Aldo

Nev Only ever seen it from a go pro never been up the front there but from the go pro if you have a bit of weather around it must be fun to say the least. My hat off to all those who have to negotiate these difficult (but safe if you follow the procedures) approaches. People wonder why airline pilots get paid so much (and sadly they don't any longer), a friend of mine said during the pilots dispute in the early 90's I don't care how much they get paid as long as when everything goes to shit up the front I get out in one piece at the other end. Flying (commercial RPT) has become so common place in recent history that in most peoples minds it no longer carries any risk and the biggest problem now days is that I don't arrive at the published time. Any wonder we have (in some airlines) 200 hour FO's. Aldo

Ada Its not joining base it's established on base as far as the straight in approach is concerned, good airmanship and a good picture of what is happening around you over rules everything else. Don't run into someone else, you will from time to time piss someone else off but go have a chat to them on the ground that normally solves most problems, not strict adherence to the rules.

Nev Take a look at Rio domestic, I spent 3 months looking across the harbour from my office in awe of the approaches that were being done 1100m of runway 73's, 717's and a bunch of other aircraft all negotiating that very tight bit of airspace including a bridge in the picture as well. Shows it can be done safely if all are on the ball. I'm sure there are other airports that are more difficult or just as challenging in other places around the world. I have had the privilege of having 3 jump seat rides into Kai Tak before it closed and before you were no longer allowed to be on the flight deck as a passenger. Those rides were made available due to a good friend of mine at Qantas (known to Dutch) and appreciated by me forever. Aldo

Roundy Really you know how much time I spend on the internet, do you have a camera at each of my three office desks, it may show that I'm online but that is because I never bother to log out and I have several devices that may be connected at any one time. I have a pretty good understanding of the regs but I may not necessarily know the reg number, that's what indexes are for unless you have nothing more interesting to do than remember regs by number.

Happy I apologize as I didn't add aircraft on base and final have priority, no offence taken. Aldo

Potts I've since had someone let me know and yes while a straight in approach isn't recommended standard procedure 166B does allow it to happen an aircraft on a straight in approach must give way to aircraft on final or established on base along with a couple of other things.

Happy The commercial operators up this way don't push in, the commercial guys, the schools and the rest of us get on quite well actually. I'm very aware that someone on a straight in approach doesn't have right of way and must give way to an aircraft established on base or final (only), unless you fly up this way I suggest you refrain from making comments on how the operators up this way fly. We (the little guy's) give way to the larger/faster traffic out of courtesy but we don't have too

Phil I fly one regularly (about 100 hrs in the last year) if you are really on your game, the short field approach bang on and on tarmac you will probably get it down safely, I wouldn't try it if I didn't have to and certainly not with 3 pax just because they didn't want to drive a bit further (apart from that I think you can drive from one side of the UK to the other faster than I can drive to my closest supermarket) and yes what an excellent game of Rugby yesterday, now we are just about even after Johnny's drop goal in the final. Aldo

Ian If you are working BN centre and it seems that you do, you guys do an excellent job in a pretty busy area, thanks for all the help you give us guys flying VFR, I don't always get the clearances I would like but 9 times out of 10 you give me exactly what I've planned. If you know Doug Scott and if you work in BN I will assume you do, Doug and I went to school together say g'day to him for me. Allan

Zoos As you found out flight following can be very useful, centre don't have to give it to you but if you have a plan in the system and ask for flight following you will usually get it, I use it when in higher density traffic areas and particularly if I have a CTA transit, they give you a code and traffic advisories. I submit a plan for any flight that is not just a local fly around, but it also forms part of our company journey management requirements Aldo

Really it was a record crowd for a grand final as well as a record for attendance over the entire final series needed 81+K tonight to achieve that and had 82+K in the stadium tonight, find a reason to like something or one day you will wake up as a 70 year old and wonder why you were such a negative person all your life and think to yourself gee I could have had such a better time. Aldo

I started flying in my 20's now in my 50's AUF didn't suit my purpose back then, joined RAA in my late 40's. Now have both and love every minute of it. Aldo

Agree what a game of football, record crowd (FT not sure where you got the lots of empty seats), I don't like to see the Broncs loose but tonight I didn't care who won and I'm glad to see NQ and JT win a final they have been on the receiving end of some bad decisions the last few years, add that to the rugby this morning probably one of the best games I have seen Australia play in a long time if they keep this up they can win the world cup. And don't forget the Ipswich Jets (Shane Walker a good friend of mine and his brother Ben) have done a fantastic job of getting the Jets through to win the state championship. Aldo

Rhys I understand why you would think this but if this is the approach we take you will be correct it will never happen, dare to dream, work to make it happen, encourage the kids to go RAA first, offer them joy rides, have them wash your plane for the privilege of the joy ride, do whatever it takes, I probably give somewhere around 50 joy flights at no cost to the youngsters a year. The only way we will encourage them is by showing what a great pastime it is. I also take kids to the coast for the day with us (albeit in a GA aircraft and a 5 hour drive each way, we do it in an hour) but I'm always telling them to go learn RAA to start your flying career. They love it they post it all over facebook and then their friends come asking if they might be able to do the same thing one day. We all need to encourage, I grew up in a family that didn't fly my parents still wont get in an aeroplane I've been flying for 30 years and we live 3 miles from each other, I have no idea why I wanted to fly but I have always wanted to since I can remember. Make it happen Aldo

