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John G

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  1. New Executive Announced July 9, 2013 | Mark Clayton The following Executive appointments have been confirmed: President: Rodney Birrell Treasurer: Jim Tatlock Secretary: Paul Middleton Election Statements were submitted by the nominees prior to voting, in accord with Resolution 08/52 (September 2008). These can be viewed within the Member’s portal. Mark Clayton Public Officer
  2. New Executive Announced July 9, 2013 | Mark Clayton The following Executive appointments have been confirmed: President: Rodney Birrell Treasurer: Jim Tatlock Secretary: Paul Middleton Election Statements were submitted by the nominees prior to voting, in accord with Resolution 08/52 (September 2008). These can be viewed within the Member’s portal. Mark Clayton Public Officer
  3. If one looks at the members web site regarding aircraft registrations it says more about what is being hidden from us, rather than the true state of affairs. I have a few members renting space in my hangar and in two cases they have had aircraft unregistered for weeks on end, and in one case two months! They have asked me a few questions that I can't answer for them. 1. I have paid my money two months ago and I still don't have my Rego, when it comes will it be dated the day it was due or when it was finally processed? 2. I have paid my insurance but unable to use my aircraft due to the incompetence of RA-Aus, can I sue them for my additional costs? I do not have the expertise to answer their questions so would appreciate those that have to provide some answers to their questions. Looking at the data provided on the RA-Aus members web site it is entirely meaningless and a total waste of staff time as it does not mention how many aircraft are currently unregistered. Registration Update 21/6/2013 June 25, 2013 | opsassist Number of new aircraft registrations processed since November 15th(when CASA reinstated our renewal approval) 93 Number of aircraft registration renewals processed since November 15th(when CASA reinstated our renewal approval) 1535 Number of aircraft registration renewals processed during preceding week(ended 21/06/2013) 34
  4. Actually x-wind capabilities of the Foxbat are one of the best I have seen. The earlier models had a 17 knot demonstrated capability. Personally, I tested 27 knots and bent the nose leg trying to land beating an unexpected hailstorm. Paid for the nose leg out of my own pocket as the insurance will not cover damage caused by exceeding the published aircraft limitations. The newer models have reduced their rudder area and I suspect won't have the absolute limits I have seen achieved. However I think 12-15 Kts capability is mor than adequate for most folks.
  5. Not so Fast! Having instructed students on a number of aircraft and having flown the Gazelle, my own opinion is that the Foxbat A22 should be awarded the honour. A very subjective assessment of course! I have instructed ab-initio in Drifters for a couple of thosand hours and Foxbats for some 1600 hours. IMHO I believe that the Foxbat, if anything is "too easy" to fly and that pilots trained on the Foxbat have had an easy run compared to other marques. So why do I use the Foxbat? An extremely safe aeroplane, particularly with a BRS fitted...and I got sick and tired of being windblown in the back seat of the Drifter. I still love to fly the Drifter from the front seat!
  6. I Have actually written to the Ra-Aus Board suggesting exactly that! I believe that ATSB is shirking their responsibility and hiding behind budgetary constraints when all air accidents/crashes should be thoroughly investigated as they are in England by the AAIB and in the US by the NTSB, where even lowly ultralight aircraft crashes are investigated. I had the temerity to suggest that the Board should get out of the weeds of accident investigation and concentrate on strategic issues, such as whether the ATSB should investigate all our accidents and got howled down for my efforts.
  7. I totally agree that we need to develop an RA-Aus Safety Management System (SMS) that is written professionally and takes into account our type of operations that addresses the safety issues our members are likely to face and not a CASA mandated system that is slanted towards commercial or charter operations. I have passed on to the RA-Aus Board the names of companies that are expert in the field; as opposed to someone that has experience in the mining industry and thinks that mining safety systems are readily converted to aviation. One of the companies I have recommended has extensive experience developing SMS packages for aviation acceptable to CASA and tailored to specific sectors of aviation. One company in particular, is headed by a current RA-Aus PE that lectures at university on development of SMS's and has a staff of experts with varying skill levels that can be utilised to develop a specifically tailored SMS for RA-Aus relatively quickly and sure to be acceptable to CASA.
  8. Turbs you must have missed a post or two. It was A/R that made the statement when you rightly jumped into Myles's defence and I simply said it was our business if Myles is claiming otherwise.
