Innehållsförteckning för March-April 2025 från Australian Flying

For years, I have held a CASR 61.040 approval, allowing me examination privileges for the SA227 Metroliner, Beechcraft B1900 aircraft types, and ATPL. This approval has been reissued multiple times as I’ve consistently met all conditions. Last year, I applied and paid the required fee to renew the approval. After waiting five months, and just before Christmas, the manager of the flight testing office unilaterally decided not to reissue it. He claimed that he believed he had the discretion to deny the renewal. No show cause notice or a legal statement of reasons. Instead, I was told I could either undergo the costly Flight Examiner assessment process for each approval ($30,000 +) or escalate the matter to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). This all takes an enormous amount of time…

The Kodiak 100 has long been on my bucket list, both to photograph and to fly. As soon as the news came out that an owner from Poland had purchased this type of aircraft (thanks to the cooperation with Plane4You), in addition to a special paint scheme, I could not let go of such an opportunity. Jakub Sliwinski and I arrive at Gdansk airport in the afternoon, with a few clouds in the sky, and thunderstorms in the area; typical July weather. Despite this, the forecast looks good, so it will be time well spent. Especially since Dominik Punda, an experienced pilot who has flown this aircraft from the USA to Poland and also flies with the owner on a variety of flights, is waiting for us on site. Introducing…

Published late last year, the 2024 Honeywell Global Business Aviation Outlook forecasted a 12% increase in new business jet deliveries for 2025 compared to the previous twelve months and noted expenditures are expected to be 11% higher. According to Honeywell, “Some 8,500 new business jets valued at $280 billion will roll off aircraft manufacturers’ assembly lines in the next decade, including models that will be safer, more efficient and more sustainable than ever.” The report projects that large jets are expected to account for two-thirds of new business jet purchases through 2030. This trend has been observed in Australia in recent years, where late-model, long-range, high-performance jets such as Bombardier’s Global 7500 and Gulfstream’s G700 have found favour with established owners and new entrants alike. Manufacturers are set to capitalise…

In December last year, CASA announced it would approve access to Class C and Class D airspace for holder of Recreational Pilot Certificates. The level of surprise in that move could be measured in microns. Having already granted the same privilege to PPL and RPL holders flying on Class 5 medical certificates, any justification for continuing to deny controlled airspace access for RPC holders was well and truly dead. Add to that the overwhelming support of the aviation community displayed in consultation feedback and any surprise could have come only from CASA continuing the CTA/R ban on recreational pilots. But, when the new policy found its way into the light, it contained a hand grenade: a requirement for RPC holders to qualify and obtain a CASA Class 5 medical. That…

Sharp had been interim CEO since May last year when the board elected not to review the contract of then CEO Jason Harfield. Airservices chair John Weber said Sharp’s performance in as interim CEO was a factor in the decision to appoint him permanently. “Since joining Airservices as Interim CEO in July 2024, Rob has demonstrated exceptional leadership in enhancing the organisation’s operational performance and laying the foundation for long-term financial sustainability,” Weber said. “Under his guidance, Airservices has made significant strides in delivering improved outcomes for the aviation industry and the travelling public. “Rob’s extensive experience across the aviation and transport sectors, coupled with his deep understanding of stakeholder engagement, has already proven invaluable. “The Board is confident that his expertise and vision will continue to drive the organisation…

It can be a long road, from basic trainer, via complex four-seaters, an IFR rating, commercial licence and even a small twin. To fly charter, head for the airlines, or work as a corporate pilot, aviators will likely need to get signed off in a large twin engine aircraft. For example, a King Air, Cessna 402, Islander or similar. As part of my role testing, selling and ferrying aircraft for Tecnam and other manufacturers, I was offered a “rating” in the Tecnam P2012 Traveller: an eleven seat, twin engine, high wing, fixed gear, FADEC, and Garmin G1000 NXi equipped, modern offering. The Traveller doesn’t require a specific rating if you already have a twin endorsement, but for insurance purposes, and so an owner will let you fly it as pilot…

Not only is the machine, with its four-bladed, hingeless, main rotor system, beautiful looking but it’s also powerful, manoeuvrable and incredibly versatile. Able to throw its hat in the ring for a whole swag of applications, ranging from public safety, such as firefighting and police ops, to SAR and HEMS (helicopter emergency medical service), to utility, corporate/VIP, tourism, armed multi-role and training tasks, there’s not really much the lovely looking helo can’t do. Basically, regardless of the op it’s tasked with, the Bell 407GXi conveys the impression of being, and handling, like a high-performance sports car, with all the modern trappings and practicality of a top-end SUV. According to Bell, the Bell 407 is “the most advanced light single multi-mission helicopter in service”. And the latest version of the advanced…