Both clipped so the below goes to both of you. Kasper/Don While in essence I agree with most things you are saying and discussing very well, I lean towards Kaspers side of the argument. The crux of the matter appears to be that the CASA and whoever else has a finger in the pie obviously doesn't believe the level of oversight and training within recreational aviation is of a high enough standard to allow anything more than what we have right now, if they did RAA would be allowed to issue RPL licences. Don your argument that the RPC and RPL is in essence the same, may well be true in all respects but to receive a RPL you must pass the litmus test of a perceived higher level/standard of training offered through GA and the medical requirements. With you now having a position on the board for the second time I believe the fastest way for RAA to be able to access what you are looking for would be for RAA to put itself forward as the introduction to all flying i.e. you start your flying career/hobby whatever with RAA should you wish to go further you then progress to an affiliated GA (or commercial level) school so all flying starts with a RPC. It would certainly take some organising but it would ingrain RAA in the entire aviation arena and not be perceived to be an offshoot that isn't really flying in many eyes (not my opinion). RAA would then be the feeder club into all aviation (non-military), this would in effect bring the level of training within recreational aviation up to a higher standard (I'm not saying that quite a number are not already). Food for thought. I have both GA & RA so until I can't pass my class 1/2 medical it is not really an issue for me but I understand the level of frustration others are feeling. Aldo

I'm sure I have a pretty good idea what is in the regs I just don't know the reg numbers of the top of my head I would have to go and look it up and I don't have the time, I fly the way I was taught to fly which is the same way all the commercial operators around here do so I'm pretty sure it is the correct way. Only just completed a BFR and the CFI didn't tell me my calls were incorrect or too many.

As far as I'm aware once you are inside 3 miles on a straight in approach you are part of the circuit traffic (I may be wrong) downwind traffic is not conflicting and I wouldn't think someone who has just turned base would be either. I will try to find out when I have time or someone else here will no doubt be able to fill us in. Aldo

You would be the first person on this forum to include CASA as expert opinion. I don't know that I'm deliberately choosing to ignore anything I'm actually not sure what CAAP 166 says of the top of my head but I do know that if you want to ask around the areas that I fly if those others feel safe with me in the same airspace you will find that to be a resounding yes, I often get compliments from the commercial operators on how professional I am in conducting my aviation activities so I will continue to do so. From someone with your experience the above is just dribble, maybe you should drive more often. Aldo

When I learnt to fly there were two calls (in the circuit) the first was joining crosswind (if that was the direction you were coming from) and downwind for the appropriate runway. Crosswind was joined at the upwind end of the active runway (not mid field as it is today which I don't think is the safest way to do it) and departure overhead was done at the threshold end of the active runway, excellent clearance for inbound and departing traffic both at 1500 ft agl. Ten mile calls are good for slow aircraft but you need to be thinking in minutes, 10 miles in a 3 mile a minute aircraft gives traffic 3 minutes warning, I was taught that the inbound call should be done at the 10 minute mark or at your top of descent point so that departing aircraft are able to determine if they are going to be in conflict with your inbound track and descent path. I also agree with making additional calls as necessary to maintain separation there seem to be some that disagree with this sentiment, I just hope that they are not in the circuit with me. I also agree with Dutch that you should be listening to the CTAF and area frequencies early to build a picture of what is going on I regularly share the airspace with King Airs (fast aircraft on descent) their top of descent calls can be at 60 miles (10 min) or further out and you need to be aware of their track and intentions, you may not hear that call on CTAF but it will be on area. An interesting note because I always make standard IFR/commercial inbound and departure calls (on both CTAF and area) I more often than not get IFR traffic advisories from centre as they know exactly where I am and what my intentions are. Aldo

Ada You are not wrong if you elect to do a straight in approach (and I do more times than not) and you are three miles and make the established 3 mile final call then you have right of way. Aldo

Agree, fastest and easiest way to get your ASIC

Doc Because we are a couple of years past the Wright Bros and most design is now done with computer simulation FEA's etc why do some think they can do better in the home garage. Aldo

I'd say his mate is a complete dill, why anyone would mix and match parts from one engine manufacturer with another is beyond belief and people wonder why things like CTA transit is so hard to sell to the powers that be when we have people that even consider the above properisition. Aldo

Nev not sure on Sydney but Brisbane is $300 or thereabouts depending on the time so not to bad considering what actually stops you going there is the holding that you inevitably get. Aldo

So if you are doing everything the way it is supposed to be done what is written in that article will have no impact, if you are not doing things as they are supposed to be done no doubt you will be a little concerned. Aldo