kaz3g

I felt horrible vertigo and had a queasy feeling in my stomach... no way!

 

kaz

 

 

I did a check flight in an RAAus registered Sportstar at Parafield in 2007 with a flying School based there. Zipped in and out between the military and the very heavy metal without incident and with a great instructor.

 

kaz

 

 

Hi folks

 

It was a long while ago at Gympie but I flew a G109 and really enjoyed it. Yes it is rather GAish as was stated elsewhere but it is also a very stable platform which is why it was used for a long while by the Met Bureau to track weather cells. No doubt that makes it a useful instructing vehicle for those that want to fly with a noise up front/above/behind.

 

It's also nice to read people talking about some of the older sailplanes that are still about, too. I flew and instructed in Blaniks eons ago and even did a Statesman advert in one. Two of us were auto-towed behind the car driven by some young fellow who thought a great deal about himeslf and his ability. That is, until we the pilots got bored after a few shoots and decided to lift just a little bit harder than before.

 

He didn't appreciate his rear wheels suddenly dangling a couple of feet off terra firma at about 45 knots ground speed... it did spin nicely on the gravel :-)

 

I haven't flown any of those later types that people are discussing here but I did survive about 70 hours in a Fournier RF5 without busting it!

 

kaz

 

 

Try these not cheap but they are good, i have a 70lt tank plastic foldable, plumbed in to transferr in flight that give me about 7hrs longer than my bladder can stand :)Nauta - Nauta Flexible Tank Fittings

sits on the seat beside me, and it folds down to nothing after pumping out.

Hi there

 

I'm really interested in the product you have described and wonder what your experience has been in-flight. Is the tank sufficiently sealed to avoid problems of fumes in a closed cockpit?

 

No matter what solid containers I have tried, they all seem to have a propensity to leak vapour and that scares the *&$* out of me.

 

I'm also nervous of the prospect of havng something behind the front seats that might spring a leak.

 

I am also considering having a shaped ss tank manufactured to fit the floor in front of the rear seat because I found an endurance of little more than 3 hours including reserves was not all that reassuring on my last trip around the Centre.

 

My Auster J5D holds 68 litres in the main tank (with guage) and 52 litres (no guage) in the belly tank. I don't mind having to land to do a transfer as long as I have the fuel available.

 

kaz

 

 

Robertson STOL

 

Folks, There were some truly magnificent models of aircraft and some I have not heard of like a Robertson (looks like a Cessna). David

Hi David

 

It sounds like the sort of place I dream about!

 

The "Robertson" probably was a Cessna... Robertson is the name of the STOL modification that turns ordinary Cessna performance into something that resemble true short landing and take-off capability. They were very popular some years ago and there is a number of them about.

 

Cessna also produced their own verson of a STOL aricraft which was the Wren 460 based on a a C182. This had a small front canard and slats and its performance was spectacular... ! I have only seen two of these in Oz.

 

Regards

 

kaz

 

 

Interesting Relfy,And just to reinforce the message...noone is exempt from obtaining airways clearance to operate in CTA...prior to entering

Most weekends the brolly boys take off from Lilydale and climb to 10000 before their victims make the leap of their lives. CTALL is 4500. Often the drop plane goes up through holes in broken cloud... the parachutists may or may not descend through them. The aircraft has CTA clearance, radio and transponder but the parachutists have none of these.

 

Four of five tandem jumpers descending at 150 knots plus with no radio and no transponder! A good reason for having and listening to an appropriately tuned radio when near any drop zone in my view.

 

Recently, the skydiver mob tried to obtain approval to do drops onto Elwood Beach which is in the middle of the coastal VFR Route carrying very heavy VFR traffick in and out of Moorabbin. Commonsense prevailed but they are now advertising jumps into Royal Park on the periphery of Melbourne's CBD which is CTA from ground up.

 

kaz

 

 

Every TW landing is an adventure for me, Dick... some more than others!

