FlyingVizsla

The Gathering of Eagles – Australia 30th August, 2014 Watts Bridge Memorial Airfield invites all pilots and aviation enthusiasts to participate in our annual fly-meet. Catering on-field, Avgas & absolutely no landing fees. For more information contact Ron Dunn on 0428 747 737 www.wattsbridge.com.au

RAAus decided that Natfly was growing and should be put out to tender for blocks of 3 years. Temora must have offered more than Narromine.

I have opened the RSVPs on the Ausfly Event on http://www.recreationalflying.com/threads/sep-12-2014-ausfly-2014-narromine-nsw.117924/ You can quickly indicate your interest in attending. Sue

Ausfly has been cancelled for 2014. Please RSVP if you are interested in attending anyway.

The website (www.ausfly.com.au) is still touting Ausfly 11-14 Sept 2014 (last updated 16/5/14). Farcebook page's last post was 28 March 2014. https://www.facebook.com/www.ausfly.com.au?fref=ts Very disappointed if it has been cancelled - we were planning to attend. Sue

Kites & the law. Not surprisingly the humble kite gets a mention in a number of places outside of CASA. A couple of examples at the bottom. In a nutshell: Kites are not required to be registered. Operation 4km from an airport, below 300 ft in VMC, 500ft below cloud; unless exempted by CASA. The definition of a kite as "moored (or tethered) to the ground" I was informed a few years ago that this included a kite string held by a person on the ground. The sources these rules follows: Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2004H00530/Html/Volume_2 260 Manned fixed balloons and kites (1) Despite regulation 157, a person may fly a fixed balloon or kite at a height not exceeding 300 feet. (2) A person must not fly a fixed balloon or kite within 4 000 metres of an aerodrome or at a height of more than 300 feet if the following requirements are not satisfied: (a) the person has CASA’s permission to fly the balloon or kite at that height; (b) the flight is in accordance with the terms of that permission. Penalty: 10 penalty units. (3) A person flying a fixed balloon or kite must fly it in V.M.C. Penalty: 10 penalty units. (4) An offence against subregulation (2) or (3) is an offence of strict liability. Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code. (5) This regulation does not apply to an unmanned fixed balloon or kite to which Part 101 of CASR applies. 205A Offences A person who flies or operates: .....(d) a kite; or .... in contravention of a provision of this Division that applies to the aeroplane, glider, balloon, kite or airship is guilty of an offence punishable, on conviction, by a fine not exceeding 25 penalty units. Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2004H00559 47.175 Aircraft not required to be registered (1) For paragraph 20AA (1) (b) of the Act, an aircraft is not required to be registered if subregulation (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) applies to it. (2) This subregulation applies to an aircraft if it is: (a) an unmanned free balloon; or (b) a permanently tethered manned balloon; or © a hang glider; or (d) a kite; or (e) a parachute; or (f) a recreational unmanned aircraft; (g) a rocket. Note For the definitions of kite, manned balloon, tethered and unmanned balloon see the Dictionary. (3) This subregulation applies to an aircraft if it is an unpowered aircraft that weighs less than 75 kilograms. 101.030 Approval of areas for operation of unmanned aircraft or rockets (1) A person may apply to CASA for the approval of an area as an area for the operation of: ....... (2) For paragraph (1) (a), the classes of unmanned aircraft are the following: (a) tethered balloons and kites; .......... 101.120 Operation of tethered balloon or kite under cloud (1) A person may operate a tethered balloon or kite under cloud only if he or she keeps the balloon or kite at least 500 feet (measured vertically) below the cloud. Penalty: 10 penalty units. 200.5 kite means a glider normally tethered to the ground. Dictionary kite means a glider normally moored to the ground. Air Displays: Safety and Administrative Arrangements http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/manuals/regulate/air_disp/076r01.pdf To fly kites at an aerodrome, you will require an exemption against CAR 260 from CASA. You will need to keep the kites away from any possible approach path to a runway in case you get a non-radio aircraft arriving unexpectedly. Also, you can only fly kites when all other manned aircraft are on the ground. There is an application form Defence Act 1903 - defines some kites as Aircraft for the purposes of this Act Police Act 1892 WA - 96 Prohibition of nuisances by persons in thoroughfares- Every person shall, on conviction, be liable to a penalty of not more than $40 who shall in any street commit any of the following offences: .... (10) Every person who shall fly any kite, or ..... to the annoyance of the inhabitants or passengers, or to the common danger of the passengers.

In the early 1990's my employer had a range of "Activity Kits" for loan to remote schools & children's groups. These were designed so that anyone could run the activity, all materials and step by step instructions. I was requested to develop a Kite Kit. This was back in the days of the Air Navigation Act. After a bit of research I had to explain how impractical this would be for our Western Qld towns who had their airport on the edge of town. Firstly the distance from the airport took them out into the desert. Then the Air Nav Act required each person operating a kite to be 100m from another kite pilot and with 500m clear of people in the wind direction (clear path to run with kite). I estimated the one teacher school at Birdsville would need a square km to arrange their students in two lines with 500m each, clear, spaced 100m apart. I'll see if I can find out what the present rules are. Sue

Résumé is from the French résumer - "to summarise" Curriculum vitae is Latin - "course of life" A Resume is a brief listing showing how you fit the job, whereas a CV is more detailed going through every job and qualification.

