Jerry_Atrick

I also don't have experience of kit building (maybe one day), but I do know someone who purchases kit builds and despite the LAA (equiv. to the RAAus) inspecting at different points of the build and of course the annual permit to fly inspection, he has seen some death traps. Having said that, I have seen death traps of current airworthy GA aircraft, so neither is a guarantee. In my case, I would have an independent inspection of either unles I was that confident in my own technical assessement as even from a few hundred feet, if the thing falls apart, it is going to be a very bumpy landing.

I agree with that.. Radio phraeology here is crazy and I cringe when flying in Europe to hear British pilots prattle off the requirements under UK Radiotelehpony. But, as the usage of wilco is vague and doesn't save much if it is for simple/short instructions, may as well eliminate any risk of miscommunication. If one wants to get an enroute flight information service here, this is the call (for Farnborough LARS): "Farnborough west, Golf-Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta, Piper Warrior, Blackbushe to Dunkeswell, 4 Miles East of Blackbushe two-tousand, fife hundred on one-zero-one-niner, VFR, expect Popham one-five, request basic service". We don't do flight information or flight following; we have god knows how many different services (I think 7) that the CAA determine fit into either flight information or flight following. Basic service is the lowest and has the least chatter.. On a busy day in the South East of England, you seriously can't get a word in edgeways... So they now have listening squawks; set the transponder to a pre-determined code and they know you are listening to them. Why they can't overall for phraseology is beyind me, because, clearly they don't need it if all you need to do is set a transponder code. BTW, that is all I do, unless I need to contact them, which is, never.

In the UK, it's slightly different (we are eccentric after all). We are required to read back both clearances and instructions - well - some instructions... The example above would not normally be read back - it would be Wilco (will comply) to signal it is received, understood and will be followed. If there was a clear to land (for for and aerodrome flight information office, "land at your discretion" - which is nether a clearance nor an instruction), then you would read back... Because CAP13 is ambiguous as to when to use wilco (it says something like for short, simple instructions, wilco is acceptable), I read back all clearances and instructions... If wilco is only for short, simple instructions, it doesn't save that much time and it confirms to the ATSU (air traffic services unit) that I have understood what they have said.

In the UK, it would be Wilco, VH-ABC

Refer to the POH.. but ususally it is cabin heat/firewall vents off, windows open, fresh air vents open, land ASAP (but safely)...

For a long time, even though I had a Skydemon (something like OzRunways), I still marked up the map, manually entered the PLOG (using a beauty of a whizzwheel I got from LaTrobe Valley Aero Club), marked everything off as I went, did in-flight calcs, etc.. On one occasion though, I was running a tad late, so skipped the manual bit, punched the plan into Skydemon on my phone, checked wx, enroute NOTAMs, etc.. All good to go... jumped in and away we went. Normally, I try and familiarise myself wioth landmarks, but thought follow the magenta line - she'll be right. Had the map, not marked up.. No PLOG (which I hand write enroute checks in mnemonics).. just the phone.. And some old GPS unit of which the database wasn't updated since the day it was fitted. What could possibly go wrong? I made sure the iphone batter was fully charged, took off and as I knew the area well, headed west along a railway line past Farnborough. Sometime after, the landscape wasn't quite familiar. No worries (or wuckers if you are from my generation).. With flight mode on, the yellow plane was faithfully following the magenta line.. Problem was, I stoopidly (spelling error intentional) followed the magenta line with my eyeball. Hardly looked out until we got visual with the Severn river as I knew that area well (we - I had my son! - routed slightly out of our way as the inlaws live near there). While I was doing my best to follow the magental line, the actual track oscillated either side of it in a sort of random pattern. I flew IFR (I follow Roads) from the Severn Bridge to Clearwell, a small village in the Forest of Dean where the in-laws live, after which we turned left a bit to head north of Cardiff. I didn't even know what heading to take, I just followed the magenta line again.After passing Cardiff, we lost GPS.. from the phone - and the isntalled GPS unit. There was no NOTAM warning of GPS jamming, and my first response was (embarresingly) to almost panic. I sort of know where I am - but no idea where I am supposed to go. After about a second, I worked out I was roughly heading in the right direction - and we were flying direct to Haverfordwest.. Finally, I took note of the bearing, picked a landmark in the distance and headed for it. For the FIRST time since I left familiar territory, I recall looking out of the aircraft.. The little yellow plane sprung back to life after a few minutes, but I thought stuff that, I am going back to visual outside the cockpit.. And the plane followed the magenta line with very little deviation. It does suck you in... That flight taught me a lesson.. about why I love flying. Although the latest tech is a godsend, I like the challenge of getting everything right using my own noggin... I would write more, but my mate wolfie is banging on the door! Edit, the red circle in the picture below shows roughly where I lost GPS...

And how soon to get to the bulk of the population...

A friend of mine in London was scpetial about all of the controls put in place to control the outbreak.. he was effectively crying it was all a hoax, etc, etc. Turns out he has just sold his London flat and moved to Yorkshire to get away COVID...

G'day... from the UK...

