TechMan

Bernie, if you are arriving from the south, best cut your trip short as you want to end up in Hervey Bay, not Bundy ;) (unless Jab have released a new model this week that I am unaware off and named it Skylark?) Chris

Caltex extends warning on contaminated fuel 13 July 2007 CALTEX Australia has widened a warning on diesel contaminated unleaded petrol to cover all fuel sold on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. Earlier this week the company said unleaded fuel sold at Arno Bay and Cleve since mid-May might have been contaminated with traces of diesel. But after further testing it has now extended that warning to include all its outlets on the Eyre Peninsula from Cowell, on the east coast, to Penong on the Great Australian Bight. All sales of fuel have been suspended while further testing is underway. South Australian Consumer Affairs Minister Jennifer Rankine said it was important motorists and other users understood the suspect fuel posed a serious safety risk. "Caltex Australia says the potentially contaminated fuel could pose a serious risk to anyone operating an ultra-light aircraft, marine vessels powered by an outboard motor or other high-revving two-stroke motors because the engines could possibly falter,'' she said. For other people the contamination might resul t in engines that are difficult to start or that run roughly. Ms Rankine said Caltex had advised her that quick action was taken to ban the sale of further fuel once the contamination issue was detected. "Caltex assures me that it is undertaking a thorough investigation involving stringent testing of fuel, from the supply terminal at Port Lincoln, right through to the various site tanks,'' she said. -------------------------------------------------------------- Taken from The Australian website today.

Maybe, but you don't have winglets Time will tell. ;) Chris

Truro is great except for the fact that if you want to do something like Camden Haven and take the bus into Port, it will be a reasonable trip, even just to Gawler. Gawler airfield has the advantage that it is only a short bus trip into Gawler. Aldinga has the advantage that is in amongst the wineries. There is a disadvantage though in that you will most likely exceed your MTOW and have a very aft CG with all the wine stacked in the back. Plus the vineyard poles around Aldinga like Jabiru's for breakfast, so numbers on those might be down. :-) Gawler and Truro have the advantage that they are closer to Wilpena Pound for those interested in doing a day trip up there. The hazard being that if it is good gliding weather, there will be bits of plastic rocketing between clouds or hammering down the ridges at zot feet if it is windy. So many choices. Chris

Looks like they are already up to revision 1! Chris Technical Advice 13e rev 1.pdf Technical Advice 13e rev 1.pdf Technical Advice 13e rev 1.pdf

Thanks for the file Ian. Shaun rang yesterday to advise of the bulletin which he was going to forward to me, but so far have not received anything from him. I lie - just received the file from Shaun. Chris

The oldest Bat there.. :black_eye:

There is also a Vision being built here in Canberra. Can put anyone in touch if required. Chris

Other accidents not reported, or spotted by you keen web trawlers were: Jabiru J160C directional control loss on landing by a solo student down near Murray Bridge and; Fisher Koala at Old Bar, EFATO, got it down ok, ran out of room and flipped it over. Unfortunately the fire brigade and HazMat people decided it was a good training exercise and promptly killed the aircraft by covering it in foam. I mean honestly, if the thing was going to burn, they could have toasted marshmellows on it! Needless to say, it is now stuffed. Chris

He is now, since he heard Buzz Aldrin was coming!

I can't add anything useful to the discussion here, though: Newcastle to Nowra = Promotions??? huh? ;-) Chris

An update for ASIC holders and ASIC applicants. As mentioned previously in this thread, AUSCHECK a function of the Attorney Generals departments has been handed the task of running with the application processing. In short form, they have a vision of a 2-3 day turnaround time for the approval process for ASICs, and then you need your card printed. The idea is for it to be completely computer driven, though how do you implement computer linkages into government organisation with any sensible form of red tap? Hence, the havoc that will be unleashed on July 1 will be nothing short of the farcicle that was DOTARS attempt on implementation of the ASIC. In addition to this, the cost will go up to around $140. Thanks for that. The long answer is this: Applications will be verified by CFIs, including photos. Applications are sent to RA-Aus. RA-Aus staff will need to input the data into the Auscheck website (room for input error) Auscheck has access to a magnificent facility called Data Verification System which will holds everyone's birth certificate details, passport details etc etc, which incidentally won't be functional until sometime in 2008! so who knows what they will do till then?? If the applicants data does not match the data on the DVS, the application is rejected. Otherwise, Auscheck processes the request and sends the application to AFP, ASIO and DIMEA (foreigners) electronically. If all clear - a response gets sent to RA-Aus indicating successful completions. This, together with the scanned image that RA-Aus has taken of your supplied photograph goes to the Card printers. If the application is rejected, or you are a terrorist, you will be promptly visited by men in black and taken to another world (so to speak). Renewals work in exactly the same way - without the ASIO check. Sounds great, though the current state of Auschecks development leaves one scratching their head as to what will happen from July1. Fun times ahead, lets hope you have your cards and they have the correct photos on them (have you checked yours?). We have had numerous cards back for our members that do not have our members picture on them... Just another battle we have ongoing in the office. Chris