This is on the RAA Members Portal under Latest Notices - Operational Advisory (Group D Engine Off Operations). The following is an excerpt - I encourage you to read the full Advisory before commenting. BACKGROUND A recent accident investigation involving a Group D operator has revealed a potential lack of understanding in relation to engine off operations with RAA registered aircraft. This has been promulgated in most cases by members transferring from HGFA operators where this practice is permitted. REQUIRED ACTIONS Operations remind all RA-Aus pilots and Instructors that engine off operations of any recreational aircraft are not permitted in flight unless a declared emergency or under the command of a qualified CFI under controlled conditions only. This stipulation is currently referenced in Section 3.04 - 44 of the Operations Manual. Issue 7 of the Operations Manual will more clearly outline this requirement in Section 3.02.

Pick up a copy of "What Color is your Parachute" (A Practical Manual for Job Hunters and Career-Changers) by Richard N Bolles. It looks like it comes out revised and updated every year, so old editions should be readily available at Op-shops and book exchanges. I picked up the 2004 edition free; and the advice is still relevant 10 years later. He is American, but has based his book on research which includes Australia and New Zealand. The distilled message is that success is in proportion to effort. He suggests targeting the job you want, researching the company, phoning, visiting and asking for the person who does the hiring, being prepared, courteous, succinct and following up with a Thank You. He points out that the success rate for internet applications and sending resumes to all and sundry is about 2%. There's lots more in the book, including an exercise for you to determine your "dream job" Well worth a read. Sue

I have had a look at Budget & actuals to Feb 2014 (the latest Profit & Loss available on the Members Portal). The budget is spot on for income, but over estimated expenditure (we made some savings). Factoring in depreciation we have a loss of $195,780. Extrapolating that to the full year we lose less than $300,000. Bear in mind that there are seasonal changes in expenditure, possibly a term deposit to mature and a CASA payment to come. I note there have been some expenditure this year that will save us money in the future. Computer systems have been upgraded and I hear that the aircraft records are being digitised. That will cause a spike in wages and computer, but should then make renewals far easier and cheaper. Getting this on-line in a Self-Service portal will save more, being able to do bank transfers BPay or other than Credit Card payments should save on Merchant fees. I will have a further look at last year Vs this year; preferably when March 2014 P&L is available on the Members Portal as March 2013 is the earliest released. I can then give you an idea of how we are compared to last year (eg has membership dropped?) We are coming off years of profit with quite a nest egg. RAA is a NOT for Profit - using some of the fat of previous years to improve our future is what we should be doing. Some things have been put off for too long. Excellent budget, by the way, Jim T. Sue

I assume this information ($2.5mil, $442k loss) comes from the 2013/14 budget spreadsheet on the RAA Members Portal. Before we get too carried away, have a look at the formulas. Some of these are not correct; for example Cell N29 & N129 do not add up the entire line. The financial year is nearly finished, so it might be wise to compare the P&L statements with the budget. There has been some big expenditure (eg computer systems & digitising records) that may save future expenditure. A budget is a guide and best guess until reality catches up. I am busy for the rest of the day, but will try to look this over tonight. So talk amongst yourselves until then, but definitely talk to Jim Tatlock. Sue

ATSB final report released: What happened On 17 December 2012, a Cessna 182A aircraft registered VH-SGB, impacted with electrical powerlines that ran alongside a parachute drop zone at Burrum River, Queensland. The pilot was planning to attend a Christmas function at the drop zone and was flying to an airstrip located about 1.5 km to the north. After contacting the powerlines, the aircraft was seen to climb and continue to fly for approximately 500m before the right wing separated from the aircraft. The aircraft subsequently impacted the ground and the pilot was fatally injured. Safety message A minimum height of 500 ft AGL for flight over non-populated areas is promulgated for very long standing safety reasons. Pilots who choose to fly below this height without an operational reason to do so are exposing themselves, and any passengers that may be on board, to an increased risk of striking powerlines, many of which are difficult to see from the cockpit of an aircraft in flight. The circumstances of this accident highlight that risk. http://www.atsb.com.au/publications/investigation_reports/2012/aair/ao-2012-170.aspx Open the pdf file to read the full report.

