Natfly 2012

[Guest avi8tr]

Tragically a man and couple lost their lives shortly after departure. What a tragic end to a great weekend. Fly safely everyone.

 

 

[jrmobile]

I think the RAAus have a lot of work to do between now and Natfly 2013 if this event is to continue to prosper ..just my opinion ..

Dave C

Could I second this motion, as it did feel flat this year.

Great to catch up with lots of people, always the best part of the show!

 

The heavy CASA presence - with ramp checks, etc, were mention by a few as a big downer.

 

Great flight back to Lismore yesterday with a 20 knot tail assist all the way.

 

 

[Guest David C]

Absolutely jrmobile , my sentiments entirely . Someone said yesterday that Natfly was "lacking atmosphere" .. I couldn't have agreed more . I recall at Narromine , there was a feeling of cameraderie , and for me I always met up with many past attendees , we shared tales as well as Johnny Walker, I also remember sharing the "Chateau Cardboard " wine cask with our old mate Darren Masters was also a highlight !! ... No for me I'm disappointed , and I'll probably be doing what one major exhibitor said and not bother next year ..

 

Dave C

 

 

[Guest DWB]

I thought it was generally dead compared to the last 2 years, but these things can be cyclical. Exhibitors were down for a variety of explainable (hope your feeling better Michael) & non explainable reasons. As I said to Steve Runciman, I sincerely hope CASA doing ramp checks didn't put anyone off as that would be a very sad & disturbing indictment on aviators in general as far as I'm concerned.

 

We were happy with the general level of enquiry as first time exhibitors & enjoyed taking TAA forum members Metalman (with Sean) & Diaposan with myself for a demo yesterday. Great to meet &/or catch up again with Windsor68, Maj Millard, avi8tr, Bas, Blackrod. Those forum members that I missed seeing, maybe next time. i know Glenn came looking for me whilst I was off entertaining friends that had come to see me from Naranderra at lunch time & I think Sean said 1 or 2 others also dropped by to see me but he couldn't remember who they were.

 

Maybe next year will be better.

 

 

[cficare]

CASA's ramp checks....any results of note?....

 

or is it 'hush hush'?

 

Was it 'intimidatory' or targetted...

 

did it serve a purpose?

 

were the Casa people courtesous...or otherwise..?

 

nice to see the 'over-riding' regulator coming in hard.

 

gotta justify the salary somehow...

 

I would suggest that the drug/alcool testing was 'bullying' by the regulator...

 

 

[Guest David C]

What exactly is checked during a ramp check ,? ... Aircraft or crew or both ..

 

Dave C

 

 

[Guest avi8tr]

GA and RAA aircraft were checked and some described it as aggressive with no love.

 

Included in particular were: (subject to rego)

 

Medicals

 

Log books

 

Maintenance releases

 

Flight plans (needed to be written down in some format)

 

Fuel planning in particular

 

Maps and current ERSA

 

Not much talk on weights but if it was obvious you were overweight, things may have been different.

 

The CASA presence was intimidating to say the least. Poole and Ungerman were driving around in their car with orange flashing light wearing CASA high-vis vests back and forth all weekend. People were feeling quite intimidated by their presence complete with convicting stares. In reality it was completely un-necessary. To be honest, they would have had a far better reception by walking versus driving. Disappointing.

 

They were even at the dinner on the Board table and I have no idea why other than as a suck-up job by RAA.

 

 

[Guest David C]

Thanks avi8tr , you have helped to clear that up for me ..

 

Dave C

 

 

[Guest Michael Coates]

Comment removed

 

 

[cficare]

bloody sad tto see that responce by basha...

 

 

[Guest avi8tr]

You are probably not going to get the promised Skycatcher

 

review.

 

It was underpowered, uncomfortable, noisy and had a primary equipment failure that made my wife quite uncomfortable and didn't impress me at all.

 

 

[Guest DWB]

You are probably not going to get the promised Skycatcherreview.

It was underpowered, uncomfortable, noisy and had a primary equipment failure that made my wife quite uncomfortable and didn't impress me at all.

But did a nice donut at the holding point on departure

 

 

[Guest avi8tr]

Thought you might have liked that one Dex, it was to wave goodbye at you. The wife found it quite amusing. Also nicely demonstrated the castoring nose wheel, which is a far cry from Jabirus or similar. I'll bet for a short moment you were wondering what the heck I was up to. In the helicopter we'd call that a clearing turn :-)

 

We lost the Garmin 300 PFD whilst VFR over the top on the way home. It was a little concerning as there are no other (zero in total) instruments in the aircraft, not even airspeed. Food for thought for home builders who think they will just put in a single sky view or similar - it's not worth the risk.

 

 

[Guest DWB]

I had a good chuckle at your donut & was impressed for a nosewheel. I had no ASI all the way home either. You just deal with it don't you..........

 

EDIT: A note in similar vein for home builders - don't skimp on lengths for tubes, wiring etc. too much in the interest of weight saving, as was the case with the build of mine (I wasn't the builder) I have fixed the problem already with a little bit more tube added. Shouldn't happen again.

 

 

[bas]

Heard from someone on an RV mailing list he got ramped checked. Just some common sense things, didn't seem to find it intimidating. They seemed to be happy that as plan he a simple direct to using OzRunways. Doesn't sound like they were going through anything with a fine-tooth comb to try and fine anyone.

 

I agree their presence is likely intimidating to some and it would be a shame that people don't show up because of it. But I think it is more people's fear than anything that is the real problem. Have a bit of documentation, your ELT and manuals and make sure you are not over weight and then what is problem?