 

I don't know which gets my adrenalin going more -- the touch and go when the gyroscopic effect tries to take over as the throttle is opened again (especially when that swing is also down wind), or the end of the dance in a cross-wind when the last few toe-tapping moves of the roll out need to be so carefully executed.

 

Cheers

 

kaz

 

 

David Isaac said: Be encouraged Maynard, there is nothing quite like a tail-wheel aircraft to keep you on your toes (literally) and to teach you proper hold off technique (for three pointers).

 

Hi Maynard

 

Stick with it and you will refine your skills a heap. I thought 300 hours in gliders and TW motor gliders plus 50 hours in a Decathlon gave me a head start when it came to flying my Auster. I was wrong.

 

150 hours later and I still can't relax on landing. The feet truly have to dance on the rudder pedals until the rolling has stopped if you want to keep her in anything like a straight line on the roll out. I relearned the importance of the rudder in flight, too after years in Warriors and Cessnas --- you have to feed her in and out of a turn to maintain the ball in the middle.

 

But there is something very special about being able to do the TW thing and I know the Lightwing is a great little machine in which to experience it (the Grasshopper is pretty good, too).

 

We have quite a TW contingent at YCEM -- 5 x Austers, a Luscombe, a Corby Starlet and a mighty Yak 52TW -- but nothing on line. It's getting harder to obtain the endorsement simply because there aren't that many around to do it in. Take the opportunity while you can and enjoy!

 

best wishes

 

kaz

 

 

No particular brand

 

Hi All

 

My local field uses Mobil but I have a BP carnet. On my last long trip around the Centre I used all major brands and found no perceivable difference between them. These days I'm more interested in price and availability!

 

My local is charging $1.89 but I was in Echuca on Tuesday and filled at $1.79 from the aero club there.

 

kaz

 

 

The DAMP legislation and its effects on aero clubs

 

I hate tryng to read Commonwealth legislation as the drafting officers seem intent on making this as difficult as possible, however I am slowly coming to terms with the legal intent of CASR Part 99 in regards to pilots having the odd drink at their aeroclub.

 

The more I think about it the more concerned I am.

 

The essential bits are:

 

99.015 SSAAs to which this Part applies

 

(1) This Part applies to the SSAAs specified in this regulation.

 

(2) The specified SSAAs are:

 

(a) any activity undertaken by a person, other than as a passenger, in an aerodrome testing area; and....

 

(g) activities undertaken by a member of the crew of an aircraft in the course of the person’s duties as a crew member; and....

 

aerodrome testing area means:

 

(a) any surface in a certified aerodrome or a registered aerodrome over which an aircraft is able to be moved while in contact with the surface of the aerodrome, including any parking areas; and

 

(b) any part of the surface of a certified aerodrome or registered aerodrome:

 

(i) that is not covered by paragraph (a); and

 

(ii) that does not have a building on it; and

 

(iii) from which access to a surface mentioned in paragraph (a) may be had; and

 

© a building located on a certified aerodrome or registered aerodrome that is used:

 

(i) for maintenance of an aircraft or an aeronautical product; or

 

(ii) for the manufacture of aircraft or aeronautical products; or

 

(iii) by an air traffic service provider to control air traffic; or

 

(iv) by the holder of an AOC for flying training; and

 

(d) any part of an aircraft, aerobridge or other moveable structure in a certified aerodrome or a registered aerodrome.

 

99.115 Who may be drug or alcohol tested

 

(1) An approved tester may require a body sample for the purposes of a drug or alcohol test under this Subpart from a person who is performing or available to perform an applicable SSAA.

 

Thus, as I read it:

 

1. A person may be tested at any time if they are performing activities in the course of their duties as aircrew. This will be the clause that affects the majority of us flying out of ALA's.

 

It means no going out to adjust the tie-down, checking oil-levels, etc after a couple of beers, but no huge imposition - really just a matter of commonsense.

 

For example, having a drink while camping under the wing at an ALA would be ok although I'd make sure the locks were in place and the keys were somewhere other than in my pocket.

