AM397

Whether you believe it or not doesn't change the facts. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methamphetamine"Although rarely prescribed,[4] dextromethamphetamine is FDA approved for the treatment of ADHD andobesity under the trade name Desoxyn, while levomethamphetamine is a non-prescription over-the-counter nasal decongestant."

 

I hope nobody ever judges you in the same manner you are judging that pilot.

But wasn't he actually out of it for more than ten minutes? I doubt "non-prescription over-the-counter nasal decongestant" does that.

 

And, btw, are that nasal spray actually available in Australia, and are dextro-meth used in Australia, or are we only talking the US?

 

 

That's a good summary, Andy :)

 

 

My intention was not to "blame" members as such, but to point out that the board we have is the one we voted in.If it is true, as you say, that "the average member (didn't) know not only that there was a problem, but what kind of problem and who was responsible without any information to go on at all" , then how are members supposed know which way to vote to fix or avoid the problem?

 

If we accept that the average member does not know what's going on, or doesn't care (and I'm fine with that) then our system needs to change to take that reality into account and prevent a board or management from taking advantage of that reality. And I'm not sure a few changes to the constitution is all that needs to happen because the constitution isn't even being adhered to at the moment.

 

Would a limited liability company be easier to manage in terms of ensuring boards adhere to the constitution? It will cost more to run that way, but for the low cost Incorporated Assoc. option to work the members need to put more time and effort into the running of RAAus. I'm not sure that will happen.

I realise the limited liability is not solely directed at me, and that is lucky, because I don't know enough about it to make an informed comment on it. I can gather it would be more expensive, and I figure a change to auch a thing won't help much, unless you get rid of all the bad apples. And, that if it's made into such a construction, what can the members do about crappy governance, Cronyism or what else might be there?

 

 

That looks like a great little plane - it looks ideal for aerial photography sessions.

 

 

FactHunter, It may very well be naive, but it's late here (as in really late), and being a journalist by trade, dumbing a question down is a good way of getting people to explain things, often in no uncertain terms. I note that it worked here too, but unlike when I'm working, I do appreciate the answer, and there might just be someone else out there who can use your answer to make a better decision if the question comes up in earnest.

 

 

I have AM397, and so far there has been no response, however there is a ladder of procedure laid down by the Australian Government to protect enquiries like that and I need to give it a few more days.

Super, TB

 

 

Casa is very bad news probably one of the worst government departments in the country. If Casa was governing us the only way for many would be to give up flying. I do not have time to go into great detail for you but you could read some other posts on here by experienced people about it. The only people who think Casa might be the way to go are people who are new to flying and have no knowledge about Casa and the type of organisation it is.

Fair enough, I guess. It's just that Casa still has the power to shut down Ra-Aus as they have more or less done - on the basis of Ra-Aus not doing their job to Casa's standards. So, being devils advocate, it seems a lot like having to live up to Casa's standard as an organisation, yet being unable to do it, resulting in train wrecks like this, so the "freedom" gained is null and void.

 

However, I will concede that it might not be the best option to come under Casa's administration and have them do proper paperwork, so let's see if the members can be a force to re-align RA-Aus. Perhaps one could argue for a compromise of sorts, since Casa are helping Ra-Aus to meet their demands. Perhaps it would be possible for someone to contact Casa directly and see if they can get some info from them, since Ra-Aus aren't very informative?

 

 

Mate,Do you mind slowing down a bit on your whining, please.

According to your own words you haven't even flown in Australia, couple days ago you didn't even know what the difference between RAAus and GA is.

There were particulars I didn't know. I'm not whining at all. I'm reading all this, old threads and whatnot and I see a trend, which should be obvious to everyone, considering I am able to pick up on it. Tell me exactly where I "whine"? Come now.

 

You've had no contact with RAAus, yet here you go whining and complaining about how bad RAA is how we're ran as a third world country, and whatever else you can come up with.

Once again, show me exactly where I whine. From what has been happening in RA-Aus with its utter lack of competence, utter lack of transparency, and utter lack of willingness to communicate, it's only fair to compare that organisation as it is at present to other places, where incompetence, lack of transparency and unwillingness to communicate is how things are "done".

 

Maybe before you start going off like a mad man about how bad it is, you actually get some experience in the subject.

Perhaps unlike you, I prefer to do my research before committing. Especially something as big as this. I don't want to go blindly into a commitment, just because I "can't possible know what it's like unless I have paid for a membership".