 

On that OzRunways thing: I had some great conversations with people in CASA that are working on the EFB policy and it sounds very positive. Basically, the director has told them to get it done. Now CASA works the way it works and it won't be overnight, but it will happen and I think it will a good outcome for everyone.

 

I was also told in the past year, for the first time, airspace incursions have gone down. Now I know that correlation does not equal causation, but lets think about what happened about 9 months ago? And I think that has a major part to play in the reason for the director's "get it done" order.

 

 

[Guest BlackRod]

I tend to stay away from Forums these days after some very unhappy experiences and, anyhow, I get buried in RA-Aus business and don't seem to have the time I once had.

 

It was great to catch up with quite a few at Natfly but, reading this, now disappointing that I missed so many. I was up to my butt in alligators for most of the time and got very little time for socialising.

 

Bas's sessions were packed to the rafters and extremely well received. I even got to half of one! A great success and well deserved. Bas, in case you didn't know had a hand in finally getting the new RA-Aus website launched and is helping us with Stage II.

 

Regarding CASA at a Board table I have to say it was most beneficial. I had several CASA dignitaries at my table and the informal discussions you can have are extremely valuable - both ways. And it makes it much easier to talk to them afterwards. I was very pleased to have had that opportunity.

 

Unfortunately, my fabulous Vodafone still gets zero reception at Temora. I took another phone with a pre-paid Telstra sim which gave me some communications but it died on Saturday and I had to pull the sim out of my Internet dongle to carry on. Needless to say, not many could connect with me by phone.

 

There was a surprisingly low turnout especially considering the brilliant weather. We will be surveying the members through the magazine and the exhibitors directly to try to get an understanding as to why. Please make some notes now so you can include them in your response to the survey. I'd be very pleased to receive any comments by email if you want to do that.

 

 

[Bubbleboy]

Don....why would you only be enclosing the survey in members magazines? Im not a member yet but was there so wouldnt you get a better indication if you sent them with all magazines including those to the newsagents?

 

Scotty

 

 

[Guest BlackRod]

Take your point Scotty, we'd be happy to hear from anyone who was there and especially from anyone who was not there. There was no intention to exclude anyone or only have the survey in the magazines that go to members. I can promise you the Survey hasn't even been designed yet so if you have a question you think should be included please let me know.

 

 

[Guest Michael Coates]

Great to see you here Don and looking for feedback, I am sure we can give you some ideas.

 

The worst flu I have ever had has kept me in bed for close to three weeks and kept me away from natfly even though I tried to drive to the airport twice attempting to come. I have some ideas and will send them through shortly.

 

 

[Guest BlackRod]

Michael,

 

Hope you are feeling better soon. Real 'flu is a terrible thing. Totally debilitating.

 

Incidentally, you'd be entitled to a refund for your site cost.

 

Look forward to hearing from you and others with anything you think will make for a better Natfly.

 

 

[Guest David C]

Thanks Don for posting here .I think a survey is a good idea , and something I will look forward to contributing to . I hope all who have an opportunity reply to it and make Natfly 2013 a much better event than this last one .

 

Dave C

 

 

[metalman]

Well, we had an interesting Natfly , went up in a group with two kitfoxes and a gyro. One Kitfox lost a brake at yarrawonga so we ended getting into Temora about 1700. Had a top time meeting up with forum and facebookers and having a wander about, didn't get to any seminars though , was really hoping to get to the ozrunways but missed it. The trip home started off with a moment , I had a fuel issue on take off from 23 and had to swing around and get in on 36 , lesson learnt , don't turn off the boost pump on a Eurofox till your at altitude and in cruise , it gets a big drop in pressure which turns into a spluttering glider. On the way back to Melbourne our gyro pilot had an engine failure just north of echuca and ended up putting down in a paddock , no damage to the gyro or the pilot. We spent the night at mangalore and then had a bit of an adventure getting through the glenburn gap , we ended up on the ground at a tricky little strip at yeaburn waiting for a break in the weather to get into the Yarra valley.

 

All up a top weekend and great meet to meet up with every

 

 

[winsor68]

"CASA's ramp checks....any results of note?....

 

or is it 'hush hush'?

 

Was it 'intimidatory' or targetted...

 

did it serve a purpose?

 

were the Casa people courtesous...or otherwise..?"

 

CASA ramp checks? Funny that... I thought they were our former operations department? Bloody sellouts!!!

 

 

[metalman]

From most accounts they were looking at VH regoed stuff and I hadnt heard of any fines, really though a ramp check shouldn't be an issue if your doing it right , I had an issue with the Eurofox on takeoff and the Casa guys were the first there with some good advice when I got it back on the ground, can't say I felt intimidated at all, although I don't get to upset over coppers either!

 

 

[Guest Michael Coates]

Personally i dont have a problem with the ramp checks, we all should comply with the regulations and rules at all times.

 

I dont think CASA should have used two ex RAA employees however, that was not good judgement IMO and it may have been better accepted if it was some no-name guys from another office

 

One person who was checked was flying a plane we sell and he was givenn a fairly hard time, they wrote down the version of flight manuals he was carrying and are going to check to see if he has the latest versions etc... i think thats over the top if anything comes of it.... They also requested other documents which he did not have like the W&B etc... i didnt know you were required to carry these in the plane even though the flight manual has the formula, they wanted to see copies of the original W&B so they could check to see if anything had been added since the plane was delivered. I personally think thats a little extreme. He was not given a warm fuzzy feeling about the whole thing and said it soured his weekend, they took all his contact details and will call him subject to their inquiries about W&B and needing the latest version of the flight manual on board, if in fact the version he had haas been replaced.