Ballpoint 246niner

Thank you everyone for your kind comments and support, most of you who know me realise John and I worked very closely and were best friends. Close family and friends are just trying to rally around Julie at this tragic time and this has deeply affected our local Caboolture Microlights group as well as the greater sport aviation group beyond any words. Even though the grief at the moment is unimaginaeable, Julie told me yesterday she was heartened by all the kind words for John so thank you and if I could ask everyone to respect the process and the families during this terrible time. Please also remember the other pilot and his family as the grief is being felt way beyond us in th e greater community around Rockhampton as well. We are all hurting so badly right now but thanks I will update on any arrangements as soon as I can and when appropriate. Rest in Peace John.

The cross country requirements were changed to the above in November 2014 with the introduction of version 7.0 of the Operations manual and are referenced in 2.07 11(a). There are no additional requirements planned other than development of a separate appropriate controlled airspace component which was discussed at the AGM and is still under development. Enhancement of specific elements relating to lost procedures was discussed at the CFI conference.

Inglewooders, hope to see you all there. I'm heading out tomorrow. T-Lite may struggle to get to Goondi but will plus 1 if there is a spare seat with someone? Blue Skies!

Heard the ATC call for listening watch on 121.5 and we also monitored freq for 15 minutes and nothing on return from BP dam. No further news is hopefully good news. No missing reports after 2 days so here's hoping all good.

Hi Deb, I'll be there Sat for the fun, day only. Great weather bodes well for a fantastic weekend

Fantastic Haydn, many will never know the true commitment and diligence you have put in to all aspects of this build including the flying. You both deserve many happy hours together. I just converted another factory order buyer who you know, who lives across the pond and was murmuring about flying it over one day. Braver man than I but you may see him lob in some time! Enjoy your test flight program.

Ten years worth of RA rego still wouldn't come close to an average GA 100 hourly.

Well done to you both! Congrats.

From what I've seen over the years many pilots don't read what's in the current manual! I can't believe how many I see with the original rubber band still on them. But maybe I'm wrong and there will be a massive turn around and everyone will read it cover to cover and apply what's in it and pilots will comply ... And ... Ohh ...sorry .... I just woke up from a silly dream.

Wouldn't life be grand if it really worked that way - all care no responsibility, and we wonder why we have issues...

174 CFI's have had access to the draft of the new Operations Manual for review and comment since April.

So are you prepared to accept with all consequences and any repercussions the full implications that may occur as a result of flight in your 19 aircraft? Accepting that if any passenger or professional is to sit side by side with you that you accept full responsibility for any consequences directly attributable to your construction or maintenance actions in regard to your aircraft? Or are you happy for all amateur built aircraft to be limited to solo operations by builder only? Are you prepared to accept all legal scrutiny and the consequences of such scrutiny if perhaps you may have any error in any part of your construction or operation of your aircraft? And by way of representation, how many of your fellow amateur colleagues are also prepared to accept the above inherent responsibility and liability without any insurance coverage whatsoever? With freedom comes responsibility. What are amateur builders and operators prepared to accept?

And no one would do that here would they? .... Oh the joy of foolhardy anonymity and armchair experts - no specific reference to you Oscar!

Haydn, dont taxi it too fast unless you want to get airborne, lifty these Savs. Also when you get to flying check your venting and make sure that they are pressurising equally, looks great and a nice variation on Mark Kyles. Pleasure to help where I can.

One of the reasons I bought a Savannah and teach in it is that there are so many kit versions in Oz, all these pilots have the opportunity to fly the factory item prior to testing their own and compare build processes to a compliant standard and also get used to the idiosyncrasies of the type, the same applies to Jabs, and a few others as well. I am VERY selective about any amateur built I would climb into, not because it may or may not be safe but because I can't easily confirm it.Beyond an effective pre-flight, and a scan of any maintenance records I'm flying on blind trust.In any case the responsibility for my safety ultimately rests with me and the risk I am prepared to take, to ask an administrator to do this for you in an amateur category is begging for more regulation. Now correct me if I'm wrong but aren't most people in RA-Aus asking for less regulation? Then with this freedom also comes the responsibility. We can't have it both ways.

