FlyingVizsla

The Recommendations: - CASA amend its Flight Operations Manual to clarify the aeronautical experience that constituted "recognised flight time" according to each type of aircraft, and to clarify the experience required for licence endorsements. - CASA amend its manual to redefine what it considered an aeroplane. - The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) should investigate all fatal accidents with RAAus-registered aircraft, rather than RAAus. - RAAus develop standardised training records for flight instructors that allowed for detailed auditing of training in a form approved by CASA that must be used by flight instructors in all instances.

ABC report on Coroner's Inquest https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-14/coronial-inquest-mathew-farrell-pilot-death-mount-beauty/104931548

Australian Women Pilots' Association has a range of scholarships & awards, most closing 31st Jan 2024. Use the link below for a tool to find the most suitable for you. So far, few applicants. Apply for as many as you like, but you only get one per year, some go unawarded. Round up the women in your life - up to $10,000 on offer in two categories, you don't have to be a member for some, and in previous years some were open to males (have not looked this year). Fixed wing, rotary, gliding, balloon, training, CPL, APTL, navigation, aerobatic etc.... Read the info for eligibility. https://awpa.org.au/scholarships-awards/

It fits the 95-10 category for MTOW, but fails the wing loading. CAO 95-10 Section 5.1 (b) has a wing loading not exceeding 30 kilograms per square metre at its take‑off weight. The Columbian Cri-Cri specs say Wing loading 55kg. However, there was some discussion about extending and widening the wing to reduce the wing loading. Someone was trying that, I have not heard how he went.

The CAO 95-10 Exemption (2024) does not specify engines, only MTOW and wing loading. This is reflected in the RAAus Technical Manual 4.3, December 2024, RAAus sets no design criteria. Builders are free to design as they wish and build using any materials they wish, but they add the words "low momentum". Multi engine, even jet engines can be 95-10, and they have been registered as such with RAAus. The challenge is keeping the weight below 300kg. There are now allowances for parachutes (20kg) and floats (55kg), taking the max for a water landing craft to 355kg. All other categories registrable under RAAus are single engine only. CASA have inserted "Note A microlight aeroplane is not a Part 103 aircraft." in CAO 95-10 Section 5.1 definitions.

It would be up to the Minister and CASA to approve a 103 equivalent for Australia as it will need legislation. Such a tiny segment of the industry and population with very little economic benefit; I don't see it getting any priority. Apart from that, the media will whip up a frenzy about untrained amateurs in flimsy home built contraptions plummeting on the good citizens of the 'bergs. RAAus won't miss them as the 95-10 segment are the lowest revenue, but more complex because they are all different. The number of 95-10 on their register is low. The Annual Report doesn't say how many of the 3,500 planes are in each category. The 95-10 owners I know (us included) are not about to ditch the RAAus membership as we have other aircraft. There are 10,000+ RAAus members, not sure how many are Non-Flying. Best to hammer the Federal Minister with the 103 concept if you want any result.

AOPA Australia - checked the website (logged in) and most things stopped in 2020. One update 2021. Last digital magazine Feb 2020, AGM notice 2019, Calender of Events 2020, out of date articles. They used to be good. Now wondering if $560 ea was worth it.

AOPA - We have been members for years. Currently have a 5 year membership, but have not heard anything from them in YEARS. Have not seen a magazine for many years, the digital one dwindled to a series of small articles. Since then about 2 emails saying nothing much. Might be time to look at the website for any sign of life.

Yet the ABC article says In a statement the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said they were aware of the incident involving "an aircraft on the recreational register". Maybe the Daily Mail was using "file footage"?

SOLD and gone to its new owner in November. Don't know how to remove it, can't find any option. It would mean removing all the comments from others too.

The magazine started with the AUF as a way to communicate with members, particularly as their elected area representatives were not doing the job. It was run by volunteers. Eventually, with the standard & content declining, they threw it to various entities to produce and it became an added cost to members. Way back then, there were complaints - eg featuring the Hummel bird on the front cover when it was not an aircraft that could be registered with the AUF. The magazine continued through RAA. The best was when it was produced by an enthusiastic flyer who knew his subject and spent a lot of his time and money pursuing interesting stories. Then he was killed in a car crash. The search for the next editorial company turned up the present people. From my notes, they were experienced in travel and tourism location publications. The father had held a PPL in his younger days. The son would take up ultralight flying when they got the contract (it all being tax deducible). That's why some articles seem to be tourism, with a little Hey! there's an airport! RAAus went to a subscription, but few took it up, per magazine it became a loss again. It was realised that they still needed to communicate the Board election statements, voting forms & envelopes and the results / AGM. They chose 3 editions to cover that. Postage and Printing have risen substantially, so it is one of the major costs to members. Voting is now on-line with a link to statements on the RAAus site. Regular emails update Tech, Ops, Board & events. The role of the magazine is diminishing to something you flip through and leave at the dentist.

