Aldo

Its like anything else the more you do the better you are, if you're not confident get a check flight, there is no simple answer.

Nunans dislike my post as much as you like and by all means go ahead and have your say, that's what forums like this one are all about just be prepared to have people take you to task about your comments, or go one step further and give me a call and we can discuss it that way, my number is listed above. If you have read the entire thread you will find that the content in the original post has been changed quite significently, I stand by what I posted and I know a few others agree. Allan

Nong You are correct it doesn't say anything about 250' for RA, I was wrong on that point and happy to admit it. But if you take a look at the link below it will outline what can be done. You do need to have a low level endorsement (or permission from RA-Aus) and you do need to comply with CAO 95.55 (aeroplanes) and CAO 95.32 (Powered chutes and Weight shift). I don't necessarily agree with all the rules that are applied to flying but if we don't comply with those rules we will eventually we will not be able to fly or it will become so regulated that it won't be worth it, additionally the rules are there to enhance safety and that's not a bad thing. http://old.raa.asn.au/opsmanual/2-01.pdf From CAO 95.32 8 Provisions relating to flight height limitations 8.1 An aeroplane, to which this Order applies, may be flown at a height of less than 500 feet above ground level, or 300 feet in the case of a powered parachute, if: (a) the aeroplane is flying in the course of actually taking off or landing; or (b) the aeroplane is flying over land that is owned by, or under the control of, the pilot; or © the owner or occupier (including the Crown) of the land, or an agent or employee of the owner or occupier, has given permission for the flight to take place at such a height; or (d) the pilot of the aeroplane is engaged in flying training and the aeroplane is flying over a part of a flying training area over which CASA has, under subregulation 141 (1) of CAR 1988, authorised low flying.

It is my opinion and no doubt this is your opinion, I don't believe it is safe - being totally oblivious to what is going on around you and if you think that you can see any other aircraft in your vacinity then you really do have your head up your backside (unless of course you live in the middle of the Simpson desert) but your location doesn't seem to indicate that and I'm sure there is more than one or two a/c around the Whitsundays. I'm also fully aware of what the old AUF regs said, but we have moved on from there and now the law says that you are not allowed fly lower than 500' unless you have permission to fly over a property and then only down to 250'. The only time you are able to go lower than that is if you are in training or working. If what you want is for CASA to take over RAA then keep doing the dumb sh.t flying around at 20' (power line height- you might eventually hit one) and you will get your wish. I assume that most people on this site like the limited CASA intervention in RAA but if we keep flaunting the regs that will surely change.

John I think you may have missed the context of this thread, a low time new pilot was taking a mate of his for a ride down low and dangerous - hit a power line - both in hospital (unsure as to the outcome of their well being). This is not how you learn - well maybe he has and won't do it again for a long time. You may be trained and you may have a million hours at low level but that is different to the guy in this thread. I guess you have an AOC and CPL as last time I looked CASA didn't look too kindly on people making a living out of avaition without have all the correct credentials. Not carrying a radio is dangerous (you may not be legally required to carry one but anyone who doesen't is a fool) - other people may be using the same airspace you are in.

Congratulations young man it's always a pleasure to see someone from your generation with a passion for something. Flying will take you wherever you want to go, from here on in it's up to you. There is a lot of hard work and money to be spent if you want a career in aviation mind you that's pretty much the same with any career these days. Dig in and put in the hard yards and eventually you will get what you want. The main thing is to enjoy whatever it is that you eventually decide on doing.

Let me know when you want to get started

Very cool Dazza, I want one

Toby Plenty of 6 seaters around, Cessna 206, Cessna 210, piper lance, bonanza. If you're looking for the best stol, out landing (rough strips) and loading you can't go past a 206. It will cost you anywhere from $150k up depending on the age of the aircraft and times left to run on the engine and prop, they use approx 60 lts/ hour ($120) depending on where you get your fuel. I own a J230 same aircraft as the 430 without the rear two (2) seats and regularly use pretty rough strips without any issues just need to be careful with the nose wheel and take the spats off all wheels. You will find that you are pretty limited as far as loading goes with any of the light aircraft if you are going to put bums on all seats.

Stevron The pump is a Grayco "Blue Devil" they are rated for the zone (i.e. hazardous area). I have pumped about 25,000 litres through mine (avgas & mogas) without any issues. A couple of photos below including the name plate.

DM You are correct but if you do you are able to carry over your previous quals, it may be cheeper in the long run than doing it all through RAA

Frank I'm pretty sure the following applies, do a medical and a BFR to get your PPL back once you do that join RAA do a conversion (5 hrs min) and you are able to carry over all endorsements (nav, constant speed, retractable etc)

DD Don't hold your breath waiting for WDRC to do any maintenance they are not even able to maintain the roads as they should be (unless of course it is downtown Dalby in front of the new building (old ERGON) they wasted $15M on). As far as Dalby is concerned the condition of that airport is a disgrace. Ray Brown (mayor) has said to people involved with flying in Dalby that they won't be upgrading the airport as he doesn't want Dalby to become a FIFO location. As far as talking to the councillors or the mayor don't waste your breath (Raymond is known around Moonie and Tara as "Mirror" - you guessed it "I'll look into it" and thats about as far as it goes).

Good lesson Motz, before any approach know the missed approach procedures, that way be it ATC or the minima is reached you know exactly what you are going to do and where you are going to go, call it a missed approach and everyone should know where you are going to be, then worry about where you are going and who you have to talk to after that, remember aviate, navigate & communicate.

Yes they are, I will find the manufacturer/supplier tomorrow and let you know. I purchased mine through CRT (Country Rural Traders).

