FlyingVizsla

Recreational Ballooning has gone to CASA & the Australian Ballooning Federation is no longer a SASAO. Hang Gliding Federation is now Sports Aviation Federation of Australia, and there is still overlap with RAAus with Weight Shift Microlights & Power Parachutes.

Amphibious gyrocopter crashes on Lake Macquarie, two passengers escape injury - ABC News WWW.ABC.NET.AU Two men have escaped injury after the boat-helicopter hybrid overturned during a take-off attempt on Lake Macquarie.

A friend has bought this single seater canard aircraft - the Nanjing AD-100 Traveller 10-1257 (rego lapsed 1993). It has "Healthequip" on it. The son who sold it didn't know much about it, but said his father "flew it all over the place". I have dredged up specs from my sources, but he would like to know the history. It has a Robin engine (under powered), needs lots of work, but the new owner wants to restore it to flying condition as it is a pretty unique aircraft. The wings are designed to be removed by one person and weigh about 10-20kg, it has L&R rudder pedals, and he says it is well designed. Any one know more about it?

ATSB has been asked by the Qld Police to inspect the aircraft engine. The report will go to the Qld Police, and then to the Coroner, so we may not hear the outcome. I assume the Qld Police are footing the bill. https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2024/report/ae-2024-003

In the Members' Communiques - The CEO didn't renew his contract as he had another job. The job was advertised. Maxine, who has worked for RAAus for 20 years and acted as CEO from time to time, was appointed. Jill Bailey retired - it is a thankless job and she works away from the office a lot. Her Assistant has stepped up to the job and his job is now advertised. So - no great conspiracy there. These things happen in the best of organisations.

Here's one of them ... https://www.slatteryauctions.com.au/asset?auctionNum=AN-1-4-1-03326&consignmentNo=1-4-1-010248 Says it has on-going tourist bookings. Auction starts 29 March 2024.

Looked at the one for sale, needed more info, some work to be done, needs to see flying, so a Draft ACR awaiting these things. Suggested we take the other home and he will do it there. The third he didn't get to. The lad buying the first one knows a L2 but, like ours, has to fit it in around his day job. So nothing has gone to RAAus to see if it will pass. I guess it will, because the L2 we used was very thorough. The previous L2 (now long retired) wrote up the Log with little detail eg "changed prop" to what?? "Installed new engine" - type? serial No.? wasn't brand new, so how many hours and where did it come from? The L2 is clarifying all this with help from us. On-going saga.

There were some C150 variants registred as ultralights - they got there by going single seat and removing things to reduce weight. CASA disagreed, especially when at least one was seen with the passenger seat back in and occupied. There was one French built that was renamed a Robin (my memory is getting hazy) on the register. The Cessna 140 can be registered ultralight. All subject to weight etc. It is a grey area, getting a factory built and then altering to fit the ultralight registration. In one case essential things, like the oil & battery, were removed to squeeze it in. CASA was of the opinion that if it was built standard, then it should stay that way. Some of these questionable planes were removed from the AUF/RAAus register after the failed audits. Presumably the C150's could put everything back in and return to VH.

I don't know about Guarantee it, but they do oversee it. Even back in the AUF days, The Bunny Farmer & Myles would visit the Club annually to see how things were going. They were rather horrified by what they saw and their advice was given as a friendly suggestion, getting a little sterner each time. They guy who maintained the Club's plane was a cowboy and his aircraft was about the worst advertisement for an ultralight. They would suggest he take it away from the airport. RAAus does check up on their L2s and one I know thought they had a vendetta against him as they asked him for copies of Log books for a plane he maintained 2 years running. He has to renew ever 2 years. He has since retired due to health & mobility issues. If you supervise, oversee & train too much, L2's will toss the towel.

Yes, it is true because applications are not yet Open. You can express an interest, and I know several who have, so RAAus can get a feel for how many applications they will get come D-Day and have extra staff to make it happen. There are threads running on this subject. AUF was offered up to 750kg by CASA back in the 1990's. The response then was "we're too busy right now ..." Had the AUF accepted the offer we would not be having this grief now.

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The alternative For-Profit organisation to AUF/RAAus - the Experimental Light Aircraft Association of Australia (ELAAA) had a Maintainer's course run by Myles. ELAAA never got off the ground. The problems with running a course that teaches you how to maintain aircraft to L2 standard (how to use tools, etc) is 1. getting enough people together in one place on one date. 2. Dealing with the wide variation in experience - from the guy who has never lifted a spanner to the bloke who has loved engines all his life and built & owned several planes. RAAus welcomes L2 applicants who can demonstrate mechanical knowledge, and then provides training and guidance on what is expected. When I started with the AUF, anyone who put their hand up could do maintenance because they were all volunteers and nearly everything was home built. I met some keen but useless ones and some good ones. I can understand why RAAus does not run apprenticeships for aircraft mechanics or Diplomas in Aircraft Design & Construction. That is too involved and too long to be funded by members. TAFE and industry run courses. People get experience working with mechanics. It takes years, not a 1 day course. I note that some L2's restrict themselves - eg only do Jabiru, or don't touch fabric aircraft. For some L2's it is a business and livelihood, because a lot of aircraft owners know little about engines and planes.

RAAus offers scholarships for training Maintainers. The latest round closes 31st March. If you want to get into L2 work, then here's the application form. https://raaus.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Scholarship-Application-Form-Maintainer-2024_Fillable.pdf The application form has a lot of information that relates to the Flying Training (CFI's recommendation etc), so they have a bit of work to divorce the AirServices funded flying training information from the Maintainers' which is fully RAAus funded. Any age group, funding for tools, assistance with training placement. I know two people who are presently going through the process to become L2. Both are very experienced builders, pilots, but are retirement age. The scholarship might help a bloke in mortgage stress etc who has a passion but not the funds or training avenues.

Sad to hear that. RIP

VH Rego (can see it on the 9News picture). Media are saying it was at the end of the runway. His injuries - facial & smashed pelvis. He was lucky the accident was quickly reported and responded to. Hoping for a good recovery. Pilot suffers critical injuries in plane crash south of Perth 7NEWS.COM.AU It took rescue teams about 25 minutes to free the man from the mangled aircraft. Bunbury Airport: Pilot critical after light plane crash south of Perth WWW.9NEWS.COM.AU A pilot is fighting for his life after a light plane crash south of Perth.