Innholdsfortegnelse for January-February 2016 i Australian Flying

CASA announced in November that it has established a task force to address the numerous issues with the new suite of licensing regulations. The 26-person TF will work full-time on resolving problems with CASR Parts 61, 64, 141 and 142, working closely with an advisory panel made up of people from the aviation community. Several key organisations have already been invited onto the advisory panel including The Australian Aviation Associations Forum (TAAAF), the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the Aviation Business Association of Australia (ABAA) and the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs Australia (RFACA). Other representatives from the regular public transport, mustering, training and tertiary institutions have also been invited onto the panel. CASA’s Director of Aviation Safety, Mark Skidmore, said the Part 61 Solutions Taskforce and the advisory…

The Col Pay Award for a Lifetime of Service to General Aviation CHRISTINE DAVY MBE The inaugural winner of the Col Pay Award, Christine Davy, was presented with her award and citation at a private lunch held in the ACT. Chairman of the Canberra branch of the RAeS, AIRCDRE Jon Pike, who made the presentation said this about Christine. “Although pleased to receive the public recognition, Christine remains modest about her role in Australian aviation. Importantly, she regards herself as a professional aviator, who happened to be a female. She did show considerable pride in her career and achievements as a pilot, and as a role model for other women wishing to pursue flying as a career.” Congratulations, Christine Davy, MBE. Flying Instructor of the Year STEVE PEARCE Peter Bini…

Professional aviation writers pride themselves in taking a white-coat-and-clipboard approach to testing new aircraft designs. We see ourselves as representatives of potential customers, and so are very discerning when it comes to which boxes get green ticks and which boxes get red crosses. That attitude has always worked well for me until October this year, when Tecnam in Italy strapped me into the left seat of the new P Twenty-Ten four-seater and let me loose in the skies to the north of Naples. I had so much fun flying this aeroplane that I completely forgot my white coat and clipboard. How can one aeroplane have seduced me so much in such a short period of time, and what happened to my resolve to be a harsh critic? I blame Professor…

Making a profit in general aviation takes determination, creativity and a fair bit of luck. This is a reality that the Central Coast Aero Club is quickly learning, after purchasing mixed aviation business Warnervale Air earlier last year. In its first few months as a business owner the CCAC has faced challenges including an emergency landing writing off one of its training aircraft and the local council shutting down Warnervale’s runway for more than a month for an upgrade. “It’s been a steep learning curve and there have definitely been moments when we questioned the decision, but at the end of the day we’re a group of people who love aviation and we’re going to make it work,” said CCAC president and senior instructor Andrew Smith. “In reality we had…

The Royal Australian Air Force and the Australian Women Pilots Association (AWPA) are calling for applications for their 2016 scholarship program. The AWPA Navigation Component Scholarship, worth $7000, helps female pilots with the cost of completing the navigation component of a private or commercial powered fixed-wing pilot licence. The AWPA Formation/Aerobatic Endorsement Scholarship of $2500 assists with a formation or aerobatic endorsement. Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Leo Davies said the AWPA scholarships are a positive initiative for encouraging and assisting women to pursue flying careers. “I understand how expensive and challenging it can be to pursue a career as a pilot, and the Navigation Component Scholarship is designed to help support the fantastic young women who are committed to this great profession,” he said. “The opportunity to further…

It’s pretty unusual to be able to call any town an aviator’s paradise. Well, actually, that’s not entirely true if I’m being honest. Any town beyond a comfortable driving distance–which for me is about an hour–calls for serious consideration as a flying destination. But to find a struggling, bone dry outback town like Longreach in central Queensland that embraces its rich aviation history and shares it so impressively with visitors, is surely a no-brainer for a pilot’s wish list. And I’m happy to go out on a limb here and suggest that this place is even going to get the thumbs-up from those non-pilot passengers of yours too. See, when you’re planning a flying itinerary, it’s all about balance. As much as I love pretty much everywhere I visit because…

