octave

to be a little more specific this > "Melbourne it’s lined up full of Asians and Australians can’t even get foot in the door to buy houses in their own country,” It is no easier for someone who is born in Asia or born in Australia than it is for a white Australian to buy property. It is called capitalism and people who work and earn money are equally able to buy property, I see no problem in that.

Sorry but I have some very close Asian friends, one of them did recently buy a a house and a business premises, their comment when they read this was "what sort of identification should they have?" Perhaps a red star on sewn on their shirt? Whether this is racist or not is not the point to me, it is just plain dumb. I was born in Britain and I bought a house is that a problem? I know Italians who own shops and houses, is that a problem?

Yes I fully understand that the membership fee has increased. From my point of view there has been no decrease in what I get from it. I actually feel better informed than I used to, I can watch a stream of the AGM, unlike letters I find I actually read emails, there is heaps of information on the RA Aus site etc. As I am sure you know about two years ago RA Aus was in an awful state with the antiquated state of it's registration system. As you would also know and perhaps even have personal experience of, many aircraft were grounded. It seems to me that this problem was always going to be costly to fix. I could be wrong but as far as I can see it has been fixed. Now it is perfectly reasonable to question whether the problem was fixed in the most efficient way or whether RA Aus should reduce its reserves in order to lower fees or continue to print a magazine. Perhaps in the next election someone will put themselves forward who can guarantee the return of the hard copy of the magazine, resume paper communication, reduce fees and perhaps even restore the board to the original number but to convince me they would have to present a compelling and financially sound case. Do we know how well it was read in the past? I can only speak for myself but I read it about as much as I ever did. I do understand that others will have a different view. I think that unless we can produce a magazine that makes a profit or at least can break even we have to decide how much we are willing to pay. I do not believe the important "communication has gone" but rather it's method of delivery has changed. I am in it for the flying, I joined AUF in 1988 and since then from my perspective things have improved, anyway that is just my perspective, I understand that not everybody's experience is as positive has mine.

No they don't give us a discount, but then neither do I with my clients. Most of us have a computer running for many hours a day or we are checking our our email on our phones. Look I do understand that there are those who do not use a computer, just as as 40 odd years ago there were those who did not have a phone, and we do need to run a dual system for a time and I don't mind subsidising the cost of that but that does not mean that our progress should be frozen. I would suspect that most of us do not get our weather information by phone but use NAIPS on our computers. Are people really unhappy and angry because they get emails rather than letters, Personally I am thrilled to be able to fly, at some point in every flight I think to myself, holy **** this is ******* awesome and it does not seem to make any difference whether I get letters or emails or whether RA Aus is an association or a corporation, how many board members there are, whether I get emails or letters, whether I get a paper magazine or a digital magazine or indeed no magazine at all. But that is just my opinion, for me rec flying increases my happiness, if it made me that angry I would quit.

To send out 9000 letters with individual information at different times is going to cost more than a dollar per correspondence. Printing, paper and the labour of envelope stuffing etc. Just looking through the financial statements in 2014 Postage and PO box costs - $59927 and for 2015 - $33566. It looks to me to be a saving of $26361 I can't understand why some people are so unhappy. I belong to several associations and clubs and they all now communicate by email. My bank and super fund no longer send paper statements. Of course I can only speak for myself but I am more than happy to receive information from RA Aus via email, in fact I much prefer it.

it now costs $1 to send a letter therefore if we have 9000 members this would cost at least $9000 to remind members to renew their membership, I am not sure how many aircraft registrations at the moment but perhaps around $3000 in postage to remind owners to re register. Not to mention other communications. Personally I don't think that communications have decreased, I seem to get plenty in my email.