I attended an information session in Maryborough Qld last week to get the good oil on progress with the Maryborough Gliding Club. They are a keen bunch hoping to get a hangar built at the airport to house the three gliders available to the Club. At present two of them are sharing digs with other aircraft at M'boro. The Fraser Coast Council has come on board with favourable terms regarding a lease to the Club for the hangar and they have a Gliding Instructor. There were about 20 people interested on the night. The following is an extract from the newspaper article (which appears in a number of syndicated papers including the Fraser Coast Chronicle):- "There is a glider suitable for training pilots based in Maryborough and will be available for hire to members once our operations start," Ms Neisler said. For more information, phone Janet Neisler on 4124 3089. Janet soloed at Maryborough in a glider about 1974. Good luck to them & I hope to have a dual one day soon. Sue

They are "home" YKTN. Just hope no phishers read the blog (DOBs passport No.s etc). Or CASA notice the passenger flying bit. Fortunately there are some lessons to be learned by reading the Blog for anyone considering an "outback" trip.

CASA is not, but Airservices is (Dip Air Traffic Control & Dip/Cert fire fighting) Search for RTOs and courses here: http://training.gov.au/

Keith, I still don't get it. If CASA does aircraft registration and pilot licences; there's no need to be a member of RAAus. No members, no income, so why become a school? If you search for already established RTOs on https://training.gov.au/Search There are 95 organisations offering just one of the courses - AVI08 - Aviation Training Package (which includes aerobatics, human factors, radio, flight planning) and no doubt there are courses for avionics, mechanics, airframe etc. Why would RAA want to compete?

I am a bit confused. If CASA does rego & licence - what will RAA teach? Where do the Flying Training Schools fit into this? Are you suggesting a centralised training place? Canberra?

TAFE can tailor a course to suit your needs. This was some years ago, but 10 of us approached TAFE with the help of a qualified GA instructor who had worked as a TAFE instructor in another field. He designed and presented the course, we paid a fee and got a Statement of Attainment (or some other acknowledgement). Someone on this forum arranged a welding course through TAFE in Canberra. It can be done, and gets cheaper when done frequently. There is scope to co-operate with SAAA who do building & maintenance courses. Some of the larger flying schools have RTO. The Educational institutions who teach Aviation Certificates, Degrees & Diplomas have qualified people in both aviation and education and can call on other disciplines such as safety, mechanics. Our own flying instructors are trained and have a syllabus. RAAus may not have to re-invent the wheel. Sue

The Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) is aware that the cost associated in entering the aviation industry and maintaining skills once qualified can be a burden on current and potential future pilots and technical trainees. To emphasise the importance of new people entering the regional aviation industry and the continued education of current people we have arranged partnerships with member organisations to award scholarships to individuals meeting the criteria to assist them completing their studies or that advance current participants in regional aviation skills. Scholarships are being offered in the following fields Apprentice Scholarships, LAME Scholarships, and Pilot Scholarships. Applications close 31 July 2014 For more details see http://www.raaa.com.au/scholarships.html

The Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) National Convention is highly regarded as a premier annual aviation event and attracts key industry leaders, regional operators, technical experts, manufacturers and suppliers. CASA, the government and other regulatory bodies are well represented and contribute significantly to the program. Importantly, the event is open to members and non-members providing a tremendous benefit to the industry as a whole. http://www.raaa.com.au/convention.html

Not me (unfortunately), but Alan & Terry; two blokes who enjoy tootling around Oz and now trying an overseas trip. Currently getting to grips with the complexities of Customs and the unpopularity of Avgas. Their blog shows a great sense of humour. Sue

Asking at a fly-in (wasn't that what the GM did?) ignores the remote area people, and those too busy or working to attend. There is no conclusive way to get the real feeling of all the members; even a reply paid envelope and voting form hardly gets 2%. Magazine - I get 2 magazines on-line with a paper version posted for my husband and I have it read before his arrives. He is a dinosaur when it comes to computers, but got an iPad earlier this year and now enjoys surfing the web. I would like to forego my magazine for an on-line one and save RAA money. We are slowly packing up to move over the next couple of years and I can tell you the magazines weigh a tonne - my husband does not like tossing anything out. In the Members Only portal there is an archive of past editions (only a few, but give them time! Or volunteer to scan). From my experience, younger members like on-line because that's what they are most comfortable with. Grey Nomads like on-line because it is easy to carry when caravanning or flying safari (see the Blacksheep & Ugly Duckling thread & blog). Libraries like on-line because they don't have to dispose of editions that are out of date to save storage. I volunteer at the Visitor Information Centre - that's where I'll be all day - listening to travellers & fliers. Sue

Royal Aero Club of WA - Every last Friday of the month (check time with Club) Formation Friday Every Last Friday of the month a group of like minded aviation enthusiasts take to the skies in tandem for quite a spectacle both in the sky and to observe on the ground. The more the merrier and an experience you won't forget. Old Fliers Group The Old Fliers Group is an association of aviation enthusiasts who meet on the last Friday of each month at the Royal Aero Club of WA at Jandakot in Western Australia. The purpose of Old Fliers is to promote comradeship and share and preserve aviation history. There is over 370,000 flying hours of experience between the members in this group! Call the club and see how you can get involved! http://www.royalaeroclubwa.com.au/events/details/id/152/