Back in 2012, CASA completed the legal work needed to make ADS-B and GNSS navigation mandatory for IFR aircraft in Australia. Although that was long in the making, many aircraft owners are only just now starting to grapple with what the new rules mean and what they can do to comply. Whatever opinion you might have about ADS-B (and there are plenty), the law (CAO 20.18) has been made and compliance isn’t optional. The aim of this article is to present useful information about how you can comply, rather than debate the merits, or otherwise, of the ADS-B requirements. ADS-who? ADS-B sounds complicated, but it’s essentially a simple concept. A GPS sensor in an aircraft continuously and automatically calculates its position, which is transmitted to a network of ground stations…

Robinson Helicopters will add a two-seat version of the R44 to their product range next year. Known as the R44 Cadet, the new aircraft will be aimed primarily at the training market. The Cadet will have the same basic airframe, rotor system, and Lycoming O-540 engine as the R44 Raven I; however, the aft compartment will be reconfigured for cargo and have no seats. The maximum take-off weight of 997 kg is 90 kg less than the Raven I, and the engine will be de-rated to 210 hp for take-off and 185 hp continuous power. The lower weight and de-rated power is expected to provide increased performance margins at high altitudes. The Cadet’s flyover noise signature is more than three decibels lower than the current R44 Raven I, courtesy of…

Diamond’s latest inspiration, the DA62 twin, is an attempt to combine style, quality and class with capacity; sort of like making a stretch limousine from a Mercedes SLS AMG. But, whereas such a car would have the handling of a barge of bricks, the DA62 is one of the sweetest aeroplanes you could ever hope to fly ... and that includes when one engine stops pulling. Yes, that statement is coming from someone with very little twin time who fits neatly into the category of neophyte when it comes to asymmetric flight, but that in itself reveals the inherent nature of the DA62: it eliminates many of the stress-inducing features of twin flying to the point that its behaviour is closer to a large single than the traditional twins it…

For many private pilots, communing with the aero club Cessna for a few circuits around the local area on a quiet Sunday morning, or a short cross-country with friends to that town with the excellent pub, is enough to blow out the cobwebs. A hundred knots on the airspeed indicator, a few thousand feet on the altimeter, visual flight all the way, and many have received their flying fix and can return to daily life until the itch takes over again. But there are those who for reasons of business or pleasure need to go further afield, preferably at 150 knots or better with enough ceiling to take advantage of winds aloft, avoid adverse weather and put the airframe at the best altitude for a balance of speed and range.…

What are the serious flight emergencies? What tips do experienced instructors and chief flying instructors (CFIs) have for general aviation GA pilots? Australian Flying put these questions to five instructors around the world and received a diverse yet common themed treasure trove of life saving perspectives and advice. The instructors were: 1 Greg West, CFI, Multiple Schools, San Francisco Bay Area, USA. 2 Mark Munn, Flight Instructor, Aeromil Pacific, Sunshine Coast, Australia. 3 Pat T. Carey, CFI, Beach Cities Aviation Academy, Los Angeles, USA. 4 Lauren Cooper, A320 First Officer (and flight instructor), New York, USA. 5 Leo Pardon, CFI, Auckland Aero Club, Ardmore, New Zealand. General comments West instructs lots of Aussies on Cirrus aircraft in California; many attracted by his web site with training videos: http://gregwest.com/ He says…

As CASA’s Director of Aviation Safety (DAS) my number one commitment is to keep people flying and flying safely. My commitment covers all sectors of aviation – from sport and recreation right up to regular public transport. Personally and professionally I want to see people flying their own aircraft for pleasure, building profitable aviation businesses, training others to fly and commuting in aircraft, all with an outstanding level of confidence in their safety. Aviation is about people and CASA’s job is all about supporting and facilitating the best possible aviation safety environment for people. I know some people have wanted to see radical action to re-shape CASA’s regulatory approach, but good decisions are made based on reliable information, rigorous analysis and sound judgement. I make no apologies for taking the…