PaulN

I fly a CT2K which has an ICAO code FDCT (Flight Design CT). Most of the time, esp in controlled airspace I use the call sign "Charlie Tango xxxx" which is usually readily accepted and responded to. When flying in more familiar territory, that is the locals are more familiar with the CT, I'll use "CT xxxx". However, it's not at all uncommon for the ATC folk to come back and ask "What is your aircraft type?". After chatting back and forth a few times they finally manage to find FDCT on their systems ... or just give up looking. I don't mind though as it gives me an opportunity to banter with them sometimes and hear them loosen up and respond with good humour. On a couple of occasions I've had to rouse on them when they identify me as a Jabiru. That's just being rude . Of late we have been flying regular trips Cooma/Port Mac/Cooma and it's been good to note that the people at Canberra, Nowra and Willy are becoming familiar with our little CT. I sometimes note a welcoming tone in their voices ... then again, maybe it's just me feeling more at home there each trip. Cheers, Paul

Hey JL, Did your "someone" advise on which frequency to make those advisory calls, and importantly, is it safe to assume others know to use that same frequency to call and listen out? Paul

Hi JL, Me too, I'd like to know for certain. I plan to track that route southbound next Friday. Apart from 126.7 near YGCR I can only see that the area freq 120.55 is the go until nearing Maitland then broadcast an advisory on 122.65 and then off into the Newcastle CTAF area with 132.1. From my scan of the YWLM data in the ERSA I don't see any particular freq to use entering/during/leaving the GA lane. To err on the side of caution I'm inclined to give a position call on the area freq when entering and leaving the lane and probably another midway at Dungog when transitioning from 1500 to 1000. If I have this wrong can someone who knows put me right, please? Paul PS A word of caution ... anyone tracking this lane during Oct 24, 25, 26 be advised that there is a planned fly-in happening at Gloucester so traffic will be more than usual.

I rec'd an email from Lee Ungerman today congratulating RA-Aus members for their overwhelming response rate ... over 600 to date. He also points out that some members' responses may have gone astray, something to do with CASA's server being overloaded or such like. Because of this CASA has asked RA-Aus to collect a list of members names and numbers to submit a bulk response based on the RA-Aus preferred options. If you haven't yet rec'd this email, I suggest you contact the RA-Aus admin staff and ask that a copy be sent. It has a specific email address link on which to send your details/response. Paul PS I just found the RA-Aus response email address. Use this to send them your consent to respond to CASA with the RA-Aus preferred options ... just send your member name and member number, nothing else as this is not a general communications address. [email protected]

I think you'll find this is already available in aviation gadgetry. Take a look at this Touch the Future of Flying - AveoFreeSpeech ™ and then browse the other neat digital equipment they offer. Cool :thumb_up: Paul PS This is their home page http://www.aveoaustralia.com/

Hi Robbo, Are you based in Port? If so, I'm surprised you're not linked up with the Hastings District Flying Club ... Hastings District Flying Club at Port Macquarie on the NSW Mid North Coast. I know that they have a 172 available for hire at a pretty reasonable rate but not sure if for club members only. Send me a PM if you wish for contact details of someone who will help with details and/or other operators there that hire. Cheers, Paul

Just by way of further info for readers with interest, the att'd is a spec sheet from Shell describing the Sport Plus 4 oil. Note the footnote warning about Jabiru engines. Paul Aeroshell Sport Plus 4 Oil Data.doc Aeroshell Sport Plus 4 Oil Data.doc Aeroshell Sport Plus 4 Oil Data.doc

Pete, Are you looking for Aeroshell Sport 4 Plus? If so, it's available nearby through Peter and Anne McLean of The Lore of Flight at Yarrawonga (0357441466 or 0428752274) at $11.50/litre + freight (12 litres to a carton). They most likely have your preferred oil if this one is not suitable. This oil is the now recommended oil for Rotax users who run Avgas as it has good lead scavanging properties. Cheers, Paul

Great shots Matt & Kaz ... you're right "You wouldn't be anywhere else for quids". Flying is a wonderful privilege. Here's an interesting cloud shot I took over Batemans Bay last week on an early morning trip from Cooma to Port Macquarie. The Clyde River was covered in fog for most of its length right into the bay where as the varied water temps of river and sea evened out the cloud dissipated. Paul

Hi Adam, Local clubs? Have you thought about the Snowy River Aviators at Adaminaby. We own our airstrip and presently developing a bunch of hangars. Meetings are 1st Sundays of each month. You, and anyone else reading this, are welcome to get involved, or just visit. Our official opening day, with lots of activities, is being planned for October 18. This is our web site which is soon to be upgraded to something more professional. http://www.sra.asn.au/ Looking forward to meeting you soon, Paul

Hi Steven, Welcome to one of the sweeter corners of cyberspace. Contact RA-Aus (0262804700). They have just what you're asking for. An RA-Aus pilot log book, A5 paperback with columns specific to your use .... and light. Paul

Bob, I agree with Mazda. On my trips north from Cooma I elect to fly the coast (I love the scenery) via either Moruya or Canberra, depending on conditions. I track past YSCB (with clearance as I am usually high for glide advantage) to Lake Bathurst, then Fitzroy Falls Reservoir then the coast at the Gong. This way you avoid the R420A area around Nowra. Up the coast from Wollongong along V1 is a top route. Hang a left around Nobbys, follow the Hunter and your just about home. We'll be looking for your trip report. Paul