 

It also seems to encompass a leisurely bit of flight planning at home in the evening with a G&T, or even the garage/workshop where some homebuilding is occurring but the more practical issues for many of us will be apparent where our flying activities are based at a registered or certified aerodrome.

 

2. If a person is in an aerodrome testing area (almost anywhere on a registered or certified aerodrome) and they are not a passenger but are performing or are available to perform SSAA's they may be tested in most situations.

 

This means, in addition to the proscriptions in 1 above:

 

No beers in the workshop (wherever that may be);

 

No beers in the flying school or clubroom attached to same (whether or not this is fenced off from airside);

 

No beers in the hangar;

 

No drinking then sleeping in your tent under the wings at a major fly-in; and

 

No beers with the BBQ next to the clubhouse unless it is isolated in such a way that it doesn't have access to the aerodrome testing area

 

Unless I've missed it, the legislation does not appear to spell out what being "available" means (does having your mobile phone number of your business card make you available when not actually at the airfield or flying?), nor does it set out how "access" can be denied (does a 3' chain wire fence with gates in it suffice?).

 

These are both crucial consderations in my view and CASA needs to spell it out.

 

kaz

 

The foregoing is my personal view and does not constitute, nor should it be construed as constituting, legal advice.

 

 

Hi Justin

 

The relevant provision is contained in s49 of the Road Safety Act (Vic) which says:

 

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if he or she—

 

(f) within 3 hours after driving or being in

 

charge of a motor vehicle furnishes a sample

 

of breath for analysis by a breath analysing

 

instrument under section 55 and—

 

(i) the result of the analysis as recorded or

 

shown by the breath analysing

 

instrument indicates that the prescribed

 

concentration of alcohol or more than

 

the prescribed concentration of alcohol

 

is present in his or her breath; and

 

(ii) the concentration of alcohol indicated

 

by the analysis to be present in his or

 

her breath was not due solely to the

 

consumption of alcohol after driving or

 

being in charge of the motor vehicle...

 

If the person has only recently consumed the alcohol, their BAC will be on the increase. If consumed some considerable period (eg more than 3 hours ago) the BAC will be declining and this will show on a further test. Unlike many other provisions to do with road safety, however, this one does not reverse the onus of proof -- the police have to prove that the alcohol was not consumed after the driving occurred.

 

There is a similar provision in relation to drugs.

 

.

 

As you will see, their is no limitation on the circumtances which might enliven the provision. Courts take such matters really seriously and year 9 students don't have much of a track record in saving drink-drivers from conviction. A couple of reputable witnesses to the drinking session occurring only after the driving would be more helpful.

 

kaz

 

 

Hi All

 

You can be done for refusing a breath test under Victorian (and I presume other) road law but you can also be done for having a BAC exceeding the prescribed limit anytime up to 3 hours after driving a motor vehicle.

 

This was introduced to spoil the fun of those who absconded from a PBT site or an MVA and went home to down a few before the cops arrived.

 

And the key doesn't have to be in the ignition for you to be deemed "in control". Sleeping it off in the car is NOT a good move from a legal viewpoint.

 

Not fair, is it?

 

kaz

 

 

There is a J3 Cub somewhere around Sydney and an Auster at Tyabb (Vic).

 

I had an incredible adrenalin-rushing ride in a Yak 52TW at Coldstream a couple of weeks ago. This is Andrew Temby's aircraft and its rated at +9 and -6!

 

Forty-five minutes of tumbling around the sky and I'm still blown away...

 

http://www.flymefriendly.com/gallery/v/various/2009-11-BirthdayAeros/100_3463.JPG.html

 

kaz

 

 

Should spin training be a mandatory requirement for licensing?

 

Hi folks

 

I thought I'd resurrect an old topic... should spin training be a mandatory requirement for licensing?

 

Spin training has been a requirement for glider pilots for many years and remains so. It used to commonly be part of a basic PPL also.

 

While the majority of GA aircraft are not certified for spinning and like minor aerobatic manouvres, pilots flying them all too often push the envelope and end up in serious trouble... low and slow downwind turns after takeoff (usually in heavily loaded aircraft) and inadvertent entry into cloud are two examples of when this may occur.

