who kept up to date charts on the off chance of a charter and used the GPS etc rather than unfold and mark one - their bored secretary / Gr III in waiting, turned them into envelopes - most with map inside, some with map outside and address on label. Looked quite neat and was a real talking point (but expensive envelope).

 

Then again, you could make origami aircraft ... Many uses.

 

Sue

 

 

Do you mean the cellosheen coated WACs that Airservices no longer supply? Might be why they no longer supply - someone pointed out how dangerous they were in a cockpit fire.

 

Sue

 

 

Aircraft Spruce have a wide range of decals - placards http://www.aircraftspruce.com. The passenger warning signs are for the USA LSA's though. Check the RAA for their wording.

 

Sue

 

 

ABC news story here http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/10/3109582.htm

 

Sue

 

 

What is the difference between a compass for the Southern hemisphere and one for the Northern Hemisphere?

 

Looking at the Aircraft Spruce catalogue they are listed separately. If there is a difference then it could be an issue for people importing a/c from the States, or buying from the USA.

 

Sue

 

 

His mag arrived today - 6 Jan. Still waiting for mine.

 

Sue

 

 

Hi Latestarter,

 

I was hoping someone else would hop in before me and give you the good oil... Probably the best place to start on what the RAA require and will register is their own website - http://www.raa.asn.au/ You can get up their register to see what types they have already registered.

 

There are also resources on this site too - see Aircraft on the menu and go to Types (I think) and this will give you a list of RAA types (they have different rego categories). Next to think about - build or buy?

 

The Forum here is a great 'worts & all' discussion on the merits of the types. Start a discussion in the appropriate area (eg Engines - to argue 2 or 4 stroke) and you will get plenty of help.

 

Sue

 

 

Still no magazines for us (we get 2 as we are both members). Have checked the PO Box and the letter box. We were cut off from all towns, but now the highway is open all the way to Rockhampton - they get their flood peak today - but no mag for us.

 

Sue

 

 

Emerald flood - float plane

 

Some poor cockie near Emerald has a water logged plane.

 

http://www.cqnews.com.au/photos/galleries/emerald-under-water/#id=emerald-under-water&num=1

 

 

Vaun and Sam Moncur were not injured in the incident and were taken to William Creek east of Coober Pedy about 1:30am (ACDT).

 

The men were flying from Barwon Heads to Coober Pedy when the engine of their Jabiru plane stopped 50 kilometres north of William Creek...

 

ABC news story here:

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/29/3103484.htm

 

 

don't forget the miners, a lot of those open pit mines are all full of water logged equipment...

Won't mention the name of the mine .... last flood they ignored all the advice given by locals, adjoining farms, employees etc and kept working - then too late decided to pull the equipment out, but first had to do a "Safety Assessment" which took 3 hours by which time it was decided it was too dangerous to get most of it out (including refusing contractors permission to move their own stuff). After a few hours the water topped the bank and millions of dollars drowned. They were insured, but several contractors weren't.

 

They have replaced the levy banks they took down before the last flood in 2008 but replaced them with uncompacted dirt. The river is rising fast, and flowing fast and predicted to go well over the 2008 levels. We are waiting with interest to hear how they fared. This is what you get with lots of young engineers who will not listen to anyone. And their idea that everything can happen instantly, not take hours, so they leave it until the last minute to take action. Due to their lack of planning there is no way to get men into and around the mine - the choppers they were relying on have been commandeered by Emergency Services.

 

In our amalgamated Council you would be forgiven for thinking only one town is suffering from floods (where their headquarters are and all the council press releases mention), but several other shire towns are cut off, flooded, evacuated, but we help ourselves. Don't need an evacuation centre and Red Cross volunteers flown in. We take people into our homes and help out where needed. It is unfortunate that people in larger towns feel it is someone else's responsibility to help. Very telling that volunteers had to be "flown in" to help a town of 10,000 set up beds, cook & serve food etc for less than 10% who may want to go to an evacuation centre. I might be biased, bigotted and ignorant of the facts, but I look at it and think "Get up and help yourself - and others".

 

Sue

 

 

No hope of getting ours until next year. Mail comes by road, even during emergencies and we are cut off from the coast, so nothing is coming down the highway and turning left to our town. No mail arrived in town today, none expected Thursday and Friday is a post office holiday.

 

Sue & Alf (reading old copies of Kit Planes)

 

 

Who pays for helicopters? Depending on the scale of the disaster, the split between the State and Federal funding is from 100%, to 25% State / 75% Federal under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA). This is the same fund that covers restoration of Council and Main Roads following widespread rain or flooding. There is a mechanism for declaring a disaster and only then can things be put into place.

 

The local disaster co-ordination centre puts the actions in to place, so a helicopter is not funded unless requested by them. Most of the choppers flying around here are neighbours helping neighbours and not asking anything for it. One of our chopper boys had an accident a few months back, then his house burnt down and the community rallied to help on both occasions. Now he is giving back. Fellow pilot flew someone to Emerald to catch the commercial flight so he would not miss his overseas connection. Would not take a brass razoo for it. Its the way the bush works.

 

Sue

 

 

I'll second that - the exam is based on that book and some scenarios are taken directly from it. It is multi choice. There are also some concepts that are only mentioned in that book eg Which one of the following is an example of "human factors type" system. There are many theories out there and not all make it to a text book, so it is important that you read the one the exam is based on. It is not well written and the exam does not sing the same song as Govt health messages. Somethings are subjective - is food poisoning more of a threat than a condition that can cause unconsciousness? You will see I, and others, have done a rant about it in earlier posts.

