Love to fly

1 hour ago, BrendAn said:

i stand my earlier comment that the pilot took a risk knowing how bad the weather was on the day. 

surely you don't need extensive training to decide if you should fly or not.

this case is causing a huge ripple through raa and casa. i think thats why they have cracked down on everything.

 

Actually I think training in interpreting weather forecasts across different areas is really important for cross country flying. And without it it could be very difficult to make informed devisions as to whether a flight is safe to make. 

On 08/03/2024 at 3:47 PM, 3rd harmonic said:

There is an unofficial weather station on top of the Adelaide biplanes building that is live online, as well as weather CAMS:

https://www.aldingaaviation.com.au/weather-station/

https://www.aldingaaviation.com.au/webcams/

 

 

Great to know. I was there a month ago, and informed by one of the instructors at Adelaide BiPlanes that their weather station wasn't publicly accessible. Silly me didn't go and check for myself. 

Apparently them may have to 'restart' the inquest due to significant information being made available by RAAUS on Friday, the last day of the inquest.   https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-04/mathew-farrell-fiancee-system-failed-inquest-plane-crash/103414984

1 minute ago, BrendAn said:

its like that is it.

Like what? Bass Strait has different challenges. Being comfortable with one, doesn't necessarily reflect on the other. No sarcasm or other was intended. 

2 minutes ago, BrendAn said:

it would be a fair while before i do any trips let alone that one. one day when i have the hours up and the weather permits.  did you see mark butchers trip on youtube the other. only took him 1 and a half hrs from traralgon to wang. straight over tiger country, he had just flown across bass straight so a few hills were not going to bother him.

No hills on Bass Strait though 🤔

I have flown Tocumwal/ Bairnsdale and reverse on several occasions, so similar track to what you are asking about.  TAS at 140 knots in the RV.  The lowest safe for the area is high, over 7,000'.  Not sure how long it would take you to get there or what performance you would have.   For me its about 70 minutes flight time each way, and not all of that is over the high country..  One recent trip I had over 58 knots headwinds for about 15 minutes.  Was fine at 9,000' (IFR).  I wouldn't have been comfortable down lower or in a lower performance aircraft.  If the weather is even slightly forecast as dodgy I choose a lower route.

You may be going over a Designated Remote Area so would need to check the rules for that and make sure you comply re reporting and equipment.  Not onerous but important.  You may also need clearance through East Sale Airspace depending on where you're starting/finishing your trip.  

And asking for advice is always a good thing to do.

23 hours ago, Jerry_Atrick said:

Thanks @KRviator. No idea how I missed the Tocumwal one.. I am on that site looking at Tocumwal, maybe twice/week.

 

Just noticed they have a hangal plot for sale.. Inquiry sent.

Hangar plot in Flight Place could also be hanger house methinks. Thete us another block almost opposite also with a signboard up. And SportAviation with associated house, hangars and caravan park has just come on the market. 

The one in Wirraway was sold the day it hit the market, and is the one I referred to as recently sold in my first comment. 

On 18/05/2023 at 7:22 AM, Jerry_Atrick said:

LTF, where did you hear about this? I regularly search the interweb for blocks for sale at Toc airpoart and only get the original Facebook advertising the council did. Without a Facebook account, I had no chance of seeing the original lots for sale, where of course, the Berrigan shire short changed their constituents and gave them away for a song.

 

I would be most interested in purchasing a block a Toc... or even a finished poroperty.

23 hours ago, KRviator said:

Looks like it sold normally with an agent listing it on Realestate.com. 15 Wirraway Ct, $285K.

And for those Scone blocks adjoining the airport, found out one's already sold, the other's listed for $347K. The other two adjoining residential properties recently sold for $800K (3x2, no shed) and $1.15M (5x3, + hangar-sized workshed) just two days apart last month!

No, different one in Wirraway Ct.

4 minutes ago, Mike Gearon said:

They exited through the broken canopy if I recall correctly.  As a member of local fire brigade I was unintentionally first responder on scene. Pilot did a great job pulling the passenger from the aircraft and already had cloth and pressure applied to head wound. 

Do you know if the canopy smashed when flipping, or had he managed to break it from the inside?

