Ferris

The AWIS is a very handy tool. Most airfields either have an AWIS or a neighbouring field with this service. Using the AWIS will give you generally 20 minutes or so to plan your landing, with a visual inspection of the windsock, just a confirmation of what you already know. All good in theory, but you still have to slot into the circuit pattern.

Yep, I got lasered around 12 months ago. Not much fun. Fortunately I had a bit of height and it occurred during the day. It was just a temporary distraction, and thought it was somebody with a mirror at first. I'd hate to have it happen on late final or worse turning onto base on a dark night. Could be devastating!

Thats sick, but I laughed anyway

War crimes are only ever committed by the losing side. Same as a bar room brawl. It's never the winner who calls the coppers.

I am surprised at the critcism of Ian, as though I don't shop through that business all that often, the experience has always been good. Prices as advertised and delivery within the week. In the case of a headset that I bought and went faulty, it was fixed without charge well outside the warranty period.

Good thing it was a roo, not a swan or the crowd would be booing.

Night flying is magical, and I would have to say that flying into Melbourne at night was worth doing the whole course for, if nothing else. I try to start or finish as many flights as possible at night, because the experience is so different to day time flight. But, and it is a big but, I also have to fly at night regularly to remain current. Night flying carries a far higher risk, with a lot more potential for things to go wrong - both with the pilot and the aircraft. Ayavner's photo of Bankstown demonstrates how clearly defined the horizon is there. Even under the hood you get enough of a perception of what's around you, to not be fully without an horizon. When the view out of every window is the same as the TV turned off, it's a very different picture and feeling, and yes I've had the heart racing a couple of times as I turned onto base. I demanded my instructor take me out on the blackest of nights as often as possible. On top of this, he insisted that I fly and land without landing or instrument lights for about 70% of the course. By comparison, flying over the cities is a cinch. As a side issue, put your hand up if you've suffered the leans at night? I'll start. I have.

Yep, I've got to agree with Ben. Night flying around the cities is little different to day VFR. Turning base on a black night with no horizon and not a spec of light anywhere is a whole different ball game.

Border Protection would like a high resolution photo to assist with identifying the boat

Hi Dave, I started out using AvPlan and really liked it as a program. For a while I ran both programs side by side for comparison (a Ford & Holden in the garage together). At that time AvPlan probably had more features, but OzRunways soon caught up. The difference between the two brands is marketing. OzRunways appear to do that better than AvPlan and now we have a Microsoft vs Apple situation. At the end of the day I changed over to OzRunways purely because there was nobody else locally running AvPlan, that I could bounce problems off. By switching to OzRunways we could easily compare notes. Cheers Ferris

We had a bloke turn up to our airport several years ago with an aircraft he'd purchased interstate and somehow arrived in Victoria. The gent wanted some hangar space and for somebody to give him a few lessons. Didn't want to pay for an instructor. Somehow the fool managed to get his plane into a hangar, bypassing the Committee. When asked to remove it, the bloke threw a fair tantrum, made threats and generally tried to intimidate everybody. Fortunately the Committee stood fast and ejected him, and then watched in amazement as he bounced the wings off the hangar doors and walls, bending the plane. This guy had absolutely no idea. He then wanted to buy avgas which was refused. The committemen decided the best thing was to lock everything and leave this guy to his own devices. Neither he nor the aircraft were ever seen at the airport again. We made a few enquiries and ascertained the plane hadn't flown for more than a decade and was bought over the internet for a few hundred dollars. Word got round very quickly and every instructor within cooee heard the story and hopefully nobody took him on as a student. The post script to this story is that some months later our 'gentleman' and I use the term loosely, was featured on tv when he was caught trying to smuggle illegal weapons into the country. One can only guess at what nefarious activities he had planned for that aircraft.

