skippydiesel

You could go and get checked out in a similar aircraft - do a couple of extra hrs, some circuits/landings/stalls and give RAA another go😈

From limited experince - two aircraft. Unless you are unable or want someone else to do the test flying, you can do it yourself. It sounds like yout pilot has done the initial test - you can now take over (make sure you are listed on the RAA forms as one of the test pilots). RAA provide a detailed test schedule (download from website) that you can work through. My first test aircraft was one that I did a complete internal/external refurbishment on over 12 months. Unaware of the potential for disaster, I went ahead and did all the necessary flying to prove airworthiness and conformity with type performance (turned out to be a little better). Second & current aircraft - I purchased a well advanced plans built Sonex Legacy project. As the completer (took another 18 months) I am listed as the builder/manufacturer. I engaged a suitably RAA qualified Inspector, who saw the aircraft once, at near final assembly time. About this time I started looking for a test pilot. I had no idea it would be so difficult to find one. Lots of GA pilots willing to do the job but without an RAA Certificate (bureaucracy!) any test they performed would be invalid. Thinking I may get some help from the Inspector chappy , I contacted him, told him of my difficulty - he did not know of any RAA test pilots in the greater Sydney Basin area. At this, I said if I couldn't find anyone I would do the job myself - he immediately "dumped" me saying I would be stupid to do such a thing and he wanted no part of it. Great help! All's well that ends well - Not only did I find another Inspector, he would be happy to do the initial test flight. Other than issues with engine overheating he conducted the first successful 60 minute test including high speed taxi/hops & several landings and handed the aircraft back to me, with some rigging suggestions and the need to explore better cooling. My Son & I flew off the remaining test hours, adjusted control surfaces for straight & level and spent a long time trying to get engine oil/coolant temperatures under control, eventually succeeding.😈

The only correct answer to a forced landing, is one you survive. You were acting as PIC, made your decision, based on prior knowledge/experince (perhaps not of that beach) & chose what you felt was the best option - hope you got a pat on the back for that one😈

Congratulations. Looks like your green track was having a lot of fun. Dont know much about Jab engines however you may find that your 912 will idle faster in winter. You can live with that or adjust down. I do my winter/summer adjustment at the throttle quadrant (adjusts both carbs at the same time). If you forget to adjust up for summer, you may encounters the occasional engine stop, at or shortly after landing.😈

Coljones, Those of us who are financial members of RAA, have a reasonable expectation, that the organisation will represent the memberships aspirations and concerns, to whatever authority is deemed appropriate. RAA has done this with the aircraft Max weight increase and are in the process of achieving entry to CTA - good stuff for those who wish to take advantage of these changes.. If we expect this sort of representation, what is so hard/unreasonable about taking on ASIC, as it applies to private pilots wishing to access Security Controlled small regional airports? As for individuals approaching their parliamentary representative - "Snowflake's Chance in Hell" of getting any action through this mechanism -I didnt even get a reply to my letter to my member. Ennui reigns supreme 😈

I acknowledge that your can't be bothered approach, is in the majority - thats why nothing will be done! I am sad that neither you or your majority friends, care to even try to correct this wrong. All you have to do is put pressure on our representative body (RAA) to put this matter "in the book" & keep it there, until is satisfactorily resolved.😈

BurnieM, "They can of course then implement the bastard factor and refuse you permission to land and try to 'fine' you if you do." If the PIC declares an emergency, they can land whoever they choose - may be bit of a problem if the emergency found to be bogus. I agree with you - the market will decide what fees are acceptable. Unfortunatly there are owners who will try to extort as high a fee as possible, rather than what's reasonable, for the service provided and the ware/tare of their asset. A fee per ton with minimum charge, is not realy reflective of the ware/tare generated by a 600 kg RAA aircraft.😈

Good man. I try to call all airfields I will pass/one side/overhead within 10 Nm. Yesterday, passing about 8Nm to the north of Goulburn, 5500ft, I had a high performance twin taking off in my general direction. We made pilot to pilot contact. He saw me, I never saw him - all good. Shortly after I passed another aircraft at 4500 ft, several miles to the north - would never had seen him if not for SK2/Ozrunways, he/she made no calls but may have heard me abeam Goulburn/communicating with twin.😈

" ......it's just the system we have." No offence RossK but I am appalled by this statement. None of us should settle for a bad system or part thereof. ".......more traction with the RAAus Board members....." Thanks for that advice. I actually wrote to RAA, assuming that correspondence is readout & discussed at Board Meetings (as per standard Club/Organisation practice). The response I received was from Maxine CEO. I am now wondering if the response is her position or RAA's position😈

I guess the issue(s) come down to: Who controls/owns the air above an airfield? What rights does a PIC have to navigate where /whenever - subject to existing Federal airspace restrictions.? Should it become the "norm" for airfield owners to charge for use of the airspace above - at what point should this charge be levied (height above, distance from, services (if any) provided)? What might be the implications eg avoidance leading to fuel exhaustion/forced landing, would declarde emergencies and emergency response aircraft be fee free ? Landing fees vary, $0-20 (probably more)/landing for an RAA level aircraft - how can this be justified (greed?)? I feel that Australian pilots should remember, almost all airfields were owned by the Federal Government / US!. Due to the adoption of the now discredited Economic Rationalism /User Pays economic model, our short sighted Gov disposed of (sold & gifted) most of the airfields. Much like roads, rail, ports, electrical & water supply that are part of our essential (publicly owned) infrastructure, airfields that were completely open, are now restricted and/or being developed for non aviation purposes. Like most of the other public asset, that have been disposed of, this is an evolving disaster that we the people have allowed to happen (she'll - be right - mate). Public infrastructure/services underpins the economic & social wellbeing of a country, we are the poorer/disadvantaged for the loss of such.😈

