NT5224

Ok just wanted to bring this up to date. Just phoned Aviation Medicine. Nice lady helped me log on by providing code (I live out bush with no mobile coverage). I found my pending application. My GP had actually gone online and entered my details for me. All I had to do was push one tab 'Agree' and my medical certificate was generated automatically! So the trick is to go back online after your medical to push enter button to fomerly complete the process. I have probably been flying illegally for 18 months because of this, but now I know better. Yippee -six months until I have to start the process again! Alan

Not if the dog is registered VH experimental.👍

Stupid question maybe --but what can you do on a Class 2 that you can't do on a Class 2 basic? Alan

Pm I didn't see a DAME, just my regular GP. He didn't have a clue but figured out there was a section of the form he needed to sign and return. I was told today that I needed to go back into the portal to do more things before my certificate was issued... I suspect it's different with a DAME who probably has authorisation to sign you off on the spot. I'll go to a DAME next time for sure!

Hi Folks! I just got off the phone from CASA to follow up on a query I had. Just as well I did, because I think I've just learnt I've been flying illegally for the last couple of years! It all boils down to the complexity of the medical certificate process which I failed to complete correctly. I think it was an easy mistake to make and so am flagging it here to prevent the same thing from happening to other pilots. Essentially on my last medical certification I did the online portion of the application, printed out the form, took it to my GP, had a medical and then the GP sent a portion of that form into CASA, as required. But there s another stage of the process where you have to log back into the system online, answer post-medical questions and upload documents. I didnt do that. Today I called CASA just to enquire why I had never actually received a paper medical certificate, something that had been playing on my mind this last year. The operator had a look online and saw my application was still open and incompleted... Lucky I checked! I have two thoughts relating to my error. First, I couldn't find anywhere where this process is clearly explained online. Certainly not on the CASA portal. If you're not with a flying club or training school or going through an actual DAME, its hard to get friendly advice or pointers. I started a long and helpful discussion on this forum to seek advice at the time, but clearly still didn't get the full story. Geez, I must be dumb! Second point. We live outside of mobile phone coverage. Every time I want to log into my CASA medical portal, they helpfully send me a text message with an access code to my mobile phone. This makes it really hard to do things. I have to call in, and wait 30 minutes for an operator to be given a log-on over the phone. This whole online medical process seems unnecessarily complicated. Obviously completing the med application is the priority for me now. Hope I can still dig up the paperwork! Cheers Alan

Hi Ironpot CASA have brought out new plain English flight operations guides for regs that will come into effect from 2nd December 2021 Check out the CASA site. They're available to download; Part 91 plain english guide version 1.0 (casa.gov.au) With respect carrying doggo's in aircraft, our chums safety, well-being and comfort must be a primary consideration after general flight safety. The Boy is always harnessed and restricted to his bench in a safe and comfortable area of the cabin. He wears passive noise reduction on his ears, the same as human passengers. I completely appreciate the sentiment of Skippy's point: I am concerned about the possible effect of unnecessary transporting of a dog (any animal) in a small aircraft. We, humans, have the ability to rationalise our situation, load noise/vibration, unpleasant smells (fumes), sudden change in air-pressure, turbulence and three dimensional maneuvers. Even with this ability, many people are very stressed by air transport (particularly small aircraft). However, I do not accept that dogs are distressed by travel in vehicles where they are subject to noises and smell, vibration and acceleration forces from different directions. Any dog owner who also owns a car will know that many dogs are pretty excited about going for a drive with their families -even on bumpy roads! Most mornings on our daily walk, the Boy and I stroll down to the airstrip. If during our walk I have reason to go into the hangar, The Boy gets excited by the prospect of a flying adventure and goes to sit beside the door of the aircraft, waiting to be let in. If he did not wish to drive in a car or fly in an aircraft, I would definitely not force him to ride in either vehicle. However, as I live out bush in the Territory, our companions quality of life would be significantly lower if he could not fly. That's how many families (including both human and non-human members), get around. The new CASA regs seem to recognize this and defer to common sense and the pilots judgment on if (and how) to safely carry an animal. I think this is a step forward Cheers Alan