I find I read Sports Pilot online about the same amount as I read the hardcopy edition. I also read other magazines that I used to get a hard copy of online. I think IF the readership has shrunk that this will change as the younger generation becomes involved with recreational flying although it must continue to evolve to keep up with the quality of other sources of aviation information. Personally I think an issue is that when magazines go online they try to recreate the paper magazine digitally. The problem is that I don't feel this can compete with more interactive aviation sites. What is a traditional magazine? It basically is a bunch of pages containing adverts, letters to the editor, stories, editorials, pictures and classifieds. There are no shortages of sources of aviation information on the net (such as this forum) but they are often better because instead of pictures I can watch stunning videos, instead of reading an edited transcript of an interview I can watch a video of the interview, I can click on a link to an advert for the latest aircraft on the market. This is what the old style magazine MUST compete with. In terms of the magazine being the means of providing important information such as changes in regs or for calling for nominations for the board etc. I don't think it can, or ever or could have been relied upon in the past. I do think that with large increases in the cost of postage that we must get away from posting bits of paper, it is just too expensive.

In 1964 my parents brought me (at the age of 2) to Australia (as a 10 pound pom) because the future in the UK seemed so bleak. Since then the standard of living for the average British citizen has improved. I can not agree that the life of the average working person has got any worse than before EU, but perhaps you have so me examples of how Britain has gone downhill since the EU?

So for those who can't "see the big picture" perhaps you could spell it out a little clearer? After the recent vote you made it clear that although you disagreed you would give it a year to see how it went (or words to that effect) but you seemed to have changed your mind. Do you have new information? I am getting a little sick of people seemingly trying to kick RA AUS to death. Yes of course it is open to criticism, but this seems to be mainly presented as "I heard that" or "I am predicting that" If people think there was something illegitimate about the Queanbeyan vote then ask around amongst those who were there, get evidence, involve relevant authorities. The same applies to the recent vote. Some people are saying that RA AUS has "lost" 1 million dollars (or even 2) . Lost implies that it is gone and no one knows where it went. The recent CASA audit problems as I understand it were a failure over several years and over the tenure of several boards to ensure RA AUSs system were modernized and kept up to the standard that CASA demand. This of course was always going to be costly to fix. If members feel that this money has been misspent or worse then instead of vague accusations how about downloading the financial reports and putting the work in to identify the source of this loss. I first joined AUF in 1988 so I have seen it's ups and downs. I am more than happy to vote the present board out at the next election if they do not deliver but until then I am not prepared to snipe and undermine without solid evidence of mismanagement. For me one of the joys of flying is taking up passengers, and then trying to convince them that they too could learn to fly. I tell them how the RA system works and what they would need to do. I also until recently would direct them towards this forum as a source of information, I now no longer do this, there seems little point in directing the would be RA pilot to this forum when so many pilots seem so unhappy and dissatisfied and that RA AUS is either corrupt or incompetent or in it's dying days. Anyway that is my opinion and I guess maybe I am in the minority, perhaps this forum is not the right place people like me. Cheers

I think it is up to all pilots and instructors to within the rules and regs decide if a particular training procedure is worth it in a cost benefit sense. As I was taught, I always keep my hand on the throttle from the base turn onwards. Although I plan to reach the runway without adding power there are circumstances beyond the pilot's control. I do recall on final for a dusty strip suddenly realizing that there was a flock of dusty coloured sheep grazing on the strip I recorded this clip a few years ago whilst taking my Dad for a fly. The weather on this day seemed perfect however on late final the aircraft was suddenly upset by a freak gust of wind (from about the 40 second mark in this clip) This did require prompt application of power!

What got me into flying? Mid to late 60s - apollo program, living near Edinborough air base S.A. airshows The helicopter on skippy. 70s Moved to a house within the circuit area at Parafield. Sitting on the porch watching Chris Sperou. Saving up for a joy flight. Late 70s Joined the Air Training Corp band and later joined RAAF as a musician. Lived on RAAF Base Richmond. Worked in band room next to the runway. Enjoyed watching Caribous landing on the grass strip metres from the band room. Twelve tears of extensive travel mainly in a C130 but also got to sit on the back ramp of a chinook whilst in flight. Late 80s - Decided it was ridiculous to love flying so much but not actually fly myself. Came across an article about the new and exciting Thruster TST, booked in for a trail flight and eventually got my cert. After a year or so priorities changed, started family, left RAAF, less income etc, decided I had been there and done that. 2007 - my wife bought a trial instruction flight for christmas, I did consider this the be a one of flight but.......

