Gibbo

Searchable Wiki for members only.... Will take a bit of space on the server but.

Can't remember where I saw it but the general comment about the boards minutes not being made available was that; "We don't want our opposition to see what we are discussing and planning". I do agree that there is a general lack of transparency within the RAaus world. Balance sheets anyone?

Saw a station pilot return to the strip about 15-20 minutes after taking off. Pilot was very white and went straight for a bottle of Rum after touch down. A Black snake had managed to sneak his way on board with the returning mail and decided to wake up just after take off and was expressing it's displeasure at him from the back. I always check the vents etc are closed whenever out bush for a reason. Gibbo

You can get better speeds by using Next'G'. I Can get consistant 7mbit sec at Narromine outside the aero club with a USB modem. ADSL would be dead if not for the price differance. G

I'm going to defend Narromine Ultralights over the fuel prices. I passed thru Narromine the weekend before NATfly and the price was in the high $1.70's. He has just installed a self serve bowser that takes both EFTPOS and CC. This bowser has cost them close to $30k to install. If this had not been installed fuel access would have been limited to certain hours. Outside of Natfly and or gliding comps there is not a huge amount of traffic and it's a perfect place to refill / defill on my way from Vic to Queensland every few months. The aero club is always friendly and open on the weekends and there is always somewhere to catch a few hours sleep. I do need to get more experiance fly around gliders.. They still scare the crap out of me. We need to support these small airports otherwise it's just another service we loose. Whats the next batch of complaints going to be, "I Can't fly anymore in my area because I can't buy fuel." Narromine Ultralights is never going to make any real money from fuel. Fuel Cost over the Easter week QLD, NT and parts of NSW. Weekend before easter Goondiwindi - $1.78 - $20 call out waived (regular cust) Easter(ish) Emerald Qld - $1.73 Boulia - $2.23 p/l - $10 call out 'anytime' on weekend (cash donation for pub :) ) Mount Isa - $1.73 - No call out cost (delivered to plane by truck) Windorah - $1.94 - No call out (but prior notice req) Tennant Creek - $1.63 - $50 call out for Sat morning, $20 bh Drum fuel outside Alice springs can be almost $3 per litre at present. Bourke - $1.70 - $50 call out week after Narromine. Current cost at Tooradin I suspect would be around $1.7ish Gibbo

Brett at Lilydale summed up flying weather pretty well during my X country endorsement training. Risk management is basically forming an intelligence picture and then balancing the risk. Table 1-LOW 3-HIGH Risk Rating Type of risk and how to mitigate it. cU@4500' - 1 - Lowest safe alt is 3000' therefore risk is minimal but plan for cloud @ 4000'. isolated showers -1 - can avoid but extra fuel should be allowed. Mod Turb below 5000'- 2 - I have flown in this before Risk is moderate. 260/20@2000' - 2 - Medium risk as predicted airstrip c/w at landing is 14kn. I can only handle 14kn in stable constant conditions.. A list of the ratings will give you a overall picture of the flight. A severe risk is a show stopper but more than one medium risk from the table would push things in case of an emergency. A series of low risks but combined at the same time while under stress could be fatal. In the above case (example only) I would be having second thoughts about the flight or I may change the risk level by diverting to a different airstrip where the c/w on landing may only be 5 kn which I know I can handle with some margin for error or with another risk complicating factor such as mod turb. Same process works when performing a workplace OHS assessment. I absolutely hate the way that Aviation weather information is presented but it works for the majority. I will use the BOM aviation weather but place it in the overall picture presented and put it in terms I can understand myself. Experiance shows.. I had one prayer session at 1500' when the lowest safe was 1700'. Never again and I will now happly sit on the ground for a couple of hours till I can see the next exit...

One rule that I have found that works.. Never fly, if you cant see a second horizon between the cloud layers and the ground. No second Horizon normally equals crap visibilty and weather futher on.

Phone went fairly well.. Strong signal as long as line of sight was maintaned. Much better than the old Telstra sat phone system. Basically didn't need to stand on top of the ute with one leg stretched at some weird angle. The system doesn't work so well when used to call VOIP phones as there seems to be an issue with digital systems. GPS tracking via SMS worked very well and the boss was able to track my flight path in 15min increments. GMS side of the phone worked as expected. I was unable to test the data functionality as it has not yet been turned on by OPTU$. Going to have a go with one of the GPS tracking modules on my next remote trip in June.

