Innehållsförteckning för January-February 2024 från Australian Flying

Ausfly has been held at Narromine since its inception in September 2012, organised by the Sport Aircraft Association of Australia (SAAA), with AOPA Australia and the Aviation Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Business Association (AMROBA) coming in later under the collective banner of the Australian General Aviation Alliance (AGAA). Ausfly spokesperson James Fisher told Australian Flying that the time was right to move the event, pointing to ongoing problems with weather blocking aviators from attending. "Out of necessity, we felt it was definitely time to look around and see what’s available," Fisher said. "The last two Ausflys at Narromine were tricky because the weather stopped people getting across the Great Divide. "The weather was just dismal, and if you look historically, about the time we want to put the event on,…

VH-OPA was not the first aeroplane that we’d owned. In1996, a Piper Archer II, had been in the family for the preceding eight years; it served us well, but not without issues. (I’ll save the story about the in-flight engine failure for another day.) An Archer makes a marvellous private aircraft. They are easy to fly and maintain, economical and fast enough for travelling between towns, although none of them ever set any speed records. On the other hand, the Archer’s range was barely adequate for our mission, and accommodating people and baggage within limits was frequently an issue. Hot weather, the defining feature of regional Australian aviation, made it all even harder. Performance aside, there was also the ‘low wing problem’. Back in those days, I flew in and…

Manufacturers like de Havilland, Supermarine, Bristol, Hawker-Siddeley, Britten-Norman, and BAC are familiar names, even though many are now defunct; absorbed into larger conglomerates after mergers and industry rationalisation. Nearly all of those familiar names are English: the notable exception is Shorts of Northern Ireland, most famous for their giant flying boats. Wales, one of the other nations that make up the United Kingdom, has only produced components for foreign or English manufacturers. Scotland has a slightly different story to tell. Prestwick, a city on the western coast of Scotland, is about 50 km from Glasgow. It happens to be on the Great Circle air route between New York and western European cities such as Berlin and Amsterdam. The airport started hosting international passengers in 1938. During World War II trans-Atlantic…

Lord Howe Island is an isolated volcanic island in the Tasman Sea, located approximately 315 NM or 574 KM off the coast of Coffs Harbour. To put this in context, it’s almost twice the distance of the water between Victoria and Tasmania. That’s a lot of ocean to cross. While I've been flying for over 30 years and have been instructing for over 12 years, the idea of flying a single piston engine aircraft over water for more than 10 minutes made the hair on my neck sit up. After further discussion, I decided that the trip could be accomplished with relatively little risk if we completed comprehensive preflight planning and we were willing to cancel the trip if the weather was not close to perfect. We would be flying…

The two helicopters, N163AC (Helitak 342) and N178AC (Helitak 341) arrived at the Long Beach port, for onward shipment to Melbourne docks where they were assembled and later positioned at Essendon Airport and Moorabbin firebases for their summer residences. Wildcat Helicopters, Wildcat Bell 412SP C-GBND (Helitak 273), has arrived at United Aer helicopters at Camden in preparation for its work in NSW. Coulson Aviation has again brought one of its Sikorsky S-61s C-FXEC (Helitak 348) into Victoria where it took up operations in Mansfield in the states high country. HeliCarrier Helicopters has returned again with their Sikorsky S-61 C-FIZA (Helitak 369) It was put to work straight away working for NSW Rural Fire Service having recently returned from fighting fires in Indonesia. Touchdown Helicopters based in the Illawarra have teamed…

The helicopter struck the single aerial wire while the pilot was reportedly looking for straggling cattle on a property at Bingegang, Queensland on 4 April 2023. The wire, which ran across the property and was estimated to be at a height of about 5.6 metres at the point of impact, was not marked, and was not required to be. The helicopter subsequently collided with the ground. The pilot was fatally injured, and the helicopter was destroyed by a post-impact fire. The ATSB investigation final report notes that while terrain was clear to the right of the helicopter’s flightpath, there were trees taller than the wire height that would have obscured the wire and pole on the left side. “As part of the investigation a drone was flown along the helicopter’s…

The year started off with a bang at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon. After a Covid-induced hiatus, the AMDA foundation put on a show that eclipsed those before it, and the weather gods also played the game. To shake things up for general and recreational aviation, a dedicated space at the main show was allocated for those that flew themselves in for the week, along with chalets for the organisations that represent these aviators, including Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus.) A special mention goes to Glen Smith and his team from AMDA, who worked so hard to make it the success that it was. At the RAAus marquee we were visited by thousands of people inspired by the roar of the jets. We were assisted by the ever-enthusiastic Catriona Rowntree,…