Kasper does your advice to Don to "get over it" because the vote was yes only apply to Don? As far as I can see Don is merely responding to assertions an allegations. Perhaps it is time for everyone to stop whinging and whining and to work towards improving our lot as MEMBERS who FLY. I understand that people who did not support the change are disappointed and suspicious but it is what it is. If the no case had been supported I would also say it is what it is now let's get on with it. After a lot of reflection I voted yes, now perhaps time will prove me to be wrong and if in a year's time RA AUS is in a worse position I will happily apologise for my vote. Now I do not know Don, we have never met, if I met him in the street I would not recognize him but I do applaud his willingness to come on this forum and put his view. Now perhaps Don is the Doctor Evil of aviation but that is not the impression I get, again if after a year I am proved wrong then I will publicly apologise. I have been a member since 1988 and I it still amazes me how far we have come, we used to do circuits at 800 ft and hope that we wouldn't caught because 500 ft was the legal limit. Flying excites me and is one of the major sources of happiness in my life but lately the politics is really bringing me down. Note - not so much the fact based discussions but rather the innuendo about motives as well as impression given that the organisation is corrupt or stupid. Anyway, I think I am just about done with this forum, might take a break for a while.

awesome

Phil, how the hell do you know what is on Don's mind? Perhaps if you care so much about RA AUS you should actually join and then you could vote or even stand for election to the board.

Glad your back. Even will all the frustrations, rules and regs and RAAus politics in the end it is all about getting your ar$e in the air. That is all that counts.

How do planes fly? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXzuFp69m-M

Not saying that it can't happen but I am just wondering if the new system would be any worse than the old system and again I ask what bad things will or could happen if the yes vote is successful? This is a genuine question.

So 12 is optimal then?

Interesting could you please detail the differences between the present checks and balances as opposed to the checks and balances if the yes vote is carried? I have not filled in my proxy vote yet so you may be able to convince me.

All I want to know is what bad things will or could happen if the yes vote is successful?????

I would also like to publicly thank Don, it can't be easy. Oh and I am just about to fill in my proxy form and I am intending to vote yes, unless someone can convince me that something terrible will happen if the yes vote passes. I could change my mind if I could be convinced that the system that brought us failed audits is better than the proposed system.

All I want to know is what good/bad things could happen if I vote no and what good/bad things could happen if I vote yes? I am a member because I want to continue to FLY, although I do understand that this relies on people giving their time and effort to be board members something I do not have the time or skills for. I do not know whether Don is a good bloke working for our flying privileges or an evil man working only for his own evil purposes, but at least is here and communicating. I do find post #21 offensive, Phil as a non member you don't really get to demand the resignation of a board member of MY organisation. If you are concerned about the organization because you my want to fly in the future then why not join and even nominate for a board position, I am sure you have much to offer. By the way I am not really interested in the opinions of non members of RAAUS

Good call BlurE, the second time I went there I decided not to land, it is a strip that I consider (for my level of skill at least) requires great care.

Hi BlurE Here is my vid of landing and take off from Apollo Bay. Not sure if the following is helpful or not and please note I am not an instructor, but here are a few points. The runway at Apollo bay is sealed but quite narrow. On this day I landed downwind (4 to 5 knots) uphill. I personally would not be comfortable landing downhill.

Hi BlurE, I landed there about 18 months ago. For information ring (03) 52329506 which is a recorded information service. The CTAF frequency is 126.7 (but do check this). Let me know if you have any questions, I do have some video somewhere of my landing which could be of interest to you.