 

I would like to see an exam that reinforces good personal fitness to fly rather than remembering obscure names and the author's take on an accident scenario. One hint I can give you - if they pose an accident scenario the cause will be Human Factors - don't try to analyse it (which I find counter productive, no accident is down to one cause).

 

I was hoping that RAA would redo the whole thing. Initially it was to be on-line with promises in the magazine October 2008 that it would be there by the time the mag hit the letterbox. I looked in vain.

 

One thing that did come out of the discussions is that people who did an instructor led class got more out of it than those who read the text. That is they have a better understanding of HF and probably got some strong hints on the exam. Having the whole membership do the exam over 2 years has put some old dogs back to school and not all of them have found the experience beneficial. We have friends who have decided not to do the HF exam which has put them at odds with RAA because you now need it to fly.

 

I was working on some quizzes for this site to cover HF, but I did not base them on the text & exam that RAA uses. Two reasons - one that I didn't want to be the one giving away the answers (and I didn't agree with them all) - two, I wanted to demystify HF and show people that it is life, not jargon.

 

Sue

 

 

Rotary has a flying chapter to which Rotary members can also belong. I had been a Rotary member for years (and Apex before that) but there's no Rotary in Springsure and the only club in Emerald that accepts women as members is a Breakfast (Sunrise) club and I could only do the first 15 mins of a meeting before I had to leave to get back to Springsure for work (hour & half drive for 15 mins!). Did it for a while and gave up. Because I am no longer a Rotary member I can't also belong to the Flying Rotarians as it is not a "Club" but a chapter of a Club. But that said, some of those guys are RAA and may be quite happy to come to a Club meeting to promote flying. Especially if they could fly in....

 

Rotary is always on the look out for "good causes" so why not get a foot in the door to talk about GYFTS or AWPA scholarships, MAF's vital services to remote communities here and overseas and their dire need for pilots and LAME's? It all starts with a kid finding out about flying, and the cheapest, most accessible is RAA, especially as you can start learning and flying younger than GA.

 

Sue

 

 

Hey Dad,

 

The Come And Get It Trophy - hubby & I have talked about snatching it just for the fun of flying. For people who don't know - the AUF now RAA, or more correctly a member, started the CAGIT with the idea that its location is posted on the RAA site and aviators then Come and Get It and move it to a new location, usually their home base and get their name engraved on it. Kind of like a slow moving geocache travel bug.

 

Sue - One day we'll do it.

 

 

Our town (Springsure) is presently cut off from everywhere else but there's no flooding in town (roads closed but no buildings affected). There are choppers coming and going as the next town, Rolleston pop 80 is being evacuated. Husband can't get to work where they are screaming for men to move pumps & equipment to higher ground - there's no airstrip and they were relying on helicopters, but the choppers are all away saving people. Our town airstrips are all on high ground on the edge of towns, and it is dawning on people that they are our lifeline. Now all we have to do is get that concept through to Council bureaucrats who every so often moot the idea of moving the town airstrip "over the river" so the existing strip can be turned into a residential development.

 

On the brighter side it has turned into a great social occasion. Knowing it is going to be weeks before they could get out, farming families (usually mum & kids) have come to town to stay with rellies. There's only one supermarket in town and it closed on Friday evening, not to open again until 8:30am Wed. With so many people coming in they announced they would open (today Tues) at 2pm for 2 hours. The family that ran the shop got there at 9am to find crowds so they put out a sign saying open from Noon, then just could not hold off there were so many people - some needing to get a few weeks provisions because they were going back to the property to be stuck there indefinately and needed to get going ASAP - so they opened at 10am and were doing a roaring trade. People volunteered to stock, serve, help pack & carry (staff in this shop usually pack your goods and then carry out to your car, they will also pick and pack if you provide them with a list - really good country service) and we experienced a queue more than 2 long at the checkout for the first time in the 5 years I have been here. It was a great social occasion. Plenty of planes coming in too with a 1km walk to the shop and any number of volunteers to drive them back up the hill to the strip.

 

The rain stopped overnight with only 15 dry days out of the last 50 but the rivers and creeks are still rising and will do for some time to come. We are so glad we own a plane.

 

Sue

 

 

One day an old German Shepherd starts chasing rabbits and before long,

 

discovers that he's lost. Wandering about, he notices a panther heading

 

rapidly in his direction with the intention of having lunch.

 

The old German Shepherd thinks, "Oh, oh! I'm in deep s*** now!"

 

Noticing some bones on the ground close by, he immediately settles down

 

to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat. Just as the

 

panther is about to leap, the old German Shepherd exclaims loudly,

 

"Boy, that was one delicious panther! I wonder, if there are any more

 

around here?"

 

Hearing this, the young panther halts his attack in mid-strike, a look

 

of terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees.

 

"Whew!," says the panther, "That was close! That old German Shepherd

 

nearly had me!"

 

Meanwhile, a squirrel who had been watching the whole scene from a

 

nearby tree, figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it

 

for protection from the panther. So, off he goes.

 

The squirrel soon catches up with the panther, spills the beans and

 

strikes a deal for himself with the panther.

 

The young panther is furious at being made a fool of and says, "Here,

 

squirrel, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that

 

conniving canine!"

 

Now, the old German Shepherd sees the panther coming with the squirrel

 

on his back and thinks, "What am I going to do now?," but instead of

 

running, the dog sits down with his back to his attackers, pretending

 

he hasn't seen them yet, and just when they get close enough to hear,

 

the old German Shepherd says...

 

"Where's that squirrel? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another

 

panther!"

 

Moral of this story...

 

Don't mess with the old dogs... Age and skill will always overcome

 

youth and treachery!