EGNOS and WAAS are two instances of the ICAO Space Based Augmentation System or SBAS. But the next generation SBAS, based on dual frequency, multiconstellation (DFMC) technology, looks set to drive future IFR navigation systems. Andrew Andersen reports. 20 years ago, the first instrument approaches based on the FAA’s Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) were flown. A few years later, EGNOS was implemented, enabling vertical guidance across the continental Europe. Today, the Localiser Performance with Vertical Guidance, or LPV approach, has become the first choice for GA pilots in North America when the weather precludes a visual approach. At the time of writing, the FAA has published 4,127 LPV approach procedures at 2,004 airports; Canada has 772 LPV procedures; and Europe has 777. Since 1935, massive volumes of technical study,…

The Albanese Government has released the draft Environmental Impact Statement for Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport for public feedback. The EIS includes assessments of the noise, social and environmental impacts of the WSI preliminary flight paths and the Australian Government’s proposed actions to address any areas of concern. This includes the proposed policy for noise treatments to existing properties most impacted by aircraft noise and considerations for any potential acquisition of property. Members of the public can provide a submission on the draft EIS and the feedback will be considered when finalising the flight path design. The EIS looks at how the preliminary flight paths will affect First Nations and historic heritage, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, aircraft noise in the region, biodiversity, health, greenhouse gases, other…

Initially, she wanted to be a flight attendant but after starting at university, decided to give being a pilot a go; a decision that changed her life. “A lot of hard work and perseverance eventually paid off and before I knew it, I had my first flying job in the Northern Territory,” Catriona said. “A few years, jobs, and interstate moves later, I started with the RFDS Central Operations, in 2019, based in Alice Springs. “When the opportunity came up in late 2022 to take over as Senior Base Pilot in Townsville, I jumped at the chance to apply and since starting with Queensland Section in January, it’s been amazing,” For Catriona, and all of the RFDS’s highly skilled pilots, no day is the same. “There isn’t another pilot job…

If you want to be a millionaire, start with a billion dollars and launch a new airline,” said Sir Richard Branson. Not everyone with an aviation business wants to be a millionaire. Aviation businesses can be a lifestyle or operate as a not-for-profit. However, no one wants to go broke. In our May-June 2021 article Five Tips for Success, we discussed how marketing determines the success of flight schools. The tips given included: a focus on customers, making your school the place to be, creating an appealing online presence, plus finding and owning your school’s market niche. Another key determinate is the way the business is run. Yes, flight schools or clubs are a business and need to be run like one to survive, or even better, flourish. Often owners…

There are four main reasons why Australia is suffering a severe shortage of LAMEs. Civil aviation maintenance personnel regulatory standards do not require a person to hold vocational education qualifications to perform work or apply for a licence from CASA. Civil aviation maintenance personnel regulatory standards do set vocational standards to be met to attain a licence from CASA. The National Vocational Education Training System (NVET) only provides training and funding for large aeroplane avionic and mechanical training courses leading to licences. CASA duplicates approval of ASQA approved and funded RTOs as Part 147 MTOs to provide non-NVET courses for CASA issued AME licences. 5. This has not produced NVET career pathways to attract and retain trade-based AME and LAMEs. The problem is not CASA issued licences: it is not…

Now both fixed-wing and heli pilots, they are a spirited pair crisscrossing the country, ferrying all manner of aircraft and relishing Australia’s natural wonders. “The inspiration to pursue aviation definitely came from my family and their love for adventure,” grins Amanda. “Ever since I was little, we were off on different trips all over Australia. I remember when I told my year three teacher where I had been on the weekend: on a camping trip with fold-up push bikes and little trailers to carry everything. She thought I was making it all up!” “Engine failures, they were probably the most confronting initially. Helicopters certainly do not have the same glide ratio as planes.” Most of these experiences involved getting away in a familysized plane loaded up with gear, in this…

The changes embedded in the flight ops rules remain a focal point because of the safety benefits flowing from the new regulations for the aviation community. As many of you are aware, we’ve slowed the pace of the transition so we can achieve the maximum safety benefit. We did this for both internal and external reasons: all of us were struggling to meet the existing schedule, so we looked at how we could extend the time-line so we had the necessary time to do things diligently. Changes we are introducing include: streamlined processes to assure we operators meet the regulatory requirements, expanded guidance material and an approach tailored to industry sectors. The flight ops transition is at the top of our to-do-list because we know effective safety management systems, good…

