Innholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2023 i Australian Flying

CASA is currently seeking feedback on a proposed change to the rules regarding the fitment of TAWS in small turbineengine aeroplanes. The consultation relates to Part 121 and 135 turbine-engine aeroplanes with a maximum take-off weight of 5700kg or less and that either: • have a maximum operational passenger seat configuration between 10-13 seats • carry 10 or more persons. « In response to the feedback, CASA set up a working group to discuss the safety differential between different TAWS standards » Under the new Part 121 and Part 135 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR), the TAWS requirement for certain aeroplanes was raised from a TAWS B+ system to TAWS A. Feedback from the aviation community advised: • TAWS B+ with a detailed visual terrain display would…

The thing about Yarrawonga Mulwala is that at first glance it seems like a “one-main-street” ordinary kind of town. But when you know what’s on offer, it feels like it should be three times the size. Sun-filled, accessible, and welcoming all year round, a visit to the town’s excellent Tourist Information Centre will help you decide what to fill your fly-in days with a plethora of available things to discover, do, and see. Yarrawonga and Mulwala are twin towns located on the magnificent Murray River, about 43 nm west of the border towns of Albury Wodonga; Mulwala on the New South Wales side and Yarrawonga in Victoria. With a combined population of around 11,000, the two towns have a median age of 52. Compared to about 38 in most Australian…

You are alarmed at your situation. Your problem is that you don't have time to think this through. Action is needed now. Do something! In aviation, this is called an upset. The aeroplane has been knocked off a nice straightand-level and you need execute a plan to get it back there safely. Your problem is that no-one has ever taught you how to do that. Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) is not taught as part of ab initio training. An instructor is likely to run through some unusual attitudes, but generally these exercises don't venture anywhere near the perimeters of the flight envelope. And that is what the Australian Flight Training Industry Association (AFTIA) and 2022 Flying Training Organisation of the Year UPRT Australia are trying to correct. Both…

Many a Cessna aficionado will happily tell you that the best Cessnas weren’t made in the famous Wichita Kansas factory. They were made in the Champagne wine region in northern France, in the city of Reims. Already famous for hosting the world’s first international air show in 1909, the association between aviation and Reims was cemented when production of Cessna 172s and 175s began in 1963. After World War II, globalisation and the formation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had an immediate effect on international airline transportation, but protection of local aviation manufacturing was still widespread. Tariffs and import restrictions made it difficult for foreign aircraft manufacturers to get a foothold in another manufacturing country. For example, Victa exported Airtourers to the UK, but could only do so…

The year was 1976 when the first rules were established in Australia permitted the operation of single seat aircraft weighing up to 300 kg (ultralights). However, with these new rules came a whole lot of burdensome restrictions such as not being able to cross public roads or fly over people, amongst other things. Albeit the case, these newly established rules provided a legal way for people to take to the skies in rudimentary, ultralight aircraft thereby stimulating innovation amongst this newly established cohort of aviators. To formalise this new movement of aviators and to advocate on their behalf, a new peak body was established. It was called the Australian Ultralight Federation (AUF) and on 21 September 1983, then Minister for Aviation Kim Beazley, wrote to the AUF to inform them…

The ATSB takes a look at what can be done to encourage pilots to observe the correct procedures for wearing life jackets The ATSB has issued a Safety Advisory Notice to both aircraft lifejacket manufacturers and national aviation certification authorities encouraging them to provide guidance to aircraft operators about how to fit a constant wear lifejacket so that it does not interfere with the proper fitment of seatbelts. The Safety Advisory Notice has been issued as part the ATSB’s on-going investigation into the midair collision of two scenic flight helicopters at the Gold Coast on 2 January this year. During the course of the investigation the ATSB has identified a potentially common lack of understanding in the broader helicopter tourism community about how ‘constant wear’ lifejackets should be worn in…

Carbonix, an Australian drone manufacturer, is joining forces with the global company Skyports Drone Services to expand its beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) capabilities throughout the country. As part of this collaboration, Skyports will integrate its international pilots into Carbonix’s operations to carry out data acquisition missions for the company’s mining and energy clientele. The goal is to enhance Carbonix’s operational proficiency in the long run. Already, Skyports has been instrumental in over 85 missions across Australia for Carbonix, servicing clients like Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy, and Charles Darwin University. “Skyports Drone Services fills a gap with their scalable end-to-end operational experience in flying fixed-wing VTOL UAVs. We look forward to having their pilots enhance our BVLOS capabilities and forging a lasting partnership that sees both companies exchange knowledge and…