 

I don't go into a plastic surgeon that has shown himself to be utterly incompetent and is on probation for dodgy work. To argue that I must be part of it before I can assess the competencies is as ridiculous as suggesting I need to be attempted to be excluded, before I can assess if it's bad or not when the CEO attempts to stop someone like Ian from renewing his membership (and thereby de facto stopping him from flying).

 

And before you start complaining about me - I'm also not Australian, but at least I've been with RAAus for over a year now.

I don't complain. My posts on these matters have not been complaints. They have been my assessment of this farce. As for you having been a member for a year. Well, lucky you

 

I don't know how bad exactly it is mostly due to the issues mentioned in this thread (lack of communication), but so far RAA hasn't been too bad to me.

It's not just this thread. Look at older threads too. Look at how RA-Aus is actually handling things (or not, as it were), look at how they're in effect under administration because of how they have been (mis-)managing the organisation.

 

They've allowed me to learn and fly, they've processed most of my request very quickly (although the registration took a bit longer than I'd like it to, but that was just before all of this blew up).

Good for you. And with any luck, you might avoid being grounded because of their incompetence. But hey, you can fly at the moment, right?

 

Yes there are some issues, like with any big organization (or maybe a bit more), and we need a bit of change at the top, but stop complaining about things you have no idea about.

Appparently I seem to have a better grasp of what is happening than you. Perhaps it's because I'm not entrenched, nor have any misplaced loyalty to an organisation who has shown themselves to be utterly incapable of managing themselves and their members.

 

 

Will do. By then we'll probably have a GoPro Hero 17 with a 64 megapixel resolution, he he.

 

 

I'm not quite sure I feel safe with weapons about, to be honest. But that's another discussion, lol.

 

 

In the past I have done engineering approvals of stuff mounted in basic ways, including tape - typically for flight testing. I have done a lot of flying in bear country too but not in VH registered airplanes.If in the USA, minor mods there are dealt with much easier AM397 so you will be OK. Even major mods typically get an easier process.

It just gets harder and harder here with each new rule. Incidentally, I observe many small cameras fitted without approvals - I wonder if any have suffered a CASA ramp check.

Thanks, djpacro! That eases my mind a bit :)

 

 

But who put the board together? WE, the members, did! And we have had several years of elections to be able to correct the situation. Yet it didn't happen. True, we elect our boards within the confines of the rules that are the constitution, but we also have the power to change the constitution and fortunately that has happened to some extent lately due to the hard work of a very few members such as Andy.

So...what needs to change if we the members cannot be trusted to vote in a competent board? Voter apathy is a fact of life, I believe, and we have to compensate for this somehow. Many non-profit boards (including one I am a member of) are ditching the idea of regional representation and concentrating hard on getting people with skills to volunteer. This is not as democratic....but I believe pure democracy has not served RAAus well. It is ironic that when we did finally vote in some people with skills, they didn't last long.

I'm sorry, but blaming the members for not being able to vote in the right people is unfair. The problem is, that RA-Aus has been less than forthcoming when it comes to divulging details of occuring problems, or in fact, most any information at all. How would the average member know, not only that there was a problem, but what kind of problem and who was responsible without any information to go on at all?

 

Seriously, blaming the members in this farce is bull as far as I'm concerned, and it sure as heck won't motivate people to become more active and vote, if the blame for RA-Aus incompetence is shifted to them.

 

 

Take a look at regs , 21.405, 21.093 and 21.095 plus the CAAP at http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/download/caaps/airworth/35_7.pdfSo, if your camera or pepper spray has no appreciable effect ... then it is a minor change requiring approval. If it does have an appreciable effect then it is a major change requiring approval. No provision in CASA regs for, say, a very minor change which does not require approval.

Ah, okay. I guess in the case of going flying in bear country it's better to not tell them at all, then. I can't think of how a gaffer taped piece of "equipment" (pepper spray) would ever be approved, even if it's gaffer taped on the strut near the fuselage or something, and it would be quite dangerous to keep the pepper spray inside the cockpit/cabin in case it popped.

 

On a related note, I can't believe I'm thinking on how to avoid the rules, but it seems this is an exception of sorts, should I ever be flying in bear country (which I hope I will, one day).

 

 

Yep you are off your rocker.

I was hoping for more than what you were able to muster, and actually be told why. You know: An actual, formed argument that might be able to convince me.

 

 

"Well, or Italy."Like ICP, the manufacturer of Bingo and Savannah aircraft??

No, like Italy, who jails scientists for not being able to warn precisely about coming earth quakes. Like Italy, where corruption is widespread. Like Italy, where nepotism is everywhere, like Italy where it matters nought what you know or can, but know the right people, and you're hired.