 

I appreciate avoidance is far better than cure, especially in the first example, but understanding the dynamics of a spin and the ability to execute prompt recovery might just save a life (yours).

 

Apart from that justification, aeros are fun and the training definitely sharpens your skill set.

 

What thoughts?

 

kaz

 

 

Hi Hamish

 

You could buy a really nice Auster for $40k and enjoy the 26 knot stall speed with STOL capability as well as the increased load capacity this would give you (the 2009 Auster fly-in was at Broken Hill).

 

If you want to go RA because of the maintenance advantage I think the Lightwing is a rugged little aircraft that will put up with a lot of bouncing around both on the ground and in the air. How open is your country? Gidgee, mulga, grasses? Prepared strips or station tracks?

 

Sounds like a great place to be!

 

kaz

 

 

Hi Dick and DJP

 

Are you off to Goolwa in September, Dick? It will be nice to see the Chippie back in the air.

 

Thanks for the loan of the headset DJP... mine was left in the Auster. The Yak 52TW ride was AMAZING! My adrenalin is still rushing.

 

kaz

 

 

Hi Heon and All

 

I know that "rough running" feeling, too. I had trouble between Tennant Creek and the Alice and kept on looking at the road trains and caravans on the highway (school holidays).

 

I too called MEL CEN and the lady operator helped restore some calm in the cockpit. Turned out to be a cracked insulator on a top plug.

 

Soft landings

 

kaz

 

 

i just had a quick look at the regs on this and it seems that the test may only be conducted on an approved or registed airfield or building attached to or used for a ssaa. might have missed something or misinterpreted it. so come on all you bush lawers how do you read ithttp://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/rules/1998casr/099/099casr.pdf

Hi Ozzie

 

In addition to certified/registered aerodromes, testing is also covered in any situation which involves:

 

(b) calculation of the position of freight, baggage, passengers and fuel on

 

aircraft; and

 

© the manufacture or maintenance of any of the following:

 

(i) aircraft;

 

(ii) aeronautical products;

 

(iii) aviation radionavigation products;

 

(iv) aviation telecommunication products; and

 

(d) the certification of maintenance of a kind mentioned in paragraph ©;

 

and

 

(e) the fuelling and maintenance of vehicles that will be used to fuel aircraft

 

on aerodrome testing areas; and

 

(g) activities undertaken by a member of the crew of an aircraft in the course

 

of the person’s duties as a crew member; and

 

(h) the loading and unloading of trolleys containing baggage for loading onto

 

aircraft and the driving of such trolleys.....

 

The legislation does not further limit the testing power and it therefore applies on private airfields such as the one mentioned in this thread.

 

How many of us have gone back to our parked aeroplane to unload our bags at the end of a hot day AND after we have had a couple of coldies at the club? Or gone out to tie it down?

 

What are aeronautical products and what constitutes their maintenance? How about putting fresh batteries in the GPS at the clubhouse while having a quiet drink? How far does it go, you ask? How long is a piece of string?

 

QUESTION: Why did the powers-that-be decide it worth sending 2 Commonwealth Protective Services Officers to Griffiths on the Saturday of the Anzac weekend and 4 AFP Police on the Sunday and Monday? Aircraft security and BAC tests were their focus. This was the weekend of the AAAA Fly-in. How many drunken terrorists have you seen using Austers to bomb their victims?

 

kaz

 

 

Hi everyone

 

Sounds like this lad has had a fit of the grandeurs and a documented complaint accompanied by the contact details of all the witnesses should be sent to CASA Ops. That gives them the opportunity to respond.

 

If satisfaction isn't obtained by way of an explanation and apology, then the complaint should be sent to the Commonwealth Ombudsman <www.ombudsman.gov.au> and Attorney-General and the somewhat invisible Minister.

