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fly_tornado

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Posts posted by fly_tornado

  1. There is a Fine Line Between Passionate and Pollyanna

     

     

    General aviation is a bit like teenage sex. Lots of people talk about it, even when few are doing it. Survey data is not anywhere close to being as valuable as being in the market and following real money. Consumers are fickle, and humans are terrible at estimating utilization. Long before we launched OpenAirplane, we surveyed thousands of pilots. They told us they would fly an average of 10 hours a year more than they do today. That did not come to pass. Demonstrating to us at least that surveys are a terrible way to capture intent. While the idea of OpenAirplane won us praise, fans, and even super fans, the reality is that too few pilots took to the skies to make the operation sustainable.

     

    https://medium.com/@rodrakic/contact-ground-point-niner-a4d013e0c850

     

     

  2. there are no cheap lessons in aviation administration. think what the RAA could have done with $150,000.

     

    "Over the four years of AirVenture RAAus has invested more than $135,000 into the event by way of direct cash contributions. In addition to this RAAus has also contributed non-direct funding around $24,000. RAAus has also provided in non-financial ways by providing in kind support, free services to youth engagement programs.

     

    "Despite these contributions and other forms of support, RAAus did not have any management input into the event and was not privy to the details regarding the BushCat promotional giveaway, insurance arrangements for the event or any risk mitigation plans put in place.

     

    "AirVenture Australia requested in excess of $60,000 of member funds, almost half of the cash investment of the past four events, to cover the deficit of one single year. The RAAus board has noted that it is not appropriate to continue funding the shortfall with no ability to control or influence the decisions made to ensure the risks around such an investment can be managed appropriately.

     

     

    • Like 2
  3. AirVenture Australia 2019 has suffered a significant financial shortfall, which Recreational Aviation Australia has declined to make up, prompting the event organisers to cancel plans to giveaway a BushCat aircraft and cease staging the event in the future.

     

     

    Held in Parkes on 20-22 September, the event was plagued by high winds and a duststorm that caused the site to be shutdown, which organiser David Young says significantly impacted ticket sales and restricted income for the event.

     

    The resulting funding deficit prompted Young to go cap-in-hand to Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) to make up the shortfall, which RAAus declined to do.

     

    "To understand what has ... unfolded, it is important to explain the role of AirVenture Australia Pty Ltd," Young said in a statement issued late on Friday.

     

    "AirVenture Australia Pty Ltd is a company trustee of a trust named The OzKosh Trust of which the sole beneficiary is RAAus. Our small team are mostly volunteers. We give up our time to plan and stage the AirVenture Australia event annually, using trust funds.

     

    "In early November this year, AirVenture Australia Pty Ltd made a formal request for RAAus to inject capital into the trust, to offset the losses caused by the inclement weather. This would allow AirVenture Australia Pty Ltd to meet its financial commitments, including finalising payment for the promotional giveaway prize, the BushCat aircraft.

     

    "We are disappointed to report that following consideration by their management and board, RAAus have declined to fund the trust. We point out there was no legal obligation for RAAus to do so. No reason was given for their decision. However, without the trust having sufficient funds, the BushCat promotional giveaway is unable to proceed.

     

    "AirVenture Australia Pty Ltd is now taking the only steps available to it to resolve this situation. Additional to the cancelation of the BushCat promotional giveaway, the AirVenture Australia event will not be conducted in 2020 or beyond."

     

    Young has directed those holding tickets in the BushCat giveaway to refer to the AirVenture Australia website.

     

    Comment has been sought from RAAus.

     

    http://www.australianflying.com.au/latest/financial-woes-hit-airventure-australia-as-future-plans-canceled

     

  4. Soar Aviation pilot training remains suspended pending audit

     

     

     

     

     

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    Soar Aviation chief executive Neel Khokhani.

     

     

     

    Australia’s largest pilot training school, Soar Aviation, has cancelled flying for a fifth straight day following an audit of training partner Box Hill Institute.

    Students first learned of the cancellations late Friday via emails from Box Hill and Soar, which have been the subject of investigations by the Australian Skills Quality Authority and the Victorian Department of Education.

     

    Box Hill’s correspondence said the TAFE college maintained safety as its highest priority, and it had “requested Soar to suspend flying for BHI students for the next few days”.

     

     

     

     

    READ MORE: Pilot courses on hold | Training ‘not delivered’

     

    That was followed by an email from Soar Aviation CEO Neel Khokhani informing students “Box Hill Institute had requested documentation in relation to our fleet” and they would be pausing flight operations until that was provided.

     

    He added that students would not be charged for the cancelled flights.

     

    A further update was received by students from Mr Khokhani Monday night, revealing Soar was “continuing to work with Box Hill to clarify an aspect of our flight training”, then last night, an instructor sent a message about further cancellations on Wednesday.

     

    “At this point flights won’t be going ahead for reasons you already know,” wrote the instructor.

     

    “On the positive side, we at Soar have been working to get flights back up and running and at this point things are looking positive, with flying most likely starting again this week.”

     

    Box Hill theory classes were proceeding as usual, the message said.

     

    Students have lodged multiple complaints to Box Hill and the Department of Education about their training at Soar, claiming it was not what they were promised.

     

    One student said she was told she would be trained in a Cessna 172 for her commercial pilot’s licence (CPL), and instead she was flying a Foxbat and forced to take out membership of Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus).

     

    Concerns have also been raised about the high number of enrolments in comparison to flight instructors and aircraft, and the low rate of completions.

     

    Data from the Department of Employment show there were 289 enrolments in the BHI CPL diploma in the first six months of this year, and a 47.6 per cent unit of study completion rate.

     

    More than $7m in VET student loans had been granted for the training.

     

    Mr Khokhani and Box Hill Institute are yet to respond to questions from The Australian about the ongoing flight cancellations.

     

     

     

  5. Should have gone wireless.....at least for the bulk of it.

     

    I now use wireless 100% and disconnected the home internet. (Pre paid, so only pay for what I actually use!)

     

    Some years ago I disconnected the home (copper wire) phone as well so truely 100% off cable.

     

    Mobile internet prices are getting cheaper and there is very healthy competition.

     

    On 4G I can stream at least 720p and most times 1080p......

     

    The good thing is that all(?) of this is privately funded.

     

    By the time I'm ready to buy my next phone or tablet 5G will be mainstream. No input by me. No new plans, new connections or other inconvenience....

     

    (Sitting here in remote Coral Bay writing this...on 4g...?)

     

    large chunks of the NBN can easily be converted over to 5G, all the basic infrastructure is there, fibre, power and an in street installation

     

     

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