An update on Part 103. The deadline for submissions has been extended to the 29th June (hopefully this year). They are trying to line up Part 103 with Part 149 NPRM release, though the lawyers have got a hold of it at the moment, so who knows when things will happen.. That's all I know at this stage. Chris

google earth - 35'27'05.34S 138'21'39.50E shows an aircraft, I can't make out the strip, though I can make out a power line running overhead. Chris

you haven't got the aircraft rego by any chance? Might be able to help out if you do. Chris

Can you perhaps give us your thoughts on what 'timely' would be and what you would want to see in these said reports? I take it, substantiated facts would not be required in these reports, as perhaps they have not been determined as yet. Would you be looking for an overview of the accident? Ie, engine stopped, aircraft crashed, pilots on board deceased? Whilst I know that experienced crash investigations will form some sort of theories early on in the piece and then go and try to prove those theories incorrect, which theory should be in the report? We all want to know what happened so there is a process that gets followed, even perhaps if it was not done so in previous events prior to the current Ops team. I personally can't see any benefit in producing a report indicating that the aircraft was flying from A to B in a supposed normal attitude, the aircraft entered a spiral condition and crashed into trees killing the occupant(s). Reason - unknown. I can bet the minds out there reading this will already have formulated some sort of theory as to what might have happened. Whilst it is a touchy subject, and one that people will argue over for years to come, information will be broadcast with factual information once it has been established. Chris

Nothing as yet Andy, consultation with the public only finishes at the end of this month, so after that we will know more. Chris

It is supposedly a S.M.A.N Petrel Amphibian. Google will guide you on where to get one (I should hope) :-) Chris

Sorry Nev, not on me. The 0-200/Continental 'sales pitch' was part of the Avtech 2007 industry presentations run by CASA. Their Aplha engines also make for interesting developments, as it seems that gone are the days of being able to fit a round plug in a square hole and space it with rings. Their accuracy is increasing down to even 'thousands' (be it inches), they are buying British made pistons that weigh up to 2grams of each other and they are streamlining air intakes and matching flow through rate of cylinders to each other and bolting them on engine cases. Unfortunately, I still reckon that as soon as the apprentice swaps a barrel, all the technological advantage disappears with each click of the torque wrench ;-) Chris

Great pics. Anyone got any of my glider which was on static display with one of the gliding clubs there? German rego D-6111 "D2C"? Chris

Continental are supplying their 0-200 engine with the FADEC (fully automated digital engine control - or something like that) and have removed magnetos and carburettor. They have aimed this at the LSA market in the US. The FADEC allows plug and play for fault and maintenance management with an upload facility to the factory for analysis, results being emailed back. Wont be long before we see it on the other engines out there. Chris

The GFA has a syndicate contract which you could probably pillage and adjust to suit. It will give you a good guide of what needs to be included etc. It may help.. http://www.gfa.org.au/gfainfo/syndicate.php Chris

That is correct, although you need to substitute 'owner' with 'builder'. Only builders can be trained in their own 19 cat aircraft, not 'owners' per se, who have purchased a 19 cat aircraft. Yes, the test hours need to be completed also. Cheers Chris

Hi Arthur - correct. From what Lee has told me, an untethered chute (in its packed and compressed form) has the capacity to fire to 10,000 feet from the ground (depending on what charge is used). That's one hell of a punch, which no one will survive if it hits you at close range. Chris

Well done Maxamos. Next is the Gold C. Keep at it, you'll get there. Even the junior should be able to manage 300km ;-) (if not I can sell you a glider...oops, is that commercial advertising?) :-D Have fun up there. Chris