There's another one on his wall, but I can't find that picture. I think taken a while ago when resolution wasn't all that great.

I'll look in, and update as the day gets closer. They are probably going to need volunteers.

Old Station Fly-in 23-25 May 2025 - including Tractor Pull, Bikes, trucks, historic & classic, woodchop, live entertainment - fly or drive. Between Rockhampton and Gladstone Qld. Who's going? https://oldstationflyin.com/

The article would have to come from the Tech Manager as the Editor isn't sufficiently knowledgeable or qualified to do it. The Rules exist, but people are always trying to find a way around them. In some cases, the Rules developed in a haphazard way, leaving a great gaping hole, where the plane no longer fits in any category.

I have suggested to RAAus that they could do an article for RAAPS, or the Knowledge Base (which I can't find now...?) The RAAPS are useful - eg what to expect with a BFR, Test flying your aircraft. I guess, between being busy and having to update something like that with Tech Manual changes, Service Bulletins, Manufacturer's etc, it has become all too hard and it is easier to handle it one case at a time.

This 1993 55-registered Lightwing is limited with weight. I worked out, with full fuel, the two on board had to weigh 52kg each to stay within MTOW.

Myles Breitkreutz (0418 198 016) is about 70km from Rocky. Myles has been with the AUF/RAAus for decades, on the Board for most of it and aircraft maintainer. He probably knows the plane & owner. Depends where in the "Greater" Rocky area it is located. He may be able to recommend someone closer to the plane.

We've been going through this with our Lightwing. It is a factory built, so available for training & hire. However the engine, although low hours, is now years expired. This means it is "on-condition" which requires annual inspections and the aircraft can't be used for training or hire, or fly over populated areas. There are costs to have L2 inspections and I believe there is a RAAus annual fee. 19 registered is amateur built, not just because the engine is "on condition" We have someone who wants to buy it and do alterations - things that normally require Engineering certifications (as it is factory designed & built). To get around this - and this isn't for everybody as it is a lot of work. Transfer the plane to the new owner using the RAAus Tech Form 028 - Damaged/Unairworthy aircraft acquisition which takes the aircraft off the Register then do the work required making sure that it is equivalent to 51% built (dismantle, recover, engine work etc) and re-register it in the 19 category. Once in 19 you can run the engine "on condition" provided you have a plan for monitoring and maintaining it. Determining the 51% is up to RAAus, and 51% is a lot of hours and work, and expense. Fortunately for us, and the plane, this is just what the buyer wants to do - a comprehensive inspection, renewal and rebuild. Document and photograph as you go to prove the extent of the work. The alternative is to have the engine overhauled to renew its life. A quick call or email to Tech at RAAus will get you a better answer. @bauple58 I am assuming it is a RAAus registered.

Its not worth getting an ACR because it has to be within 14 days of the sale, and if you are "just looking" it can be an added expense. But a L2 should have a good idea of the things to look for. Some will do it as a favour, but you should consider compensating them for their time, travel etc. Our ACR is becoming a long drawn out saga; needed a 100hrly, some work, before observing flight. A "bit of a look over" wouldn't carry the same obligations as ACR, and could be more candid than a tick-box list. Just be careful you don't enlist the owner's best mate to do the inspection. Where Old Mate vows & avers that it is the best plane ever, only to find it is a heap of junk after you bought it. That's why RAAus bought in the ACR. Good Luck. Childers is a bit far from Rocky otherwise we could take a Bo Peep.

It needs someone who knows what they are looking at ... not many around. Maybe try one of the LAMEs at Rocky. If it is RAAus, it needs an L2 for the ACR. There are L2s at Rocky, The Caves, Wowan (Myles B) etc.

There are pilot wings in silver & gold on this site - see "Our Shop" and search for Wings (go to page 3). Ready to engrave or stick a logo on. Ian might be able to do a deal for bulk purchase. Profits go back to running this site.

A sad outcome for all concerned. A few things we will never know, regrets, "what-ifs", "could we have done more? and guilt. Neat boxes called "Pilot Error" and "flight into IMC" "not licenced for IFR" when there were other variables that may have contributed in some small way to a catastrophic outcome. The ATSB said incapacitation was unlikely as his wife was an experienced pilot and capable of taking over. They say the autopilot disconnected (the flight was stable till shortly before the accident) and became a roller coaster ride. Regardless, a family has lost their parents, grandparents, the aviation family have lost a couple of experienced pilots and friends. Learn what we can; don't rely on the Auto Pilot and avoid IMC.