FlyingVizsla

CASA have completed the venues for upcoming AvSafety Seminars. No date changes, but Cairns & Griffith have both been cancelled. These are the locations for the rest of May to June (the end of the campaign). Venues & details under EVENTS:- Alice Springs Ayers Rock Caboolture Cessnock Cowra Darwin Dubbo Geraldton Goolwa Gympie Hobart Horn Island Karratha Kununurra Latrobe Valley Launceston Mackay Mildura Parkes Shepparton Toowoomba Wagga Warrnambool Wollongong Registration for AvSafety seminars is through the CASA Learning Management System, AviationWorx. http://www.casa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WCMS:STANDARD::pc=PC_101474 Attendance is free.

CASA have announced the venues for upcoming AvSafety Seminars. No date changes this time (see previous posts for the list). I have updated each listing in the EVENTS Calendar. Go to the Events tab, then Weekly or Monthly view. Only 7 venues are yet to be announced; I will update when available. Unfortunately the following towns have missed out - Kingaroy, Scone, & Bairnsdale have been cancelled.

Take ONE forty year-old Cessna ONE SEVEN TWO; ONE SEVENTY TWO year-old pilot; plus ONE sixty year old 'first officer cum cabin attendant'------and theblacksheep is off again in the UGlyDuckling (C172M VH-UGD) Kyneton through the iconic outback to Darwin, then across the Timor Sea to Kupang, Indonesia; to Dili in Timor Leste; and back to Darwin via Kupang. On the forward route we will fly Kyneton to Renmark, Port Pirie, Leigh Creek, William Creek, Oodnadatta, Ayers Rock, Curtin Springs, The Granites, and Kununurra, to Darwin. A couple of days R&R in Darwin will be followed by the overwater legs and return to Darwin. The return trip will be via Jabiru, Mcarthur River Mine, Adels Grove, Camooweal, Mount Isa, Boulia, Windorah, Thargomindah, Hungerford, Tibooburra, Pooncarie and Wentworth, to Kyneton. Follow the blog which is updated daily when internet access is available. www.theblacksheep-theuglyduckling.blogspot.com.au

Engineering AvSafety Seminar - Maintain your knowledge Maintain your Engineering safety knowledge by attending a specifically tailored Aircraft Engineering seminar. The seminar will include the latest information on Part 66 LAME licencing and PART 147 training, maintenance organisation regulations, including CAR 30 and PART 145, Human Factors for Engineers and resources available on the CASA website. These seminars will provide engineering staff and organisations with the opportunity to hear up to date information regarding regulation change, find out how to stay informed and ask questions relating to these topics. Location Date Venue Start time Alice Springs Tuesday 13th May 2014 Sir Reg Ansett Room 15:30 Bankstown Tuesday 20th May 2014 Bankstown Passenger Terminal 13:00 Moorabbin Tuesday 27th May 2014 Royal Victorian Aero Club 17:00 Essendon Wednesday 28th May Interair Flight Training 17:00 Jandakot Thursday 1st May 2014 Royal Aero Club of WA 17:00 Darwin Thursday 12th June TBA Gold Coast Wednesday 25th June TBA Brisbane Thursday 26th June Royal Queensland Aero Club 17:00 To register: http://www.casa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WCMS:STANDARD::pc=PC_101954

Lou, Good to have you on board! Sue

The nature of work is changing - both my husband and I work for companies that no longer recognise public holidays. Easter is a normal work day, we only get it if it falls on our rostered days off. The impact of this on our community is that our town can no longer muster enough people available on weekends, or weekly to field a footy team, or a volunteer fire brigade and attendance at events is down. This has impacted on us and our Fly-in attendance. In previous years we were able to go to Natfly, the only decision was if we wanted to this year. Now we can't. The stars aligned in 2010 and won't again until 2016. So that may partly explain the drop in attendance (well, two of us ......) Husband suggests that every year is too often - perhaps every second year. He prefers endlessly walking the flight line and exhibitors, constantly talking, looking and learning (and spending) I prefer the seminars, but also like the walking His pet hate is constant PA chatter drowning out the sound of iconic engines - cut the airshow banter to introductions only Loved Narromine's close-in friendly atmosphere (have been to Temora, but not for a Natfly - so can't compare) Move the major days to Sat/Sun leaving Fri & Mon for travel. I remember driving all day Friday to find it winding down Sat afternoon. Loved SAAA Ausfly 2013 and planning to attend 2014. Appreciated RAAus being there too. Sue

We couldn't make Natfly (we are both working) so I was keen to see what was happening on the busiest day - nothing. Webcam, despite assurances after last year that there will be multiple views, is still not working. The Natfly web site didn't have much leading up to the event, particularly the "News" pages. The exhibitor listing does show 22 of 90 sites vacant (25%) and I didn't get a sense of rising excitement. RecFly is a bit quiet too - in prior years there was a constant flow of photos and commentary. Where's young Tommo when we need him? Keen to know what I am missing out on to make me more annoyed about not being there. Sue