Headed out across the Simpson from Windorah last week and was mightly impressed with the differance from last year.. Every sand dune had a green streak. I was out playing in the Barkly today and have never seen so much water laying around. Lake Sylvester is complety full, First time in almost 30 years. www.gibbostravel.blogspot.com

© before starting the approach, the pilot determines wind direction and runways in use; and There is still nothing to stop you making a downwind landing if you have determined the wind direction and which runway is being used. If no runway is being used at the time then if you use that strip it becomes the active. If they are bigger than me I will still give them right of way as long as it does not cause anybody else a safety issue. Anybody feel like landing directly behind a 767 on a hot day in Mount Isa. Gibbo

I would like to add another.. Boulia (far western Queensland). Fuel is fairly expensive but everything out there is. Boulia Desert Sands Motel. 300m walk from aircraft parking spot, resonable prices and very pilot friendly. They will pickup and drop if needed. A Few helpful suggestions as to meals etc. Gibbo

You poor guys sitting it out at the bar... I managed to get out of Emerald (QLD) after a three day wait, only to be battling the low cloud all the way to Boulia via Windorah and Monkira. I had no hope heading directly west via Longreach. Anyone heading home to Central Queensland had better have a big wallet for the Alcohol bill as it is just plain BLACK. I just hope I make it across to Numery tomorrow.

NSW is also not immune from the issue with several awaiting trial if my memory serves me correctly. I have no problem with the fact we need to keep a good eye out for this behavior but ineffective and misdirected security needs to be fixed. I am happy to wear some ID and be subject to checks but the government depts that are responsable for it need a wake up before something actually occurs. The appearance of security is only there for the political point scoring. General Aviation would be a medium risk due to the limited aspect but some of the more day to day public situations would have to be classifed as severe and warrant more investagation.

TELSTRA!! AGGGGHHHHH. :yuk: I have just got my complaint sorted after a five month battle. Telstra will not admit to any problems with their new Billing systems. I have spent 9 hours on hold trying to resolve a problem that could have been fixed in just a couple of minutes if someone was willing to listen. I spent five months without receiving any bills after changing address. I rang them on eight occasions and the problem was never resolved until they disconnected my phone for non payment and I then had the pleasure of a physical protest in the HO foyer at 4:45pm on a Friday night. I simply refused to leave until my phone was reconnected and the problem sorted. A very unhappy board level member was forced to deal with me as I made it clear that I was not leaving under any circumstances including staying the entire weekend. Three weeks later I have finally received a Bill in the mail and had the other emailed to me as they couldn't actually print them. No one will take ownership and all they cause is more grief without offering any solutions. Not a single Apology was offered and it rubbed salt into my wounds as I had to pay for the calls while I was bounced from one person to another all day. The concept of them making money from me while I tried to resolve their problems has left a very sour taste. Optu$ are in the process of rolling out their new 900mhz system (American phone's will now work here soon!) with a combined Sat / GMS based system at a reasonable rate with no more 'no service' issues ANYWHERE. The Phones are fairly small and best of all have a GPS built in that will automatically (based on time sections) send a SMS with the co-ordinates, ground speed and track. I have one in my greasy big hands at the moment as a test phone for them and will happily provide a report on the service quality after my trip across the Simpson this weekend (if the weather clears in Queensland :( ). So far it has been fairly good. Next'Rip off' should be the advertised trademark. Funny how optus have offered to let the Federalizes have access to their fibre backbone when Telstra has been playing hardball. Bring on some real competition in the rural areas. Gibbo

I was speaking to a 'informed' source that works for the owner of the above mentioned airport while waiting for the weather to clear this morning. The airports automated gate system has never worked since installation, Not a single camera (out of 10) is servicable and the keypad gates are regularly left unlocked as the gates themselves jam. This airport hosts at least 20 RPT and charter flights per day. Where the hell are our tax payers dollars going. Is it true that the 'security' computer terminal at Bundy has never worked as well? For the record the 'airport managers' postion is vacant at this airportand they can't get a qualifed person to run the place. Good job if you want to play with planes and get cheap hanagerage.