Lawrie I couldn't agree more. Its nuts if some folks choose to exercise dogs on airfields. That's not their purpose and the dogs pose high risk to both themselves and aircraft operations I think in those circumstances the authorities would be right to prohibit dogs on the airfield. The Boy (my dog) is a frequent visitor to airfields. He has grown up around and in aircraft. His responsibilities include clearing roos and wildlife off our home airstrip but he'll provide the same service at other airfields if instructed. He is very serious about his work.. Alan

Hi folks So was interested to read that CASA have decided to streamline their silly regs on the carriage of animals in aircraft. From what I read, as of next year it will be at the pilots discretion without the need for explicit CASA approvals, fixed cages e.t.c... Hopefully this will see more of our best chums enjoying flights with us among the clouds... So I'm curious to know whether in aircraft (and licence categories) restricted to two passengers ( e.g. RAA aircraft and certificates), doggos can be carried in addition to a passenger if the aircraft remains under MTOW, and the dog can be safely and securely accommodated? Back seat of a J230? So do dogs count as passengers? Or is it pilot plus passenger plus dog? Thoughts gents? Cheers Alan

Im quite sure some people fly unlicensed over their own properties. How many people drive unlicensed on the road? And the chances of getting pulled up are higher. I recently learned a friend's son was driving on the road before he got his ticket at 17 and was surprised, but she seemed to think it was OK. He has his license now. If I or my wife chose to fly unlicensed over our place nobody would ever know... But neither of us would.

Truer word never spake. But I'd hardly call Humpty Doo 'the outback'. Still no details on what happened. Curiouser and curiouser

Onetrack. Sorry I have no details. We were called yesterday to account for us and our aircraft ( which would be immediately recognisable if abandoned!) I also heard flying club aircraft were out searching for a lost aircraft Sunday arvo. I heard that a crash site has been found and emergency services attended. If the registration is legible on an abandoned aircraft, wouldn't that give away the owners identity? Let's wait for further information and hope for the best.... Alan 🤞

Onetrack in this case we were contacted by a friend (emergency services worker) who was on the ground at the crash site. They have been calling around aircraft owners to try and account for people and find out if anybody's missing. We were called yesterday, even though we live far away. They were trying to identify the aircraft. Dunno what that means- is it badly damaged? No idea... Just keepings fingers crossed for a good outcome. Best outcome would be if the whole thing is a false alarm.. Alan

Crash occurred Sunday arvo close to Humpty Doo some distance from the circuit. Police and emergency services reached crash site. Not sure of outcome, but stuff is being reported in news. Hope all ended well... Alan

EmKayTee airfield MKT

News reporting an ultralight down close to MKT near Darwin.

Hi John Fascinating pictures and description of a part of the country I've never seen. Excellent! Much appreciated. Alan

Hi Folks! Before brekkie on Sunday we popped across to the block next door to ours... It seems crazy but after ten years living and flying here we've never dropped into Fenton -despite overflying it constantly. During the war Fenton was first a B17 then a B24 base. It was target of several Japanese air raids. Despite smokey conditions across the Top End and Operation 'Arnhem Thunder' war games (squadrons of F 35s buzzing overhead!) we put bacon and eggs on hold. We push out the bird, preflight and set off. Its just a few minutes flight/hop from our house to Fenton. I do three low passes across the strip to scatter mobs of cattle and kangeroos and check which sections look Ok for landing. I don't need the whole length not being a Liberator at full MTOW! I could almost land across the runway width! We park up and have a walk about checking out all the old dispersal bays. Its a lovely spot, utterly deserted now but there were heritage photos of John Wayne and Cary Grant performing to a packed audience in an outdoor theatre. Dont know what impresses me more, the idea of so many people out there in the wilderness or the fact that John Wayne and Cary Grant once visited next door to our place! Short flight home through smokey conditions and then those eggs and bacon and lashings of tea... Great start to the day! Early departureHopping over to FentonScattering the stock Heritage sign B24 tail section? Hopping across the ridge back homeArrived back -our home strip Alan