Aircraft registration: ZS-IWV Owner: Brian& Wynand Investments Date and time of accident: 15 September 2013 Type of aircraft: Piper PA-32-300 Type of operation: Private flight PIC license type: Commercial License valid: Yes PIC age: 22 PIC total hours: 237 PIC hours on type: 3.1 Last point of departure: Ranch Hotel, S of Polokwane Next point of intended landing: Krugersdorp Location of accident site: N1 highway 14 nm SW of FAPP Meteorological information: 020°/9 kt 30ºC Viz 3 km hz POB: 1+2 People injured: 0 People killed: 0 SYNOPSIS The pilot and two passengers flew from Krugersdorp to the Ranch Hotel that morning and stayed for lunch. The tanks were full at the start and the flight took 1hr 50 mins. The pilot said that after lunch he did a pre-flight…

They may have a new name and a new look, but the former Wings Over Illawarra is continuing with the exciting mix of flying entertainment and family friendly fun that has made the Shellharbour airshow a crowd favourite since 2007. Airshows Downunder Shellharbour is a two-day carnival of aviation with something for everyone. It will showcase the best of modern defence force aircraft, civil aerobatics performers, restored historic and warbird aircraft and ground displays, with two action-packed days of flying and a wide range of aircraft on the display program. There will be noise and spectacle aplenty as some of Australia’s best flyers demonstrate The Right Stuff in everything from today’s fast jets to restored biplanes. But the entertainment won’t just be in the air. Airshows Downunder Shellharbour will feature…

To resolve issues and make sure Part 149 of CASR and the Civil Aviation Orders (CAOs) function correctly prior to the end of the Part 149 transition period on 1 December 2023, CASA is proposing amendments to several 95-series CAOs. CASA is seeking feedback on proposed changes to: • provide for a sport aviation body who is an approved self-administering aviation organisation (ASAO) to administer gyroplane operations and activities (CAO 95.12 and CAO 95.12.1) • ensure the CAO is consistent with the operational requirements of CAO 95.55 and regulation 91.880 of CASR that apply to aircraft with an experimental certificate of airworthiness (CAO 95.32) • allow CASA to approve persons to conduct inspections on CAO 95.55 aeroplanes before their initial flight (CAO 95.55). They are also seeking feedback on…

Why do we learn to fly? There must be a fair number of compelling reasons we do it, but in the end the idea is surely to be able to get to somewhere interesting that is inconvenient to get to by land or sea. Nobody working their way through an RPL or RPC will be thinking too hard about that, but when you embark on nav training the thought of travel must surely take root. And then, all of a sudden, you actually have your wings. Free to go pretty much anywhere you like. And anywhere you like, in Australian terms, is a huge amount of choice! Regarding deciding where to go, the choice is almost overwhelming. The internet is awash with websites to get your travel juices flowing, and…

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It was subsequently found that the helicopter’s right forward pylon support link assembly had fractured. “The link assembly is designed to isolate and support the main rotor transmission and rotor, reducing cabin noise and The cause of the failure was attributed to deterioration not detected during routine maintenance contributed to the in-flight fracture of a pylon link assembly on a Bell Longranger helicopter, an Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation has concluded. On 9 December 2022, the Bell 206L Longranger was being used for a low-level wildlife survey about 60 km south-west of Deniliquin, in the New South Wales Riverina, with a pilot and three passengers on board. While surveying above a forest, the pilot heard a loud bang and the helicopter pitched nose up, rolled to the left, and started…

NBAA’s President & CEO Ed Bolen said, “NBAA-BACE is a threeday celebration of all things business aviation. It’s the biggest business aviation event and the largest purely civil aviation conference in the world”. He added that the annual event, “is an opportunity for our industry to celebrate who we are and promote innovations in safety, sustainability, technology and the workforce”. The business aviation community’s commitment to achieving net-zero flight was at the forefront of the event, with industry leaders from around the world coming together to launch the Climbing Fast Campaign. The collective initiative is designed to showcase the sector’s socioeconomic benefits as well as its leadership and innovation in support of a reduction in aviation’s contribution to global carbon emissions. «NBAA BACE 2023 championed the industry’s readiness to shoulder…

Aviation has changed my life in ways I could not have imagined. Growing up in a small Welsh town, most of my peers left school at 16 to work in factories and have babies. We spent our family holidays at a campsite near Cardiff airport, where I would hunker down under the flight path and watch all manner of aircraft, including the GA fleet of Cessnas and Pipers, coming in to land. It never occurred to me to go to the aerodrome and explore; being a pilot was just a dream. The school careers officer told me I was ‘too stupid’ to become a pilot; there was no point in applying for university and suggested I train as a travel agent. That I could work in town until I met…