Really glad pilot and pax are okay.  Very experienced & competent pilot so I'm guessing there were other factors.  RV's are built to be either tailwheel or nosewheel, with the decision being made pre/during the build.  A few have been converted afterwards.  Landing profile in an A isn't dissimilar to that of a tailwheel and the nose wheel is definitely not designed to be landed on.  But then no nosewheel is.  For a while, during a particular period in time, nosewheel collapses at Moorabbin were almost common.  None of these were in RV's.

39 minutes ago, pylon500 said:

And to think that pilots build/buy RV 'As' (with a nose wheel) because they worry about a tail dragger tipping over...

Doubt that's why pilots build or buy them. Certainly wasn't a consideration for us. 

1 hour ago, kgwilson said:

I wonder if it was the fact that the Press had loudly published MAYDAY. As it probably came from the Oceanic Datalink Comms emergency transmission how did the Press know unless there was a leak from someone?

All way outside my knowledge & experience, but I think once the Oceanic Datalink Comms transmission was triggered so was the Squawk 7700.  Media and many others monitor FlightRadar24 and similar for any aircraft squawking 7700.

1 hour ago, kgwilson said:

Yesterday, 18/1/22 Qantas flight QF144 from Auckland to Sydney declared a Mayday an hour out from Sydney. One engine malfunctioned and was shut down. The Mayday was later downgraded to a PAN and the aircraft landed safely. But dozens of ambulances and fire trucks were rushed to the airport on the basis of the mayday obviously reducing their availability elsewhere.

 

A 737-800 can safely fly and land on one engine and even take off with one engine so why would the pilot call a Mayday?  My thoughts are that some sort of initial panic set in. Pilots should be trained to deal with such things and not panic. When I heard this on the radio driving home yesterday my immediate reaction was "that's not a Mayday it's a Pan" which is what it turned out to be. 

 

Now I see from the ABC news this morning another former Qantas pilot is questioning this decision as well.

From an airline pilot, 'Oceanic on Datalink Comms, there’s only one option, and that’s to hit the emergency button. There’s no lesser option, such as a PAN call or a simple heads-up, that you use on voice comms.' 
My understanding is once they established radio comms closer to Sydney then then downgraded it to a PAN.  Perhaps those questioning are accepting the media advice that it was initially a MayDay call, as in over the radio?

Maybe have a look a this document.  Excerpts below. When did base calls become mandatory?  And for many of us if we're doing a tight circuit the timing won't be much difference between base and final anyway.

'WHEN YOU MUST  MAKE A BROADCAST The one time you must make a broadcast is in a situation where you recognise a potential conflict between your aircraft and another in the vicinity of a noncontrolled aerodrome. In this case, it is your responsibility to acknowledge the situation by transmitting your callsign and, as appropriate, your aircraft type, position, level and intentions.'  

Following tables in the document give recommendations for when calls should be made.  Nothing prohibits a final call that I can find.

radio-procedures-in-non-controlled-airspace.pdf

Block going for auction in February at Tocumwal Airport.  Another block recently sold.  Interest seems really high.

29 minutes ago, Thruster88 said:

It's a cessna 172 apparently so pilot could have night VFR or instrument rating.

Sure. But no lights at Porepunkah. 

1 hour ago, Thruster88 said:

We don't buy ozrunways for the traffic. We buy it so we have current required documents at a cheaper price and more convenient format. Flight planning, navigation and some traffic are just a bonus. EFB is not going away.

 

When I hear a plane fly over out here in the country less than 50% have an adsb transponder, ozrunways or avplan.  Traffic is not a priority for many pilots.

Lucky we are all different I guess.  I don't buy OzR at all.  I do buy AvPlan for the current complete document set in a convenient searchable format.  ERSA, AIP, DAPs etc.  And very much for flight planning.  Not for navigation - I have other tools onboard for that.  Traffic is a major bonus.  And AvPlan showing Flarm (lots of gliders around here) and some ADSB is great, more complete traffic would be better.

On 01/04/2022 at 7:18 PM, Garfly said:

AFAIK,  AvPlan and OzRwys only display 'traffic' from their own (participating) users.