 

That Italy.

 

 

It just keeps getting better and better we lurch from one disaster to another...it a ride I cant believe Im on!!

Andy

For every gaffe, disaster, ignorant decision-making, and whatever else catastrophe oozing seeminly endlessly from RA-Aus, I'm so glad I don't have a plane yet. If I were to buy one right now, I'd buy a VH one and avoid an RA-Aus plane like the plague.

 

Now, I don't say that to be smug or something, I'm frankly appalled at what is happening here. It's run (or not) like a business in the third world. Well, or Italy.

 

It's a farce with possible disastrous consequences. I have to admit I'm not entirely sure CASA controlling things wouldn't be a good thing at this point. I know, they're "bad", but since they sit with the off-on switch, and RA-Aus themselves doesn't seem capably of hammering a stick into a sh!t without destroying both, and does it continuously with no sense of reality. I don't think it would be such a bad idea, if it at least would bring actual management to the organisation, or am I completely off my rocker?

 

 

Well this latest situation must have sharpened up the office a lot. I passed my cross country flight test and exam on Friday morning. Bill must have faxed or emailed the paperwork for me when he got home before lunch....lo and behold my new endorsed licence turned up in the mail today.....holy crap that was super fast....so the office girl is certainly on top of things and I thank her for that

That is really impressive!

 

 

I want a plane named "Molly". And a small pinup painted above it.

 

 

My trike was named "Mother Goose" by its previous owner. I shortened it to "The Goose" by removing the M, O and R. Fitting name my wife said as she thought I was a goose for flying such a small plane.

"mor" means "mum" in Danish.

 

 

Well, I'm following this thread. I hope people are as inventive as the boating people!

 

 

They can be, but I'd much rather rely on a real plb (spot is neither a PLB, nor an EPIRB), which I already do when I'm out rowing (I row on the sea).

 

The basic differences between an EPIRB and a PLB is that the former will have to be able to float and keep transmitting for at least 48 hours. The latter only has to do it 24 hours and does not need to be able to float.

 

A SPOT could very well run out of batteries when you need it the most, and there are plenty of stories of them failing. A good thing (sort of) is the ability to message/track with it (that is, until it doesn't work, the satellite has a short outage or something, leaving people to needlessly worry).

 

So, although much better than nothing, the SPOT is a very different type of animal, it even goes through private satellites/private company, who then contacts rescue services in the country it was activated.

 

 

back in 2005 my old bunyip had a stupid pito tube stop were the ribbon was on a ring so you slipped that on first then slipped the stop/plug on last,one morning after my ussuall 20 odd min pre flight it fogged in so I decided to put the stop on (mud wasps were bad at that farm) ,NO ribbon just the stop and have a cuppa or 2. an hr later I did another 10-15 min pre flight and jumped in I did my ussuall look out to make sure controls are moving threwout range . whilst I taxied out I was looking at the wings and stutts and noticed the stop still on! blood run cold moment..I removed it and after later glued the ribbon to the stop....I know a few pilots become complacent but I have found myself doing the oppersite,the more I fly the more detailed my inspections have become and now I take pax, 30 mins is not unusual for waiting for me to do pre flight and have a bad/good habbit of pre take off checking every thing at least 5 times whilst taxing and I mean feeling the fuel lock off over and over to be sure.. the more accidents I here the more I seem to pre flight these days...

I hope that will happen to me too. I'm a perfectionist, so there's a good chance of that. In any case, I'd fly with you any day. I don't mind waiting at all, when there's a reason to wait.

 

 

Kai Aviation

I thought it would be something like this:

 

 

 

Worth reading the new draft CAAP for electronic flight bags for the section on approvals at http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/newrules/ops/nprm/nprm1211os_annexd.pdfeg para 7.9 would apply if you mounted your iPhone on a frame:

Different technical considerations, especially for external mounts, but you will find that the same rule applies to cameras.

Would that include having a pepper spray gaffer taped to the strut?

 

 

I was hoping to be able to build my own hangar. Either as a "shed" if the land I buy is big enough to land on, or perhaps I could buy a small piece of land next to a "proper" airstrip to build a hangar on. It will probably be the latter, since I need fast internet to be able to work, and I therefore need to build the house in a somewhat "civilised" area (I'm thinking of the rollout of NBN). If I don't have a fast internet, I'll have trouble up- and downloading video for editing. If I have to make a guess, I'd say that about 40 percent of my income is video editing.

 

I haven't thought of microlights at all. Yes, they look like fun, but I think I prefer something a bit more sheltered than the typical microlight I have seen.