  9. I'll leave that up to the folks making the statement; however it shouldn't be too hard to prove, either he was employed or he wasn't.
  10. Turbs, I have a copy of the Email and have not posted it for the very reasons you cite!
  11. On the contrary Turbs it is our business when Myles claimed in his Email to the Board that he had resigned his normal "day" job to take up the appointment; when in fact he had been unemployed for a number of weeks before convincing Ed to give him the job.
  12. This is an Email I sent to the Board tonight: President and Board Members, Ed, et al, I met you all at the February Board meeting where I was Dave Caban's proxy. Hopefully you would have gained the impression that my main interest is ensuring that RA-Aus remains the vibrant and successful organisation that it has been over the last 30 years! I reminded the Board that this is our 30th Anniversary year and that we should be celebrating that and reminding our members of our the achievements of our pioneers and successive Boards of management that guided us through many challenges. Unfortunately, due to a quagmire of Board self-imposed problems, we have seemed to have forgotten to remember the great work achieved by our predecessors. The current Board will go down in history as having ditched our constitution and proper governance in successive knee-jerk reaction to a regulator that is acting illegally and outside their own rules. Not that most Board members would have had time to listen to recent proceedings in the Senate, where CASA's CEO John McCormick had to explain to the Senate why CASA had employed the Chief Pilot of Pel Air who was then allowed to have regulatory oversight of Pel Air within 2 years of leaving that organisation; against CASA's own rules and regulations! It would however have been instructive for Board members to hear CASA's CEO try to explain the lapse and the importance of why the principles of good governance exist. For RA-Aus Board members it is a salutatory reminder that good governance is "important" and should never be ignored or compromised; even when a perceived "emergency situation" exists. Instead of knee jerk reactions to each and every direction from CASA, the Board should have been carefully examining why the sudden spotlight and sudden discovery of skeletons that were placed by the very same people, now pointing at the skeletons! Had I still been on the executive or a member of the Board I would have been parked on CASA's doorstep crying FOUL! when both the ex CEO of RA-Aus and Ex OPS Manager were hired by CASA to head the newly established Sports Aviation Section to oversee the operations of RA-Aus; in contravention of their own rules. The resultant paralysis of the correct functioning of RA-Aus was apparent almost immediately from the ill-advised appointment of our Ex CEO and OPs Manager to positions in CASA overseeing RA-Aus. A decision against all of CASA's own governance regulations. Gentleman, you should all have been parked on CASA's doorstep and the Minister's protesting this basic breakdown of good governance. Appointing an Ex-Board member that was part of the executive and had a major controlling decision in appointing himself to a high salaried position in the employ of RA-Aus is an absolute breakdown of good governance; particularly when the rest of the Board is not consulted or informed until the decision has been made. Albeit, a totally illegal decision! Gentleman good governance insists that you reverse that decision; particularly if you want to hold CASA accountable to follow their own governance procedures and address the underlying issues on why RA-Aus has been reduced to a state of dysfunction due to CASA's own misguided action in hiring disgruntled ex RA-Aus employees that have a score to settle; or if they don't, it can certainly be perceived to be so to a casual observer or a Senate inquiry. Ed, in my discussions with you, you told me that you felt that you were backed into a corner by CASA and that Myles was the only one that could deliver the goods as demanded by CASA. I fully understand the position you thought you were in. As I told you then and I will tell you again; it was the absolute worst decision you could make. Wrong reason, wrong person! As I have tried to outline above, we have been tackling the problem from the wrong angle and feeling pressure when in fact we should have been fighting back. How do we fix it? First thing is to reverse the Myles appointment! The membership will never forgive you all if it is allowed to stand. "I continued the Email with contact names and suggestion of folk who could develop a tailored SMS for RA-Aus."
  13. Turbs, I do know the guy and you are being over generous in stating that there is no self-interest involved and that he is doing it for the members.
  14. Let's not forget that Myles was on the Exec at the time of SR's motion and the subsequent months and therefore complicit and equally guilty of inaction. What makes us think that Myles will change his spots?
  15. Ok; are you supporting ED because he is your SA representative? I am not full of piss and wind; ask your questions and I will be happy to answer why Ed is WRONG!!!!!!!!
