lambadaman

My understanding is that at the moment the pilot must have a current PPL, the aircraft must be factory built and be fitted with an 'approved engine'. A radio must be fitted, and a transponder fitted if that airspace requires one. I am aware that the Ops. Manual is being amended at the moment, but my origonal post was to see what people think of the idea of the RAAus introducing a Controlled Airspace endorsment to the RAAus Recreational Licence? How may it effect the current training schools?Should the RAAus control the number of schools operatingat controlled aerodromes? I know that the RAAus would like to see it introduced soon, maybe as earlyasnext year!........

Hi all, Recently I was speaking to one of our RAAus officers, and he said that they were working on a new endorsment for our Recreational Licence. This endorsment would allow us to enter controlled airspace, provided we and the aircraft meet the requirements. This would make a coastal flight past Coffs Harbour much safer. I'm sure there are many more scenario's like this one. Another aspect of this endorsment would open the door for existing GA schools that are based inside controlled airspace to open a Recreational Wing to their operation! What do people think? Safe Flying...

Hi Guys, lies, dam lies and statistics!!!!! I have a full time job, I drive a car, I ride a motorbike, and, you gussed it, I fly an ultralight....Well when it comes to STATISTICS!!! the one I use to counter the heathens who do not fly, is that,in Australia, more people die at work each year than die on the roads. And that morepeople dieon the roads than in aircraft!!!!So.... I should give up my job..... Not drive on the roads and just fly!!!! as it's safer!!!!!.....This is notment to be cynicle... but last weekend a pilot and his sondiedwhen their motorglider crashed on Sunday. Not long afterwards a yong mandied whenthe car he was driving ran off the road, not far from the motorglider accident. That night the local, and nationalnews, reported the aircraft accident but not the motor vehicle accident....why? Well, aircraft crashes are more newsworthy then motor vehicle accidents. My piont is, when it comes to motorised transport,there is an inherent risk involved, and how we percive the risk, affects our oppinion. Most people, myself included,take( wil take ) our new born babies home from hospital in a car, and not give much thought to the risk we exposethem to.But if we arrived at the hospital in an ultralight, or any aircraft, to take them home, well, what would the reaction be??? As for danda's comments regarding the after life, my oppinion is... Better to have loved (flown) and lost, than not to have loved (flowm).

Hi guys. I must admit the Bantam is a very easy aircraft to fly. GreatSTOL abilities, but a little slow in the cruise. This does not mean that you cannot go places though, it just takes a little more time! I first flew the Bantamin Queensland when on holidaysa couple of years ago. It was similar to the Dualstar ( early model Flightstar ) that I had at that time. I was impressed, and after a few circuts with the CFI, he let me loose on my own. That flight took my 13 year old son and I around the Glass House Mountains, overthe Australia Zoo, then out to the southern tip ofBribe Island. We then decended to, and flew along, the coast up to Caloundra, waving at the fishermen along the way! Greatflying.....The next encounter I had with the Bantam was when I did the delivery flight of the Bantam that Darren flys at the oaks. This involved collecting the Bantam from Moruya and flyingit to Goulburn, this wasa short stop to refuel the aircraft and defuel myself! On the next leg to The Oaks the weather began to close in. I was glad I was in the Bantam and not the Jabiru we flew to Moruya, as I washappy that I could make a precautionary search and landing with extreme confidence.As it turned out there was no need to to divert and we both arrived at The Oaks quite safely.Since then the Bantam has seen many new pilots gain there wings at TheOaks, and many old pilots experience 'rag and tube'flying at its best! I must add that I do not have anything to do with the Bantam commercially ( unfortunately! ) but as I say 'if you cannot fly a Bantam, you should'nt drive a car!'