Dave, firstly congratulations on the purchase of your aircraft. I hope it is everything you wished for and provides many hours of enjoyment. I can see your frustration at finding an instructor and your comparison to the diving industry. Both are absolutely fantastic sports. The biggest difference between the regulation of the diving industry and aviation is that diving is governed by an industry code of conduct. That code is stongly enforced by all operators and there is no real penalty if I go for a dive without the relevant qualification. RAA on the other hand are governed by a government overseer in an industry that is tightly regulated. A coroner once described aviation rules as being "an almost incomprehensible legal framework." The only area of Australian life with more rules is taxation, and we all know how much that is hated. My point is that, while these rules are often unworkable the RAA has to comply no matter how difficult this makes it for you. At the end of the day, CASA has no interest in growing the sport and therefore no incentive to simplify the rules. David you have obviously done your research and would seem to be meticulous and very responsible. On the other hand, I have seen somebody turn up at the airport with an old trike he bought on line, and it was these rules that kept this fool from killing himself or somebody else. Sadly most of the rules in aviation have been written in blood, and there may well be a good reason for them. Incidentally I have had to work similar rules, and they all seem to cost lots of money. I share your frustration, and just look back and say well that $5000 could have been better spent elsewhere, but at least I am flying, and I know I'm a safe pilot.

Father O'Shannesy was walking home to the monastry from shopping one afternoon, when the local prostitute heckled him and asked if he wanted a quickie. Not sure what she was meaning he hurried home and rushed to mother superior's office, and asked what's a quickie? Fifty bucks same as in town came the reply.

Let's hope they don't put up fences to keep the north islanders out, but a few of us are looking to head across the ditch for a weekend in early February. We're wanting to go to Hobart to have a look at the wooden boat festival amoungst other things. We'll be taking a couple of VH craft so C airspace is not a problem. We just need a little advice from our friends down south about where we should park the planes, ie Hobart or Cambridge or somewhere else and also looking for some suggestions about aviation friendly accommodation (don't want anything fancy). At this stage, 10 people have put their hands up, with three sky drills, but of course, when it comes to parting with the folding stuff, no doubt the numbers will drop off. I am told that Hobart is fairly hectic in early Feb, and getting a bed can be a real problem, so another option is to find somewhere out of town and hire a car. Now I am hoping that a nice Tasmanian would like to see us spend a bit of cash in their town, and point us in the right direction. Cheers Ferris

Yes, they are good value for money, but recognise they are at the lower end of the market and most pilots will eventually get something better. I have two sets, but keep them for passengers these days.

Here, here......., and I even have my wife's permission to say so.

That's cruel

I am going off in a bit of a tangent here, but I vaguely recall reading an article suggesting that while mobile phones are not a problem to navigation, but FM radios can be. I've looked for the article and can't find it, but I have a recollection that the frequency modulator within the receiver can affect VORs. Does anybody know if this is correct, or have I been out with the fairies. Cheers Ferris

Hello everybody at JRCC. Let me be the first to congratulate whoever is behind the above post for thinking outside the box and finding a better way to scotch rumours and distribute correct information. Cheers Ferris.

This is a great service and congratulations to all involved. Quick question, how do i use it with an ipad; ie the copy & paste bit?

= 0.015552

Things seem to be moving faster and faster in the technology sector, or is it that I am getting older? For those that are travelling to remote areas this could be a great assistance. SatSleeve Make satellite calls with your iPhone Turns your iphone into a sat phone. Cost is around $US 500 and $1 per minute to use. They haven't released the monthly service fees yet. http://www.satsleeve.com.au/

I have a very simple question for you. Where does the ice actually form inside the carby? I was under the impression it formed in the needles.

From my observation of Angel Flight pilots, I have yet to see any of them conducting the flights for anything other than altruistic reasons. The pilots still have to supply an aircraft and keep their skills current in order to donate their time. I believe Angel Flight require a minimum of 250 hours PIC. The unfortunate crash of an Angel Flight near Horsham earlier this year will put the organisation under considerable scrutiny, so it may be that pilots will require additional training or supervision. We'll have to wait and see on that one. I guess the benefit for the pilot is that he gets to fly to different places and meet new people at a slightly reduced cost than if he were doing it on his own. In most cases the pilot is still contributing $150 or more per hour out of his own pocket, and the passengers are never asked to contribute a cent. Having been associated with a couple of Angel Flight passengers, I can provide an assurance, that they and their families are extremely grateful.

Much of the noise comes from the propellor tips approaching and in some cases breaking the speed of sound. Cessna 210's are restricted at some airports for this reason. The yanks had an aircraft in Vietnam that was very quiet. Supposedly could fly within 200' without being heard. The tradeoff was speed and efficiency.