Although devices like SkyEcho2 can of course be set up to display on the EFB map screens.

 

 

 

AvPlan natively (without SkyEcho or similar) shows ADSB traffic from ground receivers. So its fairly effective.  You can of course add a Sky Echo to make it ADSB out etc.
"In 2013 we introduced the first ADSB-in capability into AvPlan EFB and in 2015 introduced AvPlan Live which expanded this to include other AvPlan EFB users. In 2018 AvPlan Live traffic was expanded to include data via a network of ground based receives to show some ADSB and FLARM traffic as well."

I took at look at Red750's video in post #6 and noticed a lot of what looked like Bristells had their flaps down. Is it normal to park them with their flaps down?

No idea re Bristells but I always leave mine down on the RV. Easier for me to get down and stops others from standing on them.

Looks to be some clear country just behind, points to loss of control.

Seriously?

orry my post was poorly worded. I absolutely agree with you. What would be great is if RAA, SAA, SAFA etc. could give a clear concise message to all their members to say “No” you cannot fly for the following reasons in NSW/QLD, however at the moment you can fly if you reside in SA. Or whatever the States say at the moment. Then there would be no grey areas. Hence my plea to lobby on our behalf to have one clear statement for all pilots (as they have done for recreational boating)

Thank you for clarifying. I thought you were asking them to lobby to allow recreational/private flying. A clear statement would be good. But really how hard is it for people to heed the clear request of the Prime Minister and others to stay at home.

I am not supposed to go to my hangar anymore. I usually fly weekly or less. Depending on how long the lock down rules continue I would like to inhibit the engine. I would drive there, not see anyone, complete the job & drive home.

 

None of these apply to me wanting to ensure my aircraft is kept in good condition so it will be fit to fly when everything is all over. The only options I have are do nothing or risk getting stopped & hope that the cops will be OK with my excuse which would likely be just going to the Supermarket (less than 1km from the Hangar) then checking the plane is secure. Won't see or talk to anyone. I reckon most cops would be OK with that but if not I will be up to $11,000.00 poorer.

Another option is to pay a LAME to inhibit the engine for you. He is doing it as his job and it is currently legal for him to do so. We have ordered a new cover for our aircraft and will ask the LAME to put it on for us when it arrives.

Hi While on the topic of rental place and flight school. I am from Kenya, where I own a Savannah S. I am coming to the Mornington Peninsula area in April, then to Brisbane/Maloolaba area. Will you know any place I could convert my US/Kenya PPL in a LSA licence. Thanks

Peninsula Aero Club at Tyabb (Mornington Peninsula) would be worth chatting to.

Below from AvPlans website. Be great if OzR shared their data because then you would also get the OzR non ADSB out aircraft showing up.

AvPlan Live has had a major update – we’re now feeding in live ADSB traffic and glider traffic from a network of ground based ADSB receivers. AvPlan EFB users with AvPlan Live enabled (Settings, AvPlan Live Tracking) will see traffic from these systems as well as other AvPlan EFB equipped aircraft.

Turn on the display of traffic on the map page by tapping Map Settings, Traffic. Traffic positions update every 5 seconds when your device has a good GPS lock.

We send all targets visible to our network within 150 nm of your aircraft and within 15000ft of your altitude.

ADSB Live Traffic works well when combined with your own ADSB-in device in your aircraft. AvPlan EFB supports almost all commercially available ADSB-in devices and these can be used with all AvPlan EFB subscriptions at no extra charge.

Help us expand the reach of our ADSB network by hosting an ADSB feeder. These small devices need to be connected to an internet connection and use a small amount of network bandwidth and power. They need to be installed in a location with a good view of the sky.

Enter your details below and we will be in contact to organise your ADSB feeder. Feeder locations will be chosen to best expand the existing network into regional areas.

Lived at Lakes, or in the vicinity, for many years. Still think of it as home. Spent a smoky Christmas there with the family. Clem at Kalimna was his usual welcoming self, and our aircraft was happily tied down for the week. We flew home on the 29th December. Fortunately we had refuelled at Bairnsdale on the way in. Inland was very smoky. So we flew home coastal.