 

A few thoughts to assist, however:

 

A badge is ordinarily not sufficient to identify an officer of the Crown and his authority - there should be an identification card with photograph of the bearer;

 

An authorised person may make requirements of persons to undergo breath tests, etc and it is an offence to refuse to do so. Better therefore to comply and bitch like mad afterwards than take the risk;

 

The person tested must be airside, in a hangar, in vicinity of aircraft etc to create the nexus with aviation. So the question is whether those tested were in a club house outside the fence restricting access airside, for example. In a hangar is obviously problematical;

 

The person claiming to be from CASA was probably not trespassing. There is an implied licence to enter private property and trespass does not occur until the person has been directed to leave it and refuses.

 

If the person was lawfully exercising his powers there is prima facie no breach of privacy if he records personal details of those tested. A breach of privacy under commonwealth law does not carry a pecuniary sanction as best as I recall. Failure to provide those details would enliven an arrest power;

 

If he wasn't lawfully exercising those powers and then decided to exercise a power of arrest because one of those present refused to provide details, the only legal recourse is for damages against him personally as the vicarious liability of the Crown is limited to lawful conduct by the officer (stinks, doesn't it?);

 

Irrespective of whether he had the legal power to do what he allegedly did, the officer was apparently appallingly unprofessional and this should cause the wrath of his superiors to descend upon his head.

 

Was he drunk or under the influence of drugs?

 

kaz

 

 

Disappointing to see something like this happen. Also a question of how the man stole the aircraft, surely they'd have some type of security on it?-Andrew

He obviously didn't have an ASIC or security would have checked him and prevented this from happening.

 

kaz

 

who is very peeed off with the whole ASIC business

 

 

'The pilot must make a broadcast ... whenever it is reasonably necessary to do so to avoid a collision, or the risk of a collision, with another aircraft ...'

 

In other words, if you don't make any one of the recommended calls or any other call when needed, and there is a collision or reported near miss, you will very likely be held accountable and could be charged.

 

kaz

 

 

Is turning (?)... is turning (??)... finals(???)

 

It's hard enough getting a word in edge-wise sometimes so why make what almost amounts to a political speech when you want the world to listen?

 

(call sign)... final/short final... (rwy) 17

 

Says it all!

 

kaz

 

 

If you missed out you missed heaps...

 

The Aviation Pageant at Point Cook was a roaring success -- literally!

 

Despite an iffy start to the day's weather, the flying and static displays were fantastic.

 

Noted amongst the main contenders for the WWII division were the 3 Mustangs, the Spitfire, the Kittyhawk and the Boomerang. All looked and sounded incredible. A very pretty looking Hudson also did its thing.

 

The superfast division was represented by a Vampire and a Sabre and I had to hang onto my Auster's wing strut as the Vampire taxied down the nearby taxiway making an unholy racket and emitting heaps of hot gas!

 

The heavyweights on the day were the Dak/Gooney Bird and the C130 Herc -- heaps of nostalgia and even more so when the quartet of Bird Dogs danced their slow ballet.

 

The last performance was the Roulettes who did it all faultlessly as always.

 

An estimated 25,000 spectators had their collective minds blown away. I hope you were one of them.

 

kaz

 

 

Ooooh! Should have said I almost went to Olympic Dam on the way back from the Alice and they absolutely required prior permission and an ASIC - no exceptions. I ended up going to Maree (drums only) , instead.

 

Please note that Leigh Creek no longer sells fuel which makes it very hard for those with limited endurance planning on a trip to places like Birdsville from the south.

 

kaz

 

 

Hi

 

I did a round trip from Vic through NSW, Qld, NT, SA and back home last year. The only place that asked for my ASIC was Alice Springs where the Feds do the security a little officiously, I thought. I mean, I ask you, how many 65 year old female terrorists do you know that would try to do their evil thing with an aeroplane of the same vintage?

 

I've been to Broken Hill twice in the last 6 months and no problems either time. Fueled up with BP carnet and received wonderful hospitality from the Aero Club so I would call them before you depart if your ASIC hasn't arrived. Make sure you secure your aircraft with a throttle or wheel lock.

 

Have a great time

 

kaz