I sort of covered this thought process in my tag line to try to give a snippet to those who could be bothered to ascertain some credibility, but I'm with greybeard and others, user posts will give any one an idea of knowledge, objectivity or prejudice. I note the instructors forum gets very little use where a subgroup with credentials was set up. There's an old saying " rather be silent and be thought a fool than talk and remove any doubt!"

Many of us hold multiple licences , ratings and positions Ian. Maybe elaborate on what you would like to define amongst members in regard to this proposed change?

Thanks Puk, gotta love SE. Qld in winter. Thank you also Ralph &Deb great to finally meet you.

Mike and Russ, I've helped a few students through this over the years and fellow pilots as well. In a previous life I worked on motorcycle safety programmes and training as well. My passion and involvement for the things I've done has inevitably led me to positions where I have had to confront the very tragic side of these activities. I have struggled in all of these environments to come to terms with the loss and the frustration of not being able to control or change the outcomes. What made things worse, and I still recall it, is when it was someone I knew. I don't think anyone can truly separate themselves in this case. Unfortunately in my riding and hang gliding history, my roles and the confrontation with the above tarnished me to a point where any enjoyment was lost. Recently I had to stand over a burning wreckage with a fire extinguisher knowing full well a friend and other flying colleagues were inside. None of this is easy. I walked away from hang gliding, but the passion and drive I have for aviation saved me. I re- invented myself with recreational aviation back in the nineties and have dedicated my flying to build and educate all aspects of safety. I refute the throw away line that those who can't do, teach, what I have found is that passion and other motivations often drive the desire to teach but unfortunately teaching requires more than just an understanding of flying, it requires an understanding of people, and that is indeed an art. I temper any negative thoughts with the reality that loss is inevitable - we all suffer the terminal condition of life but I will live, experience and hopefully influence those around me in the journey. My safety is only pertinent in as far as what I can learn to control, but if I can do anything to enhance it then I'm better working within the environment than walking away. I had a very visual lesson taught to me a long time ago- a friend held a pen up and walked his fingers round it , he looked at me and said see that pen- I said yeah of course! He said well that pen is like a problem or hurdle in life, you can choose to walk around it, or you can deal with it, if you deal with it you'll remember it but it has been dealt with, if not that pen is always going to be there. I thought it was trite at the time but over the years that simple lesson has rung true. Right now I'm reminded of it again, my wife has been diagnosed with cancer, yep there's that bloody pen again, but well apply that same truth that has worked so far. Don't leave something you love- embrace it we owe that to the things that define us!

Read 2014 incidents on the RA website look for the Rallye that burnt to the ground .

G'day Haydn, mate sorry I kept missing you today, I'm home tonight and tomorrow night if you want to chat or PM me. I'll make you jealous - I was out doing aeros in the decathlon and then about in the Savannah! Glorious day in SE Qld.

That's funny I did mine in January this year and it was processed in 2 weeks, I did put mine in within 7 days of receiving the renewal notice because getting it done was important to me. I had issues previously with mine related to MTOW and it had to go LSA due to an incorrect type certificate quoted by the manufacturer/ distributor but that wasn't RA-Aus fault. Can you confirm how long this owner had the rego advice before it was sent in for processing? I recall the renewal notice covering letters are advising the quoted delay period.

We probably crossed wings at Tallows, Lennox, the old site, Monty, Coorabel and any number of great spots around there.

In my HG days I used to fly the east face and Tallows regularly, once even thermalled up to 1700 and stuck with it and went over the back eventually landing near the old dairy. A couple of the sky gods of the day have even gone over the highway! Thread drifting but who cares the engine is off!