  16. Ed, as a Previous President; Let me tell you that you are are TOTALLY out of line. No matter what excuses you may wish to proffer. CASA does not own our organization! Nor should they dictate how we run our organization. Your decision is wrong on so many levels I am left totally appalled. I am happy to enter into full discussion of your illegal and detrimental decision and the effect it will have on OUR organization. Ed, Unfortunately you chose the one individual that has caused RA-Aus irreparably harm for the position and the manner in which you tried to bring this about leaves me to question your motives and that of those that advised you.
  17. What was really achieved by the GM/EGM? My intention was to attend the GM/EGM with some very fixed views seeking some answers. I must say I was very impressed with the quality and civility of members at the meeting that were seeking answers to the most pressing issues affecting all members. I had signalled my intention to attend the GM/EGM and requested proxies from those that had not made up their mind at the ninth hour in how they were going to award their proxies. The end result was that proxies were never called for, but nevertheless important to have and be aware oftheir importance. Virtually at the last minute, Dave Caban, one of the members for NSW contacted me saying that he was unable to attend the meeting due to work commitments in Darwin and asked me if I was intersted in attending the GM/AGM and the subsequent Board meeting as his proxy. Mmm, given my previous history with many of the encumbents on the board it was going to be an interesting situation and a bit of a dilemma for some; not to mention myself included. Having previously chaired a number of AGMs with 10-20 members maximum in attendance it was a revealing transformation. Personally I'd like to see several thousand turn up as an indication of their interest in the organisation. That is not going to happen; but to see some 160-180 folks participating was heartening to some extent ( even though it was in negative circumstances). NSW traditionally has some 2300 members; and yet, the maximum vote for Board member positions, given that voting forms and pre-paid envelopes are supplied: we are lucky to get 200 members exercising their vote. That abysmal voting trend is replicated throughout the rest of the states in Australia. In other words, we are an apethetic mob not intersted in getting of our arse unless it really affects us personally. Hard to expect Board members to get motivated or responsive to ocassional bitches with stats like those. At the Board meeting afterwards I was under the firm impression that the Board had heard the call from members and that they would be more responsive and address the issues raised. The Treasurer resigned, allowing many of the issues complained about to be tested and rectified. All of the resolutions raised at the GM/AGM were discussed at the Board meeting and a resolution taken to address the issues raised. I believe the President will report seperately on the out come of the Board meeting. Having been an interloper with some history, and expecting to be given short shrift at the Board meeting; I came away with the distinct impression that the Board has heeded the Members' concern and have resolved to do better into the future. JG
  18. If you can convince the politicians then do it; you won't get any argument from me. The ATSB have a very constrained budget but sweeping powers such as the ability to enter premises seize records and coerce witnesses to give evidence. Their main charter is for mass public transport, air , rail and ship where the public won’t accept danger to fare paying passengers. To get the same powers for investigating Recreational Flying of mainly “Informed Participants” would be highly unlikely. Why did ATSB investigate the Ferris Wheel accident? To my knowledge they have never previously investigated any RA-Aus accident. They do tend to only investigate GA accidents that are “news-worthy” In a way we are far better off than GA in accident investigation and reporting. In a GA accident if the ATSB declines to investigate the the local Police conduct the investigation using similar procedures to vehicle accidents. At least in RA-Aus we ensure that a trained investigator is assisting the Police to ensure that correct procedures are followed and appropriate conclusions drawn. In the case of GA accidents where the ATSB declines to investigate they have no representative body to assist the Police in their investigations.