.... turned his celebrated rump for the check .... this explains the deserted scene on the Ratfly webcam and the title: Natfly Temora Airport 2012 Looking to the North

Recently received some advertising for this product - MXO-AV Aviation Fuel and Performance Enhancer - saying it has been around since 1940's - promises to solve fuel problems related to the use of low or unleaded fuel. It mentions Ethanol issues, but does not say it addresses them. Glowing reference from Gilgandra Aero Club and a Gyro & Sky Fox owner. Anyone have any further experiences with this? Sue

I am still GA - C152 - but it is in bits getting a very sloooowww refurbishment & SIDS inspection, but also RAA. We have a very basic Wheeler Scout (wing needs recovering) which my husband is now too heavy to get off the ground, so it is all mine ... and a Lightwing (with an instructor), a home built RANS S7 Courier and a home built Karasport which is over 20 years old and RAAus has only just asked for plans and data set, so it is sitting there waiting for us to draw & calculate. There's a point where too many aircraft means more time spent working on them and less time flying. Right now the balance has swung to nil flying to 100% working. That's probably the down side of RAA and being able to build and do your own maintenance; its a temptation to fiddle around endlessly. Our aim is to actually fly in to a fly-in, something we have not managed for a few years. How about you - what is your chariot of choice? Sue

Kanga, We are also from the Central & Southern end of Qld. What sort of flying are you into? Sue

The AOPA has announced their next safety seminar - in Queensland. The seminar will feature speakers from a broad sector of the industry, including CASA, Airservices and the ATSB. WHERE: Royal Queensland Aero Club, Archerfield, Queensland WHEN: Saturday 24th May from 9am – 5pm PRESENTERS INCLUDE: CASA ATSB Oz Runways Airservices TECNAM Virgin Airlines AVMED RAAF & More This event is open to all pilots and aviation enthusiasts and is not restricted to AOPA members. Lunch is Included As seats are strictly limited, please RSVP to: [email protected] or phone 0417 292 209 by 20th May 2014.

A man has been injured in a skydiving accident near Goondiwindi on Queensland's southern border. It is the second incident in the area in as many days. Yesterday, a 25-year-old man suffered neck injuries after a hard landing. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-09/skydiver-injured-in-fall-in-southern-queensland/5377592

Royal Aero Club of Western Australia Each Winter RACWA holds a trilogy of Night Competitions at Jandakot. See the beautiful city of Perth at night with the benefit of a safety pilot. No need for a night rating or currency we provide Instructors for all competitors. A great opportunity to get some night flying experience. Dinner available from 17:00. Briefing 18:00. More information, including contacts and score sheets - www.royalaeroclubwa.com.au/events/details/id/118/

Aerobatic Championships - Qld 25-27 July 2014

Food – Drinks – Stalls – Children’s Entertainment – Joy Flights – Trial Introductory Flights Come and experience the joys of Flying in the Dry Tropics where Visual Flight is possible most days. Glorious Scenery, massive river system, great Fishing/Crabbing and Good Fellowship Flyers Camping or Courtesy Bus to Brandon, Ayr or Home Hill. More than five pilot friendly Strips nearby.

Balloon Challenge program - Canowindra. events-program.pdf events-program.pdf events-program.pdf

Monday 21 April to Sunday 27 April 2014 - International balloon competitions & events for the whole family - meet the balloonists, bowls, golf, art, cars, bikes, entertainment, food, cellar door & tours. www.canowindrachallenge.org.au

They're on the Rec Fly site under Pilot Tools -> Tutorials http://www.recreationalflying.com/tutorials/ I remember Ian saying there are more here than what the RAA site has. Also noticed the old AUF site is now owned by someone else. Sue

Qld Air Museum - Caloundra Qld Aero Engine Run Day Saturday 12 April 2014 10.00am until 4.00pm The Queensland Air Museum presents its collection of historic operational aircraft engines in a special display of aviation horsepower. The awesome sight and sound of a 1500 horsepower 14 cylinder radial engine powering up is an unforgettable experience and one that you wouldn't want to miss. The museum's operational engines and aircraft cover a range of engine designs dating from the 1940s. Visitors are encouraged to inspect the engines between runs and talk to the volunteers who restored them. THE ENGINES AND AIRCRAFT The museum's Operational Engine and Aircraft Collection consists of engines ranging from 40 hp up to 1,500 hp and dating from 1930. It includes a fully operational CAC Wirraway aircraft. A selection of the Collection will feature in each run-up display to provide a good cross section of aero engine types. The Collection is steadily growing in number and types and as new restorations are completed they will be added to the display. THE DISPLAY Each engine will be run a number of times throughout the day. Scheduled Run Times: 11:00am 12:30pm 2:00pm ADMISSION CHARGES Adult $15.00 Concession $10.00 Child $8.00 Family (2 adults, 3 children) $35.00 Price includes regular museum display.