Aviation could put up a good argument that it is the most safety-conscious industry in the world, except maybe for explosives manufacturing. But for all the training, reviews, regulations and education, the same old sins still stand out from the safety statistics. It’s not like pilots are finding new ways to transgress; the old ways seem to do just fine. And that points at a people problem. Things aren’t breaking down or failing; pilots are largely contributing to their own safety woes through laziness, a poor attitude or a simple lack of understanding what is and isn’t safe practice. Andreas Marcelja, CASA Executive Manager Stakeholder Engagement, told Australian Flying it was often due to a history of successful transgression. “Almost all the accidents we see come back to decision-making and…

WA Police Force recently took delivery of Australia’s first five-blade Airbus H145. The aircraft is the first of two ordered by WA Police Force, which becomes the first law enforcement organisation in the southern hemisphere to operate the type. Speaking at the aircraft unveiling ceremony on 26 July, Commissioner of WA Police Force Col Blanch said, “The H145 provides a significant capability uplift that will enable our people to enforce the law, prevent crime, and manage and coordinate emergencies like never before. “Seconds count when providing timely and quality responses to calls for help. The H145’s enhanced technology gives it better take-off performance and the aircraft’s ability to respond quickly and provide evidence quality, realtime tactical situational awareness to officers on the ground, will facilitate improved decision making and response."…

How do you resist something that offers significant safety benefits, could save your life and attracts a rebate of up to 50%? Those pilots who have installed Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, or ADS-B, are enthusiastic about the benefits the technology provides. And in an industry where safety is always front of mind, anything that can be done to help you stay safe each time you fly is worth considering. Until 30 June 2024, the government is offering a 50% discount on the cost of buying and installing an ADS-B system with a total rebate of up to $5000 per aircraft. The rebate for installing ADS-B Out applies to Australian registered aircraft operating under visual flight rules (VFR) and to low-cost portable ADS-B units known as electronic conspicuity devices. Although it is…

Announced by Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Kirsty McBain, the strategic plan is designed to correct gender imbalance and address skills shortages. “The Plan draws on the lessons from the first four years of the Women in the Aviation Industry Initiative which aims to boost diversity and encourage more women to pursue job opportunities across the aviation sector by providing mentoring, guidance and networking opportunities,” McBain said. “It identifies priority areas for action including the need for cultural change to ensure women are welcomed into an inclusive and supportive industry. “Over the next financial year, $1.3 million will be available to fund activities relating to leadership and culture, visibility and awareness, collaboration and continuous improvement as outlined in the Plan. “We expect to release a formal process…

Leonardo’s AW109SP GrandNew is fast and furious, fancy but formidable. The swift and sleek light twin helicopter is becoming very popular in the light twin executive/VIP and private helicopter spaces. The Leonardo AW109SP GrandNew packs an almighty punch, with a top speed well over 150 knots, a six-pax carrying capacity depending on the buyer’s choice of cabin fit out, an advanced glass cockpit packing a raft of safety features for pilots to comfortably fly it, and retractable undercarriage providing that extra level of mobility for ground manoeuvring ops. And, while a pilot might rarely fly at maximum cruise speeds, the average cruise speeds in this elegant machine are still more than sufficient to cut flight time between locations down to an impressive number relative to other comparative designs (but more…

“The only time you need emergency equipment is when you don’t have it with you,” is a thought provoking maxim, especially in Australia, with its tyranny of distance, and large remote areas. It’s impossible to separate attitude from equipment when it comes to emergencies. AOPA (USA) says, “No one likes to consider the unwelcome possibility of a forced off-airport landing - and the potential survival situation to follow. But as pilot in command, it is your job to prepare for the chance that one day, you and your passengers may be in a life-or-death survival scenario, with only your preparation and training to keep you alive.” When a pre-start checklist says “Emergency Equipment Onboard” that’s a subtle reminder to check you have matched emergency equipment on board to your impending…

A Book to Save your Life Pilots at the beginnings of their careers plunge straight into one of the most dangerous phases of their flying lives: the immediate postlicence period when they start to build distance between themselves and their instructors. They have confidence and they have luck, what they don’t have is the experience to know what they may be getting themselves into. Author Paul A. Craig details it all in his book The Killing Zone: How and Why Pilots Die. This is a classic of aviation literature that has been updated into a second edition, which includes the new dangers of emerging technology. Based on an in-depth study of pilot behavior and general aviation flying accidents The Killing Zone offers practical advice to help identify the time frame…

Jabiru welcomes the FAA NPRM on MOSAIC, in particular, the recognition of the safety record of Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) and the application of that safety record to the logic of the expanding the category to broaden the opportunities for recreational aviation. Jabiru also welcomes the FAA’s intent to retain the LSA category as a home for aviation innovation and the continuing recognition of consensus-based standards that allow aviation to progress and innovate safely. MOSAIC highlights the continued use of consensus standards in LSA and primarily the FAA-accepted ASTM standards. MOSAIC introduces a number of new requirements to LSA that are not currently covered by the ASTM standards. These include noise certification and aerial work, and compliance with systems engineering aspects such as reliability, hazard and environmental conditions. While these…