Good and smokey in the Top End with everybody now burning. Yesterday I flew home from Darwin through smoke so thick that at times its hard to see the ground...luckily the smoke is trapped by an inversion at about 3500. Clear skies above. Probably shouldn't have flown but I was suffering from get-there-itus, because I was scheduled to do some burning around my own property! I passed a fire front overhead at about 3000 and felt a distinct kick upwards.. Gotta admire the courage of those mad bastards who fly fire fighting missions just above the flames! Alan

Wow that's really strong money for aircraft that have been punished in the training circuit. I guess they have been maintained (because SOAR obviously did everything by the book), but still... Perhaps people think they're getting a better bargain at an auction, but is that really true? Alan

Folks I suspect an obvious fix. Today my wife took our brand new Yaesu 550 to the airstrip with me to test it. When I was taxing our aircraft I could hear her perfectly, but she said she could only hear crackling interference and loud static , not me. She’s not a total idiot with tech (a licensed pilot herself) but just couldn’t get it to receive. Given the frequency was correct (I could hear her transmit clearly), I’m wondering if she pushed Squelch by accident or something. Only other thing I can think of is trying ANL ( ambient noise reduction). Anything obvious We’re missing here? Anyway of testing the VHF receiver here on the ground without running my aircraft radio? cheers Alan

Hi folks! Out of interest are there any legal implications to the sale of aircraft where the seller does not allow inspection for airworthiness as part of the sale? Will logs/ maintenance releases be available for inspection by buyers? Or is the situation exactly the same as buying an old used car unseen, and the expectation it will probably drop its guts on the freeway on your drive home? Cheers Alan

OME, absolutely. As a rule my dad doesn't clutter himself with material possessions, but he loves that Mosquito model. I hoped it would serve as a link to his memories as a 20 year old boy in the mid forties. My dad has been a life long and active pacifist (at great personal cost), he has some good memories of the last year of the war. He was young, enjoyed comraderie, teamwork, problem-solving and developed a life long admiration for German engineering. His recollections are tinged with sadness too, but he mainly remembers the good. Even though he went on to an extraordinary life of achievement, his face has always lit up everytime he sees a DH Mosquito on TV or at an airshow. I guess those were special times for him. And now, that wooden model brings him more joy than I could have ever imagined... Alan

Four years back I gave my old Dad a hand carved wooden model of a mosquito on his 90th birthday. I picked it up from a outfitters store in Darwin which imports them from Malaysia. Dad served on Mossies (among other types) and was absolutely rapt to receive that model. It sits on his mantelpiece and he plays with it and cleans it everyday. He pointed out some minor inaccuracies in the model and wanted to write to the manufacturers to correct the design. Its his main talking piece now and whenever I speak with him he tells me about the mossie model and that leads into service reminiscences. He loves that model, and yet the gift was purchased almost accidentally Alan

Koreelah, I agree but as Thruster said my whole property is thick woodlands. I've already cut about 15 of the highest trees at each end with a chainsaw (intentionally leaving the stumps in). Just beyond those trees the land rises in a steep escarpment. Its like flying on or off an aircraft carrier. Lots of fun. I'll clear the trees back to the escarpment, but the strip is plenty long, even with them there. Alan

At last. After three frustrating weeks grounded by a tropical low that had the clouds streaming across my airstrip there was a literal 10 minute break in the clouds. I just happened to be preparing to slash the airstrip so I dragged the bird out of the hangar and got in a few respectable circuits before the clouds began creeping back over. My wife drove over when she heard me throttle the Lycoming...And snapped my last circuit. Here's landing and takeoff Alan VID-20210215-WA0020.mp4 VID-20210215-WA0019.mp4 VID-20210215-WA0019.mp4