I feel for you😈

My faith in humanity is restored - Thanks Jerry_ Atrick. Seems to me that Australians are particularity uninterested in fighting for their rights " she'll - be -right - mate". I am not against having my rights infringed/reduced, where it can be demonstrated that there is a greater good . ASIC not only infringes my rights without a demonstrable benefit BUT also costs me (all of us) as a taxpayer. Australia has the unenviable reputation of being one of the World's' least democratic democracies - ASIC is just a small example of this. It seem that private plots (on this Forum) are quite content with this double rort - if they weren't then their voices would be heard by RAA (our representative body) and something would have to be done, but noooo, all toooo hard. The fact is, no one/or organisation has made a significant effort to get this crap law modified. so that it does not apply to small rural airports.😈

Reference ; Trying to get the need for private pilots to hold an ASIC card , for access to to small rural Security Controlled Airports, abolished I have written to RAA - Got a two nice replies from Maxine (CEO) - in summary, total abdication of their representative function. Advised to contact local member. Have written to local member - as expected no response. If this changes will advise accordingly. The reality is, any politician contacted about this matter, is likly to do the vote maths v risk and decide its not worth their time. 31,000(?) private pilots , spread over the entire country, do no represent a significant lobby UNLESS their representative organisations take up the cause. "'She'll - be - right - mate" (apathy) rules the day😈

Ground crew and Controller are a long way apart. I would expect a Controller to be in radio contact and having a role to play in aircraft sequencing😈

It seems to me that there is almost never a "root cause" only multiple contributing factors. Certainly some form of controlled airspace. Given the aircraft movement frequency in a confined airspace, perhaps a company specific, air traffic coordinator, may have reduced the chances of a conflict. Even a "standard circuit pattern" is not without risk - reference the recent collision of two aircraft, death of three, at The Oaks, almost certainly due to failure of communication, along with procedural errors, etc.😈

As with almost all incidents there are likly to have been many factors (Swiss Cheese) - these were covered in the video. It matters not that the radio was/not working - no call was heard, therefore could not have added to the pilots situational awareness. I think you can take it as "fact" the neither pilot saw the other aircraft. Any other explanation would have to involve deliberate contact. The question then is why did both pilots not "see & avoid"? The only reasonable answers are: They did not communicate with each other - faulty radio, faulty radio procedure - the result is the same, Procedural failure - pilot failure, badly designed or lack of formal procedure Over reliance on the ability of the airborne human eye to detect another airborne object/aircraft😈

There you go again with your selective responses. "the rights & freedom to navigate, as the PIC determines, within the law" Which bit of my comment did you not read/comprehend? No more. 😈

With reference to the above video; I have long held the opinion that the "mark one eyeballs" is seriously limited (in airborne humans) thus making the "see and avoid" mantra, promoted by so many pilots/instructors, at best misleading, at worst a danger in itself. My opinion, in this matter, is often hotly refuted. I contend, that good radio communication, procedural adherence/discipline, are likly the greater safety skills, that "clue" the pilot into the location of the other airborne aircraft(s) and thus visual acquisition (not the other way around). In the above video - dodgy radio (lack of communication), structural visual blocking, questionable procedures and the limitations of the human eye, combined to create a disaster. The helicopter tragedy supports my argument all too well.😈

Turbs me old mate, Much though I love a good debate, when the opponent just wriggles & wriggles, going off on ever more irrelevant tangents, I grow weary, not of the original topic, but of trying to answer on topic (the rights & freedom to navigate, as the PIC determines, within the law)😈

In my dreams - the opportunities are going from zero to something way less.😈

Hard to compare - Tent same price as Cloud 2 Pro but quite a bit heavier. Sleeping bag 0C very good value. Mat, no R rating, but at $90 is a steel, if as good as you say. Nothing worse than a deflated mat in the middle of the night. Been looking at the nemo Tensor - All Seams , R 2.4, $200.

Thanks thats great information. I think I will be purchasing the Cloude Up 2 Pro https://www.naturexplore.com.au/products/naturehike-cloud-up-2-pro-tent. 1.53 kg Highly rated on several reviews. I think they do 3 person tents😈

Thanks. I put Australia in my search parameters and thats one of the review sites that popped up - will go back & check again.😈 Monstermat is great IF you aren't baggage space & weight challenged Found this https://adventuregearonline.com.au/product/nemo-tensor-sleeping-mat-regular/ $199.99 Albury NSW This is defeinately Australia.😈

Thanks. I put Australia in my search parameters and thats one of the review sites that popped up - will go back & check again.😈

Just come from KMart https://www.kmart.com.au/product/single-self-inflating-mattress-42498575/ Self inflating Sleeping mat $22 - bit thin at 40 mm, bit heavy at 3 kg - would do at a pinch https://www.kmart.com.au/product/altitude-hooded-sleeping-bag-42890546/ Sleeping bag pretty good at 1.2 kg , $45. rated down to 4C https://www.kmart.com.au/product/ridge-sleeping-bag-43491162/ Sleeping bag pretty good at 1.9 kg , $49, rated down to 0C https://www.kmart.com.au/product/thermal-eva-foam-bed-roll-42305880/?srsltid=AfmBOor0fR9gjiJY05kxk7taXClRkkOG798Fx5PbQHnlGV8DrA4yEI_c Closed cell mat $15 - bit narrow but again OK at a pinch. You can purchase this stuff, foil one or both sides, from insulation suppliers, I think up to 8mm thick - make it whatever size you want, supply you own packing straps. 😈