GAFA It's like anything else mate you look around until you find someone you like, build up some sort of relationship and go from there, Motz is a good guy and Goondi is not that far from Brissy, nice wide open spaces no ATC off the ground and straight into training. If you have been flying WB's for most of your flying you will enjoy getting back to why you started flying in the first place. If you like I know a couple of WB guys that live around Caloundra that may be interrested in having a chat with you, just send me a PM and we'll go from there. Allan

Stevron I purchased an electric drum pump cost me about $600.00 good for mogas and avgas comes with a meter (in lts) makes it real easy.

Frank Your thread is very relevent as there are so many people that do not understand how dangerous IMC as a VFR pilot is and it's all so sad when someone ends up in the situation and it ends in disaster. I have had the good fortune to be able to do quite a number of hours (100 + in the right seat) in a Navaho in real IMC with a MECIR guy in the left seat without the aid of an autopilot and initially maintaining the correct scan even for 5 minutes was completely draining not to mention dealing with the turbulance associated with the weather to be able to remain on track at the correct altitude. Obviously it gets easier the more you do but even with that amount of time in IMC I would never purposely put myself in that position, and you would have to be out of your mind to do it with a limited panel in something with a BEW of 300 kg or less, structurally it might be ok but not on my shift. What is of concern though is that so many are willing to try and no matter what you tell them it doesen't get through, I'm not sure if this is a training failure or just a human failure but I remember when I did my training (back in the 80's) never in cloud was repeated so often that you didn't even consider it and when you were sitting on the ground waiting for the crud to clear the most often heard statement was "better off being down here wishing you were up there, than being up there wishing you were down here"

Well done Compulsion, keep the other half interested and you'll get to do more flying than you thought possible. My wife is solo plus some hours (probably flys better than me) so flying is never a problem in our house - holidays, weekends away just makes it so much more fun. Enjoy your cruise.

Cavet: The pilot may have been attempting a forced landing following an emergengy (engine failure or such) and if that is the case then what bad luck and I hope both make a speedy recovery (I hope they make a speedy recovery in any case) or, Here we go again - how many more people are going to be injured or killed (the pilot is one thing but the passenger is another altogether) breaking the rules. It is time that the authorities (RAA or CASA) started removing licences for 1, 2, 5 years or life for pilots who blatently break the rules. It is time that instructors started bashing it into pilots heads that you don't fly below 500 feet (AGL) or you will loose your licence (or worse your life). In this case as the pilots father owned the land 250 feet may have been applicable, even if this were the case 11kV power lines are usually run at around 10 metres and I can't see any terrain around the area that would have these lines any different than normal. The pilot may have had low level training and if that is the case the golden rules are be 5 feet or 200 feet off the ground (I'm unsure of the rules regarding passengers & low level flight). It is time the aviation community woke up, if you keep doing dumb SH.T eventually you will come undone and kill yourself or worse someone else. We need as a group and individuals to keep telling people who break the rules that they are doing the wrong thing and they are jeopardising not only their lives (or others) but also recreational avaition as a whole and if they don't take any notice report them, you may not be popular but this is not a popularity contest it is about safety. Teckair said: It should have read "What was this idiot doing down here"

See section "G" of the Jabiru 3300 engine parts manual. As you can see there are 6 gaskets and 18 cap screws (i.e. 3 screws per head) the "O" rings are on the plenum which is mounted on the underside of the engine 1 4109824 2 GASKET 6 PH0535N CAP SCREW 3/4 X 1/4UNC 18

Motz Where the inlet manifold connects to the head they have or at least they are supposed to have gaskets, stripped my 3300 yesterday for a top. Where they come out of the air box there is no gasket.

Tim (as I believe is the pilot) this comment is not directed at you. This post and you wonder why people get up in arms about the level of training/instruction etc. Tim (on his own I believe for all but the last leg) has just gone and picked up an aircraft flown it 170 NM+ and you post "Tim landed at his strip and I barely had to do anything" of course you shouldn't have had to do anything, flying is not a game to be played and its really good if you finish, its serious and before you go off into the wide blue younder you are supposed to be competent (maybe not comfortable) to handle all situations (high winds, x-winds, crap weather and turbulnce) on your own. If this post is reflective of RAA then the sooner it is incorporated into GA and the training required is the same as a GA PPL the safer we will all be, and before you all get on your high horses about how there are GA pilots that don't meet the grade as well I'm well aware of that fact also. RAA alows us (me included, although I fly to GA requirements all the time including radio calls and area broardcasts on the relevent frequencies to allow all airspace users to know where I am and where I'm going at all times, hemispherical VFR levels both above and below 5000 ft to improve the safety margins i.e. even thousands + 500 and odd thousands + 500) a very broard operting range and if we want to keep that privilege we all need to pick up the game and get our Sh.t together before it is taken away. I know a lot of you will not agree with me and I don't care if you do or you don't (toughen up princesses and deal with it), if you continue the way you are going you won't have an organisation. Allan (anyone wants to discuss outside this forum I'll be happy to do so- 0429 674 790)

"The real issues here have not been covered yet. If no-one wants to then I won't be doing it.." Nev You are correct and it is all about the level of training/instruction and attitude. Probably a thread all on its own though.

Met The original post was significantly different to the one that is there now, which is what prompted most of the discussion. FMe in a response to me said he had the pants scared off him (or something to that effect) so that is a good thing. What concerned me (with the original post) was the apparent unawareness of how dangerous the situation was that he had gotten himself into and something to the effect of "I always wanted to fly through cloud but didn't realise how cold it was". I think FMe understands now why the responses were as they were.