NT5224

Sorry to read about all the trouble Ian's been having with JetFarce. They really are a dreadful airline and their reliability is appalling. Until a couple of years ago I was a very regular traveller and departing Darwin often used their service to Singapore. For about three years JetFarce held a monopoly on routes to Southeast Asia from Darwin. I am not exaggerating to say that more than half of all the flights I took with them were either delayed, cancelled or lost my luggage. It was a shocking track record. I simply do not understand how the company remain in business... I missed connecting flights several times, and I the end had to always organise a day stopover in Singapore to accommodate the vaguaries of JetFarce. These days my wife and I will not fly with them on principle. The topic of delayed flights puts me in mind of a funny airport announcement I once heard (about 30 years ago!) I was at Cairo airport in Egypt, there to pick up a friend who was arriving from Baghdad. Her flight was delayed. The announcer said '' Iraq Airways Flight 432 will not be arriving on time. We hope they are alright....". Alan

OME, I'm certainly NOT suggesting piloting is a masculine activity! We Territorians don't all drag our knuckles in the red soil.... I simply mentioned that my wife has a more impulsive and spontaneous approach to her flying than me, just as she drives her car at speeds that terrify me. This is offset by the fact that she is much better at multi-tasking than me (cockpit management), has better hand eye coordination and is more adept with computer-based technologies. Whether these differences are gender related, or just temperamental differences between us as individuals (me the slow steady and cautious one, she the quick thinking, impulsive one), I don't know. Who's the better pilot overall? No idea. But I'm interested to hear from instructors if they notice differences between male and female student pilots

I think its a good idea but... Why not focus on aviation incident reports rather than media reports? We all know general (non-aviation) media reports can be very wide of the mark, speculative and even misleading. Not saying don't do it, just putting the question out there for more experienced minds than mine. Cheers Alan

I actually really enjoyed the first film ("Don't tell my wife!") . So much so that I had to show it to my wife, who also enjoyed it. I thought it very progressive (for the 50s), not only because wifey got to learn to fly but, from the narration of the instructor, is described as good a student (or even better than) her husband. I watched my own wife learn to fly over the course of a year. It is true that there are some areas of airpersonship (just kiddin!) where women seem to enjoy natural advantages over us blokes, and other areas where we men show greater aptitude. But its probably as much down to the individual attributes as the gender. For example, my wife is more of a risk taker than I, and more impulsive in her flying.. These might usually be considered male attributes... Id be interested to know from some of the instructors on here whether they've observed any differences between the aptitudes of male and female student pilots? Alan

Yes me too. Tried to edit my own hours online several times. Always comes back as 'zero' average for five years.

Folks, So what’s this suggestion that that non members should be made voting directors? Aren’t there enough members who want to serve on the board? Are the membership really so poorly skilled that they cannot make decisions about their own organisation...? More information please Alan

Hi Alan thanks for this feedback. It’s exactly what I wanted to hear, somebody else transitioning from 296 to 660. Like somebody else responded, I never really used Garmin once I had OzRunways, but liked having it in the panel as a secondary device. Also, while the pilot has Ozrunways on the pad, the passenger (usually my wife, who is also a pilot) has the Garmin on her side of the cockpit which means both crew can track the flight. My wife is actually much better at programming the Garmin than I, and if she is not flying , it gives her (or me, if she is flying) something to ‘do’. For me living out bush, the best feature of the Garmin is the ‘go to emergency landing site function’. You’re never more than a click from a direct line to the closest landing site. cheers Alan

Hi Downunder my wifey read your comment and laughed. She agreed that having ozrunways on her phone may make her enjoy looking at the airports and destinations. As a qualified pilot herself that will come in useful when she is flying. ?

Like many of us now I fly with OzRunways on my IPad. My wife often has a secondary backup device with us when we fly together, (ususally just google maps or something on her phone), and I usually have some paper charts stuffed in my flightback somewhere too. But Im looking really hard of upgrading from an old 296 GPS to a Garmin Aera 660 mounted in my cockpit. What do people think? Anybody got one, and what are the advantages of of a small single purpose device in an era of IPAD EFBs? Id really like to get one, but think I need a little more feedback from guys who own and use it, rather than just the advertising pitch. Cheers Alan

So does anybody know what happens post consultation period? How long will CASA deliberations take and what are the next steps? Presumably these consultation processes are fairly regular and so there must be some precedent for how the process goes forward. The last one I commented on was radio frequencies at uncontrolled airstrips -You'll all recall some desk pilot at CASA proposed we all use Area frequency. "Honey I'm home! Threes miles inbound, so send Mr Dog across to clear the strip..." I just don't remember how long that process took to work through to a sensible outcome. So what happens next with MTOW?

I've recently been thinking about storage and interior design in my aircraft. It got me to thinking about stuff I routinely carry when I fly, some of which is quite odd. We all fly for different purposes, in different regions, and in different aircraft and so the stuff we prioritise to carry will reflect these differences. For example, I always carry a 1m step ladder in the back of my aircraft. I selected it for its light weight. Obviously, I use this for refuelling. Im a tall bloke, but the Rebel's wings are still over my head. I once met an old timer who swore he never flew anywhere without his six shooter. I think his logic was that it was for personal protection if he was forced down in the scrub..... Whats in the back of your aircraft? Alan

I have always thought the system of logging hours on the RAA website was rather hit and miss. I have flown up to 60 hours a year, but my average for the last five years is still given as '0'. Alan

Report of a light aircraft getting caught up in ski lift cables. Thankfully pilot and passenger seem to be OK, but the incident report will make for interesting reading... https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49987780 Not sure what kind of aircraft.

