Innholdsfortegnelse for January - February 2022 i Australian Flying

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) revealed in late November that it was working on a new rule set that would permit private pilot licence holders to operate without a Class 2 medical. To be known as a Class 5 medical, the new regulations are thought to be similar to the driver's licence medical standard under which holders of recreational pilot certificates (RPC) operate. "Consultation on the development of a new class of self-declared medicals for general aviation pilots is underway," a CASA spokesperson told Australian Flying. "These issues and others are being progressed through technical working groups made up of a cross section of people from the relevant aviation sectors. This work is being undertaken as soon as practical. "Once details of the proposed changes are settled through the…

Brazilian executive jet manufacturer Embraer has released details late last year of a new family of concept aircraft designed to reduce carbon emissions. The Energia Family is comprised of four concept aircraft that incorporate different propulsion technologies: electric, hydrogen fuel cell, dual fuel gas turbine, and hybrid-electric. The four models are the nine-seat Energia Hybrid and Energia Electric, the 19-seat Energia H2 Fuel Cell and the 25-50-seat Energia H2 Gas Turbine. Energia Hybrid Hybrid-electric propulsion Reduce carbon emissions by 90% Rear-mounted engine Technology ready by 2030 Energia Electric Full electric propulsion Zero carbon emissions Aft-mounted contrarotating propellers Technology ready by 2035 Energia H2 Fuel Cell Hydrogen-electric propulsion Zero carbon emissions Rear-mounted electric engines Technology ready by 2035 Energia H2 Gas Turbine Hydrogen or SAF turbine Reduce carbon emissions by 100%…

Textron Aviation successfully conducted the first flight of the prototype Beechcraft Denali single-engined turbo-prop in late November last year. The Denali prototype, powered by GE Aviation’s new 1300-shp Catalyst engine, took off at approximately 0820 from Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita, Kansas. During the two-hour and 50-minute flight, the team tested the aircraft’s performance, stability and control, as well as its propulsion, environmental, flight controls and avionics systems. The aircraft reached an altitude of 15,600 feet and attained speeds of 180 knots. The flight was a major step in the Denali development and the continuing name of Beechcraft. It is thought to be the first civil cleansheet design to wear the Beechcraft name since the short-lived Beech Starship of 1983. “Today’s landmark flight is not only a significant occasion for…

In aviation, claims of “game changers” abound. Many have come, many have failed. Very light jets (VLJ) were promised by multiple manufacturers, and prototypes flew. Only the much-delayed Cirrus Vision Jet, with a well-financed new owner and at a much-increased price, made it to production. Designing, producing, and certifying a new aircraft is an expensive game, with big risks, and potential big rewards. UK based Hill Helicopters is promoting a stunningly beautiful, Gen 2.0 helicopter designed to challenge the rotary wing status quo. After years in “dark mode,” the secret is out, with sales and marketing spooling up at turbine speed. There are Cirrus parallels with the HX50. More than 300 HX50s have been ordered, from 34 countries, including customers in Australia and New Zealand. A non-refundable deposit secures a…

The mere thought of running out of fuel gives pilots the shivers. No system, automated or manual, digital or analogue, gives a blissfully exact picture of how much fuel is in the tanks or how long it will last. Good fuel management is about reducing uncertainty. Rules also reduce uncertainty. These rules might be CASA rules, flight operations or training rules, or personal minimums. Got Fuel? There is something inherently comforting about a Tiger Moth’s fuel gauge. There it sits, float bobbing happily atop the fuel, a glass tube poking out of the corrugated metal tank above the front cockpit. There is no interface, no electrickery, no cords, wires, or pumps – almost as true as it gets. It would be hard not to trust your own eyes and a…

GoPro has been the go-to action camera for several years. Each model improves on the previous, sometimes incrementally, sometimes in a big way. I recently upgraded from HERO5 to the $600 HERO10 Black (10), with the optional $130 remote wireless controller. The 10 includes a useful one-year GoPro (software) subscription. The 10 is powered by a new GP2 processor. It shoots 5.3K video, with double the frame rate, and 23MP photos. The 10 features enhanced low-light performance and HyperSmooth 4.0 video stabilisation, in all modes – perfect for aviation. There are front (smaller) and back (larger) colour screens. The 10 is cloud connected, meaning when you charge it, your footage is automatically uploaded to the cloud. The subscription (normally $70 per annum) includes unlimited cloud back-up and auto uploads; unlimited…

THE current disruption in the Australian and world economy has highlighted an urgent need for an independent industry association supporting the entire gamut of flight training from the most foundational to the most sophisticated, including aero clubs, small and large flight training organisations, simulation centres, and the check-and-training departments of charter operators through to regular public transport providers. The new Australian Flight Training Industry Association (AFTIA) is an organisation of like-minded subject-matter experts and business owners who are passionate supporters of aviation. The mission of AFTIA is to support and maintain a sovereign flight training capability in Australia by helping to provide a cohesive collaborative approach to pilot training as a continuum from ab initio through to transport aircraft. We aim to support organisations conducting flight training by working with…

Recreational Aviation Australia is preparing to introduce a new category of aircraft to accept the new 760-kg maximum takeoff weight granted under an amendment to CAO 95.55. The CAO amendment is needed to introduce the new weight limit after the CASA's technical working group rejected the draft manual of standards for CASR Part 103, which would have replaced the exemptions currently in the CAOs. The new aircraft group will be called Group G and will cover aircraft with MTOWs between 601 and 760 kg. "Our members have been asking for this for many years," said RAAus CEO Matt Bouttell in an industry briefing in November. "So many staff in RAAus, past and present, and board members have worked tirelessly for many years to get us to this point where it's…