@turbs - that is a little below the belt, ol' chap... Or at least the way I read it, it is. Whilst my business has all but evapourated, it has provided another window of opportunity I am working on... And, while I have been in general support of the response by governments who have taken early and strong responses to the virus - there does come a time where we have to look at adopting measures to allow society to open up again. However, we needed (and probably still need) a period of time of swift and strong measures to protect, whuile we work out enough about the virus to determine next steps. Are we there, yet? I am not sure. In the UK we are getting flare ups. BoJo has just mandated And, for each society, it will be different based on the culture of that society. For example, someone earlier provided data on the affect on Japan, not having had the harsh measures we have had. Well, this may work for Japan, as they are pretty well monocultural (one advantage to being that), and they tend to be a culture of obedience. I don't know if anyone recalls, but when they suffered the tsunami that knocked out Fukashima, there was news footage of younger Japanese walking in deserted streets (calmly) and stopping at Don't Walk pedestrian lights until they changed to walk - without a car on the road (well, maybe one or two were floating by ;-)). This could have been staged by whoever was broadcasting it (or the syndication network), but having worked with a Japanese Bank for a year (one of my clients), that culture of obedience is very strong (The Japanese never wanted to return to Japan for what was admitted to be the amount of freedom they had with their company here - which wasn't much). Sweden, who normally have an obliging population (and somewhat monoculture compared to many other Western European countries) have had a different outcome. One of the problems we (Aussies, Brits, etc) have to overcome, and one of the first steps to transition is an acceptance by all cultures (and I include Bogans and Ferrals) is that we have to comply with social distancing and other protective measures.. and like having sex with someone while you know you are infected with HIV, not complying is a serious criminal offence (over in England and Wales, having sex with someone while you are knowingly infected with HIV is an attempted murder or manslauughter charge - I think). And it has to be enforced. The minority groups, new from war torn countries or established, have to be educated (not just of the measure, but why) and there are no religious or other exceptions... Once some way to emperically meausre that the message had got out and has been understood/agreed upon, then you go to the next phase. etc etc etc. Exactly what those phases are, I haven't though about.. but the above is just a thought... The other thing is there does not appear to be a plan - from most of the western countries (though, Italy, France and Germany appear to be ahead of the curve). The population is getting restless. There needs to be something that they can hang their hat on - even if it has to change as new information comes to light. Without this, they may think things are rudderless and this allows conspiracy theories and general ignorance to propagate unchecked.

RIP and condolences to their family and friends. A terrible tragedy that I know if it happened like that to a loved one, I would not be in a good space.

There's one author originally from Today's Pilot who is very good and still writing for Pilot. Magazines here don't cover enough tech and technique for my liking... And their articles are not of enough depth..

I remember the first time I stalled a Blanik; the drop of the left wing was suddent and intense - straight into an incipient spin and had to be quick on the rudder. When they spiral dive, recovery also has to be quick (gradual, but quick)... Certainly a contrast to the benign PA28s..

It is clear the credit laws in Australia need an overhaul.. 'nuff said...

If the Queen is in residence at Windsor, which is about 5 miles south of the approach to 09L, the will route the plaes into 27 (L/R) even with a tailwind component of, I think from memory, up to 10kts - may be lower.. so as not to inconvenience her maj, even though the noise that she would get would be not terribly instrusive compared to the 10's or 100s of thousands directly under the final approach into either 27 runway.

Yes, hope the survivors pull through... and condolences to family and friends bereaved...

ATC took decisive control - great job considering the pilot wanted to return to Redcliffe ATSB investigation: Investigation: AO-2020-032 - Pilot incapacitation involving Cessna 208B, VH-DQP, near Brisbane Airport, Queensland, on 2 July 2020

np.. It's not a bad magazine.. I personally don't like the issu.com format and haven't read it since it has gone electronic.. which means I will probably cancel my direct debit and again subscribe to Aussie Flying...

@bluebird121 - sorry to hear about your pesonal circumstances... I think you will be OK to return to the UK (short article, but this is from their free site): UK will ditch travel quarantine for 75 countries, Daily Telegraph says

EASA bans Pakistan International Airlines from European airspace

If anyone's interested, UK Flyer magazine is now digital and totally free to read (I have no affiliation other than still paying them a nominal amount for a few perks): Flyer Digital Team

I didn't know they legalised theft these days...

Actually, I think from Monday - the self isolation thing from people coming from low/no COVId-19 countries (of which Aus has to be one), will no longer be required. The Emirates thing is probably their SOP or maybe something the the UAE requires.. not something I know of from here... When you say you are returning home for good - do you mean Scotland/UK?

I have been to the middle east once for work - to a country that is considered quite western in its approach and lifestyle. Never, ever going back (voluntarily). A complete cesspit of depravity, opression and hypocrisy. People are deminstrating in the streets against slavery but if you look beyind the thin veneer of civility, in this country, slavery is alive and well. When work tried to send me again, I resigned. They retracted the requirement for me to go; I retracted my resignation. I have only seen the pyramids and the wailing wall from a postcard (well, on the 'net now).. I won't miss not seeing them in real life. Back to aviation, with the same company I worked in the Czech Republic a lot. There was no way, back in the late 90s I was going to take an Eastern European airlines flight regardless of the fact they had started flying Boeings. However, their flight times were more convenient and I was talked into taking them once.. I was flying with a colleague who was quite a bit heavier than me (I was once svelt). When we got to our seats, the row in front were bolted not parallel but to a decent angle to us where the ailse seat was so much close than the window seat, she had to give up her preferred ailse seat to me. My immediate thoughts were a) how the hell did they do that as I would have expected their would be fixing points for the seats; and b) if they aren't providing enough care on what we can see, what are they not doing right for what we can't see. Anyway, coming in to land, I could see we were too fast and the descent rate was too high... thinking they would go around, the bone compressing landing was followed by some serious braking that resulted in underseat life jackets coming out and induced a noticable skid on dry day! I have never flown that airline since.