Exactly. Airstrip security. Kangeroos without valid ASIC cards beware!

Bruce, less crosswind than you’d think! We basically get wind in one direction for eight months of the year and in the opposite direction for the other four months.... a little bit of localised variation because of the escarpment and topography but not much. The pic I posted is orientated for a wet season departure. But yes, a long way from Darwin. MKT would be the way to go.... Alan.

Does it make me the closest what to Darwin? Sorry don’t understand the question Alan

In case anybody is interested the latest progress update from Robin Falls International. Had old mate along during the week to have another go at it with his 12ft blade to level it. Much improved. We are waiting for the first showers -hopefully in the next month or two- and then old mate brings his roller up for finishing touches. Thereafter grass will shoot up and I’ll go at it myself with the slasher. Now have the windsock ready for installation, some tie downs to concrete in, and some hangar designs sketched out.... its gonna be an ongoing project... But the dog is happy with progress so far. As boss of this country he’s been following developments carefully and has already figured out where the Roos assemble at dusk.... Alan

Looks like a great event... enjoyed the film clip!

Good for Mrs Possum as Autopilot....! :)

Hmmm... Not sure I'd agree with this. A strip is only useful to you if you can glide to it (or a road or a flat open paddock) in event of engine failure. Assuming the glide ratio of something like a C 172 ( and windless conditions and great flying) you'd probably get about 8-10km from 3500ft. In 'station country' land is often cleared, but there's an still awful lot of wilderness around parts of Australia, and going into the trees is not a desirable outcome by anybody's standards. My place isn't particularly remote, but its 30 km to the nearest station strip and 10 km from the closest scrubby paddock or station track where you might attempt an out landing. But heading the other direction, no strip for 35km across thickly timbered and rocky escarpment country dissected by ravines and gorges. Tiger Country. Several recreational and GA aircraft pass over my house each day, including station aircraft, trainee aviators doing navs, and charters out to indigenous communities. They mainly fly at between 3000-5000ft. I have often wondered what they would do in event of an engine failure over our country. My strip is primarily for my own use and approved visitors, but in event of an emergency overhead, it might just save a life. Alan

Hi folks Has anybody here previously applied for support through the remote airstrip upgrade program? https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/regional/raug.aspx Looking back at previous successful applications, they either come from Shire Councils, Government agnecies or private companies (pastoral stations and energy companies). The terms of funding require the applicant holds an ABN, but nothing else, so its not unreasonable to assume that privately owned airstrips might be eligible if some 'public good' can be domestrated. But I can't see the names or addresses of any private applicants listed among previous funded projects... But that might just be because none have applied. Has anybody on here previously applied and been knocked back? If so, were any reasons given why remote privately owned airstrips would not be eligible? Interested to know more. Cheers Alan

Personally, I'd like to see the hardcopy format magazine continue, even if the cost rises a little. And if RAA move away from a hardcopy magazine, would the same arguments apply to the various glossy safety brochures and advisory materials we receive? Back in the AUF days, our magazine felt rough and ready, with a distinctly amateurish feel to it. It may not have been the glossy product that Sport pilot evolved into (don't get me wrong, I loved the direction the magazine was going in!), but it was just as well thumbed in the flying club tea rooms. Could the magazine be produced more cheaply, if we accepted that we didn't need such high quality production values? Its essentially a club newsletter. For a couple of years I've also subscribed to 'Australian Flying', which I think has been an excellent publication.... Perhaps Sports Pilot has been trying too hard to compete with other publications which have much broader subscription bases? Cheers Alan

Ken Are you saying your Colt is currently RAAus registered with a stall speed over 45kts? Ive seen a couple of Colts RAA registered, there was one for sale quite recently. Lovely aircraft, I'd be tempted to have one myself. Is there any risk they'd take your Colt off the register? Alan

Congratulations and a big thankyou to Ian and anybody who helped out I find the aircraft profiles section very interesting and often go there as a reference. I think it really enhances (and helps to differentiate) the site. Much appreciated! Alan

Hi folks! A couple of quick questions about windsocks. In this age of instant online weather information, remote weather cameras and other technologies there's something satisfyingly low-tech about a windsock! No doubt back in the day, the Wright brothers hoisted something similar to flap around for them on the blustery beach at Kittyhawk. First question: Is there anything in the regs about windsock placement on an airfield? I can't recall ever seeing anything written. Should it be midfield or at an end of the strip. Should it be adjacent to apron hangar and tiedowns? Or is it totally discretionary? Next question. You blokes with your own strips (say farm strips or small airfields). What size of windsock do you recommend? 8ft or 12ft? I wouldn't go less than 8ft if its got to be seen from 1000ft. Any views on this? Also is there any difference between a regular white sock and a yellow one? Is one more visible than the other? Which would make a better colour? Opinions please. cheers Alan