Jabiru Aircraft has packed up and dispatched its 3000th six-cylinder 3300 engine, this time to a customer in Russia. The 3300 engine can develop around 120 hp and weighs only 83.5 kg, and the company has credited the motor for making the J230 LSA their most popular model. Jabiru Business Manager Sue Woods told Australian Flying that turning out 3000 six-cylinder engines was seen as a mighty achievement for the Bundaberg-based manufacturer. "Few can appreciate the feat it has been for a small family-owned company to achieve this," she said. "It has taken enormous amounts of endurance and perseverance to overcome the hurdles along the way. No other aircraft company manufactures their own engine as well as their aircraft. "Taking on the risk for supply of aircraft engines is not…

Angela Stevenson: G’day, Matt Hall. Thank you so much for your time. Matt Hall: That’s all right. First things first. It's been two years since your Red Bull Air Race World Championship win. Is Matt Hall different given everything that the world has been through this past 18 months? How have you weathered the storm? I wouldn't say I’m different. It's been very frustrating, as it has for everybody. But all in all I'm still the same person. We’ve still got the same business; we’ve been waiting for things to get going. I keep reminding myself this is a speed bump rather than a massive problem and we’ll get through it. We will be back racing planes and doing joy flights and displays and flying charters. So are you ready…

Night flying can be something of pure joy, right up there with your first solo. It can also be dangerous. The FAA’s introduction to night flying in its Airplane Flying Handbook says “Your aircraft doesn’t know it’s flying at night, but your body sure does. You better consider that, and adapt …” Night, in an aviation sense, is defined in CASA’s Visual Flight Rules Guide (VFRG), as “That period of time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight.” It’s easiest to find that information by using an EFB, like AvPlan, which shows the information at the top left of all airport pages. The joys On a crystal-clear night, the bird’s-eye visibility and views are purpose-made for eager passengers. Those views include the landscape,…

It’s strange how myths and popular misconceptions start. Frankenstein was actually the scientist, not the monster. Greek marble sculptures were actually brightly coloured. The upper surface of a lifting aerofoil doesn’t have to be longer than the lower surface. Captain Cook didn’t discover Australia, and nor was his rank ever “Captain”. And T-tails are dangerous. The tails fall off and you can’t recover from a spin, so goes the tale. This myth, found in general aviation (but not in other parts of the aviation world), is usually tied to the Piper PA-38 Tomahawk. A T-tail is an empennage where the horizontal stabiliser is mounted on the top of the vertical stabiliser. This configuration makes a T-shape when viewed from behind. So the Tomahawk looked different to its competitors, and for…

Each year brings new and interesting challenges in the world of aviation safety and I have no reason to think 2022 will be any different. When I look at the landscape ahead there are many issues I can predict but there are sure to be others that are not yet on the radar. Regardless, the team at CASA will be working hard to get the best possible safety outcomes for the aviation community and the broader Australian public. We will also have very clearly in mind the need to make sure we understand the impact of safety requirements on all sectors of aviation. Since taking up my job in the May 2021, I’ve heard from many people across the aviation community who have stories to tell that are both good…

Textron Aviation today announced in November that it had approved the use of unleaded avgas in their range of Lycoming piston-engined aeroplanes. Cessna's Skyhawk 172 and Skylane 182 have been approved to burn 91 octane unleaded (91UL) and 94UL or 100 very low lead (100VLL) and the Turbo Stationair 206 has been approved for 100 VLL. "Textron Aviation is committed to sustainability, and this announcement is an excellent opportunity for aviation enthusiasts to minimise their carbon footprint while continuing to enjoy the journey of flight,” said Chris Crow, vice president, Piston & Utility Sales. “We have produced more than 75,000 of these three piston aircraft models, and this gives owners and operators around the world a chance to take action in reducing emissions.” Textron-owned Lycoming recently approved the use of…

In general aviation, unless you've got the resources to run a TBM 940 or something with Gulfstream written on the side, the chances are that one day you are going to have to evaluate comfort against speed. Mostly, they work against each other, forcing you to choose sides. That goes back to the old aviation aphorism about choosing the right aircraft for the mission, so do you want to get there fast or get there comfortably? Or, is there a compromise available that will satisfy yens for a bit of both? To get answers I needed to look no further than my own aero club. Among aircraft owned by members were two light sport aircraft (LSA) that seemed to offer the best of each polar opposite. In the speed corner…

Babcock Australasia has signed a contract with the South Australian Government extending the agreement between the two until October 2022. Babcock currently provides emergency medical service (EMS) search and rescue (SAR) and law enforcement services to and on behalf of the South Australian Government. The new contract extension will also see an increase in capability, with the addition of another Bell 412 to operate alongside the two other examples currently in service. The additional 412 will replace a EC130 in the new year. Babcock has supported the South Australian Government rotary wing EMS and SAR operations across the state for fifteen years. Babcock Australasia’s Managing Director – Aviation and Critical Services, Darren Moncrieff, said, “Based at Adelaide Airport, Babcock operate the aircraft for the South Australian Police (SAPOL) and the…

One of the many questions I get asked is "what’s the difference between RAAus and general aviation" (GA). It’s a fair question and I try and answer it by talking about the different risk management methods RAAus uses, including informed participation, and other than flight training schools conducting flight training for payment; I explain that we are essentially private aviators. Inevitably I’m also asked about my view on the more complex question, "what is GA?" Without a clear definition and notwithstanding the fact that if you ask 10 aviators what GA is you’ll get 11 answers; it’s difficult to accurately describe GA without upsetting somebody! What I will say however is that segregating the market by who we are rather than what we do introduces unnecessary division that often becomes…