  19. Frankly I don’t believe there is a problem with RA-Aus accident investigation. There may be a perceived problem in the timeliness in how non-urgent information is disseminated to the general membership. Firstly, I’ll declare an interest. I am an RA-Aus and ATSB trained accident investigator. I have investigated some 10 fatal RA-Aus accidents (never a pleasant task, particularly when some deceased are personally known). If we accept the international norm that 99% of all accidents are “Human Error” and not aircraft related; then what everyone here is asking for is not realistic for obvious reasons. I can personally assure you that in all cases that I have been involved in; where there is an “aircraft related safety issue” affected members are informed within 24-48 Hours and all members within 30 days. In one case that I was involved personally where corrosion of Drifter flying cables were the culprit; all Drifter owners were notified within 24 hours and the rest of the membership in the next edition of the magazine and the RA-Aus web site. However in the case of patent “pilot error” what family or friend wants to hear that their “ace pilot” was the architect of his or her own demise. The Coronial and Police process take some 2 years to resolve for a very good reason. The raw emotions grief and hurt are given time to heal. And frankly those not involved have no business prying unless there is a very good safety case to be made. As I have said before, if there is a good safety case and a need to know then the facts are very quickly conveyed to those that may be affected. As an accident investigator, my report assisting the Police is sent to the Coroner and I can’t divulge the contents until the coroner releases it. In all cases where the safety of fleet is implicated the Coroner allows specific details to be released to effect immediate remedial action. I am not an apologist for many of the RA-Aus hierarchy failings and believe they should be held to account where those failings occur. However, in the area of accident investigation, I believe that they do their utmost to investigate and prevent similar occurrences where preventable. The “crash- comic” mentality brought about by CASA’s ”Safety Digest” is not achievable within the regulatory and legal framework under which RA-Aus operates. If one reads between the lines of OPS Managers monthly reports, the immediate lessons learned from accident investigations are conveyed to members in a de-identified form so that no legal repercussions will result.
  20. David, Sorry, should have been "Agenda items as listed on Notice of General Meeting". JG
  21. Hi Kaz, I've responded to you in the original thread I started "President Resigns etc" The reason for the flood was I was trying to draw together all the thread drifts to remind readers of this forum that the action happens in a few days time and if they have not appointed a proxy to date; they will be spectators.... or the general majority of apathetic "Telegraph" readers or "John Laws" listeners. My apologies to those that really believe that those are vehicles that allow their opinions to be moulded. JG
  22. Hi Kaz, In response to questions 1 to 6 ---UNACCEPTABLE ! To the others I know you could also mention the answer would be the same. JG
  23. Hello John John G said: ↑ Hi Everyone, Due to a lot of requests by RA-Aus members in my local area I have decided to bite the bullet and attend the RA-Aus General Meeting at Queanbeyan on the 9th February. I have had a number of people who trust my judgement request that I act as their proxy at the meeting. I am happy to accept any proxies from members of this site who have not as yet made up their mind as to who should hold their proxy vote. If you would like me to hold your proxy vote you need to complete it and Email it to me before Friday. My details are: Email [email protected] Details of proxy Holder: John Gardon PO Box 154 Wardell NSW 2477 Member #5334 You also need to select whether you wish me to vote in a particular way on each question; or how I see fit, if you trust my judgement. In addition to sending it to me, you need to send it to [email protected] by 09:30 on Friday or I suspect that it will be judged invalid. Regards, John Gardon I have great respect for your professional skills, John and think highly of you as a person. but I would like to know what your take is in regard to current issues such as: 1. The failure of an audit on four successive occasions 2. The failure to comply with requirements under the Act to provide and publish all of the financial materials in time for the AGM (I note the 6 monthly update hasn't been published, either) 3. The reappointment of Mr Runciman to the Board as President event hour he also resigned as NQ rep 4. The granting of type certificates to various LSA aircraft that allegedly do not meet the requirements and are now also grounded and unregistrable other than as experimental 5. The alleged refusal by the person claiming to be President to release information equally to all Board members 6. The apparent blatant use of RAAus funds to pay for a political mail out designed to attract proxies to Board members and maintain their security of tenure Just to mention a few. Kaz
  24. Hi Kaz, In response to questions 1 to 6 ---UNACCEPTABLE ! To the others I know you could also mention the answer would be the same. JG
  25. Hi Everyone, Due to a lot of requests by RA-Aus members in my local area I have decided to bite the bullet and attend the RA-Aus General Meeting at Queanbeyan on the 9th February. I have had a number of people who trust my judgement request that I act as their proxy at the meeting. I am happy to accept any proxies from members of this site who have not as yet made up their mind as to who should hold their proxy vote. If you would like me to hold your proxy vote you need to complete it and Email it to me before Friday. My details are: Email [email protected] Details of proxy Holder: John Gardon PO Box 154 Wardell NSW 2477 Member #5334 You also need to select whether you wish me to vote in a particular way on each question; or how I see fit, if you trust my judgement. In addition to sending it to me, you need to send it to [email protected] by 09:30 on Friday or I suspect that it will be judged invalid. Regards, John Gardon
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