EFBs have been with us now for more than a decade. They’re amazing, capable, and they do all “the stuff” for you. They have, in a space of a few years, rendered most flight planning techniques taught in RPL, RPC, RA-XC, PPL and CPL pretty much totally obsolete. This is critical to understand. If you’re flying around these days, you’re not using paper maps and charts. You’re not calculating how much daylight there’ll be at 40 05.483S 147 59.567E on the 5th of October in UTC or local time, or ESST, you’re not breaking out the whizz wheel and doing ground speed calculations, you’re not punching numbers into complex paper spreadsheets to work out fuel, reserve fuel, fixed reserve fuel, endurance etc. You’re not drawing pencil lines on a weight…

In an announcement made today, SFC said that has initially bought majority ownership in Sydney Seaplanes, with plans for full acquisition in the middle of this year. SFC has bought the shares from founder Aaron Shaw and fellow shareholder Ken Gaunt. The purchase also includes the Rose Bay headquarters for Sydney Seaplanes and the adjoining Empire Lounge restaurant, bar and function venue, which is being rebranded as Sydney Seaplanes Lounge. SFC will add Sydney Seaplanes to their aviation business, which also includes Blue Sky Airways, Newcastle Seaplanes and the Darling Harbour Helipad. “My purchase of Sydney Seaplanes represents an exciting new chapter in Sydney’s aviation and tourism history,” said Dr Schwartz. “Rose Bay was the arrival point for the famous Qantas flying boats that opened up the ‘Kangaroo Route’ back…

There is solid truth in the old axiom that prevention is better than cure, but the world still has cures. That’s because no matter how much prevention we employ, chaos still happens. Take, for example, accidental VFR flight into IMC. Despite all the training and CASA learning material, the ATSB’s accident database is saturated with incidents where pilots flying visually have stumbled into meteorological conditions that they weren’t prepared to negotiate. In 2001, two authors in the USA named Wiegmann and Goh concluded that VFR into IMC perpetuates despite education because VFR pilots can’t accurately assess what they are getting themselves into. A quarter of a century down range and nothing much has changed. Prevention continues to fail in some cases, so is it time to work on a cure?…

“In a few weeks time, when the Australia aviation community turns its attention towards Avalon, Jabiru Aircraft will showcase the complete range of products” Jabiru Aircraft went though somewhat of a revolution last year when ownership passed out of the hands of the Stiff family for the first time since the company was founded. But in the hands of its new owner, engineer Michael Halloran, the revolution might just turn into a renaissance. Rod Stiff, who founded Jabiru in 1988 with colleague Phil Ainsworth, was looking to retire when he placed a phone call to Halloran, a former Seabird Aviation engineer who had worked with Jabiru early in his career. Halloran was the CEO of military vehicle manufacturer Supacat, which he expected would be the final step in his career.…

Often, an Australian child’s first close-up encounter with the grass roots of aviation happens at the Australian International Airshow. Common are stories of inspired children who once marvelled at what they saw at Avalon, who today ply the skies in command of airliners, high-tech fighters, medevac helicopters, GA utility aircraft and aerial ag wagons. They are evidence of the power of Avalon to inspire and grow aviation at all levels. One of those levels is general aviation, which stands to benefit from a strong presence at Avalon 2025, now only a few weeks away. Despite our passion for GA, we have to admit that we are not a strong enough drawcard for the general public; the very people we are looking to inspire. However, GA will gain collateral exposure from…

Its arrival heralds a new era of aeromedical capability for LifeFlight, which boasts one of the largest fleets of the rescue helicopter in Australia. The new AW139 will be dedicated to the Queensland Health services contract, supporting an eight-strong fleet of AW139s across five fully-funded LifeFlight bases in Toowoomba, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg and Mt Isa. In 2023 the State Government committed to a $1.25 billion funding agreement over 10 years for LifeFlight’s Queensland helicopter operations, providing certainty that vital search, rescue and aeromedical services would continue. The aircraft was manufactured by Italian-based Leonardo and transported to the LifeFlight Clive Berghofer Maintenance Centre where it was assembled by LifeFlight’s engineering team. It is the most advanced aeromedical rescue helicopter in the world, with a maximum cruise speed of 305 kph…