Finally found a use for my ASIC card today. Waved the ASIC card in the car park at a certain Central Queensland airport (with lots of miners going away for Easter) and managed to get away without paying. Now how to figure out how to get the other $158 dollars back that I paid for the card. Gibbo

Something that would assist any pilot on a long trip. A list of Motels or services that are available at airstrips across the country. I do a very large amount of travel with work using a Jabiru and have come across some great motels that will pickup you up and drop you off at the strip the next morning. Some refuelers will also do the same with prior notice. Do you know of any motels etc that are pilot friendly? If any motel managers or owners are reading this thread and you want to grow your business and help your local economy, I would encourage you to become pilot friendly. An average stay (work) will inject about $140 per night of 'new' income to a town. Personally my First nomination would be the Western Star hotel in Windorah (Barb and Mark) and the legend herself 'Bub'. Narromine has devoloped an entire industry based on the airstrip. Gibbo

Hell just have some fun, any excuse will do me when it comes to flying.. If you learn anything just claim it as a bonus. Tooradin is a great place just to hang around and watch the very motly collection of aircraft that come and go. Imagine having parachutists, king airs, warbird era aircraft, helicopters and other students in the same circuit. Oh a few drinks at "wings and fins" watching the cross wind landings after a fly is also a temptation. Gibbo

Would not have a clue as the the actual legal requirements but Eugene Reid would most likely fail someone on a flight test if they did not actually come to a complete stop, make the required radio call and a phyiscal (strained!) check before entering / crossing any runway for any purpose. Brett at lilydale would most likely give a sharp whack on the knuckles if you didn't make a crossing 36L for 36R call during a lesson. Both these airstrips are CTAF® but the same would have to apply to a CTAF as you are still required to make all the same calls if you have a radio fitted. Common sense says look both ways before you cross the road. Gibbo

The worst thing is that I could put a couple of names into that story.. Blasted station pilots. :) Gibbo

Heres a little inside information into the behaivor that was present.. I was presenting at a field day outside of Roma yesterday and we had a fire saftey presention by the RFS (QLD). The topic of rights of entry came up and was interested to hear the following. If somebody calls the RFS about a fire on private property that does not belong to them the RFS are not allowed to enter a locked gate unless there is danger to life or they have resonsable belief that life may be at risk. In the above situation the aircraft was burning (and was obvious that everyone was clear) but as the gate was locked and the actual owner of the airport (privately owned) did not request the RFS and they had a locked gate the 'law' does not allow entry. Common law allows any person to attend to the front door of a house as long as the gates etc are unlocked as there is then a implied permission of entry. Locked gates = no permission. It may be interesting to talk to a lawyer as the security layer at the airport 'may have' contributed to the loss from fire as the RFS could not get permission to enter the airport to fight the fire in a timely manner as the airport refused permission to the RFS to enter by implied consent. :yuk: Gibbo

The concept and precedence for a 'good Samaritan' act is covered by 'common law' and as such has no accompanying set of legislation (hence you cant find it). The first recorded use of this defence occurred back in the early 1700's and it has been accepted as a defence since by the high courts of most commonwealth countries. Most people confuse the term 'act' between a piece of legislation and performing the physical 'act' . Common law is based on precedence and acceptance as a common 'behaviour'. Hint : Don't help anyone in the USA! It will come back to bite you many times over as they don't have the concept of common law and the added goodies that come with it. I could start bashing the American legal system but we all know which is the better place to live. ;) Most of the good Samaritan acts also contain some form of 'duty of care' such as in the case of first aid or providing assistance to a person who is unable to verbally agree to it. You can still be sued for exceeding your duty of care. EG performing surgery when you only have a first aid certificate, unless you can demostrate it was a matter of life and death and you have the 'evidence' to support your claim. Common Assault could also be applicable if it wasn't required at the time. There are many grey areas to this such as providing food in a emergency. ie donating food to a homeless person as a untrained person (hence an 'act of a good Samaritan') and the 'act' and supplying that food as a organised group which has a implied higher duty of care. It would be interesting to see what 'information' in regards to the emergency that the firey's received and their choice of actions.. Fireys and Ambos will both act to save life and will accept whatever 'property damage' is the caused in the pursuit of those actions (as long as it to make a situation safe). OHS laws are based on the same concepts. Gibbo

One of my clients in SA is interested in a TIF and a introduction to 'recreational flying'. He is located in Pinaroo. Greg is interested in using it as 'weekly' transport to and from his farm. If anyone is interested in gaining a new student can you send me a PM and I will provide his contact details. Gibbo

I'm sure a certain Ex CFI could manage to snip the clothes off, or at least die with a smile on his face trying.. :) Gibbo

Well lets see how it goes getting to nice sunny queensland over the weekend and then spending easter crossing the Simpson. Work travel is a bugger at times. ;) Look out for the tooradin 170, the pilots going to be very tired after 11 hours squeezed into a Jab. Gibbo