Hey Motz, open http://www.icao.int/anb/ais/8643/index.cfm, type JABIRU (I'll wash out my mouth later ) in the "manufacturer" box (leave the others blank) and click on "Search" ... you'll see the designators for all Jabirus. The J160 is JAB2. For my fellow CT pilots (real CTs that is ... sorry Matt & Kaz ) your type designator is FDCT. I always use NAIPS and log a detailed Domestic flight plan, sometimes scheduling more than one stage. In fact, for regular flight routes I have preformed flight plans saved in my NAIPS folder making it much quicker to complete and send. Re SAR, from my experience they are extremely prompt at making contact if you don't cancel before your logged time ticks by. I always log my sartime as 15 mins beyond planned ETA making sure to adjust this through Flightwatch while in flight, if necessary. On one of my flights to Wallsend, I did just that. My original plan with sartime was for arrival at 0015Z. Shortly after departing Cooma, late, I contacted Flightwatch to amend sartime to 0045 allowing 15 mins margin on my new ETA of 1030 local. I landed and shut down at 1025 and immediately heard the mobile burst into life. "Hello?" "It's CENSAR here. We've been trying to reach you for the past 10 mins. You have a sartime of 0015. Unable to reach your mobile we called the RA-Aus office to get your home number and spoke with your wife to see if she had a contact number for your destination. We were just about to launch a search. Are you safe?" "But, but!! I amended that with flightwatch to 0045???" "You did? It still shows as 0015 on our system. Happens sometimes. Glad you're OK. Bye". You can imagine my next few hurried calls to an anxious wife and inquisitive RA-Aus CEO . Another time, I had landed and shut down right on sartime. Unable to make radio contact in circuit I straighway reached for my mobile. Before I could get it out of my pocket it went off with CENSAR looking for me, right on the knocker of sartime. The system works (CENSAR that is, not sure about flightwatch) ... use it. Paul

That should read "1000' above the highest point of the terrain, and any object on it, within a radius of 600m" as measured from a point vertically below the aircraft. Paul

That's the beauty of using NAIPS ... simply key in the location you need to know about, day, month and year then hey presto up comes first and last light for that given location in zulu time. But of course we all only use this to check our calcs from the Daylight and Darkness Graphs as taught in Nav school, don't we :raise_eyebrow:.

A timely topic. Only this evening I was programming my GPS. While there I checked for first/last light but it (Jepperson) lists sunrise/sunset. So I looked up NAIPS to compare and found that for today at Cooma first light is 28 mins earlier than sunrise and last light is 26 mins later than sunset. Sounds logical. Is this right? Paul

G'day mate, A couple of weeks ago I had to chase a roo out of my hangar ... but he left a little bundle of calling cards as a courtesy. Paul

Peter, Ever heard "The noisy wheel gets the oil"? Keep ringing/emailing/texting Shaun daily ... he hates being nagged . One of the items I nominated as needing fixing before taking delivery of the 2K from Shaun was the oil inspection port catch. He had no trouble then finding the part. Paul

IMHO I reckon whoever at Warnervale had the foresight and skill to negotiate this upcoming exchange with Mirvac should be hailed a hero in aviation circles. It wasn't all that long ago a Newcastle developer (McCloy) had his claws on the Pelican strip but the Lake Mac City Council made it way too difficult for him to proceed. From what I understand he was glad to hand it off to Mirvac. Pelican is a wonderful strip in a fantastic location. 820m of sealed strip (compared to Warnervale's 850 partially sealed and very narrow) has been more than adequate for many years of Twin Otter ops in the past. Personally, having roots in Lake Macquarie, I cant' wait for the opening up of Pelican for private ops again. Paul PS When you first approach YPEC be alert for wind shear due to high vegetation down each side of the strip, esp in summer afternoon noreasters.

Hi Brent, This is the Aveo Australia web link http://www.aveoaustralia.com/page/Home. The official launch here at the Polo Flat airfield in Cooma was scheduled for Last Feb, then March, then July, then Sept but is now slated for the October LWE. As happens delays in testing and release are the cause. The end product looks very impressive and the launch promises to be interesting. If you, or anyone else for that matter, plan to come please let me know ... I'd like to meet up with you. Hey, our usual monthly meet for the Snowy River Aviators is the first Sunday of each month so maybe a visit to Adaminaby should be securely placed on your "must-do" list that weekend. You'll be very welcome. BTW, if you contact AveoAustralia they will gladly include you on their newsletter mail list to keep you up to date. CU then, Paul

On my way to Port Macquarie for the Hastings District Flying Club's 50th anniversary celebrations this weekend I stopped off at YWOL where I met up with Dave Sinclair. He checked the transponder and while at it checked the integrity of my ASI. All is good. Dave and his crew are a nice bunch of people. I recommend him for anyone wanting avionics work, someone you can trust not to rip you off. Paul

Well hello there Biggles1. With a real aircraft with real endurance and you wouldn't need to ask . What's wrong with Avgas? Paul

Hi Rob, I think I've seen that peak adjacent to the strip from the coast when tracking past the Gong. A look at the Sydney WAC shows a strip called Robertson at about the right spot. Is that it? Paul